It all began last Thursday, with a cake you see. And a fantastic conversation over warm sips and moist bites...
My wonderful delightful neighbor and I had a date to chat, and carry on as we usually do. Telling salacious tales and giggling madly.
I told her about how I had just found this lemon yogurt bundt cake recipe (1 hour before she arrived), in the midst of cleaning all my closets, building new shelves for the closets, emptying out every drawer, and getting ready to build a little building....
She laughed at my nuttiness, and how I seemingly whipped this cakeling up at the last minute ;)
(Of course I greeted her with wet, just showered hair, and no make-up + sweats covered in paint (are you gasping?). It was the trade off to "just out of the oven" edibles)
We curled up on the couch, and in between all sorts of chats, I told her about my grand plans, of organizing this entire love shack, and donating boxes of junk ( I mean treasure).
Then we went on chatting.
Now, the twist in the tale is this.
I kept my word, of organizing my whole country house.
And, for the last 5 days, I have emptied every drawer and closet in this house.
I have done so many loads of laundry, I stopped counting.
(Mister's shirt piles were mountains)
We built a little building in the yard too. (well, Mister and a friend did really)
And, I cleaned s'more.
Every nook and cranny.
It looked like an explosion had gone off in the house, with me organizing and getting rid of stuff.
On and on, this went on.
Hitting the bed every night totally exhausted.
A pup on my head and a pup by my side.
I am 90% done.
Hooooray!
HOWEVER....
As I ran back and forth, in the house, out of the house.
Hauling boxes to my car to donate...
I noticed that in the faux spring warmth of January,
Camellia got a tad confused...
And had adorned herself with oodles of blooms.
Camellia, I asked, are you certain you want to do this??
There is a winter storm rolling in, in just a couple of days...
But, she informed me that...
She simply had no control over it, so...
All she could do was, hope for the best, and ride the storm...
And isn't it funny?
It's just like life, and nature and all of its happenings....
There are just some things we can't control.
Some we can, like our closets and drawers.
And, some we can't.
And really, we just have to take it all day by day, moment by moment.
Living and breathing.
Enjoying each step as we go, in the moment, instead of drowning in worry.
I promised to cover her and keep her as warm as I could...
And as the storm moved in, in full force, it cast the most miraculous glow of yellow onto the trees, just as the sun set.
It was dark blue sky and yellow glowing trees...
Winds roared in.
Storms in my neck of the woods do not visit very often.
But when they do visit, they are welcomed in a curious sort of way ;)
As the house howled with wind, and hail hit the roof,
and the windmill spun as fast as it could...
I looked out the window, and all was pink...
Pink skies and winter trees, to fill the soul.
And so,
I did the only logical thing I could think of.
I baked another yogurt lemon bundt cake.
And all was imperfectly perfect.
Or, perfectly imperfect.
Just as life should be.
Don't you think?
Now, I must get some parcels in the mail, and finish organizing as we have a 5 day house-guest coming in a couple of days...
Eeeeeks ;)
I am sooooo glad you liked the valentines I made you in the last post, hoooray!!
ps: I have all my seeds ready for planting, and have gotten oodles into the ground already (of those that could go into the ground at this time). I have much more planting to go. I can't wait to see what grows. Hopefully something. I have new seeds, and then TONS of seeds I harvested from last year's flowers. I can't wait to see what sprouts. Time seems to go faster when you are planting all of the time. The months get so much shorter... Anyone experience that?
pss: I made one large bundt cake with that recipe, instead of 3 small ones. Also, I made my first cake a few days ago by mixing by hand, and another last night by mixing with the hand mixer. Just the change in mixing made two different cakes. And, I dare say, I think I like the one where I mixed by hand best. It was moister. Oh, and mine was done in 50 minutes.
Day by day......moment by moment.....thanks i needed to hear that.....Storms? I know what you mean thunder/lightning hail and then snow. We're not getting above freezing until Friday! Ah the quick weather changes of West Central Texas! :) Thanks for the smile. Got my fingers crossed for Camelia.
deb
Posted by: deb | February 01, 2011 at 01:21 PM
I used to say, I don't *do* perfect.
But I have sort of adjusted that to accepting imperfections in their perfectness :]
Posted by: mermaiden | February 01, 2011 at 01:26 PM
I love that you call it a "cakeling"! The hand mixed one turned out better because it can feel your love....I bet you are picking the lemons fresh from your backyard....
I downloaded the Valentines & took the stick to Kinko's --- when the cute guy printing them for me saw the screen, he said "WOW, these are great"! They are even more detailed & brighter in person. You are a doll for gifting them.
Posted by: Jill James | February 01, 2011 at 01:54 PM
p.s. all we're in control of is our attitude to what we're not in control of!
Posted by: Jill James | February 01, 2011 at 01:56 PM
Ohhh...I just adore Johnny Appleseed skies. So pink and glorious! We've been having them here as well lately.
I'm getting ready to start my garden clean up. Soon, it will be time to soak my Sweet Pea seeds over night and pop them into the ground!
Thank you for sharing your world with us:
Kim
Gerushia's New World
Posted by: Kim / Gerushia's New World | February 01, 2011 at 02:00 PM
Dearest Miss Vanessa,
What magic there is in your world! Of course there is magic everywhere but someone else's magic always seems more magical than our own, doesn't it?
I wish I could start planting now, but we are about to get a foot or so of snow and so I will have to wait a while. Last year, I bought my seeds about this time and dreamed of planting them for months, but they were so worth it, I will do it again this year!
I will have to read this post over and over until I am inspired to turn our house upside down and shake it, like you have yours! It is so rewarding when something like that is done, isn't it?
Hugs to you,
Betty
Posted by: Betty | February 01, 2011 at 02:16 PM
Yesterday I came home from work and just needed to make a chocolate cake with chocolate frosting! Sometimes it just needs to be done.
Posted by: sarah | February 01, 2011 at 02:19 PM
You are such lucky ducks, to have big skies.
I live in suburbia and have to suffice with a small sampling of sky drama. But I do soooo love a good drama in the sky. Magical colours; strange cloud formations; brilliant blue; dark thunderclouds...never get tired of seeing the sky.
Our dear little country has, and is having it's full share of insane weather lately. Long droughts. Massive floods. Huge bushfires. And now, our latest is this Monster cyclone 'Yasi', bearing down on us. OUR small piece of Oz has so far dodged a bullet. Fingers crossed, we continue to dodge. The Monster Yasi is due to completely gobble up Nth Qld...tonight!! (so far it is 500klms wide- the eye is 70 klms wide- and the winds have been tracked at 295klms. Scary... and yes everyone is afraid. Very afraid.
Loved your Valentine bunting, by the way.
Love the added crepe paper frills and doilies...gives me an idea for our grandies 3rd bithday in April. Thanks!
You live a beautiful life, thanks for sharing a little bit of it with us.
Posted by: Victoria Sayer | February 01, 2011 at 02:44 PM
Ooh, you should donate your boxes of junk to me! I can't even imagine all the lovely goodies that would come out of your magical wonderland. Or you could have a yard sale! I am just an other-people's-junk-lovin' kinda gal :)
ps. that cake looks so super yummy!
Posted by: Alia | February 01, 2011 at 03:14 PM
You do make me smile with your whirlwind ways! I agree that sometimes you must just do things. I had one day of what you describe sorting my books and art tools and I wasn't planning it it just happened! Often the best way as if you plan too much sometimes things just don't get done. Love the look of the cake(s!) The storm is so pretty. I hope the Camelia survives. I have one in a pot as the soil here is not suitable and evey year I marvel at how it does so well with little or no help! x
Posted by: Sarah | February 01, 2011 at 03:42 PM
I featured your blog on mine today :) and posted about your free printables. Hope you dont mind! :)
Posted by: claire | February 01, 2011 at 04:33 PM
I enjoyed your post so much! Talking to your Camelia and asking as to her intentions is so precious. I do hope she did well. My Camlelia also dressed herself in some lovley buds last week. She has not bloomed yet, but I think she will soon.
Hugs,
Terri
Posted by: Artful Affirmations | February 01, 2011 at 04:41 PM
Could I please come live with you? I really want pink skies and camellias. I'll be really quiet...paint your toenails...fold your socks...the whole shebang.
Posted by: stacy | February 01, 2011 at 05:03 PM
Yu-u-um. I visit often, but don't always leave a comment. I love your blog and your zest for life!
I am going to try to make this delicious cake. Would you mind sharing the glaze for it? Thank you!!
Posted by: Jessica at Kids Napping? I'm Scrapping! | February 01, 2011 at 05:55 PM
you vanessa! you inspire, conspire, aspire and desire. you are every ---ire a person could be minus any ire by itself :)
i think you should take stacy up on her offer. it sounds so win-win.
be. here. now. that's what you do.
love this post, love your joy. by the way i know it's not all joy all the time but girl, you show up every day.
with love
kj
Posted by: karenjasper@comcast.net | February 01, 2011 at 08:45 PM
I love your Camellia story. My body is begging me to turn of my computer and go to sleep (it's midnight), but I decided to check your blog just before bed, and I'm so glad I did. It filled my heart with wonderful joy and peace. I feel like the Camellia sometimes :)
I experience the world as a wonderful, magical place, too, and it's so great to read posts that (inadvertently) encourage me to be magical me.
Thank you!
Melanie Jade
Posted by: Melanie Jade | February 01, 2011 at 11:06 PM
Oh what glorious photos of the storm and the dark grey clouds with the yellow trees...Awesome! And the PINK MOUNTAINS and the pink glow around everything...equally running chills up my back with the beauty of it all. My camellia bushes do the same thing...every winter! They bloom in between the storms with such luscious pinkish red colors! And I hope they don't freeze as we can still get below freezing on into March here in Central California.
I will tell you a secret about a house in a few weeks! Shhhh!!!! Scrumptious Victorian House!!! Hee! Hee!
hugs, and fairy kisses
Miss Teresa
Posted by: Teresa in California | February 02, 2011 at 12:04 AM
Beautiful pictures. We often have that problem, warm weather makes everything think it is time to bloom, then we get a late freeze.
I must try that lemon cake. I love lemon anything.
I'm already plotting on how I can get hubby to plow a garden this year. I want to grow green beans, corn, tomatoes, snow peas, etc, maybe a pumpkin or two or three. I saved some seeds from a butternut squash the other day.
We've had rain, rain, rain, but better than snow, snow and more snow.
Everyone in snowy areas stay safe and warm.
Oh and I've been doing that cleaning and purging thing since New years.
Posted by: Renee | February 02, 2011 at 02:16 AM
That cake looks yummerific! I am glad you are finding the time to organize all your items... and free yourself from some, as well.
Posted by: Bobbypin Bandit | February 02, 2011 at 09:00 AM
Dearest Vanessa...Hello! How ARE you? Sounds like you've been busy. That cake looks delicious - thanks for the link. I made a coffee cake this morning - nothing like freshly baked goods hot from the oven. We are iced in, I'm afraid. More snow on top of the three feet we already have and now ICE. Ice is gorgeous to behold but oh so dangerous. So me, the hubby and the furry ones are all bundled up in the house. Thanks for sharing some lovely springtime flowers - in our world of white, it was beautiful to see! Have a wonderful day, dear friend! xoxo Theresa
Posted by: Theresa | February 02, 2011 at 09:31 AM
OMG - that cake looks deelish and I wish I could make one. While I was sick with the flu last week my husband managed to catch the oven on fire. How an oven catches on fire with nothing actually cooking inside the oven is beyond me.....but it happened. So, for now, we have no means to make deelishus tasteez.....but when we get a new oven, I'm making this cake straight away!
Posted by: Keisha - Cupcake Wishes & Birthday Dreams | February 02, 2011 at 10:43 AM
Mmm, Vanessa that cake looks delicious...and those pictures of your storm, oh my...it's like a dream! Doesn't it feel wonderful to get your house all organized!?! I love it when it's all done and you feel so accomplished.
Hugs,
Jamie :)
Posted by: A Forest Frolic | February 02, 2011 at 11:39 AM
Hello from the frozen tundra of North Texas! Temps in the teens now with wind chills below zero. Icy streets. Schools closed. Hubby didn't have to go into work yesterday or today. (Yay!) I'm kinda sad that all the people visiting the area for the Super Bowl are being greeted by this weather because the severity and duration of this cold is unusual for us! Ah well, fortunately Super Bowl Sunday is supposed to be in the 50's.
Oh, dear Vanessa zee Voonderful, if only I could get mine house 90% cleaned and decluttered in 5 days!!! I have been workin' away, though, because my parents are coming next week.
Mr. built a little building in the yard? A tool shed or something more magical? Oh, listen to me, even a tool shed is bound to be magical in your yard!
Oh, that cake looks sooo yumby yumby! AND woulda LOVED to have gotten a peek at what you gave away. ; )
Posted by: Linda Diane | February 02, 2011 at 01:06 PM
oooh you are such a whirlwind of cleaning activity....won't you come visit me for a few days and work your magic here...I promise I'll bake you cakes!
Posted by: Tracie Hanson | February 02, 2011 at 06:52 PM
What beautiful flowers! I wish I had a touch of spring like that. I posted pics of my yard post-blizard and a few pics of my own pup, too. ;) I've been staying warm and toasty inside as outside it is -1 degrees right now and the windchill is -15!! I'd love to try that cake - sounds good.
Posted by: Nicki | February 02, 2011 at 11:11 PM
Your photos are beautiful. I live in the CA high desert north of LA, but have always loved Arizona. It's a beautiful state.
~elaine~
Posted by: Elaine L. | February 03, 2011 at 12:22 AM
Embrace the Imperfections:) The imperfections in life really are what conect us all together. Our imperfections cause us to depend on each other in ways perfection never would.
Yummy, Yummy cake...friend and conversation...all the better.
DeeLight (Jennifer)
Posted by: DeeLight | February 03, 2011 at 07:13 AM
the trade off around here is ...my in my 'jammies still.... hair pulled up into a pony as I'm still boycotting hairdressers.... cake is always good.... who cares what the baker looks like? .... now ...off to copy that recipe.... check out my big, bad chocolate decadence sometime...and ...lately ..I've just been baking "sponge" cakes. Introduced to me by Brit bloggers...
Posted by: BumbleVee | February 03, 2011 at 10:49 AM
...of course, that should read "me" in my jammies.....sigh.... these eyes....
Posted by: BumbleVee | February 03, 2011 at 10:50 AM
Very sweet post! Yum! Yum!! I wish I was your neighbor!;)
Always look forward to your posts! As always very lovely! ♥♥
Posted by: Naomi | February 03, 2011 at 10:56 AM
Cute post, as well as your photos! Thanks for sharing your world with us.
Posted by: Sherman Unkefer | February 03, 2011 at 09:14 PM
yummilicious.. your's is the 3rd blog I have visited with a delish cake recipe.. I wonder. Is the Universe trying t otell me sumpin' ????
Posted by: pam aries | February 04, 2011 at 06:19 AM
I just did the same thing to clean my summer camp, wandawega. At the end of the day I took a break to make a rum cake. It didn't turn out as delicious looking as your cake, but at least I got a lot of cleaning done.
Posted by: Tereasa | February 04, 2011 at 08:27 AM
What a great post - I felt like I was sittng there with you having tea and bundt cake!
Posted by: cathy | February 04, 2011 at 03:51 PM