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Sunday

December 30, 2018 Colleen Stem
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What a week. What a year. So much has happened and is happening and is about happen. I guess that is the nature of life and time and all that good stuff.

The week started off fantastic. On Sunday the mr and I grabbed Judah, Emerson, and Barb, piled into the car, and went for a light drive. We walked around a light filled park, drove some more, then ended up at, of all places in this world, Burger King. And they loved it (I packed my own dinner because I do not, will not, eat at almost any place that the littles prefer) Funny, I don’t know if I have ever been inside of a Burger King before, and if I have, it was long before I had a choice in what I ate. Again, they loved it, even though it was trash food, they got their crowns. Coco cheered just about every French Fry that went into his mouth, and the mr got to use Burger King coupons that he had hiding in his pocket (that is basically why we ended up there) It was a fantastic evening and is now going to be a Christmas Eve eve tradition. Light drive with dinner (never Burger King again thank you very much)

After we dropped them off at home, we went home and that is when the mr succumbed to it. IT being the stomach flu. That was fun.

Christmas Eve the mr was an ill man so I forged it alone. With the help of all the Christmas music I could handle, I baked a bunch, prepared the house for the next day when the family came over. I cut up all the fruits and veggies, wrapped the few little presents I had, did bills and a bunch laundry, ran to the grocery store. My mom stopped by and brought me a lemon tree because just because. I just was so freaking productive. And best part, it SNOWED, like a good amount. What I thought was going to be a completely snow free Christmas turned into the most magical snow ever. Christmas Eve afternoon, Big fat fluffy flakes covering the world. I bundled myself up and walked around the neighborhood just taking it all in. It truly was the best Christmas Eve snow ever. And after a full on day of resting , the mr was feeling a bit better so that was good. And then both to bed by 7 because thats our life these days.

Christmas morning had all the right stuff. Woke up and watched the sun rise while drinking a butload of coffee. The house was all clean and glittery and the ltree lights were on and the ground glittered with the fresh snow. After the mr woke up and was feeling a little worse for ware but ok, we bundled up and went for a little stroll on the beach. We usually go for a hike but I was not trying to push the mr too hard. The beach, oh man, was that amazing. The water was still, the snow was like diamonds, and the air was crisp and clean. Not a sound to be heard other then the lapping of water. It was so good. We left before I decided to stay forever and because the mr thought he could walk on ice and ended up with a his foot in a foot of water so we headed on home to meet the hoard of family. Just about everyone came (minus Ryan and the girls and Anthony.. we missed them all) ate food, did a little gift exchange thing (I got some sweet new house plants), plastered Jackson with a very nice shade of lipstick that might have been called whore red, and had a Happy Birthday celebration for Cameron because it’s was Christmas, but it really was his birthday.

Then for the saddest part. We got the news that our uncle had passed away.

Oh Uncle Seth. He had been sick for a while now with Parkinson’s disease, but the past month or so it got so bad. His death was not unexpected but never the less it was not any less painful. My only uncle, the guy who gave me my first car, the man who built a cabin from nothing in the woods and turned it into a place that you could only imagine (or see in a design magazine) A man who taught (he was as professor at RISD), loved the world, loved to travel, loved his work, was so fierce in emotion. SO many little qualities that I saw in him, I see in me. ( I feel like I get a lot of who I am from my dad and my uncle and aunt) The world lost a great man, I lost a great uncle. He is and will always be loved and I know I was just lucky to have been able to have him as an uncle. It is still hard, I don’t think I have fully processed it still, It is kind of a not quite real feeling. Just an overall heaviness that has settled in on my mind and heart. It is so hard to loose any family, but especially hard when they were so full of life and had so much to give to the world. Agh. The words are not even close to adequate here, the full measure of him as a person not explained. To put it simply, he was an amazing, loving and generous person. I am so going to miss him, his creativity, his lust for life. And what I am going to miss most is his hugs and smiles and overall presences in my life. RIP Seth. You really were a fucking awesome uncle.

We got word of the funeral on Wednesday (which was also Anthonys 17th birthday….So old! I stopped by to see him and give him a big hug. Didn’t want a party or cake this year so I owe him granola bars.) and were in the car driving down to RI by Thursday morning. Shannon, Megan, the mr, and me, all packed into the car and off we went. A small family funeral which was very beautiful and full of love, then food with the family. Not a long stay, but we are all going back down next weekend for Seths memorial celebration bash.

We got home and it hit hard. I started to feel kind of crappy (sick wise) and have been feeling blue ever since. Driving to RI really kicked the mr down again. He was so good, no complaining about anything, not the cranked up car heat or driving straight while us ladies spent the entire time talking of childhood memories. He didn’t even put on the music. And by the time we came back home, the guy was sick again, or maybe never was not sick, but he has been down for the count ever since.

So yesterday we did a few morning chores together like got rid of the recycling and retuned amazon stuff to UPS, but by afternoon the mr was out. So I cleaned house, made another ice cream cake for Judah, and did more and more laundry. Another one of those feeling super productive days. Weird, but I am starting to see a pattern here. When the mr is really sick, I get a lot done. I think it’s mainly because. a) I want to stay away from him as to not get sick too. b) I am afraid that if I do get sick none of what needs to be done will get done so I need to do it fast. And c) I don’t have to worry about what he needs to do, it’s all me. Ha.

Today is Judah’s birthday. Nine years old! What an age to be. So basically I am going to the gym then coming home to do a few things and finish making his cake, then heading over to his house for a birthday dinner celebration. I told him and his sister I would go over early and give them haircuts (the boys hair is so long it covers his eyes, He looks cool, but if you can’t see, well looking cool isn’t gonna get you anywhere). It’s gonna be fun.

Goodness, is that it. The end of another year. Hard to wrap my head around so I am just going to ease on in to 2019. Low key and cool. Just like me. Ha.

Happy New Years Friends! Be safe. Be happy. Be good. Be kind.

Interent links from the week

-Just Admit It, You’re in a Bad Mood. All the lead up to Christmas then BAM, its over. Gets me every time.

-I am defintially one of those people who likes to bake when I am feeling anxious. The Rise of Anxiety Baking. Cookies are my favorite to bake too.

-Speakig of cookies. When 'Cookiers' Take Holiday Cookie Decorating To A Whole New Level. I had no idea there was a cookie cutter factory in Vt. I must see this place!

-Who doesn’t love a good tree picture? Black and White Photographs Capture the Striking Appearance of Bare Trees Against Snow-Filled Landscapes

-Explorer completes historic Antarctic trek. Some people do crazy things that make me jealous. Not that I want to ski Antarctica, but something crazy would be cool.

-How did I not know until now that there was a monthly round up of trucks spilling shit. We all need this information. This month in overturned trucks: Cash, Christmas trees, cooking oil

-How A Little Science And A Lot Of Shady Advertising Boosted Yeast's Popularity. I have never eaten a yeast cake, but I eat a shit load of nutritional yeast. MY favorite is a spoonful in the mouth where it gets stuck in my teeth and the roof of my mouth. For real.

-I am going to get a scale sometime soon. I just need to find the right one for the right price (free or very cheap at the thrift store) Until then, this is handy. Weight Conversions for Flour, Sugar, and Other Common Baking Ingredients

-This is something that I have wondered about. I am really happy that it doesn’t get wasted. We Finally Know What Happens to the Leftover Cake on the Great British Bake Off

-The year vegan junk food went mainstream. Yup. Just cause it’s vegan doesn’t mean it is good for you.

And pictures from the week.

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In winter, vermont, the great outdoors, the fam, sunday happy, pictures, photography, life, internet links, holiday Tags Seth Stem, Everyday Life, Sunday Happy, Christmas, New Years, Family, interent links, photography, pictures, VT, Nature, the great outdoors
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Sunday Happy

April 1, 2018 Colleen Stem
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An Easter April Fools Day all in one. This probably doesn't happen too often.  I could imagine that things could get pretty crazy with the holiday combination. I am picturing lots of little littles opening empty Easter eggs, or eggs with rocks, or (fake) bunny poop... because April fools  Ha. That would so be pretty fun to watch and is totally something that I would (and might) do. Would that make me a jerk? Maybe a little but I think it might be worth it. 

The week has been and up and down kind of week. Officially 2 years since Sean passed so I have been a little quite, sad, and maybe a little bitchy. Doesn't help that it was just an annoying week in general. Like I almost broke my leg with a 35 lb weight at the gym, but not really. (Word of advice, don't drop heavy shit on your leg, it doesn't feel good and hurts all week). Had to get the oil change and ended up waiting for 2 hours. And I guess I am starting to get spring allergies making me feel heady and tired and Oh, I had to go to the dentist. Still no camera so pictures are are still all off my phone which is driving me nuts and I still haven't finished the taxes that promised myself that I would have done before April 1...Ok, I am done bitching.

But it definitely was not all bad. We had dinner with Shannon and got to harass Jackson for a little while. I won a bag of literal shit (compost) from a library raffle. Then there was farm share pickup where we  talked spring greens with the  farmers because we are all getting a little tired of the roots and very excited for spring. I did some seed planting and cleaned up the yard a bit. The mr and I have been taking some pretty good walks and trying to embrace any nice weather that we can. I talked to Barb about talking to her plants to keep them alive and while Mark was home for the weekend I got to harass him about applying for jobs where he is expected to wear short shorts and be a prick..... I think got some joy in harassing people this week. 

Then it was Moms birthday. (HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM) The whole family came over and I made a birthday dinner and cake and cupcakes. The cake was for mom (blueberry coffee cake), who I know well enough to know that she was going to want to take half of it home so I made cupcake too. Those were basically for the little so I made them very neon pink. Shannon hid some candy filled eggs in the yard to keep the littles busy (for like a second) and we all just basically had one big dance party because that's what we do. After dinner we all headed down to the YMCA for the annual pick up basketball game in honor or Sean with all of Sean's friends. A bunch of younger dudes all getting a little older, playing a pretty intense and sweaty game of ball while all the littles and maybe some of the adults (Erin) proceeded to eat their weight in candy. This after all the cake they had just consumed. (The sugar highs were getting intense.).  There was a lot of emotions, but mostly it was a lot of fun and was really good to see everyone.

And then we went home to the trashed house with pasta and cake all over. Like for real everywhere. I don't know how the littles managed to smear pink frosting BEHIND and UNDER the couch, but they did and I am never going to let them eat  in my house again. All food outside from now on.  I then spent half of my day yesterday cleaning up after it all. Pink frosting and pee because apparently there are some boys that have a hard time aiming into the toilet. Fun stuff. 

Now it is Easter and I am not quite sure whats going on. I know that I am needed to fill (or not fill, or fill with (fake) poop) eggs and then hide them at some point this morning, but other then that..... There are things and people and Easter stuff, but I am not putting any pressure on myself to participate in anything. I am feeling a bit antisocial and could use quite day. I might just stay home and plant more seeds and pretend that it is not going to get mother f-ing cold out again next week and so I can pack away the last remaining bits of winter. And maybe bunny proof the garden because the bunnies have been hopping around a little to close to my garden beds these days an I am not particularly fond of sharing my food with them.What better way to spend Easter then to keep the bunnies away. Ha.  Maybe when we get chickens back there they bunnies will just stay on the other side of the fence. I'll figure it out one way or another.

Have a Happy Easter April fools.

Internet excursion from the week

-Here's Why Easter Eggs Are a Thing. Oh. 

-Seriously no. Just no. Peeps-Flavored Beer Is Reportedly Being Released For Easter 

-The Last Conversation You’ll Ever Need to Have About Eating Right. It really is. 

-Well son of a bitch. Does Coffee Really Need A Cancer Warning? California Judge Decides So

-I am in love with this serving  board. It's on my have to do list of things I have to do. DIY Celestial Wood and Brass Inlay Serving Board

-A Tiny Cabin is This Writer's Off the Grid Getaway. That toilet...It's a good one. 

-New Human 'Organ' Was Hiding in Plain Sight. Whoa dude. 

-I am always trying to make sure that I have enough protein in my diet, but I would never drink that muscle milk shit.Whole foods my friends.  How Protein Conquered America

-My sister Erin lived in a place for a while that had carpets in the bathrooms.. It was freaking disgusting. Why Did Anyone Think Carpet in the Bathroom Was a Good Idea?

-Oh, and watch the fuck out. Falling Chinese Space Station to Crash This Weekend

Pictures from the week

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-C

In sunday happy, photography, internet links Tags Easter, April fools, Family, Sunday Happy, Everyday Life, photography, life, Vermont, Birthday, internet links
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