A Fanciful Twist

Petals & Banana Cream Pudding

It's a mysterious Saturday.  I don't know why.  I can taste the air.  It smells like the air smells in a different place when you are on vacation.  Have you ever noticed that?  Do you ever go outside and say, wow the air smells and feels like...

I am trimming fresh flowers and making old fashioned banana cream pudding (first time).  Nilla wafers and all.  (I needed a tiny break from editing and sculpting and all that fun stuff)

        

Growing up in a culture thick with Mexican and European traditions, you don't really grow up with Banana Cream Pudding.  You grow up with something more like Capirotada (unreal buttery, fruity, cheesy bread pudding), empanadas, pan dulce, baklava and crepes.

   

Mister Lovee grew up in the Midwest and in New York.  The Midwest and Banana Cream Pudding were a whole new world to me when I met him, and so, I am in love with both.  When I met Mister he took me traveling around Arizona and I found it to be like a whole new adventure.  Amazing, the places we haven't even delved into in the neck of our own woods. 

Did you know that Arizona isn't just a great big desert?  We have forests and woods, and green beautiful little towns, and lots of snow up North.  In fact, adorable Prescott is one of my favorite little towns in our state.

I was raised pretty Americanized, but still, a tiny Mexican border town is very different from Middle America.  It might as well be another country. 

Growing up we traveled to places outside the US, so I never really got to realize what a beautiful and diverse country we lived in until I was an adult.

I love that when I think of America I think apple pie, fourth of July, parades, barbecues, folk music, tiny towns with root beer signs, down home cooking and of course, so so much more...

         

I love it.

I think wherever we are from, those traits that are country specific are beyond precious.  I would love to know what you think about when you think about the country you are from? 

   

Anyhow, I just meant to pop in and say hello, but there I go waxing nostalgic.  Silly girl.  Best get back to work, I am editing some fun photographs to share asap.  

Do have a beautiful day, won't you?  I know you will ;)

Back super soon, 

♥,V

ps:  Last photo borrowed from - open.salon.com/blog/procopius

pss:  I am also making cream of broccoli for the first time, in individual bread bowls.  I am using this recipe (with real butter), wish me luck ;)

A Little Fairytale...

As you all know, old fashioned fairy tales aren't all cherries and scones.  They are actually equipped with a hearty dose of witches, magic, things going upside down and inside out, tears, woes, toads, evil mother in laws (oops, I mean step mothers), sleeping under a 100 year spell, waiting for Prince Charming, poison apples and all sorts of things that add depth and drama to a tale. 

Actually, now that I think about it, if any of us has ever wished for our lives to be fairy tale-like, why, perhaps the wish has in fact come true.  That is, if one looks at what a real fairy tale is all about ;)

   

If everything was always perfect, life would be utterly boring and meaningless.  Don't you think?  Plus, perfection is relative.  But, that's a whole other topic.  For today, I think we should simply share our fairytale lives.  Give them depth and dimension...

So, with that, let me start the tale telling, then you go next ~

Once upon a time, in a far away desert, lived this girl who skipped around happily.  She talked to birds and furry creatures and even deer.  Sort of like Snow White, only, well, the animals ran from her and didn't talk back.  But that was okay, because she pretended they did, and she was easy at convincing herself about hearing voices.  So, all was well....

Anyhow, one day this girl had a beautiful visitor, who accompanied her in a giggly walk in the garden by night, while they marveled at the enormous ring around the moon...

   

The girl was delighted to have a friend visiting her, but didn't notice that two furry creatures were running around madly behind her.  

The largest and strongest (and she is very big and strong) of the furry creatures ran full speed (not on purpose, and nothing happened to the creature) into the backside of the girl, with a great blow.  In a split second, the girl flew up into the air and then harshly landed on her back on the ground so hard, her front teeth slammed together, her head went numb and then dizzy, her derriere had no feeling and she was stunned, wondering what had happened...

   

Granted, she had a little more padding here and there than the girl in the drawing above, which probably was her life savior against broken bones.  Yes yes, of this we are certain!

So, the lesson is to make sure you have some pie today, if not sooner!  Pad your bottom with desserts, in case this very thing happens to you ;)

The girl was given ice packs right away for her wrist.  She felt fine for a couple hours after the toss up (until reality + pain set in), however, the girl was most concerned because her front tooth felt a little loose and sore...

   

Her beau told her not to touch it or wiggle it, and all would be better in the morning, and thank heavens, it was!!

   

Anyhow, here is where the story turns to wonderful.  She got to be babied by her beau, and good thing she loves to wear black, because she is more than a little black and blue, and the second day lent really sore ribs too (ouchie).  But, a magician gave her a magic spell pill in the form of 800 mg of Ibuprofen, and she lived happily ever after...

Oh and, it doesn't hurt that she has an amazing fairy-blogfriend that sent her sooo much delicious yarn (thank you Miss Lovely LORI, I am beyond over the mooooon!!) -

   

   

That any pain went right out the window, as she was mesmerized and able to spend the entire night making treats, right in the comfort of her own bed.  Perfect timing too because her yarn stash was getting low.

        

So, it seems life sometimes finds a way to slow you down, no matter what.  Mister delivered parcels to the post office for me in the rain and cold, and I have been bringing more faces to life whilst getting back to 100%.  Which I am very close to.

   

So, that's the 411 in my neck of the fairy tale forest.  What about yours??? 

♥,V

ps:  I saw Bright Star, it was good, but oh so so so sad.  I also saw Grizzly Man, sad too but I could not get over the fox love.  Such precious foxes!!  I can't wait to watch Hachi, The Young Victoria (so many of my favorite British actors in one film) and Extraordinary Measures.  I have been meaning to go watch The Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus, but have yet to do so.  Have you seen any good movies lately?

I Vote that we go Positively Mad for the day! What do you say?

It's the perfect day to go mad, don't you think?  Everyday should be a Mad Tea Party.  In fact, my Mom and Granny and Auntie gather every afternoon for Mad Coffee.  Isn't that fun?

And, while we are at it, why don't we have Catherine the Great host?  I can't really think of a better hostess.  Maybe she will bring her flowers and butterflies, and red velvet curtained stage?

I am delighted to get to finally share her.  This is a custom digital collage piece I did a few weeks ago, for a delightful project, which will now be offered for sale in my online shop ~

        

She is available in both canvas print and card form (single sided).

Since Catherine the Great is going to be our hostess for the day, and we have all agreed to go positively MAD, then we should commence with only the delightments that a true Mad Tea Party can bring...

In the form of more treats, of the Mad variety (all available in my shop)... 

A formal Mad Tea Party Collage (finally, per your requests, available in my shop in print and card form)...

       

The back of the postcard looks like this -

   

Also, I whipped up some optional invitation stickers that fit all of my cards -

      

And, because I can't be controlled (even by myself), below I have an outpouring of a whole lot of explosive Mad Tea Party Love, in the form of cards.  I hope you like these ;)  They are scrumptious in person...

Mad Tea Party {The Cupcake and the Bee} 

front

   

back

        

Mad Tea Party {Sweet Treats}

front

   

back

   

Mad Tea Party {Mad Bliss}

front

   

back

   

Mad Tea Party {Of Toadstools and Sweets}

front

   

back

   

Mad Tea Party {Tea & Milk}

front

   

back

   

So, that is a bit of the Madness I have had going on around here.  Makes me want to throw a party asap ;)

And now, I really need some tea, and maybe just a slurp of french liqueur.  Oh did I say that?  Although a slurp would affect me like 4 tablespoons of Nyquil.  So, it's best I don't go down that path ;)

But tea and milk would be quite divine indeed!

So, off I skedaddle to pop all of these treats in my shop.

More super soon!  Pinky Promise ;) 

♥ ,V

ps:  No matter that the holidays are over, I am spellbound and going to make this, perhaps even this evening.  If you can, wait for the end of the video, and see how she decorates it, oh Nigella bliss!

pss:  There is also a set of assorted Mad Tea Party cards in my shop ~

   

Oh me, oh my & Valentine's I spy...

I have so much to say, that things to say that have become backed up in a long list.  Some my brain has even expunged and others that tickle the soul, but require great attention to be told correctly.  And, my clay is waiting for me to come back from my break, where I have escaped to say HELLOOO to you, whilst sharing a nature silhouette or two...

 

And by the way, have I told you lately that, you rock my toadstool?

        

Oh and, I think the fairies are messing with time you see.  For I look at the clock at 8:00 a.m., then glance a few seconds later and it is a quarter past three, and then a short time after that it is midnight, and in the shadows I catch a glimpse of fairy wings in mid flight....

   

And, the outdoors have been more that splendid, with cold and snowy mountain tops...

   

While the sun has held mysterious tales, yes yes indeed...  And doesn't it look like the cloud on the front left has morphed into a man floating towards the heavens?

   

Oh and, did I tell you about how I was transported into another land through a miniature secret keyhole that lived in one tiny perfect rain drop?  Go on, go in and see for yourself...

        

Alas for now, I must skip off while I clutch things to show you in the future, along with MAD (I mean Mad) tales for the next post ~ which I will compose very soon, maybe even this afternoon.  But for now, I must tend to my clay right away.  You see, the window of magic is ajar, and waiting for me...

But, please don't be sad or vexed that this post isn't as long as a mile or three - for I have a wee present waiting below, just for thee - 

Yes, yes indeed.  Those fungi lovin' Valentine's that I made for you back when, are Free and still available by clicking on THIS printable PDF file RIGHT HERE.

        

Because, I like you.

It's okay if you think I am silly or weird, or wacky or even slightly rotten ;)  But then again, perhaps you find me angelic (ya right), but horned all the same.  All that matters is that you meet me here to play a few games.  I can't handle serious or sad or negative and bad.  Although, that depends on what you define as bad and sad?  Because I would be happy to write you a sick note for work, or come to your house for a food fight or pie throwing contest.  And truth be told, I might even cry with you watching Somewhere in Time or something like that.  But I am guessing, if you are here right now reading this, it means we are slightly kindred, right?  Or maybe even more than slightly, with whipped cream and cherries?

        

Oh and, did I tell you that my black horse has a name?  I think, all the names are beyond wonderful, so it was ever so hard to choose.  But, I thought, why not turn my black beauty into a saint that will protect the herbs in my garden?  Like Basil and such?  So why not choose, Basilio Von Vivant, suggested by lovely Joelle Dolce Bebe (please send me your address;), because I do love that name!  Now -Whimsy, Pegasus, Paladin, Midnight and Massala Chai (plus all the others) tugged at my heart strings as well, cos you all are more than swell at naming creatures.  But, Basilio Bon Vivant seems quite good in this case, don't you think?

        

Now I am babbling nonsensically (and you can tell I made our coffee too strong), and the window for clay sculpting is closing, so I must vite vite!  Ruuuuun....

See you sooner than sooooon!

 

♥ ,V

ps:  Whipped cream photo borrowed from Country Living Food