Am I right in saying that you very well might feel the sparkles and flurries of enchantment and imagination swirling around you every now and then? That you are aware of that other realm of existence, more beautiful and vast than words can describe...
Have you ever felt on a golden day, when the sun is setting, that there is a small window where you can taste and breathe that place?
Where time stands still. Where sprites dance around you... Where for that moment, you are in touch with that magical world, and you feel the person inside, the one that you feel when you are alone, your true self, bursts out of you. And for a moment in time you are floating in your very own bubble...
When I was a girl, I would watch Legend over and over again (the soundtrack is wonderful). I was mesmerized with it, and I was certain that world existed... I have always been obsessed with cinematography, and that movie, with its flurries in the air, and sparkles, and elfin, gnome, fantasy world quality, took my young senses over the edge...
I used to spend endless hours alone in the desert, playing by gold mines with their rickety vintage equipment and vintage cars left in the middle of a desert valley down on our property. No one comprehending how anyone 50+ years ago got cars and equipment into a hidden valley in the middle of nowhere...
I made fantastical worlds my reality. And, they truly were my reality. My Mother greatly reinforced this as she was and is a believer of all that is other worldly and fantastical in the most ardent of manners. Telling me of fairies in chimneys and all grand scale of tale. Only, to have the validity of all of my Mother's tales, reinforced and spiced up by my Grandmammie...
I knew then, exactly what I wanted my life to be like. I never wanted to lose the beauty of magical fantasy. I held on tight as I could. Never losing sight of the fairytales and dreams, and ideas that the women in my life instilled in me. The idea that we make our own magic. That we matter, that we are special, and that no one can take that away from us unless we willingly give it up. I got dragged around, and beat up by life here and there (and still might). But by golly, I held on, and I will continue to hold on...
I learned, and continue to learn about me. About what to let and not let into my life. About what could possibly taint the quality of the world I have created for myself. I lock all of that out as best as I can...
Of course, what I am sharing with you works for me, in my life. I don't mean to preach. But I do know one thing. Negativity and negative people are the worst things in the world. I work so hard at blocking that out, and still it sometimes finds its way in. But now I am aware of it, and nip it as quickly as possible...
The best part of the entire recipe to magic is that, it is all virtually free. Magic is all around us. Take a slice, let your teeth sink in slowly. I say, be open to it at any given moment...
I am in this place right now, where I can't get enough of nature and all it has to offer. I want to soak in it until my fingers are pruned by the beauty of it. (or sun burnt if I am not careful)
As you know, I am living in the garden these days.
I don't know how the Gypsy Garden happened really. I took a few things out there a couple of years ago, as did Mister Lovee, and it just turned into a magical gypsy land. And we continued to move out there, everytime the weather was kind to us.
But you know what it was like? It was like these two kids (he and me) building a little fortress. You know, like kids do with boxes and blankets. And it is like, the fortress becomes the best thing on the planet to those kids because it is made by them from simple things... And it is a little haven for imagination, and play. But for some reason, you also feel very safe in your little fortress...
This is what the Gypsy Garden is to me... A place to be. Full of things I love. Textiles, an antique quilt made from antique Indian sari's, a bed made from a giant industrial refrigerator door and vintage milk crates. White lights, lanterns, candles... All things that were tattered or broken. All things that were mostly found or thriftventured. But all things we already owned...
So you see, the recipe for magic, is simple. Your imagintaion, a few white lights, and a penchant for finding the greatest adventure right in your garden, inside the house (a gypsy tent can be inside to ya know), or in your apartment. Over your bed. In a corner of your home. The magic is yours for the taking...
The portal into that magical world awaits us all...
Although, something tells me, you already had this recipe all figured out, and that I might meet you through the portal ;) Or maybe, I already have...
Send me a postcard from your magical little world sometime ;)
If you get a moment, stop to read true tales of a remarkable adventure, at one of my fave spots... The Hermitage. If you visit them, make sure you look back at older posts, their home/wagon is incredible. I promise you will be amazed!!
PS - Little Update here. You see it seems our friend Maria Therese has been having a no good very bad, rotten time. So, I called upon my fairy friends to send her a little magic.
Fairy here, fairy there, a little magic fire flair. Through the trees visit us please, and send some magic across the seas...
She carries a wand, she made herself, filled with all sorts of endless magic.
A little parcel filled with magic, is what she conjures up. Hanging from a tree, it waits for the sparkles to wiggle around and find their way out, setting the magic free...
And just like that, the magic is set free. Who knows what the beautiful sparkly magic will bring...
There you go Miss Maria Therese. Magic for you!! Now, does anyone else need a magic parcel in the tree? ;) ;) I can't make any promises about what the outcome will be, but I am up for trying anything ;)
PSS: Mammie and I have been on the phone for hours sharing all the recipes you all shared with me for V-day. I made the outrageous Lemon Chicken last night (shared by Katlandia)...
I wasn't fibbing when I said I was going to try all the recipes. Me and Mammie really are!! I am convinced that the only wonderful recipes on earth, are the ones shared through blogging!!
Oh and get this - poor lovely Mombie has been trying to make bread for like, well, ever :) And nothing with yeast is her friend. Sooooo, today, she said she would try the Rosemary Focaccia Bread. She just called freakin' out because it rose and she was now baking it, and it worked. She was beyond delighted. Screaming on the phone!! Thank you Miss Lavender Dreamer!!! I will let you all know as I make each dish ;) xoxo, V