Definitely probably one of many beach trips

When I lived in North Carolina, I was a good 5.5 hours drive from the ocean which meant I didn't go to the ocean. My NC hometown was adjacent to national and state forests filled with various lakes/rivers/waterfalls/swimming holes so did I go swimming? Yes. Was it in any way a reasonable replacement for the entire grand Atlantic ocean? Most definitely not.

That is why, when I moved to Massachusetts, I promised myself I would be at the beach every week during the summer. Right now, I'm at minimum but no more than an hours drive to the ocean which still, even 7 years after my move, blows my mind. That's pretty far for some I'm sure but man! I can just pop on over to the beach whenever! So crazy!

This of course, does not ever happen. I go on average... maybe 3 times. The whole summer. Every year, as Spring quickly warms up, I think I'm going to beach it up constantly. And every year I end up, well, not doing that. This weekend though, covid and all, I resolved to go as it was supposed to be a scorcher. Sunday was forecasted at sunny and 95, how could I not go?

I planned carefully and decided that Wells Beach in Maine would be a good choice. Yes, it was in a different state, but Massachusetts beaches, as well as ones right over the border in New Hampshire, tend to get especially crowded. It makes sense given the high population of the area. Sure, Maine normally gets its fair share of crowds but what with the whole global pandemic thing, it's many regular visitors from Canada aren't making the trip this year so it's not so bad (sorry guys).

Wells is a double bonus in that, though it has the necessary bathroom facilities and things, it doesn't have a full boardwalk right at the beach that people tend to flock to. It's lined with summer homes which makes for less crowds and some great additional scenery for my many shoreline walks.

I am happy to report that when we got there, I was not disappointed. 

Look at all that wonderful social distancing. Sure, it got a little more crowded in the afternoon (we got there at about 10:30) but there was always well over 6 feet distance between groups of people. 

My guy, going out to cool off in the ocean, always the whitest one on the beach. We're both pretty fastidious about sunscreen application but M is especially vigilant in the hiding-from-the-sun area (note that we have an umbrella also). I know it's not good for my skin but I will admit, one of my beach related weakness is a good beach nap. Something about taking a snooze in the sun while listening to the ocean... that's some high quality relaxation. 

Beach walks along the shoreline are probably my most favorite beach activity though (and probably where I got my slightly red nose from. I need to invest in a hat) and I took a couple. I'm not a swimmer (as in, I can only manage a disappointing doggy-paddle) so I'll at most wade in up to my waist, which I most definitely did this time because it was HOT. Oh god it was so hot. 

I knew it was supposed to be hot this weekend but thought we'd get some relief at the beach. I suppose the beachy breeze and access to the icy Atlantic technically count as relief but it was still definitely 95 freaking degrees (Google tells me that's 35 degrees Celsius to the rest of the world)! We were fine, taking dips in the ocean and huddling under our umbrella but then I thought sitting outside eating clams was a good idea...

A short drive up the coast from Wells is Kennebunkport, an awesome touristy town my family always went to on our Maine trips. Tons of shops and restaurants in a cute/walkable downtown area. There's also... The Clam Shack.

When we got there, we decided to cool off in a bar with some water and a cocktail (Hendricks gin and tonic for me, the finest summer cocktail in my opinion). Then onto the Clam Shack for the very best fried clams. Usually when I get seafood I have a go big or go home attitude and opt for scallops or lobster (especially lobster when in Maine). The Clam Shack fried clams are too good for even me to pass up though so I couldn't leave Maine without some, especially since M had never gone. 

I mean look at those babies. That batter is something magical. 

This was definitely a fantastic idea in theory, except... did I mention it was 95 degrees?? Sitting in that heat eating fried clams did not really sit well with me so I started to feel a little unwell (I believe a direct quote from me was "M, I think my heart is beating faster than it should be..."). I'm a little sad to say our plans to explore Kennebunkport were rainchecked and we left shortly after.

And yet, I have absolutely no regrets.

[Oh and do not worry, we drank lots of water throughout, I just think I'm especially heat intolerant. I quickly recovered with the help of car air conditioning and more liquids.]

We got home at about 6/6:30 which was plenty of time for us to binge watch some TV recover before coming to work today. We had both had a pretty rough week so we needed a relaxing weekend I think. On Saturday, my biggest accomplishment was winding bobbins for my big cross stitch project and buying a plant. 

It was such a zen weekend, I didn't fly into a rage when I realized I was STILL missing a color floss (HOWWWWW?!?!?! That's 5 store trips and counting...).

And this is my newest addition, a Raven ZZ, something I've really been wanting but haven't found it at my local nurseries. This bad boy I stumbled across, pot and all, at the grocery store of all places. ZZ plants are supposed to be hardy and easy to grow and but I specifically held out for this super cool black variety.

I hope everyone also had a great weekend! Here's to a good week!!

Collecting Happiness Points

And just like that, I'm bummed again.

Alright, maybe I'm being a bit dramatic but its been a rough week at work (what do you mean its only Wednesday?!) which, in a psych hospital, is draining in every way possible. I haven't had much energy to work on all my projects but the excitement is still there, don't worry. I just have to get over this hump and remember that this is how it is at work... for now. Things get chaotic for a while but then they calm down, they always do. Just...

Doctor who, anyone? (source)

Anyway, If I'm not feverishly sewing, what am I doing with all my free time you ask? 

Yup, lounging on my couch playing a new game called Chibi-Robo. M does a freakishly good job figuring out what type of game I'd like then magically producing them for me to play exactly when I'd want to play them the most (all part of his nefarious plan to get me to love video games as much as he does no doubt). My preferred game style is adventure game, something I can just kind of putz around in without a lot of pressure but with enough tasks and storyline to make it interesting. Cute stuff also helps. 

This GameCube game is one M already had in his stash. He recently got some sort of adaptor that made GameCube games show up clearer on our TV? Or something? Honestly, I have no idea but M was pretty excited about it which led to him going though all his games which then led to me becoming a Chibi-Robo zombie for 3 days-and-counting.

You can read the Wikipedia link I provided above for a, frankly, better synopsis but basically, you're a tiny robot that goes around cleaning and helping to serve the Sanderson family which gives you Happiness Points and Moolah. 

Yeah. 

That's pretty much it. 

You collect different tools to help you clean and navigate the house, either by finding them or using your Moolah, and you're equipped with a plug you use to recharge yourself (there's an energy meter on the screen). 

I'm not kidding, look at this little guy scrubbing a stain off the floor with a toothbrush. He's probably getting like 4 happiness points from that. Thats the kid in the background, Jenny who's inexplicably obsessed with frogs.

If you plug yourself into these weird little... things which are found randomly throughout the house, you can enter into a mini acid trip where you collected Moolah. So far there appears to be absolutely no other function for it.

Oh and did I mention the toys come alive at night? That's the father's Drake Redcrest action figure who the dog toy is in love with. The dog toy. In love.

You know, I've been mindlessly playing this but as I describe it, I'm quickly realizing just how bananas weird this is. Of course I love it. 

It seems strictly quirky and silly at first but once you get into it, you realize its a little on the dark side (no, not that dark side). You're basically helping this broken family drowning in debt be happy- the father is unemployed but still buying strange tiny robots, the mother is stressed about money and is making the dad sleep on the couch because she's pissed at him, and the daughter will only say "ribbit" or forms thereof but expressed to this nonverbal robot via her teddy bear that she's upset that her parents aren't getting along. Heavy stuff to deal with between picking up trash and scrubbing some floors but there you have it.

Anyway, I'd recommend this if you can get your hands on it. Its not helping me be productive whatsoever but I'm earning myself a few Happiness Points and sometimes... that's enough.

Here's to a better second half of the week and, if all else fails, a chill weekend.

*All game pics are from HERE.

Plant Mom: The Kids Are Alright

Hellooooooo! Yes, I am here, I am alive, and, dare I say, I am thriving. 

That was so many commas. 

Anyway, like I said in my last post, I've recently become more, I dunno, actually excited to do things. Sounds strange maybe but I started this blog because I wasn't able to drum up that level of excitement anymore. I'd always been the kind of person that had a lot of hobbies- I had to have something to do at all times- but over the past few years I've stopped feeling that strong pull to do and create things on a regular basis and to be perfectly honest that made me sad. Which, unsurprisingly, made me even less inclined to do things.

But hey, I've been killin' it lately. I have that glorious feeling of "there's not enough time in the day to do all the fun things!" which is insane but I'm almost trying not to think of it too much- I just want to keep riding this wave as long as possible. I will say that I have reached the conclusion that the weather affects me more than it used to and now that it's pretty consistently sunny and warm out, it's easier for me to find that mental energy to be super into things. I started this blog in October so maybe these gray New England winters are starting to wear on me (I know October isn't technically wintertime but in NE, it might as well be). I'll be more cognizant of that this year (and load up on vitamin D) but right now, how's about I tell you about my plants?

Ah yes, my plant children. One of my newish activities I seem to have an unending new-found enthusiasm for.  One of my favorite daily rituals is a plant check where stare doe eyed at all my plant's new growth. Sure I've had some recent deaths and subsequent acquisitions but overall I feel like I'm hitting my stride with plant motherhood- I have a better understanding of what plants might work in my space and with my plant-care habits. 

We'll start with my porch plants since that's where I currently am. 

My columbine are absolutely killing it. I thought it was a goner after getting rid of a bunch of dead stalks recently but apparently that was a good thing because it's looking healthier and is finally putting out more of it's beautiful flowers! This perfect beauty has 5 more pods around it, waiting to burst open.

Not only that, but when I took out the dead bits, I made sure to empty the seed pods into the pot. I'm glad I did because look at all the new growth under there!

My geranium are getting pretty large and in charge too, so much so that I'm starting to worry about where to put them once I bring them into the house when it turns cold. I may even need to repot them.

That's it for outside really. Inside, here's a semi-new addition, a peperomia obtusifolia aka baby rubber plant. With that name, I couldn't help but get it considering how much luck I've had with my real rubber plant.

The leaves are thick, almost like a succulent, but it isn't a succulent. That pot is made of basalt (a fine grained volcanic rock) and is really awesome. It has the same moisture absorbing properties as terra-cotta (perfect for over waterers like me) but with a cool brown/black color and a great feel.  I loved it so much I repotted my silver ann pothos into one, and will probably get more for future plants.

The pothos hasn't grown much since I got it but it also hasn't gotten much unhealthier either. I don't think it liked it's previous spot, nor did it enjoy it's pot which was probably too big for it (hot tip: bigger is not better with plant pots. It's more like a Goldilocks scenario- it needs to be just right) so hopefully it's happier in it's new pot at his new spot near the peperomia. 

Next up, my very newest acquisition, this calathea beauty star (who will be hanging out with her fellow calathea, the rattlesnake plant).

Look at those markings! Calatheas love humidity and filtered light and like hanging out with each other. So, you know, I definitely had to get this beauty star, right? The rattlesnake needed a friend, right?

They're definitely buds, just look at them. Also noteworthy: that rattlesnake guy has 3 new leaves coming up as we speak!

Ok, just kidding, I do have a newer plant than the beauty star, though it hasn't rooted yet.

I visited the future in-laws this past weekend and couldn't not ask to take away some cuttings of their impressively long philodendron brasil. I coated the ends in rooting hormone and stuck them in this jar of water- cross your fingers that at least most of these root so I too can have a glorious trailing plant!

Another success of mine is this african spear which has popped out not one but TWO new babies!

Can you see them? I think this is really happy with it's home (that table gets a ton of light during the day) and I've managed to leave it alone for once (it doesn't need or want much water). This is a pretty weird plant- I can't wait until it gets big!

Last but not least, an update on my oyster plant and string of pearls.

I thought the oyster plant was a goner. I watered the ever living shit out of it and also did some drastic things to try and get rid of a fungus gnat invasion but here in front of the super bright kitchen window it's slowly putting out new growth and it's gotten a ton of it's color back. 

The string of pearls is another succulent that hates too much water therefore should not be something I have but was too weird to pass up. It's slowly putting out new beads too and I've only watered it once (!). 

That's it for now. One day my plant updates won't fit into a reasonably sized post and I... don't mind. 

I'll let The Who play me out. Have a good day!

 

Freedom Isn't Free*

Welllll I've been gone longer than I meant to be. Life happens, no big deal, but I'm happy to report that it's because I've been consumed with p r o j e c t s. A few recent discoveries led to a renewed excitement to do some sewing but more on that in a sec. Right now, I have to brag a little about my recent holiday.

Happy belated Fourth of July to my fellow Americans out there, here's to hoping this year we do a little much-needed positive personal growth, yes? I spent the day at work, sporting a Keith Haring t-shirt I stumbled across in Target of all places when I ran in the day before to get some essentials. 

Looks great with my photo ID/keycard lanyard doesn't it? I'm not one for getting decked out in super patriotic gear but I do love Haring so I made an exception. Plus, I like to go slightly over-the-top if I have to work a holiday in the hopes that I help make the day more fun/exciting for the kids stuck in the hospital.

I was pretty psyched to get home because I had a hunk of pork shoulder sitting in my crockpot waiting to be turned into barbecue which, to southerners, is pulled pork as opposed to a catch-all term for any grilled meat. A crockpot doesn't technically barbecue make but I worked with what I had. Want to make your own stupid easy crockpot barbecue? Here ya go:

-cut excess fat off your roughly 4lb pork shoulder then rub on a dry rub of your choice.

-put 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar and 3/4 cup water in your crockpot, then put in your meat, being careful not to rinse off all your dry rub.

-cook on low for about 8 hours until shreddable. 

-take out the meat, let it cool, then shred it with your hands being sure to get all the fat and cartilage bits out (yummm, amiright?). I suggest disposable gloves for sure.

-spread shredded meat on a baking sheet and put in the broiler for a few minutes so it's more like barbecue and less like pot roast. Keep a close eye on it though, you want crispy edges, not dried/burnt meat!

If you're wondering what do to with all this shredded meat once you've got it, this is what you do:

The good ol' barbecue sandwich on a toasted/buttered potato bun, smothered in bbq sauce, topped with coleslaw, with a side of chips. There was also definitely beer involved (Cisco brewing Grey Lady if you're curious. A great summer beer). Sure, not the most healthy dinner but it was delicious and hey, this is the US after all. Har har har.

Speaking of unhealthy, this wouldn't be complete without dessert of course so I picked up these little angel food cakes at the grocery store and made a 4 berry compote and whipped cream to top them up with.

I was pretty generous with my berries apparently. 

I was very happy with myself for making all this food- I've been phoning it in a little on the dinner front lately and was happy to get stuck in and do some serious/different kitchen stuff.

Aside from that, like I said earlier, my life has been overtake by a new project. I discovered a new online forum for fellow crafty people and it made me realize that I never had someone to really nerd out to about my crafty stuff. People in my life are super supportive of the things I make of course but they're not makers themselves (aside from my mom, which isn't quite the same as discussing it with your peers) so there are aspects of it I can't really discuss with them. I didn't realize how much I was missing that outlet until I found it.

Of course, seeing other's work has led me to realize I want to seriously step up my game and somehow, this lead me to getting WinStitch. 

WinStitch is a cross stitch pattern making software that I've always wanted to try out. Over the course of a few days I tested demos of a few similar programs and decided on Winstitch because I liked the accuracy of the pattern- to-imported-picture ratio better. I've shied away from these programs before because not only is it a new technology I have to learn (not my strong suit), I had to pony up for it. $31 for the standard package isn't bad at all I thought so here we are.

After getting a feel for the controls I finally made my first pattern and of course, it's Star Trek related. 

I always loved the Holodeck episodes of Star Trek: TNG, especially "Elementary, Dear Data" because I also happen to love Sherlock. This is the original picture I snipped Data (my favorite character) from:

Source

I cropped it, photoshopped out the background, then uploaded in into Winstich where I limited the colors from over 140 (!!!) to a more reasonable 40, added words and then a border. I might still mess with it a little but for the most part its done. 

I even tea-dyed my fabric to sew this on!

Between this and a pattern I bought from Etsy and have already started, I have my work cut out for me and I'm PUMPED. I had to got to two craft stores yesterday to get all the thread I needed but it'll be worth it. 

It's right before that last picture I took after I had finished organizing my thread that I realized I was somehow missing 4 colors and need to go to a THIRD craft store to get them. But we won't talk about that.

Here's to getting excited about making things again! I'll be sure to update you on my progress. :)

*It's $1.05