A Fanciful Twist

Of Roses and Tea Parties

I was tending my roses in the garden this morning...

When I realized that it felt like the perfect moment to have a tea party.

The weather was beyond glorious, the birds were tweeting madly, and the roses too lovely not to be fully enjoyed.

The most wonderful moments are usually impromptu ones, aren't they?

I got together some shortbread and tiramisu, and then I put on the kettle.

I made orange spice tea with honey and enjoyed every second of it.

It takes so little effort to have an absolutely lovely morning.

I think we should all strive to do that more often.

It's such a mood lifter and makes for a very enjoyable moment in a day.

The Gene Boerner's are being show-offs as usual, and I adore them for it.

A delectable time indeed!

Of course, mister big eater wanted it all, so I brought out pup appropriate treats for him in my pocket.

As you can tell, he was also digging in the dirt :-)

But no matter, we just shrugged it off and enjoyed our morning tea.

The roses are just sublime.

They are never better than they are at the beginning of rose season.

I try to absorb every morsel of this magical garden time.

Books and flowers, making gals like us happy all over the globe it seems.

My mom gave me the pink cake for my birthday.

No, it is not edible, but I don't mind that at all.

The poppies are unfurling right at this very moment and the bees are beside themselves.

They go bonkers over them.

Springtime - how lucky are we to have seasons?

I wish it would be spring here until October.

Our springs are probably like the summers in colder climates.

Sunny and warm.

I wouldn't mind stopping the heat right here.

But I suppose, knowing that it will get scorching hot only makes these lovely spring days that much more delightful.

Appreciation is definitely high during these stunning days.

I will stay in this moment as long as I can...

Won't you stay for a little while as well?

I have all the teas imaginable to choose from.

And if you like white chocolate tiramisu or shortbread, or even white chocolate macadamia cookies, then you'll be really happy to join in.

The classical music is playing, there are quail eggs throughout the garden, and some have even hatched!

I'll share photos of them next time.

Quail babies are the cutest ever.

For now, I am off to continue enjoying my day.

I took some photos to share with you here, and it took me a few hours to edit and sort through.

If I could learn how to take less photos, and be extra choosy, I could probably be here more often.

I am trying, that will be my new goal.

I hope you are doing well out in your neck of the woods.

We are waving to you from our little patch of earth over here.

 

Best wishes for a lovely spring!

 

Love, Vanessa

 

 

 

A Cozy Painting Nook

Happy April dear friends!

There are blossoms beginning everywhere, I even saw my first poppy this week, followed by 3 more.

I am painting flowers day and night, when I am not busy busy with life's happenings.

I have two spots where I enjoy painting the most.

At the country house it is in this little nook, with a skylight overhead, and the door with windowpanes behind me.

Tucking little treasures here and there and making your space your own can be really helpful in cultivating a space where you feel inspired to create.

The colors and textures you choose can also have a wonderful influence on your mood.

I felt so lucky to be able to pick flowers yesterday and tuck them in amongst my old little bits and bobs.

I am having so much fun painting flowers into the wee hours of the night.

It's bringing me so much joy, and peace of mind and soul.

To just get lost painting pretty little things is so good for me.

I've surrounded myself with things that I have had for 20 years, my favorite cozy studio chair, my old desk, my little tattered curio cabinet.

The things I find comfort in, and that are so familiar to me.

Not to mention the shelf that hung in my studio from the beginning, now repurposed here.

I had taken it down a couple of years ago to change things around and was so happy to put it back up here.

Flower bundles drying...

Some kind of bliss.

Just a cozy little nook for a girl in search of beauty.

I like to find it in the smallest ways, jam jars with blossoms - 

Colorful old spools of thread.

A cloche with old tid-bits.

Happy colors and me, cozied up in my little space.

This is where you will find me this afternoon, listening to audiobooks and mystery shows.

Whilst swirling paint together.

Yellow, red, white - the most perfect pink.

The dogs are snoring, the sun is getting warmer and warmer.

I woke up this morning in my country house bed, windows open and birds chirping (with Teddy tucked into my side), and I swooned at all the new leaves on the trees.

It was the first thing I saw when I opened my eyes.

My familiar view of giant trees in the distance, and my own trees close by.

I was amazed at a tiny tree that has been tiny for 15 years, now a big tree, with arms outstretched.

This was its year to grow up I suppose.

As I get older, nothing is taken for granted.

Every moment, everything I see that is familiar to me.

The sounds, the smells.

My trees, the sound of coffee percolating, the rustle of the huge eucalyptus leaves in the breeze, orange tree blossoms...

The mountains, pink in the afternoon.

My garden paths.

Wisteria and gigantic bumble bees.

Rosemary scented dogs.

Oh, so many good things.

All the little things sewn up together to make up the map of my heart.

How wonderful to be able to appreciate and enjoy them still, on this Easter Weekend.

I feel so lucky to get to experience another season of spring.

 

Happiest Easter wishes to you.

I hope to return sooner than the last time.

 

Love,

Vanessa