A Fanciful Twist

Art & Treats for You + Dreaming too

Glowing warm evenings, thick herb flavored air...

Petals in the wind...

Shiny summer days.

Antique Mexican tea cups I've had for years.

Wonderful new artwork in my house to frame, by Kimberly Wlassak of Gerushia's New World.

Love that girl.

Her work is so interesting, as I have shared before.

I am so intrigued by her hand collages, all cut and pasted with her own lil' fingers.

Stories told in the piecing together of images.

She takes her own photos or uses antique/vintage photos for all of her work.

Hand coloring each bit, and bringing it all together to tell a tale.

 

 

Kim has listed two new original pieces in her shop, you can peek here.

Love them.

(ps:  Just found out, the piece above is on sale in print form, with special pricing, right now - here)

I love art and artists.

I love artist tales.

Their lives.

Don't you?

There is a curious air of mystery to the ideas and conjuring of the creative mind, isn't there?

Speaking of mystery...

As I was getting into bed last night, the full moon illuminated my room in the most enchanting way.

Shining big and blue through the window above my bed.

It's amazing how the moonlight varies.

Yellows, sepia, cooler blue tones, oranges.

Are you loving the moon in your neck of the woods too?

Tonight it should be extra fancy.

The days are still beyond toasty, but late at night - there is a certain magic dancing about.

I have been working feverishly, very long days and nights, on all sorts of Halloween goodies.

The summer has been so practical.

So many chores.

But a sprig of magic has gotten my attention...

(engraving of young witches adding to their cauldron)

Cooler moonlit nights, leave a crisp kiss on the shoulders.

A sign of change ahead.

Summer leaves here very slowly.

Halloween itself tends to be so hot during the day, and freezing parka cold at night.

It's a shift that happens so often, I can't recall it not happening.

Where summer and cold autumn meet up, right on the 31st of the 10th month.

So, summer is here for a while longer.

But late nights beckon, as they sense the seasonal shift more.

Summer summer, in distant sight, an end.

And so, I plunge into some exciting things to share soon...

I am so ready for it.

The magic I mean.

Butterflies, I tell ya.

This week Mister had to work very late one night.

I waited up for him, worried as I get when he works late.

Fretting.

Then I drifted off.

I woke up at 2:30 a.m. to see that all the lights I had left on for him, were still on.

I called him.

Where are you???

He said...

"Dovee, I am so sorry, I forgot my key and didn't want to wake you, so I am sleeping in the cottage."

He had been sleeping up in the cottage loft - how romantic I thought.

I went out to take him a glass of water.

Moonlight guided my way.

It was so queit and other worldly out there at 2: 30 a.m.

The next morning, Mister Lovee agreed.

He said there was something so incredible about sleeping out there.

Like, you have left this world for a smidgen of time.

I don't know about you, but locking myself out of places and such, has a certain amount of excitement to it.

Like when the power goes out at night.

You are forced to light a candle and such.

I don't know why, it sparks something in me.

Speaking of sparks!

Look at the faces on these darlings...

Creations of Queen Creative herself.

One of the most lovely people I have ever met.

Virtually that is.

She sent so many treats for me to gift.

From all the way on the other side of the globe, I might add.

4 packages of little faces, cards stickers, oh yumm!

Yep, I have 4 to give away.

This is what is inside each parcel, and more!

Scrumptious right?

Giveaway time.

Just say howdy in comments to be entered, and 4 folks will receive one of the packages of goodness.

Fun fun!

Well, Monday is a holiday in the US, so have a safe weekend to all.

Holiday or not.

Pizza soon.

It's been too hot to cook though.

So, when I get a break in the temp, pizza oven is on!

Happy Day!

Clink clink!!

 

Looooooove, V

 

 

Perfect Summer Day!

A perfectly, wonderfully perfect, summer day!!

Little furry legs, baby loves and a first swim = heart bursting.

You know how sometimes you find a family member sobbing, kleenex in hand, and you think something is seriously wrong?

Then you find out they just watched a Hallmark commercial.

:-)

Which happens to be the reason for the sobs.

That was me after I stumbled upon this video by accident.

I can't think of a more lovely summer day.

Learning how to swim, squeal.

Oh puppies!!!!

They look just like Miles did when he was a baby.

Golden Retriever puppies, oh my......heart!!!!

Bliss sigh...............

First swim stole my heart.

Those are my kind of babies.

Sobs with happiness.

Man, am I sappy?

My tender heart runneth over with puppy love.

Deep breath.

:-)

Love, V

 

By the way, check out this beyond adorableness below.

Anne (who makes awesome art at A Little fur in the Paint) just sent me a photo of her Tallulah watching the puppy video I posted above.

Isn't that just so hilariously fab???

Oh Tallulah!  What a name for a fluffer of such perfection, wouldn't you say?

 

 

 

ps:  Miss Charlene, is your heart bursting too???  Furry love!! ♥

 

pss:  Do you have a random video that makes you sob with happiness?  Share the link.  This could be fun!!

Pumpkin Patch Day

Hellooooo! 

Won't you join us for a pumpkin collecting day?

We are not picking them all, as they are not all ready.

However, we are picking the ones that are either ready, or have had their vines chewed by little creatures, or have plum fallen off the vine.

The boys LOVE the pumpkin patch.

They trample right through it, sniffing about.

And so, we get collecting...

The leaves do an incredible job at hiding their pumpkin babies.

I am always surprised how, just when I think I know where all the pumpkins are, another is revealed under a huge leaf.

Matty especially LOVES the pumpkin patch.

I am sure it smells like all sorts of little creatures.

He hunts them out, then he lets his little big brother have them.

Yucky.

Matty found a punkin!

Or two.

Yay!

A Cinderella and a Jack-O-Lantern.

Then I got to pick a HUGE, I mean HUGE, Jack-O-Lantern myself.

Perfectly round too.

Sooo heavy.

The one in the center of the cart below is quite large, but that green fairytale pumpkin takes the cake.

It's massive.

Now that one is sooooo heavy.

Something chewed its stem off the vine though.

So, we'll see if he can ripen up off the vine.

He is still pretty as a greenie.

You will find some sugar babies intertwined amongst the basil as well.

I planted 4 kinds of basil seeds in sooo many places.

I was so paranoid about not having basil, and now I have so much, I am not sure what to make of it.

Lovee is taking a bunch to a local Italian restaurant for me.

We will also have lots stored in olive oil, and in pesto, in the freezer for winter.

It keeps beautifully in the freezer packed in olive oil or made in pesto, and is always a huge treat during the cold months.

I am a huge basil fan.

Did Matty (short for Matisse) find a sugar baby?

Oh yes he did.

Gotta love those mid-sized, perfectly round, sugar babies.

Delicious too.

Oh and, did I tell you that the pumpkin patch exploded so huge, that it has overtaken the little breezeway between the pumpkin patch and the vegetable garden?

It's insane stuff, I tell ya.

A bit messy, but exciting.

The patch is about 120 square feet and growing.

We also have some rotting ones as you can see below.

I am tyring to turn them, but the vines are very fragile.

A few of the fairytale pumpkins are the only ones having rotting issues.

Their skin isn't as tough as the big orange Halloween guys.

But, they are my fave for roasting.

Incredibly orange flesh, and beyond delicious.

So, what can I say?

It's been a grueling summer.

But good too.

It's ending too fast.

Even though I love autumn.

I have so many more things I wanted to do this summer.

It rained like crazy for 3 days, now it is hotter than hot and sunny again.

There are so many mosquitoes I could cry.

More than ever really, because of the rains.

But, pumpkins make the world better.

So, we are happy campers.

I love pumpkin days.

I can't wait to see how the rest of the lil' guys still growing out there, turn out.

For today we have...

Mister Scarecrow can not wait to get a new head.

And I can't wait to carve one.

The scent of a candle burning inside of a pumpkin makes me crazy, I love it so.

Happy Pumpkin Day!

;-)

 

Poached Eggs

Hello!  Good Morning on a Sunday.

Popping in real quick with some poached egg love.

I adore making poached eggs.

I think I like the whole chemistry of it all.

It's funny, and tasty, and such a crazy healthy way to prepare eggs.

Do you like to make poached eggs?

The first time I made them a couple years ago, I was sooo impressed at the flavor.

And the over-all creaminess was astounding.

So, every so often we have poached eggs as a treat.

Here are some tips in case you ever wanted to try it and have not.

I love using really fresh eggs.

These are from the neighborhood, just brought home yesterday afternoon.

Yay for blue and warm tones in eggs, wouldn't you say?

What you will do is...

Crack your eggs into a ramekin or a cup.

I make 4 eggs at a time, so pour them into a little holder, and set them aside.

Next...

Grab a pan that can hold about 3-4 inches of water in depth.

Non-stick is great for this I am sure.

I don't have any non-stick pans, so from experience I can say, you don't need a non-stick pan.

Fill your pan with water, and put in a slurp of rice vinegar or white vinegar.

(about 2 tablespoons for a huge pan like the one I use)

Then bring it to a boil.

Let me say this.

I am always amazed in comment sections of poached egg tips, where people say putting in vinegar will make your eggs taste funny.

Trust me please.

You will not by any means, taste the vinegar.

There will be no trace of it on your eggs.

The water dilutes it totally.

It does however aid in helping to keep your egg whites together better.

It's a must as far as I am concerned.

Others may feel different.

I do the vinegar.

Okay, next step.

After your water with vinegar comes to a roaring boil, turn it down to a simmer.

So, go from high to medium, in the heat department.

After your water has been turned down to a simmer for about 1 minute...

Gently swirl the water with a spoon real quick.

Then...

 Take your ramekin or cups with eggs in them, bring them down to the water so that the edge of the cup touches the water, and slowly pour them into the water.

One by one, in they go.

If you feel the need to push the egg whites closer to the egg, do so with the greatest gentleness and slowness you can muster.

Leave your heat on simmer, don't touch that.

Cover your pan, and turn on your timer for 3 minutes.

(Get your toast into the toaster oven at this point)

3 minutes is the magic number for perfect poached eggs.

This means, totally cooked whites, but runny centers.

Of course, I have to be difficult.

I like my centers less runny, but not over cooked.

So, Mister Lovee's always come out right at the 3 minute mark.

Mine stay in while I plate and serve his.

So I would say that mine stay in for 4.5 minutes.

After you take your eggs out, ever so gently place them on a paper towel to dry them off a little.

I don't blot mine, I just gently turn them over on the paper towel once to dry both sides.

Then serve.

Sprinkling with a little salt once plated.

(pepper too if you wish)

These are Mister Lovee's poached eggs.

He puts his on toast before he cuts them open to let the yolk spill out.

But, I had him cut it on the plate to show you what it looks like.

The whites are totally cooked, while the yolk is runny.

As for my more cooked eggs, you can see them below.

Not as runny.

You can test timing and see how you like yours better.

I have to admit this.

I have always liked scrambled eggs, fully torched yolks, and omelets the best.

I would never have a soft center in my eggs.

That was, until I got obsessed with poached eggs.

They are soooooo creamy poached.

Not yucky at all, but more like, yummy.

A little coarse sea salt as Mister Lovee loves his, and eat.

Mmmm.

Growing up my mom hated runny yolks.

(she also hates meat - especially red meat)

She would say they tasted waaaay too eggy. 

If you get what she means.

(I agree in some cases)

So, I sort of had these ideas engrained into my head, which is why I was leery about poached eggs for years and years. (and red meat)

But, I have to say.

2 years into making them...

Poached eggs taste goooood, especially with a little coarse sea salt.

So, there you have it.

Eggs on a Sunday.

Got any tips of your own?

Do share.

Oh and, if you loathe eggs, this post will so not hit the spot.  Haha!

 

Loooooove, V

 

Do you have any foods you like or don't like because your mom or dad didn't like them?  My mom also hated the color blue (but she looooves purple!).  There was nothing blue ever in my world growing up, except the bottom of the swimming pool and the sky.

Go figure, I adooooore blue.

Funny enough, now my mom likes blue a little too.

Aren't we such funny curious people, all of us out there?

Love human behavior.

Okay, off I go for now.....

 

 

ps:  Winner's of Tracy's Tresures....

#6 - Prudence Puddleduck

#36 - Dawn

#16 - Kelly

 WOWie, lots of 6's.

YAY gals!  Send me your addresses via e-mail pleeease.

 ♥

Prickly Pear Lemonade

In the back of my mind, I always wanted to make prickly pear something.  I thought jam would be lovely.  I never really thought about a summer drink because, well I have never been a huge sweet drink person (I am a water and lemon sorta girl).  But this summer, mint tea and lemonade have been so enjoyable, I decided to plunge into prickly pear lemonade.  It is made from the fruit of the prickly pear cactus...

To be honest, I also just wanted to know how to extract the juice of the fruit.

I have this idea in the back of my mind, where I want to learn how to use everything native to me.  Learn how to survive just in case of...

In doing research about eating cacti and its fruit, your brain starts to open up real wide, realizing that even in the desert, there is a wealth of edibles that the earth gifts to you.

So, I just have this thing in me, that has always been a part of me, where I like to learn how to do all sorts of things.

That's probably why I dabble in lots of this or that.  I might not be good at everything, but I do like to try things out.

So, where was I?

Ah yes, prickly pear lemonade.

How does one attain a glass of such a concoction?

Let us find out, shall we?

On our property we have a massive ridiculous amount of prickly pear cactus.

Read all about prickly pear cactus, Opuntia, here.

Who knew it was all edible, pads too?

Well, I knew just from living here.

But I never ate any of it myself.

Some prickly pear fruits (also known as tuna in Mexico) have deep orange fruits, others have bright purple/fuchsia fruits.

I chose the bright purple ones.

This is a tale of me winging the prickly pear process with limited knowledge.

Although, I did google here and there.

It begins with the prickly pear cactus itself, as you see below.

I didn't know how people harvested the fruits, as they are covered in spines.

 

So I thought, hey, tongs could work.

And they did.

I plucked them right off and popped them into a container with fresh cool water.

This may or may not aid in making the skin even easier to peel off.

Closer to sipping, yes.

But first...

The goal is to remove the skins without touching them or contaminating anything with spines.

A sharp easy to handle knife and fork work really well.

What I did was sat the little fruit on the table like an egg, with the smallest end facing up.

Then I turned it on its side, sliced the bottom off, and sliced a thin line from top to bottom on one side, not too deep into the flesh.

Then you just wedge your fork in and roll the skin off.

Voila, the fruit is inside.

Yep, a nugget of fruit inside.

Amazing right?

Who knew?

If my description of removing the skin makes no sense -

Then feel free to watch this video right here.

I do not know the person who made the video, but thanks to him!

(bonus - the video background music is Eiffel 65 which reminds me of my 20's, love it)

You will see step by step, how to extract the fruit in the center.

Cute!

But what does it taste like you ask?

I have decided, the closest description is watermelon.

Not exactly, but somewhat.

It is sweet and lovely.

Also, some of my pears were too ripe, like below, so I just scooped the fruit centers out with my fingertips.  As you can tell, they are FULL of seeds.

One of the steps will be removing the seeds.

So here we go...

I removed the skins of about 45 prickly pears.

Then I just used a bowl, and put a sieve with a handle over it.

Like you see below.

Then I popped some of the fruit into the sieve and mashed it with my fist until all the juice was pushed through.

This is the process of extracting the juice.

I did this about 5 times, and got GOBS of seeds.

Which you can simply discard.

I now had a bowl with about 3 cups of prickly pear juice.

Fresh, raw, healthy - pure goodness.

So good for you.

Now for the lemonade part.

I wanted a large pitcher of prickly pear lemonade, so here is what I whipped up.

 

Vanessa's own Concoction for Prickly Pear Lemonade:

4 cups water

Juice of 4 large lemons

1 cup granulated sugar

2.5 cups prickly pear juice (about 40 fruits)

 

I put my prickly pear juice in a bowl in the fridge overnight.

This is not necessary, but it was nice to have cold juice to use the next day.

To begin.

I took a bowl, put in 4 cups luke warm water, and the juice of 4 large lemons.

Whisk.

Then I put in 1 cup of sugar.

(I actually started with a 1/2 cup of sugar and worked my way up until it tasted right)

Whisked until sugar was dissolved. 

(you can try honey or agave nectar, or other sweeteners to your liking)

Then I poured in the prickly pear juice, and whisked again.

Done.

Easy.

Good for you.

And surprisingly amazingly delicious in every way.

Like, really delicious.

And you can actually taste the prickly pear.

Meaning that, the lemons did not take away from the flavor at all, which is why I only used 4.

Mmmmmm...

Icy cold drink on a hot day.

I am sure you can make delightful cocktails with it too.

There are lots of recipe on-line, such as here.

Prickly pear margaritas or a splash of vodka to booze it up a little if you like that?

Confession, we are boring.  We don't ever drink alcohol.

(Lovee hates the taste of the stuff)

I know, we are such prudes, haha.

Not intentionally though.

I did drink during my younger dancing all night and partying days, but alcohol always made me sooo violently sick.  I don't know why.

So, one day I just never had it again.

But I keep good stuff on hand for friends, and love mixing drinks.

A tiny splash at a little get together wouldn't do me in.

Anyhow, point is - you can use the prickly pear lemonade recipe with a little vodka if you want to serve some adult beverages :)

But, it's beyond delicious just as is.

Prickly Pear Lemonade...

It's lovely stuff, I am telling you.

It was worth all the work to extract the juice, really.

So, there you have it...

Clink clink!!

Good stuff!

I have to go play now...

You see, we are being gifted the most unusual weather.

As you know, rain.

And clouds, two days of clouds and no sun, hoooray!

Monsoons are usually in the afternoon, an hour or so, and then the sun comes back out.

Not all day rains.

Or night rains, like we have had.

For 2 days it has been all rain and drizzle.

It's like, the weather got lost or is in the wrong town.

Lovee hates it, I LOVE IT.

He asks, "so, umm, Dovee, you happy about the weather?"

OH YES!!! I exclaim as I run barefoot in cool rain and mud.

I even make my neighbor across the way meet me in a deep crystal clear huge pond puddle while it's pouring, and we get soaked to the bone.

It was grand.

GRAND!!

This hasn't happened in ages upon ages.

I am a happy camper.

Although, lots of baby pumpkins are rotting on the moist earth, so I have to turn them over and over.

This is unusual to this dry land.

A pumpkin rotting from too much moisture is unheard of here.

I have never seen such summer rain in my 10+ years of this country place.

If you need rain, I am hoping and wishing on stars for you too.

Nothing like rain in a place that hasn't had it in forever.

Yummm!

Happy day!!

 

Looove, V

 

 

 

ps:  I heard that one of my neighbors down the bend made 5 gallons of prickly pear wine.  Interesting right?  I will ask him about it.

Sundee and Mundee.

Heloooo there!

  Hope all is well in your world.  I tried to get here yesterday but there was a massive storm.  Oh, it was sooooo good.  Monsoon season is the bestest - when and if it rains of course.  You wait thirsty for months and months, and then a down pour washes everything away.  Love it.

I took a video I'll share at the end.

Imagine not having rain for months and months in a row like here?

It's crazy.

I used to have a teacher in high school who always said, Sundee and Mundee.

I loved that.

He taught, hmmm, let me try to remember.

Some science class?

I know it had to do with earth, but it wasn't geography or social studies.

It was one of those AP classes, geo-sciences and nature stuff.

I can't remember.

But I loved that class.

Anyhow, we would go out to rivers and catch little fish real quick with our hands, measure them, then send them back.  Or we'd test layers of soil at the riverbank.

But that's another story.

He used to say words in a way that I found fascinating.

Like, Sundee and Mundee, instead of Sun-day and Mon-day.

He also said ruts, instead of roots.

I think about that all the time for some reason.

One of those things that sticks in your head I suppose?

My mom always said that, the way people pronounce things should be respected and not rudely corrected.

We all pronounce things differently, and that is a wonderful thing, says she.

I agree with her.

I can never pronounce the sometimes best word for Mister Lovee, which is ornery.

I always say, honor-ee, instead of ore-ner-ee.

I know I am saying it wrong, but saying it any other way sounds uncomfortable to my tongue.

On another note.

I figured out that the zinnias take off madly when the rains come in July.

No wonder they were so pretty in September, October and November last year.

It's getting zinnia-ee goodness out there.

The dinner plate dahlias get huge huge huge, and then flop over in the rain, drunk from all the drinking.

Insert a yumm just for effect.

And a YAY, because the tomatoes have not ended, yet.

Thankfully.

I vow to always start my tomato vines indoors in late winter early spring like this year.

Wow, what a difference.

Also, I didn't plant them, but somehow, some seeds I did plant must have been for orange tomatoes.  A couple of vines are gifting them. Fun!

(picked yesterday in the rain)

I made blt's with maple bacon this weekend.

They were sooooooooo good.

Like, sooooooooooooooooo good.

I cooked the bacon on one of my cast iron skillets on the burner side of the grill in the yard.

It makes clean up sooo much easier.

I only make it once or twice a year, mmmm. 

Good stuff.

I did two chop down trimmings of the hollyhocks, as I read somewhere on line to do.

And guess what?

A whole new wave of hollyhocks are here.

I have sooo many other things to share besides garden and garden.

But, I just don't want the memories and pics of summer growing things to go to waste.

I know, it's booooring.

Yaaaawn.

I used to think it was fun to share garden galore, but then someone said she would die if she saw another flower pic - and then I was like - Oh, interesting thought?

One assumes that everyone likes flowers.

I for one could look at gardens all day.

I loooove garden books, but that's me.

I could never grow tired of a flower, they inspire me so.

You?

Oh, the other day, I went to bed alone.

And woke up with the big fluffer nutter next to me.

With his lil' tongue sticking out.

Awe.

I had never seen that before, so I ran for the camera...

Sweetcakes.

Annoying puppy mama.

What can I say?

I admit it.

It's true.

I am one of those crrrazy dog people.

Oh yes I am.

By the way....

I decided to try to make a video.

I used to make them all the time.

However...

I had not made one in a long time mainly because my new video camera has issues, and it is hard to work with the files in my video making program.

But, I tried a different way - which took 8 hours to make.

Videos take forever to make.

At least, they take me forever.

I thought you might love to see the monsoon rain in the desert.

A sun shower had such sparkly rain I couldn't get over it.

Then the storm turned the earth to night in one fell swoop.

It was all good in theory.

Alas, I think the video is a crazy blah mash-up in the end.

Ah well.

I tried.

The evening got sooo dark, it's hard to see, and don't mind our annoying chatter.

So, a video.

Monsoon and Fur, here goes...

 

See you soooon!

Love, V

 

 

 

ps:  Two amazing things that happened this weekend.

First I thought hummingbirds were fluttering all around me - about 20 of them.

Until I realized they were HUGE dragonflies.  Faint.

I had never seen such large storybook dragonflies ever.

 

Then, about 10-15 orange butterflies were flying about in a circle by the gypsy wagon.

They are there still, days later, and seemingly live there.  Magical.  There are a bunch of all types of butterflies right now in the garden.  Love them.

 

Love from the Sky...

This is live, up to the moment photos of what is happening outside, as I type...

I have wished for this sort of dark intense rain for sooooo long.

And now, it is here.

I am soaked because of course, I had to run out there in it.

I wanted to take a video like that one time a few years ago, but there was too much lightning hitting way too close for comfort.

I am not usually afraid of it but, this was one street over, so I took the hint and watched it from all the porches.  Running back and forth...

Rain is such a big deal here.

Especially monsoon rain like today.

Where seemingly, more rain falls in a 1 hour period, than has fallen for the last 6 months.

You can practically see the earth smiling, and quenching its intense deep thirst.

The rain was stronger than I have seen in a long time.

A river going through my back porch.

The boys cuddled up, watching through the windows.

Liquid diamonds forming on leaves...

At 2:30 p.m. it looks like it is evening, and I am in love.

I won't lie.

I probably could not be in a rainy place forever.

But a few bits of rain, in a thirsty sun drenched land, is better than wonderful.

We collect lots of rain water for watering.

In big barrels and buckets and containers.

Even though I have a big garden, we are water conscious, and careful with what we use.

I only water a certain amount very early in the morning in the gardens.  And the surrounding trees and shrubs get a drip irrigation watering every Saturday.

Then, the collected water waters garden plants for a little while after the rains.

Yay.

This means, I have tomorrow garden duties off.

Hooooooray!!!

I love the garden, but a day off is music to my ears.

I ran out to the cottage, drenched.

Swept the front porch, which was pointless because if you have ever experienced a glorious monsoon rain, you will know it whips in all directions.

It's torrential in the best way.

Gulp gulp gulp....

Yumm.

I can not begin to describe how much the earth needed this.

It has been so odd the last two days.

It was cloudy and very hot.

Hotter than ever if you ask me.

As you know, the clouds hold in the heat, and yet no rain.

Night before last it felt so eerie out.

It was pitch dark because of the clouds, and ever so hot and humid.

It was like being in a dark humid cave.

Not one breeze.

The skies were getting ready, and I am so thankful.

I have delivered lots of basil to friends in my dandy ole paint buckets.

Perfect for cuttings and such, I keep them around just for that.

And all of us feel like this after this crazy rain.

Even though it came in under doors and through the A/C.

No matter.

Happy hearts.

One brother under the covers, and one keeping watch.

As is his self imposed job.

Lovee on the porch, me typing feverishly about my rain joys.

And now, it's time for baking.

Next week, I will share my pizza recipe.

Some fun giveaways on the way too.

After making my pizza dough so many times as of late, I think it's pretty darn ready for sharing.

It will knock your socks off. 

I promise.

I hope.

:-)

If you see a big round pizza baking sheet, get it.

(Target and Wal-Mart have them for sure)

I have tried all sorts of things to cook pizza on, and this is the best in my opinion.

Fresh tomato, basil, mozzarella, garlic, sweet onion.

Faint.

This coming from a former pizza hater.

Now, I love it.

Homemade changes so many things, doesn't it?

Off I go....

The puddles are calling my name!!

Forgive the weather obsession :)

 

Looove, V

 

Curious in the Garden...

Come in, come in, won't you?

I have some curious garden specimens to share...

Such as, the teeny tiniest most perfectest little punkincake I ever did see.

How teensy you ask?

A miniature, really.

Why, I just scooped that little thing up and swooned when I saw it.

A gift from the fairy pumpkin patch, me thinks?

We also have some conjoined tomato babies...

And when flipped over, you find a perfect set of kissy lips.

Sort of eeeeeeewe, and sort of, cuuuuute.

:)

A little Frankensteinish, wouldn't you say?

Mmmmmmwuah!

There have also been some astoundingly huge sunflower heads in the jungle of a vegetable garden this year.  So huge that as their petals opened they slowly began to droop droop droop down...

On the left side of the photo below, you can kind of see the giant leaves of the hugest sunflowers.  The mini gazebo is about 8 or 9 feet tall, so you can imagine what it feels like in there with the huge sunflowers.

As the sunflower heads get too heavy for anything else, I chop them off.

Off with their heads :)

Giant things.

Sooo many seeds in one giant sunflower head.

Oh my!

A little rain puddle here and there, as the vegetable garden starts to turn.  Looking older, and wiser, and ready for a nap.  Soon, not too soon, but soon.

There are still things growing to eat, but more and more, that change is visible.

Of course, the flower garden will have a second spring in late October early November, but the summer vegetable garden will have been long gone by then.

It's been a great, long, difficult, magical, wonderful, exhausting beyond words, astoundingly good garden summer.  With extra buckets of unending heat thrown in for good measure.

Nothing a sprinkler and some popsicles can't fix.

With sweltering nights of power outages tossed in for excitement.

I am ready for a vacation.

Maybe just a couple days of rain, and dark skies, and some really good thrillers.

But, I did dream of that last time didn't I?

I guess my vacation dreams have not changed.

Haha!

I am a gnome spinning in circles, it seems.

I'll begin speaking gibberish soon if I go on like this, heehee!

 

Looove, V

 

 

ps:  Have you seen the autumn issue of Country Gardens?

Oooo, it's lovely. 

Tablecloth Days...

What on earth do you do with your fave skirts and nightgowns when they meet their demise?

I have been known to turn bits of clothing into just about anything.

A skirt becomes a tablecloth or a curtain in 2 seconds.

So, when I didn't know what to use as a tablecloth for my lil' cottage table - I thought about my pile of 30+ Eileen West nightgowns that were torn, worn out and done.  I have kept them over the years, as they have beautiful details on them.  But had not used them for anything quite yet.

I chose a couple and chopped them up.

I always save the lace and edging of my nightgowns that are too worn out for anything but handkerchiefs for Mister Lovee.

Others aren't sooo worn out, but are pretty torn and thin.

I catch on a rose bush, or on a table corner, and that's that.

It happens all the time as I scurry about, with billowing cotton.

I am a hot water/bleach sorta girl, which probably doesn't help my poor frail crisp cotton gowns much (I am gentler in washing them now).  Sometimes Matty jumps on me, and goes right through my nightgown like a pirate through a ship sail.

I am not a very proper maker of things.

I can follow directions, but I can't.

You know what I mean?

I don't measure properly, or any of that.

So, I had to come up with a quick plan (lest I lose interest), when I decided to make a nightgown tablecloth.

What I did was measure the top of my table, and add two inches on each side (for sewing purposes). Then I cut out a rectangle using those measurements, from a piece of white fabric, for the top.

For the sides I chose 4 nightgowns, cut them along a side seam (you will need the whole length if you pleat), pleated them a little in the sewing machine, and then sewed them onto the piece I cut for the top.

That's it.

It pretty was easy.

You will have a seam in the middle of your panel, like in the ruffled pink piece above, but you really can't even see it at all hardly.

I wasn't careful about the length, so one side that was too short got an extra piece of lace, which fixed the entire issue.

Yay.

Now we have a special little place to sip tea and have breakfast, whilst looking out the window.  (or coffee for Mister, I gave up caffeine as it made/makes me so sick - almost two years ago - but I can have a little Earl or Lady Grey tea without feeling too rotten, and of course herbals are a-okay)

Best part is finding a cozy other spot after breakfast for nibbling grapes and ginger.

Me up in the sleeping loft, Lovee in the comfy chair.

Then we switch.

Later I get to work, and he stays up for a little longer.

It's our vacation spot, we've decided.

I know I have to finish the inside - alas, I am not there yet.

I am going slow.

I know it's terribly annoying.

But I will be done soon.

Soon when?

No se.

(I don't know)

But I am trying.

:)

As I was cuddled up in the big cozy chair, reading a few more pages of Fanchon the Cricket, a lady bug flew onto my thumb.

Yes.

I couldn't believe it.

(she even stayed long enough for me to grab my camera)

The place is airtight.

What the?

Awesome.

Happy happy, joy joy.

Then I put her in the garden.

And, that was that.

Have to run to Le Poste...

See you soooooon!

 

Love, V

 

 

 

ps: 

Love it.

(source)

Bits and Pieces of Youness...

Do you ever feel like, all the sparkly little bits and pieces that make up who you are...

Want to explode into the sky?

Flying fast and free, arms outstretched , through the clouds.

Dancing on fluttering air waves?

Free of soul, mind, body.

Perhaps to something like this, especially at the 2:30 minute mark.

(fave midnight painting song from college)

 

Whipping around until you turn into a swirl of youness.

Going to that special place, where you meet up with the you that you hold dear.

The you only you know.

Lifted out of yourself, in a flight of inner bliss, of magnitudes only you comprehend.

In that special moment of youness.

The ecstacy of living and feeling and breathing.

That place music can take you to.

If and when you venture to such places, pray tell...

What tune do you choose as your method of transport?

Maybe many, but one in particular perchance?

 Love, V

 

 

 

ps:  Recipients of Eleni's wonderful creations, by way of random number generator....

#32   Melanie

#69   Iantha

#8   SJ

Hoooooray!! ;) 

Pumpkin Patch Love + Something Pretty for You

I was at the craft store the last week in July, loading up on supplies.  I walked into the store and was blindsided by autumn decor.  I was jolted.  I am not ready, I thought.  So, I didn't look at it at all.

Of course, I am a major major major autumn lover, and would love a break in the weather.  But it was still July...

I went home with a gasping sense of passing time, and as brutally hot as summer is, I felt a huge need to hold on a little bit longer.

I am a total Halloween nut, love love love it.

But I just wasn't ready.

I drove home, and then had to give myself a sly smirk.

I felt like a sheepish hypocrite.

I mean, really...

I have been collecting Jack be Littles out of the garden, and adorning my home with them for a couple weeks.

Tickled pink.

Or, is it orange?

Had I not noticed the trickle of autumn loves in my own world yet?

It's not their fault they are born in the summer here.

Silly me.

I am pumpkin crazed.

You know that already, right?

It's borderline annoying, I know.

But truly, I ask....

Doesn't one orange orb hold so many worlds of feelings and memories?

Hay rides and crisp air.

Childhood fun, dress up.

Caramel apples, and on and on?

Double bubble, toil and trouble.

Of the wonderful variety that is :)

I have collected pumpkins of all sizes out of the garden.

Just the first little wave.

Many more still growing.

The ones below came off the vine too early.

But the vines that housed these babes below were ravaged by gophers at the root.  So they are a tad green, but almost all orange now.

(pumpkins, carrots, cabbage)

There is still food collecting going on, as the gargantuan sunflowers droop over.

Remember the giant sunflower from a couple of months ago?

Well, it fell over in the last storm, and there were carrot babies in the roots.

Isn't that cute?

And, oh the pumpkin patch.

Just when I think it can not possibly get any bigger, it does.

I took the photo below just the other day, and I swear it's already covered the bottom left hand side of the photo and continued to crawl about farther.

Giant leaves.

The other day I realized that, I am not really grasping the pumpkin patch.

I know it is there.

I know I tend it and bees fly around doing their job.

But, the size of it.

The magnitude, had not really sunk in.

Until a couple days ago.

I got butterflies in my belly and did a pumpkin dance.

I think the heat fogs the brain.

But when I actually grasped my pumpkin patch, I skipped around with glee.

I am so excited I can't believe it, I kept thinking.

I stopped and questioned myself.

How could you not have realized you had a large pumpkin patch?

You planted the seeds and protected the baby seedlings you daft woman.

Yes, I know.

But somehow, my brain was blocked.

The pumpkin patch has 3 kinds of seeds.

 

Jack -o'- lantern Pumpkins.

(store bought seeds).

 

Fairytale Pumpkins, also known as Musquee de Provence.

(seeds from my own huge pumpkin from last autumn, awesome for eating and looking at)

 

Cinderella Pumpkins.

(also known as, Rouge Vif d’Etampes’ - seeds taken from my own pumpkin)

Things are going well.

Growing away...

Oh yay, yay!

Pumpkin love!

This one is HUGE below.

Although, there are several lost too, in the cross pollination.

It's good to only have one type in one area.

I mixed 3 and gambled a bit.

But, there are about 20+ mixed types that look good out there right now.

A few of the Fairytale ones are the ones dying after they get about basket ball size.

Sniffle.

Just something that has happened in my garden when I plant too many types next to each other.

But, no fear.

Lots make it too.

Fingers crossed, hopes high.

Patch growing as we speak.

Or type.

Or read.

Little loves...

Don't they hit the spot?

Sweeties!

Speaking of sweeties, look at the treasures made by Eleni, A Pink Dreamer.  She shipped them all the way from Greece for a giveaway.

Yes, a giveaway, isn't that fun???

3 folks will get a treasure.

Hooooray!

Just leave a comment to be entered.

1st name drawn gets first choice, etc.

Fun fun, fun in the sun!!

;)

 

Looove, V

 

 

 

ps:  Nap time in the summer.

Miles looooves his toys.

He goes through them quick, and I get such joy buying them for him.

I put them in a great huge bag in the living room, and he digs them out, and taunts you with them.  You know, the whole bit.

When I found him asleep with his little green dragon creature thing, I melted.

He's big, but he's still a 1 year old baby :)

And of course, will always be a puppy to me.

 As for Mister Matty, he is always by my side. 

Mama's little protector, that is the role he sees as his.

Love him so...

Furry tid-bits for the day.

Circus of Dreams {a painting}

In a Circus of Dreams is where I have been lately...

That place where the performance begins.

Sparkles twinkle madly as she flies through the sky.

Golden stars dancing through moist clouds and pink skies.

A ribbon of twinkles holds she, and then, the music...

Oh the music!

Her bestest friend and performing companion trots in...

As she leaps in bliss...

Hints of color flash about.

A magical smattering of teal and purple dance upon the zebra...

Exploding every so delicately through fluffy clouds...

And then, you wake up.

Or do you?

The Circus of Dreams...

A new mixed-media art piece.

Now available in my shop.

20" x 24" x 1.5"

I am so glad to finally be able to share some new pieces.

I have been working on several this summer, but that thing called life gets in the way.

You know what I mean?

As for today...

I think I hear sprinklers calling my names, it's 107' F, with pure 100% sunshine.

(42' C)

It's that space where the heat feels like marshmallow steps in night time thoughts, during the deepest sleep.

Ahh, yes.

This heat.

Finding a way to love it = lime popsicles + laying in the soggy lawn under the sprinkler.

 

Love, V

 

 

Tomato Times

Abundant tomato times have been amongst us for a few weeks.  I can't believe, nor did I imagine, that we would have so many endless tomatoes with more still to come...

I started most of the vines indoors in winter, and planted them into the ground in early spring.

Is that the key to a major abundance of tomatoes?

I dunno, but it worked.

The best news, I guess it wasn't the tomato vines that made me ill at all.

As I have been under, around and all over them gathering never ending little red orbs.

They are slightly firm, with an explosion of tartness, and then pure sweet candy like tomatoey flavors explode in your mouth.

They taste unlike any store bought tomato I ever tasted, ever.

This is how a tomato hater turned into a tomato lover.

I realized the store bought ones always sort of taste ironey or metallic and watery to me.

These just don't.

I like them room temperature best.

Not cold, and not hot.

How do you like your tomatoes?

It's like a basil tomato jungle out there these days.

This is about the 10th basket of tomatoes, maybe more?

It's a funny thing.

Me and growing things.

You see...

My dad owned a produce brokerage (not a grower but a broker), which he ran and worked crazy mad hours at for 30+ years.

We lived half years in San Diego, California, and half in an Arizona border town.

All because of the produce business.

I remember going to check on veggies with my dad in these icy produce warehouses.

The scents incredible.

Dad making sure what he was shipping to major grocery stores was in tip-top shape.

He was bossy and loud.

He had to be, it got the job done.

And done well.

My dad is a type A aggressive go getter.

He was so intense.

I always admired that, and as a rotten kid, feared it.  Which was good.

I was rotten.

I was.

Not totally, but mostly.

Anyhow, point is....

It's funny, that my dad's company logo was always tomatoes.

And now, here is his daughter who grows things.

He thinks I am borderline insane though.

Spending all my time watering and growing all sorts of things.

"You're crazzzzzy," he says in a joking manner when I tell him all the things I am up to.

Actually he says it more like, kerrrr-azeee.

Why do you do this to yourself my love?  he asks.

That's too much work, he says.

And I say, but I love it.

It is way too much work.

But, I do love it.

So, that's the balance.

And so, with all the tomatoes....

I get busy making so many things.

Tomato Tarts.

(I used this recipe, but changed ingredients up a tinge based on what I had in the house)

Mmmmm.

Yumm yumm.

And tomato sauces galore.

Delicious all sorts of things made with all the tomatoes.

Pizzas too.

Lots and lots of raw tomato eating also.

And gifting too.

I can sit and eat the little guys like grapes.

And I do.

While I rest my tired farmer tanned feet.

Phewey.

Throw in a little corn for good measure...

And the seemingly endless sweltering groundhog days of mine, are worth it.

Every morning, no sleeping in, straight out to work.

Mostly I am a morning person.

I get a lot done early in the morning for some reason.

Jumping in...

Back garden, vegetable garden.

Trees.

Office garden.

Front yard garden.

Then to work I go inside.

Every single day.

I can't lie.

Everything isn't obnoxiously perfect around here in the least.

Sometimes I want to cry in the morning, when I first open my eyes and have to go outside and work.

Not all the time, but once in a while when days are over 105' and I need a break.

I want to stay in my cool fluffy bed.

And not have 4 hours of chores outside ahead of me.

Mostly, I don't think about it.

But sometimes...

I say to myself...

Self, what have you gotten yourself into?

But then, I get outside, and it all goes away.

I see the fruits of this mad labor, and I say, I would be so sad if I hadn't done this.

And then, all is well again.

I make sure 4 beds of basil don't go to seed.

Snip snip.

I smell the tomato vines, and the fresh cut basil.

I see pumpkins growing.

And my soul is refueled again, for tomorrow.

When it all begins again.....

Love in the garden.

It is love.

Love is complicated and hard.

Love has it's ups and downs.

But love is love, and you can't help love.

Love happens.

When you love, it leads the way.

It makes you do crazy things, this love.

And, that's just the way it is.

Love inspires, doesn't it though?

The things we do for love.....

(Isn't that a song?)

 

Love, Vanessa

 

 

 

ps:  Please keep sending down the rain!! ;)

All you marvelous UK friends, I'll trade you.

5 days sun scorched heat, for gloomy rainy skies.

Deal?

(office courtyard)

Shopping cart above, equals flower cart.

All you need is black plastic, burlap, soil and seeds.

Then you have a flower cart on wheels.

I have two, they work great.

You can find them at junk yards for free, or for very little money.

I've used mine for years, never changing the soil really (just adding a bit from time to time), and green things love growing in there.

Random Morning Ramblings.

Today is a funny day.  A huge storm rolled in last night, but it was the oddest storm.  Hot wind, very hot wind with thick clouds of humidity.  My mom called on the phone and said, are you getting hit with a storm?  A haboub is on its way to you.

No sooner had she called than a wall of orange thick air came towards us.  Something I had never experienced where I am in Arizona.  Followed by rain and crazy intense lightning.

Chaos erupted in the yard, things being broken, torn about, swung around, madness.

And then, a loud explosion and no electricity.

It was quite exciting.

I love weather.

I was enjoying gathering candles and such.

That was until we noticed that the storm was not cooling things down and after 100' weather, to have no a/c (electricity) and lots of moisture, was oh so pleasant.

It got dark so fast, and I went to bed.

I pretended it was 1912, and I was in Savannah, in sweltering humidity.

I was in my bed, looking up at an evil goblin shadow made by the candle.

Fanning myself with a piece of cardboard.

Thinking about how dependent we are on electricity.

Sort of freaking out about it really.

Then I realized that if the electricity was out, the well would stop pumping water soon.

So, I filled up a bunch of containers with water.

Then I sat in the darkness, with one candle, and pondered our dependence on electricity even more.

I started to doze off.

Dreaming about a painting I was working on - which morphed into killer raccoons, and a flash flood in the garden with a rogue boat that almost killed Lovee, which I saved him from.  Of course, you get to be wonder woman in your own dreams. ha.

Oh gosh.

I woke up.

I went outside and saw some large containers I had in the driveway had lost their lids, and they were full of water.  Things I loved were inside (which I should have put away already but it's been too hot), so of course, damage control ensued.  Then I found out another container had been damaged and had mold in it on treasures, fabric etc.  I was so sad.

More damage control.

And yet, there was a sense of calm in me.

Like, oh well.

I tried to do all I could without water or electricity in the dark.

Filling up jugs of water, and pouring them into the washing machine with bleach water.

Worked on that for a long while.

Then I went to bed again.

I had another nightmare in that hot dark heat.

I woke up, and went outside.

Have you ever made the mistake of going to a carnival, and getting into a haunted walk through ride, that is in a trailer or semi truck?  It's hot and dark, and you feel like you will hyperventilate if you don't get out soon?

I did that once a few years ago.

I told Mister Lovee that the air last night felt like being in that dark hot carnival walk through ride thingamajig.

I said, I think that ride scarred me, because I think about it all the time.  People pushing, trying to get out.  Hot smoke, pitch darkness, feeling your way around.  Screams.  Screeching sounds.

Me too, he said.

You too? I said.

Funny, we both thought about it but had never talked about it.

I walked down the driveway in pitch darkness, and could see the guys in the far distance working on the electric poll.  Transformer blew or something.

I wanted to take them a plate of cookies.

 

Thank them somehow.

 

As the lights went on and I was still at the end of the driveway, I screamed YAYYYYY!!!!! And clapped as loud as I could.

It was 2:30 a.m.

I stayed up until 5:30.

I watched the movie Albert Nobbs.

Matty Miles cuddled up.

And, I felt guilty for loving my air conditioning.

But that was leveled off by my sheer happiness in cold air glory.

This morning I appreciated every bit of the comforts we have in life.

I stole Mister Lovee's bag of cereal.

I made breakfast ever so slowly.

I love my electric tea kettle.

Today is painting day, so I wasn't going to pop in and say hello.

I try to just paint and nothing else on painting day.

But, I have blogs that I like to visit.

And I love when they pop in to share stories as such.

Regular life things, that don't mean anything, but mean everything at the same time.

Blogging is like a tunnel.

You only see a snippet here, a snippet there.

All the daily life stuff mostly gets lost.

We know people through a tunnel vision.

I like the extra stuff too though, do you?

Like...

I love seeing what people have for breakfast or dinner or lunch.

I love hearing about mundane daily things, that aren't mundane at all really.

There's a curious comfort I find in it.

When I watch cooking shows, I am drawn to the crackling of opening bags.

The the clipping sounds of chopping.

The crunch in the tasting.

I love the sounds.

The little things.

The extras.

I loooove outtakes at the end of movies.

Bloopers, and slip ups.

I love seeing famous people being regular.

Because they are.

Only their job makes them visible to everyone.

They aren't super human.

But everyone expects them to be.

We all say and do stupid things from time to time.

Don't you hate that word?

We all judge each other.

I find myself often saying, who cares?

Who cares what anyone does?

Who cares if they mess up, or trip, or don't perform so well?

Who cares what people look like, how they did or didn't do this or that?

Who cares?

Can't we all just give each other a break?

Trivial things make me so annoyed.

Especially people trivializing things.

I really have to yell at myself when I fall into trivializing things.

I have these heart to hearts with myself.

Move on, get over it.

Who cares.

Don't drown in a glass of water kid (as my dad would say).

I'm just happy that the a/c works again.

And that there are things to eat from the earth.

And that, I have people and furs to love.

And that, there was tea and yogurt and fruit this morning.

And that, I am healthy.

And mostly, that paint is waiting for me, to take me on journeys to those sacred places painting takes you to.

Little planets in other realms.

Where pups have eyebrows?

Yes I know, rotten of me.

But, I saw this thing that said, on bath day, use a non-toxic eye pencil to make your doggie some fancy eyebrows, because it washes right off.

Miles was a ham in his new eyebrows.

And they did wash right off in the bath.

:)

 

Love, V

ps:  My sister's pics from the Grand Canyon are stunning.  Wish I had been there...

Peach & Party + Giveaway Results

Hi, heloooo, Hiya! 

So nice to be peeking in after voyages and tales and parties, oh my!

I hope you enjoyed the Mad Tea Party.  It was a blast, and everyone shared so many incredible delightments.  Always so wonderful to share as such, isn't it?

I loved visiting you all, such a joyous flurry of goodness, this Madness mixed with tea!!

Thank you all who participated and all who visited.

You make it what it is.

That's the plain truth♥

(party giveaway info. at the end of this post)

I have returned from a small voyage, and have oh so many tales to tell about making, and baking and caking galore.

You see......

During the Mad Tea Party prep and party itself, there were some major harvests coming in.

Veggie and fruit madness for sure.

Mister Lovee kept bringing in basket, after basket, after basket, after basket of peaches from our tree.

Big huge juicy succulent peaches, which he took care of for weeks, and made sure they didn't get eaten by too many bugs or birds.

(he puts plastic shopping bags over clusters and ties them, as peaches get closer to being done)

He did waaaaay good because we ended up with over 200 ripe peaches.

There is nothing like letting fruit ripen on the branch.

But then, 200 ripe peaches means you better get baking and preserving more than pronto.

We chopped, ate, chopped some more and practically bathed in peaches for days.  All the while, the Mad Tea Party was in full swing.

I was running back and forth, baking, taking photos. 

Making my visits last Saturday night, because I had to get things baked and pack my car to head out of town.

Over the weekend of the Mad Tea Party I made...

8 peach pies.

8 peach crisps.

24 red velvet cupcakes.

And -

One four layer Lemon cake.

Crazy I know.

But for some reason, in my mind, when I set out to make it all, it didn't seem crazy at all.

We delivered some of the peach desserts around our neighborhood to close friends.

Then I made more, yes more.

 And got busy packing.

Packing ever so carefully to make sure everything would arrive in tip top shape.

I packed cakes and peach pies and peach crisps and flowers, and butter-cream frosting to frost items when I arrived at...

The family house.

Mom and Dad's.

Why?

It was Mombie's birthday!!!  Hoooray!

I made her a special pie with a "Y" for the first letter of her name.

Yvonne.

And another with a peach motif.

There would be about 12 or 15 close family members gathering for Mom's very special b-day. 

I was the dessert girl and the food making girl.

Packing it all was the most harrowing part, and I didn't frost any cakes until I arrived.

But once I arrived I had helpers.

Dad, sis and brother jumped in.

Even mom chopped before the guests arrived.

I brought lots and lots of crazy delicious tomatoes from my garden (why are they so intensely delicious when home grown?) and started with my red wine vinaigrette, with cherry tomato and basil bruschetta.

Then I got busy making 8 bowls of pizza dough.

Mom's request was 8 pizzas.

I had dough rising all over the yard in warm places covered by moist cloths, and my sis was running around with dough.  Ordering it for 30 minute risings.

Then, it was time to roll them out and get making, just as people started to arrive.

My pizza dough performed sooo well, I must throw it it's own party.

It sponged up like a dream.

(thank goodness, I had nightmares of the opposite happening)

Then I took orders for pizzas.

Meat lovers.

Cheeseless.

Greek.

Veggie.

Everything under the sun pizza.

All sorts of pizzas were made.

My brother stood by the ovens (thanks goodness my Mom and Dad have 2 ovens).

He drank whiskey or something with my uncle, while helping me time and watch pizza baking.

It was great.

All the while my poor Dad washed his little brains out.

Everything I used he washed, and everything I needed help with, he did.

Dad was my right hand man.

He even suggested....

Feta, artichoke, spinach pizza.

He kept saying, more feta, more feta my love...

So many treats made...

Everyone had sooo much fun, it was a grand time.

My grandma kept kissing and hugging me, and clapping over the pizzas.

Sis requested cheeseless pesto pizza (oh ya, I made a huge container of pesto to bring with me as well), with large tomatoes from my garden, spinach, and mushrooms...

(I also brought mass amounts of fresh basil for everyone)

I didn't get to try very many pizzas.

I was just too busy, but I wish I had some now ;)

My mom browned some incredible sausage for topping the day before, which was delicious too, if you are a meat eater.

Veggie cheeseless below - pesto, tomato, spinach & mushrooms.

One of the fave pizzas was requested by my little cousin Carolina.

Just double cheese and pepperoni.

For some reason, it was realy really good and everyone loved it.

(that's my brother delivering it)

I made a few everything pizzas with ham and sausage and jalapenos (plus all the veggies like red peppers, garlic, onion etc.) and some others I can't remember now.

I didn't take any more photos as my brother was mortified that I had flour and dough all over my camera.

Being a movie maker, this freaked him out, as he is not as wacky with his cameras as I.

Mine usually have glitter and glue and flour all over them :)

As for dessert...

Let's see.....

I made a 4 layer lemon raspberry cake (my own sorta invention), but waited to frost it when I arrived.

I used Rosie's buttercream frosting recipe for all the cakes.  I make it all the time and it's amazing. 

However, I experimented a little this time for the lemon cake....

Instead of using vanilla or milk for the frosting, I used fresh squeezed lemon juice as the substitution to milk (3-4 tablespoons), and it worked beyond well. 

It was lovely lemon frosting, with a little yellow food coloring.

(On the trip, I found out I am allergic to yellow dye, great.  No cake for me, swollen lip after a taste, darn)

Hope Mombie loved it!!!

I got pink candles that claimed to burn in pink and purple.

And, they did!!

I also made some red velvet cupcakes, with frosting roses that I dusted with gold and silver edible petal dust.

And everyone dug in to an abundance of desserts.

Although, they couldn't move from all the pizza eating.

Peach crisp, peach pie, coconut macaroons, cake, cupcakes and ice-cream. 

(Oh ya, I forgot about the coconut macaroons too)

Gobbled.

Munched.

Yummmms.

Everyone ate until they dropped.

Seriously.

No one could move.

:)

I was a happy cook.

The next morning I got up, watered Mammie's plants, painted some giant angel heads that needed a little work here and there for her.

Went through an old trunk of mine and packed all my chilhood and tween records, to bring with me.  Plus a bunch of other stuff.

Packed my car again.

Hello never-ending baking plates and containers.

(they are still in my car)

And came home to my babies and the Mister.

Boy were they happy to see me.

Wrestling.

Jumping around.

They make you feel soooo loved.

Love, love, love...

The last 9 days or so have been one big crazy blur.

I got home and mowed a ton of weeds, and am back to more harvests and garden work.

I left a mess in the studio with a painting I made for Mammie.

Which, I forgot to photograph. 

Oh well.

I think I might need a vacation.

Only, I want a vacation in my own bed, in my room with some really good movies.

Now that is a vacation to me....

:)

 

Looooove, V

 

 

 

 PS:  Mad Tea Party Giveaway results below!!!! 

Druuum roooolll!!

Per random number generator....

1) #177 ~ Marilyn!!!

2)  #126 ~ Denise Adorian!!!

3)  #42 ~ William Charlebois!!!

Woooo hoooo!!

First person gets first choice, etc...

Please e-mail if you won, hooooray! ;)

 

♥