A Fanciful Twist

Makings...

Peeking in right quick.

Quiet little making days in the studio.

I love them so.

Little faces getting dolled up and coming to life.

Bits of fabric and sewing away.

Clay, papier mache' and paint build away.

Sewing tiny toile pantaloons.

And stitching crepe paper.

Those are our days these days.

It's like little bits of real magic swirl around when we hunker down in the studio.

We listen to curious tales and enchanting music.

We pretend we are in an old time toy shop.

I can almost hear Geppetto humming from time to time.

Is he here?

Is that Jiminy...?

 

 

 Happy Sigh.......

 

Hope you are doing lovely today.

I am off to munch crispy salad, my fave.

And, to check on tea stained garments, eeee!

 

Love, V

 

 

 

Summer Daze...

Summer is getting into its muchness, isn't it?

Hot winds, tall green grass, tattered late roses.

Tea cupboards.

Billowing monsoon breezes.

If lucky, and only for a moment.

Like a tiny sip of water on thirstiest days.

Snuggling always.

Until.

We just can't take the heat any longer.

Matty refuses to join in.

So, Miles and I are on our own.

My sister says I am in an autumnal outfit with witchy shoes.

Maybe my psyche needed a change?

 

Then it's on to cool inside, playing with gold leaf.

Thinnest, fragilest sheets of gold goodness.

Twirling clay up.

Decoupaging oldest dictionary pages onto doll.

Working away in the studio.

So many little characters.

I can't take too many photos or I will give it all away before they are even done.

But soon.

Very soon.

Oh and did I mention the outfits he doesn't like?

He hated the hats me thinks :-)

 

So, I am in a thorough summer daze.

How about you?

It has been hot here since early May, continuing until late October.

 

I am in the place where I have forgotten that other seasons exist.

Swirling in an orb of hot days and late nights.

 

Dreaming of fairy tales in hammock.

Wondering.

Pondering.

Hoping.

Wishing.

Dreaming some more.

 

Days pass by like stream water, quick and slow.

All at once.

 

 I listen to the City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra as I get on these dream waves.

I play this one on repeat on my Ipod.

On these droopy days of summer daze.

 

 

 What's happening out there in your neck of the woods?

I think it's time for basil cake.

Don't you?

 

Basil takes on a whole other world when sugar is added.

Ever tried a tiny sprig of sugar in your pesto?

I know.

Shocking, but something so good.

Ooooo!

 

Love, Vanessa

 

 

 

 

PS: Don't Forget the Homemade Pizza!

Summer nights.

What better than homemade pizza on these lovely evenings?

My recipe is right here.

It's easy and shouldn't let you down a bit, I promise.

I was out of unbleached flour.

So, I just mixed in half wheat flour.

But I have been known to even grind up oats and make an oat flour pizza.

I figured since it's the weekend, and some of you even have gardens giving treats you can use, what better time than to remind you of my easy recipe?

I didn't use my pizza sheet this time, I just dusted a standard rectangular cookie sheet with a little wheat flour, and just built up the sides a little.

I was in the mood for a rectangular pizza like my French friend used to make.

Veggies, cheese, fresh basil at the end.

Yummms.

What better way to end it than with our favorite summer nights in the garden?

Under the trees.

Mister Lovee playing his guitar.

Dogs running around playing.

Testing new wand too, bwahahahaha!

;-)

Testing.

Burning toe.

But good fun.

Oooooo, magic wand times, I love it!

(okay okay, it's just a sparkler)

A cool breeze blew in yesterday late afternoon.

I put on my walking gear with hopes to get stuck in a storm.

A huge storm was on the east side of me, another on the west with lightning, wind, rain all around, but never a drop on me.

See, it's a bizarre Arizona after-all, and always.

Summer nights, tucked into the memory vaults.

Love them so.

 

Happy Weekend!

 

Hope you make pizza, trust me, you will never see pizza the same once you make it yourself.

 

Pizza dough recipe here.

 

Has anyone tried my recipe before with success?

Eeks, I hope so!

 

Okay, off I go!

 

Loooove, V

 

 

 

ps:  Random tid-bit...

If you are a die hard Tori Amos fan (since 1992 here), then you know she is on tour and rocking it big time, even throwing in massive awesome covers into her great vibrance and sound.

She's 50 and amazing as ever.

So, what better could she do than cover a fave, Depeche Mode, right?

Love her cover of In Your Room, you can watch it here.

What a collision of two faves!

 

Owlie Days

In the studio and in the garden...

All sorts of this and that's happening.

Painting on the easel, ready for the next one.

Looking for a home, time for dreaming up another.

Tea and a/c wind and music and paint.

Mister glossy eyes, looking at all that goes on out in the intense heat of these days.

We were graced with what we see as a little miracle here on our plot of earth.

To be a part of a happening so grand has encompassed our days.

A birth.

Two actually.

Babies.

But not just any babies.

Born in the trees.

Guess what kind of babies?

Owlie babies.

Crusty closed eyes start to open.

Crying for mama as soon as the sun starts to go down and early evening enters.

Me frantic.

But having to accept that nature and mama know best.

Babies crying, oh it gets me!

At first there were two.

But one must have learned to fly a bit, as he went to a bigger tree with mama.

I could still see him though.

Leaving this little guy sitting in the tree above Baby's grave for a few days.

Oh sweet fuzzy baby.

Braving the horrible sun.

Waiting for mama to bring dinner.

Waiting to learn how to fly.

Getting a bit stronger every day.

Until one day his eyes were wide circles and it was time to fly away late at night.

Hopping really, from branch to branch, landing on the ground, hopping again.

All the while mama below, sitting in the tree across the garden.

Watching.

As she hopped from tree limb to tree limb, in that place where extra amounts of gophers live.

Yes yes, gobble away dear mama.

All you can.

Isn't she a beauty?

And then, one morning, they moved across the way to a bigger and mightier tree.

And every night I hear them still.

Our beautiful baby owls who I will never forget.

What a gift, to have babies born in your yard.

We watch out the window, while I play with clay.

Building bodies and sewing frocks.

Firing littles, and painting away.

I am ever so pleased to play a game called Halloween night.

Where little trick or treaters turn up.

What nice costumes you have, I say.

Don't they seemed terribly amused with my frolic?

Matty punches the door.

Just open it you twit, I hear him mumble.

:-)

Trick or Treat!

I tell ya my friends, they are the quality control team of all things clay.

Is that appalling?

How are they doing?

Ha!

How can one get anything done with beautiful furs beckoning, calling that cuddle times last all day?

I give in...

But then I get back to the studio.

Where all manner of goodies are happening.

I am enjoying getting this time with the piece below while it is looking for a home.

We have tea and music every day, and it begs me to keep it on the easel.

So I oblige.

I want to be in that loveliest day for all times.

I love sheep.

But I do sneak away for endless hugs.

How can you say no to a tail like that?

It's not possible.

No way.

That's a tail of love I tell ya.

Imagine having a tail like that?

 

He brings me his brush everyday, begging to be brushed.

No shame at all.

He gives me one side, then puts a paw up so I can do his under side, then the same again with the other side.

Who taught him I do not know?

He would like to be brushed all day long.

As though a person has nothing to do.

 

Ah, to be a dog.

Beloved by his mother.

Allowed in the fluffy bed.

No care in the world.

 

That's life, ain't it?

 

Dog days of summer, indeed, and still.

:-)

 

Looove, V

 

 

 

 

Captured, by a Dream... {a journey to the past}

I was thinking of a moment in time.

A longing, a memory.

Then I found it, here.

A chance re-visit.

Not a common thing.

But this is where I was, back in time, through a portal.

It was calling my name.

Will you venture with me again?

Captured by a curious tale, swirling amongst rose flavored warm breezes, in a dream...

The tale unfolded........

She was beautiful, long locks of wavy hair touched the back of her knees...

In her soul, in her being, she felt endless...

Magical...

Filled with wonderment.

But in the mirror...

In the mirror she saw tattered lines of years and years of age.

Lovely all the same.

Her mind was bursting with wisdom, stories untold, earth shattering loves lost...

Her fingers could do anything.

They created, they led the way.

The mirror tried to shatter the depth of her being - her feelings of youth with arms outstretched in twirls.

In her soul, she felt perfectly young.

Beautiful, free...

Alas, time told a different tale.

She made a decision one day.

She would travel forever more, mending her soul, adding pieces of lost magic...

She saw her best friend, a machine, as shiny and new.

Just like she felt inside...

She made a pact with her own heart.

Sealed it with golden thread on a sunny warm day.

She would go from place to place...

Long lost love letters, keys to all the drawers of secrets in her soul and wonderment aplenty accompanied her on her long never-ending journey...

Bits of lace aged as well.

But still were beautiful.

She decided she was an old piece of tattered lace herself.

And so, the journey began...

For years and years and years she wore the same gown...

Adding...

Repairing...

Captured, in a Dream...

Washing...

Embellishing.

Year after year after year she added pieces to her gown, which by now trailed behind her down the road, as she pulled her old sewing machine on a wooden wagon.

Every year the machine seemed heavier.

But, she forged on.

Through forests...

Up steep wooded hills, across streams...

She worked on her gown tirelessly.

Each piece that was sewed on, was like capturing dust particles of magic.

She was holding onto her magic for dear life.

To the burn in her belly which set her on fire for living.

To that inner magic, which kept her young and free and dreaming -

No matter what the mirror tried to say.

She believed.

And, she refused to let go.

Life tried so many times to take away everything that made her sparkly inside and out.

When a piece fell off,

she simply sewed it back on.

Collections of bits and pieces from everywhere adorned her gown.

Tea stained, torn -

Yet beautiful.

She pedaled and pedaled as the machine sewed along...

The sound of stitches going through fabric made her drink in a deep breath of fresh air.

A heavy sigh of thank goodness filled her.

It was always a reminder, that she was still everything she saw herself as in the depths of her mind's eye.

Young forever.

She held tight to that key...

Ribbons of youth poured out of her, and people caught them as she walked by.

For a moment, they felt a jolt.

A memory of being ever so young.

So free.

Of believing anything was possible.

Of seeing life as long and blurred, but filled with excitement and goodness to come.

Endless goodness.

As the people who caught her ribbons felt it -

They remembered...

The years when you couldn't feel your body.

When no ache or pain graced you at all.

When your heart was untainted.

When you felt love for life, instead of frustration and fear.

And they followed her...

Begging for a patch of magic here and there...

Longing to be mended as well.

And so, she mended them too.

But mostly, she mended herself.

Each piece of that long tattered gown, held together by the threads of time.

When even time was young.

And....

When she found herself deeply hurt and falling -

When she faced things that the golden threads could simply not hold together...

That was when would seal her wounds with glitter...

As warm breezes of flower petals enveloped her.

That is when she remembered who she was.

Who she always would be.

Beautiful, free, arms outstretched twirling in the wind forever.

Lines of time, no matter.........

 

True to one for always.

Caretaker of a heart belonging to the most important person in her life.

 

Herself.

 

 

 

 

 

Little Harvests...

A few harvests are coming in, as I play in clay madly.

Grapes dangle, waiting patiently.

Of course, we would rather get through this intense heat by lying around face to face.

Canoodling.

But as the rains came in, a few things ripened in the garden and needed to come in.

The grape vine looked as though it could take no more heat.

Zinnias exploded.

The grapes got very sweet.

And when the Phainopeplas turned up and were gobbling them down...

Bunches at at time, then I knew.

I had to pick.

I love these little grapes.

They are small and so sweet with a little hint of tartness every other one.

Which I love.

I ate so many while washing and taking off the stems.

Such cuties.

Pumpkins are starting to get great big vines...

As we work so hard to protect everything from critters.

The gophers have been especially awful this year.

They got a whole bed of tomatoes, even though there is intense wire mesh under ground.

They killed our 10 year old lemon tree, two roses bushes...

And countless other things.

They sucked down chilies and bell peppers.

It's been a doozy.

I replanted 3 times, but then couldn't keep up.

I plum stopped crying over it.

We may have to switch to above ground planters.

We are working on those plans.

Thank goodness they stay away from the basil and carrots and leeks and onions.

(knock on wood)

I love roasting carrots and potatoes and beets.

Just wash and dry (chop the potatoes as you wish), coat with a little olive oil, put on a cookie sheet.

Sprinkle with salt and pop in oven for 45 minutes at 425' F.

(turning halfway through cooking)

They are so yumm.

If you want to herb them with rosemary and such, just finely chop your fresh herbs and then toss them with the veggies as soon as you take them out of the oven.

I also make barbecue chicken a lot.

Leg quarters quite often.

(with skin on for moisture)

You can make your own sauce if you don't have any.

Just mix ketchup, Tabasco (hot) sauce, a little vinegar, brown sugar, salt, garlic powder and worcestershire sauce if you have any on hand.

Mix those all up to taste, and coat your chicken with it in a big bowl.

(or just buy your fave barbecue sauce)

Heat both sides of your grill.

Brown your chicken as you wish for about 3 minutes a side, always stay present in case the skin goes up in flames you can flip it real quick.

Then turn off one side of the burners on your grill and put all your chicken on the side that is off.

Leave the other side on high or med-high flames.

Then close the lid and let each side of the chicken cook on the side that is off for 30 minutes per side.

Total of 1 hour.

It's soooo good, you won't believe it.

Let cool a few minutes before serving.

The garden is in full summer magic.

Peaches almost ready.

Butterflies and critters everywhere.

Resting from the heat on my freshly watered wild verbenas.

I brought some wild verbenas from the river bed 10 years ago, in a tiny cup, and now they grow all over my yard in big waves.  I love it when that happens :-)

Sunflowers unfurl happily.

And then look who turns up.

Gobbling away all the goodness it can find hidden in flowers.

Moving at the speed of light.

Yumm yumm!

It's lazy dog days of summer my friends.

We are about to have crazy heat and no rain again for a while.

But we have lots of little sweet grapes.

Which I am boiling down to a grape syrup.

It's sooo good hot.

And of course, more basil than we could ever use.

We ate so much pesto this weekend and so much French bread we should be ashamed.

The gift of all gifts.

Mister Lovee presented me with the first ripe giant peach of the year from our kind tree.

It was lovely.

Basil and peaches and grapes and...

Lots of love.

What more could we ask for in the dog days of summer?

I tried to transplant my lemon tree tonight, with all its roots gone from gopher eating.

One can hope.

 

I have soo much clay fun on the table.

I will start firing and painting this week.

 

What is going on out there in your world?

Send me more rain, k?

 

Looove, V

 

 

 

Mad Tea Party Recovery

Are you still tea sipping or are you starting the recovery process?

One does need massive naps in droopy hammocks after eating endless crumpets.

Wouldn't you say?

I am starting my recovery so that we can have a little time off before Halloween party planning turns up.

Isn't it odd, how close autumn is all of a sudden?

Yet, it's soooo hot and summery, that I am not ready to think fall quite yet.

The party was beyond fun, visiting you all was wonderful!!!

Thank you for plunging in and making it what it is.

I had a blast!

Around here intense heat causes monsoon rain clouds to get happy and perhaps give lovely showers.

And you know what rain means?

A much desperately needed day off for me in the Southern Arizona desert from garden chores.

Oh goodness, what a joy to have a day off.

I lollygag making clay sculptures and writing letters.

Enjoying every minute of a cloudy day.

Watching The Invisible Woman.

Folding lace.

However, if you know me, then you know that I LOVE water.

And if there is water, I will be in it.

Off come the shoes and striped socks.

In I go.

Wading through pools of water.

Admiring orange tree silhouettes in puddles.

Foraging for dinner bits and bobs in the veggie garden.

Hiding on the porch.

Singing in the rain for certain.

Watching the plants get so happy.

Closing the umbrella a bit so water will roll off into pots.

Loving every second.

Watching a volunteer patch of grass grow.

Loud monsoon storms are the best.

Lightning, thunder, hail.

I love hail.

You have to enjoy it because 20 minutes after it rains the sun might come back full force.

Miles watched the rain from the office.

I clap like a child over pools of water.

The desert is delighted.

I peek around the garden with a towel over me like a ghost costume.

I watch pumpkin vines explode.

As my gardens get the best hydration they have had in months and months.

I shiver soaked to the bone.

Cozying up to Mister Lovee.

But head out a second time with a new towel.

No umbrella for me, thanks.

I watch glorious and huge volunteer zinnias grow.

And as afternoon clouds make a little space, the sun peeks out.

Gifting those amazing monsoon sunsets.

And the next day, rain again.

As I sit by and pray for more rain.

And more rain.

But instead we get crazy hot sun.

Although, I am still wishing + waiting for more rain.

With great hope.

 

Because then I can take another chores morning off, and do terribly fun things.

Finish sewing some dresses for some little gals I can't wait to share.

And, sketch a little.

 

Are you rested up, still partying??

Thank you again, MTP 2014 was a blast!!!

 

xoxo

 

Love, V

 

 

Mad Tea Party ♥ 2014

Welcome friends!!

Time to plunge into our yearly Mad Tea Party magic.

Twinkles dance about as tea pots are filled.

Sparkles on top hats, a sign of all that is good.

Beckoning you to skip through the garden arbor.

Into a fantasy world of the perfectly real and true variety.

Don't be shy, come on in.

Garden cherubs in top hats lead the way.

As our beloved friends greet us into the mad tea journey.

That's how you know you are in the right place.

I hope you put on your bestest paper frock for the event?

Here we goooooo...

It's time!

Don't be late!

Follow the glittering path.

Through the tea cup arbor...

Kiss your toadling pal, won'tcha?

He eats glitter, just to make sure he is extra magical every year ;-)

Oh there it is, the party itself, with goodies overflowing!

Come in, come in, let's twirl and dance our way through.

The ambiance is dreamy in the dusty desert lands today.

Under fluffy dark rain clouds we are greeted by fairy tales.

Thank goodness for Alice in Wonderland.

She brings us back to this place...

And by the way, how rude am I?

I must wish...

A very merry unbirthday, to you, and you, and you!

Find a spot, there's so much to nibble and so many tales to chat about.

Which plate will you choose?

Are you into cupcakes?

Because we have oodles just for you.

And fancy cups and saucers too!

I am so glad you are here, thank you ever so much for stopping in.

Why do pretty mad tea things make everything taste better?

 They do I tell ya, they do!

It's time for lemon cookies and dunking in tea.

Please don't worry about your manners around here.

No way, no sirree!

If you aren't into tea we have fizzy orange drinks.

Or flower water?

Yumm yumm!

Carnations on cupcakes make me so happy.

Oh and look, the Earl showed up too!

Or do you prefer your tea leaves loose?

Whatever you choose, it's magically infused.

Trust me it's true!

The tree is canopying just perfectly, giving us a spot to read a little Lewis Carroll.

Sluuuuuurp!

Oh excuse me.

:-)

Look who wants lil' treats as well?

Flufferfurlington?!

I for one am in love with the cucumber and watercress sandwiches the mad hatter made.

He did indeed.

He was so busy in the kitchen today.

Oh look at the time!!

Are you mad yet?

I certainly hope so.

We all need a little madness every now and then.

Here, take some flowers for your hair or lapel.

Did someone fill the pot again??!

Oh my, oh me!

Okay, I'll take another.

I am madly jumping from seat to seat, yes I feel it, it's madness indeed.

Perhaps the mad tea party was so mad because everyone had way too much cake and caffeine?

Fill'er up, more and more!

Now the milk, miam miam meeee!

Oh and, look who finally managed to snag a treat.

Or two.

Cutiecutes!

Fizzy lifting drinks indeeeeed!

Oh, forgive me, I never used a utensil, not a spoon, not a fork.

Who would ever do such a thing at a mad tea party anyways?

OH!

It's Lady Grey as well, I do say!

Red velvet roll anyone?

Be a dear and sneak up here and read me a page or two, won't you?

I'll unwrap...

Taffy for you as you go along.

Nothing better than having pages read by someone with taffy in their mouth.

It's utterly amusing!

Did you cut more flowers than we have space for?

Oh, don't fret, pop them in the tea pot over here.

Double Sluuuuuuuuurp!

Tender little petals aren't they?

Zinnias on cupcakes make me extra happy!

Ribbbbbit!

Ooooo, what a wonderful time!!

Twirls and twirls and twirls and twirls!

It's been such a marvelous afternoon, hasn't it?

As the hottest summer sun starts to fade away...

Dusk is upon us, with its blueish twilight.

The time where madness and magic unite.

Largest full moon peeks out from behind the rain clouds...

Asking us to stay up all night.

And why oh why would we ever want to say goodnight?

So we stay, and dance under moonlit bluest skies, through the arbor of lights.

A mad tea party all night is how we play.

As night begins to turn into another day!

Earliest dawn creeps in.

It's where we shall stay, and party like it's 1865 until our feet can no longer go on.

And only then shall we say......

 Thank you for coming, and hopest of hopes to see you next year!

Oh my dearest fellow mad tea partiersssss!!

You are lovely and swell, it was great having this magical soiree with you again!

If anyone would like to visit other parties from years past, here ya go...

 

Mad Tea Party 2008

Mad Tea Party 2009

Mad Tea Party 2010

Mad Tea Party 2011

Mad Tea Party 2012

Mad Tea Party 2013

 

If you are hosting your own tea party today, please don't forget to leave your party link in comments.

It will serve as a lifelong archive, and an easy way for others to find you after the party has come and gone.

Also, please leave your party post up a few days, as it takes several days for people to make visits.

 

We are getting ready for a huge storm, so my power may be in and out this weekend.

But luckily, we were here today, hooooray!

I so look forward to visiting you all!

 

Loooooooooove, V

 

Let the partying continue!!

 

 

 

 

ps:  If I visit your blog and you are a participant, but I see no mad tea post, I am sorry in advance but I will remove your name off the list.  I understand life happens so don't fret, I won't be cross at all.  If you happen to get a post up and want to be re-added email me k?  Thanks for understanding.

Tea Party Preparations + Rain Happenings

Mad Tea Party prep is in full swing!!

I have been going absolutely bonkers over here.

I had no phone or internet for 3 days.

Then got it back for a little while, then nothing all day yesterday.

With MTP looming, that's a perfectly good way to make me lose my mind, haha!

It's back now.

Phewey!

And if the crazy monsoon rains don't turn up today all should be okay.

Anything for rain in the desert.

If I do lose power again, I will go to the library or beg my friend to let me use his computer.

This could get hairy my friends!!

Eeeeee!

Also, guests are already turning up.

In red striped stockings!!

And black and white tailored suits.

How fancy schmancy the buglings are getting, don't you think?

The desert is turning bright green everywhere.

Not just where I water.

Frogs everywhere.

And pools of water here and there.

With no snow this winter and no rain for months and months and months.

This rain is a gift.

Glorious rain and sparkly puddles!

Now, if only we can keep my internet on...

I won't have a mad tea party heart attack.

 

Somehow, someway, I will be here with my own post.

Floods of rain or not.

Reminds me of this.....

 

 Alice's Pool of Tears....

 

See you soooooooon!!

Mad Tea Party fun, oh my!!

I am so excited now!!

 

 

 

A Little Interview to Share...

You'll never guess what I did the last few days?

All sorts of nonsense.

A massive tree in our driveway split and landed on Lovee's car.

Oops.

We had fireworks in a can.

Fun!

And I talked my heart out in an interview with the extra lovely Joanna Devoe!!

Hooooray!

She's awesome!

I know I sound like Scooby Doo's Mother.

If he had a mother.

(did he?)

Sooo, please be kind, these sorts of things (listening to myself) make me cringe.

I'll be over here writhing on the floor somewhere, covering my ears, haha!

It was a blast though!

Joanna is such an amazing gal, take a peek at her site here.

She is so motivational and fun and free and vibrant!

 

Here's my interview below ♥

 

 

I have so many things to tell you soon, however, I am posting this from Mister Lover's phone as our power has been out all day (rainstorm). So, I'll save more for later.

Also, MTP is in a few days, eeeeeksss!!

 

Love, V

 

 

4th of July + Carrot Harvests + Rain Clouds

 The rain has found us, and I for one, am more than thrilled.

Magical rain in the desert.

The scents, the cooling of the earth...

It's more than enchanting.

We prepare for our 4th of July festivities.

Independence day.

We celebrate with garden treats.

Heading out to the veggies...

The hard work and endless days of watering with no help from the sky can take a toll.

But then monsoon season turns up with a handful of rain days if you are lucky.

Softening the ground and cooling the air for a moment.

Making it perfect for carrot harvesting fun.

And then every bit of suffering is beyond worth it.

Pulling carrots out of the earth is one of the most satisfying feelings.

My sister helped me and she commented on what good fun it was.

She is an excellent helper, weeding as she goes.

Darn weeds.

The strawberry patch is having a fresh wave again.

So, we enjoyed some as we worked away.

Dogs stuffed their faces and bodies under growing things, on the hunt for rodents me thinks.

Baby pumpkins bloom and grow and bloom some more.

Lots of little brothers and sisters out there.

We squat for hours, digging out the tops of our carrots to make sure they are ready.

Such big carrots too.

Not too long and thick.

I planted seeds for these shorter guys as I thought they were so charming.

Love them!

We get some little guys too.

All will be great for roasting this afternoon.

We gather and gather.

Ever so many.

As I pick basil tops for avocado, basil, parmesan, swiss, and tomato toasted sandwiches.

Butterfly bush for a 4th of July centerpiece.

We leave many carrots behind to get bigger and stronger.

Then head out to wash.

Cutting tops off...

Getting ready to toss them in olive oil and salt + pepper.

Roasted until they are candy sweet and perfectly soft.

A few zinnias for good measure.

We sit in the swing and eat more strawberries.

Chopping more tops off of carrots.

Watching clouds roll in over mountains.

Getting ready to toss glitter in the air and watch fireworks from our driveway in the country.  Put on by the hidden resort down the bend.

Happy 4th of July friends!!

And happy weekend to all!

Stay safe and happy and have a good time!

We are off to make our plans.

Feeling lazy from collecting 5 a.m. carrots.

 

Maybe we will just swing as the sky sprinkles on us.

Our wavy hair turning into ringlets.

Puffing up like cotton candy.

In this normally dry place.

 

Love the rain goooooodness!

I had been yearing for a day off of my early morning watering duties for months.

 

Off to seek out some firecrackers.

 

See you soooooon!

 

Love, V

 

 

 

Through the Trees ~ The Loveliest Day {New Painting}

Through clouds that billow in tufts of cotton candy pink...

Dreams of memories live.

Places in time.

Where trees bloom and mushrooms grow.

Where pale teal skies backdrop the most wonderful moment in tine.

Where bike baskets burst with fresh flowers.

And all manner of treats are cycled in.

The gramophone plays.

As the setting is set...

On The Loveliest Day, Through the Trees

A picnic makes it just perfect.

A garland of crocheted lace hankies hang on branches.

Little friends stop in just to say hello.

Hello...

As a cheese wheel in a bell jar and a decadent chocolate cake are set out.

With little sips of tea from bowls.

The sun is warm, the breeze perfection.

Your favorite tune dances about.

That is where we have been.

A memory of the heart.

Made up of dreams.

 

The painting I have been working on is now complete.

 

Through the Trees ~ The Loveliest Day.

It can be found right here, in my online shop.

24" x 18" x 1.5"

 

It is such a joy to get to spend moments with paintbrush creating dream memories.

I love sheep and bikes and teal skies and cotton candy clouds and cakes and gramophones.

Do you?

 

 

There is another baby owl I have to check on.

So I best be on my way.

See you really soon!

 

 

Love, V