Getting back into the groove after the holidays is always weird and foggy and intense, isn't it?
Or is it just me?
All this busy busy, long days, late nights of making and baking.
And for me, packaging and making art and jewelry too.
Shipping, post office visits.
More baking.
Staying up 4-5 hours past my regular bedtime.
Hosting.
Clean-up.
And then, busy Sunday, busy Monday and Tuesday creeps up.
I decided on Sunday that we needed a great big green salad.
There is an abundance of arugula in the veggie garden.
And tomatoes that were green are turning red.
As, we have had tank top days, still.
Cool nights, but very warm in the sun days, that make happy tomatoes.
I also needed to decompress.
I had been going non stop for 2 weeks or more.
So, I went foraging in my own yard.
A break, a breather, a slow walk.
On the hunt for little nature treasures.
I collected pine cones.
I planted a pine tree here about 10 years ago.
And it is massive now.
Like 12, 14 feet? Maybe more?
In fact, it was the first Christmas tree Lovee and I shared.
It's finally gifting lots of pine cones.
It was tiny when I planted it.
About a foot tall.
Then, I went around our little path,
through the shrubs and trees, and collected some quince.
A few decorative berries.
Some pretty peach leaves.
I stood by the nasturtium patch and nibbled those wasabi like leaves that I love.
Nabbed some for dinner.
Then I went and inspected the Live Oak tree I planted 3 years ago.
I started screaming with glee.
Practically hyperventilating.
Mister Lovee was like, what what what's wrong????
He was over there, messing with the peach tree or something...
And I just kept jumping around sing-screaming,
I can't believe it, I can't believe it!!!
(Don't forget, I am very easy to please)
Mister Lovee ran over, looked up and said,
Well, I'll be Darned...
I live in the desert.
Not the woods.
Not the forest.
Hello acorns!
(Although, I can see a forest in the mountains from my house. I live at the base of said mountains, and believe it or not, folks even ski up in Mount Lemmon)
So you see, acorns on a tree I planted myself?
Well...
Makes me extra heart happy!!!
With a little help from Mister Lovee...
My little acorn collection is growing.
I got about 2 handfuls.
We'll use our tall ladder to get the rest.
Yay.
Yay!
I finished up my little garden gathering with a big bowl filled with zinnia, cosmos and marigold seeds.
(I saved some for you Alia!! ;)
As the sun went down, I went in the house and made some Shepherd's pie with our Thanksgiving leftovers. It's soooo yumm.
And then, I made some quince jam, with the quince from our volunteer tree.
It was beyond awesome, nice and hot, on buttered toasted french bread.
And just like that, time marches on.
I am in a bit of time shock that Halloween and Thanksgiving are behind us.
Mainly because it is so warm here still.
It is still summer in a way.
Which is nice, but hard for holiday reality.
Although, I would rather be in the warm sun than freezing under blankets somewhere.
Unless I was warm under the blankets.
And that would be okay too.
:)
But shivering cold is the pits.
So...
Okay wait, I'll stop there.
I see the weather babble could continue eternally.
Haha!!
See you all sooooon!
Love, V
