Hello on a Saturday! I have had a week that sort of blink, blink, blinked away. I don't know what's cooking with me? I have continued my tidying and sorting our love shack - and spent all day yesterday pulling everything out of the linen closet, refolding everything, and organizing. My brain feels like it can't do anything else until I do these random things that entail taking everything out, tidying, and then putting it all back in....
Yesterday I opened a drawer to find all sorts of activity from moths.
I proceeded to dump 5 drawers out and wash everything.
Clean the drawers.
Get some new cedar chips.
I didn't need to wash everything, did I?
But it fit with the roll I am on.
I enjoyed it.
Odd.
:)
I slowly put back thing by thing.
(Swarovski crystal collections I made when I was younger.)
Maybe it is the sort of ritual of cleaning, admiring & putting back that I am enjoying...?
As I type, I realize that the feeling I have towards all of this cleaning and organizing (which includes the pâtisserie in a way), is that, I am practicing the art of respect towards my home, and my possessions.
I have been so slow in this process, and yes yes, that is what I feel!
I feel a true sense of respect towards, even the spice cabinet.
Loving my surroundings.
Not getting angry at the housework, but instead, doing it with thankfulness.
With gratitude that, a love shack, a roof, health, my 3 boys, and our space is -
A gift.
A morsel in time, a place we call our own.
Yes yes, I think I am paying respect to living in my own little world.
And what's more, loving its tattered imperfections.
I even stop to admire a little ceramic shard I have been carrying around for years.
I found it 10 odd years ago, and felt attached to it immediately.
Funny how those things happen, don't you think?
I look at it as a symbol of exactly what I am doing in my cleaning/organizing endeavors -
Which is, appreciating every little thing that surrounds me.
And what a perfect time to do so, where Winter lingers, and the gypsy garden awaits the birth of brand new leaves on trees, and warmth in the air....
It is a sort of beautiful, quiet silence.
Tending the home.
Looking out to see pups covered in mud.
Watching Miles discover that he outgrew his tiny hiding place behind the big garden pot...
:)
Watching love grow even stronger, between adopted frothers (fur brothers).
Feeling like, Miles was always here.
Watching Matty love him back.
Throwing a laundry basket on the floor, and running to get the camera, in an attempt to document sleep...
And then, whipping back around, to the main topic at hand.
Just being, and enjoying life.
In its simplest forms really.
And I suppose...
That's all I have to say about that ;)
Oh wait, I forgot to tell you -
Baby carnations are starting to bloom in my garden....
A sign that spring really exists, and is not merely a manifestation of our imaginations!
Okay, off I go for now ;)
ps: Random Tidbit - I have not had any coffee for almost a month+. And, I was a true black coffee in the morning gal, for 4 years.
Caffeine always makes me feel truly rotten. I can't even consider drinking a soda pop. So, we tested to see if possibly I was allergic to it. As lots of odd things popped up, after starting my black coffee drinking 4 years ago. Seems, coffee/caffeine was not my friend. So, I went off cold turkey, suffered, got through it, and almost a month later, here I am. No coffee. And, lots of the coffee drinking symptoms I was having are really faded big time. So, if you feel like caffeine is making you feel bad and causing strange symptoms to you, take it from me. Getting off it works. So, that's the 411 in that random pointless bit of info department ;)
However, if coffee/caffeine doesn't make you feel bad, then by all means, please enjoy a cup of 100% freshly ground black Kona for me, won't you?
Not a bit of it dearling! It's not random if you discover something that affects such a large part of your being- keep informing the people around you of your observations. The more we all know, the more we can take better care of ourselves, and our world!
Posted by: Magickwyrds | February 26, 2011 at 09:37 AM
Wow...what similar weeks we are having! I actually did the one eyebrow raised thing while I read this thinking "me too!"
First I went digging through drawers and cupboards looking for something specific (not cleaning, although that should have been the goal) and came across this little thing I've kept since childhood. Not sure why I've hung onto it but can't seem to give it up so into my Strawberry Shortcake lunchbox it went with the other childhood tidbits I've rounded up. :)
Also I had a weird experience this week the day I drank two cups of coffee - which, for me, was just about enjoying a hot beverage. I was feeling very...strange. So yesterday I decided to not have coffee for a while and see if that makes a difference.
Posted by: Molly @ A Bit O' Shine | February 26, 2011 at 10:15 AM
pre spring cleaning. inside and out. helping not harming. keeping it simple.
YO vanessa, YES!
ps those little back legs make me smile a mile wide.
kj
Posted by: kj | February 26, 2011 at 10:25 AM
Caffeine is a powerful thing as I found out myself when I got off of it. It effected my heart rate and caused a lot of skipping around, also surprising to me was all the breast soreness I was having disappeared a real plus as that worried me but on my check ups but all was okay. I think we get so used to it we don't realize what it's doing to our bodies.
Posted by: Nan | February 26, 2011 at 10:43 AM
As always, I love your blog. February is the natural time for though isn't it?
I imagine at this time of the year it is natural time to have to do without being the end of winter. It is when things begin to pick a bit (all of the branch nubs and tiny blossoms in the trees) our attention turns to the detail of every little thing. Isn't it lovely?
Posted by: Kat | February 26, 2011 at 11:58 AM
I so completely understand the enjoyment of keeping house and enjoying looking at your stuff. I do that, too! Wonderful way to spend a Saturday. When you wrote about the ceramic shard that you've had for a long time, it reminded me of the fabulous book The Church of the Old Mermaids (which is set in Tuscon, haha). Have you ever read it? If not, I highly recommend it! The main character finds bits of things in the desert, creates elaborate stories around them, and then sells them to tourists by telling the story she created. Great stuff...and the more I think about it, the more I realize I need to re-read it, lol!
Posted by: Sara | February 26, 2011 at 11:58 AM
Vanessa...
I have to admit, I almost cried when I saw that Miles has outgrown his tiny hiding space behind the big garden pot. Babies grow so fast. Snapping photos and taking video is so important.
Thank you for this post, Vanessa. I used to love my home and all my "stuff" in our own little world. Then, the house became a burden due to financial difficulties left behind when my mom passed away. It seems that, through alot of hard work, phone calls with the mortgage company and tears, we finally have our home back in order. But...I've found that I still feel a bit lost. Like my "stuff" and my world was somehow damaged or tainted by the heartache of possibly losing our home. Reading your post gave my heart a little hope....a desire to take back my "stuff", my world. Hmmmm....maybe I'll wash all of my vintage linens today, or take out my antique Noritake tea set and dust it and play with it.
Thank you for making me smile and maybe finding some hope again!
Kim ♥
Gerushia's New World
Posted by: Kim / Gerushia's New World | February 26, 2011 at 01:24 PM
I understand your attatchement to the ceramic shard. When I was a very little girl I found a tiny sliver of cream porcelain in my nana's garden. I dont know whybut I ket it. Years later, still quite a young girl, while digging for worms I found teeny tiny cream porcelain gnome, no bigger than my thumb, with a slither missing fromhis side. I hunted in my jewellry box and found the piece I had found years before and glued the little gnome together. Still one of the oddest but coolest things to ever happen to me :)
This is a lovely post, I'm glad to know I'm not the only one attatched to little things and who likes cleaning and washing! :D x
Posted by: olivia | February 26, 2011 at 02:31 PM
what a cute, cute puppy! I really need to go through my drawers... ugh...
Posted by: Leslie | February 26, 2011 at 03:55 PM
Oh coffee is definitely one of my favorite friends. For me, once the last sip has been sup (is that a word?) it signals that my leisure time has ended and work time has begun. But I am glad you discovered it was not your friend and you tossed it from your life for who needs friends that give us headaches and the such. But I know twould be better for me to toss that friend as well. Tea can serve as a lovely companion to ;-).
Now about that cleaning, could you hop on the next cloud and blow yourself in the direction of my cottage? I have been after Hagatha for weeks now to clean clean clean. Does she listen? certainly not and my weence little home is in need of a deep spring clean ;-).
I love that you're loving your little home in the magical desert beneath the mountains shadows. Such a lovely place to dwell.
xoxo
Posted by: Cori G. | February 26, 2011 at 04:13 PM
Frothers ... love that!
Caffeine makes me feel awful too. I can do a little green tea but black tea and coffee make me so nauseated! Anyway... a little green for me.
Love your pups. So cute.
Hope you are doing great and enjoying the weekend! I have been doing some cleaning out as well!
Posted by: Lucinda Keller | February 26, 2011 at 04:31 PM
No. Coffee has never been on my 'must have' list. I had my first cup of coffee at a youth coffee shop, about 40 years ago (Now I am showing my age!) and couldn't understand why everyone else was enjoying theirs. I did try. But it just was never meant to be. I am a tea drinker. (Russian Caravan/Earl Grey/ Irish Breakfast) My nanna was a tea drinker also. She would pour the tea out of the teapot into our cups from a great height...never spilling more than a drop. Lifting and lowering the pot as high as 12-16inches as she poured. As children, we would watch in wonder at her incredible talent with this tea drinking ritual.
I love how you have a 'love for your home'. Too many people miss it. In the hurry and craziness of a hectic life, too many people miss it. I am NOT one of them.
Do you ever find yourself just stopping, as you are walking through your house, and touching (hugging) the walls and saying thanks? I know, you probably think I am bonkers, right? But I confess to doing this on more than one occasion.
Thanks for sharing your beautiful life with us, Vanessa. It is always a delight to stop by.
Posted by: Victoria Sayer | February 26, 2011 at 04:32 PM
I just recently moved and I'm still going through things and sorting and trying to decide just where this or that should go. I dearly love reminicing (sp?) and remembering and treasuring special little keepsakes. I feel very peaceful here and that's so good! I'm glad you treasure your home too. :-)
Miles is totally adorable and yes, he is growing sooooo much! Thanks for sharing your days with both boys...perhaps I should say "3" boys? LOL
The linzer cookies are gorgeous too! You are an incredible baker...and I love doing that too.
xo
Pat
Posted by: Pat | February 26, 2011 at 05:22 PM
Vanessa: you have been so kind to have your events and I have been priveledged to attend all and participate in some. As sort of my own homage to your styling.....I am hosting a Celebrate OZ event on March 19 and would like to invite you to have a peek. I only have 21 lovelies that are going to participate thus far but I am excited about hosting an event for my favorite movie. I hope you might have a minute to stop by and have a peek. Thanks for all you do and the inspriation you are. The Olde Bagg herself, Oma Linda
Posted by: Oma Linda | February 26, 2011 at 06:17 PM
I'm a Dr Pepper gal...and I my body 'misses' it when I DON'T drink it! It is my 'perk me up' I inherited the habit from my dad's parents (my grandparents) who moved to California from Texas back in the mid 1940's.
I guess Dr Pepper is a 'Texan' thing...
I never was a coffee drinker except I would take a sip of my dad's coffee that had plenty of milk and sugar in it when I was young.
I'm proud of you for not drinking coffee, Miss V... I was off Dr Pepper for a couple of months but I had to go back to it...my sugar high for the day.
Life is funny like that...
Miles is growing by leaps and bounds!
I NEED desperately to organize as my life was not my own for a while and everything is in boxes, and boxes of art supplies that need to be put into plastic bins.
Oh, and I will have a very lovely secret to tell you about a Victorian house... maybe, some time this next week! I have been sitting on pins and needles waiting for information about it myself! I will send you the link about it and everything...I have had to be SOOOO patient about it...for at least a MONTH! You are going to flip!
I know, you are probably thinking 'Tell me now! Tell me now!' But I won't even know until next week sometime.
Cheers! and secrets~
Miss Teresa
Posted by: Teresa in California | February 26, 2011 at 07:36 PM
Look at little baby boy - all grown up! What a sweetie. Frothers - I LIKE that. May I call my babies furblings (since I have a boy and a girl - siblings!). :) I always get the urge this time of year to clean. I love the process of organizing and it always seems new and fresh to me. :) I so love carnations - it IS a sign of spring. I cannot wait for it to arrive here. :) Take care, dear Vanessa! xoxo Theresa
Posted by: Theresa | February 26, 2011 at 09:04 PM
I just love love love the picture of the frothers!!!
Posted by: Katharine | February 27, 2011 at 01:55 AM
I totally agree what you describe as a cleaning ritual. I love how you say it's about respecting your home. There are so many things I don't like about my house but there are those times when I will clean a small space and feel good about it. A lovely post. And lovely photographs.
Posted by: Sonia | February 27, 2011 at 03:51 AM
Whoa. What happened to the puppy?! Stop him. He's growing up!! Love, love, love the sleeping puppy picture though. Lovely post as always Miss Vanessa. Sunday cheers - Kathy
Posted by: Kathy | February 27, 2011 at 07:42 AM
Miss V, I'm ashamed of how long I've been missing your blog. What a delight as always, to see little fragments of your beautiful life through your lens. The puppies are precious. I developed a theory about puppies when I got Roxi 2 years ago as a 6 week old wrinkly, furry bundle of joy; they are SO cute and adorable in order for you to develop a strong maternal bond with them, saving their hides later on when they eat your sofa, your flip flops, books and sunglasses. After bonding with 'em, you can only get but so angry.
So glad to see the new additions to the family!
Posted by: Dusti | February 27, 2011 at 09:28 AM
OH HAH!! They already ate my shoes and books :) So I have given
them books and shoes of their own, hahhaaa ;) I know, bad on me ;)
Posted by: A Fanciful Twist | February 27, 2011 at 09:54 AM
Your Saturday looks to have been quite marvelous, indeedy, Miss!! :) We have switched to total decaf coffee (there is a locally roasted company here in NC called Larry's Beans which is divine!!!!) Too stronly brewed coffee makes me feel jittery and my silly little heart races away!! eeeek!
Green tea does not seem to bother me, though....which is my hot sippy of choice lately! :) YUMM!!!
Happy rest-o-the-weekend to yeeeeee!!!
♥
Posted by: marjorie | February 27, 2011 at 11:11 AM
We all are collectors. Frankly I'm going to sell some of that stuff that has been lying in boxes for too many years now. But there will be many collections remain. To bad that you can't enjoy a cup of coffe. Wishing you a pleasant week. /Therese
Posted by: linnea-maria | February 27, 2011 at 12:53 PM
I think this coming week will involve me cleaning a lot !
~what cute pups
Posted by: reub-envision | February 27, 2011 at 01:44 PM
It is sad. Too bad I had to find out the hard way that I was allergic
to caffeine. I can enjoy a cup of coffee, but over time it makes me feel
ill and have allergy conditions.... sad i know...
Posted by: A Fanciful Twist | February 27, 2011 at 02:18 PM
Hi Vanessa, Congratulations on your break away from caffeen. I have been off for a few month now,and I feel so much better. Keep up the good work. Your photos of your treasures are oh so nice and love your photos. I just want to mention..I am sure you know this all ready, both Matty and Miles smile with their eyes.
Posted by: Miss Linda | February 27, 2011 at 02:25 PM
Oh! Every time I read your posts and see those cutie pie puppy dogs of yours I just want to reach through the computer and squeeze them both!! My Daisy mae gets squeezes and kisses all day long, she is very spoiled :)and loved beyond measure. Happy to hear that you are feeling better.. too bad about the caffeine allergy though. Take care and give those pups an xtra hug! Amy
Posted by: Amy Boelter | February 27, 2011 at 04:13 PM
A very cute Puppy! We have been doing some EARLY Spring cleaning too. (we won't have spring here until April). Coffee... I never drank coffee until 4-5 years ago. When I drink to much my stomach lets me know, and if I drink it to late in the day it doesn't keep me up-it makes me tired. (I know-wierd), but on a positive coffee note; it has some benificial affects on me. Sorry you had to give it up.
Posted by: Penny Patten | February 27, 2011 at 04:51 PM
Sometimes I get on those kicks too V...and always feel so refreshed afterward. Good for you! And sheeesh Miles is getting long!! My new thing is Chai tea, yum!
Jamie :)
Posted by: A Forest Frolic | February 27, 2011 at 07:48 PM
Well, I'm finally having a week where I actually began to do a little bear...and also a strange little man doll... and I haven't had any motivation or energy or inspiration or...... well, much of anything really for months.... so phew! All I can say is.... finally.... something is happening that is a bit of crafty fun..
Isn't it great to enjoy all the tiny things in life? Even if I haven't been doing much...I can definitely say I was not blue..or down or ... worried or depressed or any of that.... just seemed to be going along ...enjoying baking mostly.... but, this week it all seems to be changing.... wonder if it is all in the stars.... I need an astrologer...hahaha...
Posted by: BumbleVee | February 28, 2011 at 12:06 AM
:) really beautiful! :)
Posted by: maria | February 28, 2011 at 06:33 AM
Congratulations on quitting caffeine! Isn't life so much better? I quit drinking coffee 2 years ago, and when I try to tell other people how great it is, they look at me like I'm crazy (which of course, I am!). It's so wonderful to be able to start the day without running to the coffee pot first thing. And later, if you try to drink it, you won't be able to, which is also awesome.
Off to clean stuff now, thanks for the inspiration!
xo, Andrea
Posted by: Andrea at Opulent Cottage | February 28, 2011 at 08:29 AM