A Fanciful Twist

An Ode to Everyday Life {Through Pictures}

As you may know, I take a lot of photographs.  Of course, this means that my camera is a huge part of my life.  It is always with me, helping me capture memories and moments.  (photo below taken in, 2008)

    

I started my love of photo taking in college.  I focused on black and white photography then, processing all my own negatives in my closet dark room, and then developing all my own photos in the University of Arizona darkroom.  I enjoyed it immensely.  However, I majored in something else, graduated college in 1999 and went off on the roller-coaster of life.  My little dark room full of photos and pictures sat frozen in time.  And sadly, some of my favorites were stolen, negatives and all...

    

When I started blogging in late 2006, I didn't think about taking photos as an art.  I simply was taking photos to share bits of my life here.  They were dark and not very crisp. 

Then something changed...

    

As I took more and more photos, I realized that everyday photos held a curiously magical quality~  

    

and I wanted to grasp the moment in its truest form, with all of its light and crispness.

   

So I purchased a good camera, taught myself a little photoshop, and my journey with photos in the digital age began...

  

My perception had changed completely, and I saw photo ops everywhere I turned... 

   

Last year I took about 80,000 photographs and kept about 77,000 (you may have noticed, I have a penchant for being a tad, umm, overzealous ;) about things I am passionate about).  Then my camera kicked the bucket, so I upgraded again...  (I love the yellow and blue in the photo below)

   

This year I have already taken 4,500+ photos.  My photos may not be perfect in a technical photographic sense, but they make me happy, and capture moments well enough for me to be able to jump back in and relive moments.

   

So, I was going through the beginning of my 2010 photos, and decided, I wanted to do an ode in photos, to the everyday snapshot.  To moments that may have gone forgotten amongst the sea of photos... 

Of course, there are thousands of photos that I would love to share, parties and family and painting and studio time and more.  Alas, there never seems to be enough time.  And, I have so many chores on my list, that I can't spend all day on the computer.  So, the photos pile up sky high...

There are so many photos that only I see.  Photos that hold meaning for me...

   

These photos are just plain everyday moments in our lives, on a walk, in our space...

    

I had envisioned this being a simple wordless post.  I guess that didn't happen, haha!

Anyhow, here we go.  A few everyday shots (totally unchoreographed) from 2010 thus far + a post that may turn out to be way too long ;)

(I am listening to Cloudland and With Dignity by Patrick O'Hearn while uploading these.  His music kept me company through many late nights of painting in the mid to late 90's)

Signs of Spring ~

   

A Sunday Morning ~

   

Blooming in the wind ~

    

Love in the rain ~

   

An unusual amount of rain is making everything grow quite wonderfully.  This is a part of our back yard, which never gets played in much, as all the nonsense happens in the front yard...

   

Paczki.

   

The best most unreal Paczki ever...

    

Where fairies roam ~

  

A red chenille blanket gets washed with slippers on February 13th at 11 p.m., and surprises me with an early Valentine explosion.  Or at least, that is what I told myself ;)

 

My two boys at the piano ~

    

Bookmark treats I have been putting in all my orders for a month or two ~

    

Mornings ~

   

Helping a hurt woodpecker out of barbed wire, and watching him climb up a tree to fall asleep and fly up into heaven... 

   

A tiny hummingbird flies around the woodpecker and me ~

    

On the deck, watching the rain dance, and never hesitant to join in ~

    

Precious droplets ~

    

Caramel Corn ~

   

Lights in the sleeping nook ~

  

Country Living Magazine April 2010, Corn Pudding.  It's a winner (see my notes on pdf link).  Here's mine...

    

More Challah this weekend (cooking time notes attached on messy pdf) ~

   

Enjoying all the green the rain brought to our garden, whilst being trampled by fur ~ (weekend before last)

  

Crushed by my crush ~

    

Everyone wants to be a baby forever and sit in Mama's lap, no matter how big we get...

   

3 loves, doing their own thing ~

    

The tooshie we love to love ~

   

Enamored.  Refueling with fur love after a heartache night of tears while watching Hachi.  Mister and I cried our hearts out.  Moved to pieces by that beautiful film...

   

Me and her... (we both need to be brushed ;)

    

An Ode to Everyday Life, through the eyes of love...

 

Taking time to enjoy all the beauty in our own lives is really what it is all about.  Isn't it?

I can hear Mister's shovel outside, so I must be off to finish all the gardening we did this weekend, and get back to work on my projects. 

Seeds and paths and digging and organizing storage sheds, and sore bodies...

I love spring.

♥ ,V

.

Enchanted Sunlight...

It's funny, the way the light knows just when to find you...

   

There is this enchanting time of day, about an hour before sunset, when the sun bursts through the trees and beckons me into its arms...

The sun rays called my name this afternoon.  They entranced me into leaving my paint palette and just being...

Open the gypsy wagon door, and just breathe...

   

One of the most important creatures in my world, my fur baby - the one who dances with me everyday, who has licked my tears when I have been sad (like when Mister Lovee had his terrible car accident a few years ago) and the one who is also a huge part of my life, has not been feeling her best lately.

       

Oh this blonde babe, boy oh boy, she fills a huge part of my heart.  I think she might even fill the entire upper right hand rounded section of my heart, because any thoughts of her not being in my life send pains through my soul that I didn't know existed...

I love her white spot.

        

She has been in our lives for almost 10 years, and in that time I became a dog person, I felt her soul, and we became bonded.  And now, I am experiencing the same thing with her little brother. 

Who knew that this sort of love for a furry family member burned so bright?

I had no idea.

And now, I can't imagine my life without them.

I think that working from home these last 3 years have made Baby and I even closer that close.  

But today, today I am delighted to visit here with you because we had a good day.  I am finishing up some painted treats and such, and Baby felt much better than yesterday, which makes us all happier than happy.

Baby, Matty and I spent the late afternoon in the gypsy wagon, under the warm sunshine. 

Encapsulated in a moment of bliss and joy...

The sun rays were casting a delicious pink haze over everything they touched, whilst I dusted and added some spring flare to the wagon...

        

It was so peaceful and lovely...

        

It is Amazing, what light and color and warm air can do for the soul...

   

Lisa Lynne's tune played in the distance while Baby sat a few feet from the wagon entrance. And, wouldn't you know, she chose to sit right next to Saint Francis of Assisi...

        

I knelt down as I usually do with my fur babies, and I whispered, I love You.

I held my camera up to take a picture of Baby, and she smiled.

Melting my heart right on the spot....

        

This love.  This furry family member love, is some kind of love, ain't it? 

Some of you know just what I mean, I know it...

We could hear Matty being his wild child self.  He was splashing his paws in the gypsy garden bath.

        

Such lovely moments today.  I wish I could bottle them up.  It is times like these that I am extra happy to have this virtual space to chronicle the beauty of a day and share it as well...

   

Matty kept Baby and I ever entertained with his nutty antics.  He decided he wanted to have his own tea party and dragged out a tea pot I made a long time ago.  I don't even know where he found it?

Oh, the barrels of laughs he caused us.  What a hilarious lil' guy...

        

Of course, I didn't really give him tea.  I wish you could meet him.  Although, he can be a real meanie to strangers, so we will have to work on that a bit.  But alone at home, he is so funny and silly and wonderful.

He has added much joy to our home.

And so, that was how the enchanting light led us to a beautiful afternoon, where we could savor a little slice of bliss, and then wrap it up and tuck it away as a beloved memory...

   

For now I must go and add the finishing touches to some creatures.  Oh, and I hear paws!! OH, it's Matty at my feet!!!  YAY!

I'll tell you a quick secret.  When Matty is being hard to ahem train and or Love, because I tell ya, he's got a real mind of his own and doesn't like his personal space being compromised, I sing Maggie May (Rod Stewart) to him, But I sing Matty instead of Maggie and I take out and change some parts :)

Wake up Matty

I think I got something to say to you... 

I know I keep you amused....but I feel I'm being used!

oh
Matty
I couldn't have tried anymore.
You lured me away from home
just to save you from being alone.
You stole my heart and that's what really huurrrtsssss

;) ;)

Silly, I know...

Off I go for now, but I will see you soon with fun stuff ;)

♥ ,V

ps:  Thank you beyond over the moon for taking the time to vote for me (I am not sure when voting ends).  I was sort of embarrassed to even ask actually.  But, I am so touched at your support and kindness and all around good attitude about the whole thing.  I could cry I am so touched, I tell ya.  I already have my award, found in you and your kindness, truly.....  I don't care if I sound mushy, I am mushy, and it's the truth.

Nature Boy & Other Tid-Bits...

I gave my heart so easily, to a Nature Boy.  A fur laden, precious boy.  I secretly said to him, "Here is my heart, I give to you..."  Never thinking about anything else - lost in that googley eyed, wild abandon, heart flutteringness syndrome...

        

Then this past week, my wee furry love boat boy got sick, and my heart was scared.  I was a very very worried fur baby Mama.  So, in the midst of a super busy work week (I have hand cut 1200+ stickers), I got caught up with the vet and monitoring my baby, who is feeling much better (hence, the reason I was MIA).  It was almost like he had a really bad cold, or some bronchial thing.  Hopefully not valley fever.  But we will know more in a week or so...

He still isn't 100% (maybe 80%), but he is more like himself - (growing tooooo fast!!)

        

Plus, the other half of my heart, Matty's sister Baby, had a weird eye thing going on.  She has never ever had any ailments in the 8 years we have had her.  But she is much better too...  Oh these furry children of mine.  How can I love them so?  I didn't grow up with pets, so I had no idea that my heart strings would be wrapped around and invested totally in the love and care of my creatures.  But, oh, how they are.

So, it's safe to say that things are getting back to normal.  The sky shared some stellar clouds when we got back from the vet, one day last week, and I was ever grateful for such a sight...

   

        

        

And, my beau met me in our garden, to help ease my worry wartedness for my pups...

        

Such a nice Lovee manboy...

        

He actually can be really rotten because he is so spoiled, believe it or not.  But 90% of the time he is ever so lovely, so we'll keep him around ;)   (I am sure he thinks the same of me, tee hee)

Anyhow, I am happy to have my wee family feeling better, frolicking in the garden. 

        

My Dad got me some emergency shoes one night, when we were on a luminaria nights walk around some village shops this past December.  My heels were hurting, and there was a fab little vintage boutique that had one pair of 7.5 tennis shoe thingies for $5.  I have been meaning to tell my Dad, those emergency shoes have become my fave garden shoes.  They are so sturdy and cushioney, fancy or not.  Funny how that works, isn't it?

   

It was such a beautiful week, warm and sunny.  A week to reflect and try to send all the good vibes one can muster to folks all over the globe right now (and always really), that are facing mind blowing difficulties...

  

It is so nice to be able to find hope in the skies.  Do you ever look up and feel that way?  Like the sky has gifts for you.  Silent tremendous gifts of peace and hope...

   

Under that pink sky I played with my beloved fur babies, and I felt its magic floating around us...

        

Yep, Nature Boy is definitely starting to feel better ;)

        

Happy fur babies + sky painting = bliss

   

  

On the day that we got back from the vet (you should have seen Matty at the vet, wrapped around Mister Lovee, literally holding on with legs around his neck and waist), and I was feeling more calm about Matty, I took a stroll to the mailbox, past the sunflowers...

        

And found a parcel from a dear friend, Miss Teresa in California...

   

It was a total surprise, and made my day big time.  First of all the calendar is full of crochet work photographed in Annie's Victorian Village (including a feature month for one of Miss Teresa's pieces).  And then, in the back, really super wonderful recipes...

I already tried one, and boy oh boy, it was more than good. 

Pecan mini tarts, a huge huge hit!  The brown sugar and butter caramelized to perfection, and the tarts were incredibly wonderful...

       

After you use a fork to blend the dough, use your hands to knead it together... 

  

I used a hand mixer on my filling, so it created air that caused my pecan tarts to rise instead of sink down.  If your filling sinks down like a pecan pie normally would, don't be alarmed.  Mine are actually a little off looking, but beyond delicious... 

        

   

Make them.  You will be delighted.  

So, there you have it.  That is where I have been.  And might I tell you, your horse names totally made my week.  It was so delightful to have names being left by you, to make me smile.

I almost have Mister Horse's name chosen.  It will be long.  I am picking from several names.  I will let you know for certain in the next blog post, I promise!!  I need to be sure about this name, you see ;)

Now, the moon is calling...

   

And, my chipmunk self needs to go get into some mischief!

        

Thanks to McDonald's happy meals, that help me get happy by putting adorable chipmunks in as a treat ;)

More very very very soon!

♥ ,V

ps:  Custom Silhouettes (like the first image in this post) can be found in my shop and can be ordered any time, either from the shop or by contacting me via e-mail.  I can make them of any family member you wish, furry family members included.  I am working on a parrot and a cat right now.  Feel free to e-mail me if you are interested in more info. ♥  V[email protected]

BOO!

Taking a short break from party prep to say hellllllooooooo ;)  I have officially gone mad -

 

If you are getting ready for the party, I hope your Halloween party prep is going wonderfully.  I am behind in everything under the sun, except shipping out orders (I take that very seriously, tape and all). 

For today, I want to tell you a little story.  It has to do with my new furry baby.  You see, when we brought him home Mister Lovee was very worried because Matty was, in a way, reactionless.  He didn't cry, he didn't bark, he didn't act scared.  He was just still and quiet.

I went on line, reading all sorts of puppy advice.

Most people wrote tips about how puppies take a while to creep out of their shells, and that they are mostly confused and scared.

So, I went with that.

2 days after having Matty he was running around playing, taunting Baby and having a ball. 

The other day, I was about to catch a cold (I have not had one for 3 years, and averted this one too, yay!) and was attempting to take everything out of my gallery (boxes stacked to the ceiling) to use the space for my party prep. 

While I was sneezing and working like a mad woman, I heard a loud splash and crash.  I thought, what is Baby (big dog) up to?  I walked over and it wasn't Baby, it was Matty.  He was swimming in the big dog pool!  He was jumping all around and being crazy as can be.  He was wet and filthy, and happy.

   

He is officially out of his shell.  Cracked wide open.

The timid little creature he once was...

 

Don't be fooled by that face (and heartbreak hotel eyebrows) friends. 

It.

Was.

All.

An.

Act.

"Haaaa haaaaa, I fooled them!"

 

I am just waiting for him to take out a couple of Cuban cigars and have his other pals from the neighborhood over to play cards.

Actually, in all honesty, he is a lot of fun, not tooooo bratty, and still not a barker.  He listens, he goes out for potty, he walks himself to bed every night.  He is smarter than smart.

But, he has his own 100% full fledged personality, and it's his way or... 

"Let me out of here, I want to go swimming again......."

 

And it is hilarious!

But, I dare say, he seems too smart to be a puppy.  What's up with that?

"Grrrrrrrr, I ain't afraid of nuthin' "

 

He acts tough until he hears the coyotes and then he leaps in my arms like a proper furry baby.

"I love you Mommy, will you pick me up now?"

 

This is funny, this puppy world.  I had no idea. (my Mom thinks I have fallen over the edge, into puppy love insanity)

  

"I am so done with this photo shoot..."

 

And he is off...

With that, I must be off too, and back to my party prep.  Thank you for hanging in there with me while I have been so busy!!  I hope we have a blast this weekend with the party visits!

 

♥ ,V

Baby love, Oh Baby love...

You can't plan life. Wait, you "can plan life" but be prepared for unexpected twists and turns.  Is that how that saying goes?

You see, amidst the building chaos (which is beyond nearly done), the busy days, the fact that I have not even planned what I am doing for the Halloween party (I know I know, but a little magic will take care of that) and all other else in our crazy world, something wonderful happened...

We put a desire into the universe a few months ago, and somehow, it found us.  I saw a sign twice and ignored it, but on my way back from the post office (my main priority) a few days ago, tired and drained, I remembered the sign.

I drove to it.  I called a number.  I was totally re-energized.

A nice woman gave me her address just down the street from me.

One baby left.

Already chosen for us.

I fell in love instantly and said, I have to go talk to Mister, but will return soon.

5 minutes later with Mister in tow, he met the fur baby (German Shepherd mix) and fell head over heels as well.  There was 20 bucks exchanged (I know), a tiny trip for a vaccination and voila, we had our second fur baby.

  
 

Meet Matty, short for Matisse. 

He is named not just for the artist (because his black tail looks like a paintbrush), but more so, because as I was holding him the first time, a line from the movie, Hope Floats, rushed into my head.  It was where Bernice says "I just don't want to be known as Bernice Matisse."  I love the two children in that movie, and for some reason, holding Matty made me think of that line.

So, you can say he is named a bit after Justin Matisse as well ;)

    
 
Matty was the last to find a home.  His five sisters had already found homes, so he was perfectly picked out for us ahead of time.

We were allowed to take him over night, and told that we could bring him back if it didn't work out.

Mister Lovee adored him, but he was a bit concerned because Matty had no real reactions at all at first.  He didn't bark, he didn't cry.  He was emotionless.  He didn't even move an inch in the bath (he was sooo stinky - like dirty geese).

  

I said, I think he just needs time to come out of his shell, he is just a baby and is probably totally confused.  Mister agreed to agree.  Although, I am glad there isn't a human baby involved because he showed a fatherly worry wart side I had never seen ;)

And so, it seems I was right.  He made it through his wee trial period and we kept him (although, I knew we were keeping him no matter what). 

Matty is coming out of his shell beautifully. 

 

He is loving his new home.  He and his big sister (who we have had for 8 years and got at a yard sale for free) are getting tons and tons of love and attention and play time with their humans.

I am up at the crack of dawn to take him outside to play. 

Matty seems very healthy and he grunts like a little pig when you pick him up or rub him vigorously. 

We still have not heard him bark.  Which is just fine with me.

He is so cute I could scream!  Do click on this photo below, that short little body makes me swoon right out of my skin!

   

Oh yummy cuddling squeezing lovely moments I have had.  Yummmmmmmy puppy love.  He even went for a ride or two...

    

He has heartbreak hotel eyebrows.  They are always heartbreaking, even when he is happy.

His Daddy loves him soooooooo much...

   

And stops to hold him and talk to him with such meltingly delicious words that I could just roll around in the dirt in fits of bliss...

   

Matty helps me tend the parts of the garden, like this pumpkin vine, that survived the rabbit food festival (I have a whole other rabbity post ready, but will share it later).

  

And glorious abundant basil, whose flowers I must prune today...  
 
 

I have one radish bunch (in the background) and a couple watermelon plants that probably won't grow (wrong season).  All I did was pop a few real seeds from a watermelon I was eating into the ground, and they actually grew.  As did a bunch of other fruits and veggies, which were appetizers for the bunnies, as you well know ;)

  

Anyhow, while in the garden, many hummingbirds came to fly around little Matty...

    

And cutie looks on at them, ever so calmly.  

   

Big sister has been so patient and kind to Matty.  She sort of gets annoyed but more in a "oh jeeez, why can't I just get some alone time" way.  She sometimes puts her paw up like "stop" I am not in the mood.  She only lightly yelped at him once the first day.  Other than that, she has accepted him very kindly indeed.  She has always kept her young pup attitude and vigor, so I think that will be overall helpful and great.

So, it seems all is well. 

I think that Matty is bribing her for friendship with puppy love secrets...

   

He kisses Baby any chance he gets, and I think the blondie gal is starting to soften up.  She has been a lone furry child for so long.  There was much running and playing early this morning.  More than the other days, which is a good sign for certain.

 

I guess you can say, we are very happy campers in our neck of the woods.

   

Sunsets and puppies and sappy over the top love looms in the clouds...

   

This is a perfect secure spot for furry creatures to live.  We are more than delighted to give Matty a home, and feel so lucky to have found him so serendipitously, right in our own little neighborhood...

   

Oh, guess what?  The pups and Mister are standing at my office screen door.  I promised Mister Lovee breakfast 3 hours ago.  A quick blog post said I.  Ya right, when have I ever had a quick blog post?  haha!

So, that is where my life is right now.  I am going to wrap up a few unpacking and settling into my new home office loose ends.  And then, party planning shall ensue.  I have no idea what I am going to brew up.  EEEEEks!

Much love from our happy home to yours!!

♥, V 

ps:  Please please don't hesitate to e-mail me if you don't see your name on the party list.  No one is left off intentionally, and it is most certainly a mistake if you are not on it.  And please check your link to make sure all is working ;)  Spoooookinessss looooms!!! Bwahahhahaaa!

pss:  I wanted to say that, I now understand why doctors encourage certain patients to get pets.  A doctor did not advise us to get a pet, but Matty has been such a reason to get up early and run around the yard and enjoy life in its moment, even more than usual.  He has brought excitement to our other fur baby and to our lives as a whole.  So, if you have space in your home maybe you should adopt a pet? ;)  Clean puppies smell like heaven (as do human babies, but I don't think I could handle one of those).  Baby Love!

The one I love...

          I am in love.  It is true.  A smile in my heart, sweet kinda love...

 

                     A simple happy love.  An uncomplicated love...

 

                                        A pure sparkly love...

 

The one I love, has shiny blond hair.  The one I love makes funny faces.  The one I love, held my hand last night, when I was alone, in the dark, in the country, with no power during an outrageous lightning and rain storm.  The one I love tells me stories while we lounge on lazy days & takes part in my silly antics, like dress up and follow the leader.  The one I love, is always there for me, and always brings a smile to my face...  And, wouldn't you know it, the one I love never steals my treats (well, almost never).

 

The one I love, holds my heart captive.  Who knew?  You see, this is my first love of this sort.  We have been in eachother's lives for 8 blissful years...

The one I love gets into simple charming mischief.  I can usually see the proof on her nose...

 

I always knew I had love for her.  Except once when we thought we lost her, I realized this was more than just puppy love.  I had walked outside one morning and Mr. Lovee's eyes were full of pain.  I had just woken up.  I was in my pj's barefoot.  Standing in the dirt.  And he said, Dovee, I have bad news.  I think Baby is missing.

I felt my heart drop into the dirt.  Pain.  White lightning kind of pain shot through my heart.  I kneeled on the ground and put my head between my knees and sobbed...

 

Luckily she wasn't lost at all, and quite safe and sound, and we made it through that incident.  But it only reinforced my love for her...

She is quite the character.  And those faces she makes!

This is the faux worried look...

 

Oh, and let me throw in the fact that, she owns this.  Which means she shares my love for that spooky day...

      

Here is a charming portrait of her and her favorite tin jack-o-lantern...

      

And here is what happens after too many pictures.  Boredom to the maximum degree...

      

How she loves her pool...

   

I ask her to show me her best mermaid moves...  But she says she would rather just blow bubbles underwater...

 

Now, the nutty part is that, in perfect doggy fashion, she insists upon this after a nice cool bath...

      

A lovely talcum dusting.  Of the dirt variety.

I think nothing of the dirt encrusted pooch, after she gives me the giggle face...

 

We dance around in a whirlwind of bubbles...

    

She likes to pretend she lives in a period drama...  Who does she think she is?  Lizzy?  Jane Austen, Miss Mati from Cranford??  I have to admit,  she does pull it off well ;)

 

But, best of all, she supports all my artistic endeavors.  She even has her own subscription to Artful Blogging.  I know!!  Insane ;)

 

Now you tell me, how can I not be in love?  I never really had pets growing up.  I had an outdoor cat growing up, Casey (I am allergic to kitties, even though I love them).  She lived from the time I was like 8 until I left for college...  And a bird, Ginger, who lived for 1 day (when I was around 5).  I know, so sad...  We had a handful of fish and such...   But this is my first true pet love...  8 years of Blisss....

So, tell me about your beloved pet?  Or one you had growing up??  Wonderful pet love...

Now, I must be off, but I wish you lots of Dreaminess and creativity this weekend...  Or perhaps, time to refuel and relax, and just be...  Whatever it is that you do, may it be infused with sparkly magic...

      

And perhaps, you might find a bit of inspiration to swirl about in..

 

If you are in the U.S. have a safe 3 day weekend!!  Yippppeee!!  Off I go to listen to my favorite and make my way into that creative magical world of my own, tonight...  Maybe I'll see you there? Tea, anyone?  LOVE, V ♥