A Fanciful Twist

A Snow Dream

You will never guess what happened in the desert. 

Come into my garden and I shall show you...

You see, on Saturday night it was raining raining raining (something that had not happened here in ages). I awoke to very strong rain sounds at 3:34 a.m. 

Miles and Matty went outside for a couple of minutes.  We came back in and I crawled back into bed and read 2 fairytales.  Just as I finished the last story, the strong rain became silent in one haunting fell swoop.

As I dozed off, I dreamt it was snowing. 

In my heart, I knew it was snowing.

I awoke at 6 a.m. and a fairy tugged on my nightgown hem, whispering, "It snowed, it snowed...."

I looked out my window.

I jumped on my bed and looked out of my higher window too, and I screamed!

Matty jumped on my bed with me and I said, "Oh Matty Matty, you will never guess what I am going to show you, it is sooooooo good, soooo gooooooddd, oh Matty!!!"

I promptly got dressed in layers and layers, thick socks and those rubber boots my Mom gave me for Christmas (Thank you Mom!).

A winter wonderland awaited my giddy soul, as I had not seen snow since February of 2009, or was it 2008?

And so, I opened the front door.

Matty ran so fast (as he normally does), that he literally flew off the porch because of the ice and snow, and landed standing on his feet 3 stairs down.  Then he looked at the snow wide-eyed and promptly tip-toed back to the porch.

It's okay, I told him.

It's snow.

And then, just like that, he and Miles ran off the porch like maniacs. 

They LOVED it!

But I...

I knew of the silent enchantment that snow brings.

And how you have to stand in it, and absorb it like a friend you have not seen for a very long time, who will quickly be gone with the first ray of sun.

Such incredible silence and beauty.

The gypsy garden was sublime.

Like a storybook setting.... 

Snow makes everything so very dreamy.

I walked around, closing my eyes to memorize the brisk air, the silence, the crunching of the snow under my feet....

It was magical.

No doubt about it... 

Just typing these words and looking at these photos feels like it never happened, and my heart longs for it again...

Isn't snow like frosting on a cake?

It is so pure and fresh, and beautiful...

And to think, it was early summer weather just a week ago.  I told you it was a bizarre place I live in ;)

The best part was that the snow was magnificent in texture.  Light and fluffy, and and, one other word that does not exist....

Something like, magnificadeliciousically perfect.

What a treat from nature.

A gift.

I have so many pup photos and video.

They just had a blast.  A real blast I tell ya...

My wolf loved it.

(Matisse, otherwise known as Matty) 

He ran around and around the property, ever so quickly, we just watched him zip by.

And, my fluffkin baby loved it too.

He is a hoot!

Soccer anyone? 

He was soaked in the end, and didn't care.  He was in snow bliss.

As the snow fell off the trees, warning me it would be gone soon, I thought about Baby.  And for a second, I felt her, in that beautiful snow kingdom...

(I have a short video of her and I in the snow many years ago, and she loved it too)

I took off my gloves.

I sunk my hands into the cold snow, memorizing the feeling.

And then, I made her a gift...

I placed a snow heart on her grave...

And, I shed a tender tear.

But only because I love her, and miss her.

Still and always.

It was a wondrous snow dream, of the real variety.

Simply wondrous...

  

 

ps:  I baked and cooked so much this lovely weekend, it was unbelievable.  We ended our Sunday with incredibly touching Dean Spanley, and very full bellies......

pss:  It snowed yesterday, and today it will be 72'F and tomorrow 79' F.  Silly weather!  That's about 26.1'C?  ;)

A Saturday

Hello on a Saturday!  I have had a week that sort of blink, blink, blinked away.  I don't know what's cooking with me?  I have continued my tidying and sorting our love shack - and spent all day yesterday pulling everything out of the linen closet, refolding everything, and organizing.  My brain feels like it can't do anything else until I do these random things that entail taking everything out, tidying, and then putting it all back in....

 

Yesterday I opened a drawer to find all sorts of activity from moths. 

I proceeded to dump 5 drawers out and wash everything.

Clean the drawers.

Get some new cedar chips.

I didn't need to wash everything, did I?

But it fit with the roll I am on.

I enjoyed it.

Odd.

:)

 

I slowly put back thing by thing.

(Swarovski crystal collections I made when I was younger.)

Maybe it is the sort of ritual of cleaning, admiring & putting back that I am enjoying...?

 

As I type, I realize that the feeling I have towards all of this cleaning and organizing (which includes the pâtisserie in a way), is that, I am practicing the art of respect towards my home, and my possessions.

I have been so slow in this process, and yes yes, that is what I feel!

 I feel a true sense of respect towards, even the spice cabinet.

Loving my surroundings.

Not getting angry at the housework, but instead, doing it with thankfulness.

With gratitude that, a love shack, a roof, health, my 3 boys, and our space is -

A gift.

A morsel in time, a place we call our own.

Yes yes, I think I am paying respect to living in my own little world.

And what's more, loving its tattered imperfections.

 

I even stop to admire a little ceramic shard I have been carrying around for years.

I found it 10 odd years ago, and felt attached to it immediately.

Funny how those things happen, don't you think?

I look at it as a symbol of exactly what I am doing in my cleaning/organizing endeavors -

Which is, appreciating every little thing that surrounds me.

 

And what a perfect time to do so, where Winter lingers, and the gypsy garden awaits the birth of brand new leaves on trees, and warmth in the air....

It is a sort of beautiful, quiet silence.

Tending the home.

Looking out to see pups covered in mud.

 

Watching Miles discover that he outgrew his tiny hiding place behind the big garden pot...

:)

 

Watching love grow even stronger, between adopted frothers (fur brothers).

Feeling like, Miles was always here.

Watching Matty love him back.

 

Throwing a laundry basket on the floor, and running to get the camera, in an attempt to document sleep...

And then, whipping back around, to the main topic at hand.

Just being, and enjoying life.

In its simplest forms really.

 

And I suppose...

That's all I have to say about that ;)

Oh wait, I forgot to tell you -

Baby carnations are starting to bloom in my garden....

 

A sign that spring really exists, and is not merely a manifestation of our imaginations!

Okay, off I go for now ;)

 

 

ps:  Random Tidbit - I have not had any coffee for almost a month+.  And, I was a true black coffee in the morning gal, for 4 years. 

Caffeine always makes me feel truly rotten.  I can't even consider drinking a soda pop.  So, we tested to see if possibly I was allergic to it.  As lots of odd things popped up, after starting my black coffee drinking 4 years ago.  Seems, coffee/caffeine was not my friend.  So, I went off cold turkey, suffered, got through it, and almost a month later, here I am.  No coffee.  And, lots of the coffee drinking symptoms I was having are really faded big time.  So, if you feel like caffeine is making you feel bad and causing strange symptoms to you, take it from me.  Getting off it works.  So, that's the 411 in that random pointless bit of info department ;)

However, if coffee/caffeine doesn't make you feel bad, then by all means, please enjoy a cup of 100% freshly ground black Kona for me, won't you?

Mini this, Mini that, Mini Me?

I have to be honest and just tell you.  There are so many tales, tricks, and all around happenings that go around here, that well, simply never get told.  I mean, how could it all ever be shared?  We (you and me) all have our own super full lives.  24 hours in a day.  Impossible to share it all.  So, I am going to try, from time to time, to remember some of the untold tales - of the very bestest variety. 

Which leads me to me, and Mini Vanessa.

The doll version.

 

Yep, you heard (err, read) correctly.

Mini Vanessa is a surprise birthday creation (isn't that super nice???) made by a lovely lass (who makes dolls and more) on the other side of the pond, Patricia (of Papillon Bleu UK). 

I love mini her, I mean mini me!

(mister says I look stern below, not my intention, teehee!  But I was trying to balance my huge & heavy camera in one hand, mini me in the other, and press the button, whilst in front of the old mirror :)

 

But wait, it gets better, Mini Vanessa had a birthday party in December, at Patricia's. 

Unbeknownst to human Vanessa!

See party here

It was super superb for doll Vanessa not only to be made, but to get to celebrate her birthday in the UK.  Wouldn't you agree?

I knew I felt my ears tingling :)

What fun! (THANK you again Patricia!)

Oh and, in keeping with the mini topic....

I am getting ready to really start planting.

You know, digging in the soil, preparing the ground, etc.

I knew there were a few rogue mini carrots in with the herbs, still waiting to be picked, but it was better than I thought...

 

I planted these in June.  Can you believe it?

 

Lots of mini carrots.

 

Being eyeballed by mini Miles...

 

Carrot Lover extraordinaire...

And also a puppy, who weighed in at 24.4 lbs at the vet today.

But wait wait....

I feel myself morphing into doll land...............

Falling

Spinning

Twirling

G'bye for now, see you soooooooon!

 

ps:  I am sort of obsessed with all the tarnished bits on that old mirror I was taking photos in.  Why are old mirrors so fascinating?  Do you ever hope to see someone looking back at you, when you peer into an old mirror?  I sort of madly hope, and then get scared and un-hope :)

Fur and Flour (random little days & lots of puppy photos)

Hiya friends!  How are you?  Do you have Monday off?  Mister is here today, and we have oodles of projects on the list.  But, I might disappear and watch a movie.  It was a curious weekend, what with clouds threatening a few raindrops in the dry desert (which they finally let loose last night) - and the urge to bake that said clouds infuse me with...

 

When the clouds let out the rain, Matty goes bonkers.  He LOVES the rain.  I had let Miles and him go out for a little while in the evening rain, when Matty turned up at my office door soaked and smiling...

This is not Matisse (aka Matty) soaked, but him nonetheless :) on one of our morning walks.  With the sun coming over the mountain and washing everything in heavenly white.

 

I am telling you about Matty soaked at the office door, because it led me to wonder where his little brother was (as they are together most of the time)???

I ran, up and over to the front door, to find a creature that I think was Miles, but looked more like a swamp creature, sitting at the front door.

He had so much mud (and twigs) on him, that he was barely recognizable.

 With mud even on his eyelashes.

I plunked him into the tub and warmed him up a little, then proceeded to have to jump in with him, and scrub, and condition and then comb out all the twigs and things he had rolled in.

Then he got towel dry, followed by a light warm/cool blow dry.

 

He hated it.

(the blow dry I mean, but it was night and I didn't want him to get sick)

 

He isn't a cry baby, but more of a chirping + growl sound kind of guy.

He is tough.

He was not amused with me.

 

But he looked so cute.

And after he realized how handsome and fluffy he was, he posed for oodles of photos.

:)

Cutie pie, right?

 

I still can't believe we found a perfect littles, to be a part of our family.  He fits in like a missing puzzle piece.

On the baking front....

 

I baked two beautiful hand made from scratch (plus hand kneaded, by me) loaves of Challah.  SO delighted they turned out!  When they came out of the oven, I wrapped one in a crisp white flour sack towel, and delivered it to my neighbor/friend, with one little edge sliced and coated with real butter, for eating right away.

She said she loved it, yay!

I love sharing.

Then yesterday, I was extra rotten.

A despicable girl really.

(A term I often use for myself when I am being extra spoiled and lollygag-ish)

You see, I walked myself out to my faux Patisserie, stocked with real treats, made a few choices, and then squealed for lack of having to leave my property, and or pay, to conjure up a few goodies.

There were 3 linzer cookies I made for V-day left.

 

I took one.

 

Then I grabbed my ipod, tuned it to Antony (The Lake)...

And jumped under the covers in my squishy bed.

 

I read the new issue of Vogue, munched, made crumbs and listened.

Cocooned in my own little world, on a cloudy cold Sunday.

Don't you love moments like that in your own little world?

 

I had to finally share my cookie with Mister, and then go find something salty.

I might have to add salted goodies to the Patisserie :)

 Oh oh, I almost forgot to tell you a cute thing.

Mister Lovee came home the other evening, and I was in the office wrapping up for the day.

When I got to the living room, there was a wooden tiny baby cradle, sitting in the middle of the room.

Mister had thriftventured it.

Miles fit in it perfectly.

But, one week later, Miles was quickly outgrowing it.

Fast forward to now.

He has pretty much outgrown it, one week later.

 

He isn't huge yet.

Still a puppy.

But when we got him he was 5 weeks, and light as air.

And now he is 12 weeks or so?

Not light as air either, haha.

I realized I had to quickly take some photos before it was too late altogether.

The little muffin-cakes obliged.

Thank goodness.

I needed these for the memory banks...

 

And because I hope you won't write me off for being overbearing...

Here are some more puppy photos.

 

I am absorbing every second, as the time with the littles goes by so terribly quickly, and then they are big...

Did I mention that Miles begs for apples and carrots?  And he loves cooked asparagus and cabbage?  I am careful with what I give him, I went over it with his vet and I have a list (and I know everything not to give pups, from seed pits to raisins and more). 

But this one LOVES veggies, and Matty looks at him as if he is nuts!

"Whatchup Doc?"

 

Miles is so rambunctious, we walk around with all sorts of wounds.  Accidentally scratched faces, etc...

My baby.

We love him so.

 

Matty loves him too.

Although, Matty is his Mama's super love.  He sees himself as my total protector.

He is by my side no matter what, every second.

I love them both extra oodles.

 

He is so quirky and different, that one.

I think I must go hug him now.

By the way, have you spied all the enchanted thoughts in the magazines lately, what with spring on the horizon?  Fantastic!

Off I go now for now.

See you super soon! 

 

ps:  I want to send lots of love to my aunt (Mom's sis) and her family.  You see, my Mom just called to say that my beautiful aunt's elderly cat, whom my aunt adored and had forever, Whiskas, was dragged out of his little house by dogs that got into their yard, and was ever so sadly, killed.  They (my aunt, uncle, little girl and teenage son) tried to save Whiskas from the dogs, but they just couldn't.  It was very dramatic and heart breaking for them.  As we all can imagine.  My aunt and her family are devastated.  We are all very sad.

Sending them oodles of love.

Another reason to hug your furs, now.

Off to hug mine.

A Pâtisserie {of the imaginary variety}

Hello there!  Here I am, with a sweet tale of what I have been up to for the better part of a month.  Grab a seat, steal a treat and come in, won't you?

You see, this tale begins with my wee gallery, which lives right outside, in my garden.

I used to do art shows in it, I used it for my apothecary shop, and then, it sort of got full of boxes (to the ceiling if you must know the truth).

Then one day, I had a thought.

Why not turn it into a place for me to go and hide out in.

A place to be inspired?



Then I thought about what such a place would be like?

A pâtisserie, of the sort of imaginary variety, is what came to me...

And so, it came to life little by little.

I decided to focus only on the kitchen side of the gallery for now, and filled it with all the little trinkets I love to look at.  I will work on the larger side in the future.

I wanted my pretend pâtisserie to have bursts of color, and to house all the kooky sort of things I love to collect...

I put decorative trim on all the shelves.  Although you can't see the details of some of the trim, since the lighting is so bright in the space.

I also wanted a place to house some of the pottery pieces I have made over the years.  Such as the teal and olive green tea pot to the left (below), and the pink and black polka dotted goblet in the center (below). (The little bear with the red and white striped stockings is by my dear friend Marjorie of Marmee Craft).

I have been enjoying this space so much, I can not even tell you.

Valentine's was scrumptious in here, and I made all sorts of pastries and my linzer cookies too...

The two paintings below, one of chocolates and one that says Kiss Me, are by my beloved friend Laura, of Rhinestone Armadillo.
 

I am so in love with my little hide-out, I might never want to leave my property ;) 

I simply wanted an inspiring place to cozy up in, a place to refuel, in the most delightful way (to me)...

 The planter heads seated on the two shelves on the right were purchased a couple years ago from ClayFlower22.

One of funnest parts of putting my faux pâtisserie together was the sweets case...

I personally can't get enough of peering inside.  It brings back some sort of childhood pastry shop memories...

But the best part of the whole thing is, I can have a pretend pastry shop, and not actually have to run it, and make pastries every day ;) 

I did some funny things, for instance, I had Mister Lovee bring me some hostess cakes, and then I took them out of their wrappers, and put them in pretty toile cupcake wrappers that my Mammie had sent me...

Then I scattered around a few sanded lemon drops, and other swirly candies.  And, my one confession is that, I also tossed in a smattering of faux treats :)

A few fake cakes here and there...

:) 

(I painted all the roses you see scattered about, in 3 different shades of pink)

My friend and I chatted up a storm and ate all sort of sweets on Valentine's afternoon.  Although, truth be told, I had already been in there sampling edibles with Mister in the a.m. 

A little bright spot to play in...

I am not totally done in here though.

I have to install my chandelier...

Plus, I want to finish tacking up things I love to the wall below. 

I have really enjoyed using some of my own art (something I do not normally do) in the form of prints and cards from

my A Fanciful Twist Shoppe...

I am crazy about mood boards, and mood walls.

My trick is to use pearl end corsage pins, to tack up things to my boards or walls.

It looks pretty and they hold really well...

I am also working on some new prints that I made especially to fit into this space.  I will share them soon...

I mainly created this space because I was just having such a hard time finding a certain sort of inspiration I was looking for.  I would look in magazines, in books, and on line...

But, I just couldn't find just the sort of thing I needed.

So, creating a little space tailored to my own candy colored emotional needs has been such a joy.

And, I pretty much used all things that I already had. 

Except for sweets and edibles, and maybe a thing or two.

It was a challenge to photograph this space, what with its bright light sources.  I hope these photos work to convey the space okay?

Oh oh, I almost forgot to show you what I am calling the "carousel cake..." 

I had a mad blast decorating this cake, and it was the moistest red velvet cake ever.  There is edible gold dust on the flowers too.  I know it is super cheesy, but I totally dig it ;)

One day I hope to pop some treats in here by my wonderful friend Rosie of Sweetapolita.  I think one of her Neapolitan cakes would be treasured!  Or any of her cakes or edibles really.  They are all unreal!

I hope she giggles at my cheesy carousel cake ;)

Other things I did, which is a fun tip, is that I bought candies and treats that had awful commercial packaging, and I repackaged them in cello myself, and tied them up with pretty ribbons... 

I made the clay lady face, above and below (terracota clay with low fire glazes), and the wee plate on the wall as well.  Oh, and I thought Stella and the Bee  had to be in here, so I framed up a small print of her that I had as a sample...

It's a bright and happy little space...

And, Mister and Mrs. Bunny keep a good watch over the place ;) 

The light from the door and the window over the sink are so bright until around 3 p.m., I can't even tell you.  And, I have to say, I quite like being in there when all of that bright light is streaming in.  It fills me with a lite and fresh joy...

I will take more close-ups when my good camera returns from the doctor.  But for now, here are some candy yumms...

And of course, snow balls, for good measure ;)

Although, I must procure some macarons from beautiful Ladurée at some point.

I made my yearly heart shaped linzer cookies, with their impossible to use dough, but worth every single morsel.  The recipe I use is super difficult, but I have to say, the cookies are so good, friends ask me if I will be making them year to year...

Oh, something interesting I experimented on, and it worked - was the sink back-splash.  You see, about 9 years ago I put that back-splash in, and used black grout.  It didn't work for me anymore, so I mixed up some teal blue acrylic paint and painted right over it, and then quickly wiped all of the large marbles off.  Guess what?  It worked!!  Hooray! 

Oh oh, below is an example of repackaging success...

On the top tier are some Christmas candles that "had" ugly bottoms, but I loved the swirls.  So, I used some extra tall cupcake wrappers, popped them in, and repackaged them, tying them with a pink ribbon.  Now I like them tons...

I used the heart centers from my linzer cookies, to make some cookies I could decorate for Valentine's day...

I can get lost in cake and cookie decorating, I enjoy it so much...

I am not a pro decorator, but I do love it...

The one below is rather large, and extra pretty in person... 

So there you have it, my dream space...

Where I can hide and imagine, and conjure up new art pieces...

A secret hideaway, of sorts...

 

Tucked right into my little building, in a bizarre desert land... 

 

Thank you for peeking in.

I hope you like it ;)

 

 

On this Valentine's Day...

First of all, let me exclaim!

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!!!

Thank you for stopping in for proper tea...

 

However...

I have a confession.

 

I have been playing with my new Valentine gift to myself.

Plus, taking pictures, and making it so fun for your visit.

I have also been dancing around, listening to all sorts of music -

enjoying the warmth, and getting everything just right

for when you peek in...

So.

Would you mind terribly, if I take a little more time, like a day, to share it?

It's oh so scrumptious.

To me at least.

And, I am having a guest in a few minutes to test it out.

To see if it is extra magical with cherries on top.

You might think it is all silly.

Well, it is silly.

But, silly good.

So, for now...

I leave you with a sort of faun boy...

And, a spot of proper afternoon tea, whilst I make my return.

I can not wait to edit the photos tonight!!

(my good camera is sick, so I am improvising with my old one)

Back sooner, than sooner, than sooner, than sooooon!

Haaaaaaappy

Haaaaaaaaaaaappy

Haaaaaaaaaaaaaappy

Valentine's

Day!!

 

ps:  I can't stand when people make me wait to hear (or see) some non-sensical pointless sort of news, so feel free to throw a pie at me on this most heart filled day ;)  But make it banana cream pie, if you will ♥

Valentine, Will you...?

Dear Valentine (that's you),

Would you consider, possibly maybe...

 

Meeting me for proper Valentine's afternoon tea,

on Valentine's Day afternoon?

You see, I have been up to my eyeballs baking and making (for my beau),

and finishing a wee project too (that you are invited to visit).

I made soft caramels, and my yearly shortbread cookie delights.

And more...

I will be back tomorrow with tales of what I have been up to for weeks.

I hope you will be here to peek in.

There will be sweet morsels a plenty

;)

Happy early Valentine's Day.

 

Love, me and the furs ;)

(or is it, The furs and I?)

If it Happens to be your Birthday and...

If it so happens that you are a guest at our house, and I happen to find out that it is your birthday (even if you are a full grown man)...

You can be certain that, if I do not have a way to bake you a surprise birthday cake without you noticing...

Then I will most certainly be sneaking out of the house, while it is still early morning dark, and procuring a cake.  Aaaaand, I will be requiring you to make a wish as you blow out your candles...

And, that's just that!

:)

 Oh and, if I find out you L O V E chocolate, then you will most certainly be having a piece (or two) for breakfast, and that's just that too ;)

Because, I love birthdays.

Calendar ones...

And very merry un-birthday invented ones too.

Which is why I am sharing this cakeling with you.

Because, it so feels like the perfect day to be celebrating your very merry un-birthday, doesn't it?

Maybe you even feel like getting dressed up and skipping down the hall at work?

Or buying yourself one shiny red balloon?

Oh and, for the record....

Just because you are cute,

does not mean that you automatically get a piece

of chocolate cake. 

If you are furry that is ;) 
 

We are getting back into the swing of things.

So much to do!

I have a valentine gift to finish for my very own self.

Eeeeks.

Can't let her down.

Must get cracking!

BTW

How are you???

Anything delicious happen out there in the world while I was being a hostess???

 

 

 

Feeling Pink

Heloooo there!  I hope you are doing lovely.  I am taking a break from lots of cooking and baking and tidying up, as we have had house-guests (and still do for a couple more days).  I am in a house with all boys, from guests to fur.  It has been nice, and I have so enjoyed making oodles of elaborate meals and desserts.  The boys went into town, so I am stealing some time to visit with you, while I can hear the pups splashing in the doggie pool.

 

I came back from a stroll to the mail box with the latest issue of House Beautiful (March 2011) in hand.  I was immediately drawn in.  It was the pink paint, pink walls and overall pink love that got me.

I so love pink.

I like to keep pink roses on my piano, as I love how they look with the black finish and the worn edges showing hints of coffee color.

I especially love a muted and faded rose pink.

Yumms.

Ever since I saw the film about Alan Stone a couple years ago (which I adored), whose walls happen to be a lovely pink, I have been obsessed with painting a wall in my home a light shade of Pepto Bismol pink.

I love the look of antiques, in their real brown shades, with a pink backdrop.

And now, I am extra inspired....

 

Isn't that wall delicious?

I even like a cool lavenderish pink from time to time...

 

How do you feel about pink walls?

 

Have you ever had a pink wall? 

I am certain I am going for it.

I am so excited now.

I want to go buy my paint this week, yes yes, I am certain of it...

 

If you can get your hands on this issue (House Beautiful March 2011), there are lots of pretty colors in it...

 

By the way...

You know how I have been organizing the love shack?

Well, I am going through something odd....

Tell me if you have ever done this...

What I want to do is, I want to reorganize everything again.

Like, a second sweep of purging and organizing.

Have I gone koo-koo in the head?

I feel like I need to do a deeper version of the sweep I just did.

Am I mad?

Okay, don't answer that.

But, you know what I mean ;)

Oh oh, in random news.

The carrots I planted last summer are finally ready,

and they are deeeeee-licious!

I have a few more to nibble, but I am wiggling them out of the earth little by little, a couple a day...

I love that earthy taste of roots right out of the ground.

I love beets too.

We eat them a ton, and the colors they make in your bowl when you bake them are outrageous.

I also love other soil flavored like veggies.

For example, I could eat spinach everyday.

I even love oysters, with their gritty ocean love.

My Dad used to take me with him on business trips when I was little (like 5 & 6), and we would go into these fabulous restaurants and share oysters on the half shell.

Are you horrified?

Now I stick to smoked and delightfully stinky ones.

I like funny foods.

With earthy tones.

Oh, on another random note.

Here is the growing baby of the house.

I think I had forgotten to share his exact birth-date?

He was born November 22, 2010. 

 

He is a total little boy.

He is a rolling in the dirt, getting into mischief, head strong little hooligan.

He is tough, engages Matty in wrestling all day.

He is not afraid to wander on his own, and he knows what he wants.

By the way.

I took them to the vet alone, in heels. Both at the same time.

Silly me, what was I thinking?

 It went fine-ish.

Matty was commended on his physique, and Miles was adored for his puppy cuteness.

But the news is that....

Miles weighs about 17 lbs. (he is 11 weeks old)

And Matty (who is a year and a half) weighs 37.8 lbs.

Isn't that funny?

I think Miles will outgrow Matty, for sure.

So, there is my Mommy to two furry babies ramblings for the day

:)

Off I go, much to do before the boys return.

I can't wait to share some art and tales soon.

 

 

What's in a Picture?

Have you all had a freezing week?  What nutty weather.  We have had lows that are unheard of in our neck of the woods.  A dry bitter cold.  Pipes bursting even though insulated, huge cactus falling over.  Wild stuff, I tell ya.  I have been having to make trips everyday to the city house, to make sure the pipes are in tact, etc.  Today, whilst waiting for them to unfreeze and make sure everything was a-okay in the city, I decided to go through one of my drawers...

 

You see, I had a picture quite dear to my heart, that was missing for about 12 years (sometimes I hide things so well, that I can't find them).  And every time I get a chance, I go through photos and hidden nooks, secretly searching for said photo.  I hope and pray that I will find it.  And, I don't.

The thing is, the picture is of my beloved awesome wonderful Mom when she was around 18 (oops, just found out she was 20).  It is a photo of her laughing or screaming, in sheer joy, just as the image is snapped.  And I love it.  It is everything good that I see in her, in one snap-shot.  Fun-loving, happy...

 

And today...

Today was the day, that tucked in a box, inside of a drawer, inside of an envelope, in an envelope, in an envelope, I was to find my long lost photo of her...

This is the woman who taught me so much about living.

It took years and years of me getting through my teens and then my early twenties to really see her, I mean really see her, as the amazing woman she is.

I had to mature and grow up, to truly truly appreciate her.

She is the one who guided me from early on, to really live.

She told me to take time to be independent.

To buy nice sheets and towels.

To set the table fancy for one.

 To collect things I love, when I can, and to enjoy them.

To love and protect my soul, and to be careful of who I let in.

Endless and important teachings.

She made most of her own clothes growing up (even coats and intricate things), and showed me the way into creativity, doll making, all all sorts of artsy things.  She sort of showed me the proverbial map, that I could only see when I was truly ready.

As did my Dad. 

Both nurtured me into dance classes, playing the piano and painting, early on.

I was super duper close to my Dad growing up too. (and still am)

I talk to my Mom 100's of times a week.

I love to hear what sort of mischief her and my Dad are up to.  They are so funny!

My Mom is the only person who knows some of my deepest feelings and secrets.

She gets me.

We talk about everything.

She is an important person to many of the adult kids in my family, and I love that about her.

I am so glad that I found this picture.

So glad.

It makes my heart laugh.

What's in a picture?

Oh, so much.

Don't you just love finding things as such, that were lost for so long?

(it's cold, must go find warmth, see you soon!! Love, V)

 

 

 

ps:  If it is going to be this cold, I would love to see some snow.  Make sure you send me some if you have extra, okay?   ;)  Stay Warm, and stay safe ♥  (even if you are on the side of the world where it is summer/fall ;)

Cake + Storms + Early Blooms (& a lot of house cleaning)

It all began last Thursday, with a cake you see.  And a fantastic conversation over warm sips and moist bites...

 

My wonderful delightful neighbor and I had a date to chat, and carry on as we usually do.  Telling salacious tales and giggling madly.

I told her about how I had just found this lemon yogurt bundt cake recipe  (1 hour before she arrived), in the midst of cleaning all my closets, building new shelves for the closets, emptying out every drawer, and getting ready to build a little building....

She laughed at my nuttiness, and how I seemingly whipped this cakeling up at the last minute ;)

(Of course I greeted her with wet, just showered hair, and no make-up + sweats covered in paint (are you gasping?).  It was the trade off to "just out of the oven" edibles)

 

We curled up on the couch, and in between all sorts of chats, I told her about my grand plans, of organizing this entire love shack, and donating boxes of junk ( I mean treasure).

Then we went on chatting.

Now, the twist in the tale is this.

I kept my word, of organizing my whole country house.

And, for the last 5 days, I have emptied every drawer and closet in this house.

I have done so many loads of laundry, I stopped counting.

(Mister's shirt piles were mountains)

We built a little building in the yard too. (well, Mister and a friend did really)

And, I cleaned s'more.

Every nook and cranny.

It looked like an explosion had gone off in the house, with me organizing and getting rid of stuff.

On and on, this went on.

Hitting the bed every night totally exhausted.

A pup on my head and a pup by my side.

I am 90% done.

Hooooray!

HOWEVER....

As I ran back and forth, in the house, out of the house.

Hauling boxes to my car to donate...

I noticed that in the faux spring warmth of January,

Camellia got a tad confused...

 

And had adorned herself with oodles of blooms.

 

Camellia, I asked, are you certain you want to do this??

 

There is a winter storm rolling in, in just a couple of days...

But, she informed me that...

 

She simply had no control over it, so...

 

All she could do was, hope for the best, and ride the storm...

 

And isn't it funny?

It's just like life, and nature and all of its happenings....

There are just some things we can't control.

Some we can, like our closets and drawers.

And, some we can't.

And really, we just have to take it all day by day, moment by moment.

Living and breathing.

Enjoying each step as we go, in the moment, instead of drowning in worry.

 

I promised to cover her and keep her as warm as I could...

And as the storm moved in, in full force, it cast the most miraculous glow of yellow onto the trees, just as the sun set.

It was dark blue sky and yellow glowing trees...

 

Winds roared in.

Storms in my neck of the woods do not visit very often.

But when they do visit, they are welcomed in a curious sort of way ;)

As the house howled with wind, and hail hit the roof,

and the windmill spun as fast as it could...

I looked out the window, and all was pink...

 

Pink skies and winter trees, to fill the soul.

 

And so,

I did the only logical thing I could think of.

I baked another yogurt lemon bundt cake.

And all was imperfectly perfect.

Or, perfectly imperfect.

Just as life should be.

Don't you think?

Now, I must get some parcels in the mail, and finish organizing as we have a 5 day house-guest coming in a couple of days...

Eeeeeks ;)

I am sooooo glad you liked the valentines I made you in the last post, hoooray!!

 

 

 

 

ps:  I have all my seeds ready for planting, and have gotten oodles into the ground already (of those that could go into the ground at this time).  I have much more planting to go.  I can't wait to see what grows.  Hopefully something.  I have new seeds, and then TONS of seeds I harvested from last year's flowers.  I can't wait to see what sprouts.  Time seems to go faster when you are planting all of the time.  The months get so much shorter...  Anyone experience that?

pss:  I made one large bundt cake with that recipe, instead of 3 small ones.  Also, I made my first cake a few days ago by mixing by hand, and another last night by mixing with the hand mixer.  Just the change in mixing made two different cakes.  And, I dare say, I think I like the one where I mixed by hand best.  It was moister. Oh, and mine was done in 50 minutes.