Summer rain makes air thick in the hot desert.
So thick you can almost taste it.
It tastes like wild grass and moist dirt.
It tastes like sun rays on weeds, with a hint of mint leaves.
You can taste basil as you take a morning walk.
Past the veggie garden, arugula and basil intertwine.
There is a path that winds around our entire property, which Mister Lovee and Baby (our golden who died in 2010) created many years ago.
I walk this path every morning for an hour, music in ears, thoughts fluttering about.
Sometimes in the middle of the day, always in the evening, I meet the path again.
Wild grass and weeds make the desert a very green place during monsoon rains.
Surprisingly green really.
I collect jars of wilted roses on my walks.
And I think.
I think a lot.
I think about paths on a path.
I think about life and perceptions.
I think about how perhaps today...
The most important choice I'd like to make is...
What Bakelite bracelet I should wear?
Should I choose smooth or carved, orange or green?
Something simple and uncomplicated.
Yes yes, for today I choose this.
Root Beer Bakelite.
(its real name)
Even if I am just going to the grocery store.
It sounds so much more lovely than anything else, for today.
Or maybe I'll mix a little cinnabar in?
I must remember to wear these bangles as such more often, you?
These are some of the things I think about on my walks.
How something as simple as bracelets can add some lightheartedness to a day.
Walking with music in ears, playing in jewels, laughing out loud.
These are all fun things, that to me, add balance to this thing called life.
I whip around our path.
It is lined with trees in some places, and on super sunny days the shade is awesome.
I step out from the path to see the storm rolling in over the mountains, from the east.
This is the view from the gypsy wagon.
The sun and storm clouds collide, hope it brings rain again.
I live for rain in summer, as you can probably tell by now.
I have probably bored you silly with all my rain chatter.
I love passing by the quince.
All furry and then smooth when you rub the fur off.
I see Matty and Miles running about sniffing my footsteps.
Wondering where I am.
I crouch down and make funny noises until Matty finds me.
Passing the peach tree, headed down the path through our invented Fanciful, Arizona.
Where the cottage sits, to the west of our property.
It's such a joy to see Matty coming back to himself after his ordeal with Valley Fever.
We almost lost him, thank goodness his ornery little self is skipping around again.
Took him a good year to get better.
Mister Lovee is trimming branches on a ladder.
I pass our little tiny cottage village and look back, only to see Miles hiding in the cool weeds.
Weed oh weeds.
Boy do we get weeds when it rains.
But if you mow them, it looks like a gorgeous lawn.
There is also a ton of wild grass this year.
Not sure where it came from?
It is short and soft.
I pass Baby's grave and the sanctuary, way out in the furthest most Northwest part of the garden.
Round and round I go.
Every morning, the landscape changing, in the growing days of summer.
The front fence nearly covered by the honeysuckle.
Towering prickly pears looking on.
And that climbing America rose bush coming along wonderfully for its first year.
A sea of self seeding morning glory vines has turned up in major ways, in several places.
These are purple and in front there are blue.
My sis makes morning waffles, how fun!
As I hunker down making all sorts of things in the studio.
And thankfully, I take a break just as the thick moist clouds begin to light up and glow.
Early evening brings out something in all of us.
Does it do that to you?
We all meet up for a stroll under clouds as dogs chase each other around.
Last evening the clouds put on quite a show.
Grey then blue then golden then pink.
Then layers of colors all together, sublime!
Clouds are one of the most amazing things aren't they?
Tufts of puffs floating in the sky, for us to admire.
Glowing with the setting sun, outlining mountain tops like neon signs.
Who knows what a cloud will morph into from second to second?
And so, my rambling post goes hand in hand with my rambling path.
The path I find myself on day after day after day.
Hidden away on our little plot of earth.
A place to go to for walks and daydreams and breathing and being.
Now, I don't even know what I intended to say.
But, that was that ;-)
I am really so busy doing a million things that taking walks is crucial I tell ya.
I need to run outside and clear my head and refuel all the time.
And sometimes, I even take my camera to show you what I am up to.
Boring as I may be, haha!
Anywhooooo....
Back to jewels and making I go.
I am sooo obsessed with pink chalcedony these days.
It's soooo delicious looking, ain't it?
I hear major thunder again, hoooooray!!
Must post before I lose internet.
For some reason when it storms I loose my internet connection.
The other day the lights even went out, just as I hit publish!
Lucky save.
Love, Vanessa
ps: My sister is laughing hysterically as she says this is the funniest most random post ever because she says it's me saying "It's bracelets, and clouds and paths, and ALL my favorite things!!"
But, she is saying it in the most silly mocking 5 year old voice ever!
Hahaha!
By the way, she says I sound like the Lumpy Space Princess, whoever that is?!
:-)
(She's a purple cloud, I think?)
