A Fanciful Twist

Rose Season & Other Tales♥

It's rose season in this desert land.

Oh so many lovelies turning up for the occasion.

Bliss bliss bliss.

It's a big job with over 38 rose bushes, what was I thinking?

No but really, I don't mind it at all.

I love it actually.

I prune away so that I get more and more.

Keep everyone fresh and thriving.

I love tending my roses, it's so zen.

Such a wonderful way to literally enjoy each one.

I make bundles to dry and share huge vases full with loved ones.

Some of the rose bushes are floribunda, so they make these wonderful clusters.

I just can't ever get over the amazingness of flowers.

What incredible earthly delights.

Beauties.

Sigh.

They make me ever so happy.

I'm sure the cottage feels fancy in spring too.

Gifted all these petals.

I chase the sun.

Golden hour is always the best, as I've said a million times before.

My favorite thing is when the light hits just right and you can see little insects with their perfect tiny wings flying about. It's truly magical.

The sun was so hot last week that it scorched roses like mad.

But then it got super cool, and today it's downright chilly here.

Bizarre crazy place.

The Betty Boop roses below were never my faves but now they kind of are.

With their watercolor dipped edges.

I tucked so many rose bushes in at every turn, it's so nice to see them all doing so well.

Vintage 3-wheel Schwinn garden rounds are the best.

Especially when it's fairy lights o'clock.

And the music is on and the spring breeze is swirling scents around.

And you just faint from joy.

But not before you zip off in bluest evening light...

Through the arbor and front garden, past the giant oleanders into the gypsy garden.

Where gypsy wagon lights go on at sundown.

Dogs chase each other while a certain mad hatter plays his mandolin.

Dinner cooks on the cast iron stove.

I make grilled salsa, our fave.

I swing and swing from my tree as food cooks, trying to convince myself that you can't take extended vacations from life, in life, in your own house.

Or can you?

I guess you can, but I'm enjoying the enjoyments of life a bit too much, truth be told.

I have no one to enforce any rules upon me.

Well, I did have to do my taxes, yuck.

But my old demanding self left the building and she just wants to have fun you see.

So, I guess the consensus is...

This is what happens when Pippi Longstockings grows up.

I guess I better strap some bars of soap to my feet and clean my darned house.

Because it's out of control.

Miles went on a mini trip with me and we had a blast last weekend.

I meet a dear friend at the end of every week for a lunch date, so I always look forward to that.

Anywhooooo, what's up out there in the world?

Did you get freaky spring snow?

It rained here today which was not expected.

At least not by me :-)

Anywho, life is grand over here.

I'm having too much fun doing lots of this and that.

I best get my act together soon, lest a sink hole eats me up because I've had way too much fun.

These are the things that go through my mind you see.

Sending lots of love!

See you real soon.

xoxo,

Vanessa

 

ps:  Oh I forgot to say, I did have this rotten nightmare happen where I lost 10 years of files last week (external hard drive). All my pics, all my art - everything, todo, all of it. But I managed to scrounge up enough old files to piece some manner of sense together to keep plugging along in my shop etc. So, somehow it's coming together.  The neat thing about getting older is you come to this point where you go, oh heck, who really cares, I just can't be bothered! Hahaha!  I mean honestly, this is the gift of age I guess.  Where you just cope with things much better, after a proper freak out of course ;-)

Point is, that's where I've been regarding computer land.

But you can always find A Fanciful Twist on Instagram, so there's that.

Like if you really miss me :-)

 

pps: I responded to comments within comments in my previous post, I hope that works.

I need to install an app that makes all that easier and notifies you that I've responded <3

 

 

Curious Collecting

Helllooo there!

I have returned from a week of gallivanting to and fro.

It's warm here, mixed with pure spring sun, simmering at full force.

I find myself watching movies set in the 1600's today as I go through my collections.

Truth be told, you may have noticed I collect all manner of things.

However, I have a special wood and glass box that I put my beloved insects in.

If I see a winged creature that has lost its life, then I bring it to my box.

Of course, I can never say no to petals.

Dried or fresh.

I have an abundance and still get petal greedy.

I was thinking I should change my name to, The Greedy Gardener.

What do you think?

My vintage bee pins have an incredibly vast tale.

Too long to tell.

I'll give the short version.

I have a large bee pin identical to these with the dark jade, which I purchased 16 years ago.

One of my most favorite things.

Huge sentimental value.

I lost it one night 16 years ago, and searched for it for 4 months.

Restaurants, shops, a boyfriend's house.

Cars, streets, nooks and crannies.

Nothing.

I went to the same department store a dozen times and they always said it was not there.

So, I went to the lingerie department on a last try, and the seamstress had a cubby there.

A gal pulled out a basket and my brooch was sitting right on top.

My favorite most cherished piece for years, I was so happy to find it back then.

Until 5 years ago or so.

It disappeared in my own house.

I have taken the place apart many times in search, nothing.

Just like my coral rose pin that disappeared and then magically reappeared.

Trust me, I am not just missing it.

So, hopefully one day "they'll" return it to me :-)

Leprechauns? Elves? You decide.

In the meantime I have scoured the earth to find the exact pin and over the last few years found these.

Identical brand and style.

Still, not "the" pin.

So maybe, possibly, hopefully one day - it'll be right back where it disappeared from.

In my glass case.

In the meantime I enjoy the stand-ins.

Have you ever lost something you adored and never found again?

In my more mature being, I just give up a little easier and accept the loss.

But refinding is always so swooningly wonderful, isn't it?

It's okay if I never find it again though.

So.

Petals and insects and keys and tiny tea sets.

All things I adore.

What's on your list?

Now petal collecting will be at its best for the year.

All of my roses are blooming madly.

All shades of pinks and corals and reds and yellows and lavenders.

Dreamy little rose days indeed.

I've been spending lots of time in the real world and painting in town too.

I have been having so much fun.

Wonderful marvelous times.

I'm enjoying my balance of country and city life.

I went to a crazy event on Friday, had champagne, listened to good music.

Painted in a city garden all weekend.

Now I'm back in the country jumping on the trampoline with ML and Miley.

Matty wasn't into it at all.

Life is full of twists and turns and I'm enjoying them all these days.

I'm still a person who likes seclusion but going places is proving to be quite enjoyable.

Thank goodness the boys all hold down the fort.

I've been making all sorts of art and sculptures.

If I can wrangle myself in I'll take pics soon and share.

I'm listening to Antony Hegarty (The Lake) and old Bat for Lashes (lonely) as I type.

I love rediscovering old faves.

How are you out there?

Is it cold, is it warm?

Is life good?

 

Lots of love,

Vanessa

 

 

 

Of Petal Watching and Magical Golden Hour

It is true, I can come across as quite a bore.

When I'm bewitched by the garden you see.

I wait for golden hour everyday.

This you already know.

I stroll and marvel and watch.

Birds swoop in and out.

The horses on the property next to me sing away.

Pink roses I planted on the opposite side of the rose arbor unfurl.

Slowly, peeking through the whites.

The rose arbor multiplies by 3 times.

It hugs you if you stand inside, slowly growing growing growing.

More and more each day.

I am mesmerized by the tiny pinks.

Perfect little rose buds turning into pink puffs.

I watch as spring fills in all the nooks and crannies.

It grows greener and bigger and wider and taller.

A character in the story, all of its own.

And when golden hour peeks in just at the right time, you can see orbs and creatures glistening in the light.

Wings light up.

Stories and tales flutter about.

Waiting for you to catch one in your butterfly net.

You can almost morph yourself right into a Jane Austen novel.

Imagining yourself into a Fragonard painting.

Swinging from rose vines in a tree.

Puffy fluffy frock included.

The garden has a way of inspiring such things in me.

You too I see?

And so, I roam here.

Obsessed with all the garden happenings.

Day to day changes.

More and more flowers.

Swimming in this glorious spring.

Scented air.

Fairies at midnight.

(it's true)

I drink it all in.

I wake up early, eager to see what's happening out there.

I paint on my gypsy wagon.

I catch a rare snap of my ornery handsome love.

I pick roses from the very old rose bush.

Planted by the previous owners in the 70's.

Giant candy pink frosting roses.

Then I grab a blanket and a book and a hot tea.

And I sit and watch this golden light slowly begin to take over, like a dream.

But only for a fleeting moment.

Minutes really.

I know the white roses are coming to an end on the rose arbor.

Until we meet again in 2017.

Yep, just once a year.

I know I could have had heaps of pink floribunda's year round if I had known more when I planted them.

But I do believe, there is a reason for all that happens.

And so, I love my once a year whites.

While the tiny pinks on the other side happen all year.

So, I try not to miss any moments with them.

I'm like a broken record.

I know.

I ask ML and the dogs and everyone to meet me in the arbor.

I force them to get hugs by it and hide right underneath it.

For a fairy tale loving girl, who planted her heart out for years and years and years -

Well, these are the things that mean everything.

Watching it all happen.

That's the reward in the end isn't it?

I am sure I bore everyone who comes around me.

Talking about gardening and things growing.

I go to the plant stores, the people that work there ask me if I have a garden.

I say yes, and tell them how it's currently blooming and how it's so fun and rewarding.

And they just ho hum about it all.

I know I know, it's boring if you aren't in it.

But if, if you have your own garden, then you know.

And if you love gardens you know the dream.

If you have a garden you can visit, then you know too.

And if you have stood in a garden during magical golden hour...

Then you know for certain.

And I needn't say another thing.

;-)

But I do promise not to bore you to death about this green place.

Pie-crust promise that is.

Mary Poppins will tell you all about that.

 

Looove, V