A Fanciful Twist

Witch's Apothecary ~ Potions and Spells

I think it's a perfect time to get our potions and spells in corder (labels in my shop), of the imaginary variety of course.  I have been up to all sorts of my own onjuring...

 A witch's job can be so complex, if I do say so myself ;)

Testing endless sticker/label papers, designing labels, getting everything just right.  After lots of purchasing and trying out, I found a label paper this summer that is a bit thicker and richer.  Yumm.

So now, it's magic time!

These are the current addition to the apothecary + potion label love in my shop...

You can see a fun tutorial I shared for spell labels and potion jars right here, which can be applied to these labels as well.  Here is a photo of the labels used in that post (available in my shop also)...

I followed the same steps in decorating and filling the jars below, but added a twist.  I'll give you some tips....

These labels are a bit larger, so you can use even bigger apothecary jars, or household jars, decked out for your very own imaginary shop.

I decided to try some additional decorating techniques using the labels.  Below I took a glass box, and filled it with some of my smaller old bottles,  dried flowers, beads and sparkles.  I put in a few fun treats too such as, faux poisonous agaricus mushrooms, and then placed the label on the glass box.

I really love this.  It is super fun to think that, all the contents of the box might be poison ;)

Every spring/summer I save as many flowers as I can, and I dry them.  This large container below houses the sweetest smelling roses, which I actually saved last year.  I used the tutorial for the lid I shared here, and then sprinkled some magenta glitter into the jar for effect.  I hung an antique necklace around the jar, and voila Gypsy Magic.

I thought goblin's hair would be a wonderful addition to the mix.  My granny would tell me witch's fairytales as a child, and there was always some form of hair used for spells.  So, goblin's hair had to join in.

I used straw rope fibers and orange/pink/green furry yarn.  I sprinkled in some glitter, but it looks more like goblin dandrfuff, eeee, awesome! Haha.

  The sky is the limit on this one.  Inventing your contents is more than half of the fun.  Scrounging around outside for all sorts of goodies to fill your jars with is something that could entertain me all day...

The Star Dust label (below) us one of my super faves.  I used this bottle for the star dust label, and washed the inside with a little soap and water.  Then, I put it upside down to drip dry for a few minutes.  While the jar was still damp inside, I stuffed in some batting/pillow stuffing fibers that I tore apart to create a cloud effect.

After the jar was stuffed with the white fiber, I funneled in a bunch of glitter, both larger gold glitter and iridescent fairy dust powder.  Then I shook and shook the bottle.  The fact that the bottle was a bit damp inside caused the glitter to adhere itself to the glass, which is super lovely, don't you think?

I then made a few stars and tied one around the bottle top, and hot glued another to the side of the jar.  I had a huge cork top, and used that as a stopper.

Mermaid Song was my next label choice.  I thought it would be a perfect jar to fill with any sea findings you might have.  I mixed some dried flowers in with shells and starfish and beach glass.  You could also pop in some pieces of sheet music for effect, and a little sand...

The "Fairy Tears" jar on the far left (below) is just a regular old jar.  I used the coffee filter trick for the lid, and adorned it with dried flowers and a butterfly. 

Then I filled the jar with water, and a half a drop of red food coloring which created the most perfect neon pink tint.  I then sprinkled in some iridescent fairy dust powder, and some bright pink larger glitter.  When you shake it, the glitters spin around, and really do look like fairy tears, sniffle :)

Now, the exciting part was combining my new label jars with the labels I already carry..

It really created a shelf filled with an enchanting and authentic feeling...

I am crazy about this shelf.  I think that the new labels are a great addition to the existing labels.  One never knows how the end result will turn out, so I am happy.

The labels are now in my shop, and I can't wait to see if you pick some up, and what you do with yours.  I am tempted to create a second shelf of jars, and incorporate more old pictures, amulets, pumpkins, oh, all sorts of goodies.

The complete shelf, using both sets of labels...

 

I am sooo inspired!  I want to go outside hunting for more seed pods and curious treats to add to my jars, although, you can find lots of things in your pantry or trinket drawer I am sure.  A fun indoor project to do anytime, but especially when it is hot or raining, with autumn inspiration beckoning.

 

So, that's a little bit of what I have been up to. 

As for the winner of the magicbox..........

The name pulled out of the hat is, Celia!! Hoooray!  She happens to be having a Gypsy Party you can learn about on her bloglette, right here.  Congrats!  E-mail me your addy Miss Celia ;)

So, there you have it, spells and potions and lots more fun to come.  I am so glad you liked the magic box sooo much!  I am inspired to make more treats to gift.

I must be off for now!

Love, V

 

 

ps:  Photos by popular demand.  My kids.

1) Matisse ~ aka, Matty Cakes.  Lover on his own terms (will hug only me on command), hates everyone (scary barker) but mom, dad, brother, and maybe granny and gramps, depending on how he feels that day.  Runs so fast it is scary.  Looooooves burgers, jumps in car and waits if door is open, in hopes of burgers.  Attacks Mom (me) with love.  I feel so special ;)

His main joy in life, protecting his home, and making sure he chases all living beings and cars away.

His cake self = cinnamon, spice, brown sugar and molasses.  Meow!

 

2)  Miles ~ aka Mimer Cakey Cakey (my-mer)

Lover of all and more.  Loves you, and you and you and you, around the earth and back, and then all over again.  Lives to snore, howls like a banshee, oh and most importantly, looooves to eat eat eat.  Oh yaaa!

Loves hugs, kisses and massive wrestling with Matty.  Loyal to the core, and kookie as a boar. Growl Growl. (are boars kookie?) 

His cake self = buttermilk, sugar, hot butter, powdered sugar, licorice eyes and nose ;)

Buttermilk Biscuit love!

 

Nothing like rolling in the mud after a bath, brush, dry, and tired mammiecakes.

He thinks it's funny ;)  I'm sure.

Magic Box

I am feeling a dense buzz following me around these days.  A sort of tickle in my being, an itch, a need for some magic, a longing for a dose of wickedly delightful enchantment for you and me...

So, I thought up a plan, to bring to life some fantastical feelings.  To begin to exit the long months of summer, and try to grasp the threads of the months of magic that do tease...

I have conjured up a little magicbox to gift away.

I so enjoyed distressing this wee parchment box...

It is filled with goodies.

I even included a couple of my spell labels, in case you want to use the contents for some inspiration, not that you need any ;) 

I tucked in one of...

The triplets....

An old key, for secret keyholes of course...

Some necessary good luck turtle earrings from my jewelry trays...

And voila...

Magic, in a box! 

Just the sort of gift I would love to receive...

Perfect items to place in your fairy circle, in case you are not in the spells mood yet...

The witches added a wee tinge of their magic...

Wrapped up nice and sweet, for you.

Leave a comment saying any ole thing you want (spur of the moment, random thoughts, welcome), and I will enter your name into a teacup/hat.  I'll draw a name of the magicbox recipient in a couple of days, when I return with photos of fun things that have arrived at A Fanciful Twist, to share with you.

Also, the winner of my haunted book....

Mister picked a name......

 

Miss Linda, from Moments in an Eye, it is!!  Hooooray ;)  She jumped into the fabric bracelets tutorial I shared, and made some super cute treats too! (click on her name link to peek)

(Send me your mailing address via e-mail Miss Linda, and I shall ship off your haunted bookling!)

And with that, I shall say, adios for now.  I will see you ever so soon, with fun things to share from a huge box of goodies I must sort out today, and a name picked for the magicbox gift!

Much love, V

 

 

Tea for Two & Two for Tea

I'd say it is certainly about that time...

 

Set the table, cozy into the nook in the office, hide from the heat, work, sip, be, heal...

 

It is time to savor the here and now.  I have had a grueling summer, mainly with the fact that I fractured my foot at the end of April/beginning of May, whilst slamming a flip-flopped foot into the corner of a shovel, in an attempt to dig a hole in dry hard dirt (I normally wet dirt first).

 

Breaking glass electrocuting pain. 

And, because I am soooo smart, I did not do anything about it at first.  I was certain the pain would go away.  Until my foot swole (is that a word?) up and turned blue.  Not one of my more brilliant moments.  I finally sought help, and took the advice.  Although I chose against a cast or boot.  Then, I carefully hobbled all summer, slowly, through all of my chores, with ice and belladonna/arnica salve as my best friends.  Rotten.

 When I was almost healed a couple of weeks ago, I forgot about my injury and jumped up onto my hurt foot, and into bed with a re-crack.  Yet again, not another Einstein moment.  I have troopered through it.  Grinned and sunk into pain with each step.  And then, I ordered a bunch of foot healing shoes, and did all the things the powers that be had told me to to in the beginning.  Hard head alert.  I feel better.  Light, tunnel, hello.

They scared me with the fear of lifelong pain.

Although, my foot hurts less in heels, and doctors say that is common for folks who are used to heels and have high arches.  I will say, the fit flops, saving grace from heaven.  Until I got them, my foot throbbed.

So, 4 months of forcing myself to do everything through pain, and now, I succumb.

Tea, nook, breathe.

 

As I cozied up with the American Pickers and my new Wii last night (thank you Mistah Lovah lovah! Yay instant netflix on the television), beloved Miles took a springing leap and landed with his heavy paw + nail right in my left eyeball.  I was pain confused at first, then afraid.  I have never had an eye injury, so I didn't know that your eye will simply not open when hurt.  Boy did it hurt.  Man oh man.  It was all so very scary, until I could see again this morning (hello prayers, pain killer, ice, tea bag, lovee).  I feel like Raggedy Ann.  My goodness, so silly.  So so silly.

I know it's all trivial compared to all going on in the rest of the world, so I am not complaining, just sharing real tales of my little orb.

And, because I teeter on the seesaw of being logical and superstitious, I say, perhaps I should heed the warning, and stay away from ladders, sky diving and all other sort of adventurous activity for now.

 

Why yes, I don't mind if I do.

 

This sounds so much better, cool room, hot goodness in a cup...

 

Real cream.

Ooo, aaaaaaaaah.

 

Gentle.

 

I won't bore you with garden things (too much), but, zinnia seeds.  As I have said, plentiful beyond words.

I have been pruning a lot, and the more I prune, the taller and taller and taller they become, and the more flowers they gift.

Pruning is key.

And now, 4 foot marigolds, from last year's plant seeds I collected, are springing up.

 

Just the place to be.

A book, clay, safe...

 

Pretty, calm, so needed this...

Sometimes, you just have to follow the path life wants to push you into.  I must learn to pay attention better...

 

I see, I savor, but do I really see and savor?

It's in the calm & silence, isn't it?

 

Keep the pouring up, I am in heaven ;)

 

I have been obsessed with haunted tales lately.  And, I am sad to report that I am having a hard time being spooked.  I guess, once you go into my granny's attic, and then down to the witch's house (plus ancient tales of family witches and spells + ghosties of old ladies), it is sort of hard to get scared of haunted house tales?  I am sure if I was actually in a haunted house, then I would be mighty spooked to the core.

But the tales alone are soooo much fun.

I am actually on a haunted plantation kick.  I just finished reading about the Myrtles...

Anyhow....

If you need me, here is where you will find me...

Catching up on long over-due e-mails, sculpting, sipping, being.

 

Oh and, if you'd like to own the book about the haunted plantation and the writer's journey into owning it (below), grubby finger graced and all, let me know in comments, I am giving it away.  If a handful of folks want it, I'll pick a name out of a hat.

 

 

Love, V

 

 

ps:  One of Tori Amos' songs, off of her new September release album "Night of Hunters" (with a classic flair) was leaked, I love it, listen here.  So good.  Amazing that so much time has passed since this.  Sigh...  She gets so beat up with words by critics.  I think she is amazing.  People inevitably change so much as they age, and when you are young it is hard to understand it.  It is in the going through it, that you start to understand little by little.  And then, it clicks...  You realize that, perhaps not only has your favorite artist changed, but the listener has too changed.  We long for our fave artists to make us feel how we felt by their songs early on.  But, the trick is, both parties have changed.  We all long for our youth from time to time.  Rarely does the listener realize this, and so we hold the artist accountable for our feelings, and bash their new work (not to mention how they look etc.).  Maybe it isn't our taste anymore, which is fine, but the listener is so often intent on searching for that early original feeling (I am guilty of this too).  Alas, change is inevitable, we can't be 28 forever.  If we change our perception, we might see and hear things differently...?

pss:  In June, Miles left me the most helpful little tool on earth.  A perfectly Nanny McPheeish cane.  It works like a charm, and was so helpful on the extra tough days.  (He loves sticks and keeps a nice stash of them.  He left this one on my office stoop)

 

Isn't that funny?

psss:  Something extra fun up my sleeve in a couple of days.

Wax & Pencil {Creative Buzz}

The creative buzz is such a curious thing.  Keeping it alive and nurturing it are crucial factors, that sometimes get forgotten in daily life.  I think that whether you create for a living, for fun, for sanity & fulfillment, or for all three (and more),  it is important for the creative vibe to branch out, and keep sprouting new baby leaves.

Some of my most favorite things to do, which keep my creative vibes flowing (not limited to clay and paint) are, cooking, crafting, gardening, crocheting, doodling, piano playing & decorating (to name a few).

Doodling, to me, is one of the most important aspects of keeping creativity flowing.  No matter how silly or lacking in finesse, a doodle has the ability to simply keep the light, cute and sweet thoughts skipping about.  With the chance of sparking something grand.

Does doodling seem childish? I for one, know it kept me from falling off the edge in the classroom.  But now, as as adult, I find vast importance in it.

In keeping a light heart.

In losing yourself in it, and taking your mind off heavy things.

Little faces and buckets of hearts keep the soul young, taking us away from the easy to spiral into hum-drum of responsibilities and stacks of chores.

It's silly, it's simple.  It doesn't have to be good.

It just keeps us holding on to a thread of sweet simplicity.

And, for me, it just keeps one foot in the door to the vast and most magical world I carry deep in my heart, soul and mind.

Reminders, that they are there.  Always there, waiting for me.

Life is complicated.  Sometimes hard.  Sometimes easy.  Sometimes wonderfully amazing, sometimes heart-wrenching.

A doodle a day...

I say ;)

One of my most favorite things, that also keeps my creative buzz alive, is to invent crafts from things I find outside.

I'll see a twig, a stick, a seed pod, and I think, what could I do with this?

Just this weekend I found one of my giant candles melted into the dirt, and I thought, PRESTO!  This is just what I needed....

You see, I looove to save flowers.

I press them into books.  Fill glass jars with them.

I collect seeds, petals...

Which, from time to time, leads to experiments...

I had this vague memory, of melting crayons and flower findings in kindergarten.

It was so vague.

Did it happen, maybe not ;)

But it lead me to a plan.

I wanted to make a page of memories, of this year's flowers.

Last year I pressed a bunch of my flowers into books, and have done some of that this year too.  But, to create a page a year, of petals, how grand would that be?

I took a piece of scrapbook paper, and scribbled on it with wax crayons (not a necessary step), and I shaved (with a cheese tool) a bunch of  wax off of my ruined candle.

Then I put a towel on my metal counter.

On top of the towel, I placed a brown paper bag.

Then I put down my scrap book paper, sprinkled with fresh petals.

Then I placed hearty bits of shaved wax all over the petals and paper.

I placed a sheet of wax paper over this, and then covered the wax paper with a paper bag.

Phew ;)

Then I pressed down on the top layer of brown paper with my hot everyday iron.

 

(To clean your iron when you are done, keep ironing on brown paper bags, until there is no residue left from the wax.  Although, I might not iron my favorite frock with the same iron I craft with)

When I felt that I had ironed enough, as I could see lots of wax coming through my brown paper bag, I lifted the bag.

This piece still has the wax paper covering it, but you can see your paper below quite clearly.

I then took the piece, still covered with wax paper over to my a/c, and held it in front of the vents until it was thoroughly cooled.

Then I slowly peeled the wax paper away...

Slowly pulling it back, to reveal the entire piece...

I then cut my fave section out of the entire piece.

It is so much prettier in person than any photo can convey.

And, holding it up to the light is dreamy.

Mister Lovee wanted me to share his gushing about how much he adored this, like really really really.  But, I told him that made him sound biased and obnoxious.

:)

The page is totally flat, with no lumps and bumps, and bonus, I can smell the beautiful scent of my lime candle.  Mmmmm.

The wax page looks really great behind glass, or framed...

I definitely want to make a couple of these to use in my garden journal.  I wish I had made one every year, for the last 17 years.  From city garden to country garden.

Alas, one must begin somewhere.

I will date it, and sew a tiny gold thread through the edges.

So, there you have it, who knew your old heat ruined candles could be saved?

For now, I am hanging my flower wax page on the inside of my cupboard because it smells sooo good!

I have so many fun things in the works.  And I am anxiously waiting for a shipment of delicious autumnal cards (chomping at the bit!) for the shop.

I have also devoured the fall 2011 issue of Victoria several times over.

It is 105'F today, but somewhere out there, a feather of fall tickles the soul, I'm sure.

 

Off I go for now...

See you sooooon!

Love, V

 

ps:  Weekend Garden Snapshot.  Crazy little Vines.

Life & Tales

I am not sure how it happened, you see, when I started painting as a young girl and into my teens and twenties, I painted on huge canvas.  Splashing paint around like a mad woman.  But somehow, over the years, I have found myself painting the most delicate little details, with paintbrushes that look like eyelashes... (although, I still like to splash color on large surfaces)

This means that when I am working, I like to escape for breaks every hour or so.  Stretch, crack my neck (yes I am one of those people), check on the garden, make sure the real world is still outside the door...

Although, if I am not careful I will be beckoned by the garden, enchanted into leaving my painting duties, and back to playing with petals and leaves...

We have had two glorious days.  Big, fluffy, moist clouds, filled with intense monsoon rains that cool the earth and gift a huge relief from the incredible heat.

On cloudy days, I really can't pry myself out of the rustic garden paths.

Gathering treats along the way...

The gobs of dichondra seeds I planted in April have really exploded late in the summer...

Dichondra is like, a fairy carpet, don't you agree?

Tiny and sweet.

I love hearing water trickle, and am crazy about fountains, are you?  I tried to bring my giant fountain from the city house to the country house, and almost broke my shoulder.  So, once I get some help, I will bring the huge one over and a mid-sized one over too.  I think they want to live in the country.

But for now, we listen to the trickle from here...

I gave my mom one of these fountains for her birthday, as I love mine so much.

Can I just tell you a bit more about the storms?

A monsoon storm is like, I can't even describe it.

If you have experienced one, they are unreal.  Massive heat on a summer day, and then, a crazy wild downpour that hits the spot like nothing else.

If there is summer rain, I am the first one in it.

Yesterday I worked so hard on our new garden project, in two storms, drenched, digging out beds to put wire bottoms in, and then putting the soil back mixed with other soil.  Poor blistered battered me ;)

But it is so worth it.

Although, I am so sore, oh my goodness, am I sore.

3 down, 5 to go.

I need only go foraging for edibles to know the why, in why I am doing this.

:)

My mantra, you only have to do the painful part once.

As I worked out there, in the heavy rain, tilling earth, digging beds by hand, I felt like a homesteader.  A lone girl, with a little piece of land, in a place that time forgot. 

Time shifted.  It was 100 years ago.

And, I needed to grow things so my family would survive.

I felt a sense of desperation, thinking of no grocery store down the street.  And about, needing to get my seeds in before it gets too cold.

I felt guilty when Mister Lovee called and asked me if I wanted anything from the store.

But then again, it isn't 100 years ago.

Still, I feel a burning passion for working in soil, so I forge on.

I got soaked to the bone twice whilst working out there, and decided that, baking for the first time in 4 months sounded beyond scrumptious.  It was squeal worthy. (oops, wait, I baked a cake for Mister in June, I forgot about that)

I found a giant fig on my little fig tree, and immediately had a plan...

I ran out to the peach tree and grabbed a couple of juicy ripe babies, and headed for my package of phyllo dough, painting on each layer with melted butter. 

Layering...

 Phyllo, butter, phyllo, until I had ten layers. 

(I love working with phyllo dough.  I began making the family baklava when I was 15, and learned how to work with phyllo back then.  It is easy once you get the hang of it)

I folded up the edges and sprinkled the phyllo crust with brown sugar.  I layered my fruit, brushed it with the remaining butter, sprinkled some more brown sugar on top, and baked at 400' F for 20 minutes...

So rustic, so yummy.

What a week.  I tell ya.  What a week. Busy crazy times.

For a little break, this video is delicious....

Ah, blissful, the Victorian Kitchen Garden.

 

For now I must be on my way, everyone is assembling for happy hour, and I don't want to miss it ;)

 

See you super sooooooon!

 

 

ps:  I just got these shoes (FitFlops) in the mail 3 days ago (I ordered a half size smaller), and they are sooooo cozy.  Trust me.  I was leery at first (as they are not something I would really ever wear), but they are great, and the brown and grey are lovely too.  I highly recommend them, especially if you have a foot injury, or stand or work hard all day, have concrete floors, want to be kind to your feet or simply have achy feet.  Yummmms for the feet.

 

pss:  Matty is healing nicely.  I think it was simply a bug bite (hello after hours emergency x-rays etc), thank heavens!  It is not huge and swollen, and he can walk on it perfectly.  He still has a tiny lump under the skin, that gets smaller everyday. Hooray!

Collecting Glass

I don't know why, but I really enjoy collecting glass jars/bottles, and bits of pretty broken glass...

I love the different shapes and sizes that household glass jars come in, and when Mister Lovee brings home treats from the store held in glass, I get sort of excited (olive oil, seltzer water).  Planning the soaking and washing in my mind (after we use the contents of course).

(I have been itching to get a hold of the cobalt blue sherry bottle for years, alas, the using up of the sherry is slow, or rather, non-existent)

I have jars I like to drink out of (jam & pasta sauce jars).  And jars I like to use decoratively... 

Every now and then, you find a real treasure...

I like to soak my jars in dish-washing soap and bleachy hot water.

I score the labels, and let the hot soapy water soak through, then I scrape and scrub...

There was a time about 10 years ago, where I found it easy to collect antique pieces, broken and beautiful.  But, that becomes less and less.

I have little heaps in the garden here and there...

I keep a large treasure chest outside, full of bits of broken glass.

Is it junk?

Is it treasure?

To me, it's delightful. 

Beached glass is delicious too.  With its worn rounded edges.

Yumm yumm.

Beached glass goes in jars in my house.  Memories.

Every time I look at the green glass, it reminds me of Return to Oz the movie.

Do you live on the beach? (or should I say, near the beach/ocean)

Collecting beach treasures is one of my greatest loves.

Growing up, we lived by the ocean (Southern California) almost half of the year, every year.

We had this one beach house, where you would cross the street, and be on the ocean.  I love that ocean air, and the perpetual collecting.  Shells, glass......

I miss it sometimes.

Some of those big sauce jars are excellent for sipping ice cold drinks out of, on a sweltering hot day... 

I so enjoy walking out back, and choosing a few bottles and jars to house some petals...

Flowers collected in the garden are beautiful all clustered together, however...

I find that splitting them up, lets me enjoy them even more...

Glasss bottles are excellent vases.

Just great.

Do you have a stash of bottles and jars that you love to fill with green and petals?

Perfect stem holders... 

With a pretty effect, of stained glass...

I can't wait for the next jar or bottle that makes its way home.

The square olive oil bottles are super lovely.

Have you found any ocean treasures lately?  Out here in the desert, you can find some fun bits and bobs, metal, glass.  All sorts of things begging to be made into something.

I love foraging for little pieces of junk.

Going for a stroll, never knowing what you might find.

A rusty old nail, a piece of purple glass.

Oooo, I feel an urge coming on!

I have to skedaddle for now, but I'll be back soon.

 

 

ps:  I missed seeing all the lovely names on my blogs I heart list, in my right hand side bar, so I brought it back.  It was always there, but you had to click on a link to access it.  Mister Lovee always says, out of sight, out of mind.  Which I totally agree with.  So, my list is back in my right hand side bar.  I am absolutely bursting with delightment, seeing all the names of so many of you.  Now I have to go through this list, and see who is still blogging, and add so many of my new friends.  It feels so so so so gooooood to see you there again.  I knew something was missing ;)  Love, V

Summer Daze {Weekend Snapshots}

Summer sights and sounds surround us intensely. 

Rusty metal meets...

Vines...

Belonging to gourds and watermelons...

Hello baby watermelon...

Watermelon reminds me soooo much of my early childhood.

It was such a different time, late seventies early eighties, when there was still a huge amount of freedom in things that later became banned.  Like, going to the river, lollygagging in the deep pools of water, mom running out to bring me a huge slab of watermelon.  Me putting globs of wet sand on my legs and pushing it off with the watermelon rind.

Riding the 3 wheelers through water as 6 year olds, raising your legs up high so you wouldn't get burned from the motor steam.

70's music, 60's music, loud.

Barbecuing.

The river.

And then, going to the river was banned, and it became a part of lost time, memories.

But, we've still got watermelon ;)

There I go again, veering.

What about weekend happenings?

Let's see...

Oh, yes.

Sculpting lots of little faces.

Making new friends...

Hearing their tales...

Keeping a close eye on Matty, who had an emergency vet visit on Thursday night.  He was limping badly, so, I took him in after hours.  There was waiting, wondering, x-raying.  Was his back right leg broken?  Was it not?

 

It was not.  Thank goodness, but it is still swollen.

He is on medication for pain, and I am wondering if it was a bug bite?

We are watching him every second.  Which is all we can do at this point.

Thank goodness for pretty things, and cozy home, to calm the nerves...

I really can't get over flowers.

Can you?

I just can't stop marveling at them.

I am so amazed by their intricate details.  Just incredible...

If you pay close attention, nature gives you lots of painting lessons.

The more time one spends outdoors, the more shadows and contours come to life.  The brain opens itself to dimensions, and layers....

The sun is hotter than hot.

Is it crazy hot where you are?  It is super dry here most of the time, except right now.  It is humid.  Last night we were swinging in the garden, and I got one or two mosquito bites.  I asked Mister Lovee if it was this humid in places like Wisconsin or Louisiana (of course I knew it was).  He immediately says, are you kidding???  It is waaaaaay more humid, and lots more bugs.

Are you in a region as such?  What are your nights like?  I wish we had fireflies.

Here are some shots of more gourdy gourd gourds hanging around.  They are huuuuuge.  Wild things, aren't they?  They smell funny on your hands if you touch them.  Sort of like, faint and stale cigarette smoke.

We have started some new projects too...

I know, insane ;)

The way I look at big projects is like this.  You only have to do the hard work once, and then you reap the benefits forever.  Isn't that the truth?

Oh oh...

 

The bestest thing is when you happen to have your camera on you, and a little someone stops by to check out the flowers...

I am telling you, if you like zinnias make plans to plant seeds in spring.  They are the gift that keeps on giving and giving, not to mention withstanding the heat beautifully.  Growing 3 feet tall, and gifting flowers in abundance.

I just planted two spots with leftover seeds a few of weeks ago, and they are already pretty tall, with flowers on some.

They bring happy flying creatures to visit.

Summer goodness is all around us...

The gypsy hollow beckons us by night, as we all gather, singing, laying in the swing, reading under candles and fairy lights...

One of my favorite little spots...

Where if you are lucky, you might find a handful of dreams and ideas floating about.  Waiting to be captured in canvas, and clay...

A few little random weekend tid-bits.

Finishing long audio books (always so heart wrenching to leave a story, isn't it?), reading haunted tales voraciously.  I have read a small stack of books this summer actually.  Something I had not done in a long while.  We have never had cable in the country.  The television is only on for netflixed movies, and I do listen to NPR and a lot of music, along with radio shows, and audio books.

With summer here in full force I am simply living in the moment, trying to enjoy the days, keep calm, keep happy and keep sane ;)

Also, always filling the hope jar in my heart.

What are you up to?

Love, V

 

 

A Little Harvest Time

Time for harvesting edible treasures.  After planting, protecting, checking, fighting for (rabbits, gophers, ants & worms), building a protective barrier for, hoping, wishing, watching, waiting and watering, why, it's time for eating.

Corn harvesting, here we come...

I bring Mister Lovee to see what's going on.  All of the planting and caring for is pretty much my doing.  I beg Lovee to pull off an ear of corn, and he hesitates, like, they are my babies and I should do it.

But, he finally agrees.

I tell him that the one he chooses is all his, and lucky him, he chooses a beauty....

It's a bitter sweet thing (but mostly sweet), picking corn, knowing that towering stalks won't be here for much longer...

It was a joy, watching them inch up, until they practically broke through the garden ceiling...

Tip-toeing in, peeking around, waiting, excitement...

Picking okra has begun also...

But for now, it is mostly baskets of corn.

3 big baskets to be exact.

Plus, the occasional trip out for a couple tasty ears for din...

I planted white sweet corn, and golden sweet corn...

It did so very well.

I am ever so glad I get to share these here with you, because otherwise, the only ones who would get to see the goodness, of which we are ever so grateful, would be me, lovee, two pups and our happy bellies.

Real butter on hot corn, mmmm, mmmm.....

Such an overwhelming joy to pick goodies out of your own garden.

Who knew?

Well, of course, we all know that, but still.

It's really something else, that such awesomeness can grow from mere seeds.

Seeds of nature.

Amazing.

Just amazing.

Watching tassels and bees fly around.  Little tassel bits falling on the silks, to create corn kernels...

Knowing that hidden under the layers of husks, corn grew.  I am perpetually fascinated, and in turn planning my fall garden.

Yummmmmmms.

Only, I am kicking myself.

I should have been more careful with the husks in husking my corn.

I really really really could kick myself, because I could have used the husks to make tamales.

Darn darn darn.

Or to make dolls.

Next time, I suppose you live and learn.

I am bundling many of the tassels for autumn decor, and saving the long beautiful leaves.  They are drying in the cottage.

But for now, we eat.

4 ears a person.

Dig in!

I chose the most bestest ear of corn for my neighbor, and red faced and filthy, I ran it down to her house.  Then ran back to keep working.

She wrote me later that night to say that, it was one of the best pieces of corn she had ever tasted.  She grew up on a farm.

This made me very happy, because, I was secretly sort of wishing I had a family member who was a farmer.  So that he or she could be amazed and proud of me.

Is that silly?

Oh oh, I L O V E the multi-color corn kernels, aren't they cute?

I refrigerated some corn.

I froze some corn.

We ate oodles of corn.

And I still am not tired of corn.

We are now enjoying our Cajun bell peppers.  They are tiny, sweet and spicy.  I actually have been eating them right in the garden, along with all of the oodles of different sized tomatoes...

Since I have lots of tomatoes, and some of the okra was ready, I decided to...

Try my hand at fried okra and fried green tomatoes.

(I had fried tomatoes before, but not okra)

We very rarely eat batter dipped fried foods.

In fact, so seldom, that I can't recall the last time?

I followed this recipe for my okra.

 

The fried okra was insanely good.

And, probably not that good for us, but I used light olive oil.

Does that count?

So, our summer is coming to fruition.

Very golden skin, without even noticing it happen.

Very full bellies.

Very happy puppies.

Time to plan for a fall garden.

Oh and, I have been tickled orange lately, what with a few Halloween orders in the shop, and a book about a haunted plantation, why, I might have to take out my autumn decor asap.

The seasons pass so quickly, you almost have to start celebrating them early to savor every little bit.

I simply can not get over how fast time flies by.

I am gobsmacked.

Time time time!

Oh, remember this?????

 

I should probably credit Paul Simon for writing it, and Simon and Garfunkel for orignally performing it.

;)

Okay so, off I go for now...

See you soooon!

 

 

Daydreams + Anne {& other tid-bits}

Transported through a glimmer, a hint of another place, secret passageways, a looking glass, a dream.  What does it take to transport you?  I opened the glass door to an antique piece of furniture, the wavy glass acting as a mirror, picking up shadows and light from two mirrors that face each other.  And just like that, daydreams...

For a second, I was in a magnificent English mansion...

Then I was in a fairytale cottage in the woods, looking out upon a stream, reading in a corner nook, treasures on the walls...

Candles flickered, because even in the height of daylight, there was a cool darkness brought on by the towering forest trees.

Pancakes cooked.

Pumpkins baked.

Squirrels ate nuts, and birds chirped.

And then, I snapped into reality, where pumpkins are really cooking.

In fact, I am on my second day of pumpkin cooking.

You see, I have had to pull some pumpkins from the vine a hair too early (they are already orange, but I like to leave them out a little bit longer), as worms found a way to snuggle into several, sending them to the compost heap.

I have cooked about 6 wormless pumpkins so far.

Scraping out the meat, and pureeing it for baking.

The scent is sublime...

It's that scent, a reminder of carving pumpkins at the end of October, that gets me every time.

It brings so much with it.

Childhood memories.

Recent memories.

All bundled together...

As I cook my pumpkins, with a slight cloudiness outside (monsoons taunting), I don't know why, but I can't help but think and think about Marilla and Matthew.

About Anne Shirley.

My heart gets full, bursting full.

She was such a huge part of my early years, and I carry her with me still.

I decide to make oatmeal pancakes.

My mom always talks about, and cooks up pancakes, when it gets cloudy... (her mom started the tradition)

Oat flour doesn't give me a headache like white flour does.

We don't cook much indoors during summer, so I very much enjoy cooking on the burner side of our gas grill, under a great big tree.

I just adore it.

And so, heart healthy flap jacks via plein air, it is...

(don't count the butter & syrup, haha!)

Our Vermont maple syrup was missing (Lovee! he probably drank it, he has such a sweet tooth), so we used this Trader Joe's syrup.  It is grade B, but it was lovely.

Oatmeal Pancakes, recipe by memory, let's see...

-----------

1 and a half cups of oats

1 cup of buttermilk

1 egg

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 tablespoon brown sugar

2 tablespoons vegtable oil (I use extra light olive oil)

--------

Using a food processor, grind one cup of oats into flour.

Then, throw in remaining oats, and all other ingredients.

Process until it becomes batter.

Cook on a hot griddle/pan that you have put a bit of olive oil or butter on.

Just like you would regular pancakes.

Cook until browned on both sides.

Be aware that this mixture thickens quickly, and is a thicker batter altogether.

Makes about 8 - 10 small cakes

(today I accidentally poured in a tiny slurp of orange extract, instead of vanilla.  It wasn't very much, so I added a hint of vanilla also, which created a sublime result)

Note:  I use regular large sized oats, from the big bin at the natural foods store.  So, I am sure any oats would work :)

There you have them...

 

Oatmeal pancakes, under a tree, on a giant spool table...

Whilst still in a funny little dream-state.

Curious, how that happens, isn't it?

Dream-states, I mean.

Mmmmm, Prince Edward Island..........

 

Time to wash dishes, and check on my cooking pumpkins, as a start to a list of chores (just ran out and popped mail in the box, just in time, phew!  Don't you just love the mail truck?  And mail, and how convenient that it comes to your very own mailbox?  Seems too good to be true.  I love you Unites States Postal Service!  Even though my last 6 parcels were smashed.  One parcel even came with an apology letter from the post office, taped to it, for being so smashed, isn't that wild?). 

Now, how will I ever get anything done, with dreams on the brain?

 

 

Pink + Flowers in Ice

Such beautiful days.  Running through the rain, planting more seeds, having picnics in the garden, pink sunsets, savoring the moment...

I looked up dates for summer's beginning and end.

Summer began on June 21st (here it has been warm since the end of March, with a cool snap in April, and then hotness ever since).

Summer doesn't end until September 23rd.

This means that we are just about, right smack, in the middle of summer.

(not really, but almost)

Sooooooo...

That means, summer fun treats continue.

Isn't that grand?

Something I like to do is taste edible flowers.

So, this weekend, I tried an experiment...

I collected flowers and herbs directly from my garden...

Roses, carnations, mint, lavender, basil flowers and basil leaves...

If you want to know more about edible flowers, click here, not all flowers are edible.  Just remember, experts warn that flowers from a florist are not edible.  And, I am not responsible for any flowers or herbs you might eat.

I took my flowers and herbs, and placed them in an ice cube tray, filled them with water, and froze them.

Now, I must confess, there is a proper way to do this.

I just don't really follow rules.

(actually, I didn't know there were proper rules when I did this, I just jumped in and tried an idea, not even knowing it had been perfected already)

What you should do is, fill the tray halfway with cooled boiled water and your flowers, and freeze.  Once your half ice cubes are frozen, fill the rest of the way with your cooled boiled water and freeze again.

Then your flowers will be in the center of the cubes.

I don't much care about that though.  So, I just tossed them in, filled with filtered water, and froze.

And voila!

Beautiful little specimens.

I have to tell you, I delivered Mister Lovee some cold water with flower herb ice cubes, and can I just say, he loved it.  Thought it was the best thing ever.

I can't convey in the photos how pretty these really are.  Especially floating in your glass, as the ice melts and the petals and herbs float around.  Loveliness!

You can make ice flower bowls and all manner of things too.  I am certain you have seen those before?

I looooooved the flavor of the icy water, herby and delicate...

So fresh.

A real summertime treat, I'd say...

Just so so pretty in person...

Cheeeeers!

From our tiny house, to you!

Look at these pretty frozen flower treats...

I am inspired to try more, how about you?

Love, V

Important Note:  Not to repeat myself but, if you want to know more about edible flowers, click here, not all flowers are edible.  Just remember, experts warn that flowers from a florist are not edible.  I am not responsible for any flowers or herbs you might eat, okiedokie.  Consume flowers at your own risk.  Also,  if you are allergy prone, you should be very careful.  Read more about edible flowers here.

 

 

 

ps:  Let me be an over-bearing furrybabymama for a sec...

Soft, funny, playful, happy, nutty, adorable soft soft soft fur love.

Beyond cuddle-able.

Miles.

His brother Matty took off as soon as I brought out the camera.

Matty is always on high alert.

But sleepy Miles, the King, will sleep even if you jump on the bed next to him.

Although, if food is involved, why, he can hear someone eating a corn chip down the road.

He is getting huge...

But, he thinks he is still a baby.

Which he is.

However, he has no clue how huge he is, and jumps in between me and Lovee onto a loveseat.

Squeeze.

When he was a tiny baby puppy, sometimes I couldn't find him, and eventually, we would realize that he had taken himself to his bed.

Oh. My. Heart.

It's mini Miles.

Sniffle.

At then end of August, he will be 8 months old.

And, he is now, as big as my bed :)

Well, not really, but almost.

He is more playful than ever.  If you wake him, he puts his paws over his eyes and goes, rrrr, rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr, rrrrrrrrr.

And then goes back to sleep.

He spends a huge amount of time on his back, looking at the world upside-down, and silly growling.

So, there is a little Miles update.

I often call him Mimer-Mimer (my-mer).  I don't know why, ever since he was little, I would say, Hi there Mimer-Mimer.

pss:

Protector, who majorly attacks me with love in the morning.

My little soldier.

(He knows how to hug, if I ask for a hug.  I ask for about 50 hugs a day)

Matty-cakes.

Of Curious Change & Giddy Goodness

There's something going on out there, in that place called summertime.

The season is twisting and turning.

It is still hot, and will be until Halloween, and the summer has been ever so long and heavy, and oh so hot.  I gave myself to the garden this summer, as you well know.

It has not been easy.  I won't lie.

It has been a full time job.

But a job I would do gladly, again and again.

As this shift in the season approaches, I begin to gather baskets of goodies.

In my garden it is harvest time for lots of edibles.

I feel a deep respect for farmers, for growing food.  It is so easy to access food with grocery stores and such, that I had forgotten all that goes into growing what you eat.

And, can I just say...

Pumpkins really taste like pumpkins.

Cucumbers really taste like cucumbers.

Tomatoes really taste like tomatoes.

(not to steal from Willi Wonka there)

But seriously, the flavors of my oh so organic edibles, are intense.

If you buy organic, or grow your own, you know what I mean.

So scrumptious.

And so, now I collect.

Snip.

Hug.

Love.

(Btw, all the beans you see around, are from the mesquite trees.  I have raked up 5 wheelbarrows full already, and they still keep dropping off the trees.  We are used to it.)

You know how when you were a kid, and you were going to Disneyland (approaching the entrance to the parking lot), and you got so excited that you bounced on the seats of the car so hard that you would bonk your head on the car ceiling?  Whilst clapping, and make all sorts of happy bursting kid sounds?

At least, that is what I did.

Well, this morning, with orange globes a plenty, I felt like that.  Giddy giddy giddy goodness. 

And, then I was sad.  Sad because I realized that, if I got that excited about something in public (as an adult), I might be committed.

:)

So, the first true collection of the babies for this pumpkin harvest season are trickling in.  I have gifted some, and eaten some, and still have some, plus waiting for some...

I have inspected each one...

Lovingly and with care.

Thankfully too.

With butterflies in my stomach, for the autumn they remind me of, that is yet to come...

A few white ghosties are showing their faces...

In a sort of déjà vu from last year, I am in love once again.

There are still a handful of pumpkin patches in my garden.  More babies growing.  Why do pumpkins make me so happy?  I can't figure it out?

Growing by the gypsy wagon...

Crawling up the trees...

Surprises in the flower garden...

A gift below, for my neighbor who grew her own pumpkin vines from some of my seeds.  She got 5 babies of her own, but needed one more.  You see, she is making pumpkin ice-cream, and she said I would get a taste.  Hooray!

The pumpkin patch in the front garden is flowering now, with babes to come within the next few weeks...

I can't wait to see what surprises it has in store...

I am sort of feeling funny.

I have had a very very very very very long summer.

And yet, the rapid change in my garden, shows me that it really is August.

Then September.

Must soak it in, like, now.

Come dance in our jungle at twilight...

We'll be waiting for you....

 

Love, V

 

 

 

Thoughts right now...

Don't you love late summer thoughts?  They waft in, they waft out.  Intense at once, and then fading so quickly, convincing us they had never been.  A menagerie of feelings fluttering about.

 

Thoughts right now...

I feel a longing, but I don’t know for what?

I feel excitement, but I don’t know about what?

For a mere moment, I feel concerned, but I have nothing to feel concerned about.

It feels silent. 

What is to come?

 

It feels like there is a change on the horizon.  But I haven’t a clue what could change?

Everything changes from moment to moment I suppose… 

Ever changing time.

 

I see a few tiny grey strands in my hair for the first time, sneaking in, getting cozy, like they want to stay.  And I like them.

I am not afraid to grow old.

I find a peace in aging.  I am beginning to look less 25 in the mirror, and I don’t care.  After-all it was a decade ago.  For me, it's easier to let go, than to hold on.  But inside, inside I feel young as ever.

 

I find a calm in throwing my hands up in the air.

I have made pacts with myself, about trying not to lose myself, and I have made myself a map, as to how to get back if I do happen to lose myself a bit.  Do you do that?

 

I have a huge desire to please.  Only this time, for once in my life, it is to please myself.

 

My perceptions are changing.  Sometimes I wish the girl in me now, could have stood up for the teenage me.

Alas, the old adage comes to mind, if I only knew then what I know now.

Then again, the past is history, no point in even losing one inch of thought on what could have been.  It’s over, there is nothing we can do.  Nada.  Zip. Zilch.

So, we let go.

 

I have enjoyed my youth until bursting.

And will continue to do so.

I look upon my twenties with great fondness, even the angst ridden introspective times seem vastly beautiful from this vantage point.

I have so many friends that are much older than me, that I have learned so much from.  The greatest thing I have learned is that life is long, and we are not old, at the ages we think we are.  Whoever decided what age is young and what is old, was cuckoo in the head.  Life is long, and age is but a number.  You can be youthful, for as long as you want.  You do have a choice in the matter.  Only the added bonus is that, now you have wisdom too.  What a gift!  No one ever mentions that, do they?  So silly.

 

The world may seem scary and sinister sometimes, but there is so much goodness and beauty too.  I turn my face away to the yucky stuff, and work at living the best life I can live.  And I believe that somehow, if I hold on to a thread of hope, everything will work out.

 

I have all these thoughts in my head, and yet, nothing is going on in my life that should cause such thoughts.

Just the long hot summer sneaking in,  having a date with my brain...

I pick up feelings from people around me.  I have always been like that.  I can feel other people’s feelings at the drop of a hat. 

I have all these feelings dancing around me today. 

Are they yours?

Are they mine?

 

Are they feelings searching for a home?  Dancing through clouds?

 

Am I just having a reaction to shellfish?

:)

Nah.

So many thoughts.

Right now I think I need one bite of coconut cake.

And that…

That is a good thought.

I loved your sharing of tales in the last post.

It was so exciting for me, to get to hear your snippets.

Just loooved the sharing.

Thank you for that.

(Tori Amos, Thoughts.  Early B-sides)

I think we should do that more often.

 

Love, V

 

 
 

 

Gourdy Gourd, Home?

Hello there!  I escaped for a couple of days, and have returned to my little space on the planet...

I packed my bags full of trinkets and such, drove to the airport to pick up my brother (whom I adore), and we had a mini road trip to the family pad.  He surprised Mammie for her birthday.  It was wonderful.

I took a few garden treats with me to gift to my Mombie.  A box of my babies...

And, oodles of fresh flowers picked from my garden.  I also gave her a fairytale garden fountain and a necklace I made (she owns about 800 of my jewelry pieces by now).  Plus, some zinnias I started for her in a pot, and some potted pumpkin sprouts, that sprung up while I was there.  My dad was fascinated by them.  I hope they grow and gift her some punkin' babes.

We ate too much.

At least I did.

I am still full.

Mombie made her own fave coconut cake.  She insisted, but my brother and I stopped and got her a beautiful white chocolate and raspberry cake anyways.  For good measure.  Oh and, oodles of balloons that I had pre-ordered.

Her cake was unreal.  She only makes things from scratch, using fresh ingredients.  Like real coconuts, etc.

It was a blast, but I missed my three boys.

Especially the furry ones ;)

I was eager to see them when I finally turned onto the street, that takes me to the street our love shack lives on.

I missed the gourd tree too.

It makes me feel like, if I pretend just right enough, I can slip into a fairytale, of the real variety.  If only for a smidgen.

Below is the back side of the tree, also covered.

Gourds are born of white flowers.

Where most squash (pumpkins etc.) have yellow to orange flowers.

I spy a great huge gooseneck gourd!

And lots of birdhouse babies...

There are some huge ones hanging above head, but it got too dark to take their picture today.  I will take some in the daylight.

As soon as I arrived, I picked some edibles, and we even gobbled some tender sweet corn, which will be super ready in about a week.  It is yumm when it is young.  We cooked it, slathered on some butter, and shared it (sometimes we eat the corn raw when it is young).

My juicer was waiting for me to juice a large glass of one of my favorite treats.  Beet carrot juice.  I also love carrot alone.  And, lots of other juices.  I love juicing.  Do you?

Now I have to unpack all of my stuff.

Something I am not good at, at all.

I have to decompress.

And get back into the swing of my week.

How are you??

Tell me something delicious.  Won't you, please?

A good tale would so hit the spot.

Even an invented one would be grand ;)

How about it?

Love, V