A Fanciful Twist

I got me Some Horses, to Ride On ~ to Ride On...

So, let's see, what were we talking about last time we met here?  Was it Horses?  Horses horses, everywhere I turn?  Horses and Zebras too! 

      

I am either being gifted horses or painting horses in abundance these days, although, not riding horses.  You remember my tale of my head trauma avec life long vertigo and horses that I shared a while back, perhaps?  Although, a miniature pony could warm my heart over the moon.  Or even a miniature Zebra.  I think I saw large Zebra's at my neighbors house the other day.  No one believes me, but you do right?  I knew you would, I know I can count on you ;)

I have to tell you, I am so happy to finally be here.  Little did you know, I have been trying to get here since late Wednesday night.  But the winds, oh the winds, they had a force unlike I have ever experienced ( I took a video).  They had substance, they whipped and howled and tore things down.  There were fires and missing porch roofs on houses, and more.  Electricity off and on (20+ times), left almost no play time in the virtual world for this girl...

   

Alas, our little shackling was spared (knock on wood), we shall see what tonight has in store (more winds are scheduled).  In a place where the forecast is always Sunny & Dry, all this rain and wind is wild.  Fun too, as long as it does not cause harm.

Oh how rude of me, I was going to offer you something warm to sip while we chat, but I got carried away.  Twinkle tea anyone?

        

Or perhaps some magic brew?

        

Pick your potion and gather round my campfire, for I have a tale to tell - yes, a tale about a name for a horse-boy.  As I read through all of your suggestions, all wonderful by the way, I found that three names clicked like a puzzle for me...

There was something said about Saffron...

        

And, I do believe there was something said about Dabloon, which I like the spelling of more than Doubloon.

        

And there was even a first name that was perfect, so I tried to write a song about it while lollygagging in the dirt, whilst putting on a little concert...

   

But as you can tell, I was playing to a very ahem, challenging audience... (plus Mister was laughing madly, and Matty wanted to be on top of my hat)

        

Anywho, the 1920's horse-boy has a name!  A name put together from 3 of your suggestions.

Please say hello to...

   

   

Atticus "Saffron" Dabloon is just perfect, don't you think??? 

Although I have to say, all your names were brilliant (sooo hard to choose from all the name goodness), and in a perfect world, I would have a giant yellow horse, that you all would visit by being transported here in the ship of dreams, and then you would sign the giant horse with your name of choice.  Yes, that would be a perfect plan, no?

Thank you over the moon to Laume for Dabloon, to Melanye K for his first name - Atticus, and to Nicole for Saffron!!  (If you gals e-mail me your snail mail addresses, I will send a little parcel to your mail box ♥)

But wait, I didn't tell you something.  While I was driving to another little town to adopt Atticus a couple days before my birthday, Mister lovely (oops, I mean Lovee) was gift wrapping a huge box, that contained...

        

A black lovely galloping creature.

So, I ask, are you in the mood to help me name another horse friend?  Oh how I hope so!

If you feel like playing again, leave a name idea, and I will send a wee parcel to the folks whose names I choose.  I promise I will let you know this horse's name in the next post ;)

        

Now, it's time to quit horsing around.  Sorry, I had to say that, no matter how silly it makes me seem.  But then again, I can be really silly, especially when I get in the silly zone.  There is no stopping me, purple pie man dance moves and all.  You know who the Purple Pie Man is, don't you ;) ?

Eeeks, lights flickered again, must hit save ;)

See you sooooon!

♥,V

ps:  I borrowed this post's title from this song ;)

Nature Boy & Other Tid-Bits...

I gave my heart so easily, to a Nature Boy.  A fur laden, precious boy.  I secretly said to him, "Here is my heart, I give to you..."  Never thinking about anything else - lost in that googley eyed, wild abandon, heart flutteringness syndrome...

        

Then this past week, my wee furry love boat boy got sick, and my heart was scared.  I was a very very worried fur baby Mama.  So, in the midst of a super busy work week (I have hand cut 1200+ stickers), I got caught up with the vet and monitoring my baby, who is feeling much better (hence, the reason I was MIA).  It was almost like he had a really bad cold, or some bronchial thing.  Hopefully not valley fever.  But we will know more in a week or so...

He still isn't 100% (maybe 80%), but he is more like himself - (growing tooooo fast!!)

        

Plus, the other half of my heart, Matty's sister Baby, had a weird eye thing going on.  She has never ever had any ailments in the 8 years we have had her.  But she is much better too...  Oh these furry children of mine.  How can I love them so?  I didn't grow up with pets, so I had no idea that my heart strings would be wrapped around and invested totally in the love and care of my creatures.  But, oh, how they are.

So, it's safe to say that things are getting back to normal.  The sky shared some stellar clouds when we got back from the vet, one day last week, and I was ever grateful for such a sight...

   

        

        

And, my beau met me in our garden, to help ease my worry wartedness for my pups...

        

Such a nice Lovee manboy...

        

He actually can be really rotten because he is so spoiled, believe it or not.  But 90% of the time he is ever so lovely, so we'll keep him around ;)   (I am sure he thinks the same of me, tee hee)

Anyhow, I am happy to have my wee family feeling better, frolicking in the garden. 

        

My Dad got me some emergency shoes one night, when we were on a luminaria nights walk around some village shops this past December.  My heels were hurting, and there was a fab little vintage boutique that had one pair of 7.5 tennis shoe thingies for $5.  I have been meaning to tell my Dad, those emergency shoes have become my fave garden shoes.  They are so sturdy and cushioney, fancy or not.  Funny how that works, isn't it?

   

It was such a beautiful week, warm and sunny.  A week to reflect and try to send all the good vibes one can muster to folks all over the globe right now (and always really), that are facing mind blowing difficulties...

  

It is so nice to be able to find hope in the skies.  Do you ever look up and feel that way?  Like the sky has gifts for you.  Silent tremendous gifts of peace and hope...

   

Under that pink sky I played with my beloved fur babies, and I felt its magic floating around us...

        

Yep, Nature Boy is definitely starting to feel better ;)

        

Happy fur babies + sky painting = bliss

   

  

On the day that we got back from the vet (you should have seen Matty at the vet, wrapped around Mister Lovee, literally holding on with legs around his neck and waist), and I was feeling more calm about Matty, I took a stroll to the mailbox, past the sunflowers...

        

And found a parcel from a dear friend, Miss Teresa in California...

   

It was a total surprise, and made my day big time.  First of all the calendar is full of crochet work photographed in Annie's Victorian Village (including a feature month for one of Miss Teresa's pieces).  And then, in the back, really super wonderful recipes...

I already tried one, and boy oh boy, it was more than good. 

Pecan mini tarts, a huge huge hit!  The brown sugar and butter caramelized to perfection, and the tarts were incredibly wonderful...

       

After you use a fork to blend the dough, use your hands to knead it together... 

  

I used a hand mixer on my filling, so it created air that caused my pecan tarts to rise instead of sink down.  If your filling sinks down like a pecan pie normally would, don't be alarmed.  Mine are actually a little off looking, but beyond delicious... 

        

   

Make them.  You will be delighted.  

So, there you have it.  That is where I have been.  And might I tell you, your horse names totally made my week.  It was so delightful to have names being left by you, to make me smile.

I almost have Mister Horse's name chosen.  It will be long.  I am picking from several names.  I will let you know for certain in the next blog post, I promise!!  I need to be sure about this name, you see ;)

Now, the moon is calling...

   

And, my chipmunk self needs to go get into some mischief!

        

Thanks to McDonald's happy meals, that help me get happy by putting adorable chipmunks in as a treat ;)

More very very very soon!

♥ ,V

ps:  Custom Silhouettes (like the first image in this post) can be found in my shop and can be ordered any time, either from the shop or by contacting me via e-mail.  I can make them of any family member you wish, furry family members included.  I am working on a parrot and a cat right now.  Feel free to e-mail me if you are interested in more info. ♥  VanessaValencia@aol.com

On a Sunny Day...

On a bright sunny happy weekday, I throw open the curtains and get ready to face my busy little day...

        

I love my office, it makes me happy and makes busy days a pleasure to tackle.  It is more than an office really, as it is where I spend most of my time.  It was such a long long time in the making, but worth the wait in the end.

I scurry around, putting away freshly laundered linens while one printer gets a print head cleaning and stickers print on my other printer.  The pups play outside my screen door, and warm sunny air seeps in.  Winter in Southern Arizona is such a treat.  A sunny warm 68' day is bliss to me...

   

That's when I realize, I have not introduced you to a very important member of A Fanciful Twistland.  

Who is it you ask?  Well, it is a wee horseboy who was my gift to myself on my birthday...

        

It is so funny, I have a few other characters to introduce you to as well.  I have never collected horses per se, but this past birthday brought me lots of horse love.  Isn't that unusual?

Anyhow, this little guy from the 1920's needs a name.  And, I think you might be just the group to name him for me.

I have had names like Henry and Jeremiah ringing in my ears...

What name do you think suits him?

        

I will reward you with a little parcel to your mail box if I choose the name you give my new horseboy.  He is such great company, and motivates me to get my work done ;)

In fact, he says that not only has he read the book "Animal Inn," he has actually stayed at the Animal Inn.  So, tales are in store for certain!

        

Now I have to get back to work, but not before I share a chocolate with you. 

        

I can only have one, or my head will hurt all day and I will feel all around rotten.  So how will we choose?

        

I want the one with the caramel and nut center...

Now, back to work I go - my coffee is winking at me, time to sip and snap back into the swing of things...

        

Don't forget to help me name my horseboy.  Really, feel the vibe, what name is he whispering to you, I wonder???
 
 

♥ ,V

ps:  There is a huge chance we will be moving the Mad Tea Party to Spring this year.  Thank you for voting yes on that ;) 

pss:  I am working on trying to figure out how to show you some crochet tips (per your request), as I don't know the proper lingo.  Oh and, about my yarn.  Some asked where I get it?  I get it anywhere and everywhere.  Most of it I got 5 or 6 years ago, when I was on a yarn shopping spree (I have two trunks full).  I got a lot of the really pretty unusual stuff at a local specialty yarn shop.  I think it is called Purls?  But I am not sure, as the one near me has since closed.  I also got some incredible sparkly ribboned yarn in Taos, New Mexico a few years ago.  I am sure if you visit your local specialty yarn shops, you will find things you don't see in big craft stores...

Cozy Fuzzy Little World...

The evenings have been so mysterious...

   

Beautiful and enchanting...

   

I sat on the front stairs for a break from my crochet hook, watching the sky be watercolor painted, as bread was rising... 

   

I know I know, you must think I am mad...

I am still at this -

        

And this - 

        

It is amazing what you can learn about baking bread if you do it regularly.  I decided to test this raisin challah recipe.  I found that it is not an easy recipe if you are not used to making bread - and the bake time and temp. was too high for my oven. 

The difference between this bread and the bread I showed you last week (besides the raisins which you have to soak, etc), was that this one called for two extra eggs, oil and honey and was much stickier and needed a whole lot of flour during kneading (more than suggested by the recipe).

        

Also, the recipe says to glaze the loaves before the second rising, which creates a matte glaze, as opposed to shiny.  I like both looks myself.  So now I know, glazing the loaves right before putting them into the oven, after they have done all their rising, creates a shiny glaze.  Very very interesting ;)

 

The bread was delicious beyond words and I loved the rustic matte look of it...

But, I am still going to perfect last week's recipe, as it was much easier for folks who are not used ot making bread and don't know how to remedy little snafus, and it was just as good, but without the raisins and honey and extra sugar...

Anywho, I have been working with clay and paint (fun surprises to come), and in the evenings I am continuing to crochet.  I needed a break from the great wall of blanket, so I decided to make a little throw to attach some of my weird flower thinga-ma-bobs to. 

I was able to finish the throw part in two evenings...

   

And I started attaching some fun colors to the edges...

        

       

        

I just need to tie on a few more edging bits later this week.  I will indulge in that later this week when I get some free time.

Then the fun part begins, attaching my wonky lil' crochet flower things...

        

I wanted some big puff balls, so I crocheted the equivalent of a tiny hat and then stuffed a huge cotton balls inside of it, and sealed the top.  One of those is the yellow center you see above, and I made a red one too.  I think I need to make more more more ;)

        

I just can't wait to start attaching those flowers.  I have a couple more I forgot to photograph, a teal blue fuzzaliscious one and a yellow.

So, attaching flowers is something to look forward to indeed ;)

   

I had a slow start today, feeling noodley and headachey.  But fresh air and a walk fixed me right up.  I almost thought I wouldn't show my face today, but I just can't sit still.  I have a huge behind the scenes list (what with wholesale etc.) that I am ever grateful for, so I best get to work.

Nothing a little hot cocoa (mixed with fresh air) can't cure ;) 

   

Have a super duper lovely day!!!

♥ ,V

ps:  I was thinking, do you think we should have our yearly Mad Tea Party early this year (in spring)?  What with the movie coming out and all, would that add to the excitement?  I would love your feedback.