Every year, the second weekend in August, the Stem family , siblings, cousins, even my 94 year old grandmother makes the trip from Easton PA, come together at, what we call, “the cabin.” (It’s more a house, but it started out as a cabin) . Its a little crazy, but such a good fun time.
This cabin, oh this place is magic. The air, the tree’s the streams, the mountains, and of course the people. It’s all the things that I love about life. Some of my earliest memories are from this place. Hanging out with my siblings, running around the meadow or through the woods. Playing in the swinging holes. My grandfather pulling taffy or making orange juice box houses with my grandmother. The giant rocking chair that my uncle made and all of us kids used to play on. So many camp fires and s mores. There are just so many memories because it’s been a part of my life, my whole life. It’s one of my favorite places in the world.
A little background on the place (what I can remember) Sometime in the late 70’s, my uncle and my grandparents bought a big chunk of land on the side of a mountain in the middle of nowhere Vt. After doing some clearing of trees, they went to building a cabin. (my aunt, grandmother, and dad helped a bit too). It was amazing, but quaint. A 2 story situation with a kitchen living area and one door to get in and out. At some point my grandparent ended up selling their share to my uncle and he took over the entry of the place. Over the years my uncle, (who is a carpenter, furniture designer,design professor, and all out crazy amazing person), continured to work on the place. He has added on a kitchen, a second floor bathroom, new this, and that, but never has it once felt like a patchworker pieced together place. And now the place is more like a amazing craftsman home, with just the right touches of cabin, but with two running toilets, a beautiful kitchen, electricity and running water ( There is even internet access, which sucks, but still).It is a little gem nestled on a side of a tiny mountain in one the most beautiful places.
So an awesome cabin in the woods with a bunch of crazy, but awesome people= Stem family reunion.
Here are some pictures of the shenanigans..
What a week. Was it summer where you are this week as well? I mean jeez, talk about one extreme to another. Oh well, at least the world has turned green, the winter stuff is completely out of sight and I found the box that contained all of my shorts and summery clothes (pants and long sleeves in 90 degrees is just gross) And honestly, it’s been great. In between work, chores and just plan old being busy, we have manage to get a few bike rides and long walks in. Plus all the veggie starts are doing great, the flowers are coming up everywhere and life just has a little bit more of a relaxed feeling. So what if my allergies are turning my face into big red puff or that the past few night have been so hot that the act of sitting has caused me to break a sweat. I’ll take it.
Oh and I can’t forget….
Happy Mother’s Day ladies!!!!
Here I give you a few thing from the internet this week …
– I didn’t believe they were paintings at first. Hyper-realistic Cactus Paintings that Bristle with Detail by Kwang-Ho Lee
-I’ll take any one of these The 5 Fanciest French Press Coffeemakers We Could Find
-Love love the floors in This house.
-Spending a bit of time making summer camping plans here…Vermont State Parks. I can’t wait to get the tent out!
-I think this should be happening everywhere. Recycled Drinking Water: Getting Past the Yuck Factor
– And there is this. ABC Brings Muppets Back To Prime Time As News Emerges About Fall Shows
And that, here are a few pictures from the week.
My boys. I long socks and sneakers… these guys know cool. Took the super cutie cuties out for an ice cream cone.Our first bike ride picnic down on the waterfront. I love bike ride picnics!So many succulents. I didn’t actually buy any because I need to stop being a plant whore.I have made a batch of this stuff evey day this week. I can’t stop eating it, it’s like eating summer. So good
Have a wonderful day and to all that it applies to…
Happy Moms Day!
-C
It’s been a long, packed, but very fantastic week. Everyday has been full of work, chores, family, and trying to get in a least one good bike ride or walk in. I made a list of a few important points to mention from the past week.
Spring is real, not an imagined season in my head. (HOORAY!!!!).
Banana ice cream is everyones favorite snack
Planting things from seed and watching them grow is magic
Riding a bike with kinda flat tires really sucks
The little people in my family are the best most fantastic humans
Don’t tell a 2 year that ants will bite her or you will end up caring that child around everywhere because she is afraid to walk outside (Anyone know good therapist for a 2 year old?)
Anyways, I am hoping to take it easy today, catch up on my coffee consumption, do a bit of gardening, reading, bike riding, all without pressure or expectations. Everyone should have a day for no expectations.
Some fun internet stuff from the week.
-I need an RV or camper. THE BRAVE // vintage rv renovation inspiration
-Who cares if not everyone is pleased, I would be if my lunch bags looked like this. These Parents Make Lovely Lunch Bag Art. Not Everyone Is Pleased
-So lovely. Urban Jewelry: New Lace Street Art by NeSpoon
-Alternative energy Woo Hoo! Tesla’s Powerwall Home Battery Wants to Make Fossil Fuels Obsolete
-I am really excited to make this… I have a feeling that I will be incorporating it into many of my recipes. ChefSteps’ Genius Roasted Onion Cream
-Another house that I could get down with.
And a few pictures….
The mister and the worlds biggest crayon, which is made of scraps of blue crayons from all over the world. I could totally use a big ass crayon like this.The coolest most badass 95 year old lady that I know (I know a few), Grammy Stem. And the little, getting a lift. (I could have used a lift too!)Brothers. The guy in the green is my Dad.Aftre dinner ice cream break.The sky has been on point all week longAnd made myself some veggie chips. The colors alone are delicious.
Have a great day!
-C.
And I am home. The mister and I woke up at 2:15 am Friday morning to drive to Easton PA and spend the weekend with family, going to the Crayola crayon factory, wondering a grave yard, and hearing some fantastic stories about my family from the mouth of my 95 year old grandmother. (I’ll show some pictures and tell you some stuff later this week) Than we drove back late last night… I don’t know how I am even awake right now…I am sooooo much tired! But that’s how I work I guess. The coffee is almost ready, calling my name, telling me its totally cool to drink it all.
I’ll leave you with a few little internet things I liked this week..
– I just love looking at other peoples homes. Treehouse in the city
– These puppies make me think of my little nephew., he is in love with bulldogs. 20+ Beautiful Bulldog Puppies That Will Melt Your Heart
-Holy Shit YES!!!! ‘Full House’ Reunion on Netflix Is Officially Happening
-How cool would to find one of these? New Urban Geodes on the Streets of L.A. by Paige Smith
-I don’t know if I would want to stick stuff on these shelves.These Wall Shelves are Dollhouses for Adults
– And if you need a push…On Your Mark, Get Set, Grow: A Guide To Speedy Vegetables
A few pictures from earlier in the week..
My forsythia bush in from of one of my houses… Always the first one to bloom. This is how washer sleeps in the warmer months.. All feet in the air. I ate it all and it was good. Two pretty ladiesVeggies Plants!!!!
So yeah, I am tired and happy and in need of a day to processing, lounge and drink tons of coffee.
Hope your weekend was fantastic and today brings all the whatever you want and more.
-C
Oh do I love a good Sunday. The picture above was taken last Sunday and what a glorious day that was. The mister and I took the pup hiking and it was the most spectacular of days. Sunny, 30 degrees and no wind..I could’t have asked for better weather.
The rest of the week turned out alright. The weather went back to hell again and I was a little frantic and super busy, but all in all, good. I accomplished some things that needed to be done and got to spend time with just about everyone in my family. The highlight was when my sister slept over and we finally watched the Fault in our Stars while eating lots of food, cuddled together on the couch. (movie was good, but book was better. Books are always better) We then woke up early the next day and we (the mister too) journeyed across state lines to the closest Target where we purchased some hand soap, 2 seltzer waters and 2 jars of baby food. (I needed the jars) On our way out, the lady experienced her first ever taco from the taco bell in the food court before heading back to Vt. We spent the car ride singing terrible pop songs and eating the babyhood (Blueberries and sweet potato, and yes, they are tasty) We then came back tom my house, listened to more awesome music while she did her homework and I played on the computer and made dinner. It was the best.
Heres a few of this weeks happy bits from the internet.
– I will be making these wire baskets this week. I need storage and I love a good wire basket.
-I have been ending up on this website every night..Making plans
-I need this shirt!!! Feel free to buy it for me!
-Throw Back Song!… And yes, I was sure I was going to be Mrs. Zac Hanson when I was 11.
-My sister sent me this link, Wool and the Gang. So cool.
-These pictures made me laugh. I end up with veggies like this all the time.
And here are a few pictures of my real life happy…..
Playing on the frozen lake. It was so freaking cold and windy, but we just had to do it!
Beach stairs. Hopefully soon they will be a little less icy and maybe even lead to some sand and not waist high drifts of snow.
Two of my favorite people in the world.
And I made brunch with 2 more of my favorites.
My little brothers (can I say little if they are bigger then me?) came over and we all had dinner together while listening to music from when they were born. Nothing like a few 17 year olds to make a person feel old.
Blooming daffodils. I love to watch my flowers open up, it’s just as good as the flower itself.
Have the best first week of March ever!!!
-C
Oh boy we made it! Ate our way through another Thanksgiving. I hope yours was a good as mine, lot of family and friends…an abundance of pies, and lot of warm lovely goodness.
So now what?? Is there a butt load of laundry waiting to be washed and the floors are in need of mopping after dropping that pie? Are you eagerly anticipating the departure of your quests, in-laws, or your own departure from your current digs? Or are you just plan looking forward to getting your house clean and life back to normal? (I hear that).Maybe you are the guest and are dreading the day after food and booze hangover and don’t want to be rude, but don’t want to get out of bed. Well you are in luck cause I have declared this day, the day after Thanksgiving, Left Over Friday!
I always feel the great build up to any major holiday, get to the day, have a wonderful time, then feel the crash. My house is messy. I have used all of my clean dish towels and every dish and pan is in the wrong place in the kitchen. .I really need a rug for the front door to collect snow.(my floor is nasty) and the refrigerator looks like a food bob went off inside. There is so much to do and I need a break. For those who spend the week(s) before thanksgiving gearing up, planning, and stressing out about producing this one great feast for this one day of the year, I am suggesting to you and myself that we take this day to let it all out. A day of decompression. Go head, let everyone eat leftover pie for breakfasts. Why not stay in your pjs all day reading and drinking coffee. Maybe like me, you feel like cleaning. Go for it, but why not slap on some sweet tunes and a hit that stack of dishes dancing with no expectations. If you don’t get to all those pots, well there is always tomorrow. Say you are a guest, then maybe you try not to be demanding of your host(s) but suggest a hike or even a movie. And if you want to go shopping, well that one is on you. If it makes happy to shop with a bunch of crazy people, then go to town. Whatever you do today, just remember to take it easy.Do what makes you feel good.. It’s ok to take a break, to let things be, to enjoy your friends and loved ones, but let them take care of themselves and you take care of you.
Now Saturday..well there is no excuse. We both know that leaving those pots any longer and they might not ever be right again. You might not want you littles eating pie for breakfast lunch and dinner for the third straight day. Maybe you should do the laundry so you’re not using your bath towels to dry the dishes. And anyway, its time to start planing for the next major holiday craziness. Hey, I know I am already excited! Today I might even dig out some Christmas decor…but with no pressure, just cause I want to!
Take care of yourself and enjoy today.. Left Over Friday!!!!!!
Just a few ideas for the Thanksgiving leftovers…….
Mashed potato pancakes..Add an egg and a 1/4 cup of flour for every cup of mashed potato. Season with salt and pepper
Cranberry sauce and rolls….Spread the cranberry sauce on a toasted roll
Squash Soup….Throw into a big pot with a little veggie stock or water, even a bit of curried powder would be nice
Roasted Veggie Salad….Toss veggies together with a touch of vinegar and add to a bed of green.
Smashed stuffing cheese sandwich.…2 cups of stuffing and 1 egg. Mix and separate into 2 balls. Smoosh them down and cook each side in a frying pan. When both sides are cooked through, place a bit of you choice or cheese on one smash and top with the other. Let melt.
Turkey wrap…add a scoop of hummus and stick into a wrap with some greens
Pie yogurt…..Mix a slice into a cup of plain yogurt
Sweet potatoes… Save them. I’ll give you an amazing recipe tomorrow for a Sweet potato Coconut custard. It will blow you mind!
THE LOVELY CRAZY
September 19, 2015 by maximios • Blog
Every year, the second weekend in August, the Stem family , siblings, cousins, even my 94 year old grandmother makes the trip from Easton PA, come together at, what we call, “the cabin.” (It’s more a house, but it started out as a cabin) . Its a little crazy, but such a good fun time.
This cabin, oh this place is magic. The air, the tree’s the streams, the mountains, and of course the people. It’s all the things that I love about life. Some of my earliest memories are from this place. Hanging out with my siblings, running around the meadow or through the woods. Playing in the swinging holes. My grandfather pulling taffy or making orange juice box houses with my grandmother. The giant rocking chair that my uncle made and all of us kids used to play on. So many camp fires and s mores. There are just so many memories because it’s been a part of my life, my whole life. It’s one of my favorite places in the world.
A little background on the place (what I can remember) Sometime in the late 70’s, my uncle and my grandparents bought a big chunk of land on the side of a mountain in the middle of nowhere Vt. After doing some clearing of trees, they went to building a cabin. (my aunt, grandmother, and dad helped a bit too). It was amazing, but quaint. A 2 story situation with a kitchen living area and one door to get in and out. At some point my grandparent ended up selling their share to my uncle and he took over the entry of the place. Over the years my uncle, (who is a carpenter, furniture designer,design professor, and all out crazy amazing person), continured to work on the place. He has added on a kitchen, a second floor bathroom, new this, and that, but never has it once felt like a patchworker pieced together place. And now the place is more like a amazing craftsman home, with just the right touches of cabin, but with two running toilets, a beautiful kitchen, electricity and running water ( There is even internet access, which sucks, but still).It is a little gem nestled on a side of a tiny mountain in one the most beautiful places.
So an awesome cabin in the woods with a bunch of crazy, but awesome people= Stem family reunion.
Here are some pictures of the shenanigans..
Oh and I can’t forget….
Happy Mother’s Day ladies!!!!
Here I give you a few thing from the internet this week …
– I didn’t believe they were paintings at first. Hyper-realistic Cactus Paintings that Bristle with Detail by Kwang-Ho Lee
-I’ll take any one of these The 5 Fanciest French Press Coffeemakers We Could Find
-Love love the floors in This house.
-Spending a bit of time making summer camping plans here…Vermont State Parks. I can’t wait to get the tent out!
-I think this should be happening everywhere. Recycled Drinking Water: Getting Past the Yuck Factor
– And there is this. ABC Brings Muppets Back To Prime Time As News Emerges About Fall Shows
And that, here are a few pictures from the week.
Have a wonderful day and to all that it applies to…
Happy Moms Day!
-C
Anyways, I am hoping to take it easy today, catch up on my coffee consumption, do a bit of gardening, reading, bike riding, all without pressure or expectations. Everyone should have a day for no expectations.
Some fun internet stuff from the week.
-I need an RV or camper. THE BRAVE // vintage rv renovation inspiration
-Who cares if not everyone is pleased, I would be if my lunch bags looked like this. These Parents Make Lovely Lunch Bag Art. Not Everyone Is Pleased
-So lovely. Urban Jewelry: New Lace Street Art by NeSpoon
-Alternative energy Woo Hoo! Tesla’s Powerwall Home Battery Wants to Make Fossil Fuels Obsolete
-I am really excited to make this… I have a feeling that I will be incorporating it into many of my recipes. ChefSteps’ Genius Roasted Onion Cream
-Another house that I could get down with.
And a few pictures….
Have a great day!
-C.
I’ll leave you with a few little internet things I liked this week..
– I just love looking at other peoples homes. Treehouse in the city
– These puppies make me think of my little nephew., he is in love with bulldogs. 20+ Beautiful Bulldog Puppies That Will Melt Your Heart
-Holy Shit YES!!!! ‘Full House’ Reunion on Netflix Is Officially Happening
-How cool would to find one of these? New Urban Geodes on the Streets of L.A. by Paige Smith
-I don’t know if I would want to stick stuff on these shelves.These Wall Shelves are Dollhouses for Adults
– And if you need a push…On Your Mark, Get Set, Grow: A Guide To Speedy Vegetables
A few pictures from earlier in the week..
So yeah, I am tired and happy and in need of a day to processing, lounge and drink tons of coffee.
Hope your weekend was fantastic and today brings all the whatever you want and more.
-C
The rest of the week turned out alright. The weather went back to hell again and I was a little frantic and super busy, but all in all, good. I accomplished some things that needed to be done and got to spend time with just about everyone in my family. The highlight was when my sister slept over and we finally watched the Fault in our Stars while eating lots of food, cuddled together on the couch. (movie was good, but book was better. Books are always better) We then woke up early the next day and we (the mister too) journeyed across state lines to the closest Target where we purchased some hand soap, 2 seltzer waters and 2 jars of baby food. (I needed the jars) On our way out, the lady experienced her first ever taco from the taco bell in the food court before heading back to Vt. We spent the car ride singing terrible pop songs and eating the babyhood (Blueberries and sweet potato, and yes, they are tasty) We then came back tom my house, listened to more awesome music while she did her homework and I played on the computer and made dinner. It was the best.
Heres a few of this weeks happy bits from the internet.
– I will be making these wire baskets this week. I need storage and I love a good wire basket.
-I have been ending up on this website every night..Making plans
-I need this shirt!!! Feel free to buy it for me!
-Throw Back Song!… And yes, I was sure I was going to be Mrs. Zac Hanson when I was 11.
-My sister sent me this link, Wool and the Gang. So cool.
-These pictures made me laugh. I end up with veggies like this all the time.
And here are a few pictures of my real life happy…..
Beach stairs. Hopefully soon they will be a little less icy and maybe even lead to some sand and not waist high drifts of snow.
Have the best first week of March ever!!!
-C
So now what?? Is there a butt load of laundry waiting to be washed and the floors are in need of mopping after dropping that pie? Are you eagerly anticipating the departure of your quests, in-laws, or your own departure from your current digs? Or are you just plan looking forward to getting your house clean and life back to normal? (I hear that).Maybe you are the guest and are dreading the day after food and booze hangover and don’t want to be rude, but don’t want to get out of bed. Well you are in luck cause I have declared this day, the day after Thanksgiving, Left Over Friday!
I always feel the great build up to any major holiday, get to the day, have a wonderful time, then feel the crash. My house is messy. I have used all of my clean dish towels and every dish and pan is in the wrong place in the kitchen. .I really need a rug for the front door to collect snow.(my floor is nasty) and the refrigerator looks like a food bob went off inside. There is so much to do and I need a break. For those who spend the week(s) before thanksgiving gearing up, planning, and stressing out about producing this one great feast for this one day of the year, I am suggesting to you and myself that we take this day to let it all out. A day of decompression. Go head, let everyone eat leftover pie for breakfasts. Why not stay in your pjs all day reading and drinking coffee. Maybe like me, you feel like cleaning. Go for it, but why not slap on some sweet tunes and a hit that stack of dishes dancing with no expectations. If you don’t get to all those pots, well there is always tomorrow. Say you are a guest, then maybe you try not to be demanding of your host(s) but suggest a hike or even a movie. And if you want to go shopping, well that one is on you. If it makes happy to shop with a bunch of crazy people, then go to town. Whatever you do today, just remember to take it easy.Do what makes you feel good.. It’s ok to take a break, to let things be, to enjoy your friends and loved ones, but let them take care of themselves and you take care of you.
Now Saturday..well there is no excuse. We both know that leaving those pots any longer and they might not ever be right again. You might not want you littles eating pie for breakfast lunch and dinner for the third straight day. Maybe you should do the laundry so you’re not using your bath towels to dry the dishes. And anyway, its time to start planing for the next major holiday craziness. Hey, I know I am already excited! Today I might even dig out some Christmas decor…but with no pressure, just cause I want to!
Take care of yourself and enjoy today.. Left Over Friday!!!!!!
Just a few ideas for the Thanksgiving leftovers…….