A Home of Love and Laughs and Treats Galore!

We made our way out of town, after securing the fortress and packing (way too many shoes and jewels).  In the dark and rain we drove.  Laughing and dancing in the car.  Telling tales that started like, remember when we first met and you said... 

I don't know what soul mates are, but if finishing eachother's sentences and giggling madly at the same things, isn't enough, I don't know what is.  Granted, we can also make eachother so angry our faces can turn a perfect shade of fluorescent magenta.  Alas, we try not to push those buttons often ;)

So we drove and drove, and arrived to a house bursting with food and love.  Shrimp cocktails and fresh pesto, with baked bread straight out of the oven, abound...

        

My parents are so wonderfully delightful.  And funny as funny could be.  My Mammie is a hoot and probably should get a superb hostess trophy.

     

Dad and her together could start a comedy show.  They are so sweet, and have always made it very clear that home is home.  It is our home.  There is always an open door, and your bedroom is always there for you.  You always have a home, no matter what. 

My Dad is always available.  You got a flat?  You ran out of gas?  You sliced your leg open pretty darn deep and have to go to the emergency room (that would be me).  He is in his car on his way to you no matter where you are.  He hugs he squeezes, you beg to be let go.  You can even catch him playing with the elves you make.  That alone should earn him a perfect award, don't you think?

        

Ya, I thought they were super annoying when I hit my teenage years.  But, it is all the things I found annoying about them then, that I now adore.  Funny how that works, isn't it? 

Sooo, we installed Mr. Lovee in his own private mini wing.  So he could have a little restful space of his own.  Bottles of water, candies, wait are we in a hotel?  Again, Mammie's hospitality...

      

Mr room had a lovely crown waiting for me...

    

As well as a dresser full of gifts (for no reason), which are just my kind of treasures.  Thank you Mommmmmbie!!

    

It rained & was cold our entire stay, which was a lovely thing indeed.  It was a treat to have a Thanksgiving that was cool and brisk and didn't feel like a warm tropical holiday (as usual).

The first night we were there we lost power most of the evening.  So, we all sat around a candle lit living room, telling stories, while Mr. Lovee played his guitar...

We breakfasted in the nook...

        

And got a ton of excercise by going down the super long driveaway to retrieve the newspaper.

         

Silly me, forgot her tennis shoes.  Luckily my 21 year old brother had a pair of boy shoes stashed from when he was in 5th grade.  They fit like a glove. 

        

I enjoyed the autumn feel in the garden, but was surprised at how much green the trees still held...

        

I collected leaves and strolled in the sprinkles, all bundled up.  Beautiful leaves a plenty...

        

         

We had Thanksgiving lunch at My Grandma and Grandpa's (Mammie's parents).  There was a tradtional meal, along with homemade tortillas to be eaten as they came off the wood burning stove.  (that is my Grandma, adding wood)

        

How I adore my grandparents...  Mr. Lovee charms the socks off of my Granny.  He played his guitar, she sang.  He indulged in her freshly made edibles...

         

Everyone in my family is loud and has a story to tell.  A joke, a tale...  Words are thrown in and out and all around in conversation.  It is blissful chatter chaos...

We were stuffed after that visit.  Even though we were told to eat light.  There were other Thanksgiving meals to be eaten.  We ventured home to relax, make room for more munching...

I put on my pajamas and found a cozy spot to relax...

        

Mmmmm, relaxing...  (Not something I did much of, as planned ;)

       

I longed for a swim and I dreamily looked out the window...

          

But, the relaxing was short lived.  Before we knew it, it was time to get dressed up again, for a formal Thanksgiving dinner...

         

Mr. Lovee waited patiently, while the gals shuffled around.  The table had already been set days before by Mammie...

There he is with his freshly trimmed hair, lacking about 6 inches (oops, my bad, 10 inches)...  I think he looks dreamy...

         

Most of my photographs were taken at night.  Hence the darkish golden glow.  I promised my family I wouldn't splash their fotos on my blog.  I don't want to become the annoying girl with the camera, that everyone dreads seeing at the holidays, hee heee... 

      

I myself, do not enjoy having my photo taken.  Actually, if you want to know the truth.  I get sort of royally unhappy when people take my photo without consent...  So, I will be sensitive to the members whose photos I snapped... 

Nontheless, there were smiling faces and lovely attired folks mingling...

      

We had a scrumptious formal dinner at home.  Once again, telling tales and laughing uncontrollably...  Although, we were still full from lunch.  So, we all were woe-ing about our overfilled bellies...

      

We saved dessert for the next day...

The most outrageous fresh cranberry candied orangle peel trifle you have ever tasted...

   

And some fancy form of pumpkin pie...

         

Then it was time for a walk.  We hiked a bit while there.  And had a delightful time climbing the hills & cavelings I ventured into as a kid...

        

We came upon what Mr. Lovee called a midden.  Filled with rusty parts and domed ever so wonderfully with twigs and rocks.  A pack rat home for certain.  It is sort of hard to see its dome like quality in this photo...

        

I got on my hands and knees to show you the entrance...  So cute!!

         

The next day, we had canela at my grannies house & snooped around at my granpa's warehouse of found rusted and crazy treasures.  He told us stories, and gifted me a wonderful item.  I will share it soon!!  If it snows ;)  Oh and, by the way, Canela is cinnamon tea...

        

We really wanted to invite everyone over to sing and tell scary stories around the outdoor fireplace.  Alas, the wet wood and weather was not having it.  Maybe next time...

         

Soon it was time to leave...  But, I just couldn't go without telling you one big secret.  You see, there is a pantry in Mombie's house, that would blow your mind.  Every gum drop and gum ball and cookie, and chip, and treat, and baking good that you can imagine, resides right on the other side of that door.  It is a vault of edible treasures.  Would you like to visit it sometime?  hee hee ;)  I could lock you in there for a day or two?

        

So, into the car I went.  Mr. Lovee packed my belongings, and we started home.  The clouds cleared up a bit for our 2 hour drive...

 

We stopped in a village called Tubac, 20 minutes from our family home.  It is a lovely historic shopping village.  So much fun!  Quaint and charming.  There were tons of people there...

  

    

   

We returned to our humble abode in the hills at night.  It was a raining frenzy.  So much rain, Wow! And the next day, there were pink mountains and snow right at the top...  Hooray!

   

Oh, but dare I forget to mention...  I picked up a treasure to giveaway, at one of the shops in Tubac.  Yes Indeed.  At a place filled with milagros and beautiful 100+ year old santos...

This milagro filled cross...

 

So leave a hello, and I shall drop your name in a hat.  The next time I return (2 days or so), I shall have more little creatures like this to pop in my shop.  There are still a couple of original paper dress girls waiting for a lovely home...

Okay, I must rest (I am a zombie girl)  & then head out to see the new one person swing Mr. Lovee is building for me.  I just can't get up enough speed on the two person swing ;)

See you soon, Huge ♥'s, V

ps:  I watched the most sad touching movie and the most silly ridiculous make me giggle Christmas movie!  I looove the house in Fred Claus in the beginning in the woods!  I want to live there!  And I adore Willy's little abode!!  So cute!!

Comments

[Tammy Sprinkle]

Hi miss Zombie girl. Your family home is so pretty. It must be so nice to lounge by the pool and then to sit and stare at the stars. It looks like a little piece of heaven. Your family sounds lovely, ust like you. I clicked on your link and saw the pics of your grandmother, Josephine. She was a real beauty, again like yourself. I can see where you got your best attributes. ;D

[Jamie V]

Wow - what a great adventure you had! A beautiful place to visit! I adore the milagro cross! Jamie V in MT
amzanioli@yahoo.com
http://rem-nants.blogspot.com

[Gillian]

I read and read and read so HELLO!!! I'm saying it.
My goodness, V, you and your family had the most beautiful and wonderful Thanksgiving.
Thanks for inviting us along xoxoox!!!!!!!!!!!

[kate]

I think I want to adopt your family- they all sound so awesome.

Such a beautiful house... and I'd be quite happy to be shut in your mum's pantry for a couple of days, hehe.

[Martha]

Thanks for sharing your wonderful Holiday with us, Vanessa! I think I even spy some of your creations on the Thanksgiving table! What a fun family you have! ♥

[Tecu'Mish]

Thank you for sharing the wonderful tale and pics. That pumpkin pie desert looked Marvelous!

[Gabriela Delworth]

Hello Miss Vanessa,

Lovely photos! Magical places...I am in love with your crown...and for so obvious reasons...
DIVINA!

~ Gabriela ~

[Shell]

I always love reading your stories. I feel like i'm right there with you. You had an amazing Thanksgiving. I so want to go through that door with all the treats within. I could stay for a day or two stuffing my face.

[Karen D.]

So glad you had such a wonderful Thanksgiving!! The cross is amazing!! I'll have to watch Fred Clause. I've got it "On Demand" on cable!!! Have a wonderful day!!!

[Amanda]

Oh, hello! I'd love to be locked in that pantry and the key thrown away. I too enjoyed a cozy, rainy Arizona Thanksgiving. Happy holidays!

[Jamie]

Hi Vanessa,
Yes...thanks for inviting us along on your little journey! I always LOVE reading your wonderful stories. Your family sounds GREAT & I'm glad you and Mr. Lovee had a nice trip and Thanksgiving with your family! I would love to enter that pantry door but may never want to leave ;-)

Happy rest of Sunday to you...& I can't wait to get the print I ordered last week...wish I could have gotten the original!

[Oceandreamer]

What a lovely home your parents have....all filled with luscious decor but the best of all the design is the love that you describe. You are lucky to have that family home that is still and always will be a safe haven. And your parents waiting always with open arms.
Wow - the food all sounds so delish too!!!
I'm so happy you and Mr. Lovee had such a delightful weekend/Thanksgiving!
XOXOXOXO
p.s. G and I saw Fred Clause over the weekend too and I thought the very same thing about his home in the beginning and Willy's wee room!

[Sarah]

Your photos are so beautiful - you can feel the love and warmth of your holiday coming through them! Thank you for sharing your beautiful world, it is a lovely place to visit!

[tattingchic]

Vanessa, it looks like you had a lovely visit with your parents. Their home is lovely not only to the eye, but to the heart, as well! Your dad does sound like a gem! It nice that you appreciate them both. Thank you for sharing and yes, I cannot wait to see what is behind the magical pantry door! :)

[Lavender Dreamer]

I enjoyed this holiday story.. and felt like I traveled with you! Wonderful pictures and memories you will cherish!

[Ms Danielle Maree]

Thank you for sharing another of your adventures. It always feels like you have taken us with you to another place. You always manage to find a little magic on your travels.

[Lorelei]

Hi Vanessa,I love reading your blog....so many magical photos and stories!
I eagerly await each of your blog postings!
Lorelei

[Michelle]

Wow! Looks like you had the perfect holiday! Your parents house is LOVELY and what a table setting. I love how formally beautiful it looked!!

[Debb George]

Will our Thanksgiving didn't go as will as your.My daugther work ,because she a single mother supporting two son on her own And one of the boys was sick. I did cook the net day not to bad. I love your family Thanksgiving look like alot of fun.
Debb

[vanessa marie]

You can lock me in that pantry - it sounds pretty cray. Speaking of pantries, one of my cats got shut in my Mom's pantry this Thanksgiving, nosy little guy =)

Also, canela sounds great, hope to try it someday!

[kristinguillory]

oh what a wonderful post, makes my heart swoon, with all the lovely pictures, and desserts..your mommys house is absolulty beautiful, and I adore the outside fireplace thing..haha

[Emily Anne (Art-n-Sewl)]

Parents like that really do exist?!?!?!?!?! You are lucky girl. What a fun Thanksgiving you must have had.
Thanks for sharing. I am so jealous!!!

[Michaele]

"Blissful chatter chaos..." That's *it* exactly! Family and friends and happy sharing, exuberant togetherness and complete understanding- what a joyous Thanksgiving your family had (as did mine, in a round-about way)! Hope you are looking forward to the winter holidays as much as my family and I are!

Michaele

[waterrose]

Oh you had a lovely Thanksgiving holiday and it is so wonderful to be able to share it with everyone that you care so much about. We had a lovely holiday too...drove north and played in snow in the woods.

[jennlui]

oh wow oh wow!!! you're adventures are always so very much fun!!! i love love love how you always find the little hidden places and treasures everywhere you go!!! thanks soooooo much for sharing!!! and what a fabulous giveaway!!! yipes! my fingers AND toes are crossed!!! i think i say that every time you have a giveaway... hee hee!!!

have a very fabulous monday!!!
peace and love

[Kandes Lee]

I am glad you had wonderful Thanksgiving! It looked like a lovely time with great yummy stuff. I spent the whole weekend with my new husband's family and my son. It was so peaceful and they are great people. I sure have a lot to be thankful for.

[sarah]

I'm wondering what your idea of cold is. While it has snowed today and is getting colder, it was 45 on Thanksgiving and we thought we were having a heat wave!

[Kris]

Hey Vanessa,
What a lovely and descriptive post. Your Thanksgiving sounds wonderful. You must be so proud of your parents and grandparents and it appears they feel the same about you. How sweet!!! I am completely in love with the milagro...it is absolutely gorgeous. Thank you so much for sharing your Thanksgiving with us.

Kris

[Laura]

Listening to you talk about your Dad made me miss mine so much. Treasure them all because when they leave, it is never the same. Tubac is a wonderful place to visit! Thanks for sharing your spectacular looking Thanksgiving!

[KRiSTa]

OMg I just watched Fred Clause and was oohing and aahing over the house! The cross is beautiful, and it looks like you had a lovely Thanksgiving, what a beautiful home!
Your photos make me feel like I'm there!

..xoxo
~K

[Anita Van Hal]

It sounds like you had a wonderfully enchanting holiday! I love reading your blog-everything sounds so enchanting in your world!!!

[Erin Glee]

Thank you for taking me on your family Thanksgiving Holiday Adventure. You are so blessed to have lived this for REAL~ have parents and Grandparents that love and support who you are and welcome Mr. Lovee... and in such a gorgeous setting? It's an unreal movie to me! HELLO! You were THERE! : )

[amy Sullivan]

~Happy Thanksgiving Ms. V.~
Lots of love & laughter~
We had the same love & laughter~
Your parents home is beautiful!~
oxox~Amy~

[Trish]

Sounds like another wonderful adventure! I'm so glad you were able to spend the holiday with the ones you hold near and dear. That is what Thanksgiving is for me!!

[Bethany Montella]

Lots and lots of times I am frantically running all around with just bits of time here and there to pop into someone's blog world and try to hurriedly take it all in...but this post demanded by time...love all of the photos (what dreamy places you visited! Oh my!!!!) your loving comments about your family and the little tiny spot of the packrat....the tease of the pantry ...and the guitar playing, swing building, laugh and cry Mr. Lovee!! Well, this could easily be an excerpt from a story!!
Thank you for the "journey" xo

[michelle cummings]

what a wonderful thanksgiving you had! thanks for sharing it with us!

[Jen r sanctuary arts at home]

That looks like a fantastic time!

[Judy]

I saw When Did You Last See Your Father this summer and loved it through the tears.

Judy

[Dapoppins]

Your world is so full of the most delicious c colors!

And your man has curly hair! How fine is that?

[Christy]

I enjoyed your thanksgiving holiday story! Happy holidays to you. xx

[Michele]

Hello,

Thank you for sharing your magical Thanksgiving with us. Your family sounds like such a delight! Treasure them always...for families like that are so special. Everything looked so beautiful and wonderful...a truly enchanting holiday! And those lovely treasures your marvelous Mom had in your room...they put me in a swoon...lol!! And that milagro cross is fantastic!! You always find the greatest treasures! Delightful, delightful, delightful!!!!

Hugs,

Michele :)

[Claire A]

Hello :)

I have been reading and being inspired by your blog for quite a while now, but never commented. There's my incentive! This post was particularly beautiful and festive and there was a lot of giving-thanks going on, which is important!

Keep up all your lovely creative work x

[i cant sew]

first of all... thank you thank you thank you for my beautiful gift that came in the mail. the post cards are too divine to write on so on my holidays i will have to search for the perfect frames and start a space for me somewhere in this house of mine.
second of all.... i love mums!!! when you dont have one you really appreciate stories like yours that tell of their love and generosity and i thank you for loving her so much in return.
last of all i will post on my blog about your gifts in a few days time, school is almost over for another year and my head is spinning around with what is still left to do! %*_*% rosey

[carolyn]

You really did have a magical Thanksgiving didn't you?

[ylva]

oh, i knew you would have the most enchanting thanksgiving and i was right :). i'm so happy that you all have each other - you, mr. lovee, your family - and that you seem so happy to spend some time together!

hope that the little break gave you a lot of inspiration :)!

[phyllis]

I dreamed of that pantry door years ago and have always wanted it! Love your photos...the way you put Lovee behind the candle, etc, etc....your grandma is YOUNG look at her hands!
My daddy was funny too :)

[Marjorie]

It looks like you had a most lovely, homey, snuggly holiday weekend, indeed! Hooray for family and yummy food and sweet things to nibble!! :)

[Charis]

Vanessa you are a very lucky girlie... the best bit is that you know you are & you share your appreciation. Your family sounds adorable & their home looks gorgeous. I'm glad you had such a lovely Thanksgiving!

[two crazy crafters]

What a fantastic Thanksgiving you had! Magical even. The house was beautiful, the food, the surprise gifts, all was a treat. Thanks for sharing it all with us. Twyla

[Jorgelina]

Lovely photos!
Me gusto mucho la corona,digna de una reina .
love your family Thanksgiving look like alot of fun.