Monday Happy

Last day of summer and guess what, the mr and I woke up to ice all over our tent! Yup. 30 degrees the past few nights that we have been camping. Not exactly what we had in mind this early, but heck, I had the right mind to pack the wool blankets so we were all good.

The week. Well it’s now Monday but we camped Saturday night too so you know, no computer stuff. Anyway, the past week was great as far as I can remember. Camped at Emerald State Park and ddi our usually hiking and kayaking. We hung out with the littles, made cookies, and worked when work was needed doing. Dad Jeff came to Vt and we got to spend the weekend hanging with him. We camped outside, he stayed indoors because well, no one besides that mr and I are into freezing cold camping. We did a long ass rail trail family bike ride, chatting up the nieces and nephews, did a little road side apple picking, and I tried to eat as much hot food to keep my body warm. After Dad left, the mr and I did another solo day of adventure and camped again because that is what we do. We did all the good stuff. I would go into more detail but I am on the trashed side of a human right, my body is freezing and sore, and due to the mr’s ever increasing snoring regiment, I have barely slept in the past few nights so my brain can’t really comprehend much. But yeah, a dang good week.

And whoa it is Monday morning. Just got home from the long camping weekend and now I have gots to get on with the day. The goal is to post this, finish unpacking camping stuff, maybe shower, start laundry, go to grocery store, make phone calls…. The list of things to do keeps growing. But right now I am boiling water and am going to make a hot hot cup of tea and hold the cup , with both hand, until I can feel my finger again. I am still frozen to the bone. And I love it! Oh, and Happy Birthday Jackson!

Some internet that I looked at the past week.

-When I read the news screamed many profanities. I wish was was able to live long enough to see the crazy psychopath fucker out of office. Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s legacy, and the future of the Supreme Court, explained. Now lets all pray for sane politicians to do what is right and not appoint another fuckface to the courts…. AGH!

-I love the winter but I am not going to lie, I am a little nervous about this coming one. Fucking pandemic. Good thing I don’t spend time with very many humans.  How We Survive the Winter

-A Reusable Food Wrap You Can DIY in 5 Minutes. I have done this, it works.

-Judah asked mw why Earth is called Earth….I had no idea. Now I can tell him. How Did Earth Get Its Name?

-Have you had this tea? I know it is easy but I love holiday teas but I don’t want to order it unless I hear it tastes good. Christmas in Paris Herbal Tea Stash Tea

-Sure, I’ll live here forever

-I don’t know this existed and nowI want to watch it..eventually when I feel like watching tv. The Soothing 'Great Pottery Throw Down' Makes Great Isolation TV

-I Asked 14 Parents What School Lunch Looks Like for Them During This Weird Fall. Must be such a pain in the ass for some parents.

-Very cool. Bees Encase Raw-Material Embroideries with Honeycomb

-Oh heck yeah. Welcome to my high-fashion, trash shopping mall’

Pictures from the week

-C

Sunday Happy

Heavy week. I don’t know about you but I am feeling all sorts of feels. Like I can’t even rangle my self into myself. A lot is happening. Good things, bad things, scary things. People are stepping up, coming forward, doing the right thing that should have always been the right thing. Then there are infuriating assholes and I can’t even. I am sad, optimistic, angry, and all sorts of everything in between. I just really hope for goodness and rightness and change. It has to happen. We need to make sure that it happens and happens now.

The week. Besides feeling crazy and overwhelmed, it was also mild and normal. Started off with a massive closet clean out at my moms. A few of us sibling went over and ransacked bins and bins of my moms old clothes. Sure we all found a few pieces that were worth taking home, but what we really found were the gems of old crazy lady stuff and had the best time dressing up and running around in old bras and house coats.

The rest if the week was basically the same as usual. The mr and I over at the littles everyday doing the normal food and school thing. We went for a few bike ride, a bike ride/ picnic, cleaned, trashed, then tried to re clean parts of the house, and made plans for the summer. We are instating internet schedules and restrictions, getting a reading list together, and making plans for water fights and camping. Next week is the last week of school so we got to get on it!

And fridge update. I don’t want to jinx anything but, HOORAY! The mr fixed it! And right after we found ourselves an old free fridge to be our just in case. HA. But yeah, the harvest gold is here to stay and now we need to find a place for this really cool, old mid sized fridge. We are probably just going to keep it for when we build that cabin in the woods. But where to store it?

Sunday again. Today my goals are simple. I am going to try and get a few chores done, plant another round of greens in the garden ,and get stuff ready for the week. Then I am going to spend at least an hour on the porch sitting and reading, maybe I’ll even take a little nap, and drink at least 2 cups of coffee. I deserve the coffee.

Internet links from the week.

-The People’s Kitchen Collective Is Feeding a Movement by Putting People First. Food and conversation.

-Someone one a podcast I was listening to talked about swiss miss houses. I looked them up and am now obsessed . Swiss and a Bit Cheesy. Swiss Miss Houses.

-Coronavirus FAQs: How To Stay Safe While Protesting, When To Go Out After Recovery. Be safe for yourself AND for others.

-5 Ways to Set Healthy Boundaries Around News and Social Media. I have been disengaging more and more from basically everything that needs to be plugged in. It is actually my natural state and other then checking news, emails, and maybe browsing the internet for a few minutes, I have been pretty much off everything.

- Several Antiracist Books Are Selling Out. Here's What Else Black Booksellers and Publishers Say You Should Read

-Is Vermont Really 'So Expensive'? Um, well, I mean, um….yeah.

-If I lived above a store, I would want it to be this house, above a violin store. ‘A Secret Retreat’ Above a Violin Store.

-Do you know much about Shakers as as religion and not just a cabinet style? I did a little research after I read somewhere that shakers hang their furniture when not in use to make it easier to clean. I understand this practice, I keep my chairs flipped when no in use. The mr hates it. About the Shakers.

-These animals build palaces out of their own snot. I respect this.

-Bored? I have heard that s few times this week Well guess what, it’s nota bad thing. . Benefits of Being Bored

Pictures from the week

-C

Sunday Happy

Hey friends, how are we doing? Good good I hope, if not a little wobbly and wonky, but that’s ok. At least it is spring. SPRING!!! I have been loving the weather so hard this past week. Not to cold, not to hot, not to sunny. Just right. So that is good.

Besides stellar weather this week, it has been another week. Started out with a nice long hike with Megan and the gang for her birthday. Muddy as heck yes, but really fun and good to spend some time with her and the kiddos. Then after that, the days just blurred from one thing to the next but things were done and happened and all that.

The frost froze in our fridge and it was this whole thing that took a entire day to fix with the steamer. That was fun (not really, but my fridge is so so CELAN). We also spent time with the littles, tried to figure out school work but then ended up making smoothies. I made a handful of face masks and cleaned out all my garden beds. We went for a walk with Shannon. Did a few little hikes, a few bike rides, and lots of walks. I wore my sandals on my feet for a day, and Barb and I went for a bike ride together just yesterday. So basically I spend most of my time either cleaning, hanging with the littles, or running, walking, biking, or hiking. Life is weird right now but I am embracing it and am more then happy to spend all my time outside.

Oh and the mr. He went and got himself a freaking scooter. I don’t even know so we will circle back round to this some other time.

And today, Easter Sunday. We usually do something as a family on easter, like hide eggs for the littles and eat food together, but not this year. We are going to go eat lunch with the littles and maybe do a little egg hunt thing with them. Then we are going to go for a walk with my mom. After that, well I don’t know. Probably come home and make a giant list of food that I need to get tomorrow. My chest freezer is basically emptied of frozen veggies, farm share isn’t until Thursday, and I am running dangerously low on me food. (there is more then enough food in the house to feed the mr for months, I just don’t eat any of it.) I might have enough frozen broccoli and one beet that I have been hoarding for dinner tonight and I know I have at least 2 onions and the spinach that I saved especially for tonight so just as long as the grocery store had some veggies tomorrow, i'‘ll be alright.

Internet from the week.

-Are your days melting together? IT is not just you. Time Is Meaningless Now

-Have you made bread yet? And are you wondering how the heck it does it thing wit the yeast? No for Real, What Is Yeast Exactly

-Hundreds of Rainbow Glass Panels Emit a Rotating Kaleidoscope in a Playful Kindergarten. What a place to go to school!

-This has NEVER been a problem for me, but it might be for you. I Bought Too Many Vegetables

-How do we know what dinosaurs looked like? Yeah, really, how do we know?

-I have been running every morning but man, are my ankles super sore. I think I screwed up my Achilles tendons. What is the best surface to run on to avoid getting injured?

-The toilet paper shortage is more complicated than you think. I haven’t had to buy toilet paper yet, but now and going to be keeping my eyes open for some next time I go shopping.

-As soon as it is warm enough outside I plan on it, for just me and the mr, and then for the littles.. Throw Your Kids a Quarantine Campout

-How Stories Connect And Persuade Us: Unleashing The Brain Power Of Narrative. This is why I read.

-Some good things are happening. Lockdown Effect: Impossible View of the Himalayas Captured by Photographers in India After 30 Years

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Pictures from the week

Sunday Happy

Hip hip Hooray! Spring is here and the weather is fine, fine fine! Things in the world may be cray cray at the moment, but can you deny how amazing it is to leave the house without hats, mittens, and three layers? I have all but put one jacket and one set of mittens away for the year. The heat is off (actually has been for a few weeks) and the sandals are there, by the door, waiting for whenever the moment hits. So sure, life is a little strange but spring guys. SPRING!

The week. Well the week was a week. It started off with my moms birthday. Sad that we didn’t get to have the party we had all planned for her, but nice because we didn’t have to have a big party. I made her her favorite cake then the mr, Barb, and I went over and stood on the side porch for a couple hours and talked to her through the door while she ate cake. It was actually really nice and quality and not overwhelming. She got to see us, and all of my other siblings at different points in the day, at a very safe distance. So yeah, no party, but I think she enjoyed it, maybe even more then having 25 people smooshed in her house, trashing it. Heck, this just might be the new way we celebrate birthdays.

As for the rest of the week, well not to much. Stayed away from everyone not in our quarantine bubble as usual. We went over to help out with the littles almost everyday, making sure they get outside, eat something food wise that doesn’t come in a box, and have brushed their teeth or hair (one or the other is good enough for now). I did a FaceTime cookie making tutorial with Barb and So which was actually so freaking fun. I taught them how to make chocolate chip cookies, watched them struggle while I laughed and chopped up beets and cabbage, and didn’t have to do any of the dishes! Later that day the mr and I went for a walk with them and he got to eat a few of the cookies they made, for testing purpose of course. Again, it was pretty great. And because it went so great, Barb asked me to to do a bread tutorial on the FaceTime later this weekI That one is going to be very interesting for sure. We also did our weekly food run (I HATE going to the grocery store now) and I picked up farm share which I am so freaking grateful for, even more then usual. Sure my farmer friends are now forced to pre pack shares (in plastic. BLAH) but they are still making it happen for us. And sure they are making the majority of the people really happy by packing it full of the popular veggies that people usually get, like potatoes and carrots but I am not going to lie, I was really sad when I didn’t get any celeriac or turnips (the less popular veggies). Hopefully next pick up. I think I might even give them a shot and tell them to give me all the things people don’t really want. That’s usually what I like anyway.

Other then that, well not a lot of excitement. I go for a run every morning and then a few long walks or a hike throughout the day. I spend a few hours in the basement studio working on stuff almost everyday (I need to get a freaking kiln! Greenware is piling up!). I am baking the same amount as usual. Maybe cleaning a bit more and going through stuff more then normal. I am thinking about maybe thinking about the taxes again soon, and I have been wearing a clean sweater from the closet every day. That has been the weirdest thing so far. My desire for a new sweater everyday is not normal. I usually wear the same one for at least half a week before changing it. (strange strange times.) The mr and I went for our first real bike ride of the year (!!!), and I am now and have been spending whatever decent weather time trying to clean up the back yard and get the garden beds in order. Is is kind of a hot mess back there what with the huge amount of rock breaking apart of the stone bulk head and digging up massive amounts of dirt that the mr did last fall. Don’t get em wrong, having basement access and light from from the outside is going to be amazing, but damn, I want the mess to be gone! Oh well, just another fun project that we (more like the mr) are going to start up again soon. 😬

Today, Sunday for all of those who need a reminder, is Megans birthday (HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!) and so the plan is, at some point, meet up with her to go for a hike. Other then that, more yard work, transplant my tomato seedlings into bigger pots, make some soup for dinner. Basically the normal, just with a side of apocalyptic feelings.

Internet links from the week

-So masks, I guess that is where we are at. At least I have a shit ton of fabric and am pretty good at sewing. Think I am going make a shit ton. No one else sews in my family.🤦‍♀️. Here is one pattern and here is another. Going to make a some of both and maybe a a few of these too. Might make own pattern as well, one where the wearing can’t speck.. for those who talk to much! HA

-April Horoscopes: Which Bean Are You? (Yes, Beans) I am an Aquarius and this is spot on bean wise.

-Sacred of the grocery store? Me too. Thank goodness for farmshare, even if it we have had to adapt to how we are getting it for the time being. Is This the Start of a CSA Boom?

-All the plastic I am seeing, all the disposable containers and shit. It is freaking me OUT! The plastic industry is using the coronavirus to fight plastic bag bans

-I am looking at flooring again. For what? Well I don’t rally know. But this flooring company. Swoon.

-Covid-19’s Impact on Libraries Goes Beyond Books. Goodness I miss my libraries.

-Gardens and chickens. A little back yard homesteading. 'We Are Swamped': Coronavirus Propels Interest In Raising Backyard Chickens For Eggs

-Currently reading this and this. Both are good.

-Drake, Quarantined In Style, Makes Social Isolation A Public Spectacle. At least we have Drake.

-Just Be Kind to the People Who Ensure You Get to Eat. Seriously for reals real. Smile, tell them thank you, and keep your distance!

Some pictures as well.

Sunday Happy

The past week was a blur.

A friend sent me a meme the other day that really hit home for me. It said “I wish this would all be over so everyone would just leave me the fuck alone” Yup.

And a few days ago I accidentally dropped my new toothbrush into toilet. But I am ok. And in case you are wondering, I had a new toothbrush on standby so my teeth are ok too.

How are you holding up? Going crazy? Are you getting shit done? Are you loving it or hating it? Or are you just getting use to it but then freaking out about how use to it you are getting? That last is me. Usually what happens is I will be feeling calm and fine but then I will read or hear something totally fucked on the news (I listen to NPR for most of the day so it’s my own damn fault but I have been switching my listening habits to mostly music or podcasts. I have made some pretty sick quarentine playlists for sure.) and the emotions go haywire again. But I think mostly, for me, I am just feeling kind of, well I don’t know, wonky? Itchy? Irritable? All of the above, plus a little scared, sad, and crazy. But also happy, grateful, and calm. So many feelings and I am not good with a lot of feels at once. Thats it! I am a EMOTIONALLY OVERLOADED!

Anyway, the weather, so nice! Good thing to because besides taking the littles almost everyday out for their daily hikes, or being able to walk around the block with my mom (10 feet apart), either the mr or I might end this thing living up in the tree house. Hahaha. No, we are so good, we just have our moments that may or may not end in obscene hand gestures and lots a vomit. 😁 But seriously, the tree house. It’s our contingency plan. The mr has spent a fair amount of time up there carving spoons or just sitting, just to give me space. (he is so nice!) And I have discovered the amazingness of headphones. I don’t usually have a need to wear them but this week I busted out an old pair and realized how amazing it is to not hear anything other then music. Really loud music. It’s like being alone. Ah, the small things.

Today. Sunday, in case you were wondering. It is not a great day for me. It’s 4 years ago that Sean died so I am emotional and cranky and blah. So what I am going to do is go for a run, call my mom, text all my siblings that I love them and then tell everyone to leave me the fuck alone. The mr and I are going to take a drive, find some woods where I can be with no one else around hide away for a while. Then we need to go grocery shopping. I am down to my last serving of carrots and ran out of my St Patricks day stash of cabbage. I am really hoping people have calmed the fuck down and haven’t emptied the produce section by the time I get there. I will lose my shit if I can’t get some carrots. Not today. Just have the fucking carrots.

My internet looking from me to you.

-Read a few and you will laugh and feel better about wanting to punch a wall or bite your partner. The Social Distance Project

-Fuck It, Let Them Eat Cake. If it makes things ok, even just for a little while, then why the fuck not.

-I could totally be quarantined here. Detailed Minimalism’: A Designer’s Bucolic Cottage in the Welsh Countryside

-There's No Better Time to… Use the Oldest Thing In Your Pantry. Seriously. I went through my pantry and have been using all the oldest stuff first. I haven’t even restocked half of my beans because I am trying to use up all of what I have. (I have like 12 different varieties so I have a tone of beans) IT feels good.

-This is very important. How to Not Completely Hate the People You’re Quarantined With.

-STARTING SEEDS INDOORS: HOW AND WHEN TO START SEEDS. I started a bunch of stuff this week!!!!

-You wanted to know, you just didn't;t know you wanted to. The Wild but True Story of How One Writer Figured Out the Origin of the “Triscuit” Name

-As a potter and a perpetual hand washer anyway, my hands are always dry as fuck. This is one of my favorite hand creams (I use it on my face at night in the winter too) Weleda Skin Food Original Ultra-Rich Cream Also this. Hemp Hand Protector

-How Nature Has Become America’s Saving Grace As We Shelter In Place. Just remember to take care and maybe consider what will happen if we don’t take more steps and keeping this planet healthy….

-Still have a couple rainbows and mugs for sale on the web store. Going to throw some rainbow mugs up there later this week too. stem+node Ceramics

Pictures from the week.