Hello lovely friends.
Writing to you from where the desert meets the forest.
Sitting under a canopy of wisteria, with my hair dancing in the breeze.
I collect buckets of these lovely lavender cascades and set them where the beautiful blue paint peels ever so perfectly.
It's been a wildly floriferous spring, as we move into summer, with unusually mild June weather.
The boys explore the scent of endless bunnies that are born in our garden every year.
Bunnies in giant rosemary bushes and hidden nests of bunny kittens, made of fallen wisteria petals.
Luckily my boys never capture any, so there is peace and safety for endless bunnies to grow up here.
Spring has been incredibly beautiful, but as life is wont to do, it threw in a bit of an unexpected twist, which is why you have not seen me for a few weeks.
I've been spending every moment with my Matty dog, who was diagnosed with aggressive cancer and given 6 weeks to live.
He is in his very last days now, and because it has been too painful to discuss, I've really just spent my time in the garden with him, administering many pills a day and living in the moment.
We have had lovely guests that he accepted, which is very unlike him, so that has made things easier.
I can't imagine life without him, as he's been by my side for 13 years, always protecting me.
He has been the best companion, guard-dog and love.
I make wishes for his painless departure on dandelions.
Is it just me, or are there swans hiding in this dandelion?
It's really something, how there can be so much beauty all around you, mixed with so much sadness.
It's been the most beautiful incredible spring.
I am so thankful for that.
I spend mornings collecting flowers and love taking time to sit in my second wagon (which I've owed you a post about for a long while).
I dream about the renovations, but love the peeling blue paint too much.
I spot a lone lavender poppy...
That takes my breath away.
With petals like paper art, purple and green perfection.
I pet furry quince leaves...
And hide under the gigantic climbing roses.
I always dreamed of roses that would absolutely gobble up my little gallery.
It's when you work towards your dream, but then forget about it, that a sort of magic brews.
Then one day, you notice it and gasp.
Roses have definitely gobbled up my tiny gallery, where I've hosted many art shows during our local art tours.
It's a wild fairy tale dream to me.
I am definitely a lover of untidy gardens and hidden nooks and crannies under natural arbors.
The bees are in full symphony over the poppies.
Sometimes 5 or 6 bees fighting to dive in.
All shades of reds and pinks have decorated the entire garden.
Poppies and wisteria are a perfect combination.
I continually hunt for those furry white bobs, to blow my wishes through.
Pondering over a cup of tea and a bucket of blooms...
Hoping for good, always.
The wonderful lessons of my journey, and getting older, have been that I have learned to accept the combination of beauty and sorrow.
To be in the moment enough to be able to enjoy the very now in time.
To be able to live in a beautiful moment, despite what is going on around me.
Of course, there may be tears, even in beautiful moments.
It's a sense of accepting and embracing simultaneously.
Allowing yourself to feel every emotion.
And not losing sight of the beauty of nature all around, that will hold you and guide you if you allow it.
Days turn into lovely evenings under fairy lit trees.
With music wafting about.
All the orchestral night sounds, performing in unison.
This morning I walked around the country house garden paths with the boys.
Admiring all the new coneflowers (echinacea), and watching little pumpkin sprouts get strong.
Teddy is dragging a 7 foot log so fast and furiously, I had to jump out of his way as he bolted by.
I watered the verbena patch, and am delighted that the main entrance rose arbor (that collapsed in a 2020 monsoon and had to be cut back) is finally filling out over its new arbor, as we train each cane.
I cleaned the entire country house kitchen yesterday and made summer salads.
The country house brings me such vast joy.
Mister Lovee has been digging a new grave right next to Baby.
I see him out the back window, as I know Matty will join Baby and Miles very soon.
What an incredible beautiful life, I'm so thankful beyond measure to have known them all.
Some of my greatest loves have been these beautiful dogs.
I never knew I would grow up to be a crazy dog lady one day.
But I'm eternally grateful for it, and how it happened serendipitously, when I wasn't even planning it.
On that day I met Baby over 20 years ago.
Ah well, memories.
I can smell French toast on the cast iron skillet.
A cup of lemon ginger tea is calling my name, so I must say farewell for now.
I'm sorry I was away for a few weeks.
I never intend to go for so long.
Alas, life happens.
I have spent every morsel with my Matty, hugging his warm little self tight.
I hope you are well in your neck of the woods.
Maybe we could all light a candle in the window of our fairy tale mushroom houses, deep in the woods, illuminating the path and bidding a safe passage to Matty, as he makes his way to where Baby and Miles await him.
🖤
I've been listing to this beautiful song.
It always comes up in my Pandora playlist, and it played today as I wrote this post.
Prayer Changes everything by Mark McKenzie.
