A Fanciful Twist

Pretty Morning Light...

A beautiful morning.

How I love a beautiful morning.

When the air is crisp and cool, the sun bright and golden.

I fluff pillows and dust shelves.

Read a few pages of a book, light classical music playing in the background.

I light my little candles and admire dried rose specimen.

It's so nice to have lovely moments as such.

The roses of last season keep me company in the winter.

But now, the pruned rose bushes have all new leaves emerging and there will be fresh petals to collect once again.

I often change out the frocks hanging from my mirror depending on my mood.

Huge ruffles and antique bloomers with a touch of floral for the day.

I do not really have a set style.

The same way I can find something I like in nearly all decor or garden style - 

I can also find things I really like in most fashion styles.

I love old fashioned styles, but I also love a little glam ruffle.

I love pearls and turquoise equally.

I love found objects from nature and shiny handmade objects.

I can easily go from flouncy gardening clothes covered in dirt to a tulle skirt and a ribbon.

I don't really put any limits on what I like or will wear.

I just go with my feelings on any given day.

I feel the same way about flowers and plants.

I like them all for different reasons.

One of my pairs of ballet toe shoes from childhood moves from place to place in my house.

They still have my little girl handwriting inside.

I never mind dusting (people often ask) because I love my found objects.

I only surround myself with things that I love, so it's not a chore for me to dust.

I enjoy that sort of quiet lovely time.

And so, I had a morning just like that.

Flipping through some books.

Lighting my candles.

Not in a rush to go anywhere.

Planning things I'd like to make.

Watching the sunlight dance on mirror and glass.

Admiring chippy paint.

Putting on gobs of jewelry for fun.

Leaving the door wide open to listen to the birds and enjoy the fresh air.

It was 78'F yesterday.

It will go back down to the upper 60's, but I adore both of those temperature options for sure.

My little antique wooden santo gal follows me everywhere I go.

Keeping me company and wearing lots of sparkly things.

I treasure these moments.

Light and cool and warmth and birds and candles and peace.

You take those moments and savor them as they come.

Some days are speedy, or maybe you're not feeling as peaceful.

Sometimes the chores are endless and you don't take the time.

But, a morning of mindful meditation of sorts, is a wonderful wonderful thing.

My blog service is having persisting issues with photos not uploading or missing from my blog.

If you see a little blue photo name and no photo, you can click on it and the photo should appear.

I hope this resolves soon as it was difficult to get these photos loaded to share here.

I've contacted them endless times so let's hope for that resolution.

But I'm here now typing, so yay!

I'm not sure why dried flowers make me so very happy...

Perhaps the way they turn into paper art, and their color changes so beautifully.

The coral roses turn the most beautiful cherry pink and the pink roses turn lavender.

It's the most curious lovely thing to watch happen.

I just uncovered the mesh protective cover I had on all the seeds I planted on December 10th.

They are tall and strong, and I can not wait to see what flowers show up.

There are about 30 or more wildflower seeds in there.

I see poppies here and there which makes me utterly overjoyed.

They are short lived here due to our heat, but they will thrive until May.

Spring is definitely awakening here in the high desert.

I have more lemons, limes and grapefruits than I can count.

But I am down to my last 3 oranges.

(most people around here have citrus as well, it's very common to have citrus trees due to our weather)

The thing about homegrown oranges is that the skins are even sweet to eat.

A lot like homegrown tomatoes - the flavor is unreal.

The best oranges I've ever enjoyed, whilst sitting under dappled sunlight, listening to them crazy birds.

The momma dove of winter just left with her babies yesterday.

I can't wait to see who takes her spot.

I wonder if it will be her again?

It's a popular place on the top of a pillar, so I pruned the tall bougainvillea so it would not pester her.

 More often than not you will find a momma there, with her guy who stops by to bring her treats all day, or just sits around nearby watching her.

It's a beautiful thing really.

Spring is in the air.

I know not for all of us, so I'll share mine with you until yours arrives <3

 

Love,

Vanessa

 

 

 

Of Winter Vegetable Gardens and Other Tales

The winter garden has been the most kind to me this year.

The birds are poking holes in the oranges and sucking out the juice, so I've been making sure to have my fair share as well.

I have broccoli planted in two areas and decided to take the skinnier of the two because it was blossoming.

Did you know that the reason broccoli is so delicious from the winter garden is because it increases it's sugar content in order to not freeze?

No wonder the broccoli has been utterly scrumptious.

This is just regular broccoli, not broccolini (which is a combination of regular and Chinese broccoli).

And as you can see, some of it decided to bloom, so I put on my apron with giant pockets and set out to do a little harvest.

There is so much that thrives in winter.

You can plant broccoli and brussels sprouts and cabbage and cauliflower in July (to name a few), and have wonderful winter eats available to you.

The most curious thing is that citrus harvest season is in winter as well.

That just seems the luckiest treat, doesn't it?

The wind was really whipping around...

So I layered up my little dresses and off I went...

The sunlight was absolutely breath taking.

Dappled light through the trees, warm sun, cold air.

Wind whipping your hair all around.

I found such goodies, but I've learned...

Only take what you can eat that day, except for citrus, that can last.

There is nothing as good as fresh fruits and veggies.

And some how, they always taste so much better when homegrown.

This broccoli below is super big and strong.

The broccoli over by the citrus trees was taller and skinnier due to lack of sunlight from the trees.

But the huge planter mid garden gets a ton of light, and as seen above and below, the veggies have turned Jurassic here.

I really can't gush enough about how much I am enjoying these.

The leaves are yummy too.

And the Napa cabbage is nearly ready as well, I can't wait.

I used some organic plant food for veggies and it really took them from good to great.

You can cook broccoli in so many ways, and I do.

I often just salt water and bring it to a roaring bowl, turn to low, then plunk the broccoli (leaves stems and all) in the water for 5 minutes and blanch it.

It turns the most brilliant otherworldly green.

Then you can just put a little butter on it and eat.

They are good just plain as well, since the water is salted, it's all you really need.

I eat arugula every day when I'm working in the garden.

I love when the entire part of a plant can be eaten, such as arugula, broccoli, nasturtium (to name a few).

Gathered my loot and headed back down and into the kitchen.

I even have a few bell peppers that are ready.

And, I still have tomatoes here and there, amazing.

We've had a fairly mild winter, so that's why the tomatoes are hanging on, and they are also in a very protected area.

But I will cover them tonight as it might freeze.

This makes a really happy heart for a garden girl.

You put in so much time and nurturing, that to have a happy edible outcome is wonderful beyond.

You should see all the little flower sprouts and bulbs growing that I planted in December.

There are super fragrant hyacinths and all sorts of little bits and bobs doing really well.

I'm listening to Barbara Streisand and Josh Groban sing Somewhere as I am typing this.

It's making it kind of hard to get through this without sobbing, truth be told.

But not sad, just heart touching.

I get that sort of sappiness from my dad.

We text each other all sorts of sappy songs and then we have a running commentary on them.

It's something only he and I have - my mom rolls her eyes and says, there you two go again!

Because we might cry or want to listen to overly heart wrenching songs, it's very funny really.

But I enjoy it immensely.

I've always been so into music.

I used to carry around suitcases with tapes that I'd play in my white on white Volkswagen Cabriolet convertible as a teen.

Now I just have an Ipod full.

I always wondered why music affected me so deeply.

Now I know why.

:-)

I sent my dad the pics above and he said - the farmer in you.

Pretty funny considering he was a produce broker for over 30 years and owned his own firm.

He sold fruit and vegetables to grocery stores all over the country and I learned early how to determine if you have a perfect avocado (amongst others).

I remember going to check on warehouses of his tomatoes, and the scent was otherworldly.

The only time I ever have smelled that again is in summer, when the tomato vines emit their scent in the warmth.

Gloriously beautiful.

It's the kind of scent that can take me way way back in an instant.

My dad retired his company over 20 years ago and decided retirement wasn't for him.

He had always been into building on the side, so he took his contractor's exam and now builds houses.

He's a real gem, that guy, a real go getter.

We have epic conversations - can't wait to hug him again.

Anywho, I veer as I normally do.

My grandmother who recently passed, my dad's mom, had the most wonderful little gardens.

I remember eating endless strawberries under her pear and quince trees as a child.

I'm just a simple gardening girl deep down in my heart.

Lover of  gardens, birds and all animals.

And whilst I love all sorts of music and fashion and styles - 

None is as good as warm sandals in the garden.

Watching the clouds roll by.

My mom's mom is still with us, and she loves the garden too.

I saw my first zinnia in her garden when I was a child, which I shared on Instagram.

My dad used to have so many plants when I was young, and I loathed the chore of watering.

But I can say, I love watering my own and if I could go back in time as my current self, I would love to water his trees and endless petunias.

Well, those are my tales for today my friends.

I've been making this blog post for you all day and now I must go take my roasted potatoes out of the oven as it is beeping at me.

I hope you are cozy and well in your neck of the woods.

Fill me in on anything you'd like.

 

oh and ps:

Check out the color on this nasturtium.

It looks like velvet in person.

 

I'll see you super soon!

Magic, wishes and stars for you always!!

 

Love, Vanessa

 

 

pps: Question I get often, do I have naturally curly hair?

I have very fluffy wavy hair with a few spiral curls here and there, but mostly just beachy waves.

However, it straightens easily when dried with a round brush and a blow dryer.

I've embraced air drying it the last 13 years and hardly ever blow dry it anymore.

I think it's more on the mid to finer side as I've gotten older.

I've had long hair my entire life.

(except the time my mom cut and permed it in 2nd grade, disaster, haha!)

How about you, what kind of hair do you have?

 

 

Hello Cozy Days of Winter

January to February, like a hazy winter blur of lovely things really.

(I encourage you to press play on the video at the end of this post and then return back here to the beginning, to have it accompany your blog visit experience)

The sun shines and reveals that there is someone living in my dried roses, meanwhile...

I pick endless lemons, limes, oranges & grapefruits in my little citrus grove.

All the while, never noticing the most magnificent replica of the Eiffel Tower being constructed in my big old urn.

Until yesterday that is, when the sun illuminated this most lovely spider web art.

A sort of ghostly masterpiece underway.

Somehow that reminded that it was time to come back here.

I took a break in January, not by my own desire but because my blog service has been having some rotten issues with photos disappearing.

I've had to contact them endlessly about this, and it sort of took the wind out of my blogging sails.

All I can hope is that it has been resolved after a couple months.

Meanwhile, I've been posting on my Instagram account, so I thought I'd share some of that here.

The tiny pink dollhouse has been illuminated by birthday cake candles...

As golden hour graces the citrus grove daily in the most beautiful show of nature.

Seeds & bulbs were planted on the 10th of December and a few more have popped in.

Sprouts are popping up and hyacinths are blooming.

The roses are pruned, and now we wait.

Whilst the climbing America has gifted big fluffy blossoms all winter.

Signs that spring is a month and ten days away are creeping in.

I happily bake and package up meals and grocery treats for the country house.

It's been a joy to have endless citrus.

I would drop some off to friends, but it seems that almost everyone has some kind of citrus in this neck of the woods.

Last spring I invented my new favorite salad.

Grapefruit, avocado, mint and sometimes a tiny smattering of paper thin onions, in a sweet vinaigrette.

My little guy Matty (Matisse) seems to be enjoying the warm earth in my freshly planted seeds.

Collections of flowers will soon overtake my urn, what to do?

I must make my plan whilst my incubator warms my flower seed babies.

I stop to inhale these coral beauties on the daily.

Deep breath of goodness.

I can not wait to see if we get all the asters Matty is protecting.

The winter sunsets have been epic, we even had a bit of snow, the mountains were covered.

I'll share pics next time.

A bevy of cacti/agave grace the landscape.

I just adore the cool sunlight.

Fresh and crisp, illuminating my house.

I've also been spending some time sharing dollhouse videos on Instagram, if you fancy a peek, pop on over there.

I did enjoy January except for my broken heart over Miles.

I'm doing okay, but there are those moments that grab you and you sob and sob.

It will take me some time my friends.

He was my baby, since he was 5 weeks old.

My every day companions, he and Matty.

But Matty likes to do his own thing (even though he follows me everywhere) and Miles demanded attention all day.

He would bonk you to rub him every few minutes, he loved love & cuddles.

So, him not being here has left a true void in my soul.

Thank goodness for the garden to fill my hopeful heart.

Night strolls under the citrus, watching the bulbs reach up towards the sun.

Broccoli and cabbage get bigger and bigger.

Lemon bars will be on the daily menu.

I also ordered some things to try to make lemon jelly candies, Mister Lovee's fave.

I try to keep him stocked up on treats and things.

He told me the other day that I should never ever bring him any more food for the rest of his life.

So, I made him a roasted chicken and homemade caramel corn the next day, haha!

I bet I was the nicest grandma in the world in my past life :-)

Matty and Irishman keep me busy too as they are big eaters.

It's nice to have people who enjoy what you make them.

I love cooking and decorating/renovating, it's part of my creative outlet for certain.

Do you love to cook?

I've been painting late at night, listening to podcasts and toiling away in the garden adding some new beds as the time is sneaking up on me.

We will be in the upper 60's and lower 70's from here on out I think, and just start to get warmer in April.

All the magical garden things are about to take shape, finger's crossed.

I hope you are well out there, stay safe and know I always wish you the best.

I hope to return soon.

That is always my plan.

 

Love,

Vanessa

 

 

ps: Here is a post with the lemon bars I make.

They are toasty and caramelize beautifully, just the way we like them.

 

 

pps:

I'll leave you with my favorite, pianist Alexis Ffrench <3

He is a wonderful British composer.