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Kick up your feet and prepare for the longest post ever, perhaps with a warm drink and a treat.
The last time we met, we had a wonderful snowfall for a couple of days in February.
It was becoming spring green all around with warmer days.
The apple trees began to bloom...
The arugula had beckoned the bees, and everything was happening just as it should.
Might I add that, allowing the arugula to flower at the end of winter as it does, is a wonderful way to get bees into your garden for the early fruit tree pollination.
The bonus is that it's a lovely treat to eat fresh arugula leaves and flowers on the coldest days.
February came to a lovely close...
And then, on the first day of March, things began to change rapidly.
The craziest wind barreled through, which made me fear the roof would be torn clear off of our country house.
A big storm was on the horizon.
It always snows here at least once in February, and March can be fickle for certain, with sun and wind and rain and cold gusts in no proper order -
But, we rarely have March snow.
And so began the incredible dreamland of white fluff on the first day of March.
The wind I mentioned above was roaring for a whole afternoon, evening and night, bringing us the winter storm.
We hunkered down at the country house because the chance of more snow always happens here.
(I call the country house, house 1)
But it did in fact snow at both house 1 and house 2.
At midnight the wind and rain stopped in one fell swoop and an incredible silence began.
That magical wonderful silence of snow falling.
At that wee hour I dressed up for the cold, with boots and gloves and snow coat and all, and I headed outside.
The sky had turned pink, and I spent two hours walking in the heavy falling snow.
Mesmerized by the stunning silence and pink snow sky that is as close to a living dream as I have ever experienced.
I had in fact experienced the pink night snow many years ago, and so I knew the importance of being out there in that 2 a.m. snow, when the sky turns pink, and the silence cocoons you in a way that is indescribable, unless you have lived it.
Which I am sure you have, if you live in a region where it snows.
I finally went to bed and woke up as the sun was starting to shine in the morning, on our winter wonderland.
We had nine inches of snow in some places, and it was astoundingly beautiful.
Teddy loved every single second of it.
Our entire country house property had become Narnia.
I ate snow off branches and walked around and around our garden paths.
I know people are always amazed that it snows in Arizona.
But we have huge mountains here, and the high elevations make for snowy areas.
Northern Arizona is an actual forest, and they get tons of snow and have ski resorts.
Arizona is a very interesting state, with cacti and forests meeting up here and there.
It's not all just barren desert, there are so many varied landscapes here.
That's why I always say that I live where the desert meets the forest.
On a ridge of the Santa Catalina mountains, with Mt. Lemmon way up there, but in perfect view from my garden.
The cottage is especially charming in the snow.
Matty stood around a lot just absorbing every second of it.
As soon as that morning sun came through the clouds, it all started to melt.
Which absolutely made it feel like a dream we had simply made up.
And so, whilst it was rapidly melting, I basked in the sights and sounds.
Admiring my little tree below, which is now gigantic...
Who I planted 22 years ago or so, from a tiny little bucket holiday tree.
My Christmas tree on my first Christmas at the country house, now standing so tall.
I love love love him so!
He lives right at the front gate, and watches over us all, gifting the most perfect pinecone zinnias, and keeping a look out on the goings on of the mountain.
Why is everything more beautiful with snow?
Mister Matty also had dental surgery after the snow and is cozy and healing well now<3
My little buildings of peeling paint are meant for the snow I think, don't you?
Delightful paths, with tufts of snow plunking on your head as it melts.
Becoming blindingly white in the sun.
And all the while, I wondered about the apple blossoms that had exploded open just a few days before the second snowstorm.
No sooner had I begun to fret, when I heard the comforting hum of bee wings in flight.
All my worries went right out the window.
Snow melted at the speed of light, revealing perfectly fine apple blossoms at house 2.
Turning their lovely pink to white as they do.
Unscathed, looking extra lovely from all the moisture of rain and snow.
And now, spring is officially springing up all around.
There is a soft rain happening now...
Poppies growing big and strong, snapdragons that have been blooming year-round are healthier than ever...
And all the bulb flowers are just beginning to bloom.
It is a lovely time in the garden.
When winter hands the torch to spring, not wanting to go, but knowing it should and must.
When apple blossom petals go from pink to white, to confetti on the garden floor.
Lemons and grapefruits are beyond plentiful, with limes and oranges all gobbled up.
And a couple of Fairytale pumpkins somehow weathered all the storms and are waiting to be roasted.
The birds are chirping, the pups are happy...
The girl is marveling at all the little green pushing up through the earth.
Once again, the warm sunshine is returning, with garden tea-times and reading in a cozy chair and big hat resuming.
Teddy is exploring everything, as he plunges deep into the super tall arugula, with flowers and bees and all!
In he goes and disappears instantly...
Only to explode out of the arugula, like a dolphin, seconds later.
I'm only lucky I was holding my camera right at that very moment.
Oh spring, you wonderful thing!
It's so gooooood to see you.
You hold such promise and joy in your basket of petals.
Making us all giddy, skipping instead of walking.
Dreaming, stretching our chilly limbs in the warm sunlight.
I know some of you are still in the snow and cold, but don't fret, the warmth will be there to you once again.
And it's the perfect time to start your seeds indoors and plan your garden happenings.
We are on the downward slope of winter and headed into a new season.
If your winter will linger, don't worry, I'll share my spring with you, until yours arrives.
Thank you for being here for this ridiculously long post.
How I long to get here more often, alas, life happens all around me and I'm jumping from carousel horse to carousel horse.
Going round and round.
So happy to write today, share my photos, and just say Hello to YOU!
I hope you are very well in your neck of the woods.
I would love to hear what you are up to, if you fancy sharing with me.
I hope to see you again soon.
Lots of love from that place where the desert meets the forest,
Vanessa
PS: Some lovely music I've been listening to whilst writing to you...
We got our snow, which usually happens in February, but sometimes passes us by.
The country house has been an absolute wonderland and the dogs have loved it.
The country house is where I have lived since 2001, however, a few years ago we added a second home to the mix.
They are not far from each other, and so we now juggle our lives in two homes.
A little nutty, but fun too.
All of the images today are from the country house.
I planted the gigantic tree below in 2001.
I still can not believe how huge my living Christmas tree is all these years later.
At the country house we have a series out buildings, which we have turned into our own little western village.
The window to the old workshop melts my tattered wood and peeling paint heart,
I thought you might like to go on an adventure with us, through the garden paths of our country house.
Matty will lead the way...
This is sort of the center of our town (below), which incidentally, we named Fanciful, Arizona years ago.
There are three cottages on the right in the image below.
On the right is my cottage, ML's workshop and the general store.
On the left is the old workshop, which I use for treasures, as well as my little gallery for local art shows.
My tiny house cottage is surrounded by the picket fence on the right.
It is not the main house we live in, but it is built to be livable, and I stay in there all the time.
It is filled with treasures that only a grown-up child could love :-)
It's warm, super cozy and has electricty.
Behind me there is a path with 3 more buildings and another cottage which is Mister Lovee's office.
The walking path sort of winds around the entire property.
Teddy is on the path behind me in the image below.
But if we keep on walking straight, past the picket fence and through the canopy of trees, you will arrive at the pretty gate into what was once an old green house.
It still has the walls but no roof, however, the wisteria and climbing roses have created a natural roof above it.
The greenhouse was here way before my time, so I never got to see it in full.
But once, I was digging around and found locks and handles deep in the dirt.
Teddy loved every second of the snow and never seemed to get cold.
I photographed it once it was almost melted.
I think if you are to get snow, a day or two of a powdered sugar dusting is just perfect.
Just a couple days of it and then, poof, back to sun.
I like that type of snow :-)
The image below is what you see if you look north from the tiny village, where behind the big tree is my large vegetable garden.
It's a lot of fun to walk around, enjoying how the snow makes everything look so lovely.
Over the bridge and through the woods...
With tufts of snow on tiny leaves...
And dogs enjoying every minute.
I expect Mr. Tumnus to walk by the birdbath.
As Teddy seemingly collects sticks for a bonfire :-)
Gypsy wagon 2 (which I owe you the story about), is stunning in its teal peeling paint, hanging out in the snow.
So soft and fluffy.
All of our rusty things look the best on snow days it seems...
Oh, and the pup too :-)
Jerry Parra, an artist in Oracle, Az, made this incredible train and brought it to my garden years and years ago.
I love it more than anything.
He and his wife Sue are some of my favorite people.
Hello, my name is Vanessa Valencia and I am an artist living in a lovely part of Arizona. I make all kinds of art, from painting to clay sculpting. I love tending my gardens and cuddling my dogs. This blog is about art, lifestyle, gardening, cooking, crafting & every single little magical thing in between ♥
