A Fanciful Twist

Swirling Holidays & Inspirations

The holidays are swirling all about.

Boxwood begs me to take a few cuttings so it can hang out with pumpkins.

Somehow November and December vibes are intertwining everywhere you turn.

And if you happen to go out shopping you might just get bitten by the holiday bug - it happened to me.

I ended up going home with two plaid pillows and a throw, oops!

I've slowly been taking out a few baubles to see what direction my décor wants to take this year.

I like to set a few things out that inspire me and see where that leads.

It's a mixture of Thanksgiving and Christmas, which is odd for me because I usually do not decorate for Christmas until December 1st.

It seems every year things get sooner and sooner - I mean Halloween seems to happen in August now, haha!

But I am enjoying getting infused by the holiday spirit here and there.

Plus, the time goes by at the speed of light, so I can see why people like to start early.

I like to just forage for bits and pieces I have - kind of the same way one would crack open spices whilst preparing an impromptu meal.

Just gather a whole bunch of odds and ends that I'm in the mood for and toss them on the table.

It's super fun to make a little heap of pretty mess.

Sort of like an inspiration pile.

I love the droopy evergreens from my trees.

I actually let them overgrow all summer, with the sole purpose of trimming off what I need during the holiday season.

Gold paper leaves and stars always hit the spot.

I have a cabinet filled with some of my favorite vintage baubles.

I love when the insides wear a bit, it just creates such a beautiful dimension.

I'm loving my white walls.

I had two venetian plaster walls (in a buttercream color) in my house and one day I woke up and was done.

I normally always love white walls but it was hard for me to part with the yellow, they were done so beautifully.

Alas, one day I just decided it was time and I have not missed them at all, poor walls.

My whole house was white except for those two accent walls - 

Oh and I painted the mahogany wood mirror gold and then gold leafed it and heavily distressed it.

You can't really tell how distressed it is from here, but there are closeups in my Instagram feed.

Nothing like doing big projects during the holidays.

Why does that always happen?

My parents are doing a major garage clean up starting today, and I'm like, why now?

It's funny how we tend to do that.

The busier we are the more we pile on.

I'm either beyond relaxing or doing 500 things at once.

I have almost zero middle ground, how about you?

So, I still have some pumpkins bobbing around.

I'll likely roast them for Thanksgiving pie baking at the country house.

I can't wait!

I love those holiday baking days the most.

Some music, warm oven, baking up pretty things.

Cold days and baking are just too super cozy aren't they?

It's still a little warm here so I'll enjoy it because one day, out of the blue, it'll just freeze at night and all my gardens will go to sleep.

I have lots of projects going on at both houses.

Building an adorable little back door for my tiny gallery that I used to do shows in.

It turned into an office for a handful of years (too many) and now I have it back.

I'm having so much fun playing my pump organ that's in there.

It'll be my little shop for my online art business.

The peach trees are turning orange leafed and the pecans are ready for picking.

There are dahlias and zinnias in all my gardens and a huge wave of butterflies have arrived, just as they always do in November.

I think they are just passing by on their way to Mexico somewhere for the warm winter?

The bees have been very pleased with me for months, with clusters of them gathering on zinnia, mint and basil blossoms.

I will make sure to keep them happy year after year.

I had not seen this many bees in ages, so delighted!

Well, I'm going to paint a big cabinet and might begin tonight, so excited.

Hope you're doing peachy out in your neck of the woods!

Fill me in if you'd like.

I'm answering comments in the comments section, I just wish there was a way for you to get a notification.

I'm also saving any comments from going to spam, so rest assured I'll find your comment and post it if it doesn't show up.

One thing I am really missing is that bar at the end of my posts featuring other posts you might like from within my blog.

The service is gone, and I can not seem to find anything comparable.

So many folks told me they enjoyed that, I am still searching for another option.

Miles had a bath and is so silky snuggle soft, he always wants my attention when I'm typing so off I go my friends!

I'll be back soooooon!

 

Love, 

 

Vanessa

 

 

Of Secret Gardens in November

There is a certain magic that happens in the desert in October and November.

The relentless heat of summer lets up just enough for flowers to want to come back.

Not only do they come back, they begin an autumnal show that is so spring like it takes your breath away.

Would you like to come in and take a stroll with me?

I'll take you through both of my gardens...

The dahlias barrel forth in abundance, barely able to hold themselves up from the weight of their flower heads.

And bees, bees buzz around madly with endless nectar from the hundreds of zinnias that turn up.

Zinnias can withstand the heat like no other and I am always so thankful for how much nourishment they gift the bees, butterflies, hummingbirds and all manner of other creatures.

Bee magic is the bestest.

We did begin to see some cool weather and then it shifted again and we've been in the low 80's and high 70's for a couple weeks now.

The gardens are so overjoyed.

One night at the country house it did drop into the 30's so the pumpkin vines are officially gone.

But everyone else is still alive and happy for now.

The light though, does have a different feel to it.

And the crisp air in the morning does tell you there is a shift.

Still, the garden adores it.

I was so amazed to see a huge furry bumblebee hanging around recently.

I had to run and grab my camera, something I only thought I'd see in fairy tales.

Couple that with the scalloped edges of a zinnia bud and it's all some sort of fairy magic.

I have never seen so many bees for months on end as I have seen this year, it's been incredible.

I need to thank the zinnias profusely for that.

I will make sure to keep them in abundance year after year as I normally do.

I'm so glad to see roses peeking out again as they sort of retreat once it gets crazy hot.

It's just such a gift to have spring in autumn here in the high desert.

Very very slowly things are changing.

The weather may be warm but the growing things know a shift will come very soon.

From one day to the next it will go from warm days to chilly in the very near future.

I feel like this November wave of creatures and petals really promotes some incredible gratitude.

Thank you big bees, little bees and all bees <3

Oh and did I mention, the level of fuchsia surrounding the gardens this year?

There has been soooo much fuchsia!

Oh and dappled light - always makes me swoon.

The pink frosting roses exploded at the country house, and...

Butterflies have turned up in droves.

How I love butterflies.

The bougainvillea have flowered for months nonstop, just over and over again.

Some in clusters, others in fluttering petals - all a little bit different.

I just stroll around, always a little bit in awe even after 20+ years of gardening, nature always amazes me.

I love the breeze and the birds, slowly walking around clipping a few blossoms to bring inside.

Listening to the sounds of nature all around.

I almost forgot  to mention the marigolds that have been self seeding for years and years since bringing some seeds from my mom's garden.

Plant a garden and the gifts it will give you will be the most amazing things you can behold.

The fulfillment is so moving that it keeps you doing it year after year.

And now as I see the autumnal shift slowly happening, I know it is time to buy bags of poppies and toss them around when it rains or snows.

They need time in the ground to scarify and germinate in the cold.

Poppy seeds do not need to be planted (simply sprinkled in autumn) because they are so tiny, they will snuggle in by the force of rain and snow pushing them into the ground. And in early spring there will be some kind of magic.

I'm bringing in the lasts - or close to the lasts of the petals.

I know a cool snap is set to come sooner or later.

But for now I fill my house with them...

And every morning checking with wonderment to see what has decided to sneak in at the last minute.

These are beautiful days, cool night and warm days.

These are the very days that enchant people into moving to the desert.

The most delicious weather a person could ever imagine.

All you have to do is survive the summer.

But I suppose that is why people have a second home here and only come for autumn, winter and spring.

Then there are people like me, who are always here...

With hearty appreciation when hints of autumn dance about.

I am barely feeling ready for Halloween and yet it is gone.

These days flutter by so quickly, I hardly know how to grasp it all.

The last 3 months of the year flash by.

I try hard to be mindful and take time to enjoy each day - the garden helps with that in big ways.

It forces you to slow down - and take time to smell the roses if you will.

Corny but so so true.

I'm so glad you stopped in to stroll through the gardens with me.

I can't wait to see what spring brings.

But now I will prepare to enjoy the rest of November, and then my best month December.

The month I was born in, and a time to rest from the busy garden days and spend some time creating.

I hope you are doing wonderfully.

I will be back soon lovely friends.

 

Love, Vanessa

 

 

Songs from A Secret Garden <3

 

 

Of Fairy Tale Magic...

The garden, filled with autumn flowers.

Sparkling at golden hour...

With tales of fairy tale magic so vivid I am inspired to follow.

To fill my home with some of it for the season, in a way that will last and easily morph into others.

Pink and orange dances together...

With twinkling fairy lights to illuminate the way.

Butterflies continue to appear throughout...

With saffron wings on leaves and all shades of dried peonies of spring.

Butterflies land right on the Fairy Queen herself.

She's come to stay a while and is enjoying wearing a paper dress of antique dictionary pages I made a few years ago.

And so it seems, this Halloween will be left up to said Fairy Queen and all of her curiosities.

What sort of tales she shall tell us this autumn season, I can not wait to hear.

I woke up the other day with a longing for a fairy tale feel this year.

I was being beckoned by talking geese and butterfly wing whispers.

It all evolved in an instant and there it was.

To fill my surroundings with inspiration is what I love to do.

No rhyme or reason, just a need I have always had.

It brings such joy and light into my life - to simply ask what I feel like I need right now.

This year it's all butterflies it seems.

The answer is always quite clear if you open yourself to it.

And all that matters is that it brings you joy.

(That's the most important part)

Follow your heart and listen carefully, it will always tell you what you need.

Often we choose not to listen, but when we do...

<3 <3 <3

 

October is racing by, take time to enjoy the season.

That's my motto.

What sort of fun are you up to?

 

I'll be back super soon with another holidayified area in my home <3

 

Love, V

 

 

 

 

Welcome October Magic

Hello fellow October lovers <3

The bug has bitten me, Halloween is trickling out of the box...

And onto my mantel.

I'm not entirely sure that this is my final look, but it's what is happening right now.

I have a few other areas that are getting spookified as well.

But right now I'm all about my favorites, butterflies.

In fact, recently I was thinking about raising butterflies and just letting them fly freely all over my house.

My sister seemed to think this was impractical on my part, what do you think?

For now we have paper butterflies.

Of course Mister Pumpkin Head insisted on having his photos taken.

Cheeeeeeeese! (snap)

I antiqued this dandy table recently so I thought it would be perfect for taking tea in front of the fire as needed (seeing as how it's so cold and all, teeheeee)

I went digging in closets looking for my favorite pillows for the occasion.

The thrift store had some great scary story books to add to what I already had.

I have had the Edgar Allen Poe book since I was around 13 years old.

I truly can not believe we are on the 7th day of October already.

It spins so fast it's mind blowing.

I'm having a delightful time enjoying my décor thus far.

How about you, have you started too?

The magic really begins when the sun starts to go down.

All the candles and fairy lights glow and the fireplace adds just the perfect kind of orange hue.

Nothing like the sun going down hour -

To really set the mood of autumn enchantment.

I just cherish this beautiful time of year so much.

The shift between summer and autumn is like a back and forth dance until the cool sticks.

Warm days and cool nights are happening.

You can taste autumn in the air in the early morning hours.

My roses are all starting to bloom again, they think it is spring.

Then one day in a few weeks I will awaken to a light frost on zinnia petals - 

freezing everyone in time.

I've been feeling a swirl of nostalgia the last couple evening out under the stars.

Not a bad feeling but a beautiful feeling.

The cool air brings memories of times gone by.

As you get older the memory bank becomes vast - 

You think about all the people you love, the memories.

The times that seemed not so long ago now seem ever so long ago.

Then I am reminded that now is the time to make more memories.

And so I do.

I think of things I want to do still and next.

I sit with my bestest Hatter and we discuss some extra fun things to continue over at the country house.

Then, we go up into the mountains with a tow truck man and pull out something I've been dreaming about for 15 years.

Just like that, we start this new project over at the country house.

I can not wait to show you next time.

And so, we always have today to make more memories and keep enjoying.

That's just the inspiration I need to keep gluing butterflies to my house, haha!

Thinking up fun things to make your soul happy.

That's what life is all about.

Isn't it?

 

Happy October, here we goooooo!!!

 

Lots of magical wishes my friends!!!

 

See you super soon, 

 

Love, Vanessa

 

 

<3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3

 

 

ps: This is my new go to soundtrack for this Halloween season