Sunday Happy

We finally got us some real winter around here and I couldn’t be any happier! YIPPE!

How was your week? Mine was good, if not a little on the hectic side, but what is new?

I started out Sunday at the art market. Of course by the time I got there I was feeling like complete shit. The ick that was in and out of me all last week was in at the time and I just wanted to curl into a ball and sleep. But I trudged on and had a great time, hanging out, talking to people, checking out the other vendors. Iit was cool, and completey exhausting. I learned real quickly that the hardest part about selling stuff in person is having to be a person and talk to a lot of people. HA. So after the market, I came home, ate soup, and slept. Spent the next day not talking to anyone and keeping myself on the low key trying to keep the ick a bay.

And then Tuesday and Wednesday came any went with the normal stuff of work, family, life.

Thursday was very productive. Woke up to snow which started the day great, and the mr and I (but mostly the mr) spent the day tearing out old cupboards from the basement and building out shelves for my studio. And let me tell you, having a wall of shelves, fantasticly built shelves mind you, in my studio is a game changer. I have so much space now and it is freaking amazing. That mr. He really is just a pretty great dude.

Friday started off with me chipping away at least 1/2 and inch, if not more, of ice from the car. Seriously took me like 20 minutes to get it cleaned just enough to drive, which was the last thing I was interested in doing at 5am. But what are you gonna do? Anyway, I managed to de-ice, and go along my way, even if I did break the stupid ice scraper. Oops. But it was all worth it because after the night of ice, we got the snow storm! I think it was reported we got 15 inches, all within like 10 hours. Heavy, big, beautiful snow. I was home early in the day and the mr came home around lunch and tried to leave again afterwards but the roads were complete shit so we were stuck. And I LOVE being stuck in snow weather. It makes me feel like a kid again and that nothing but being comfy matters. So I spent the afternoon interchanginging my snow boots to shovel and walk around in the storm, and my respirator because when I was inside, I was in my studio, with my new shelves,c leaning away. I am trying to get all the dust and grossness out which is a hard task to do to a 100 year old basement that is now a pottery studio, but I am trying!

Yesterday was amazing. All the fresh snow, the bluest of blue skies, crisp, clean, cold air without much wind. A+ perfection. Sure my shoulders were a little sore from all the shoveling that Friday brought, but good sore if that you know what I mean. And so the day went. Did the usual, got the chores done, the grocery shopping in, the work done. Then we hung out with the littles for a while. The mr and Miley shoveling out the driveway, me and Judah attempted to make paper flowers, and hung out while waiting for Coco to come home from the hospital. (He had to spend a few days there because he choked and aspirated but he is doing alright now.) When he finally did come home, the first he did was throw a fit because he wanted chocolate. So all was good there and so we left and came back home to eat and sleep.

Today I am going to hit the gym early, come home and toss beans and pre-chopped veggies (because I planned ahead!) into the slow cooker for dinner and then I am back at it. 11-3, selling my wares at the art market (It’s in Winooski at 2creativecommunity) Rainbows and heart mugs. So if you want to pick up a little something sweet for your sweety and/or yourself, come on down. And yes, Valentines day is next week, but that really shoudnt’t be the reason to buy a heart of rainbow. Treating yourself and/or a lover/friend/sister/brother/mother/crossing guard (you get the idea) to a piece that makes you/them happy is what it’s all about. And it lasts every dang day forever!(Unless you break it so don’t do that.)

Click on the links to read the internet stuff that I read this week.

-I used to nap a lot more. I think I need to make more time for it. How Long Should a Nap Be?

-Why Some Vegetarians (Like Me) Aren’t Excited About Beyond, Impossible, and Other New Meatless Meats. This is my truth!

-I clicked on a thing and ended up seeing this Sabrina Cord Pinafore Dress. And now I want it.

-This Charming A-Frame Cabin. I could live without the hot tub but the stove… Swoon!

This. Bumblebees Are Disappearing Because Of Extreme Heat. And this. It Was 65 Degrees In Antarctica This Week Feeling pretty freaking fucked.

-So sweet and I want it! Carpenter Dad Turns His Kid’s Drawing into a Real-Life Piece of Furniture

-Why Grocery Stores Have Tiny Kid-Size Carts. I just thought it was to keep the kids busy while the grown ups shopped.

-Whats even the point without “Be mine”? Sweethearts Conversation Hearts Are Back, But They're Not Very Chatty

-Most humans don’t have tails. So why do we have the bones for it?….MOST? I miiiight be one of those that have a little tail. HA

-The Dark Origins Of Valentine's Day. It’s not all dark. am a V day lover. The mr and I always take the day to spend together. We usually go for a hike or something outdoorsy, pack a lunch and get good coffee. And a few years ago we started a tradition of buying a new plant for ourselves, together. Because that is what valentines day is, a day to spend together. Chocolate and flowers not needed!

Pictures from the week

Sunday Happy

So much to catch up on. Skipped last Sunday because the mr and I were in RI visiting my family. After a fantastic visit with the fam (more to come in a separate post, I need to go through the pictures) we came home all happy and full of love and amped for the week which was a good thing becausethe past week was packed.

The school system was still on strike so we spent a bunch of time with the littles, playing with chalk and trashing my house. Then there was the afternoon fun run out to the islands for ice cream with Barb. A strike day cone with all the sprinkles because why not.  The teacher strike ended and they all went back to school.(finally)  I spent a lot of time over at the loft going through all the shit in the basement and getting rid of things that are not and do not and should not. Which lead to me home cleaning out my closet and getting rid of a bunch of clothes as well. I am on a purge right now and if it (whatever it is) hasn't seen any action recently it's gone. And the garden. still so many tomatoes. I have never had or seen so many tomatoes come from one persons back yard before and beside a bed of beets and kale, are the only thing left standing in garden now because I pulled up the rest of the garden. The purge continued on the outside of the house too. I basically just want to get rid of everything. Fresh and clean and minimal and covered in tomatoes.

Up until just this past week, the mr and I have been doing our laundry over at the loft. It is annoying to shlep dirty clothes but we just figured that we are getting a new washer and dryer so no need to kill ourselves moving them from one basement to another. We shelp, we deal, it's fine. But what is not fine is that we no longer have a washer!!! One of our tenants washers one of the other buildings broke. so what was the solutions? Give them our washer. AAHHH! And me being me will not buy a new washer/dryer until they are sale which will be black Friday sales that happen in November. 6 weeks, at the very least, but it's cool. I will just go back to doing what we did before we got a washer and dryer, I'll just got do it at Shannon's house, which a win win because I get my laundry done and Shannon gets to hang out with me! HA

On top of the washer situation , the mr computer crashed. Of course right? He is dealing like a champ and functioning very well with just using his phone for all of his email and communication needs. I am impressed because when my computer crashed a few years ago I flipped my shit. And now I am really worried that my computer is going to die too because we have the same computers. Eek!

Jackson, my oldest nephew turn 16!!!. I can't even believe how old he is. The mr and I were just reminiscing about when we first starting dating (15 years ago) that we would go on "dates" that actually were us babysitting Jack. Little Jack and his hockey stick that he used as a weapon. Those were some crazy days. And now he is old and tall(er) and one of my favorite 16 year old kids. And how cute, he actually wanted a family birthday party. So I made a giant oreo cookie cake, the entire family packed into Shannon's house and no one fought or got injured! Best part, Shannon wrapped up a set of car keys and gave it to Jack. AFter he opened them he got so excited and ran outside to check out his new car. As he opened the door he stepped on something and looked down. He stepped on his new toy car.. HAHAHAHAHA. The look on that kids face. He was crushed and it was amazing. We are asshole people but it's ok because it is with love.

Yesterday the mr and I went to the annual harvest market in Underhill and did a little road side apple picking. It was a sunny and hot day which kind of killed the fall vibe. I was sweating and we passed on hot apple cider because it 80ish and just to hot. But I did score a pretty cool jar with ducks on it so it was not a complete wash.

And topper. Got home from a day out, kind of tired and just want to clean and relax and the mr gets all excited and crazy. There is a shasta camper for sale and he wants it gone now. "Oh yeah, well go and get it" is what I said and so we did. Drove out to up there Vermont and paid a young man a very very tiny fee to tow a pretty beat up, but still tow-able 1970's shasta camper home. Huh, that just happened didn't it? Oh jeeze, we have a freaking (non functional because it needs to be renovated)  camper in the driveway.

And that was just some of the past 6 day.

Today is going to be a lax day? I need to be able to have no set plan and just kind of do what comes to me (except I need to go to grocery store and return library books pick out tile because we are finally finishing off the downstairs bathroom this week) But other then that.

Internet fun from the past weeks

-This sucks. USDA Warns That Millions of Pounds of Fake ‘Organic’ Imports Are Pouring Into U.S And this is why it is important to know your farmer and buy local.

-How Has The Geology Of Vermont Affected Its Character?

-I love Melissa McCarthy (who doesn't) Trailer for ‘Cook-Off!’

-Shasta campers. Our is a 14 ft? Maybe, It was dark and weird and I haven't really even gotten a good look.

-Restoring VW Beetles, Buses ... And Dreams. Is it crazy that we still want a bus? Maybe the camper will quench our dreams.

-Nugget ice is pretty fantastic and this ice machine makes it for you at home. No more stealing ice from the hospital (the mr got hooked on the nugget ice from all the hospital trips over the years)

-Vegan hard boiled eggs..... Don't really understand it.

-Does Happiness Really Make You Healthier? It Depends on Where You Live.

-The view from the top is fantastic. The birds get it all.  Aerial Images of Vibrant Landscapes

Ans some pictures from the week.

Have a great day!

-C

Sunday Happy

Yesterday I unpacked my summer attire. Shorts, tank tops and all my summer things. The sunscreen is out, baseball hats are ready, window fans are going in. It's still spring, but give it a week. Summer is coming on fast and it's better to be prepared.

The week was interesting to say the least. The near heatwave during the middle of the week was a kick in the face. I forgot what hot was until I was sweating just from sitting. I really hope that that little spell wasn't a preview of what the summer is going to be like. I like warm, but hot is not gonna work. Damn it global warming. I also forgot about mosquitoes but that won't happen again. SO many bites it was crazy. I felt like I was being eaten alive. Stupid mosquitoes. But besides being hot and itchy, it was as good week. Lots of things got done as usual, more painting and yard work. We have a few apartment turnovers happening in a few weeks so we have been plugging away at things over at the houses.  We need to make things all clean and pretty again. There was the day I helped the mr change the oil in the truck, (and realized I never want to do that again) and another day when the littles came over and made a 100 square hop scotch while eating an entire cantaloupe. Fun times.

Sunday doings are going to consist of some dirt moving, garbage removing,and painting. It's hard to relax when there is so much to do. But I am going to spend a little time this afternoon,when it starts raining, with the old sewing machine making pillows and watching Master or None.  And chose paint colors. We need to figure out what color to paint the front porch. That's going to be fun (or not).

Things I read on the internet this week.

-I am really really excited to hear this, it's one of my all time favorite shows. Roseanne Reboot Coming to ABC with Original Cast

-Are Farmers Markets Really as Expensive as Everyone Says? It's complicated.

-My hair has changed a bit over my life and I always kind of wondered about this. Is It True That Your Hair Changes Every 7 Years?

-Why All of America's Circus Animals Could Soon be Free. Let them be free.

-How great is this? I bet it's even better then some of the "grown up" sections. There's a for-kids-only section in today's New York Times.

-Food To Cure What Ails You: When Cookbooks Treated Meals As Medicine

- Well this happened and it's fucked. . A"doomsday" seed vault meant to outlast catastrophe was flooded because of climate change.

- Cereal falls into the desert food category in my eyes, the amount of sugar in them are crazy. . Breakfast was the most important meal of the day — until America ruined it.

-Ladybugs are pretty awesome. Ladybugs Pack Wings and Engineering Secrets in Tidy Origami Packages

- I will try anything (well not anything)to stop the crazy mosquitoes. Low-Cost, Homemade Mosquito Trap

Pictures from the week.

Have a great day.

-C

Sunday Happy

I might not have been excited at first about the near 6 inches of snow that we got yesterday but it was actually really fun and nice, like a last hurrah of winter.. It was gorgeous, the mr and I got to play in it with a couple of littles (we built snow towers), we didn't really have to shovel anything, and it's already melting at a rapid pace. And now it can be spring and all will be good.

This week was a up and down week. A year since Sean passed making for some hard times, but there was also some good. It was my moms birthday so we had pretty much the entire family packed into our house for a birthday dinner. I have come to the realization that I might need to get more plates and that the contents of my fridge might not be what most people would call normal (Yes there are 20 heads of cabbage in there and a drawer full of celery roots. No I do not have ranch dressing or any dressing for that matter. Sorry) We did a bit of running around, trying to get some work done but again, the weather wasn't exactly cooperating and a lot of what we need to do is outside so we didn't get as much done as we wanted. Oh well. And then the mr got sick. In bed with a bug. Me, I am being the best girlfriend, fetching tea and ginger ale, warm wash clothes, blankets, and just being sweet. I figure that I might as well. I do like the guy and plus, it could be me in that bed sometime soon. (I better not get sick)

Today I am going to continue downing charcoal pills chased with apple cider vinegar to avoid getting any of this stomach bug thing and do a massive disinfection of everything that was touch, so basically a house clean day. Maybe I can even open some windows because it's suppose to be warm.  And maybe I'll drag the mr out for a walk. Chirping birds and fresh air. Hello there Spring!!!!

Some of the internet from my week.

-Spinach Leaf Transformed Into Beating Human Heart Tissue. Science and spinach are pretty awesome.

-Psychologists Explain The Benefits Of Baking For Other People.  Everyone gets cake!!!

-I really like my personal space, like pretty much just stay away from me. (haha, but seriously, don't get to close) Here’s How the Rest of the World Defines Personal Space

-Watch How to Make Your Own Sprinkles. Going to try this but with aquafaba instead of eggs. Ill let you know if it works.

-All the beds. But this collection linens.. I want them all.

-11 Top April Fools’ Day Food Moments. I trust nothing April 1st.

-I read this article just in time for someone to start in on something I have to watch. Please Stop Forcing Your Favorite TV Show On Me

-We officially know which color Crayola is retiring. Not what I thought it was going to be.

-I watched the shit out of this show. I might have even skipped a day of school to watch a Trading Spaces Marathon. Trading Spaces is Coming Back

-And then there is this. Amy Poehler and Nick Offerman Are Hosting a Crafting Competition Show

A few pictures

Have a great day.

-C

Sunday Happy

It's officially kinda official. WE MOVED IN!!!! And yeah sure, we might not have a kitchen or a 100% functional shower, but hey, who needs that when you got a real freakin bed to sleep in. (we are showering and preparing food at the loft) Going form sleeping on a futon on wooden slates in a crawl space to our real bed, with a real frame, all in a giant room with windows..... It's hella crazy.

Other then the move in, the week has been pretty jammed packed. Still spending every minute plugging away at the house all while making sure all of our tenants are keeping warm with working heaters. (we have spent way to much time at the plumbing supply store this week) Barb, the mr and I ditched a day of work and school to travel to the north and hit up the land of Canadian Ikea. The mission was simple. Get a kitchen sink and maybe a cool rug or a shelving unit, and for barb and the mr, to eat as many hot dogs as they could. Success was had. We go the sink, I got a jar and a rug, towels were bought and an obscene amount of hot dogs were eaten (I think they each ate somewhere between3.5 and 5, plus a fro-yo. Me I was happy with my carrots) We we home before dark and spent the remainder of the day hanging up the Christmas lights. It was a grand day indeed.

As for the mr, well he went and turned himself one year older. And what did we do?  We went and had a happy birthday party with family and friends at the newly unfinished house. It was all sorts of fantastic. We frantically ran around to pick up all the construction mess, tossed some plywood on the cabinet frames, ran all over to make paper lanterns for the light bulbs hanging from the ceiling and cleaned the toilet. I made huge vats of soup and kept the warm in slow cookers (I am now a new owner of a vintage 70's crock pot so I guess I need to learn how to use it) and we borrowed an electric griddle, cut up some veggies and fruit and had a soup and grilled cheese party. (shout out to barb for helping me cut all the everything, oh and having the first official dance party with me) A classic homemade vanilla cake with some Duncan Hines frosting and ice cream topped off the night. I must also mention that even with a house full of people, including a bunch of littles, there was barely any food wasted. My brother even asked where he could find my compost bin to toss the orange peels. That might have been the highlight of the night.  After the evening my ass was tired so off to bed we went.  Then I woke up. Nothing beats waking up at 5am the day after a party to a plywood covered pile of soup crusted dirty dishes.  2 hours later, a rag, some peppermint Dr. Bronners and the bathroom sink made things look good again. And now the house is full of every chair we have ever owned, every piece of mismatched bowl, plate, cup,jar, and spoon we could find, and a freezer full of wheat bread and lots of carrot sticks.

Yup, things are moving along. Pretty soon I'll be cooking up a storm in new kitchen and will be bring you all some food posts to boot.  The appliances are set to arrive tomorrow and all we have left to do is build the cabinets, run a few water lines, pour a concrete counter.........

Today the mr have to remove the 500 plates, cups, bowls and spoons out and the rest of the birthday cake out of the kitchen area and get back to work to makingt he real kitchen thing happen. But the coffee pot and all the coffee has found it's permanent home. I'll have coffee all day long. Whoa hoo!

Things I saw and read on the internet that you can now see and read too.

-Not really a "gingerbread house" but what ev, it pretty fantastical. How To Build An Indestructible Gingerbread House. Gummy bear epoxy seems so right.

-Speaking of gingerbread houses. Holiday gingerbread cookies have a dark and violent past

-Cute Animation Imagines How Day Turns into Night

-A hairy tail has be found.  First Dinosaur Tail Found Preserved in Amber

-This is a good guide with lots of good recipes. The Search is Over: This Map Will Find Your Sugar Cookie Soulmate

-I want this.

-Now I know where I have seen you before. Scientists Think Your Face Evolved to Look Like an Ape’s Butt

-Why Nutrition News Contradicts Itself All the Time. One day my diet is super healthy and the next, I am probably going to die cause of it. Damned if you do, damned if you don't. (nah, I think I am good)

-A Brighter Outlook Could Translate To A Longer Life. Doing it

-I get excited every year when this list comes out (I know, I a dork). NPR’s Book Concierge Our Guide To 2016’s Great Reads

Picture fun time.

I made him throw this sock away..... It was time.

Have a fantasticday.