It is kind of hard to believe that it is October already. I thought I was ready, but I feel a little like I am falling behind. There is so much fall stuff to do and I need to do it all. Like hiking up all the mountains and then a lot of sitting in a pile of bright fall leaves, wrapped in blankets, wearing my coziest socks, drinking hot drinks, and reading/knitting/napping. All three at once, while the apple and pumpkin things bake and the little paper bats hanging from the ceiling sway in the breeze. Yeah, that sounds about right. And I am getting some of it done, just need to get more of it done. Especially the napping. Haha.
Last week, camping at Zack Woods Pond, was for sure, some of the best we ever have done. Before we got to the middle of nowhere that was camp, we stopped at a harvest festival and did some poking around. Found letters for all the games, a washing machine, and unicorns. Then we drove away some more and checked out a chunk of land that we want to buy but won%u2019t because it is almost unaccessible in the best of times, so yeah no, not gonna work. But the search continues. After the land we headed to the place where we were camping but got a little lost. We had to go to a nearby state park to talk to the ranger and get a hand drawn map to find the place. Well hidden to say the least, but we found it and pretty sure not many other people know about it because we didn%u2019t see a soul. It felt like we had the entire world to ourselves. And oh was it beautiful. The colors were starting to pop, the air was crisp and clean and brisk. The campsite was, well it was a small rock fire pit and trees. Perfection. After setting up the tent we took the kayaks out on the pond and paddled around in all the greatness that was there. Then we hiked around and the hung out by the fire because it was cold. Had dinner facing the pond and all the pretty trees, then the mr did a little sunset fishing. More campfire sitting and off to bed. As it got dark out a couple girls ended up having a fire or something that far away where we couldn%u2019t see them, but we know it was a couple girls because they were very LOUD. And annoying, but they only stayed for an hour or so and their echoing mouths were gone and it was back to being the most silent night and back to sleep. Then the painful part. Waking up the next morning. 33 degrees was the number of the air. We didn%u2019t complain but we did packed up really fast, jumped into the car, and blasted the heat. Cozy and warm and full of happy outdoor feelings. The best way to start a week.
Back home the days did their thing. Work, dealing with stupid stuff, me breaking everything. I dropped my camera and smashed the lens. My phone all of a sudden didn%u2019t want to work right and the battery is now basically dead. The shower head decided to break mid shower and spray water all over the freaking place. I broke a chunk of finger off pugging clay at the studio. Then the stem of my pumpkin broke off right before I broke a flower pot. All not the worst individually, but goodness gracious, give me a freaking break.. Ah hahaha. Oh well. Shit break I guess.
Other then all that, there was a 14th birthday party for Alex. I found a new cute pyrex bowl for 50 cent which made me happy. I went down to the farm mid week and picked bags and bags of parsley to freeze for the winter. Then there was actual farm share with celeriac back in rotation! I worked at the studio (the chunk of my finger is still there), did another birthday party for Coco, who is now 3, and took the littles pumpkin picking with the mr and Barb as per our tradition. They got their jack o lantern pumpkins, I got me my pie pumpkins, and we found a garden snake. A game of tether ball and that was that. I came home after dropping them off and spent the day trying to warm up because it was freezing. And yeah I know,I could turn the heat on but no, not yet. I refuse to turn the heat on for at least 3 more weeks. November 1st. Until then, all the sweaters and socks will have to do to keep me warm.
Today we are doing it, camping at Branbury State Park, even though it miiiight rain. Hoping that it holds off until at least 830 tonight (we will be in the tent by then) or maybe even until we wake up in the morning and are on our way home? That would be great. We will see, and either way it will be good. And not going is not an option. There are only 2 more weekends of camping before everything closes up and it starts to snow. Yup, before it snows. That is happening and I don%u2019t think I can convince the mr to set up the tent in the snow.
Links from the week from the internet of stuff.
-All the pretty colors! What Causes Leaves To Change Color?
-Got a garden? These are the Frost Tolerance of Vegetables. My tomatoes are caput but the chard is looking oh so fine.
–How Gen-Z Is Dealing With a Looming Climate Apocalypse. Yup, shits hitting the fan and everyone knows it,
-Kneadable erasers are the best and I guess work for more then there attended purpose. The best $1.50 I ever spent: a kneadable eraser
-Swetaer weather for sure, but what is sweater weather? What %u201cSweater Weather%u201d Is
–The Female Founders Disrupting the Vagina Economy. Of course they are not.
-Philip Pullman and his dark materials. A new book. I an SO EXCITED, I might just buy it!!! ‘The Secret Commonwealth’
–How to charge your devices the right way. I have been doing it wrong for so long.
-I am good. Actually, even better then good. I change towels pretty much every day. Here%u2019s How Often You Should Be IWashing Your Dish Towels, According to Microbiologists
-I am in love with this little place.
Pictures from the week.
Not just sweater weather, which it had been all week and I am LOVING IT, but it%u2019s lamp light weather too. I forgot that I had all these fantastic lights around my house and yesterday when it was dark out at 6 (it was raining so the sky was cloudy) I got to turn on a couple lamps that haven%u2019t had any action in months. It was soooo nice and cozy. This my friends, this is the best time of year!
Camping last week was great and not so great. The campground was pretty, but our fellows campers were very rawdy and loud and there was a party at the picnic pavilion that had a shitty classic rock cover band playing. The noisy people and shitty music echoed through the park for longer then anyone should have had to deal with it. But I guess that happens, especially on a long holiday weekend. And really, besides the buttheads, we had fun. We went for a nice hike through the woods and into giant fields of wildflowers and goldenrod then spent some great time in the kayaks on a nearby lake (away from all the people). Plus after eating dinner and then packing it in for the night, we didn%u2019t get soaking wet, which we could tell by the many car doors slamming and people screaming at 1am , a good few people did. Our tent stayed nice and dry inside and we even managed to stay dry when we got out of the tent and and realized it was sitting in a giant puddle. We even managed to stayed pretty dry packing up and getting on our way home, in the rain! It%u2019s because we are good at coming I guess.
Then the rest of the week came and went in a fast blur. Mostly some same. Had lunch with Barb, cleaned apartments for new tenants,, made cards for artwork, picked up farm share, and you know, other life stuff. I have been busy in the kitchen harvesting garden food and canning or freezing it as well. Trying to stock up on as much food as I can for the winter. Then the littles slept over Friday. We watched Dumb and Dumber and I fell asleep on the couch. Woke up made waffles (I was so excited to use my waffle iron. It%u2019s been too long) and sent them on their way home to be moody tweens because that is now happening.
Oh, and I can%u2019t forget about how some little shithead smashed in the back of our car. Yup, that happened too. But that is pretty much it. I think%u2026.
Now for today. Mt Auscunty State park if all goes to plan. Should be a fun one with lots of hiking and a big high tower and stuff. I know it is gonna get mighty cold tonight so I am packing my winter long underwear and a jacket, hat, and mittens. So excited!
Links to explore on the internet.
–Doctors are now prescribing houseplants to help treat anxiety and depression. Makes a whole heck of a lot of sense to me. And why not try this simple remedy before trying a bunch of drugs?
-I wasn’t;t surprised much when I read this. Junky processed food is so bad, especially if it is all you eat. .19-Year-Old Goes Blind Due to Diet of Pringles, Bread, Fries, and Processed Meats
–Lush Botanical Forms Translated Into Abstract Embroideries%u00a0. So very pretty.
-Another good reason to ditch that pessimistic attitude and to look at he bright side of things. It doesn%u2019t hurt to try. Optimists For The Win: Finding The Bright Side Might Help You Live Longer
–Why do clowns creep us out?%u00a0Because they are creepy, that is why.
-I want, no, I need this cabin. Totally Off-the-Grid Cabin in the New Hampshire Woods
–This Apple Might Be the Most Anticipated Piece of Produce in History. I heard about this apple few years ago. I wonder if it%u2019s gonna live up tp all the hype. We shall see.
-Why don%u2019t we have one of these? The Otter: The 1950s Amphibious Caravan That Time Forgot!
–Can Bullet Journaling Save You? I am a list maker in all the ways. I a ma doodler to no end. I love pretty things and I love hand writing and have a ton of sketch books but besides the occasional list of note in a sketch book, I have never really gotten into Buju. It%u2019s to time sensitive I think, for me anyway.
–Squeeze in a Quick Nap at Work with This Under-Desk Hammock. A new way to sleep on the job. HA.
Pictures from the week.
For the past few days the mr has been telling everyone that yesterday was the official last day of Summer. For some reason he truly thinks September first is the first day of fall. It%u2019s not true as you probably know (the last day of summer is September 22nd) but around here is sure is starting to feel a lot like fall so I%u2019ll take it.
Last weekend camping was a blast. First we headed to Maidstone, the most remote state park in Vt. Left early in the morning, stopped at a yard sale or two then drove down a very long and bumpy dirt road until we got there.. Maidstone was amazing, a big lake in the middle of nowhere off the edge of nowhere in the nowheres of the NEK. The weather was amazing, our campsite was cool with wooden stairs, the hiking was fantastic, and the loons were all loud and vociferous. And the weather, it was just perfect. Cool and partly cloudy. I got to wear a sweater while hiking and pull on my wool socks in the evening. There are few things that can top a cool night under the stars with the sound of water lapping the shore and loons making sweet loon noises all night and right now I can%u2019t think of them.
After waking up maybe a weee bit to early (I can%u2019t help it), we packed up and headed to the next park, Brighton. A pond in little town still in the middle of nowhere, although it felt more somewhere then Maidstone due to the fact that there was a store and a gas station in town. And there was an actual town. We stopped and walked around the little neighborhood and along the train tracks then we found a few little hiking trails in random places, and hiked them. The mr did some fishing, I did a lot of reading, all before we even got the the park at lunch time. Once we got there, the usual occurred with a good hike, chillin by the fire, eating food, and after being out and about all over for the past few days, we were dead beat. So we crawled into the tent as soon as the sun set and passed the F out. Woke up freezing and happy but then kind of sad. Had to get on getting on home.
Then we were home. The mr went straight away to work, I might have passed out a little bit, but then stuff needed doing so I got on that.
As far as the rest of the week, there was the last day of summer vacation surprise dinner and park play we had with the littles which was followed by first day of school. I spent a good chunk of time finishing up a bunch of rainbows (and clouds) and installed them for Art Hop next week. The floors at the apartment were sanded (the mr all the way) and are now in the process of being urethaned. I picked up farm share (I missed it last week so I was running scarily low on veggies), maintained a casual relationship with my own garden, and watched the 15 foot tall sunflower in the front yard bloom. Did this and that and ran all over. Typical stuff.
Now we are back to Sunday again and we are raring and ready. Gonna grab the camping stuff, toss the kayaks on the car, and head out. Going south this weekend to lake Bomoseem. I am very much excited. The weather looks terrific for the day, (it is suppose to rain in the middle of the night but that is totally fine) and we are just ready to be out of town for the day again. And hopefully tomorrow being labor day and all we can not do to much and just chill. Rainy and cool. Perfect weather for a blanket, a book, and hot coffee all day long. I might even get some knitting out%u2026..
Internet for you.
–The Life of a Person Who Wakes Up Really, Really Early. That%u2019s me, an extreme lark!
-If I ever need to plant grass. A Miracle No Mow Grass. Actually looks so nice and soft.
–The Difference Between Pepitas & Pumpkin%u00a0Seeds. Nope, they are not the same but kinda are?
-Could you imagine nit having a summer vacation from school? Honestly, I think I would rather have a winter vacation, or 4 smaller vacations if I had a choice I the matter. The Case For Summer Vacation
-It%u2019s back. A short cultural history of tie-dye
–On Being a Great Aunt. I am a great aunt%u2026 right? I think so anyway.
-Among other things I want to protect myself from Gwyenth. Dr. Jen Gunter Wants to Protect Your Vagina From Gwyneth Paltrow
–FOR THE CHAIR COLLECTORS OUT THERE. Love a good chair.
-We are drowning in plastic. U.S. Recycling Industry Is Struggling To Figure Out A Future Without China
–Battle of the Bubbles. I should have started a seltzer water business when I had the idea 10 years ago. Oh well.
Pictures from the week.
Basically we just got back from a long camping weekend and I am dead tired. In between all the hiking, meandering, and not sleeping due to my pointy bones and a mr that snores but is snoring especially loud these days (allergies), I am ready to bed myself. But it was a blast. Now all I need is a shower, a good night sleep, and to check on the garden, then I will be ready to get back out there. I love me the great outdoors!
Being shit ass tired, I am giving myself a pass on accounting caompetley for last week. Basically is was crazy, the mr was crazy, I was crazy. We didn%u2019t go camping. The bar top is in an looking oh so fine. We had food with people. I loaded kilns, the mr worked all over town, we watched my skyscraper sunflower grow even bigger, and baked cupcakes with the littles. That was the gist of it, I think. Basically, just look at the pictures because that is how I remember what I did. HA. (for real) As for this past weekend camping pictures, I get to those later.
And since it%u2019s already Monday, we are already back at it. I got bills bills bill and lots of paperwork to get through today. There is food to process, dentist appointments to go to, art work that needs to be hung for art hop, on top of an apartment floor we need to remove carpet from, sand, and urethane by the end of the week. So yeah, gonna get on that. But first I nap!
The pictures from the week.
Holy shit. I am so hot. Like heated to the very depths of my soul and can%u2019t even think straight, hot. And It sucks, but what can we do about it? (Apparently I can bitch about it. Ha!)
We started the week off in the woods doing the camp thing. The park, Allis State Park, was just gorgeous. Nice and quite, lush and green, with a really cool fire tower with views for days. (I climbed it, the mr stayed on solid ground) The weather was amazing and it really was just what we needed. We went for a good hike, made lentils and zucchini for dinner, then just hung around and chilled by the fire. The perfect start to camping season even though I forgot my camp clothes. We were coming from a visit that required me to look decent and I forgot to pack a change of clothes and only grabbed my thin thermal underwear that I sleep in. But lucky me, the mr let me wear his extra shirt so I managed alright. That mr. Always looking out for me.
Back in town we did life as usual although with the heat and all we, especially me, have functioned at a much slower pace. We did manage to go for a bike ride lunch, another couple small hikes, and pick lots of flowers on top of feeding Megans cat everyday. And my garden is growing at a rapid pace and is now on the verge of being overcome by the onslaught of weeds. I just haven%u2019t wanted to spend to much time weeding this week because again, heat and all. Other then that, same old, same old.
Friday I was really excited to spend the afternoon working at the studio. But when I got there, all the kilns were on and reaching maximum temperature so the studio was a bit toasted warm and not the pleasant cool I was looking forward to. After work, the mr and littles picked me up, (they just went to the movies and were complaining how cold it was%u2026 brat faces) we went home and I made them pasta because I couldn%u2019t do much more. They played in the sprinkler then we tried to walk around the block but they just couldn%u2019t make it around because of the heat, then Miley felt sick and had to go home. So the mr and Judah brought her home and went to get supplies. Ice cream and chips. We ended up watching Kindergarten Cop which I haven%u2019t seen in like 20 years (it was terrible and Judah loved it) then made Judah a bed in our room so we could all crank the ac for the night and not melt.
Woke up, did the pancakes, went on a few errands, and dropped the boy off to his air conditioned family. Then the heat really just plowed me over. My brain tuned to mush, I cleaned a bit, picked blackberries from the yard, and basically just laid around on the floor and sweated. It was nasty and I was miserable. Meanwhile the mr was outside mowing the lawn because he is a glutton for punishment. And crazy. And that was the day. I was showered and locked away in the bedroom with the ac on by 7. And it was nice.
Currently sitting in the living room, with no ac, at 4am and the tempature is 87. It%u2019s just not right.
Going onwards with the day we are headed back into the woods again and I am optimistic. Camping by a lake in a forest so we should be semi cool?? Or less hot then right now I hope. At the very least we can jump into water. But I am pretty sure the heat, or at least the humidity is going to break today. It has to or else I am a goner.
Hope you al are holding up better then I am. HAHA!
Linkage from the net.
-I am in the Spice Girl Generation. And yes, I loved them and still do. The Rise of the Spice Girls Generation
-The mr and I have been going back and forth between new sleeping pads or an inflatable mattress or just using yoga mats for camping%u2026. Maybe the hammock is the way to go. Camping hammocks free you from tent tyranny
–How changes in barometric pressure affect the human body. I am so so so sensitive to it. I get head pressure and joint aches when it fluctuates. It%u2019s annoying.
–Why Do We Yawn? Reading about yawning makes people yawn. You are probably yawning right now. I totally yawned.
-It is so hot so you should know exactly what your options are. What%u2019s the Difference Between Ice Cream, Gelato, Sorbet, and Sherbet?
-There’s An Explanation For Why You Always Get Sick During Time Off. I don%u2019t get %u201csick%u201d per say, but I definitely crash after a long stint of work.
-What the holy fuck. Arby%u2019s mocks the fake meat trend with vegetables made out of meat (or %u201cmegetables%u201d) But pretty dang funny.
-I love a good tile floor. Who doesn’t? CHECKERED PAST.
–Hiiiiii! THIS is how texting has changed grammar & the way we communicate. I think by now we all know that a period at the end of a text is hostile. HA
-This could be my calling, or just a good way to get out of the country for a few years because, well you know. New vacancy for sheep dyke warden
Pictures from the week.
Sometime you look back at a week and think, blah, or whatever, or that sucked. This week I look back and smile. It was a good week. Nothing to special, just springy and warm. I got to hang out with my peoples, see the world turn green and lush, and I didn’t stress too much about anything because what is the point? Plus I bought a single pink carnation at the grocery store at the beginning of the week for the mr. and every time I see it, I smile a little. Sometimes just a little something something is all we need.
So yeah, the week was good. There was the normal stuff of work and what not but also a fair amount of not work stuff. I saw my moms for Mothers day and brought her food. The mr and I went for some long walks that did not involve any outdoor clothing (just normal indoor clothing) We hung out with the littles for a good afternoon of tree house chilling, baby running, three wheeling, and all sorts of other fun. Miley was super pumped to show off her new shoes that are partially gold. She was obsessed and needed to wash them off at the end of the day. Those were the days,when you cared about your shoes? (I am assuming you don%u2019t now , like me, but maybe you do.) Also Barb finally come back to me (school is over so she has time again) me and I feed her soup. Megan also came over for a soup lunch and a walk because that is what we do. (We are a family of eaters and walkers.) I worked on some clay rainbows, planted some more plants, and cleaned under my fingernails. The one big thing that I tried to accomplish and haven%u2019t yet managed is the bike thing. I have been shopping for a new bike and it is so so so HARD! I am not good at buying anything in general, especially when it is for me, and not food, and costs more than 5 bucks. But not just that, it%u2019s that there are so so so many bikes to choose form. I am all like , YIKES! And so I did myself a favor and just gave myself another week to ponder and look and decide. The right bike will present itself when it is suppose to, or when I finally break down and just buy this one.
Yesterday was a good solid day of getting shit done. I got the winter tires changed to summer (thanks Justin!) and hung with Alex while it was happening. We talked music and cassette tapes and how music is everything. Then I went home to the yard and all the massive piles of leaves, dead tree(so sad) and over all lawn degree and the mr and I got it all into the truck to send off to compost land. After hitting the transfer station to offload we made a really quickly stop over to see Anthony getting ready for his prom%u2026.Oh my shit. The kid is like not a kid anymore and was wearing a tux and looking all old and what not. The shinny ass shoes alone were too much for me. (more shoes that need cleaning). How is it possible that I have a sister that is old enough to have a kid that is old enough to be going prom? OH, because I am getting old. That is how. Ha.
And after that, it was back home to finish cleaning and eat dinner and water the garden and feel exhausted but accomplished. I don%u2019t mind being super tired, just as long as I have something to show for it (The yard looks A+ so I am happy)
I think today mainly going to be a work day. The mr has a project that he is in the middle of so he is going to be doing that all day and I have a few things I need to get done and then a ton of other things that need doing as well. Don%u2019t worry, I will be spending some of that time outside with the green things in the dirt, making sure I have sun screen on, listening to some good tunes and drinking coffee like it is going out of style.
The ways of the internet this week.
– The news of abortions and women reproductives rights has been front and center this week. The lengths women have to go to to do what is right for themselves is shameful at best, but basically pretty fucking grotesque. These are the people that are trying to help. The Secret Baby Catchers of Alabama.
–Report: U.S. Navy Cracks Case Of Majestic Sky Dick. Phew. Now we know who to hire for our own sky dick.
-Can%u2019t wait for that new pool to be build around the corner%u2026NOT. And really, didn’t we all know this already? Your Neighborhood Pool Is Full of Unshowered Pee-ers
-A lot of breakfast food in America is basically junk food if you really think about it. Muffins (really cupcakes), pancakes (really cake covered in maple sugar), Pop tarts (pie) yogurt (almost ice cream)%u2026 Its all just desert with a different name. I Broke Breakfast. Americans eat a narrower variety of foods for breakfast than anyone else.%u00a0
-Imagine the magic.. I get feels just thinking about this place. A Fleeting Dandelion Wish Processing Facility Appears For Two Days Outside of Los Angeles
–ECLECTIC DINING STYLE.. I want all the tables and chairs. Just where to put them%u2026%u2026????
-After reading the list, I feel pretty dang awesome cause I clean all that shit! Cleaning Supplies Might be Spreading Dirt Around Here%u2019s How to Clean Them This Weekend
–How Did Chickpea Flour, A Staple Of Indian Cuisine, Become A Health Food Sensation? Because it is amazing. See recipe for Socca.
–Have you tried plogging, the Instagram trend that might be the sustainable sport of the future?. Even if it%u2019s trendy and a way to be cool, well it is pretty cool and great and I am all for it.
–Can %u201cIndie%u201d Social Media Save Us? Something needs too.
Pictures from the week.
What a world wind of the first week of the year. I feel like nothing has happened and everything is happening all at once. With all the holidays birthdays and family gatherings, happy and sad ones%u2026 it has been a lot to take in. I am in serious need of some time hiding away, not that I don%u2019t love everyone and have had loved being around them, its just been a lot and I can only hold it down for so long. You feel me?
We started the week with Judah Birthday (Happy birthday Judah!!!). I made an ice cream cake and the mr slept on the couch for half the day until it was party time. Poor guy, he has got such a heavy sinus infection so he has been feeling like shit all week long. Some days worse then others, and he has been trying to push through but this infection had really taken hold. I have been pushing all my concoctions and tinctures and good stuff into him and I think we are started to see some of the better feeling mr.
New Years was low key as can be. We went for a little drive, a little hike, and that was it. I stayed awake until 9 then passed out which is exactly my kind of night. New Years day was much of the same, went for a long walk to the river, hung around the house trying to get the mr better. and was just so exciting because I got to start a whole new calendar and binder system. Fresh paper, a nice new pen, and not a cluster fuck of a bunch of bills and papers yet. It was like the excitement of shopping for new school supplies. It really made me happy.
After A calm New Years, it was back to the grind. Working and doing the life thing. The littles over a few times for games of Sorry, and trying to french braid Judah%u2019s hair. Sophia came over for a day and helped me repot some plants, spun around in circles on the kitchen floor for like an hour, and hit Barb right in the face with a snow ball. I finally took the tree down and packed up most of the Christmas decorations, deep cleaned the pantry, and made the phone calls I have been dreading making for the past few weeks. Get it done, got it done.
Yesterday was another long ass day. We grabbed our nice shoes (are hiking boots nice shoes?) and climbed back into the car for the 4 hour drive to Rhode Island for Seths Memorial. 150 plus people packed inside his and Pamula%u2019s loft to listen and honor this amazing person. And I must say, it was sad, but so good. So much love and sharing. Music and food and family. Hearing the stories and the way he impacted so many lives, it really was just such a lovely night and really gave me a bit of happiness from such a shitty situation. After hanging at the loft and spending as much time as I could around all the people, the mr and I jumped back into the car and drove on home. By the time we got home, we were pretty trashed. Walked in the door and crashed. That was only just a few hours ago.
And yet I am still awake. I don%u2019t even know how Im still woke up at 4:30 this morning. My brain knows no other way I guess. For the rest of the day, after my 4-6 cups of coffee (I will drink all the coffee and then some today) I am heading to work at the studio for a while, going to do some gym, maybe hit the library, then I need to go grocery shopping because farm share was canceled this week and now I am running dangerously low on food. After that I will probably come home and crash. Yeah, and then off to a fresh week of more family and birthdays and work stuff, but hopefully this week the mr will not be sick, I will catch a little more sleep, and the snow storm that we are suppose to get will actually be and we get 2 feet of snow. That would be just so nice.
Internet from the internet.
-Top sky-watching events coming in 2019. Super blood moon eclipse is my birthday!
-Me. Why Am I Always Cold? I started eating more cooked food a few years back because I would be freezing after I ate.
-Bread inspiration for sure. LEOPARD BREAD
–The 100 Best Pens, As Tested by Strategist Editors. I love pens, really good pens. I draw with then so I have my own little box of special pens that no one is allowed to use besides me.
-We are aassholes. We’ve wasted so much plastic, it’s almost impossible to picture%u2014these charts will help
–When Too Cute Is Too Much, The Brain Can Get Aggressive. Yes, Have threatened to %u201csmoosh%u201d or %u201cpop%u201d a baby or puppies head off. What I find really works is when the feeling strikes, punch the mom, it helps.
–I Keep My Holiday Lights Up All Year Long%u2014Here’s Why You Should, Too. I love my lights, they make me happy.
–Dog influencers are so popular, they need their own talent agency. Hope this dogs are getting a cut of the pay to go towards all the best
-When someone tells me a fact that I might not believe I ask were they got the info from. If they say the internet, I assume there is a 50/50 chance that is is wrong. How Much of the Internet Is Fake? Turns Out, a Lot of It, Actually.
–What Foods Are Banned in Europe but Not Banned in the U.S.? Seems like these food should also be banned in the stare too.. Hum.
What a busy week.
Sunday we spent that day getting our tree which was an experience to say the least. Up in the Green Mountain National Forest, there was 2 feet of snow in places, and it ws freezing pouring rain. It was freaking miserable and I was so so so cold. It was the fastest we have ever picked a tree. We didn’t even hike in to the woods very far. We were drenched and cold (did I say that already) so it was a %u201c find a tree and get the F out of there before we die%u201d type of deal. But we did it, found a snow laden tree, cut it down, dragged it out, wrapped it up in a sheet of plastic (not recommended) and got it on the car before we froze. In the end, we came home with a pretty nice, normal sized tree which we in turn cut to the cutest little tree. Short and fat and a little on the lithe side. Absolute perfection.
And the week was off. Started with a b-day party for So who turned 6 . Baked her a cake but her being so awesome helped me frost and decorate it like a professional. It was also the unofficial start of the mr%u2019s birthday week which means all week I have had to be extra special nice, not nag too much about all the extra coffee cups lying around and to not say anything about the amount of cheese he is eating. I am doing my best but not bitching about the dirty cups has proven to be very much difficult. Ha
Beside it being the mr%u2019s birthday week, we have been busy. I have been running into the studio a lot. Unloading a few kilns, loading them up and trying to get some of my own work done before the holidays. There has been some annoying work and apartment stuff that has had to be dealt with, tire troubles, the mr%u2019s lingering illness. But all is good. And we have had the littles over a few extra times this week for food (always food) and snow flake making. Barb came over to eat. I baked special breakfast scones to smell the good smells and basically tried to stay sane and warm. Oh, and I have been listening to all the Christmas music because yes!
Friday night we had a birthday party for the mr, the kick off of his birthday weekend. I spent the day working then came home really fast to finish making whoopie pies (perfect party dessert). Dinner was grilled cheese and chunky veggie soup because it%u2019s tradition and because the mr really likes to make grilled cheeses. Everyone in the house, kids running around, Christmas tree lit, music playing. We sure do know how to have a good time. And with that my house was trashed, All the dishes dirty, Coco drew all over the floor with crayons, and there was little bits of whoopie pie all over the house. It was very successful and everyone and the mr most importantly, were happy.
Yesterday instead of spending the day cleaning (because it is the mr%u2019s birthday weekend remember. But I did get a 1/2 hour while he had to run out to vacuum up the cake ) we went for a little drive to see the giant middle finger sculpture and get out of the house. Then the littles came back over for a sleep over. Pizza, left over whoopie pies, and stringing popcorn while we watched home alone. (there is popcorn EVERYWHERE!) A perfect birthday slumber party for a 36 year old if I do say so myself. Ha ha But oy, the mess is getting dangerous. There is a serious day of cleaning going on in the near future for sure.
Today is the mr%u2019s birthday eve. Not sure what we are doing today or tomorrow for that matter, but I do know we will have some fun. The littles are still a sleep so I am going to skip on over to the gym until someone wakes up and tells me to come back. Last night Miley and I rolled out a cinnamon bun sitiation so I am baking them off as we speak for them to eat when they do decide to wake up. Hopefully by the time I get back they will be fed and ready to do something. Or not. It all depends on how late they really stayed up (I told them they could stay up and watch Nailed It when I went to bed. I am pretty sure they were up til at least midnight, if not later) So who knows, maybe they will all still be asleep when I get back. And then, well, I%u2019ll just start vacuuming.
Morning Update.. Just got back from gym. Littles are still asleep. Time to vacuum.
Some internet surfing from the week.
-Trying to save some money? Pretty simple place to start is to cook your own food. Simply Abundant Living %u2013 Frugal Food edition
–If you’re an average American, you’ll live to be 78.6 years old. Vermonters have a year or two more%u2026 Good to know where I stand in life I guess.
-Fucking idiot.. Trump, Noted Garbage Enthusiast, Wants Kids to Be Free to Eat More Garbage
–How to Eat Dinner in Bed Like an Absolute%u00a0Champion. And with this I say HELL NO. I am 100% against food in bed. But that be me.
–Dear Internet: Goats In Sweaters Are Cuter Than Kittens In Mittens There are some pretty rad goats pictured here.
– I am in love with this SUNDERLAND QUILTED CAR COAT.
–Now if this cup was a bottomless magic cup I would be all about it. Ember Temperature Controlled Mug
–MEET GEORGES STORE.. All the pretty light fixtures and colors. So nice.
-What does grade B ketchup look and taste like? 12 weird science facts to share with your family this holiday
–Geometric Animals Come to Life in DIY Lamp Kits by OWL. I%u2019ll take the rhino please and thanks.
THE LOVELY CRAZY
November 9, 2019 by maximios • Blog
It is kind of hard to believe that it is October already. I thought I was ready, but I feel a little like I am falling behind. There is so much fall stuff to do and I need to do it all. Like hiking up all the mountains and then a lot of sitting in a pile of bright fall leaves, wrapped in blankets, wearing my coziest socks, drinking hot drinks, and reading/knitting/napping. All three at once, while the apple and pumpkin things bake and the little paper bats hanging from the ceiling sway in the breeze. Yeah, that sounds about right. And I am getting some of it done, just need to get more of it done. Especially the napping. Haha.
Last week, camping at Zack Woods Pond, was for sure, some of the best we ever have done. Before we got to the middle of nowhere that was camp, we stopped at a harvest festival and did some poking around. Found letters for all the games, a washing machine, and unicorns. Then we drove away some more and checked out a chunk of land that we want to buy but won%u2019t because it is almost unaccessible in the best of times, so yeah no, not gonna work. But the search continues. After the land we headed to the place where we were camping but got a little lost. We had to go to a nearby state park to talk to the ranger and get a hand drawn map to find the place. Well hidden to say the least, but we found it and pretty sure not many other people know about it because we didn%u2019t see a soul. It felt like we had the entire world to ourselves. And oh was it beautiful. The colors were starting to pop, the air was crisp and clean and brisk. The campsite was, well it was a small rock fire pit and trees. Perfection. After setting up the tent we took the kayaks out on the pond and paddled around in all the greatness that was there. Then we hiked around and the hung out by the fire because it was cold. Had dinner facing the pond and all the pretty trees, then the mr did a little sunset fishing. More campfire sitting and off to bed. As it got dark out a couple girls ended up having a fire or something that far away where we couldn%u2019t see them, but we know it was a couple girls because they were very LOUD. And annoying, but they only stayed for an hour or so and their echoing mouths were gone and it was back to being the most silent night and back to sleep. Then the painful part. Waking up the next morning. 33 degrees was the number of the air. We didn%u2019t complain but we did packed up really fast, jumped into the car, and blasted the heat. Cozy and warm and full of happy outdoor feelings. The best way to start a week.
Back home the days did their thing. Work, dealing with stupid stuff, me breaking everything. I dropped my camera and smashed the lens. My phone all of a sudden didn%u2019t want to work right and the battery is now basically dead. The shower head decided to break mid shower and spray water all over the freaking place. I broke a chunk of finger off pugging clay at the studio. Then the stem of my pumpkin broke off right before I broke a flower pot. All not the worst individually, but goodness gracious, give me a freaking break.. Ah hahaha. Oh well. Shit break I guess.
Other then all that, there was a 14th birthday party for Alex. I found a new cute pyrex bowl for 50 cent which made me happy. I went down to the farm mid week and picked bags and bags of parsley to freeze for the winter. Then there was actual farm share with celeriac back in rotation! I worked at the studio (the chunk of my finger is still there), did another birthday party for Coco, who is now 3, and took the littles pumpkin picking with the mr and Barb as per our tradition. They got their jack o lantern pumpkins, I got me my pie pumpkins, and we found a garden snake. A game of tether ball and that was that. I came home after dropping them off and spent the day trying to warm up because it was freezing. And yeah I know,I could turn the heat on but no, not yet. I refuse to turn the heat on for at least 3 more weeks. November 1st. Until then, all the sweaters and socks will have to do to keep me warm.
Today we are doing it, camping at Branbury State Park, even though it miiiight rain. Hoping that it holds off until at least 830 tonight (we will be in the tent by then) or maybe even until we wake up in the morning and are on our way home? That would be great. We will see, and either way it will be good. And not going is not an option. There are only 2 more weekends of camping before everything closes up and it starts to snow. Yup, before it snows. That is happening and I don%u2019t think I can convince the mr to set up the tent in the snow.
Links from the week from the internet of stuff.
-All the pretty colors! What Causes Leaves To Change Color?
-Got a garden? These are the Frost Tolerance of Vegetables. My tomatoes are caput but the chard is looking oh so fine.
–How Gen-Z Is Dealing With a Looming Climate Apocalypse. Yup, shits hitting the fan and everyone knows it,
-Kneadable erasers are the best and I guess work for more then there attended purpose. The best $1.50 I ever spent: a kneadable eraser
-Swetaer weather for sure, but what is sweater weather? What %u201cSweater Weather%u201d Is
–The Female Founders Disrupting the Vagina Economy. Of course they are not.
-Philip Pullman and his dark materials. A new book. I an SO EXCITED, I might just buy it!!! ‘The Secret Commonwealth’
–How to charge your devices the right way. I have been doing it wrong for so long.
-I am good. Actually, even better then good. I change towels pretty much every day. Here%u2019s How Often You Should Be IWashing Your Dish Towels, According to Microbiologists
-I am in love with this little place.
Pictures from the week.
Not just sweater weather, which it had been all week and I am LOVING IT, but it%u2019s lamp light weather too. I forgot that I had all these fantastic lights around my house and yesterday when it was dark out at 6 (it was raining so the sky was cloudy) I got to turn on a couple lamps that haven%u2019t had any action in months. It was soooo nice and cozy. This my friends, this is the best time of year!
Camping last week was great and not so great. The campground was pretty, but our fellows campers were very rawdy and loud and there was a party at the picnic pavilion that had a shitty classic rock cover band playing. The noisy people and shitty music echoed through the park for longer then anyone should have had to deal with it. But I guess that happens, especially on a long holiday weekend. And really, besides the buttheads, we had fun. We went for a nice hike through the woods and into giant fields of wildflowers and goldenrod then spent some great time in the kayaks on a nearby lake (away from all the people). Plus after eating dinner and then packing it in for the night, we didn%u2019t get soaking wet, which we could tell by the many car doors slamming and people screaming at 1am , a good few people did. Our tent stayed nice and dry inside and we even managed to stay dry when we got out of the tent and and realized it was sitting in a giant puddle. We even managed to stayed pretty dry packing up and getting on our way home, in the rain! It%u2019s because we are good at coming I guess.
Then the rest of the week came and went in a fast blur. Mostly some same. Had lunch with Barb, cleaned apartments for new tenants,, made cards for artwork, picked up farm share, and you know, other life stuff. I have been busy in the kitchen harvesting garden food and canning or freezing it as well. Trying to stock up on as much food as I can for the winter. Then the littles slept over Friday. We watched Dumb and Dumber and I fell asleep on the couch. Woke up made waffles (I was so excited to use my waffle iron. It%u2019s been too long) and sent them on their way home to be moody tweens because that is now happening.
Oh, and I can%u2019t forget about how some little shithead smashed in the back of our car. Yup, that happened too. But that is pretty much it. I think%u2026.
Now for today. Mt Auscunty State park if all goes to plan. Should be a fun one with lots of hiking and a big high tower and stuff. I know it is gonna get mighty cold tonight so I am packing my winter long underwear and a jacket, hat, and mittens. So excited!
Links to explore on the internet.
–Doctors are now prescribing houseplants to help treat anxiety and depression. Makes a whole heck of a lot of sense to me. And why not try this simple remedy before trying a bunch of drugs?
-I wasn’t;t surprised much when I read this. Junky processed food is so bad, especially if it is all you eat. .19-Year-Old Goes Blind Due to Diet of Pringles, Bread, Fries, and Processed Meats
–Lush Botanical Forms Translated Into Abstract Embroideries%u00a0. So very pretty.
-Another good reason to ditch that pessimistic attitude and to look at he bright side of things. It doesn%u2019t hurt to try. Optimists For The Win: Finding The Bright Side Might Help You Live Longer
–Why do clowns creep us out?%u00a0Because they are creepy, that is why.
-I want, no, I need this cabin. Totally Off-the-Grid Cabin in the New Hampshire Woods
–This Apple Might Be the Most Anticipated Piece of Produce in History. I heard about this apple few years ago. I wonder if it%u2019s gonna live up tp all the hype. We shall see.
-Why don%u2019t we have one of these? The Otter: The 1950s Amphibious Caravan That Time Forgot!
–Can Bullet Journaling Save You? I am a list maker in all the ways. I a ma doodler to no end. I love pretty things and I love hand writing and have a ton of sketch books but besides the occasional list of note in a sketch book, I have never really gotten into Buju. It%u2019s to time sensitive I think, for me anyway.
–Squeeze in a Quick Nap at Work with This Under-Desk Hammock. A new way to sleep on the job. HA.
Pictures from the week.
For the past few days the mr has been telling everyone that yesterday was the official last day of Summer. For some reason he truly thinks September first is the first day of fall. It%u2019s not true as you probably know (the last day of summer is September 22nd) but around here is sure is starting to feel a lot like fall so I%u2019ll take it.
Last weekend camping was a blast. First we headed to Maidstone, the most remote state park in Vt. Left early in the morning, stopped at a yard sale or two then drove down a very long and bumpy dirt road until we got there.. Maidstone was amazing, a big lake in the middle of nowhere off the edge of nowhere in the nowheres of the NEK. The weather was amazing, our campsite was cool with wooden stairs, the hiking was fantastic, and the loons were all loud and vociferous. And the weather, it was just perfect. Cool and partly cloudy. I got to wear a sweater while hiking and pull on my wool socks in the evening. There are few things that can top a cool night under the stars with the sound of water lapping the shore and loons making sweet loon noises all night and right now I can%u2019t think of them.
After waking up maybe a weee bit to early (I can%u2019t help it), we packed up and headed to the next park, Brighton. A pond in little town still in the middle of nowhere, although it felt more somewhere then Maidstone due to the fact that there was a store and a gas station in town. And there was an actual town. We stopped and walked around the little neighborhood and along the train tracks then we found a few little hiking trails in random places, and hiked them. The mr did some fishing, I did a lot of reading, all before we even got the the park at lunch time. Once we got there, the usual occurred with a good hike, chillin by the fire, eating food, and after being out and about all over for the past few days, we were dead beat. So we crawled into the tent as soon as the sun set and passed the F out. Woke up freezing and happy but then kind of sad. Had to get on getting on home.
Then we were home. The mr went straight away to work, I might have passed out a little bit, but then stuff needed doing so I got on that.
As far as the rest of the week, there was the last day of summer vacation surprise dinner and park play we had with the littles which was followed by first day of school. I spent a good chunk of time finishing up a bunch of rainbows (and clouds) and installed them for Art Hop next week. The floors at the apartment were sanded (the mr all the way) and are now in the process of being urethaned. I picked up farm share (I missed it last week so I was running scarily low on veggies), maintained a casual relationship with my own garden, and watched the 15 foot tall sunflower in the front yard bloom. Did this and that and ran all over. Typical stuff.
Now we are back to Sunday again and we are raring and ready. Gonna grab the camping stuff, toss the kayaks on the car, and head out. Going south this weekend to lake Bomoseem. I am very much excited. The weather looks terrific for the day, (it is suppose to rain in the middle of the night but that is totally fine) and we are just ready to be out of town for the day again. And hopefully tomorrow being labor day and all we can not do to much and just chill. Rainy and cool. Perfect weather for a blanket, a book, and hot coffee all day long. I might even get some knitting out%u2026..
Internet for you.
–The Life of a Person Who Wakes Up Really, Really Early. That%u2019s me, an extreme lark!
-If I ever need to plant grass. A Miracle No Mow Grass. Actually looks so nice and soft.
–The Difference Between Pepitas & Pumpkin%u00a0Seeds. Nope, they are not the same but kinda are?
-Could you imagine nit having a summer vacation from school? Honestly, I think I would rather have a winter vacation, or 4 smaller vacations if I had a choice I the matter. The Case For Summer Vacation
-It%u2019s back. A short cultural history of tie-dye
–On Being a Great Aunt. I am a great aunt%u2026 right? I think so anyway.
-Among other things I want to protect myself from Gwyenth. Dr. Jen Gunter Wants to Protect Your Vagina From Gwyneth Paltrow
–FOR THE CHAIR COLLECTORS OUT THERE. Love a good chair.
-We are drowning in plastic. U.S. Recycling Industry Is Struggling To Figure Out A Future Without China
–Battle of the Bubbles. I should have started a seltzer water business when I had the idea 10 years ago. Oh well.
Pictures from the week.
Basically we just got back from a long camping weekend and I am dead tired. In between all the hiking, meandering, and not sleeping due to my pointy bones and a mr that snores but is snoring especially loud these days (allergies), I am ready to bed myself. But it was a blast. Now all I need is a shower, a good night sleep, and to check on the garden, then I will be ready to get back out there. I love me the great outdoors!
Being shit ass tired, I am giving myself a pass on accounting caompetley for last week. Basically is was crazy, the mr was crazy, I was crazy. We didn%u2019t go camping. The bar top is in an looking oh so fine. We had food with people. I loaded kilns, the mr worked all over town, we watched my skyscraper sunflower grow even bigger, and baked cupcakes with the littles. That was the gist of it, I think. Basically, just look at the pictures because that is how I remember what I did. HA. (for real) As for this past weekend camping pictures, I get to those later.
And since it%u2019s already Monday, we are already back at it. I got bills bills bill and lots of paperwork to get through today. There is food to process, dentist appointments to go to, art work that needs to be hung for art hop, on top of an apartment floor we need to remove carpet from, sand, and urethane by the end of the week. So yeah, gonna get on that. But first I nap!
The pictures from the week.
Holy shit. I am so hot. Like heated to the very depths of my soul and can%u2019t even think straight, hot. And It sucks, but what can we do about it? (Apparently I can bitch about it. Ha!)
We started the week off in the woods doing the camp thing. The park, Allis State Park, was just gorgeous. Nice and quite, lush and green, with a really cool fire tower with views for days. (I climbed it, the mr stayed on solid ground) The weather was amazing and it really was just what we needed. We went for a good hike, made lentils and zucchini for dinner, then just hung around and chilled by the fire. The perfect start to camping season even though I forgot my camp clothes. We were coming from a visit that required me to look decent and I forgot to pack a change of clothes and only grabbed my thin thermal underwear that I sleep in. But lucky me, the mr let me wear his extra shirt so I managed alright. That mr. Always looking out for me.
Back in town we did life as usual although with the heat and all we, especially me, have functioned at a much slower pace. We did manage to go for a bike ride lunch, another couple small hikes, and pick lots of flowers on top of feeding Megans cat everyday. And my garden is growing at a rapid pace and is now on the verge of being overcome by the onslaught of weeds. I just haven%u2019t wanted to spend to much time weeding this week because again, heat and all. Other then that, same old, same old.
Friday I was really excited to spend the afternoon working at the studio. But when I got there, all the kilns were on and reaching maximum temperature so the studio was a bit toasted warm and not the pleasant cool I was looking forward to. After work, the mr and littles picked me up, (they just went to the movies and were complaining how cold it was%u2026 brat faces) we went home and I made them pasta because I couldn%u2019t do much more. They played in the sprinkler then we tried to walk around the block but they just couldn%u2019t make it around because of the heat, then Miley felt sick and had to go home. So the mr and Judah brought her home and went to get supplies. Ice cream and chips. We ended up watching Kindergarten Cop which I haven%u2019t seen in like 20 years (it was terrible and Judah loved it) then made Judah a bed in our room so we could all crank the ac for the night and not melt.
Woke up, did the pancakes, went on a few errands, and dropped the boy off to his air conditioned family. Then the heat really just plowed me over. My brain tuned to mush, I cleaned a bit, picked blackberries from the yard, and basically just laid around on the floor and sweated. It was nasty and I was miserable. Meanwhile the mr was outside mowing the lawn because he is a glutton for punishment. And crazy. And that was the day. I was showered and locked away in the bedroom with the ac on by 7. And it was nice.
Currently sitting in the living room, with no ac, at 4am and the tempature is 87. It%u2019s just not right.
Going onwards with the day we are headed back into the woods again and I am optimistic. Camping by a lake in a forest so we should be semi cool?? Or less hot then right now I hope. At the very least we can jump into water. But I am pretty sure the heat, or at least the humidity is going to break today. It has to or else I am a goner.
Hope you al are holding up better then I am. HAHA!
Linkage from the net.
-I am in the Spice Girl Generation. And yes, I loved them and still do. The Rise of the Spice Girls Generation
-The mr and I have been going back and forth between new sleeping pads or an inflatable mattress or just using yoga mats for camping%u2026. Maybe the hammock is the way to go. Camping hammocks free you from tent tyranny
–How changes in barometric pressure affect the human body. I am so so so sensitive to it. I get head pressure and joint aches when it fluctuates. It%u2019s annoying.
–Why Do We Yawn? Reading about yawning makes people yawn. You are probably yawning right now. I totally yawned.
-It is so hot so you should know exactly what your options are. What%u2019s the Difference Between Ice Cream, Gelato, Sorbet, and Sherbet?
-There’s An Explanation For Why You Always Get Sick During Time Off. I don%u2019t get %u201csick%u201d per say, but I definitely crash after a long stint of work.
-What the holy fuck. Arby%u2019s mocks the fake meat trend with vegetables made out of meat (or %u201cmegetables%u201d) But pretty dang funny.
-I love a good tile floor. Who doesn’t? CHECKERED PAST.
–Hiiiiii! THIS is how texting has changed grammar & the way we communicate. I think by now we all know that a period at the end of a text is hostile. HA
-This could be my calling, or just a good way to get out of the country for a few years because, well you know. New vacancy for sheep dyke warden
Pictures from the week.
Sometime you look back at a week and think, blah, or whatever, or that sucked. This week I look back and smile. It was a good week. Nothing to special, just springy and warm. I got to hang out with my peoples, see the world turn green and lush, and I didn’t stress too much about anything because what is the point? Plus I bought a single pink carnation at the grocery store at the beginning of the week for the mr. and every time I see it, I smile a little. Sometimes just a little something something is all we need.
So yeah, the week was good. There was the normal stuff of work and what not but also a fair amount of not work stuff. I saw my moms for Mothers day and brought her food. The mr and I went for some long walks that did not involve any outdoor clothing (just normal indoor clothing) We hung out with the littles for a good afternoon of tree house chilling, baby running, three wheeling, and all sorts of other fun. Miley was super pumped to show off her new shoes that are partially gold. She was obsessed and needed to wash them off at the end of the day. Those were the days,when you cared about your shoes? (I am assuming you don%u2019t now , like me, but maybe you do.) Also Barb finally come back to me (school is over so she has time again) me and I feed her soup. Megan also came over for a soup lunch and a walk because that is what we do. (We are a family of eaters and walkers.) I worked on some clay rainbows, planted some more plants, and cleaned under my fingernails. The one big thing that I tried to accomplish and haven%u2019t yet managed is the bike thing. I have been shopping for a new bike and it is so so so HARD! I am not good at buying anything in general, especially when it is for me, and not food, and costs more than 5 bucks. But not just that, it%u2019s that there are so so so many bikes to choose form. I am all like , YIKES! And so I did myself a favor and just gave myself another week to ponder and look and decide. The right bike will present itself when it is suppose to, or when I finally break down and just buy this one.
Yesterday was a good solid day of getting shit done. I got the winter tires changed to summer (thanks Justin!) and hung with Alex while it was happening. We talked music and cassette tapes and how music is everything. Then I went home to the yard and all the massive piles of leaves, dead tree(so sad) and over all lawn degree and the mr and I got it all into the truck to send off to compost land. After hitting the transfer station to offload we made a really quickly stop over to see Anthony getting ready for his prom%u2026.Oh my shit. The kid is like not a kid anymore and was wearing a tux and looking all old and what not. The shinny ass shoes alone were too much for me. (more shoes that need cleaning). How is it possible that I have a sister that is old enough to have a kid that is old enough to be going prom? OH, because I am getting old. That is how. Ha.
And after that, it was back home to finish cleaning and eat dinner and water the garden and feel exhausted but accomplished. I don%u2019t mind being super tired, just as long as I have something to show for it (The yard looks A+ so I am happy)
I think today mainly going to be a work day. The mr has a project that he is in the middle of so he is going to be doing that all day and I have a few things I need to get done and then a ton of other things that need doing as well. Don%u2019t worry, I will be spending some of that time outside with the green things in the dirt, making sure I have sun screen on, listening to some good tunes and drinking coffee like it is going out of style.
The ways of the internet this week.
– The news of abortions and women reproductives rights has been front and center this week. The lengths women have to go to to do what is right for themselves is shameful at best, but basically pretty fucking grotesque. These are the people that are trying to help. The Secret Baby Catchers of Alabama.
–Report: U.S. Navy Cracks Case Of Majestic Sky Dick. Phew. Now we know who to hire for our own sky dick.
-Can%u2019t wait for that new pool to be build around the corner%u2026NOT. And really, didn’t we all know this already? Your Neighborhood Pool Is Full of Unshowered Pee-ers
-A lot of breakfast food in America is basically junk food if you really think about it. Muffins (really cupcakes), pancakes (really cake covered in maple sugar), Pop tarts (pie) yogurt (almost ice cream)%u2026 Its all just desert with a different name. I Broke Breakfast. Americans eat a narrower variety of foods for breakfast than anyone else.%u00a0
-Imagine the magic.. I get feels just thinking about this place. A Fleeting Dandelion Wish Processing Facility Appears For Two Days Outside of Los Angeles
–ECLECTIC DINING STYLE.. I want all the tables and chairs. Just where to put them%u2026%u2026????
-After reading the list, I feel pretty dang awesome cause I clean all that shit! Cleaning Supplies Might be Spreading Dirt Around Here%u2019s How to Clean Them This Weekend
–How Did Chickpea Flour, A Staple Of Indian Cuisine, Become A Health Food Sensation? Because it is amazing. See recipe for Socca.
–Have you tried plogging, the Instagram trend that might be the sustainable sport of the future?. Even if it%u2019s trendy and a way to be cool, well it is pretty cool and great and I am all for it.
–Can %u201cIndie%u201d Social Media Save Us? Something needs too.
Pictures from the week.
What a world wind of the first week of the year. I feel like nothing has happened and everything is happening all at once. With all the holidays birthdays and family gatherings, happy and sad ones%u2026 it has been a lot to take in. I am in serious need of some time hiding away, not that I don%u2019t love everyone and have had loved being around them, its just been a lot and I can only hold it down for so long. You feel me?
We started the week with Judah Birthday (Happy birthday Judah!!!). I made an ice cream cake and the mr slept on the couch for half the day until it was party time. Poor guy, he has got such a heavy sinus infection so he has been feeling like shit all week long. Some days worse then others, and he has been trying to push through but this infection had really taken hold. I have been pushing all my concoctions and tinctures and good stuff into him and I think we are started to see some of the better feeling mr.
New Years was low key as can be. We went for a little drive, a little hike, and that was it. I stayed awake until 9 then passed out which is exactly my kind of night. New Years day was much of the same, went for a long walk to the river, hung around the house trying to get the mr better. and was just so exciting because I got to start a whole new calendar and binder system. Fresh paper, a nice new pen, and not a cluster fuck of a bunch of bills and papers yet. It was like the excitement of shopping for new school supplies. It really made me happy.
After A calm New Years, it was back to the grind. Working and doing the life thing. The littles over a few times for games of Sorry, and trying to french braid Judah%u2019s hair. Sophia came over for a day and helped me repot some plants, spun around in circles on the kitchen floor for like an hour, and hit Barb right in the face with a snow ball. I finally took the tree down and packed up most of the Christmas decorations, deep cleaned the pantry, and made the phone calls I have been dreading making for the past few weeks. Get it done, got it done.
Yesterday was another long ass day. We grabbed our nice shoes (are hiking boots nice shoes?) and climbed back into the car for the 4 hour drive to Rhode Island for Seths Memorial. 150 plus people packed inside his and Pamula%u2019s loft to listen and honor this amazing person. And I must say, it was sad, but so good. So much love and sharing. Music and food and family. Hearing the stories and the way he impacted so many lives, it really was just such a lovely night and really gave me a bit of happiness from such a shitty situation. After hanging at the loft and spending as much time as I could around all the people, the mr and I jumped back into the car and drove on home. By the time we got home, we were pretty trashed. Walked in the door and crashed. That was only just a few hours ago.
And yet I am still awake. I don%u2019t even know how Im still woke up at 4:30 this morning. My brain knows no other way I guess. For the rest of the day, after my 4-6 cups of coffee (I will drink all the coffee and then some today) I am heading to work at the studio for a while, going to do some gym, maybe hit the library, then I need to go grocery shopping because farm share was canceled this week and now I am running dangerously low on food. After that I will probably come home and crash. Yeah, and then off to a fresh week of more family and birthdays and work stuff, but hopefully this week the mr will not be sick, I will catch a little more sleep, and the snow storm that we are suppose to get will actually be and we get 2 feet of snow. That would be just so nice.
Internet from the internet.
-Top sky-watching events coming in 2019. Super blood moon eclipse is my birthday!
-Me. Why Am I Always Cold? I started eating more cooked food a few years back because I would be freezing after I ate.
-Bread inspiration for sure. LEOPARD BREAD
–The 100 Best Pens, As Tested by Strategist Editors. I love pens, really good pens. I draw with then so I have my own little box of special pens that no one is allowed to use besides me.
-We are aassholes. We’ve wasted so much plastic, it’s almost impossible to picture%u2014these charts will help
–When Too Cute Is Too Much, The Brain Can Get Aggressive. Yes, Have threatened to %u201csmoosh%u201d or %u201cpop%u201d a baby or puppies head off. What I find really works is when the feeling strikes, punch the mom, it helps.
–I Keep My Holiday Lights Up All Year Long%u2014Here’s Why You Should, Too. I love my lights, they make me happy.
–Dog influencers are so popular, they need their own talent agency. Hope this dogs are getting a cut of the pay to go towards all the best
-When someone tells me a fact that I might not believe I ask were they got the info from. If they say the internet, I assume there is a 50/50 chance that is is wrong. How Much of the Internet Is Fake? Turns Out, a Lot of It, Actually.
–What Foods Are Banned in Europe but Not Banned in the U.S.? Seems like these food should also be banned in the stare too.. Hum.
What a busy week.
Sunday we spent that day getting our tree which was an experience to say the least. Up in the Green Mountain National Forest, there was 2 feet of snow in places, and it ws freezing pouring rain. It was freaking miserable and I was so so so cold. It was the fastest we have ever picked a tree. We didn’t even hike in to the woods very far. We were drenched and cold (did I say that already) so it was a %u201c find a tree and get the F out of there before we die%u201d type of deal. But we did it, found a snow laden tree, cut it down, dragged it out, wrapped it up in a sheet of plastic (not recommended) and got it on the car before we froze. In the end, we came home with a pretty nice, normal sized tree which we in turn cut to the cutest little tree. Short and fat and a little on the lithe side. Absolute perfection.
And the week was off. Started with a b-day party for So who turned 6 . Baked her a cake but her being so awesome helped me frost and decorate it like a professional. It was also the unofficial start of the mr%u2019s birthday week which means all week I have had to be extra special nice, not nag too much about all the extra coffee cups lying around and to not say anything about the amount of cheese he is eating. I am doing my best but not bitching about the dirty cups has proven to be very much difficult. Ha
Beside it being the mr%u2019s birthday week, we have been busy. I have been running into the studio a lot. Unloading a few kilns, loading them up and trying to get some of my own work done before the holidays. There has been some annoying work and apartment stuff that has had to be dealt with, tire troubles, the mr%u2019s lingering illness. But all is good. And we have had the littles over a few extra times this week for food (always food) and snow flake making. Barb came over to eat. I baked special breakfast scones to smell the good smells and basically tried to stay sane and warm. Oh, and I have been listening to all the Christmas music because yes!
Friday night we had a birthday party for the mr, the kick off of his birthday weekend. I spent the day working then came home really fast to finish making whoopie pies (perfect party dessert). Dinner was grilled cheese and chunky veggie soup because it%u2019s tradition and because the mr really likes to make grilled cheeses. Everyone in the house, kids running around, Christmas tree lit, music playing. We sure do know how to have a good time. And with that my house was trashed, All the dishes dirty, Coco drew all over the floor with crayons, and there was little bits of whoopie pie all over the house. It was very successful and everyone and the mr most importantly, were happy.
Yesterday instead of spending the day cleaning (because it is the mr%u2019s birthday weekend remember. But I did get a 1/2 hour while he had to run out to vacuum up the cake ) we went for a little drive to see the giant middle finger sculpture and get out of the house. Then the littles came back over for a sleep over. Pizza, left over whoopie pies, and stringing popcorn while we watched home alone. (there is popcorn EVERYWHERE!) A perfect birthday slumber party for a 36 year old if I do say so myself. Ha ha But oy, the mess is getting dangerous. There is a serious day of cleaning going on in the near future for sure.
Today is the mr%u2019s birthday eve. Not sure what we are doing today or tomorrow for that matter, but I do know we will have some fun. The littles are still a sleep so I am going to skip on over to the gym until someone wakes up and tells me to come back. Last night Miley and I rolled out a cinnamon bun sitiation so I am baking them off as we speak for them to eat when they do decide to wake up. Hopefully by the time I get back they will be fed and ready to do something. Or not. It all depends on how late they really stayed up (I told them they could stay up and watch Nailed It when I went to bed. I am pretty sure they were up til at least midnight, if not later) So who knows, maybe they will all still be asleep when I get back. And then, well, I%u2019ll just start vacuuming.
Morning Update.. Just got back from gym. Littles are still asleep. Time to vacuum.
Some internet surfing from the week.
-Trying to save some money? Pretty simple place to start is to cook your own food. Simply Abundant Living %u2013 Frugal Food edition
–If you’re an average American, you’ll live to be 78.6 years old. Vermonters have a year or two more%u2026 Good to know where I stand in life I guess.
-Fucking idiot.. Trump, Noted Garbage Enthusiast, Wants Kids to Be Free to Eat More Garbage
–How to Eat Dinner in Bed Like an Absolute%u00a0Champion. And with this I say HELL NO. I am 100% against food in bed. But that be me.
–Dear Internet: Goats In Sweaters Are Cuter Than Kittens In Mittens There are some pretty rad goats pictured here.
– I am in love with this SUNDERLAND QUILTED CAR COAT.
–Now if this cup was a bottomless magic cup I would be all about it. Ember Temperature Controlled Mug
–MEET GEORGES STORE.. All the pretty light fixtures and colors. So nice.
-What does grade B ketchup look and taste like? 12 weird science facts to share with your family this holiday
–Geometric Animals Come to Life in DIY Lamp Kits by OWL. I%u2019ll take the rhino please and thanks.
Pictures from the week.