This winter has been such a pleasure. Beautiful days in the upper 60's have gone on for so long, I almost can't remember any other sort of weather. Although the nights drop significantly, as is the case in the desert. Still, it has allowed for gorgeous brisk evenings in the gypsy garden...
Perfect for cooking on the little antique wood burning stove...
Might I add, old time living was not easy, from what I can tell.
But, it was very fun and super rewarding, I bet.
Filthy gown hems and smokey perfume abound.
Which, I sort of totally love.
:)
The moon was glorious last night, did you see it?
I got my edibles together for cooking, whilst the moon crept higher and higher, into the night sky...
Illuminating both sides of the gypsy garden.
I just love being out there.
It was so quiet last night, just me and the pups, cooking, singing...
Having a lovely lovely time.
Getting the fire warm enough for cooking can be tricky. My grandma cooks on a wood burning stove - bakes, everything. She prefers it to a gas or electric stove. You just have to get it roaring hot - and then keep it going with a wood pile as your best friend...
Mmmm, lovely apricot wood from our tree out back.
Mister trimmed the tree last year and cut me some perfect logs that have lasted and lasted. They smell incredible when they are burning. Although, I am running low after a huge bonfire on Friday with my neighbor.
I so enjoy this sort of thing. My mom has a super snazzy wood burning stove as well. In superb condition. Her and my dad were laughing at my antics last night, via telephone.
My mom said, I bet you smell wonderful ;)
Apricot smoke indeed.
I can't smell it on myself though ;)
Toast cooked right on the stove top, buttered and hot, is well....
The best toast ever ever ever!!!
Such a nice enchanted evening, under the trees, cooking under a canopy of moonbeam glow...
I can't wait to do it again today.
And bonus, the moon will be out again.
Nature does gift such magic, doesn't it?
I mean, what would the world be like, without the moon?
Thankful moon love!
See you super soon, love, Vanessa
Wonderful images, I could smell the smoke and taste the toast.
Posted by: G.G. Pinkster | February 07, 2012 at 12:46 PM
Vanessa...
You are such an inspiration. Often times when I'm down or feeling sad, I visit your blog. I look at your beautiful garden and your gypsy wagon and I feel uplifted. You give my spirit hope that someday...some way, I'll shake this depression.
Thank you!
Kim
Gerushia's New World
Posted by: Kim | February 07, 2012 at 12:53 PM
Oh how I love your gypsy garden! I am planning mine already on this very cold northernly day. In fact, I have purchased fabric for the walls already, and, of course, I must sew a skirt so I can have a dirty hemline as I stand before my woodstove and perfume myself with apple wood.
Thanks so much for keeping this lovely blog. I only recently discovered it, and I've been relishing it every day.
PS: I love the girl snails which I discovered on another post. You're such a clever and creative girl--and free of spirit too.
Posted by: Teresa Wendel | February 07, 2012 at 02:42 PM
What a perfect picture with the moon in the last picture, Vanessa! I did notice it last night as I was closing the shades. The sky itself looked so beautiful with the glowing white moon.
Posted by: Kathy @ Creative Home Expressions | February 07, 2012 at 03:12 PM
What a magical night out there!Thank you for sharing such a beautiful experience, you are so inspiring!
Posted by: Mina | February 07, 2012 at 04:14 PM
I am so very in love with the gypsy garden :) One good thing about living in such a dry and temperate climate I bet. I can hear snowmobilers outside of my window as I type this. What opposite worlds. There's nothing quite like being outside though, is there? Especially at night. The crickets, the wind, the stars and moon. You may as well be a real old timey gypsy, camping under the stars in your vardo for the night, making toast for dinner :)
Also letting you know Willa's woodland home is complete, and I think she's quite content :) Pictures on the blog if you'd like to see.
Load of love,
Jenn
Posted by: Jenn | February 07, 2012 at 04:22 PM
I think you need to make me some s'mores on that thing... like now...
Your gypsy garden looks fantastic, as always! Good job, sis.
Posted by: BobbypinBandit | February 07, 2012 at 06:19 PM
Vanessa,
I know the feeling of 60 degree weather in the winter! Haha here in California, it's fairly warm as well, the weather has fluctuated from beautiful to cloudy to warm to hazy. I just love reading about your gypsy garden because it makes me wonder about all of the adventures that must transpire whilst playing among your gypsy things!
How amazing it must be to burn firewood from your very own trees. I love your lifestyle and you have inspired me to enjoy nature so much. Especially the moon! The moon has always intrigued me, and it's beauty, so visibly magnificent on nights like the ones you photographed, continues to awe me. Have you heard Mindy Gledhill's Winter Moon? I know it's a Christmas song, but I still like listening to it because after all, it is still winter. (The groundhog saw his shadow--there's still 6 more weeks of my favorite season!)
I hope you are enjoying your time being a gypsy amid the joy of nature! :))
xoxo Jess
Posted by: Jessica | February 07, 2012 at 07:04 PM
♥...delightful photos...I just adore the caravan...♥
blessings
Posted by: sacred keep | February 07, 2012 at 08:40 PM
I love the gypsy garden. I've known people who cooked on wood stoves. My grandparents used to heat with a fireplace and my grandmother would wrap potatoes in foild and roast them in the coals. She had a pot to cook in over the fire, too.
Glad you had so much fun with your wood stove.
Posted by: Renee | February 07, 2012 at 08:54 PM
How very groovy! Vanessa!
I LUVVV toast cooked like that...there is nothing like outdoor cooked food. It seems to take on the taste of nature, fresh, smoky flavor...so REAL! I can imagine how wondrous your clothing smelled after being outdoors with the wood stove. AWESOME!!! I hope you had your hot cocoa to go along with it! Dang! What a lucky girl you are! Thank you for sharing part of your bliss!
xoxo
Miss Teresa
Posted by: Teresa in California | February 07, 2012 at 10:11 PM
What a beautiful magical place! A place to curl up with a good book and just dream away. :)
Posted by: Christina | February 07, 2012 at 11:37 PM
....oh....that picture of your gypsy wagon under that magical moon....
You live a fairy tale, Miss V.....a wonderful dreamyland of fantasy and reality all mixed together!
Posted by: Cameron | February 08, 2012 at 01:06 AM
Looks like you had a really gorgeous evening. I can almost smell the wood smoke.
It's far to chilly here to be spending to much time sitting outside, although I'm still enjoying plenty of toast, just that mine is eaten while I'm warm and cosy inside under a blanket. :-)
Posted by: Rachel | February 08, 2012 at 05:03 AM
Very beautiful Miss Vanessa. I felt as if I was singing and sitting along with you. The smell of apricot wood that filled the air was wondrous, as well as your gypsy garden. Thank you so much for sharing what you have.
Posted by: Miss Linda | February 08, 2012 at 06:01 AM
Mmmm. . . hot buttered toast! Yummy! I am so jealous of your woodstove lol. And how fun are you, having a cookout in the middle of winter- magical!
Posted by: Magickwryds | February 08, 2012 at 12:14 PM
How wonderful to live in a climate such as yours and to have such amazing outdoors living! :)
Posted by: Laura | February 08, 2012 at 01:49 PM
I am madly in love with wood burning stoves... I can't wait to have one in the house I someday will live in. ^-^
My grandparents had a stove very like yours in their backyard. When my siblings and I were little, we'd play endless games of pretend back there, cooking wonderful things on the stove & what not. ^-^
I hadn't thought about that in a while... thank you for stirring up that wonderful memory! =D
XOXO
Posted by: Annalee | February 09, 2012 at 02:25 AM
Thank you for all the magic and loveliness that you share!
Happy Valentine's Month!
Posted by: Christy | February 09, 2012 at 05:54 AM
Your posts are magical...and my inner child is delighted when she visits. Thank you!
Posted by: Rett | February 09, 2012 at 06:30 AM
LOVE LOVE LOVE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Your posts really are magical, it always feels like a little mini vacation when I visit your blog. It makes me want to hop into your world!
Thank you so much for being such and inspiration and a delight to read your blog.
Have a magical day!
Posted by: Brielle | February 09, 2012 at 11:11 AM
Beautiful V, how I love your gypsy garden! You have stirred memories for me also...when I used to visit my dear friend Wendy's house, they had a wood burning stove, and the house would be filled with the smell of freshly baking bread! I love that yours lives outside, and cooking under the full moon - ahhh, what a treat! Sending you and the lads huge hugs across the ocean xxx
Posted by: Tina | February 09, 2012 at 01:15 PM
Wild & free & lovely & enchanting...I come back again & again...thanks...passing on the love & silliness with the abc award...
http://makebelieveboutique.com/2012/02/09/abc-award/
Posted by: In Blue | February 09, 2012 at 09:42 PM
The moon was incredible last night! I'm so happy I shared it with you Vanessa.
~elaine from the CA desert
Posted by: Elaine L. | February 10, 2012 at 02:01 AM
I love your gypsy garden! It is amazing!
Posted by: Debra | February 10, 2012 at 11:49 AM
Pure magic...the light of the moon and your gypsy camp. You could open a small intimate b & b experience...fanciful life in the desert with Vanessa...
Sign me up.
x....x
Posted by: stephanie | February 11, 2012 at 10:09 AM
This is simply amazing! It really looks like a genuine Gipsy camp that I remember from being a little girl. Lovely! Oh, the memories!
Posted by: Daly @ Shade Seed | February 16, 2012 at 10:48 AM