A Fanciful Twist

Of January Blossoms, Winter Light & 16 Years

And then it was January...

With found garden roses, right before a wild winter storm.

Cloudy light and chilly air make roses very happy.

I pick my blossoms and reflect upon time.

How have I been writing this blog for 16 years?

So much has changed, and yet everything is the same.

As I type that last sentence I realize, not much has changed really.

Because everything is the same, but with added elements that have enhanced life in so many ways.

I pick these flowers and can almost not believe that I built a whole new garden here over the last 6 years.

(And a hidden secret garden, behind that garden, over the last 3 years.)

That was after building a garden at the country house for 22 years, which is mature and doing well.

To say that I love to garden is a huge understatement, obviously, haha.

I am always amazed that the roses are doing so well, and that some even last through winter.

But even more amazing, is that for the last 13 years, the guy below has been by my side.

Right beneath me, every single move I make.

Matty (Matisse), ferocious little guardian.

He has known all the dogs.

Baby, Miles and now Teddy.

I suppose January can be a month of reflection.

I go into the chilly garden and let out the tiniest happy sigh when I see a Katydid on the roses.

I am, in the deepest part of my heart, in my pretend world, and entomologist and horticulturist.

The vastest calling of my soul is to plant seeds and cultivate gardens, whilst marveling at all the tiny creatures.

I have a really tender love for the winter garden.

Everything seems quiet and sleeping, but if you kneel down you will see, all the microscopic sprouts of early spring pushing through the ground.

The rosemary Christmas trees await their new place in the garden

Birds hunt for seeds.

Teddy tries to steal a giant chicken wire cloche.

Everything is a plaything to him.

There are hidden fairy tale pumpkins still in the garden,

Teddy loves to eat pumpkin and assorted squash (of course pumpkin is squash) whilst I tend to my plants.

When I ask him to please, not eat that particular pumpkin, he squints his eyes.

Sheepishly telling me that I am mis-accusing him with his expression alone.

He and Matty love to rest in the giant arugula (roquette) plants.

The scientific name for a rose is Rosa.

And so, I bring in the wonderful winter Rosas, and place them with the other growing things that get to live in the big sunlit window.

I am utterly thankful for roses in winter.

And the beauty of grey cloudy dappled sunlight.

On this loveliest of January day.

Cheers with teacups to this New Year friends.

I feel lucky to get to sit here typing to you in the 16th year of my blog.

I started my blog after Christmas in 2006, on the 27th of December.

I was so eager and excited, and felt that I had sooo much to tell and share.

Luckily my archives exist, up in the navigation bar, where all those posts still live.

I feel like that same happy go lucky girl, but wiser and with a lot more gratitude.

I've always had gratitude a plenty, but life levels that up even more, with all of its ups and downs.

I have a very quiet and peaceful life, and I spend my time between the country house and house 2.

My life is full every day with tending garden, my dogs, creating, filling shop orders, painting, cooking, and all manner of other interests I have.

With so many others that I would love to do, I especially love writing.

On new year's eve Teddy and Mister Lovee went to bed super early at the country house.

The Irishman, Matty and me spent the night in the tiny cottage down the garden path from the main house.

We read fairy tales and ate chocolate, and even though I am not a chocolate lover, I had the white chocolate one with raspberry inside.

At midnight, the 80's band called Breathe was playing on Pandora, and we danced.

Then we bundled up and walked around the garden path, listening to and watching people's fireworks in the distance.

It was a delightful way to go into the new year.

At around 45 minutes after midnight, a wild beyond words, storm rolled in.

It whipped buckets and buckets of rain for 2 days straight, with wind that made it rain sideways.

Someone's gazebo even ended up in our yard.

Often the rain was so strong I couldn't even see through the garden.

I love our wild winter rains because I know those poppy seeds are getting the cold they need to germinate.

After I am done typing I am actually going to go out searching for poppy seedlings, which I think I spied already.

It has been a joy to write to you here for 16 years.

To take photos and collect thoughts and ideas to type to you.

I know people say, blogs are over, how can you still write a blog?

But truly, I do not intend to go anywhere.

My blog is home.

I know I was blogging less for a time, and it was because I added a second house to the mix and needed to set up my life here.

But I feel really settled now, and I am enjoying writing my letters to you in the form of blog posts, as I always have.

From 2014 to 2019 all I wanted to do was go treasure hunting, and then more antiquing for the second house.

I had soooo much fun doing so.

I didn't want to sit at home, I wanted to be in those old library scented, quiet aisles of the antique store.

Then in 2020, with the need to stay home more, I decided to start a second big secret garden behind the formal garden at house 2 (as you know).

And that has led me to that more peaceful, stay at home creating art and growing seeds space, that is so familiar to the last 22 years of my life.

When we purchased house 2, I transplanted so many rose bushes (about 13 out of 56, that gophers were killing) from the country house, and worked feverishly on the sad built-in planters.

Now they look like they have always been here, filled with green.

I wonder what my next big project shall be?

I sort of feel something brewing, but I can't quite put my finger on it yet.

I can see it in my mind's eye, and it's filled with inspiration and joy...

I wonder what it is?

When I figure it out, I shall be sure to let you know first.

It seems I have gone down the path of digressing and babbling on and on.

So, I shall say, see you soon.

And clink with teacups to you, wishing you a lovely little year.

I truly hope that one or more of your wishes come true.

 

Lots of love, 

With thanks for your friendship in this curious virtual land for these 16 years.

Sincerely

Vanessa Valencia  ;-*

 

 

ps: Have you Seen the 2022 series called Julia on HBO max?

(About the life of Julia Child)

I thoroughly enjoyed it and found it so inspiring.

I laughed and cried and laughed.

I love anything about her though.

<3 <3 <3

 

 

 

Of Little Life Tales & Tails!

Hello Friends!

I'm not trying to be a ghost, I promise :-)

I thought I'd stop in really quick and say hello and give you a little update.

I know it's super annoying to visit someone and not see a post.

So, I'm popping in super quick to fill you in.

Oh and, here is my attempt at a crooked family photo, haha!

One wants no part of it.

The other is smiling.

I get them both to sit and one leaves, hee hee.

It's funny how Matty looks huge because he's pushed up close to my camera and Teddy is behind.

When really, Matty is half the size of Teddy.

Okay so, here is what has been going on in life.

I've had extra amounts of things on my plate lately.

Dogs, houses, gardens, endless responsibilities.

I decided last Thursday, in the midst of all my life chaos, to purge the disastrous closets.

You know, productive procrastination.

I delivered 6 gigantic bags to Good Will.

Then I had to do 4 days of real estate school, because that was my previous career, and you have to renew every 2 years or lose your license.

I graduated from the University of Arizona many years ago, however one summer during college, I wanted to not have to go home, so my parents said if you stay in Tucson for the summer, then you have to stay busy, so go to real estate school. (Are you allowed to use that many commas in a sentence?)

So, that's what I did.

After college I decided not to take a job out of the country with my degree and tried my hand at real estate instead, since I had my license and I had worked hard for it and all.

It was a lot of fun, and I met people I still adore.

It was a different time, the offices were busy and bustling, and people didn't really work from home.

Whereas now, no one is ever in the office, and offices are like ghost towns.

There was comradery, and cocktail hour, and you dressed up nice every day, and had lots of adventures.

It turned out to be very lucrative for me in my young years, as the market was great, and I collected all my doubloons and pretty much retired to do art full time at around 29/30 years old.

Previously, I had been always juggling a job, with trunk shows (jewelry) and art shows.

It was fun, I was young, but utter madness.

Then I started my blog in December 2006, and the rest is history I guess, or a continuing journey really.

The point of that story is to say that, even though I do not do much real estate, except for buying personal properties...

I keep my license in an international company and keep all my courses and fees up to date.

Why you ask?

Because you just never know about life's twists and turns, and why not, right?

So, I had to do my biennial renewal courses.

Finished at 3 a.m. today, woo hoo!

I also had an updated medical thing earlier this week.

And then, Teddy got sick.

All of this happened in one week and is still ongoing.

Teddy has some intestinal thing going on that has gotten worse.

So, we are going to an emergency vet appointment in 2 hours.

He is still happy and eating, but I've noticed things that alarmed me (if you know what I mean), so in we go.

That's my crazy life juggling two dogs, two houses, two gardens, and a partridge in a pear tree.

Not to mention a leprechaun and a mad hatter.

Haha!

So, as soon as my worry about Teddy calms down and I get some rest, I am plunging back into Halloweenie things.

I really wanted to get all my responsibilities dialed in before October 1st.

I really hope to enjoy one of my favorite months to the fullest.

 

I am utterly delighted that you enjoyed my last blog post and joined in the fun.

I saw the magazine at every store I went to a couple days ago, and that was beyond lovely.

Always fun to get published, puts a little flutter in your heart.

 

Well, I wish I could stay and chat for hours, which I easily could, but I must get myself ready to take Teddy in.

I hope you are doing just peachy.

I'll be back and let you know what happened tomorrow.

 

Lots of Love, 

 

Vanessa and Teddy, and Matty too 

<3 <3 <3

 

 

 

 

 

Summer Magic + Some Big Decisions & Thoughts

Hello friends!

I hope you are well in your neck of the woods, and that you are having a swell summer.

My summer is really in full swing right now...

With zinnias and cosmos becoming 4 feet tall and blooming like mad.

I've had so much fun bringing in blooms to place on shelves.

Foxgloves, yarrow, delicate soft pink Pearly Gates roses and a ballet slipper pink zinnia sure do make a girl like me happy.

And then, there's the rain...

We are having a very nice monsoon season, such delicious rainy days.

You never know which kind you will get, but last year was spectacular and this year is turning out to be quite lovely as well.

There is soft wild grass growing, pumpkin vines blowing up, trees growing super tall.

Nothing like real rain to feed the gardens.

Plus, endless rainbows.

This little window shelf does my heart so good.

Mister Lovee built it this spring, in the little kitchenette that is in my office

It's actually a very bright space, but the window back light makes for moody photos.

Which evokes the exact mood of the garden and rain swirled together.

Cozying up with a good book, or just looking out the window in bliss, makes me very happy in this little nook.

Listening to the tap tap tap of rain.

Plugging in the fairy lights and filling the mantel with garden findings really makes me feel a certain kind of joy.

I think it's the exercise in mindfulness of it all.

Taking the time to snip the flowers, put them in water...

Arrange them where you want them - it's honestly so relaxing.

It makes you slow down and enjoy your garden and the moment more deeply.

Giving the figurines some giant zinnia parasols for good measure.

And just enjoying the beauty that nature creates.

I've been taking these moments to really think about what I want out of life these days.

What is important to me, what I'd like to share in this virtual world.

I have definitely gotten carried away with the social media aspect of all of it...

Mainly because, everyone is moving so fast, few people take time to read blogs.

And it's a place to connect with your friends.

Although, I can't help but notice that everyone seems to just be scrolling quickly, looking at pictures and videos endlessly.

There is a lot of beauty to see, but it does move so fast, and there is sooo much of it, you almost become numb.

I've joined in the endless scrolling myself, and really immersed myself in the ins and outs of the social media world.

What I have found though, if I am being completely honest here, is not always a sense of fulfillment and inspiration, but more of a frantic deluge of visual stuff.

Buckets of it really.

And whilst I truly love the connections with my friends, because it's really the only way to connect and share these days...

I often find the endless stream of visual candy to be exhausting, if I'm being honest, as I said.

Of course, there is beauty to see and enjoy, but it can get overwhelming.

I love to share too though, so I suppose, just like anything, there are more than two sides to the complexity of it all.

In simpler terms - it's fun to share and look, but to an extent, does that make sense?

In an effort to mitigate this feeling of everything moving too quickly, I've been taking time to order books and sit and page through.

To hold a beautiful decor book in my hands, and quietly pore over each page.

To take a stack of magazines and lay on my sofa enjoying every morsel.

Instead of just scrolling mindlessly on my phone.

Social media moves so fast, you sometimes can't really even enjoy the beauty.

It can't fully sink in, because you see one thing after another, after another.

When vastly beautiful things, like a woman running through a field in a beautiful princess gown with an exquisite castle in the backdrop, becomes the norm, and you are not impressed or inspired by it, then you know something has gone awry.

I think what that thing is, if I even dare to say this...

Is a bit of an overload of beautiful things to see.

There's so much beauty that I think sometimes our brains don't even register it.

And so, for me, I've been taking the time to do more tangible things, for the own joy of my life.

To be more present, to fill little jars with water and flowers.

To take the time to do all the little beautiful things that fill my soul and make me feel good and well.

Of course, in the middle of those thoughts, I think about my blog, this space here that I hold so dear.

For a while it has seemed that blogging is relatively over.

However, it does not feel over in my heart, for a few reasons.

Mostly because it makes me slow down and enjoy my life's moments.

I take photos with my actual camera, it's a much slower type of virtual sharing.

And it really makes me so happy.

Curiously, I recently received a notification from Facebook stating that my account is considered gray and will be shut down on August 31, 2022.

I admittedly use Instagram a lot more than Facebook, and almost didn't care to lose my account.

But then I really started thinking about it, and my 4500 friends over there.

I have become increasingly sadder about losing it and have tried everything to try to save it.

I tried to post about what was going on, to let me friends know, but my posts get taken down by Facebook.

And so, this led me on a real heart to heart journey with myself about social media in general, and how it fits into my life.

What role I want it to play in my life, and the balance of my involvement in online activities.

I have seen so many people lose their Instagram accounts, get hacked, have everything deleted and wiped out.

I've had friends pay hackers to get their account back, and some land in a puddle on the ground in despair, having to start a whole other account after posting and losing 10 years of daily content.

The thing is, we do not own our social media accounts, and we've put so much effort and time into something that can be wiped out in the blink of an eye.

On August 31, ten years of my own content and posts will be deleted from Facebook, by Facebook.

I've pretty much accepted it (mainly because I'm older and wiser about letting go), but also, I've decided to be proactive about finding a solution.

I've watched videos and read a hundred posts about it, but in the end, it really is out of my control, despite my best efforts.

And that is truly okay.

But this led me to think about an important thought/realization, and that is...

We are really at the mercy of the social media services we are a part of.

We put so much time and energy into something we do not own.

It's not your own blog or website, and it can be taken away at any time.

So, with that in mind, I asked myself what I wanted to put my heart and soul into.

This makes me want to hug my blog and say I love youuuuu and I'm sorry I have not been coming here so often.

For whatever reason, I think the universe has spoken to me and said, open your eyes Vanessa!

Your blog needs you.

Even if there are crickets here.

Even if it is only me, in a hidden secret garden in the middle the deepest part of the forest...

It is mine.

It is my 15 year old home.

And so, I've had weeks to really think about what is important to me in life, what I want to put my energy into, and how I want to fill my days.

I am met with the same realization at every corner of my thoughts.

Your blog is your home.

You invite people here, to visit you, to be a part of this space, and to be friends.

So many of us kindred spirits have gathered here and found each other through this space throughout the years.

And it's a special place in my heart to share with you.

To share a morsel of my art world, and my garden world, that I have been building since I was 11 years old.

I still feel like that young girl painting vines on her furniture and helping water her dads' petunias and trees.

This space is so important to me.

To share my journey, and to maybe impart a little bit of light, hope and inspiration with whoever I come into contact with.

I've never been one to care about likes and followers and growing growing growing.

That is not me.

I care about people, and friends, and this one life we get.

I care about really living.

We are here for such a short time, I don't want to waste it.

I want to embrace it.

And that means, coming home.

Coming home to A Fanciful Twist.

This place that was created on a scrap paper, with a pencil drawing and endless hope 16 Decembers ago.

A place for you and me.

Not just for me, not just to see inside my house or to see everywhere I travel to, or what I buy.

But to really stand side by side, holding hands, looking into the world with a sense of support and inspiration.

To know that I am real like you, that I can cry, get anxious, feel lost and confused.

But that I find ways to experience life in a way that brings me joy and helps me get through the trials and tribulations of life, and perhaps through my journey I too can help you.

And somehow, we can help each other.

I don't care about numbers and content.

I care about you.

I care about me.

I care about this one life, and a sacred space to be free to be ourselves.

To be funny and silly, to love tea parties, to cry when our dogs die, to plant seeds of growth.

To know that you are not alone.

These are the sort of things that slip through the fingers of social media.

We can't visit our favorite blogs anymore, because no one is home.

Everyone is on a fast roller coaster ride, with a very beautiful scenery, but one that moves too fast to make a real impact.

At least that's how I feel.

There's too much to see, too many reels, too many posts, and it's moving so fast.

I want to just sit on a quilt under a tree here with you, and talk about life, and inspire one another.

And to make sure that you know that you are wonderful just as you are, and we are going to be okay.

I will still partake in social media in my own little way, but my heart will come to focus again, and put the time and effort into this space.

I don't know how I will tell you that I am here when my Facebook account closes, or in the ever changing world of social media.

So, I'll just tell you now.

I will be here.

I have decided this.

This space is where my virtual home is, and it's time to come back home.

So, I'll be here, in my little house under the big tree, with my rounded door, making a fire, putting on a copper kettle.

And you are always invited to join me.

This is the next leg of the journey.

Coming back home to where I belong.

A Fanciful Twist.

And nothing can make my heart feel better than this.

 

Lots of love, always and forever,

Vanessa

 

I will be here several times a week, from this day forward.

 

See you soon <3 <3 <3

 

 

 

 

 

Welcome Home Little Theodore Laurence ♥

Yes, it's true, we have our very own Teddy!

Theodore Laurence, Guardian of Fanciful, Arizona.

Can you believe it?

I almost can't, someone please pinch me!

For the last week I have disappeared into the new baby nights and getting to know my sweet little Teddy!

He has come home to the country house, where we are all hunkered down, raising a young pup.

He was so little, and has begun to grow fast, in only one week.

I'm trying to absorb every last second because puppy time goes by so very quickly.

He's incredibly playful, cuddly, and can be super rambunctious too.

As you may know, he is named after a beloved character in Little Women.

Theodore Laurence, known in the novel as Teddy and Laurie.

Truth be told, I had a couple different names I had settled on, and only one he answered to - and boy did he answer to it.

And so, Teddy he is!

(He was originally going to be Wolfie, and sometimes I call him Theo, but he only answers to Teddy)

He hops and scampers to you upon calling out his name.

He's a pure delight really.

Long cold nights are forgotten at first sight of his darling little face, whose eyes say mommy pick me up!

He loves to bite and chew, so he has buckets of toys.

Of course, socks are his favorite.

To see a new furry face skipping down the country house garden paths is...

Enough to make my heart explode entirely.

He's so beautiful, and everything you can imagine, and more.

We spend 24 hours a day with him, and work in shifts.

In the early morning I track him over my giant winter coat by watching his shadow behind me.

Although, now he's starting to run in front of me, and faster than me, haha!

His favorite spot is in the verbena patch in the front garden, where Miles is buried.

Once again it is full of toys, the way Miles used to keep it.

We sit and play in the sunshine all day and think of Miles often.

When Miles first died, I thought, there is no way I am getting another puppy.

But as the year went on, and Matty and I found our rhythm, it always felt as though something was missing.

My heart was just so broken, and it slowly started whispering to me that it was time.

I did research for a few months, I joined rescue groups, I scoured sites and joined local adoption resources.

We needed a young pup because Matty would not accept an older dog.

We tried that, and it was not a good situation.

We waited and searched.

I knew if it was meant to be, it would all happen as it should, so I did not force the journey.

Then one day I made a serendipitous connection with a gal named Crystal.

I had no idea she lived just down the road from me, is a stellar dog mom, and had pups.

It just happened to be that she had pups right then, and true to my life, the number 11 was everywhere.

His birthday (my birthday) and a bunch of other things had 11's, and so I pursued the connection.

11's have always appeared in my life, so they make me pay attention when they turn up.

Crystal and I connected online a bunch, and then chatted for over 2 hours, and I knew it was just right.

She has a very serious adoption process, and I can appreciate that.

And so, in a chance meeting, in some magical way, Teddy came to be my next fur baby.

And here we are, playing in Miles' verbena.

All tired.

But crazy haaaappy!

A trio of adults to raise a couple pups.

How is Matty taking this you ask?

I thought he would play with Teddy right away, as he did with Miles.

But since he's an elder, his is more observing.

At first, he was totally uninterested, but as the days go by, he seems to be taking more of an interest.

I just hope and hope that Matty decides to play with him one day soon, because Teddy is dying to play with Matty.

It's been so chilly, this is the view from my old vegetable garden here in the country.

We walk around and around garden paths, with the snow dusted mountains watching over us.

And this is what taking photos of Teddy is like.

He's a tiny little guy, sooooo cute!

Which is well worth it to capture these invaluable memories.

Snapshots in time, that are changing too quickly as he grows.

You never know how life will twist and turn.

It feels like such a different journey, 11 years since having our last puppy.

We are at the country house, as it's a great place for a pup to grow and learn his surroundings and parents.

It's our homebase, and always will be.

I am taking this time, in between Teddy's naps, to deep clean and go through 20+ years of stuff and purge.

It feels so good.

I've been washing curtains, recycling endless stuff in my original office and cooking up some fun meals.

I am trying to just live in the moment and push away my busy brain that says I need to do this and this and this and that.

Right now, I need to only do this.

To be with people I love, and two dogs I adore.

Be in the sunshine and light, paint at night whilst puppy sleeps, sip tea in the cold.

Revolve my days around a puppy, who will outgrow puppyhood so fast.

Thank goodness I grabbed my parka and my warmest scarf though, because the nights have been so cold up here closer to the mountain tops.

Training a puppy little by little, being loving and patient, that's what it's all about.

Matty is snoring at my feet as I type, while Teddy is being chased around the garden paths by Mister Lovee.

I'm cooking for everyone, baking birthday cake for Irishman, making ginger and garlic soups to keep everyone healthy, etc.

I'm in charge of nights with Teddy, and after I take him out for his 5 a.m. potty, in the cold darkness we cuddle up in my bed and play. He attacks my hair, we play tug of war for an hour, and then he snuggles up close to me and falls asleep.

Then I carefully place him in his bed crate, and fenced in bedroom of his own, and catch some z's myself.

Funny how your heart knows how to expand again, so that everyone can fit in there just perfectly.

Baby, Miles, Matty and Teddy <3

And so, we begin again, another chance at this crazy kind of puppy love.

Hope to see you again soon!

♥

Love, Vanessa