A Fanciful Twist

Little Miracles {of the big variety}

So, I know I was just here, oh, less than 24 hours ago.  But, I have a tale to tell.  You know I live in Southern Arizona, right?  Where unless you are watering like a banshee (do banshees water?), you basically have just cactus (cacti) and dirt, right?

Not that cactus and dirt aren't lovely, but, you know what I mean. 

 

So with that in mind, you probably understand my giddiness over anything green, that grows, and flowers in my garden. Right?

("right" is the word for the day, btw)

If you recall my tale about the Unexpected Guest, this is a sort of part 2, to that tale...

The Morning Glory I shared in the link above, has grown so much, I put in a trellis, and what you can't see from the drooping white fabric covering it at the top, is that...

It is shooting over the dilapidated greenhouse remnant wall, and into the sky...

Now, here is where part 2 comes in.

This morning, I was out for a walk, whilst attempting to water simultaneously...

 

When I spotted a HUGE vine growing, up against the horrid jail fence (that the builder that went under, put up to separate our property from his unfinished mess property.  Don't I sound positively thrilled about that?)

I couldn't believe it, I ran in and got my camera.

Can you tell what it is????

A massive Morning Glory vine! 

I ran inside to get Mister Lovee...

It's Baby, it's Baby, I kept repeating.

I think I scared him a little... 

 

Mister Lovee paced it out.

It was, at the very least, a 20 foot length of Morning Glory Vine.

Did the seeds blow over from my planting?

How did it get there?

 

These are a mini flower, and ever so sweet...

They are growing everywhere.  Just everywhere.

They are completely covering the ginormous agave, and twirling their way up prickly pear and weeds too...

 

We both stared in silence, Mister and I.

  Afterwards I went over to my little, gallery meets office courtyard, and that's when I saw him...

 

You see, all summer, a furry flying creature has danced around my head.  But I never could see him.

Until today...

I wasn't hallucinating :)

 

Isn't he beautiful?

Or maybe, he is a she?

I don't know.

Either way, it's beautiful.

Morning Miracles.

I know you experience them too.

Morning, afternoon, everyday...

They are happening all around us.

Do we open our eyes to see?

I'll tell you what...

While I was marveling in my garden, a few states away in Wisconsin, Sheila Novara was having her own awe-some moment...

She sent photographs, that I asked to share with you.

She said yes.

Monarch Butterfly birth, and chills.

That is all I can say....

 

Miracles.

Nature's Beauty.

Have you spotted a miracle lately?

If you think you haven't...

Just look in the mirror.

:)

I know, I am a ball of cheese whiz, but it's true, so many miracles of nature. 

Including you and me.

 

 

♥,V

 

Off I skedaddle.

See you soon!

 

PS:  Will you visit me at the Creative Connection Blog today?  I was asked earlier this summer, to put together a post about what creativity means to me...  It's live today, right here...

Click below to read Today's 3 (totally) random things...

Fall Peeks In + Twins

Heloooooo on a late August Day!

5:53 a.m. had an unusual breeze today.  A breeze with a tinge of cool, a breeze that whispered, Autumn, Autumn Autumn.  It has been summer here since March.  The heat from May to now has been beyond yucky, and pulverizing.  So, the tinge of coolness, if ever so small, was beyond delicious...

Butterflies in my belly, pumpkins on the vine.

The twins.  It's time...

 

Yes, the twins said goodbye to their earthen bed today...

Snip. Snip.

I kissed them, I did.  I thanked them for growing.

I know, you have heard this 52,000 times from me, but it is so surreal to have pumpkin babes.  Pinch me, please? (not too hard though)

 

I have Halloween floating all around me.  I very well might have full blown, Halloween of the brain.  I am thinking up things for our virtual party (to be announced soon), and am simply autumn giddy, I tell ya.

Oh and look, another little brother came off the vine today too...

 

I know many of you don't want summer to end.  I can totally understand that.  I only wish I could bottle our heat and share it with you.  I do, I do...

It will still be warm here on Halloween, and most of the time, it is even 80' on Thanksgiving.

I would give anything to have a real Vermont Autumn.

But, before I get carried away in autumn dreams, I wanted to give you some roses I picked today from our garden. 

See, it's still summer, don't worry ;)

The cosmos are taller than tall.  Oh and, today it was about 95', when all of a sudden a storm came out of nowhere, with full blown golf ball hail and cold rain.  The temps went down to 65', and then one hour later, it is 95' again.  The heat always wins in Arizona, it seems.... 

I am in love with cosmos.  I had about 7 different plants in the ground (3 ft. tall) that had bloomed, and then one morning they were gone.   Gophers.

 

 Luckily the ones above are in a pot.  Oh and, I have some 4 ft tall marigold plants that have taken since April to grow, and are just about to bloom.  (half were eaten by rabbits.  I thought rabbits hated marigolds?) 

Oh oh, before I forget.  Guess who is having a very merry little day this week?

Matty the furry boy!

But, I will share more about that later in the week...

 

He has turned into a full blown Mama's boy.

 

He helps keep my heart happy, from missing his big sister so much.  He's my precious furry angel.  Aren't I sappy?  I just love him so much, I can't stop kissing him...

He loves stuffed animals.  He has 3 bunnies (2 small, one large, his fave below), and a love-bug I gave Mister Lovee when we met.  We play a lot with his stuffies during the day, he can't get enough.  Mister Matty jumps incredibly high to try to get them from us when playing, leaving us utterly stunned....

Anyhow, there was your hearty dose of annoying pet lover mama mania.

Don't those sort of folks annoy you to pieces?  hahaa!

:)

Now, I am going to go do something, like brush my hair.

I am ready for bed already.  It is 3 p.m., and I was up so early today that by 7 a.m. I had already gardened, cleaned the kitchen and baked.  Who am I??? 

Where is the sleeper inner Vanessa????

 

♥,V

 

Today's 3 Randoms

1)  Into the Fairy Tale Forest is now a 12" x 12.093" print in my shop.  Super high quality archival pigment ink on canvas.

 

2)  We had a wild thought.  A thought we just might do.  We might bull doze down the country love shack (eeek~wholey mackerel!$%^&) and start anew.  It's in serious talks (that is, if I find a pot of gold at the end of a rainbow).  I kept talking about a Beatrix Potter style house.  Well, wouldn't you know, her home is in the wonderful new issue of Victoria Mag. Is it a sign?? 

 

3)  Today I baked the most curious little, umm rocks.  They are so good.  I messed up the recipe, and substituted ingredients, and now we have a cookie/scone type treat that we adore.  Go figure?

 

I won't tell you the name Mister gave them (In Spanish no less).  So FUNNY!  Which I might add, is even extra hilarious coming from a non-spanish speaking, east coast lovely little Jewish Lovee.  It's funny as heck ;)

3a)  I have had tons of twins and conjoined growing things in my garden this year.  I wish I had documented it all.  It's been a sort of curious amount too.

Into the Fairy Tale Forest {a painting} - update

As night embraces the earth, and the breeze blows just right - while moon beam glow flickers in a twinkling dance...

 

I close my eyes, and enter an enchanted place.

It's a place I go to often, deep in the fairy tale forest.  A place I imagine lives on night after night, beckoning anyone who believes, to tiptoe in...

 

I can almost hear the tune that echoes through the forest by night...

Yes, I can hear it now...

 

Butterfly flutters and fairy wings...

 

Fireflies, and toadstools...

Everywhere you turn. 

 

Pleasant & kindest greetings, from a sweet and fur laden friend...

Secrets and wishes held in fairy rings...

 

Waiting for you to scurry in, and join in midnight wanderings...

 

The Fairy Tale Forest awaits you and me...

    

The Fairy Tale Forest is a large, original art piece, measuring 20" x 20" with, extra thick, gallery wrapped canvas, 2.5" deep.

(Original Sold, canvas print available)

Behind the scenes here, has been so nutty over the last 6 months (projects + life, as you know), but I have been painting constantly.  I am so happy to get to finally share a piece that means so much to me.  For, where would be, if we didn't have a place we could escape to, deep in the Fairy Tale Forest, when life gets a little over bearing, if you know what I mean?

Have you been in the Fairy Tale forest by night? 

I think I may have seen you there ;)  Yes yes, I am certain I have...

Oh, before I forget, I must be on my way to pop this piece

into my shop right now.

Note:  The original has since sold -

However, there is now a large 12" x 12.093" canvas print available, in my shop.

 

 ♥,V

 

Today's 3 random things.

1)  I loooove vegetables (for eating and looking at).

2)  I can't believe I am willing to eat a few of my pumpkins, when last month I was offended at the thought ;)

3)  Miss Krista received her giveaway parcel from me.  Plus, I want one of her wigs (they are for sale), they look scrumptious don't they?

3a pointless)  I love the J.Crew harem sequined pant.  Do you think if I buy sweat pants and dunk them in glue, and then throw them in a vat of sequins, I could achieve the same look?  (wishful thinking??)

Gypsy Firelight

What it is about gypsy firelight?  About candy skies turning to night, and flickers of wicks in wax?  Something about the glowing twinkle of candle light, conjures great magic...

 

 

I study details of something I am working on under the golden light....

 

 I dream, I voyage.

 

 

The imagination is such a spectacular gift, isn't it?  To get to travel to so many places, hopping from one star to the other, all whilst sitting under the trees, in the privacy of your own home?  Just fantastic.

 

The lights flicker, and I transport myself to any place in time...

 

 

You can be anything or anyone you want to be, if you set your imagination free.

 

You can be a gypsy.

 

You can be a firefly.

 

You can be a mermaid in a sea of leaves...

 

 

An ocean of pumpkin vine leaves are what I superhappilygidilysplendagorically wade in all morning and night. 

 

Pinch me, a pumpkin sea of glee, and it was free! (in a way)

 

 

This place for me, is a place where time stands still, and where much of what I bring to life creatively, finds me. 

 

As night turns to day, I am amazed at the vines growing on this side of the garden....

 

I technically have 3 pumpkin patches, in different places.  But the vines growing around the gypsy wagon are extra surprising. 

 

And, I'll tell you why...

 

You see, the two pumpkin patches on the other side of the garden were planted from store bought packaged seeds.  Some new, some 6-8 years old.  The new seeds were planted in early spring and took about 1 month to germinate.  (the old ones took about 3 months)

 

However, the vines around the wagon, came from seeds inside some interesting pumpkins that I purchased last October.  The pumpkins didn't start to soften until June, when I broke them up (2 pumpkins - one teardrop orange thing, and one funny guy that stayed green the whole time I had him).

 

So, I broke up the pumpkins in June and plunked some of the seeds into the ground.  And what do you know?  2 days later, they sprouted, and continued growing, as you can see. 

 

I think I will do that again next year.  Buy a couple unusual pumpkins in fall, and plant them when they start to go soft in summer.  That was a great trick, as they sprouted practically overnight. 

 

 

These pumpkin vines have been sooooo much fun to watch.  They have put on quite a show, climbing trees and growing on birdcages even...
 

 

I am so thrilled, I can't even tell you.  But, the best part is that, there are about 20 babies hidden in there... 

 

 

And, I dare suggest that they might be Kabocha pumpkins?  Does anyone know for certain? 

 

 

I think they are.  And if that is so, then I am extra elated, as Kabocha are sweet and delicious. 

 

 

(Ooooo, I hope they are kabocha)

 

So, you see, I not only let my mind wander amongst the leaves, I also dream and hope that they are gifting us edible treats...

 

 

Everyday, while under the trees intertwined with vines, cotton candy sunset skies visit, warning that night is on its way... 

 

 

And every night, the gypsy firelight adventures amongst a sea of leaves, begin all over again... 

 

 

Simple pleasures can be the greatest source of delightment.  Wouldn't you agree?

 

See you soooooon!

 

 

♥,V

 

 

3 random things for today.

 

1)  I have been working on one little section of a painting for 3 days.  The details are making me see double ;)

 

2)  I hope to be finished with creatures + paintings soon.  I might just pop them in my shop randomly as I finish them, as opposed to having one huge update.  No sure yet, but getting close, I hope ;)

 

3)  I have listened to this on repeat all day long.  I love Sierra's voice at 2:00 minutes.

A Dark and Tasty Tale {of Sugar and Spice}

In a little house, somewhere out there, in place where vines and trees twirl amongst each other...

 

A girlwoman stood in silence, contemplating...

 

 

And then, she made a decision. 

 

She cooked two of her babies, you see... (pumpkin babies, that is)

She began by placing them, one by one, in the microwave for 2 minutes.

 

Then took them out, poked holes in them, and put them back in the micro for 3 minutes.

 

When the cooking machine pinged, she promptly took them out, wrapped them in foil, and let them sit on the counter for 5 minutes.

 

Then she unwrapped them, their flesh hot and soft, and sliced them in half...

 

 

 

She scooped out their guts, and then using a large spoon, scooped out their flesh and put it in a big bowl...

 

 

 

Then, she used this recipe here, to make a butter crust.

 

While the crust dough chilled in the fridge, she popped the pumpkin babe flesh in the food processor, and turned it into mush.

 

She popped the mush into a big bowl and then........

 

Cinnamon, allspice, ginger & sugar infused the house...

 

 

Through the scents of the spices, a tingle and glimmer of the holidays embraced her.

 

She thought to herself as she mixed, about how she didn't mind crowds of people and over-zealous decor and frill during the holidays.  In fact, she quite loved it.  She couldn't wait.  It had been a long summer, filled with much goodness and also, many tears.  A long summer indeed.

 

She continued mixing, as scents with memories going back to age 3, plinekty plinkie plinked around the room...

 

By the way, she used this recipe here for her filling.

 

Then she rolled out her crust, put it in a pie dish (attempting a cute edging), and poured in her mixture.  And, since she had extra crust dough and mixture, she made a tiny pie for one...

 

With that, 2 of her sugar baby pumpkins slowly became...

 

 

 

Pie.

 

Pumpkin pie.

 

(Oh and, she had to pull the pie out of the oven, and put foil around the crust early in baking, as it was browning too quickly for her liking)

 

 

 

It was late at night, as she thought about munching the entire baby pie on her own, and not letting anyone know there ever had been a baby pie ;)

 

 

Mister Lovee arrived right in time to share the little guy, as the girl reminded him, "doesn't my piiieee look deeeeeelicious???"  tee heeee. 

 

In the morning, they found mooore peaches and, gasp, roses ready to come inside.  How there were roses again in such desert heat was just unbelievable.  She was certain it was Baby, keeping her busy.  Keeping her smiling.  Yes yes, that must have been it.

 

 

 

They marveled at the flavor of the pie.  It was unusually delicious.  It was unlike anything they had really ever tasted...

 

 

 

As they ate pumpkin pie for breakfast, they read all the information the girl had found about making pumpkin pie at home, and you will never guess what they found???

 

Most of the canned pumpkin pie filling and frozen pumpkin pies contain very little pumpkin, and mostly butternut squash.  Could it be true, what they read?

 

Who knows.

 

All they knew was that, their pie was divine.

 

 

 

They felt lucky.

 

The girl felt the whole thing to be quite surreal.  To grow your own pumpkins and cook them up, and eat them?  She had only dreamed of such things.  She watched longingly as other folks did it.

 

And now, to be eating her own grow-ables felt like the greatest gift of mother nature.

 

 

She was inspired to grow more edibles.

 

She was hooked.  No matter how much she wanted to sleep in.  The garden won.  

 

It's odd, how the desire to see what is growing day to day, gets you out of bed that early.

 

But you know what else?  The fact that nature gives you everything you need is astounding.  Seeds inside of flowers and pumpkins a plenty.  Worms to make your soil delicious, thorns so plants can protect themselves, and on and on....

 

Just amazing.

 

The girl was in love with nature, collecting her seeds for next year, and being all around thankful to the earth.

 

 

Will she eat the 10 babies in her home now?  Or the 20+ babies growing?

 

Probably ;)

 

After that pie, how could she not?

 

And with that, she sang-whispered under the sky...

 

Pumpkin vine, oh pumpkin vine, high up in the tree,  please tell the earth, thanks, from me...

 

 

And so friends, that is my delicious yet pointless post, as promised ;)

 

 

♥,V

 

 

3 Random's for today.

 

1) Mammie (my Mom) was my visitor.  The best guest a girl could ask for.  I love her.  She is wonderful.  Now, I should tell you, I couldn't stand my parents in the height of teenagedom, but around 20 it all changed, drastically, all by itself.  I always loved them, but I didn't always like them.  I was a freedom wanter from the womb ;)  Then one day, I adored them and liked them, quite much.

 

2)  My old cell died, so I had to promptly save any old photos and numbers stored in it.  I found a photo of me, Mombie (mom) and Dad, pixelated and tiny, from my birthday (I didn't even know of this photo).  It would have been my favorite family photo, sans the pixelation and the faces my parents were making.  It looked like they had been fed pure lemon juice soup, hence the hearted faces :)  

(ps:  I wore bangs my whole life, until I was 26 or 28ish, so to see myself with no bangs is always odd)

 

 

3)  We (you and me) ARE having a virtual halloween party again this year (if you want to, that is).  I promise.  Links to previously held parties are in the left hand sidebar.

Unexpected & Lovely

I have a house guest.  An unexpected guest.  A lovely guest.  We are eating homemade treats and sipping coffee, and I have escaped to say heloooo to you, while she devours the new Martha Stewart issue of Living :).

 

Unexpected visits can be wonderfully wacky and perfect, don't you think?

 

(revisited drawing circa 2007)

 

As long as you aren't running around in your birthday suit, whilst someone is peering through your window howling, helllllloooooo anyone home??? 

 

Haha!

 

In my past life (career), I was showing a vacant property, labeled as vacant.  My client and I walked in and a man ran by, in the buff.  It was traumatic :)  

 

Have you ever had a funny unexpected visitor experience?

 

I have been known to stuff everything in a closet in 5 seconds flat, at the sight of unexpectedness.

 

Anyhow, I have to run, so as not to be too rude to my super special guest.

 

I will be back soon, I have been creating oodles.  Hope to have things to share asap.

 

See you soooooooo!

 

 

 

♥,V

 

 

3 random's for today

 

1)  I have a really juicy (yet pointless) tale to tell you, next time ;)

 

2)  Matty is sleeping by Mammie's toes and being sooo goood.

 

3)  ♥♥♥

 

Summer Eats & Oh, So Many Treats...

What a summer.  I think I might need a vacation from summer vacation.  But then again, I was never on summer vacation, was I?

 

We have tomatoes, finally.  Grown from 8 year old seeds, yep the same ones I found in that good ole drawer I told you about.  I was told that I would not get tomatoes (ahem - I was told many things about my garden as you might recall). 

But I did, yeeeehawww ;)

 

With several more on the way, and other vines sprouting babes as I type.  So now, I have to think about what I want to do with them...  Chomp chomp chomp... (that's Mister's thumb below, not mine ;)

 

Having a garden that produces edibles is a huge job.  That is, if you want to eat everything you grow.  I am obsessive compulsive about not wasting.  So, I am working like a mad woman to make sure someone is eating all my treats, as we have found a few helpers to help us eat all of this.  I think pleasantly plump is a gorgeous concept, don't you?

(the twins)

 

I have made 8 batches of pesto (walnut and pine nut - I am leaning towards the pine nut one as my fave), and saved bags of basil seeds for next year.  I have delivered basil seeds to family, along with bushels of basil.

 As soon as I publish this, I will be getting ready to make more pesto, so I can then escape to finish painting wee faces, without worrying about wasting the lovely herb.

Did I mention that I peach plunged?

 

I made a huge batch of peach jam, and gifted some to our friends. 

Only, I didn't boil/sterilize the jars because I figured that, if it gets eaten within 2 weeks, I can skip that step?  What do you think? ( I made sure my recipients knew this)

 

I had made 8 cobblers, a bunch of crisps, smoothies, etc. etc....

So, why not try jam? 

Oh oh, and of course, you need homemade buttermilk biscuits if you are going to make jam, right?

(I made these, and they were the best ever)

 

You see, I made the decision to make jam after I had frozen 15+ bags of sliced peaches, and had about 3 lbs. of peaches still sitting in front of me.

So, here's what I did to make my jam.

ps:  I did not use pectin, because I did not have any.

 I took 3lbs of skinned and sliced peaches, 2 cups of sugar, the juice of one lemon, and put it all in a bowl and let it sit for 1 hour.  This allows the sugar and lemon to draw oodles of peach juice out of the peaches.

Then, I poured all of that into a large glass saucepan, and brought it to a boil at med - high heat.

After it came to a boil, I continued boiling it at med heat, while stirring constantly for 25 minutes.

Then I let it cool.

I popped it in jars, put it in the fridge, c'est voila...

 

(for some reason, reds and dark oranges look funky in my posts, but if you click on the image, you can see it without the wobbly color weirdness) 

We are really trying to be super good thankers of the fruits of nature :)

I should go out and make a love shrine to our well.  We have glorious ice cold well water, that has been invaluable in helping my garden survive during this beyond long and hot summer. 

So long, so hot....

Sooooo many hours of work. 

Totally worth it, but wow, you have to be committed, especially in this desert land, where there is hardly no rain to help you out.  Although we had rain last night and I was dancing in it, soaked, and ever so grateful.

 

I am sitting here, just staring blankly at the computer screen, all of a sudden.

It is 9:59 a.m.

I have been up tending my garden since 5, and I am sleepy.  Eeeks ;)

I never nap (makes me feel rotten as heck), but I am sleepy right now friends...

I think food wold help.  We get to have Sunday Lox again on a Monday, yay!

I have a confession.  I am tomato weird....

I can have them super fresh, sliced-

But I don't like them fresh sliced, and warm.

And, I am finicky about tomato sauce, aka gravy.  (Although, I make a pretty mean & delicious sauce.  So much for being humble, eek)

But, right off the vine, yummmmm.

I have sure used that word alot this summer (yumm), haven't I?

Anyhow, lox and warm bagels and capers and onions and tomatoes from the vine, await me...

Mmmmmmmmmm.....

And we can't forget the cream cheese.

Yay.

 

Any suggestions for what I should plunge into making with my tomatoes?

 

Hmmm, must think on this one.

Anyone ever sun-dried their own tomatoes?

Okay, let's brainstorm if you will ;)

And, I will be back real real soon.

 

♥,V

 

 

Today's 3 random things.

 

1)  I can't wait to go kiss my boys.

 

 

 

2)  I had the most super wonderful time at a flea market on the reservation with mister at 6 a.m. on Saturday (over an hour away).  We shopped and shopped and looked around, and we ate unregulated (by county food rules) Mexican food, with flies hanging out all around us, in 112' weather, and I didn't die- and (for some reason) it was wonderful beyond words.  It was so hot (I had an umbrella and glasses), but the treasures were awesome, and things were priced at like 50 cents, and a bag of old bottles for a buck, and and and...  some other beyond fun stuff I schlepped home ;)

 

3)  Sometimes I am real slow at e-mail responses.  Please don't be offended if I don't respond right away.  I try :)  And, I am not angry or annoyed at anyone, I am just slow.  You are not taken for granted.  I promise.  This bloglette wouldn't be here if it weren't for you ♥

The Thirteenth.

 

Friday the 13th.

 

13, one of my favorite numbers, next to 7.

 

 

 

(For some odd reason, I don't adore even numbers.)

 

As I thought about the date today, and how I don't find it spooky or scary, an idea came to me. 

 

I decided to go into the living room (actually a music + family room combo, as the actual music room is bursting at the seams) and gather 13 random things that sit upon our table tops.

 

13 things that go unnoticed because we are so used to them being there.
 

 

 

I have no clue what these items say about us.

 

For starters, neither one of us is from Oklahoma, tee hee.

 

13 tchotchkes (not including the two stacks of books that happen to have 13 in each stack).

 

If you walked around your house and picked up 13 random items that are always hanging around, what would they be?  What would they say about you?

 

 

 

As I was putting the items back on their table tops and shelves, I realized that I have never shared something with you....

 

I have never shared some of Mister's treasures that live amongst us.

 

I am surrounded by things like, little 3 ft. warriors....

 

 

And, even though my city house and my part of the country house are different from Mister's style, I still love his treasures, and his love of global findings and color.  He adores vibrant colors.

 

I think since I love my beau so much, I love his stuff, and I love being a part of it.  So, I cozy up with it, and admire it.

 

I even talk to "them" while I am dusting.  I say things like, Sorry sir (oops I mean Ma'am), I'm just going to dust you real quick so you'll feel all lovely...

 

 

 

In the last 10 years I have added a few things to the decor in the living room, but have never changed the style that Mister created.  

 

Plus, I have my own little spaces to play in, and he his.  Maybe that's why we get along so well?  We can escape each other ;)

 

I dunno.

 

Anyhow, I am surrounded by his collections of faces and creatures.

 

 

I trip over more guitars than one can play.  I bump into amps and get tangled up in cords.  And, I quite enjoy every minute of it.

 

 

 

Oh and, we finally moved a huge horned creature so he doesn't hover over my head when I sit on the couch.  Now he watches us eat dinner :)

 

 

There are shelves, and shelves, and shelves of music books and music pages everywhere...

 

 

 

And wouldn't ya know, there are exactly 13 guitar books stacked on a shelf, that Mister pointed out today.

 

 

 

As I was taking my photos, Mister asked what I was doing, and I said, I am on a 13 thing kick.

 

He asked why?

 

I said, it's Friday the thirteenth.

 

He replied, Friday August 13th?

 

Yes, I said.

 

His eyes got wide and melancholic.

 

Then he said, "It's my Mom's Birthday.  She was actually born on Friday August 13th."

 

You see, Mister Lovee's Mom has not been alive for many many years.  I never met her.

 

I am sure she was lovely, and I am ever so thankful to her for having had this beautiful baby boy...

 

 

 

That grew into a beyond adorable little rascal...

 

 

 

A little rascal that I adore...

 

 

 

Who turned into a musician, businessman, earth lover boy, traveler and all around, easy going lad (who can be ornery).  A lad who bought a bus (back in the day), grew his hair into super long curls, and lived in his bus - traveling the USA when he was young.  (so many tales he has)

 

A lad who is one heck of a Mister Lovee...

 

 

 

And, an all around delightfully fun Mad Hatter.

 

 

I am certain his Mom is in a beautiful place, on the other side of the rainbow.  I hope she is eating several scrumptious cupcakes while seated on a cloud, on her special day.

 

So you see, I didn't even plan to be here this Friday the 13th.

 

And yet, I peeked in, and told a curiously random tale, of sorts ;)

 

So, I'll be quiet now and go do the dishes...

 

 

♥,V

 

 

 

Today's 3 random things.

 

1)  I found this wee gal sitting on my desk this morning.  Mister sometimes sneaks little treasures into my spaces, and places them where I will unexpectedly find them.  This little gal tickled me beyond happy.  Mister can be such a fairy godfather - when he isn't being a troll.  Just kidding Loveeeeee ;)

 

 

2)  Why is Friday the 13th supposed to be spooky?  Do you suffer from friggatriskaidekaphobia?

 

3)  I like spooky movies, but not disturbing ones.  I like haunted houses and dark fairy tales.  But only during daylight hours. Preferably when its raining, and while I'm crocheting. 

 

3a)  Why oh why do I have this song in my head?  Quick quick, give me a different one that just now popped into your head... come on... ;)

Sweeties.

Is it true?  Or is it a rumor?

 

Did one, or two, or three, or all of you dare to suggest...

 

 

That I eat my babies?

 

 

Feast on my precious little orange faced sweeties?

 

What kind of a punkin'mama do you think I am?

 

 

Hahahaaa!

 

Okay, maybe I'll eat one.

 

Or two.

 

But that's all, I promise ;)

 

Just don't tell anyone........

 

 

Roasted & buttered.

 

Baked in a pie.

 

Punkin' cup-caked perhaps?

 

Wait, what's that I hear? 

 

Oh no, here comes the pumpkin king!

 

 

 

I gotta get outta here, one the double, pronto, vite vite!! 

 

Lest he turns me into a toad.  Or a fruit-fly.

 

 

♥,V

 

 

Today's 3 Random Things.

 

1)  I finally had a chance to listen to the entire Grey Oceans album by CocoRosie (loved them from day one).

It's perfect.

I bought every tune over at Itunes.

Then I proceeded to watch the Lemonade video on repeat for 16 hours.

 

It's a perfect mixture of Grey Gardens meets the bearded lady, collided with Great Expectations and swirled in a cake cone with delicious CocoRosie madness.  Love it.

 

 

My sister and I have joked about living as old ladies in a mansion together since we were little. 

 

Funny, no?

 

ps:  I saw exact old ladies like this at the beach, in gowns and all, about 22 years ago.  I just stared and marveled at them.  It was so surreal.

 

2)  30 tomato plants in my garden, and some are offering signs of love.  Thank goodness!

 

 

 

3) We are still picking peaches from our tree (most are dangling on the ground from the weight of the branches), and knocking ourselves on the head, whilst thanking you for the freezing idea.  How silly we are, frantically baking, juicing & inventing recipes, when we could be freezing them.  I am off to slice and freeze.  So silly not to have thought of that.  Thanks for the tip, hooray!

 

 

 

See you soon!

Just Peachy

Peach picking times are amongst us.  You know what that means, right?

 

 

 

In our house it means that the scent of baked peaches, brown sugar, butter, cinnamon and vanilla, all swirled together, is pouring out the windows...

 

 

 

I have baked 4 peach cobblers in 3 days (to share with folks), using a pretty delicious recipe I found in a magazine last month (recipe details below).

 

 

It is really good.

 

I mean really good.

 

Plus, it's a super way to use the massive amount of peaches we have this year...

 

 

Every single branch was beyond full this year. 

 

Oodles of peaches, just oodles...

 

 

 

Such beautiful little specimens.

 

 

 

Most of them are actually rather gigantic.  We are so delighted, it's borderline silly.  Mister and I take turns saying "look at this one, no no, look at this one, no - look at this one...."   

 

 

Huge.

 

Sweet.

 

Mmmmmmm.

 

I never like peaches as a kid.  But now I LOVE them.  When I do my work in the garden, I get up every so often to grab a peach.  I munch it standing right by the tree, fuzz and all.

 

 

 

Then I collect a few to bake with.  My fave baked good to date, beating our previous fave of peach crisp, is now peach cobbler.

 

 

 

Set the table with a few nosegays, invite a beau or friend(s) for peach cobbler, and watch everything else stop.  If only for a minute ;)

 

 

Below is the recipe for pure yumm. 

 

Not tart at all, quite flavorful, and not heavy.  I used salted butter in the end, and liked that very much.  I also did not put the vanilla bean seeds into the peach mixture, but I did use vanilla extract in the batter. 

 

As a tip, lightly spoon on your batter.  You can smooth it out every so gently if you'd like, but I'd rather not mess with mine ;)

 

(recipe from Victoria, Special Issue 2010 ~ Rooms of Bliss)

 

 

So, there you have it.  Peach Cobbler Bliss.

 

 

 

Yesterday I had Mister Lovee deliver peach cobbler straight out of the oven.  It was so hot that he had to take oven mits with him.  I hope our friends loved it.

 

Stay for a bite, won't you?

 

 

 

While we sip and munch, I have to tell you about how huge the twins have gotten.  Huge for me that is.  First of all, from what I have read, two pumpkins growing side by side shouldn't get very big?

 

 

 

Also, as I read pumpkin websites I find myself giggling at folks who say things like, "this was a sad year for my pumpkins, they only got to be 90 lbs."

 

 

 

And, I am like - "I'll take a pumpkin that fits in the palm of my hand and holler, hail pumpkin king!"

 

So, you can imagine how delighted I am for two rather large (to me) twins.  They are bigger than footballs, by far...

 

Love them!

 

 

 

And, that is all I have to say about that ;)

 

I am in love with creative time right now.  I had started several pieces of work before we lost our furry gal this summer, and I just could not find the space in my heart to work on them, until about two weeks ago.  My friend (Mister Paintbrush) is keeping me much company and being quite lovely to hang out with.  I am enjoying every moment with him.

 

So, I best meet him for coffee, and get to work.

 

 

♥,V

 

 

Today's 3 random things (song things)

 

1) I Love the Villagers, and I love that Conor O'Brien interprets this so beautifully...

 

2)  I really like Charlotte Martin, listen to Stromata here, and I like to listen to Crimson Sky too.  She has a Tori sound that I was worried about, but I actually like her very much. ps: her Sweet Chariot is lovely lovely...

 

3)  I really enjoy listening to Band of Horses.