One of my favorite things to pick in the garden is white sage.
The scent of the fresh leaves is everything summer to me for some reason.
I get a strange scent déjà vu of my childhood from the fresh leaves.
Like, suntan lotion and faint fruit and a fresh healing scent.
A scent of freedom and life, and anything is possible.
I can't describe it.
I fill bowls...
And baskets with it.
I never really bundled it together to make smudge sticks.
But my neighbor, who recently moved, loved burning them.
After she moved I had a smack on the forehead moment.
Hello, I have patches of white sage.
I could have made her oodles of smudge sticks.
This summer I have gifted a few, as I have been having gobs of fun bundling white sage.
You just need a hearty bunch...
Pinch the leaves as you go to release the scent.
Then look for me, as I might be hiding somewhere pinching all sorts of herb leaves.
In fact, every evening I walk around doing just that.
Pinching basil, mint, eucalyptus and rosemary, sage and dill - even lemon tree leaves.
Lemon and orange tree leaves smell so good when you pinch them and hold them up to your nose.
I looooove crushed lemon leaf scent.
I can't smell it enough.
I call it, scent therapy in the evenings.
I, like you, have every day worries and woes too, so scent therapy is the bestest for relaxing.
Give it a try?
Pinch pinch...
But where were we?
Ah yes, back to bundling sage.
Grab a good handful, and line the bottoms up...
Squeeze them tightly, as you wrap them with a sturdy thin string.
Let them dry a couple days...
And then, they are ready for burning.
Some people use them as incense.
Others as smudge sticks.
Always be extra careful with anything that requires fire, of course.
Light an end...
And then blow.
Keep blowing to keep it going...
Or let it burn as long as it wishes on its own.
Before I go, I wanted to share a little book I have been loving the last couple months...
It's a little treasure for those who love eclectic decor, with mixtures of styles and color and textures.
It's called -
Bazaar Style by Selina Lake.
I think it's a re-release, as it came out a few years ago?
I for one am so happy it's back, as I hadn't known about it years ago.
You?
The decor really speaks to me.
Especially this image...
I love decorating with flowers, and so want this cabinet in my house today :)
I have flowers all over my country pad.
Love.
Anyhow, it's so pretty.
Inspiring for those of us who haul treasures home from estate sales, antique stores and flea markets.
Colors, texture...
Collections.
Yumm.
Well, I am half way done with cleaning up the studio.
I have to finish today.
Have to.
I got sidetracked.
I have had 4 paintings going for a couple of months -
When did I become the slowest painter ever?
I used to be someone who would whip out a couple paintings in a day.
Impatient and filled with paint splatter madness.
Now, I take my time, sit with a piece, work on teensy details for ever.
Who am I?
Hahaha!
See you extra soon.
Love, V
ps: Just because...
A photo.
My shadows.
Where I go they go.
All day long :)
Yesterday was the 3rd anniversary of Baby's death.
June 25th.
Life teaches you so many things.
How to love, and open your heart greater.
Losing Baby was terrible sad, to say the least.
She would have loved our crazy dog life.
Inspired by her.
But, we would have never met our angel Miles, if it wasn't for her passing.
And she is the one who taught us how to really love furs.
So...
Life.
Flows and crashes and whips around, taking and giving - opening eyes and hearts along the way...
If you let it.
♥
