A Fanciful Twist

The Fortune Teller in the Gypsy Garden...

Hi there!

I have been working on a few projects that are utterly autumn related.

Going through many photographs of autumns past.

And while we aren't ready to part with summer quite yet...

I have been enjoying it sooo much, that I thought I would bring you along for a smidge.

Wanna come?

Jump in my garden for quick sec, won'tcha?

I was on a hunt for some fave magical autumn moments.

Some of those are definitely from the gyspy wagon at Halloween.

There were sooo many photos to choose from throughout the years.

Oh my!

I grabbed a few to relive with you today.

Fortune Teller Halloween....

These pics are inspiring me for the months to come as well.

I have had so much fun these last few years in the blogosphere with you.

These pics are a constant reminder of all we have conjured.

Haven't we had such great times?

The gypsy wagon all spookified.

I have such fun out there I tell ya.

I love when Mister Lovee joins in and becomes the fortune teller.

Oooooo!

Sooo creepy.

Offering me a wee treat.

He does all his own costumes and is soooo into the spirit of it all.

He quite surprised me that year when I saw an old witch rifling through the bushes.

Eeeeks!

He even acted in Old Tucson in the 80's.

He's got endless tricks up his sleeve, that one.

What does the crystal ball tell you?

What a wonderfully magical time.

I can almost smell the caramel apples and popcorn.

The candles, the pumpkins.

I am sooo inspired to have the best autumn ever.

What about you?

There is such magic that swirls in with the rains of late summer.

We had one of the hugest storms ever on Friday night.

Soooooo much rain, it was amazing.

Yesterday the whole place felt like a swamp, and the gypsy wagon was extra mysterious.

Odd when the desert turns to swamp on rare flooded monsoon moments.

With vines crawling all around the wagon.

Cool breeze sweeps into our crazy heat wave of endless days of 100+ degrees.

Reminding of what is to come.

My mind flutters with ideas and things I want to do.

Sooo many things.

All have to do with playing of some sort, of course.

 

As I get older I feel younger.

I am not sure what exactly is going on.

Is this normal, and should I feel this way, I ask you?

I have more frolic and skip in my heart than ever before.

 

Is growing up a choice?

 

I don't know any of these answers really.

But what I do know is that I want to make each day as wonderful as can be.

Live in the moment.

And, most of all, have a blast!!

 

(More photos from the gypsy garden Halloween here)

 

What sort of delicious shenanigans do you think we should plunge into?

 

Love, Vanessa

 

 

 

 

To the Gypsy Garden... {& giveaway winner}

When my sister suggested it was time for evening cocktail hour...

I knew it was time indeed.

Time to bring back those gypsy garden evenings for the season.

Music, candles...

Light the lanterns in the trees.

Trees just beginning to get their leaves.

You know, it wasn't until I got into my thirties that I have really felt like I belonged in Southern Arizona.

Looking back, I know now that I always have.

That I am a real part of this place in the depth of my being.

And that I identify with it madly.

But I didn't really embrace it as kid, as I do now.

I thought it was mysterious and fascinating, and I loved collecting crystals and peeking in old mines and ghost towns.

But I always thought, when I grow up I will go somewhere else.

But then I didn't want to really, when it came time.

And I am so glad I stayed.

Actually, those early road trips around our state with Mister Lovee really caused me to fall in love with Arizona, in a real way.

It's so wonderful to live in a sunny warm place, even if summers are really hot.

It's a dry heat that is manageable.

Not too many mosquitoes.

I rarely see a snake except for a gopher snake going into gopher holes once or twice a summer.

(knock on wood)

The winters are mild.

The mountains are glorious.

People are casual and smiling most of the time.

It's a tinge New Agey, I think at least.

And arty too, and interesting.

New age is a vibe I love and feel.

Even if it's totally 90's of me to love New Age ;)

Did you know that Northern Arizona is super forest like and chilly?

Not all of Arizona is a desert, like here in Southern Arizona.

Even here, the mountains I see from my garden are forest like and get snow.

Where desert meets forest.

I live at a bit higher elevation, about an hour from downtown Tucson, which is why it seems greener.

And cooler.

Do I sound like an Arizona infomercial??

Hahaa!

I always thought I was meant to be a California girl.

Living there half years most of my childhood.

But now I know...

I am not.

I am an Arizona desert girl.

Under mesquite trees, on gypsy nights, I know it for sure.

I can't imagine living any other place.

And sooooo.

Point is, before I ramble on and on...

That my sis suggested a cocktail hour.

Hinting that there was a bottle of champagne in my fridge.

Who knows how long it had been there by the way.

So, she cracked it open.

Meddled it with fresh mint from the garden.

Gave me minty lime soda with just a splash of champagne.

Which I must say, I feel ever so slightly hungover today, but I can't be so it must be in my head.

Not after a thimble full of champagne, me thinks.

What a a glorious night.

The climbing roses are exploding over the lil' gallery too, on the west side of the garden.

Over by the gypsy wagon and the wisteria gazebo thingamabob.

Perfect for frolicking under slight moonlight.

Sipping away....

Cuddling under warm fuzzy blankets and old sparkly quilts.

We absconded with Mister Lovee's current transistor radio.

Of which I have gifted him about 7 in our time, only to have them drop in buckets of water and such.

He listens to NPR all day long especially on weekends, and carries that radio while doing yard work and such, which is why the radios meet their demise so often.

We listened to the radio, rolling through stations over and over.

Stevie Nicks came on and I twirled around, which made the pups excited and then everyone was kicking up dirt.

It got real chilly later in the evening.

I cuddled up into my sister with Douglas (her min pin) and Matty on my toes.

And when my sis was ready to go embroider the night away, I swapped her for Mister Lovee.

Who had been watching his show.

So chilly by 10 p.m.

But bewitching.

We found it hard to pry ourselves away.

But then took comfort in the fact that we always have tomorrow.

As gypsy nights are here to stay.

For now.

Oh oh oh, these glorious days of Arizona spring.

Where lanterns sway, and if you listen just so, the moon will share a secret or two.

I closed my eyes and found inspirations for paintings tugging at my skirt.

Paint me, paint me...

Whispered the moon.

 

Love, V

 

 

 

ps:  The tote and bunting winner from the previous post is.....

#21

Sandra Sheets, hoooray you won!

Please email me your snail mail address, yay!!

 

Evening Flower...

Blame it on the lovely days...

Beckoning me, bewitching me into the sun and paint, still.

I went out to shade my flower painting, but then...

Ended up starting a new one.

Another one.

I just want to be outside, blaring my music and painting.

Morning, noon and night.

Painting imaginary whimsical flowers.

Alas, the winds blow in with some cooler temps.

So, we get the fire going night after night.

Fur and sunsets, fairy lights and warmth.

Love that background sunset.

The little stove gives such wonderful warmth.

We hang out at the gypsy wagon.

I have a trick to tell the heat of my stove.

I keep a kettle of hot water on, it tells (guides) me if the heat is high, medium or low.

Tricky, eh?

I make dinner and then almond milk hot chocolate for dessert.

Clink clink.

It's chilly, but not cold.

The days are sunny warm, but the breeze is quite cool, so it's nice.

However, the winds are blowing in, changing our weather.

I see the grey.

Maybe winter is finally coming by, who knows?

For now...

I have sunburned shoulders, and the sky is all starry nights.

One extra big and bright.

And in the new grey day, we have naps with twigs and leaves on ears.

Pure bliss.

Life is short.

Life is fleeting.

Life passes quickly, act accordingly.

That's my motto.

:)

Happy weekend my friends!

Any great plans?

 

Great plans to me are utterly fantastic movies, popcorn, crocheting, playing checkers, warm socks, grilled veggies, happy dogs.

You?

 

Well, off I go for now, see you soon!

 

Love, V

 

 

 

Where we Dream {Summer in the Gypsy Garden}

A little secret space...

Under a great big tree.

This is where we meet to dream, on these hot summer days.

Colors and textures and sounds intertwine with warm breeze...

Chirping birds gather above, as hummingbirds come right up to you, wings buzzing about.

Lovely shade...

A little boudoir...

Graced by filtered sun light.

Where we serve tea...

And treats.

We sing, and dress, and lollygag in our best...

Barefoot.

Wavy long disheveled hair.

Our jewels beckon the fairies with their own twinkling tune...

Treasures meet earth and dirt.

We dream up this and that...

Spells, herbs, miracles, magic...

Remember those nights?

Spells and Wish labels, always at the ready.

Draping on collections...

Coins, carnelian, turquoise, citrine, mother of pearl...

Someone likes this lifestyle.

Most certainly.

Smiling all day.

Whilst his big little brother sleeps amongst the pumpkin vines that creep around the big tree.

We pick the first zinnias and dahlias...

Marigolds too.

Passion fruit vines swirl up the tree...

While black eyed susans, mint and nasturtium cozy up together.

Right under the canopy of branch and leaf.

That's where you will find us...

On these hot summer days...

Catching waves of dreams, dangling off giant moon beams.

And always, always...

Serving hot tea.

At a quarter past 3.

With biscuits and fig jam.

Fig jam made by mombie, from the hugest fig tree I have ever seen, living in her garden.

Where she and dad collect buckets and buckets of figs.

And then, there is jam.

Jam for us dreamers.

Dreamers who wander through thoughts.

Accepting complexities of life, and learning just to be.

This is the task of us tender hearted dreamers, you see.

The quest of quests.

To enjoy this life, with a free happy soul.

Content.

With big breaths.

Song in the wind.

Hope in the heart.

That is what these dreamers dream.

For us...

And for you.

Always.

xoxo