Well, hello there friends! I hope all is wonderful in your world. I took a few days to catch up on my life, doing stuff at the city house and the country house all last week. I also wanted to give you a little bit of time to see the Halloween Party post. Although, there is still oodles of time to sign up...
I have fun things to share, but before I even go there (next post), I really want to share some of the parts of daily life that are making me smile these days.
We have had a few days of rain, greatly beloved drops in the dry desert. Such a treat!
I love hearing rain on my skylights, and playing music that transports me while the raindrops plunk down. I don't know what it is, but as I get older my imagination gets heartier. Sometimes, I can daydream myself to other places and really feel like I am there...
I dragged a very old church candelabra wall hanging that I have had for many years, out of the "treasure area," and brought it inside for the first time...
As I lit the candles it continued to pour rain outside. A wonderful cool off from the super hot days. I climbed into my bed and put on music that literally, took me to another place. And just like that, I dreamed myself into a voyage.
Reminds me of that quote by Norman Vincent Peale (who the Beale's adored, by the way). The quote is: "Imagination is the true magic carpet. " Isn't that wonderful?
I made friends with the right side of my bedroom in the country. I have my bed pushed much more to the right side of the room than the left, which makes for a "cozier" spacial quality (or snugger, whichever way you look at it ;). But now that the bookcase has been gone for about 4 months, I feel more peaceful. I love my books to bits, but I needed this change. I am finally used to it and am enjoying my old dressing table where the bookcase used to be...
Mister Primavera likes it too...
I have been going through containers full of jewelry that I had hanging in my walk-in closet at the city house before our wee flood almost two years ago. Can you believe I still have not totally unpacked?? I unpacked my favorites, but there are still forgotten treasures I must rediscover...
I seem to never have enough time to do all the things I want to do. I need a second self or something like that ;) A self that only plays with jewelry and costumes and eats candy apples all day...
I saw Mombie yesterday and she was so excited that I was going to re-find jeweled treasures in my boxes. I only went through one box that weighed about 50 lbs. It held oodles of vintage baubles...
The most remarkable thing is how easily time washes away memories. If I had never opened this box, I would have never remembered half of the things that were in it. So very strange to go through it all...
I admit, it was fun, but I quickly packed it all back up, to play with at another time. An intense day of dress-up is in store, hopefully in the next year ;)
The most exciting thing that is happening in my little world, which in fact, causes me to pop out of bed every morning and run outside...
Has to do with some seedlings...
You see, I found a bunch of old seeds. Vegetable and flower seeds. Most of the packages said, if it is warm and sunny, plant them. So, I did. And 5 days later...
I know it is probably the wrong time of the year for almost everything I planted, but they were experimental seeds as far as I was concerned. And now I have babies!! Plus it is always warm and sunny here..
I mostly planted seeds for pumpkins, radishes and sunflowers (and a few other surprises to my garden). Who knew growing pumpkins was so easy and wonderful??? Read here...
They are growing so fast! We'll see what happens. YAY!
I have had to transplant some, but I have about 12 little sprouts. I am keeping a little log of when I planted, when buds showed, and their progress. So, we'll have to wait and see...
Some other teeny tiny seedlings are showing signs of life too, woo hooo! Look at their size compared the the dried rose leaf on the upper right hand side of the photo...
Nature has been rather glorious on its own lately as well. Although, it actually is usually pretty lovely if one takes the time to notice...
Prickly Pears show their knock your socks off colorful fruit.
While birds take turns devouring another type of Prickly Pear...
All this goes on, while a man-boy plays in the dirt and builds little garden walls with rocks he has lovingly collected (which each have a story, of course, haha!)...
And I spend delightful Sunday hours fainting over cacti flowering beauties while raindrops fall upon my shoulders...
Nature is truly astounding. And, as you might recall, the hummingbirds in my neck of the woods are very friendly. They never cease to amaze me...
I am so happy I took the time to stop and share some of these tid-bits of nature and summer in my neck of the woods. I almost opted to bypass this post altogether and lounge in the garden chaise whilst eating dreamsicles :)
Oh and, a major winner discovered by accident. Homemade Caramel Corn, made quickly in the microwave. YUMMMY!
Beyond easy, beyond delicious and beyond economical for gift giving. Follow the directions to the T (paper bag and all) and you will have perfect results! (recipe here)
I used dark Karo Syrup because that was all I had, but I will use light next time. This was delicious but really intense due to the dark syrup. I am sure the light Karo works even better. Also, make sure to use non-salted popcorn if you use microwavable popcorn.
And if you don't like microwaves, then use this oven made Caramel Corn recipe my Mombie uses. Although, I personally would only use half a teaspoon of salt, because of the saltiness of the baking soda.
So with that, I must be off for now, but I will be back real real soon with much excitement! How is your summer going?? Make sure you get lots of popsicles down before it gets chilly ;) Like I always say, we wouldn't want to have any regrets now, would we? ;)
♥ ,V
