A Fanciful Twist

Water + Color

Where bees buzz around lavender colored rosemary flowers...

Water droplets, like jewels, gather.

As color finds its way to pencil...

But not without aid of those jeweled droplets...

That allow for rosy cheeks...

In shades of petal pink.

Where paintbrush...

Is happiest to be.

Pink on flowers...

And ribbons.

Pink balloons...

Pink hair.

Pink scalloped edges.

Pink everywhere today it seems.

And buttercup yellow hair, must not forget.

Buttercups that call your name, whispered in the breeze.

Canopying in secret places, where you go to dream.

As honeysuckle guides the way.

Ah that scent.

Past endless patches of the most delicious candy sweet smelling wild chamomile.

Whilst hummingbirds gather to take a bath.

Fluttering around, two plus three.

Sipping, playing.

Bathing.

Every morning bright and early.

Hummingbirds that trust.

And swoop by, batting humming wings on hair.

Just for a sip.

Pink is the story of the day it seems.

Color plus petals.

Ruffled tulips begin to wake.

Down the path where shadows play.

Under bright skies, where doggies nap their days away.

Right on our lil' parcel of earth.

Only waking to climb trees.

While I convince their father, that please, dogs need tree-houses too.

And I dare say, he, being a dreamer like me and you...

Sits and ponders.

Nodding yes yes, this should be a thing we do, written all over his face.

As if a tree-houses for grown girl, and boys with fur, is something that is quite an option.

.

Have you ever seen pups love trees as such?

(okay, it was a squirrel plus shenanigans, but hey, who's counting?)

For now...

It's all about water plus color.

While working on new art cards.

And watching nature roll by.

On sunny days in a bizarre Arizona.

Where everything is blooming.

Too early.

Where I just watch and see what is to come.

Trees that only lost their leaves in early December (our autumn), coming back to life so soon.

Aren't they still sleepy?

Such warmth, no winter yet.

Lovee says it will come.

Will it?

Interesting weather times.

 

For now...

We wait and paint.

 

How are you out there in your neck of the woods??

 

I finished my book.

I enjoyed it quite much.

Read it all in 1.5 days.

I am now starting a new one.

Oooo, reading obsessions ensue!

 

Love, V

 

 

 

Lemon & Flower

Little yellow flowers stand out in the garden.

While all the other flowers are sleeping, they are awake.

Shining bright, with reminders of spring and warmth and sun.

I long for a...

Big wooden bowl filled with garden delights.

Much like those bowls full of colorful summer vegetables.

Remember those?

Bliss sigh...

I talk to a certain Mr. Ficus.

Charming guy with his British accent and all.

He's not interested in spring or summer, he quite fancies the indoors.

He's not into too hot or too cold, or too sunny even.

He doesn't even care to socialize with the other ficus in the house.

Ficuses?

So, I set out without him.

Determined to find some garden goods for my bowl.

We are on the lasts of our citrus.

The oranges have been more than a blessing.

Sweet and fragrant and oily skinned.

Love them.

And of course, we all know the joy of a fresh lemon.

They inspire so much in me.

Clean, fresh, invigorating.

I take two for today.

Then I notice a certain someone burying things in my garden.

Of course, when he saw me watching him, he acted as though he had no idea what was in the hole.

Or who had even dug it.

He marched away, never to return to it.

I had never seen him digging a hole in my garden before, I think he was afraid he was doing something wrong.  But I didn't reprimand him.  How could I?  He's too cute.

Then, I found babies in my garden.

I am a softie, as you know.

I sobbed so much over these 3 little baby rabbits, left in a very unsafe place by their mama.

I tucked them in a bit better.

I always want to keep the endless babies.

The ones who grow into teens and wreak havoc in my garden.

The ones who dig holes under cottages and workshops.

I don't fight them.

I can't.

So, I surround sprouts and things they like with chicken wire instead.

They get you right in your heart, in that little space that actually hurts when you are sad.

Those cuties do.

I head back out on my mission after the baby bunny debacle.

Treasures for the bowl.

Of course, you can always count on arugula in our garden.

I love those tiny arugula flowers.

Are you an arugula fan?

So spicy and buttery all at once.

What a hearty abundant gift.

I grab some beautiful mint as well, adding it to my lemons and yellow flowers.

Then head back inside.

Putting everything in vases.

The greens we'll eat as well.

Having weather chit chat with Mr. Ficus again.

Will winter just pass us by?

Will it not?

Shall I paint in the garden today?

How are the bunnies?

I open all the windows and turn up the music.

What is to come of the weather?

With life?

With time?

Who knows??

We really have no control.

Just happy to be well and enjoying this moment.

For now...

We have little yellow flowers to remind us of sun and spring.

Of all that is good.

Of laughing in the tree whilst swinging...

Of dancing in the warm rain.

For now, days are warm and nights are cold.

We dream of your snow.

And make plans to paint in the sun.

And maybe, we'll even paint yellow flowers.

Yes, yes.

That sounds just right.

 

I've got my headphones on, and I am off for a walk in the fresh air.

Then it's yellow paint.

For sure.

 

I am making peace with yellow.

Had too much of it as a kid and grew to not like it.

But lately, I like it again :)

Do you have that sort of relationship with any color?

 

Hope you have a wonderful day!!

 

Love, V

 

 

 

 

A Stroll Through Our Winter Days...

What a beautiful winter we have had so far.

Mild and lovely.

Last week was filled with a few days of grey, but still wonderful.

Painting and sculpting has been going on, as well as lots of chores.

As you know, we stroll around our yard a whole lot.

The boys have their spots they check for bunnies and sniffs.

(which they can never catch, thank goodness).

And I have my own path I like to take.

I go south, then west, then north, then east, and back south, round and round.

I peek here and there.

I stop to eat arugula everyday (it's so abundant).

And sometimes, I get to see dry basil flower silhouettes just as scrumptious sunsets happen.

My garden is so crucial to my mental happiness.

It's just the balance I need between creating and refueling.

When I was 18 and made a full commitment to a life with art, I also took up gardening.

I had been painting since I was around 11.

But I had not been gardening until I was 18 and living alone attending University.

So perhaps, that is why I feel that my garden life and art life are one in the same?

They both healed me when I was on a path to find out who I was.

And stayed with me on a forever journey called life.

At the time, way back then, it felt that nothing mattered to me that other girls were interested in.

I was on such a quest to find the me I am.

Nothing else mattered.

It was a gift to myself, that I didn't even know I was gifting until much later.

Mostly because the search for one's self can be filled with emotion and challenges.

I think it is never too late to find or re-find yourself.

And since we are ever changing with time, I get to know new pieces of me every day.

I have often been asked, how do you find yourself?

When I began my quest at 18/19, I remember asking myself 1 important question.

"What do you like to do?"

At the time, all I liked to do was have fun, dance, party and be in deep love.

But when being in young love came with so much hurt, I realized...

I can't just be someone's girl and rely on that for happiness.

I have to be my own girl, and who the heck is she?

What does she like to do?

What sort of things does she like?

Boy, she loved digging in dirt and splattering paint around.

And, she still does.

I love the garden.

In fact, the other day I was watering one of my terrariums, and the smell of earth and moisture and dark soil and growing things just took my breath away.

There is this intense familiarity and calmness I find in those earth scents.

I love pinching mint in the morning and sniffing.

I love calendula sticking around all winter.

I love puttering around my winter garden.

A little dry and sleepy.

Moving big pots, turning other pots over and refreshing the soil.

Wondering what spring will bring with utter butterfly wings in the belly.

My brain feels very full.

The garden and paint splatters are my souls' necessary medicine.

I can be nervous and worrisome and obsessive, and I can even be sad.

I know this, so I get my balance from things I love to do.

My full heart, and my jumping around with glee almost every day, comes from the balance I know I need.

My balance is here.

Sometimes I wonder...

With everything I know now, about myself.

And the way the last couple years changed me by throwing change and challenges at me.

Oh, and acceptance.

Aaaand, falling off a cliff with arms outstretched in faith...

I wonder...

Can I always find my balance the same way I love to swim?

Is that how knowing yourself works?

Backward and upside down, and flipping through water like it's 2nd nature?

I hope so.

I hope the knowledge of the balance I need is so engrained in me, that my mind knows how to guide my soul to it.

If I ever get really lost.

I need sun, and soil, and fresh air, and paint, and fur, and love and music.

And a soft bed never hurts.

And most of the time love is actually within you.

Oh and, some clay would be nice too.

And if by chance, a hyacinth turns up on a warm in the sun, cool in the shade, winter day...

That would be extra lovely.

The one thing I know for sure.

You can never really please anyone.

No matter how hard you try.

We are all living our own human experience.

It can't be explained.

In the end, you come to find out...

I can only be true to me.

(that is, if you want to be happy)

And, honestly.

I personally, have come to a place in my life where, I won't even try to please.

Or be someone I am not.

I just want to live a happy life, a simple life.

I have learned lessons and things, I can't even begin to describe.

All I care about are pups and gardens and lovee and ridiculous gulps of fresh air, drunk by the sun in the hammock.

I work hard on our property.

I love it so.

I am so glad to be here with all these boys.

Sometimes, the pups make me cry.

Especially, when Matty visits Baby.

But mostly, we run around chasing rabbits.

I think that's what we do at least?

I know there is lots of sniffing going on, and the rabbits have taken up under one of the sheds the last year.

Oh no.

Oh well.

I love this weird place of desert meets forest.

Of giant agave, and trimming trees and brush.

Taking turns sniffing around.

Filling up wheel barrows.

And when the first notes of early cool loving green appear around rock paths...

I sigh.

I have such an understanding of this plot of earth.

This morning there were hundreds of little baby leaves popping up on the orange tree.

It will be 80'F this week.

Winter mostly forgot about us so far, save for a couple cool snaps.

(yay!)

But he's tricky too.

Might turn up when you least expect.

This I know too.

The desert is tricky.

In its dry heat and dropping cold nights.

Mesquite trees know though...

Watch them for spring on the way, they say.

And, I do.

We do.

In this strange place where desert meets the forest.

Imagine barren desert, then high desert, and then mountain evergreens?

With agaricus mushrooms and the whole bit, right up in the mountain.

That's where I am.

The space in between.

The bunnies love to eat my sprouts.

I have found they are hollyhock lovers.

Old or new leaf alike.

So, I cover new sprouts.

And wait eagerly for what they bring.

Coreopsis, mountain garland, hollyhocks, siberian wall flowers, shirley poppies, crimson clover...

Imperial larkspur, evening primrose...

To name a few.

There have been ever so many rose hips this year.

The birds tweet at first sign of morning on the horizon.

The sun takes a while to come over the big mountain.

We listen.

Loving our new guests, the black crows, and their zoo like memory sounds.

Pink mountains at sunset...

Last chance to carry logs around.

Yes, he has turned to little logs.

And insists on taking parcels from UPS.

No matter how heavy or awkward.

He delivers them to the front porch.

He gets the paper every morning, still.

But do not let him see you checking the mail.

Mail is his business, he takes it very seriously.

Who knows why?

But he does :)

Maybe he was a mail delivery person in his past life?

One thing's for sure.

At sunset, everyone runs around the yard one last time.

Fave winter dishes hit the dinner table.

My go to baked chicken.

It's easy as heck.

Make it.

Or just veggies if you don't eat meat.

Season your veggies of choice, put them in a big pan with sides.

I like sliced potatoes and carrots and red bell pepper slices.

(I season with sea salt and garlic powder, and a hint of pepper, you can also toss in a tiny bit of olive oil, but if you are using skin on chicken, you don't need it)

Celery and onions are good too if you like them.

Then season your chicken well, and put it on top of your bed of veggies.

(I use sea salt and garlic powder on the chicken too)

Put a small pat of butter on top of each chicken piece for golden color.

(I do 4-8 pieces at a time depending on how big my baking pan is)

Then simply bake uncovered for 30 minutes at 400'F, then turn heat down to 350'F and bake another 30 minutes.

That's it.

It's flawless.

(I put a sprig of rosemary on my chicken before baking, but you don't have to)

Let the pan sit on stove top about 5-7 minutes before serving.

I love a beautiful dinner that is easy too.

After dinner light.

(yes, we still have lots of pumpkins)

After dinner dogs.

(I always put a sheet where they lay, they always get excited when they see me with a clean sheet)

After dinner play.

After dinner sleep.

Yep, that's our life, right up there :)

And then...

It begins all over again.

Garden, paint, garden, chores, computer break, make...

It's like one big ground hog day.

But, we like it.

 

So, there you go, endless babble.

 

How are you?

 

I am living in my own biosphere, what's going on out there in your neck of the woods???

 

Love, V

 

 

 

 ps:  If you know a dog lover in Arizona, with a super loving home, that is interested in two small 12lb. beautiful little girl dogs, please email me.  Or see the info on my facebook page.  They need a wonderful, loving, forever home.  They deserve it, they are so special. Sniffle.  Wish I could take them in, but Lovee said, heck to the no because my two are already running the roost.

 

DIY ~ Wonderfully Mossy Pots

One of my favorite things in the world, gardening.

But you already knew that.

One of my fave things in the garden.

(or in the house)

Old mossy pots.

They make me think of a gardening shed in Frau-nce.

You know, the kind with stacks and stacks of antique and vintage mossy pots?

Love 'em.

Thing is, I don't have time to wait for moss to grow.

Well, I do, but I would rather have my old French mossy pots now.

So, I drove down to Home Depot (local hardware store), and found these pots.

For like 6, 11 and 9 dollars.

I picked up some green shades of flat and satin spray paint.

I really wanted Design Master brand.

But they didn't have that brand.

So, I got what they had and drove home.

Then I proceeded to make this happen.

Faux moss!

So, what do you need to make your own mossy pots?

1) You need some mossy color flat (or satin if they don't have flat, but not glossy) spray paint.

(after testing, I am partial to this color called Eden by Rust-Oleum, it worked great!)

(if you are going to a craft store you can try some Design Master brand spraypaint, it works well - the color Basil is lovely and Olive Bright is one of my fave colors)

2) You need a spray bottle filled with water

3)  Off-white acrylic paint

4) A cup of water

5) A paintbrush

6) Some terracotta pots and dishes of your choice

So, here is what you do.

Ready?

Generously spray the pot with lots of water, and before it dries lightly spray the pot with spray paint, and then quickly spray the spray paint coat with more water.

Do not let time lapse between spray painting and water spraying.

So, water, spray paint, water...

One right after the other.

And magic happens.

Remember the pot must be wet first.

I start slow and add as I go, in sections.

Then, let the water and paint dry when you have achieved your desired effect.

Don't be tempted to touch or flick off the wet paint.

Let it all dry naturally (or with a hair dryer if you are really impatient).

Don't try to wipe off the water either, just let it all dry on its own so the magic can happen.

You want the drips and globs on there, because they look like moss and lichen and all the glorious garden/forest growing stuff.

Now, another option is to first white wash your pots and dishes.

This will give the effect of salt and calcium leaching into the terracotta.

Here is what you do.

Mix a little off-white acrylic paint with water, so it is a milk texture.

Then spray the clay with water, and then brush on your white wash.

Then spray again.

The water spray gives a more natural effect.

This is what you get, below, once dry.

When the white wash is dry...

Take the terracotta piece, spray it good with water again, and spray some green spray paint on, then generously spray with water again.

The water causes the paint to make patterns, much like moss.

On the pot below, I first did some moss tones.

Then I white washed it as described above, twice.

So it would be a bit thicker white.

And then I did some moss over the white again.

You can see the completed piece in the first image, at the beginning of this post.

I also took some light color clay pots, like the one below...

And mossed them up on the bottom only.

Once again, heavily saturate the pot with your water spray bottle.

Then spray paint, then water bottle spray again right away.

Do not let time lapse between spray painting and water painting.

Then dry.

I did all the plates below with a white wash, and then the moss technique.

Looks pretty good to me.

What do you think?

Do they pass as pots with a little moss stain growing here and there?

I am addicted at this point, so I am on my way to search for more terracotta in my garden shed.

It's fun!

I think a little light teal mixed in might look fun too.

 

Off I go!

 

Love, V

 

 

 

ps:  Of course, do all this in a well ventilated area :)

 

pss:  Even though it is winter, I am still in a gardening mood.  And the reason I got these pots and faux mossed them up, was for some indoor plants.  I love indoor gardening in winter, you?  I just love plants in the house.