Petals and frosting and fairy lights...
A perfect trio for lovers of pretty things.
It was my mom's birthday and I whipped up some fairy cakes for her.
I made a butter cream cheese frosting and added a little pink coloring.
But I didn't have all my edible glitter and stars at the villa so I improvised with grocery store findings.
I am not a professional cake decorator nor do I know exactly what I'm doing.
But I would consider myself a plunger into anything that tickles my fancy.
Proof that minor color, technique and sprinkles can still make happy little cakes.
No matter how wonky, pink frosting can fix just about anything.
And I am always always always up for a tea party.
I made extra sure to take some photos to share with you.
My Princess Alexandra of Kent (David Austin) roses turned up just in time.
Pink blooms to compliment pink frosting, how lucky is that?
And so we had a jolly good time.
We laughed until we had to hold our bellies.
Our cheeks ached.
And we were all frostinged out.
Tea cup saucers make perfect fairy cake plates.
A "Y" for Yvonne, my mombie.
And boy did they smell beautiful.
The roses did too :-)
A perfect way to say, Welcome August!
How is it August already, I simply do not know.
The heat has been unrelenting.
But monsoon rain has been lovely.
I almost got hit by lightning, which was scary and fun all at once.
It hit so close I had sore muscles in my arms and nausea, but that went away after a couple of hours.
I wish I had received some magic powers too, alas, when I twitch my nose nothing happens.
The rain has created a green high desert.
Today it is 104' so there is still garden tending and watering to do.
I'm getting frantic just thinking that September and October are right over there.
I'm not ready at all and I am completely ready.
In some bizarre push and pull twist.
Sooo much to do.
I have to renew my real estate license (phooey, 24 hours of courses every 2 years) which I keep active and held in an office, just because it would be a shame to let it go after 18 years.
I have to do all sorts of other paperwork too, go to Ireland, plan for Halloween.
There's just so much to do in between it all.
When I was younger being overloaded inspired me, I would go go go .
But all of a sudden in the last couple of years, being overloaded makes me want to crawl into a hammock somewhere with an icy fruit drink and close my eyes.
Does that happen to you?
How do you deal with feeling overwhelmed?
My sister and I both do things like, clean out a 20 year closet when we have huge looming projects.
It's just the funniest thing really.
In the mean time I am back to work in my art world.
Organizing my studios and working on all sorts of art for the soul.
I am also painting flowers on a wall in the country house just for fun.
I am carrying around 3 books with me everywhere I go with the intention of reading them.
I have yet to find that beautiful calm space of no worry where you can sit down and put your feet up and just read without a care in the world.
I can be the most nonchalant person in the world and the most worriest person.
How bout you?
Right now I just want a mango popsicle, this summer's fave.
And maybe I'll start to think about all the places I have to go and all the things I need to tackle this coming week.
What's going on out there in your neck of the woods?
Hope to see you sooooon!
Love, V
ps:
This out of focus dusty rose photo was my favorite amongst all the ones I took.
I'm not sure why.
It takes me to a memory of another place in time that I can't place...
Here's what I hear and feel when I look at it -
I feel a cool air through a drafty window in a big old place, like a chateau.
I see fresh pink petals illuminated by filtered bright grey light streaming in through wavy paned glass windows.
A very old place, antiques, old woven rugs.
It's morning and I hear very faint voices chatting over coffee and tea.
I think there are a few butlers.
There is a formal but casual feel in the air.
Like the formality is the norm, but in a comforting way.
And I can hear one of my favorite sounds on the planet...
The clinking of silverware and cups early in the morning, much like in a café.
The ambience is very pleasant.
There is fog outside, it's chilly but not coat weather.
Maybe sweaters.
It's a far away place.
I can see the tops of big trees way in the distance out the window.
Like a forest.
A small fire in a giant fireplace burns way across the room.
I stand still in this moment in time...
But where could I be?
It's where this photo takes me.
To a very real memory that I can not place.
Actually, lately I've been having the strangest déjà vu.
These incredible childhood moments come to me.
And I try to grasp the memory, there's something I'm trying to see or feel.
The dark wood floors remind of a place I know, a moment in time....
I try hard to grasp it.
It's like, there is a story trying to come to me, from the past...
And I just need to reach out and grab it.
But I just can't quite reach it...
What could it be?
I wonder.
It leaves me with all these deep feelings, which are all good, but mysterious too.
I text my mom about it at 11 p.m.
We chat about the past through audio texts.
I am sentimental about it.
What is this memory trying to tell me?
Or maybe just the feeling is the gift.
To get to go back in time by way of a feeling.
My mom reminds me about the wood beam ceiling in the library of the house I first ever lived in.
I was 5, 6 or 7 in my memory, and that is when I lived in that house.
And the dark wood floor in the kitchen of that childhood house...
Could that be it?
I'm not sure.
But I'm dying to get the message loud and clear.
Have you ever had such moments?
Such cryptic memories?
Would love to hear.
xoxo
