A Fanciful Twist

Honesty + Life

This is such a hard blog post to write.

Typing this makes everything going on in my world more real...

You see, after a week of tears, fear, confusion, ER and meeting a surgeon...

 The fact is...

In a few weeks I have to have the first surgery of my life.

If I ever get brave enough, I might share some more details.

I can say that the prognosis in the end is said to be good, and the recovery will be a few weeks.

I'm scared, but I have vast faith keeping me from drowning.

I don't know how much I will be able to do work/art wise for the holidays etc.

In the few weeks before my surgery, I am rearranging my house to make it easier for my family to visit.

I am not sure if I will have time for art, but I do have some paintings I would like to finish before I am gone for a few weeks.

I guess all I can do now is go with the flow, and somehow find a way to deal with these stomach pangs of nerves.

I don't like to think negatively, life is full of ups and downs, and sometimes you have to just be braver than others.

This is what I keep telling myself.

 

Love, Vanessa

 

 

ps:  Two originals in the shop have been priced lower  ♥

pss:  I have freshly stocked the Halloween and Christmas sections of my art shop.

 

 

Holding on to Pretty Summer Days...

Something strange happened last night.

It was cool, open window cool.

Cool air, with a sky full of crazy unreal stars.

This cool night thing in August is bizarre for such hot days.

It made me feel needy for summer.

Like summer was slipping through my fingers.

So, I vowed to plunge and enjoy every single moment of it.

Even if it's oven hot during the day.

The heat can feel so healing and wonderful, note to self, more garden baths!

There are roses blooming here and there, so I steal some from the garden...

Bundling some up, others gifted to nooks and crannies.

I woke up the other day at 4:30 a.m.

At 5 a.m. it was still dark.

Strange, then I realized, it is August.

August, September, October - what???

I went outside.

It was not raining, and the sun was rising to the east, filtered golden rays, through fluffy clouds.

Then I looked to the west and gasped.

A rainbow??

A rainbow!

What?

How?

But there it was, sure as my camera can share.

A sunrise rainbow on a day with no rain.

I snoop around, sniffing flowers.

Wisteria blooms giving off the scent of an entire flower shop.

A complex scent of mixed flowers.

I wash my shells.

I dream of the ocean.

We cuddle.

In my little family of one girl, one man, and two fur boys - there is much much cuddling.

We are hopeless huggers and cuddlers.

Disheveled hair for 3 of us, straight and tidy for Matty.

Who was cuddling with us, until the camera came out.

Then he was gone.

But Miley always stays.

I am reading Garden Spells.

I am into it.

My dear friend Miss D gave me this book years ago.

Finally, with all your positive suggestions, I plunged.

I will read the rest of today.

I will take a summer vacation day.

I am loving the words on the pages.

We are sleepy.

The rain is gone maybe until next week, and it is scorching hot again and dry.

No complaints.

But we are sleepy in this heat.

Miles is doing great.

Like nothing ever happened to him.

All his tests and bloodwork came back perfect, no signs of anything.

We have come to a conclusion that a scorpion very well could have been the culprit.

Especially based on his initial reaction of fear and pawing at his face violently.

They are not uncommon where he was sleeping.

But I am still watching my puppybrother, making sure he is a-okay.

Matty and Miles follow me all around, like baby chicks.

Every single step, there they are.

We pick ever so many flowers, and hide them in our curtained porch.

Where new age music plays, with flutes and birds, yep you got it ;)

And the fountain trickles loudly.

Peacefully.

(Mister Lovee comes over and makes "making fun of music" dance moves and facial expression of fake bliss, that rascal)

Savor summer.

That is our motto of the day.

Time, why do you have to fly past so quickly?

Why?

Well...

It's Jon Secada Friday, so I best be on my way.

I realize, you have no clue what that means, and I promise to bring some Jon Secada Friday here soon. (I did a post about it years ago and never shared it, must find it)

I invented this Jon Secada Friday thing years ago - my sis is usually my party of 2 for the Friday event.

But normally, it's a party of 1.

As I am usually on my own Friday nights, with Mister out playing instruments down the road.

 

Maybe we'll share it next Friday, and make a thing of it?

 

Love, V

 

 

 

 

Calgon Take me Away! + Magazine Winner

Hi there!!

Where have I been?

I've been here, there and everywhere.

Spinning busy as ever.

Busier than ever.

Mad lady.

I hardly have had time to breathe or sleep.

My brother is here from LA.

(I went to see The Conjuring with sister and brother, eeee!)

Mombie and Dad were in town for Mombies lovely b-day.

We went into town to celebrate with them.

Got dolled up.

Darn, that takes time, I forgot.

The peaches kept coming in in droves.

Freezing, preserving, canning, baking baking baking.

Picking.

Making pot after pot of midnight jam.

Jam from here til winter for sure.

I made hundreds of peach empanadas (Mexican pastry), boxed as gifts.

And dispersed.

The cicadas flew in to gobble peaches, haha, we were on to them.

Acreage needed mowing.

(I am the mower, I love mowing even though it's pass out hot)

Peaches needing slicing, hundreds and hundreds oh my!

More than hundreds.

I had a deadline.  Details, photos, wonderful work, love it! Working away with that.

Mowing by night, and early day light.

Trees needed trimming.

Tending + harvesting.

More and more veggies coming in.

Washing, chopping, refrigerating.

Eating.

Custom pendant, custom sculpting.

Can I please put my feet up for a second?

Just a second though, as I have a lattice peach pie in the oven.

I want to give it to the couple at the end of the lane.

It is mad busy round here, isn't it?

Mombie says, and you don't even have kids.

And I said, well, if I had kids I wouldn't be doing all of that.

Would I?

Wait, I do have two kids.

Furry.

Does the older curly haired man count too?  Umm, yes.

He counts as 4 screaming children me thinks ;)

The good news is, it's time to wind down a bit.

Although, the mess that is my house, oh!

Wanna help me clean it?

 

How about some random photos of where I have been?

Let's see...

I went to an old hotel.

Lovely lanterns and stars hanging everywhere...

There were cocktails in a curiously shaped room with interesting edging, and a slice of Mombie's face.

A treasure in Tucson.

The Arizona Inn.

Go there, it's awesome.

Beautiful desert.

I love the desert so much.

Of course, I went up winding staircases and found little doors, with creepy squeaks and faint laughter.

I swear.

I had tea for dessert.

Move dad, I am trying to take a picture here :)

(Poor Dadly)

My sister and brother said it was The Conjuring armoire and scary lady would come out.

Darn that Bathsheba witch, scared me crazy.

I repeated her name in my sleep all night after the movie.

Serves me right.

Lovee wore bee stripes to dinner.

We love bees.

Save the beeees!

I wanted the kumquat trees in big pots.

We laughed so hard we nearly died.

Laughter upon laughter when you get my family together.

Oh my!

We are just so wrong.

Laugh so hard your head and stomach hurt.

It's no wonder they didn't kick us out, with their fancy 7 courses of perfect bites.

So yumm.

Duck, and scallops, and lamb, and salmon, and vichyssoise - and who knows what else we ate.

Asparagus, tiny edamame scattered across the plate with carrots, like art.

And the desserts.

OH MY!

True art on a plate.

I just looked.

As you know, I really have to be in the mood for dessert.

Lemon water to rinse your hands after dinner.

Nice get away for a girl who runs around with mud feet and unruly hair these days.

But wait, I forgot the wine and cocktails.

Lovee and I had water, how boring we are.

But we both feel rotten if we drink.

Although, we did share a thimble full of Six Grapes port last week.

(it's excellent by the way, I keep it around for guests)

There were paintings whose eyes followed you around.

And libraries.

Such old novels, the oldest locked up.

We snooped, and got into all sorts of shenanigans, sis and I.

(sis below, aka Bobbypin Bandit)

My brother and I pretended we were in The Shining movie.

We strolled after dinner...

As Mombie sat in front of the giant fireplace.

(that's her foot and arm)

We'll be back in winter when the fire can be lit, we agreed.

(Mombie is hipper than I could ever hope to be)

Mombie and Dadley stayed in the piano bar requesting songs from the pianist.

And I rushed home to finish my work.

 If you go watch The Conjuring, take a sweater or poncho to cover your face/eyes with.

I did.

It wasn't soooo scary, but maybe I had already scared myself enough before watching it.

Plus I had been listening to all sorts of interviews Andrea Perron was doing.

So, I was prepared, a little.

It was really creepy/unsettling middle to end.

But, what would I know, I covered my face :)

 

OH oh, almost forgot...

Magazine winner per random number generator is...

Lavender Dreams!!
Yipppee, please e-mail me your snail mail addy.

 

Thank you for playing, I wish I had a magazine for everyone.

 

Okay, off to check on that pie.

 

Back soon this time ;)

 

Love, V

 

 

 

 

Hola Bloglovin'

Adios Google Reader!

It's true.

Just a quick reminder post...

Google Reader is no more on July 1, 2013.

That means, beyond pronto.

Like, yesterday, tomorrow, now.

I was never much for blog readers, but I am really enjoying Bloglovin.

I tested it out myself for several weeks.

And you know what, I love it.

It's clean, fresh and easy.

Plus, it helps you keep up with blogs you ♥ and don't want to miss. 

See here, Bloglovin'

I am not paid or anything by Bloglovin' to share this info.

But I thought you should know, because Google Reader is off to RIP tomorrow.

Here's some info on converting your Google Reader list to Bloglovin.

Of course, there are other options.

This is just the only one I have ever used.

If you have tips or thoughts to share with others, we'd love to hear.

 Annnnd...

Even if you never used Google Reader, Bloglovin' rocks, give it a whirl?

 

I'll see you sooner than soon.

I just wanted to jump in with that quick reminder.

 

 

 

Spring Fever...

Yep, it's true.

I caught the spring fever wave.

Literally...

Chills and all.

Despite my best efforts, I caught Lovee's cold.

No kisses or hugs for over a week.

Me on one side of the house, him on the other.

And I still caught it.

Probably doing laundry and delivering meals.

Ah well, a common cold every now and then is par for the course.

I am in bed trying to get well quick quick quick...

Taking good care too.

(not really, I find myself escaping my bed, only to be brought back by a hacking cough)

Thank goodness for the pink roses from the garden.

Why must one get sick in the full bloom of spring, I ask?

My mom says oodles of folks she knows caught it too.

Curses!

:)

You know what is really silly?

I am one of those people that wipes off the handles on grocery store carts, and carries wipes in her purse.  And washes her hands the second she walks in the door.  And disinfects everything including the steering wheel.

Goes to show, pointless :)

I think maybe I'll live on the edge now.

What is your take on germs?

I never use that antibacterial pump stuff only because I don't like how it feels on my hands.

But I do use antibacterial wipes and such.

Should I keep doing it, or is it fruitless?

(I have heard some folks think being exposed to germs builds your immunities?)

For now...

I am trying to do some of this.

Day dreaming.

Dreaming big.

I hope you are still doodling?

I am thinking up little faces and things I want to paint and sculpt when I feel better.

There are baskets of strawberries coming in from the garden, so I want to make this, which I saw in the May 2013 issue of Country Living...

Rustic Strawberry Galette.

Achoooooooooooooooooo!!

Hack hack hack.

Thank Goodness for mint tea.

I fill a big pot with water, about 12 cups or more.

Bring it to a boil, turn it off.

Toss in 2 cups of fresh mint leaves (no stems), steep for 10 minutes, strain, put in a tiny bit of honey or sugar, done.

Sip.

They say it's good for a cough?

Okay well, I gotta run.

If you need me, Medusa will be over here, kleenex covered and sneezing.

Oh oh oh....

Did you happen to see the moon last night?

It was spectacular coming over the mountain.

Darn cold, I want to play!!

Last night would have been a perfect evening for sleeping under the stars.

 I am listening to Stevie Nicks on repeat while looking out the window, watching the trees burst with new leaves.

 

Any old tricks up your sleeve for getting well quick?

 

Love, V

 

 

 

 

ps:  Matty is feeling okay, sleeping on a little rug by my bed, not budging.  Miles wants to be on my lap all day, so Lovee is in charge of keeping him entertained when he can, although he has been at work long days this week.  You should hear them wrestling and playing tug of war :)

 

 

Of Ford and Rose...

When the cat is away, the mice will play.

Isn't that what they say?

Or if the cat is real sick, the mice will play too?

Mister Lovee has been majorly under the weather.

And, I have been a really good nurse, if I do say so myself.

Ahem.

:)

For some reason I do caretaker good these days.

I am not sure why or how this came to be?

I was a horrid, rotten self centered child, so who knows?

Love does it, perhaps?

Anyhow...

There I was, tra-la-la-ing around.

Minding my own business.

Keeping myself entertained whilst Lovee suffered a beautiful weekend in bed.

Picking roses, cooking, baking, collecting mint leaves for a hug pot of hot tea.

Painting, stringing pearls, playing with pups.

And then, it hit me.

That old 1957 Ford truck in the yard!?

The one Mister Lovee used to drive ages ago.

That should...

Possibly maybe...

Perchance?

BE MINE!

Imagine?

Cotton candy pink, or muted light teal with pink cabbage roses painted on the doors?

Me...

At the wheel...

Bashing around, to and fro.

Imagine?

Going here and there in my pink or teal truck?

Oh ya.

I can feel it.

So, I took a proper opportunity, you know...

Sort of like when I was a kid, and my dad and his brothers would be outside listening to oldies and drinking beer, and I would be like, hey dad, can I have some money?

And he would give me everything in his wallet, cuz he was too beer happy to know better ;)

Sometimes it was quite a lot of dough for a kid.

So, as Mister Lovee lay coughing and sneezing up a storm...

I proposed, you know -

That...

Maybe...

The truck should be painted all cute, and given to me?

Being such a good nurse and all.

Ha.

With sick eyes closed, he eeked out a tinge of a smile and nodded yes.

YES!

(insert evil grin, bwahahaha!)

I better start saving my pennies, so I can restore my new truck.

Hehehe.

I wonder if he will still say yes when he feels better?

I know how to drive stick.

Kinda Sorta.

Once, well, more than once...

My parents went on a business trip, and left us with a nanny/housekeeper, and I took my dad's big red monster truck out joy riding.

I was about 15 or 16.

I had two best friends growing up, they were boys.

Aaron and Hector.

We did everything together.

We spent every waking moment of our summers up to pure mischief.

So, one day when the parental units were away, Aaron came over, and I had a grand plan to take the monster truck out.

I could hardly get in, it was so tall.

It was a dull tomato red, horrid thing.

And, what I didn't know at the time, was that it wasn't working.

So, I went hunting for the keys in my dad's drawers, and off we went.

Me and Aaron in the big red truck.

5 feet of me, perhaps less at the time, driving this thing.

Gargantuan gear shift, clutch and all.

As we got down the road, I noticed that the steering wheel pulled really hard to the left.

And...

Get this.

Every time it pulled to the left, the steering wheel would let out a HUGE HONK!

I mean huge.

So, there we were on a bumpy dirt road, laughing, getting only stations playing Spanish polka on the radio, and the steering wheel honking every 8 seconds.

Bonk, BONK.

Us laughing so hard.

Me freaking out and laughing and trying to shift.

Trying to get the darned thing back home.

If I could handle that, I can handle this '57 Ford.

I think I will need some backing to get Mister Lovee to say yes when not ill.

You think I should have it, don't you?

:)

Let's remind him why it is, that I should have a perfectly lovely cotton candy truck.

Shall we??

Remind me to tell you about the time I snuck out the window, and took my mom's boat size white Lincoln town car (with a faux convertible top, remember those crazy things?) joy riding.

It was like steering a ship.

My parents were pretty strict, so I was always grounded.

 But now, time to convince Lovee to hand over the keys!

Help me out, won'tcha?

 (I wonder if I could pull my gypsy wagon around with me?)

 

Love, V

 

 

 

ps:  My dad just called and I reminded him of the truck thing.

Honking horn, etc.

We had quite a laugh.

 

 pss:  Now I can't get this out of my head.

 

 

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Waterboy

We interrupt the planned broadcast for a true tale of weekend life.

You see, we found out on Friday that our little road was being opened up - trenches, lots and lots of workers and big machines and endless cars and trucks - coming to put in all new gas lines for the next few days.

Yay?

All day Friday guys came and went, measuring, planning.

Eating, laughing talking.

Matty on high alert patrol.

(goodness that makes me more than happy, and relieved)

Annoying to us lovers of silence and peace and no people wanted on our little street.

But, hey, a little activity every now and then is fun.

That was, until I was hand-washing crochet stuff with bleach and the water turned off.

I had to go get water out of the dog pool to rinse my hands.

:)

Luckily, I had just washed the dog pool out that morning, and filled it fresh.

All our water stashes have been used in the recent warm weeks.

None on hand (note to self, save water for such happenings).

I ran outside only to see about 30 guys down the street, staring at the ground.

Yep, they were looking at the water line they had just hit.

Hello flooded street.

Out here at the country house, a few properties (and us) share a well.

The well water is tested monthly, good stuff, and one neighbor checks meters and does the billing.

Lucky for us, he had the proper pipes on hand and fixed it all up.

But then, the gas line guys refilled the hole, and didn't put soil under the pipe first before filling the trench in.

Genius.

So, today, the pipe burst again.

Luckily, I had a fresh water stash.

Point of this tale?

Mister Lovee and another neighbor went out to dig up the hole, so the other neighbor could fix the line again.

They worked so hard.

So.

I hired a helper.

You know, to deliver water.

And get this, he works for food.

Treats, that is ;)

Animals always amaze me.

How smart they are.

I LOVE tales of people's creatures and all the awesome things they do.

I could sit for hours and just listen to people talk about their furs.

I love how when I pass houses, I identify them by the furs.

Like, the wild 10 dog house.

Or the horse, pig and two shepherds house.

Or, Sandy across the street.

And, Turtle and Lacey down the way.

Both of my lady neighbors have moved, and with them went lots of furs.

Sniff.

I just love fur tales.

So, after all that.

Here's a tiny tale for you.

I asked Miles if he would take water bottles down to the guys digging.

Lovee was down there digging, so I said...

"Miley, can you take this water to daddy?"

(yes, we refer to Lovee as daddy, my uncle mocks us all the time, I know)

He delivers the paper every morning, still.

Down the driveway he goes, early every day.

What a guy.

So, he knows how to do the delivery thing, only he has never delivered bottled water down the road.

(he will tear the mail out of your hand if you don't hand it to him to be delivered, when you open the mailbox)

So, as for water delivery.

I opened our gate and off he went...

He looked back a couple of times, and then when he realized it was his human down there, he shot off.

Making those water deliveries, one bottle at a time.

YAY!

What a guy!

He went back and forth.

Delivering those water bottles.

And ran back so happy, he could hardly contain himself.

My furs have taught me so much.

I have learned that, the only barriers they have to doing things, are the ones I put on them.

Baby taught me ever so so much.

And I have implemented all my new-found knowledge on these boys.

Miles learned tricks and things very quickly.

You show him once and he gets it.

But I hadn't taught Matty many a few years ago.

Then, back then I found out, Matty knew all the tricks too.

Shaking and all that.

Of course he hugs on command.

Point is...

A huge lesson for furs, for life, for me.

Boundaries are barriers we create.

But we are free to break through any time.

If we let ourselves.

Boy I learn from them.

Now, I need to burst out of my own boundaries big time!!

;)

Pppppppleeeeease tell me some of your fur tales.

Please please?

I LOVE fur tales.

 

I wonder if I can teach them to call 911 in an emergency?

 

I love those tales of dogs that save their owner's life who like, fell hiking or something.

 

Big tales, little tales, silly tales, happy tales, sad tales, wonderful tales, simple tales.

I want to know, link if you'd like.

Who are/were the furs in your life?

 

Love, V

 

 

 

ps:  I will tell you one more fur tale.

When I was a baby my parents bought this red brick house, that looked like a gingerbread house.

My mom had mushroom wallpaper and orange counter tops put in.

She loves that house still, and wishes she still owned it.

It had a huge library, filled with books.

(That is an eerie story, I will tell you another time)

So, we lived in this house.

And one day this gorgeous big white Persian cat turned up.

It followed my mom around, and my mom could not figure out who it belonged to.

So, she let it stay.

It would sit by me in my baby carrier and take care of me.

Honest.

And, one day, my mom was walking down the hall, and heard someone in the bathroom.

And, it was the cat, using the toilet.

Sitting on the actual toilet, tinkling.

Can you believe it?

So, my mom got really close to this cat, and she would ask it to watch me, and if I cried let her know, and the cat would.

One day the cat, my mom and me were in the front yard, and a little girl visiting the front door neighbor went crazy yelling, "That's my cat, that's my cat!!!"

She lived about 10 miles away or more, in a whole different neighborhood.

So, her dad came over and said, this is our cat, we want it back.

My parents tried to buy the cat, and they said no way Jose.

So, off went the cat.

A week later, the cat was back at our house.

This went on, back and forth, until finally, the people de-clawed the cat, and kept it inside.

My mom always missed that cat.

 

 

Poppy.

The days go by quickly.

Spring is in the air.

So many buds beginning to begin the journey on fruit trees.

Poppies and bulbs blooming.

It's been warm, although we will have a cool snap coming this weekend.

A little rain, before the cold leaves us for good, they say.

All my flower seeds I planted in fall begin to pop through the earth.

The rabbits want it all for their dinners.

So, I get busy protecting.

Every last shop order parcel has left the building.

So, I am all caught up.

Hooray!

I am also trying to catch up on lots of life things.

Matty having a check up vet visit.

(more on that to follow)

The garden needing some love if I intend to get my seeds in this year.

I got the beds all cleaned up, and ready for a new year in the veggie garden.

It's unreal to think that the garden looked like this last year, and gifted oodles of edibles...

Not to mention the explosion of sunflowers in late summer, here.

That was amazing.

And with zero fertilizer or chemicals.

Just our own compost soil.

And miniature goat love.

(do you compost?)

I can't even believe it happened.

Sunflower dreams.

And now, we begin again.

All fresh and ready to go.

And because I am nuts...

When I am so busy and crazed, I think of more things that "I need" to do.

So, I have been purging, tidying, organizing. 

Mostly in the gallery, and in a shed way out back that you can't see from here.

I am almost totally done on that front so far.

Heap below, gone + organized + some donated, yay.

Exhausted.

We have pruned all the roses, mostly a couple weeks ago.

But I used that ladder above to do the climbing rose vines around the gallery.

Little leaves are sprouting like mad.

I can't believe it.

A new spring.

Warm days.

It's like, a huge gift again.

Year to year.

Almost here.

Matty had a vet visit yesterday afternoon.  We made plans to keep him on some medicine for a little while longer (other for 6 months).  The vet is certain that Matty's ailment is neurological.  He didn't do very good on his neurological tests on the left side of his body.  And he is clearly in pain.  She confirmed he did not have a stroke or get poisoned.

He did not test positive for valley fever, but it could be a lesion on the brain,  or it could be an injury we can't see or confirm or find.

He has been checked out by pro's thoroughly.  So I am trusting the vets, going with the flow.  Seeing how Matty does over the next couple weeks.

Today was a rough day for Matty.

Nights have been up and down.

But we are all hanging in there.

Hoping for the best.

Too skinny, lots 3 pounds in less than 1 week.

Yucky.

But the norm for being sick.

He did bark at a car, good news, hooray!

Please get well my pup.

I am hopeful and happy.

And we are not being sad.

No siree.

There are lots of cuddles and kisses and love abound.

(he follows me around all day and night, I am glad he finds comfort in me, sniffle)

Miles is bored silly, as Matty can't wrestle these days.

And won't play with Miles at all.

(we try to, but I am sure it's not as fun)

But, we have hope.

Hope is awesome.

Isn't it?

The doc said it could take a long while for Matty to heal.

We even talked about a 6 month plan.

There was a lot more said etc, but I don't want to inundate you with info.

For now, we have poppies, and the promise of spring on the horizon...

I LOVE spring.

Oh spring.

Beloved times!

Don't you?

Off to get a work out playing the pump organ.

See you extra soon.

 

Love, Vanessa

 

 

 

Love.

Thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you for all the Matty love.

You have no idea what that means.

I can't even tell you.

Today he is wanting to walk around a little more.

He is sleeping a lot too.

A little dizzy-ish, head to one side a bit still.

Not too interested in eating.

But seemingly, a bit more lucid.

I am cooking him things he likes, and from time to time he gobbles some up.

But, dare I say, the steroid for potential inflammation might be working.

(he is on 6 meds right now)

Hoooray hoooooray hooooooray!!

(knock on wood)

We are all cuddled up, me doodling for sanity.

Still.

And maybe always.

The doodles found me at the best time.

I think we should all doodle, 100% for sure.

It's like purging your emotions and feelings through journaling.

Only, better.

Easier.

For me at least.

I am finding sun rays.

I am working on myself.

Heart and mind.

Nerves and anxieties.

Seeing life's challenges in a different light.

All I care about right now, is that Matty is not in any pain.

That is the part I can't stand.

I just want him to have comfort.

I sleep with him all night.

He cozies up in the middle of my bed.

He is with me, by my side all day.

I hope he is feeling better.

That in some way the medicine is working.

The medicines are meant to work on different things that could potentially be the cause of the ailments.

All I hope is that something works, and he is comfortable.

The doctors were extremely thorough both at the vets and the hospital.

They worked hard to find a cause.

Blood tests, neurology tests.

But they couldn't really tell.

So, we are in that space where we will know within 1 week how things are going.

Life is such a strange place.

It is so wonderful and magical, and so harsh and tough.

All bundled into one.

I often say that life really is like a fairytale.

Filled with lots of good and bad.

But all we can do is hope that we learn from the tough times.

Grow and become better people.

That we have the strength to pull ourselves out of the sad times.

And that, we find some hearty sense of peace within.

Life has ups and downs and all arounds.

It's how we face those times, that gets us to the brighter other side.

Sometimes, the going through things is beyond painful.

And we just can't see the light.

After a while you learn that, the light is there.

At the end of the tunnel, the light is waiting for you.

It is.

The key is, trying hard to find a way not to loose your zest and love for being on this planet, when the going gets crazy tough.

That's the challenge, isn't it?

We never want to see those we love in pain.

Seeing someone suffer hurts like mad.

When Mister Lovee had his really bad car accident several years ago, I would go in the garden and cry.  Hoping and wishing for times to be as they once were.

After a while of getting through the madness of such an event, and broken bones etc, things were just as good again.

A miracle.

A gift.

When Baby died, I couldn't imagine my heart mending.

Then Miles came into our lives and brought Matty, Lovee and me much joy.

There is love to be found.

There are wonderful full days again.

It's just, they might be a bit different.

The one thing I know is, it's good to cry.

It's good to sob.

It's good to laugh.

It's good to hope and pray and have faith.

It's okay to break down.

And then puzzle piece yourself back together again.

It's okay to love, no matter how much it hurts sometimes.

It's important to remind ourselves of this over and over.

And to love those in our life, everyday, like it's the last.

Life will be sad and hard.

And good and wonderful.

In no specific order.

With no warning.

Through trials, we learn, it'll be okay.

Somehow.

We will make it.

Love or loss.

We are so lucky to have known such love.

Whether it is current, or a memory.

 

But, for now, it's living in the moment that matters.

 

This is what I am reminding myself of.

Every.

Minute.

Especially when the worry critters run through my belly, for my furry boy.

Just love love love.

 

Thank you for being out there.

Such bountiful good wishes sent from us, to you.

 

Love,

Vanessa, Mister Lovee, Matty & Miles

 

 

Finding Yourself Back...

Finding yourself back is such an interesting journey.

Or is it, finding yourself again?

It's like, seeing someone you vastly love, that you thought you'd never see again.

It's butterflies in your belly.

It's excitement.

It's renewed joy.

Makes you want to skip in circles.

But, what is it that helps you find yourself back?

What saves you again and again?

I told myself, I wasn't going to talk about this ever again.

Hello Hello

Well, hello there.

So nice to be here.

Such tales to tell, of where I have been, I'll try to keep it short.

Let me begin by saying, in the last few weeks, my studio looked like an elfin workshop.

Paintings, clay, wee faces, sparkle, fluff, ruffles, so much.

Just ready to be finished up for the holidays.

It was exciting, it was time for cuties galore.

Winter frolic and goodness was in the air.

Decorating for holidays, and more.

And then... 

Birthday Candle & Miniature

Hello!

I have been in a world far far away.

In a place called...

Birthday Week.

(sis lighting candles)

It was great.

I had a birthday party with my family at the country pad.

Mombie asked, what kind of cake do you want me to make you?

And I said, oh don't make one, too much work.

Then she asked, well then, what kind of cake do you want me to buy you?

I said.

Something CHEESY!

Something Kitsch.

And Ridiculous.

Like, a fairy, in a swamp with clowns & dinosaurs, and santa.

She seemed perplexed, and was like, oh - okay.

With the type of Oh, Okay, that told me she was on a mission.

Lovee brought me gobs of balloons, and a pretty pretty vintage bracelet.

I forgot to take a pic of me wearing it.

Then my sis and parents drove down the road towards my house, and I could see the balloons below in the distance, bobbing out the car window.

It was hilarious.

They brought so much food, and we had great music.

I made my dad a mixed cd with songs we both love, and remind us of our life -

Growing up and such.

We all talked so much.

Tears, laughs etc.

Then, the cake came out.

OH YA!

Santa and Reindeer!

My mom had the gal at the bakery put a santa cake, on a bigger cake, and lump cupcakes all around.

Isn't it hilarious?

Totally the cheesewhiz I wanted.

SANTA!!

I blew out all the candles (almost), and got my hair in one of them.

No torched hair though, yay.

Matty and Miles barked to come in, and sulked on the porch window.

Finally, Matty had had enough of not being able to see what we were up to.

(he is used to getting his way, you see)

So, he came up with a plan to look in the side window.

RASCAL!

Things they do when you have company.

We had never ever ever seen him do this.

That Matty.

Lovee and I laughed, as Lovee cringed at thoughts of his car scratches.

:)

I have had a week of playing with miniatures.

Dioramas and my little treasures that I have collected and made, over the last 15 years.

I have been to the post office many times, and stood in lots of lines.

Which I quite enjoy.

Everyone around me seems grumpy, but I love it.

Every store was out of living garlands yesterday.

It's sooo cold.

There is snow on the mountain.

It rained all night.

Love it.

I went out this morning and tossed all my spring seeds around.

My toes froze.

I can't wait to see what spring brings.

I have reflected on my last year several times this week.

Of ups and down and all arounds.

I only want the good in my mind.

Letting all the anxiety inducing stuff go, as best as one can.

And jumped around to some good music.

I was still a little sick on birthday, so I had no cake.

But I did this morning.

A bite.

And it was goooood.

December 11th is always a fond day in my heart.

My parents talked about the day I was born.

And how they almost killed me my first 2 days at home with too much clothes and blankets on.

And although it was snowing that day, the doc taught them that I wanted to be naked.

Their daughter who rebelled for freedom from day 1.

Fun fun.

I got a couple cards and treats in the mail too.

That really made things extra special.

I love snail mail.

And those parcels and notes were so unexpected.

I was gobsmacked!

I put my cards on a little table.

And have looked at them several times a day.

Snail mail is so special.

In this day and age, for those who take the time, well, that's more than swell.

It's superduperduper!

One of the songs I put on my dad's special mixed cd was this below.

And I have been singing it ever since.

So, I'll leave it as this year's birthday anthem.

With fondest memories of 1986.

Great lyrics!

So time is a river rolling into nowhere
I will live while I can
I will have my ever after...

 

 

 

Wintery & Random Life Chatter

It's beginning to feel a bit wintery around here.

Really cold nights and mornings.

Brrrrrr.

Not snow cold, but cold for us.

Cold enough to make it feel more holiday like.

I am having so much fun fluttering about decorating.

I have so many elves and paintings in the works, and time keeps slipping.

So, I am succumbing to time, and just breathing and going with the flow.

Plus, I got really sick for 4 days.

Probably all the junk I ate.

Okay, for sure, all the junk I ate.

So now, I am just going to take a deep breath, and move with the flow of days.

Instead of with self pressure.

I am so good at self pressure.

Winter Wonderlands beckon.

As daily morning tasks are underway.

Don't you love the norms of your life?

Our little family, 2 humans 2 furs, has so many norms.

Rituals.

Over the last few days that I wasn't feeling 100%, I have extra loved our days.

I mean, not the not feeling well, but the reminder of the ebb and flow of our lives.

Matty and I have secrets.

Miles likes his photo being taken, Matty, not so much.

But Matty is my secret sleeping partner every so often.

He tucks into my right side, and he doesn't budge.

If Miles hears the commotion (he is usually snoring on his back on the couch), he ends up on the left side of me.

But mostly, Matty sneaks in to be with me, and he and I just have snuggle time alone.

But somehow, in the morning, he is in the middle of the bed, and I am on the left side.

I call the left side of my bed, the weird side.

Since I like sleeping on the right side.

And every morning, Matty attacks me with love.

As though he has never seen me.

And, if he didn't sleep with me, and he is seeing me for the first time in the morning, he goes out of his mind.

Jumping and yelping and hugging and kissing me.

I always have to prepare for the morning attack if I have not seen him all night, and he happens to be outside already when I wake up.

Then Mister Lovee asks, are you ready, as he opens the front door, and I get totally attacked with love.

This is every single day.

I am so happy to be so loved by my little Matty.

These little things that are constant.

The loves that are a part of our lives in such a way.

Precious moments.

Totally priceless, seriously.

Miles always gets the paper in the morning.

No matter how heavy.

He carries huge logs around too, so I think his jaw is really strong.

In tug of war games, he always wins.

He barrels off the porch, heads to the front gate, skids in front of the newspaper...

Picks it up, tosses it in the air a couple times and catches it.

Then heads into the house for his delivery.

If Mister Lovee is not at the door, he runs inside and takes it straight to Mister in bed.

Then, he gets a treat.

Usually, he won't give you the paper, if you don't exchange him for a treat.

He'll just sit with the paper in his mouth, until the proper exchange is made.

:)

It's on these cold mornings, that Miles delivering the paper, is a huge luxury.

These days the sun does not come over the mountains and hit our house until 8:15 a.m.

But once it does, we are all out there for a morning jaunt.

The furs go sniff their regular spots.

Run around, doing their rounds.

Only, this time I decided to follow them.

Miles and Matty love to chase birds that are flying.

I think they think they can catch them.

Miles spots something way in the back of our property...

What is it??

He stands below and looks up the post...

(he checks the post several times a day)

He starts doing his banshee howl, as the hawk just looks at him.

It's quite funny.

A few times a day hawks or owls will stop by.

Hawks early, owls late.

Matty just watches Miles howling and carrying on about the hawk.

After that fun, they are on to their next things.

I think it is so fun to watch animals do their thing.

The things they notice, little ears listening intensely.

Running about.

Matty realizes this is a photo shoot.

And, he goes away.

I zoom in on him sitting in the driveway.

With a look that says, I am not playing if you don't put that thing away :)

He and Miles hear a car, and run to ward it off.

Barking madness.

While I tiptoe around the autmn/winter garden way out back.

I have taken out most of the towering dry sunflowers in the veggie garden.

And saved HUGE sunflower heads full of seeds.

But there are still some out there I left for the birds.

Don't they look like shower heads in the distance?

The dry pumpkin patch.

I realize there are soo many photos I didn't share this summer.

All the endless tomatillos we had.

I used them in salsa, but they are so tangy alone too.

All wrapped by nature in little paper lanterns, that months later turn into...

Beautiful lace puffs, dry casings, strewn about the garden.

Marigold seeds everywhere you turn.

Dropped to the earth from dry flowers...

A rogue fairytale pumpkin, and arugula that keeps on staying green, and giving still.

It self seeds over and over, as new crops pop up.

So yumm.

So green in the early morning today.

A giant plant keeps growing in the strawberry patch (below).

I can't figure out what it is, except that, I did plant some cabbage seeds in that bed that didn't take.

So I then grew huge cabbages in a different bed.

But I am wondering....

If that is a Frankenstein cabbage seed, turned Jack in the Bean Stalk?

There are actually 2, but this one is the tallest.

The leaves are very much like a thick waxy brussels or cabbage leaf.

So odd.

My fave fave fave.

Turning strawberry leaves.

Beautiful.

Green bursts here and there.

I took out all the dry summer flowers.

2 wheel barrows full.

It's so exciting to see all the little green tufts.

Plants that self seeded from spring, and will grow a tinge in winter.

Then flourish in spring 2013.

One rose holds on.

But one of the best things ever?

When you are freezing cold, and feel crumby...

And your soft handsome boy, crawls on top of you.

Like he did when he was a little baby.

Sprawls his whole body over you...

Crawls under your neck....

Giant puppy, heavy body warming you up.

And falls asleep.

Veering for a sec...

I had a Greek (from Cyprus) boyfriend for a long time, for many years actually, once upon a time.

Right before Lovee.

Anyhow, he had a friend who didn't speak English very well, Andreas.

Andreas had this saying he would use.

For example, if I played the piano for them, when I was done, he would grab my boyfriend and then gesture his hand towards me, and say in his fab heavy accent "This is Love! Huh, here, This! This is Love!"

Or, if I made them a nice dinner, and was serving them, he would grab my boyfriend's shoulder, point to me and then the meal, and say "This, THIS is LOVE!!"  And he would pat my boyfriend on the back.

He did this all the time, whenever I did something that to him, signified love.

It was hilariously sweet.

Anyhow...

To me.

THIS IS LOVE!

And I always say that out loud, when I am hugging my furs.

In my best Greek accent.

 

THIS IS LOVE!

So there was a random chatty days wrap up.  Off to lay on the warm porch steps for a couple minutes, and look up at the very blue sky, with hovering wisteria leaves, before I get busy with my day.

Happy Day!!!

 

Love, Vanessa

 

 

 ps:  The Magic of Christmas is calling big time, isn't it?

 

pss:  Who needs a goat or a sheep with that kind of hopping?

 

Crazy Little Days {And a Wig treat, or two, announced}

Hello heloooo!

I can't begin to tell you what I have been up to.  I have been sooo crazed.

Last couple weeks.

Working on something I wanted to share Wednesday.

Then it was Thursday.

Now Friday.

And still, I am not done.

Phew.

The studio is crazy explosive.

See behind me?

Crazy lady hovel.

My desk looks like a tasmanian devil came through it.

I am in the endless computer hours stage of attempting to create something.

Editing pictures, endless hours.

Stuffing jewels here and there.

Waaaaay tooooo much tea.

I make it very weak.

But still.

So much tea for one girl.

I hope to be done in about a day, so I can finally come back and share.

For now I have a perpetual gone loony face on.

Twisted eyes, vacant stare.

Crazy crazy.

I thought that loony girl face on me was so funny.

It was unintentional, so it must be true.

Because it is exactly how I feel.

Is it looney or loony?

The only thing that has gotten me through focusing and working on projects diligently.

3 song dance parties, 3 times a day.

Like heart pumping madly, outrageous energizing.

Jumping, moving, out of control.

Only, truthfully, you might find me blaring one song obsessively, on repeat.

Because when that 1:00 minute mark comes on, I go out of my head.

I even had Mister Lovee jumping around at 10 p.m.

Old Jazzercise moves come in handy :)

I even put on some old heels to bop around in.

They are falling apart.

Poor things.

And I am clashing prints.

But hey.

Everyone needs a loony week.

Or two.

Or three.

Or 4.

:)

As for wigs.

OH MY!

I love that so many of you are wig lovers!!

I'll tell you my childhood wig tales some time ;)

Let's see.

Two numbers.

Random Number Generator.

Miss Violet Lace treats.

$60 store credit goes to....

#71

Brani McKenna!!

Wooo hoo!

And, $25 goes to....

#79

Emilie Proctor!

Yay, so happy for you gals!

E-mail me, and I will get you all squared away.

 

Okay, off I go.

Florence Welch calling.

 

See you soon, with hopefully, a finished project.

 

Looove, V

 

 

 

ps:  Make sure you get up and dance today, okay?

Even if you don't dance in public.

You must dance in private.

You simply must.

 

 

Random This & That's

Hello from a random day at AFT.

In the office, shipping parcels.

(I love sending out parcels of art, love it, packing lots of goodies as extras, hoping to make folks smile)

 

I have been busy as a bee this week.

Oh and, bees flew into my house yesterday too.

But, they didn't sting me.

We have had ever so many bees this year.

The garden has loved it.

I work side by side with them.

And have not been stung yet, knock on wood.

(although I was stung once, years ago as a kid - but a little meat tenderizer mixed with water to form a paste on the sting, cured me right up)

I have had guests, big projects I am working on, a sore ear, rain, wind.

And maybe, a little autumn weather on the horizon.

I am beginning my good-byes to the garden blooms.

Although it's still warm, whilst raining.

Thick clouds, two trees meet.

Right under the gypsy wagon.

Sun shines through.

Pretty world.

That nature world.

Getting ready to go out.

Getting dolled up is so much fun, isn't it?

Going here and there, and visitors too.

Searching through little drawers for a charger.

Looking for something good to read in my cabinet.

Mice from Mombie.

She gifted them to me this summer, plus two greys.

I kept 7 white mice and gave each fur boy a grey.

But they know not to touch Mama's mice.

:)

My mom and dad came for a visit.

I streaked Mombie's hair.

Her and my dad brought more treats and baked goods than one can imagine.

Oh my.

It was a wonderful time had by all.

Of course, me being a sap, sobbed a bit when the Arthur song (love Christopher Cross) came on.

As my dad used to sing that to me as a little girl.

When you get caught between the moon and New York City....

So, I had the whole room tearing up :)

Nostalgia.

Of the good variety.

Matty has decided that he does love his gran and gramps.

And they love their grand-dogs back.

Of course, Miles is always ready for love.

But, Matty was so lovable he even sat on my dad's foot and cuddled up to his shin.

My dad felt so touched.

It's not easy to win Matty over.

This is the first time in 3 years that he's ever showed such love and kindness to my dad.

(he sort of always has liked his granny though)

These were major Dad + Matty strides.

And my dad finally got to see his sweet side.

My dad said, I never liked him til now.

Now he loves him.

Matty can do that to you.

After he decides not to eat you for lunch, and share tea and crumpets instead, you fall head over heels.

That's until a mouse goes missing.

Rogue mouse.

On the hunt for fame...

Yes, it's true.

A ridiculous mouse video, for you.

So ridiculous you will be sad you lost 2 minutes of your time, possibly, maybe.

Hopefully the moon walk will win you over.

It's quite a talent, don'tcha know :)

Video made by me and the boys.

 All of the songs played were on the radio, as I video taped.

(except the outro and intro)

Also, not sure why the video got so pixelated, as it was crisp on my computer, but after trying to fix it for 1 hour, I gave up.

Worst little video ever ;)

I made it when I was stuck in bed this summer.

Recovering from the scary anaphylactic shock stuff.

I thought today was a perfect day to post such a random thing, haha!

 

Sorta funny, I hope.

 

Love, V

 

 

Baroque.

So, they say Baroque is back.

Does that mean anything to you?

Does anyone care?

Tee hee.

It's kind of funny to me, to be like, Baroque is back, get the wardrobe out!

I have not followed a fashion trend in so long, I wouldn't even know where to begin.

Don't worry, I am not starting.

I just wear what I want.

Maybe the joke's on me, haha!

However.

I found myself digging out all my old jewels and frocks, of the pseudo Baroque variety.

Just for fun.

Seems I have quite a bit.

Why on earth would I own anything Baroque one asks?

Well, it seems....

That it was a HUGE trend during my high-school years.

Along with monster sized earrings and such.

And yes, tis true, I still own it all.

The jewels, the clothes.

You see, I have saved my favorites from as far back as I can remember.

The thing is...

For years after high-school I would show friends parts of my most ornate jewelry collection, and they would laugh at me.

Yes, laugh.

Ha!

And ask, What? Where?  Why?

Who owns this stuff?

Who wears this stuff?

And I would ask, you didn't wear this stuff in high-school?

I always got big no's.

When I was in high-school (graduated in 1994), everything wearable was embroidered with stones and sparkle.

Everyday was a costume ball.

Dress up was the name of the game.

Does anyone remember that?

Beaded off the shoulder sweaters? 

Leggings paired with heavily beaded blazers?

Sequins, huge rhinestones, clip on earrings, the whole bit?

Anyone?

Rhinestones and beading were everywhere, heavily adorning dresses and more.

Levi jackets covered in every frill and bauble you could muster were the thing.

People sometimes wore ripped jeans and the ornate stuff together.

(me included)

I think grunge was going on at the same time.

So, some folks sort of morphed the two.

I wasn't able to pull all the treasures out, as they are packed away carefully.

But the jewels are always at the ready.

I was looking through Vogue last spring, at the upcoming fall/winter 2012/2013 campaign -

And I almost fainted.

Dolce and Gabbana plunged into Baroque head first.

Baroque from here to there.

With a little over the top thrown in for good measure, of course.

Tapestry shoes (still love mine and wear them), heavily beaded and adorned coats.

I kept exclaiming, wait wait, I wore that in high-school!!

Anyhow.

If nothing more.

I had a fun lil' trip down memory lane.

Me and my jewels :)

And Miles, plunking his monkey on top of them, just as I snapped a photo.

Too funny.

Showing just where life is now.

Fur, toys, jewels on the side.

I'm pulling some things out of the closet that I had forgotten about.

And now, I wonder where all my rhine-stoned coats and things are?

Oh yes, I know.  Must excavate them.

I can bring them back for show and tell, and giggles, if anyone cares to peek.

I am not sure if Baroque will work on a trip to the grocery in this tiny desert village.

But, I kind of love Baroque.

That's the thing.

I am glad it's back, to remind me to go through my old treasures.

As over the top as it seems.

Time to delve into bauble drawers and see what we find...

The 5th bangle down, with the coral and turquoise, is a vintage Kenneth Jay Lane.

I have the earrings too.

A gift from an old lady at the end of her life journey, I was ever so thankful.

Think of her every time I wear them.

But, point is.

Guess what?

That same bracelet is being made new again, by Kenneth Jay Lane.

How fun is that?

But wait.

Does that mean what I think it means?

If I am old enough for my high-school trends to be coming round again.

That means almost 20 years have gone by.

What is that saying?

Everything old is new again?

What I want to know is.

Does this mean I am getting old, or I am new again?

New again for sure.

;)

And no way, I really don't think I am old.

Doesn't it kill you when 20+ and 30+ year olds whine about "being old."

So silly.

I have always had friends so much older than me.

And they made me realize a long time ago that, old + age, is not what we think it is.

Two of them are 75/76 and youthful as can be.

Active, fit, happy, making art.

My outlook on age shifted a lot early on.

When I looked at life through their eyes, I realized that people whining about getting old at 30/40/50 were beyond absurd.

You are as old as you feel.

I can still see a schoolgirl shining through my 70+ year old friends.

How is that for awesome?

And who even defined what age is?

At this age you should be doing this, at that age that.

You are too old for this or that.

You should grow up and act your age.

Ah, hogwash.

H o g.

W a s h.

But, don't even get me started on that.

I better go, I have guests coming, and this post has turned into a crazed madness of nonsense.

Don't forget to pull out all your giant clip on earrings!!

:)

Now, if only I lived here...

As long as I didn't have to pay property taxes, utilities or a mortgage, I could totally do it.

haha!

 

Love, V

 

 

ps:  random question/fact.

When I was little, I once tried French braiding my hair, and I just could.

I didn't know how or why?

I could just reach back and whip up a braid of any kind, on myself.

No matter how intricate.

I still braid my hair all the time, do you?

And do you French braid your own hair?

My family would ask me to French braid my hair, just so they could see.

Like it was a silly human trick or something.

That and bending my thumbs to my wrist, and crinkling up my double jointed fingers.

Oh, and touching my feet to my forehead.

Anyhow.

I was always fascinated with the way the brain can let you do things backwards and upside down as such.

Do you have any fun human tricks you can do? I wanna know :)

 

Bridal Shower Flower Power

Hellooooo there!

Boy, I have so much to say and share, and yet I have to run...

I am delivering basil and zinnias from my garden for a bridal shower.

And I have been running around with this and that, and working on a special commercial illustration project. 

In an 11 hour different time zone.  So it has been really fun and exciting.  I am enjoying it oodles.

My camera is still at the doctor.

It needs a major operation, and might not make it.

I have tons of recipes to share and things I want to take pics of.

I am using a camera that only works on manual right now, and in camera years (based on usage/photos taken), is about to kick the bucket.

He's Charlie, the 92 year old camera.

Oh Charlie, please live until Deidre returns from heart surgery.

(it's a motherboard of a surgery, literally, needs a new motherboard)

She's a fancy elegant, too expensive to take out on dates but we try, kinda gal camera.

(you can't help who you fall in love with in such tales, you see)

It's like, a camera movie thriller mystery suspense film in my land.

It's kinda fun, and kinda hard, to use a manual camera.

Sometimes I am not sure if my eyeball is seeing clearly.

But when I do get things focused well, the shots are lovely.

Just lovely.

So, Charlie ole guy, hang on!

I think the basil, with it's tender flowering, is going to make great arrangements for the shower, don't you?

I just recently let my basil start going to flower.

I have had so much basil, it's a crime really.

It's a basil forest.

And I didn't even dent the 4 huge areas of basil with the cuttings above.

I tried to gift some to the chef/owners at a local Italian restaurant in my tiny village.

They were appallingly rude.

I am like, it's a gift.

Please.

From me.

And, they said no.

No no no.

We don't want it.

We can't use it in our restaurant.

We can only use ordered things.

And I said, yes I know, but this is a gift just for you to use personally, the chef/owners.

Not to serve.

And they said, nonononononooo!

Like I was an evil witch with a poison apple.

Dang.

(I have never said dang in real life)

But dang.

:)

It's kinda funny now, looking back, since my heart isn't crushed anymore.

Haha!

But honestly, I get it.

They don't know if I water my plants with space monger water.

So, I get it.

It's a funny tale now, looking back.

Anyhow, I hope the basil and flowers are a hit at the bridal shower...

The butterflies are still here, now going on 6+ days.

And multiplying.

It's a phenomenon really.

Not sure if it is migration.

Or if they are from the gobs and gobs of caterpillars we had.

But, it's awesome either way.

And I am sooo happy they are here.

They fill a massive tree and 4 huge bushes now.

They are like confetti when they swirl around you.

So nice.

Okay, I must run, but I plan to be back super soon, because I have fun things to share, and I got behind with my busy week of drawings.  I love getting back to the pencil!  Love it!

 See you soooon.

Love, V

 

 

 

 

Life.

Life has been crazy insane in my world lately.

A kick here, a kick there.

Trying to scramble to get up, then getting pushed over again.

Tumbling down the rabbit hole.

I won't bore you with the details, but it's been weird.

Doozy weird.

In it all, I have met the most intense dreams.

Angels.

And in a pool of despair and fear and worry, hope pulls me out.

And then, I have a day like today.

Where the universe tells me, there will be good days, and there will be bad days.

There will be magic, and sorrow.

There will be love and loss.

Sickness, health.

The key.

Finding the keyhole and your way out of dark places, somehow.

Michelangelo Skies...

There is an extra curious, golden illuminating light, that happens every so often here in my neck of the desert...

It seems to begin with a sky thick with clouds, who tempt us with rain.

Somehow, the rain catches a different air wave, and the clouds begin to break up.

Such very thick clouds.

Hazy orange golden sepia light pours through the cracks.

Casting the most intense curious light over the land.

Where everything glows in muted citrus tones.

Changing with each minute of the setting sun...

Until it hovers over the mountains in the far west, and clouds right above my head are illuminated from behind with this curious harvest colored light.

I looked up the other day and gasped.

Clouds in tones known only to painters from other times.

From other worlds.

Shades of clouds that only those such as Michelangelo would mix up on their palette.

I gasped again.

I thought about cathedrals with incredible sky paintings on the ceilings.

The other worldly experience of that.

And yet, there it was.

Held by nature, in the sky itself...

A passionate and captivating sky.

Reds and oranges and blues...

Thick tufts of condensed water vapor, floating in the sky.

Creating colors and depth - art.

Just when we think that art enhances reality, that skies like this only exist in painted cathedral domes....

Nature sets us straight.

Because really, reality is greater than anything we can think up.

It's free, glorious, mind blowing inspiration.

Endless and plentiful.

Fascinating and mesmerizing.

As I stared up at these pumpkin orange clouds, someone up above shook the proverbial Etch-a-Sketch...

Then.

Cotton Candy skies emerged.

Shifting with the light and wind.

Two fairy tales told back to back.

There for anyone who takes the time to stop.

Look up.

And...

See.

Feel.

Breathe.

Gasp.

Admire.

Bliss Sigh.

And maybe throw a twirl in for good measure.

:)

Looooooove, V

 

Last post giveaway recipients are ~

# 36 - Angela

# 5 - Teresa Cleveland Wendel

# 26 - Ruthinks

# 28 - Bohemian Valhalla

 

(Please e-mail your addresses to me, so I can ship your gooooodies!!, YAY!)

 

 

ps:  You all will never guess the ridiculous thing that happened to me.

SO silly.

I've fallen and I can't get up brings a whole other level to the tale :)

I slipped, flipped, crashed and nearly killed myself in the shower a couple days ago.

My first time falling in the shower.

Ever.

(shower tub combo)

I am bruised and battered worse than I have ever been in my life.

Soap under my left foot, and before I knew it, I was flying up into the air.

I landed on the bath tub edge, on my right hip tooshie side.

With a mass crash of horror.

Flipped around too.

I hurt my right hip and right tooshcake really really really bad.

Really bad.

I was thrown on the tub floor crying for what feels like hours.

The pain was so incredible.

But I got iced and salve rubbed after.

The pain felt like I was missing a huge chunk of flesh.

But I wasn't.

Just a really deep hit.

The bone throbbed and surged pain down my whole leg and foot.

Luckily, I am not broken.

Just swollen and bruised.

I am gasp worthy bruised.

Hobbling.

Can't sit real well, or walk real well.

Can't sleep well.

And hobble when I walk.

My whole core aches.

I can't WAIT to be back to normal.

My hip and backside are so hurt, it isn't funny.

And my left shoulder.

I have a bruise that is about 12 inches long.

Goes horizontally over my whole right tooshkin (derrier) and over my hip, down my leg.

Why am I telling you this?

Because, I am taking it as a warning.

Share with my friends.

Please get some anti-slip strips in your shower if it is slippery.

If I wasn't fairly young, with a bit of padding, goodness knows what could have happened.

So, if your shower or tub is slippery in any tiny way, take precautions asap.

Learn from this numbskull.

So you don't end up like me or worse.

I would show you the photo of my bruise, but, that's not an option :)

Trust me, it's massive.

Please be careful yourselves, please!!

At least, blueish black purple is in.

Isn't it?

 

(For all the years I have never been sick or hurt, this year sure got me didn't it? Weirdness)

 

Random Morning Ramblings.

Today is a funny day.  A huge storm rolled in last night, but it was the oddest storm.  Hot wind, very hot wind with thick clouds of humidity.  My mom called on the phone and said, are you getting hit with a storm?  A haboub is on its way to you.

No sooner had she called than a wall of orange thick air came towards us.  Something I had never experienced where I am in Arizona.  Followed by rain and crazy intense lightning.

Chaos erupted in the yard, things being broken, torn about, swung around, madness.

And then, a loud explosion and no electricity.

It was quite exciting.

I love weather.

I was enjoying gathering candles and such.

That was until we noticed that the storm was not cooling things down and after 100' weather, to have no a/c (electricity) and lots of moisture, was oh so pleasant.

It got dark so fast, and I went to bed.

I pretended it was 1912, and I was in Savannah, in sweltering humidity.

I was in my bed, looking up at an evil goblin shadow made by the candle.

Fanning myself with a piece of cardboard.

Thinking about how dependent we are on electricity.

Sort of freaking out about it really.

Then I realized that if the electricity was out, the well would stop pumping water soon.

So, I filled up a bunch of containers with water.

Then I sat in the darkness, with one candle, and pondered our dependence on electricity even more.

I started to doze off.

Dreaming about a painting I was working on - which morphed into killer raccoons, and a flash flood in the garden with a rogue boat that almost killed Lovee, which I saved him from.  Of course, you get to be wonder woman in your own dreams. ha.

Oh gosh.

I woke up.

I went outside and saw some large containers I had in the driveway had lost their lids, and they were full of water.  Things I loved were inside (which I should have put away already but it's been too hot), so of course, damage control ensued.  Then I found out another container had been damaged and had mold in it on treasures, fabric etc.  I was so sad.

More damage control.

And yet, there was a sense of calm in me.

Like, oh well.

I tried to do all I could without water or electricity in the dark.

Filling up jugs of water, and pouring them into the washing machine with bleach water.

Worked on that for a long while.

Then I went to bed again.

I had another nightmare in that hot dark heat.

I woke up, and went outside.

Have you ever made the mistake of going to a carnival, and getting into a haunted walk through ride, that is in a trailer or semi truck?  It's hot and dark, and you feel like you will hyperventilate if you don't get out soon?

I did that once a few years ago.

I told Mister Lovee that the air last night felt like being in that dark hot carnival walk through ride thingamajig.

I said, I think that ride scarred me, because I think about it all the time.  People pushing, trying to get out.  Hot smoke, pitch darkness, feeling your way around.  Screams.  Screeching sounds.

Me too, he said.

You too? I said.

Funny, we both thought about it but had never talked about it.

I walked down the driveway in pitch darkness, and could see the guys in the far distance working on the electric poll.  Transformer blew or something.

I wanted to take them a plate of cookies.

 

Thank them somehow.

 

As the lights went on and I was still at the end of the driveway, I screamed YAYYYYY!!!!! And clapped as loud as I could.

It was 2:30 a.m.

I stayed up until 5:30.

I watched the movie Albert Nobbs.

Matty Miles cuddled up.

And, I felt guilty for loving my air conditioning.

But that was leveled off by my sheer happiness in cold air glory.

This morning I appreciated every bit of the comforts we have in life.

I stole Mister Lovee's bag of cereal.

I made breakfast ever so slowly.

I love my electric tea kettle.

Today is painting day, so I wasn't going to pop in and say hello.

I try to just paint and nothing else on painting day.

But, I have blogs that I like to visit.

And I love when they pop in to share stories as such.

Regular life things, that don't mean anything, but mean everything at the same time.

Blogging is like a tunnel.

You only see a snippet here, a snippet there.

All the daily life stuff mostly gets lost.

We know people through a tunnel vision.

I like the extra stuff too though, do you?

Like...

I love seeing what people have for breakfast or dinner or lunch.

I love hearing about mundane daily things, that aren't mundane at all really.

There's a curious comfort I find in it.

When I watch cooking shows, I am drawn to the crackling of opening bags.

The the clipping sounds of chopping.

The crunch in the tasting.

I love the sounds.

The little things.

The extras.

I loooove outtakes at the end of movies.

Bloopers, and slip ups.

I love seeing famous people being regular.

Because they are.

Only their job makes them visible to everyone.

They aren't super human.

But everyone expects them to be.

We all say and do stupid things from time to time.

Don't you hate that word?

We all judge each other.

I find myself often saying, who cares?

Who cares what anyone does?

Who cares if they mess up, or trip, or don't perform so well?

Who cares what people look like, how they did or didn't do this or that?

Who cares?

Can't we all just give each other a break?

Trivial things make me so annoyed.

Especially people trivializing things.

I really have to yell at myself when I fall into trivializing things.

I have these heart to hearts with myself.

Move on, get over it.

Who cares.

Don't drown in a glass of water kid (as my dad would say).

I'm just happy that the a/c works again.

And that there are things to eat from the earth.

And that, I have people and furs to love.

And that, there was tea and yogurt and fruit this morning.

And that, I am healthy.

And mostly, that paint is waiting for me, to take me on journeys to those sacred places painting takes you to.

Little planets in other realms.

Where pups have eyebrows?

Yes I know, rotten of me.

But, I saw this thing that said, on bath day, use a non-toxic eye pencil to make your doggie some fancy eyebrows, because it washes right off.

Miles was a ham in his new eyebrows.

And they did wash right off in the bath.

:)

 

Love, V

ps:  My sister's pics from the Grand Canyon are stunning.  Wish I had been there...

Random This and Thats...

Ah, the random everyday photos that go unnoticed are calling.

I thought today would be a perfect day to share some summer snippets, everyday shots that I normally wouldn't post.  Just bits and pieces of our little world.

Like, very soft fur on a Wednesday.

Or, the three giant mesquite trees that help keep the veggie garden from withering totally when the west sun hits mid-afternoon...

Or, a special spot under that very huge tree above, to hang from...

With everything lit by sunset pink skies.

Delicious cotton candy clouds fluff about...

As boys get ready to wrestle...

They play soooo much, and so hard.

Playtime is serious business around here.

Oh and, what about a corridor of pumpkin patch meets sunflowers and corn?

Oh pumpkin patch.

Fills up my summertime heart...

Homemade apple pie, on the 4th of July.

Which I made with those wee apples off a local tree I shared the other day..

Served up warm and creamy..

Pumpkin babies popping up here and there.

I love these sort of surprises.

Stuffed itself into a safe nook it seems...

Mr. Matty.

A rare chance photo op.

And, another surprise...

Jack and the bean stalk calling...

Or, sunflower stalk, in this case.

Drum rolllll!!

Below...

First rain at our pad, since February.

Yes, I joke not.

Oh rain!!!

Monsoon season is here!

Hope we get more.

The boys run and run and run in it, until they are soaked.

Then they get dry, and run out again.

While momma washes and dries towels like a towel cleaning service.

:)

That's love.

Rain scents guide his way...

Basil collecting.

Then...

Pesto makings.

Also, making extra pesto to freeze, as it is a gift to ourselves during winter times.

Strawberries meet bush beans...

Boys keep cool in the dahlias, while waiting to go inside and relax on cold concrete.

Me, running out every night, into the vegetable garden to collect dinner makings.

Then -

A curious orange Halloween glow surrounds the full moon...

We are -

Still tending garden ever single morning in crazy Arizona heat and sun.

Every single day.

Worth it, totally.

Exhausting? Yes.

Would do it again?

Why, yes.

Indoors...

Cozy afternoon, reading magazines and making friendship bracelets in my room, while sitting on my bed. (flowers, cut from the garden)

Whilst also watching a thriller or a documentary as the air-Kanchenjunga and fans buzz around.

(What is an air-Kanchenjunga you ask?  Well, I sort of misspelled air-conditioning, and auto-correct changed the misspelled word "conditioining" to Kanchenjunga.  So there you have it, haha!  If you really want to know what Kanchenjunga means, here you go.  Googled.)

Then, a gift -

Cinderella skies, adorned with...

Crescent moon and bird flight.

There we have it.

Random bits of summertime....

Sigh.

If you have any random summer bits, or photo sharing on your blog you'd like to share, link up in comments, for any of us to visit.

Fun fun!

Wellssss ~

Back to painting a sofa (fabric), and an end-table in the cottage I go...

 

Loooove, Vanessa

 

 

 

Appley and...

The grandest gifts hung from my gates in the bright early sun yesterday...

A wonderful distraction from a super exciting project I have been working on.

(meant to share yesterday, but life got wacky)

Two bags full, waiting for me to spot them.

I opened them up, and then, that scent.

That real apple scent.

That sort of scent that reminds you of being 6 years old and picking the most delicious apples from your grannies tree.

The kind of apples you haven't had since.

One of my dearest neighbors from down the lane, who is also a friend, came upon such a tree you see.

A tree covered in little green apples.

Ripe apples filling a tree in June.

How curious.

How marvelous.

The owner said, please, take as many as you can.

She took some for herself.

Then told me, and of course, I said I would love to have some.

And so, the next day, voila.

Thank you Bru!!

Boy, are they delicious.

Crunchy.

Sweet.

A tiny bit tart.

They stole me away from my project.

A project I can't wait to share, editing photos now.

Oh, it's fun.

It's for the mad tea party.

It's for you to do too, if you want.

If you'd like.

But you must ;)

My assistants yawn and nap whilst I work feverishly away.

My sis is here.

The a/c broke at her house.

So, she came here for some reprieve, while waiting for the air fixer upper.

She is grading papers in the other room, and watching Chocolat.

I can hear Johnny Depp now.

Lovely distractions have found me.

Apples, a sister, plus her tiny furry baby - Douglas.

Pure dog's world madness here today.

Miles LOVES other Male dogs.

He follows them around like a puppy.

No matter the size.

I am not sure what my sis is doing in the above photo.

She says it's a tribute to the movie Legend, where the girl puts her hand out to touch the Unicorn.

:)

As for the skies.

It's a bit cloudy.

A chance for rain, but no cigar.

Darn.

Pleeeease mother nature, send me some rain.

I beg.

Will you ask her for me?

Oh and, let's not forget the distractions of sleeping babes.

On his back, that Miles sleeps.

Legs outstretched in the air, for hours and hours and hours...

I think we might have to start a circus.

If I could only train the endless ants in the yard.

Yes.

Ant hypnosis maybe?

We'll see.

Will he levitate, that Furtunato?

Guess who is the best behaved pup so far today?

Yep, Matty.

He hasn't tried to tackle anyone, and he is under my feet sleeping.

Hooray!

Okay, off to finish the last part of this secret project, then edit photos, and then, bring some ideas back here to share.

Deal?

 

Love, V

 

Okay, before I go...

Guess what?

Today is random song sharing day.

I didn't know that, did you?

;)

Whatever song, whatever the first song is, that pops into your head right now - you must, must share it with us.

Leave a You Tube link, or lyrics or what the song reminds you of even.

Don't fib now, what song is it?

This is what first came to my mind.

Random.

I know.

Reminds me of teenage summer.

 

But, I also have a little Siouxsie and the Banshees runnin' round the brain...

Remember that? Fun!

Okay so...

See you beyond sooooon, with making ideas!

 

 

Tip-Toeing Around...

I just wrote the longest post, and then the power went out.

Hello, lessons and lessons.

Let me try this again...

You see ~

I have been taking little steps back into my life...

Back into the garden.

Slowly.

Thoughtfully.

And, with renewed respect.

As I start to feel better my outlook changes.

Fear is slowly replaced by caution.

I am reminded to respect nature.

Animals bite, insects bite, plants have toxins, and people punch if they are startled.

It's about being aware and cautious, this renewed outlook I have.

I have been doing research about the plants in my garden.

I have gone through my step by step log of all the things I did before the hives fire.

I am still feeling a little strange and off, but the hives have subsided.

Yay!

That itch is mind blowing.

Wouldn't wish that on anyone.

I have talks with myself about them coming back, and how, it will all be okay if they do.

(easier said than done of course)

I will just have to work through it.

I think about toxins on the plants.

I think about kissing bugs.

I take your advice.

I love your advice.

It helps me feel less crazy, all holed up in a little room in the middle of nowhere.

I think about all the things I did different before the thing happened, and there were a few.

You know, the nurse who looked after me the second time I was in the hospital told me that her son had gone through exactly what I had, just not as long a time, but it was from being bitten by a kissing bug.

Scary.

I have done some research on allergists in my neck of the woods.

I look forward to it.

For some reason I have no fear of needles?

You should see the bruises on my arms from the poor nurse not being able to find my veins.

Oh my goodness, I keep thinking there is paint on me.

Then I remember, oh bruised :)

Sometimes I wish I had been a dermatologist.

How I love popping and squishing things.

Yucky, I know.

I don't think I ever shared that when I was a little girl I could not go near grass without my eyes swelling up.  I would get itchy sneezy and beyond miserable.

There came a point where I simply could not play outside.

My parents took me to an allergist as a little girl, and I went through the torturous medieval scratch tests on my back and arms, strapped face down - with skin balloon tests too, to find out what I was allergic to. (I hear the tests aren't so bad nowadays)

There was almost nothing I wasn't allergic to.

I proceeded to have to have, 4 allergy shots twice a week, until I was 19 years old.

Then one day I rarely sneezed again while outside.

In my renewed respect for nature I think about how in life, we get so used to the everyday, that we stop being cautious.

We stop locking our car doors when we get in.

We don't look both ways.

We don't check to see if there is a poisonous snake amongst the flowers.

Both literally and figuratively.

It isn't until something goes wrong, that we are reminded, isn't it?

Maybe those reminders are crucial?

I am keeping my head above water, and so happy to be done with those steroid pills today.

I am chucking some of these strange feelings to the pills, and looking forward to moving on.

I have had so many talks with my family throughout this.

My mom and dad are so wonderful to talk to.

My mom is a ray of beaming pulsating optimistic life.

I am so lucky to have her as my mom.

And my sister, boy do we laugh.

I always feel 13 when I am around her.

I come from a family of very strong people.

Not mean strong, but, don't drown strong.

A sort of, find your happy, strong.

Hold onto your happy strong.

They are almost like....

Eat as much cake as you want, dance around madly, wear all your jewels while in your pajamas, but by golly, don't drown in sadness.

Hang onto the gold thread, and find a way out.

That is how I see my family.

From grandparents to parents.

They all are sort of like that.

Tough, but partake in all sorts of shenanigans to keep their spirits up.

In a good way.

I for one think it is so important to feel.

To cry, to laugh, to scream, but to feel.

It's the only way to find your way.

Major points on the map to self I think?

So much to think about, with philosophies abound.

For now I am doing lots of this...

And trying to keep still and recover fully, so I can get back to myself.

I have been drinking my usual buckets of water.

My dad always says "you know my love, there is such a thing as drinking too much water."

I know he is right.

But I love the stuff.

I love drinking it.

Playing in it.

How I LOVE to swim.

I used to teach swimming lessons when I was a teen.

My life revolved around the water.

I miss it so.

Hello giant turnip :)

I have enjoyed watching Mister Lovee find his way in my gardens.

I am learning a huge lesson in all of this, and that is, to let go a little.

Let him help me.

We both have very strong personalities, and our own way of doing things.

But I have talked to him about my budding outlook on "we both do things differently, but with the same outcome."

Which is super fine.

Great in fact.

It's like tying our shoe laces.

We all do it differently, but in the end, we all have our shoe laces tied.

I am learning lots and lots of lessons.

I am open to them.

I want to learn, even though I can be stubborn.

I will tread lightly.

This morning my body woke up at 5 a.m. on its own, as it did before this happened.

I went to Mister Lovee and told him not to get up, that I would take care of the garden.

I slowly went out, cautiously, and I watered.

I did not touch, just watered.

I have my long sleeves and my gloves ready.

I am taking my little steps, and with each one, the fear washes away.

Little by little.

I am going to go rest my head and play with yarn a bit more.

I am one wilted girl, but feeling oh so much better.

I even caught myself singing today while washing my hands.

So much to learn all the time, isn't there?

Fingers crossed that the hives stay away, oh please oh please, stay way hives...

 

Love, Vanessa

 

♥

Hello there + A Scary Allergic Reaction Tale

Hi there, I am just popping in ever so quickly....

Matty is doing great, and almost back to normal.

(Thank you so much for all your kind thoughts for my little monster)

 

Some really scary things have happened around here in the last few days.

I was in the hospital twice.

Many of you know I never go to doctors.

Ever.

And, for me to go the hospital has to be a matter of life and death...

I think I was 5 years old the last time I had to be a patient in a hospital.

 

We are almost done with shop orders, Mister is helping me, and they are almost set to leave here.

So, please don't worry.

They are on their way without a hitch.

(ps:  All orders have been shipped, yay!)

 

I really wanted to pop in and share what has been going on.

You see...

I had a scary allergic reaction to something...

 

I started feeling a bit itchy on Thursday, and I thought I had some funny bites on me here and there.

By Friday I had hives all over my torso, but they subsided Saturday morning.

My sis came over Saturday, I felt fine, but little by little the hives came back.

By Saturday evening they had exploded all over my body.

All of a sudden...

I could not breathe, I could not communicate.

I could not think.

Everything was black and white, I couldn't see in color.

I kept blinking trying to see in color.

I didn't know who I was or what was happening.

I was shaking madly, throwing up and I was rushed to the hospital Saturday night.

Through total fogginess of my brain, in the car I pulled out every bit of what I had to pray and pray and beg to not die.

Everything seemed soooo foggy and unclear, and through my body shaking madly all I could say was please God, please God, please God, please.

I was so scared.

I felt like my life was slipping out from under me, not being able to breathe.

And...

I thought I was going to die.

I truly did.

It was so scary.

The car ride to emergency felt so long.

I remember thinking, what is happening to me?

What is happening to me?

I was shaking uncontrollably, and heaving for breath.

When I got into the hospital I could hardly communicate anything.

I was babbling this and that.

It was like a total out of body experience.

I was having anaphylactic shock, and my throat was closing in.

What was happening is that -

 

I was having an allergic reaction to something.

 

They filled me up with meds at the hospital and got me out of the scary anaphylactic shock phase.  I felt better after a few hours, and went home.

 I was sent home with meds, steroids to keep me from going into anaphylactic shock again, and an EpiPen, just in case.

 

I have no idea what caused this.

 

A bug bite, something I ate?

Who knows.

I can't figure it out.

 

Sunday morning I felt great, all hives were gone, and my parents came to visit.

I didn't have a hive on me.

I went to bed at 8:30 p.m..

At 11:00 p.m. or so last night, I woke up unable to breathe again, shaking, and throwing up, with new hives.

Mister Lovee drove me back to the hospital.

They gave me more meds to reduce the hives etc.

I was shaking like a leaf, so weird.

Basically, whatever caused this allergy has to work its way out says the doc.

It could take a week or two, or mere days.

At some points I am so itchy from the hives, I could scream.

I have never felt so low, or so gripped by something so awful.

When it gets bad, I feel out of control and constantly itchy in the center of my being, to the outside.

It's almost like going totally crazy.

At some points huge 5 inch hives cover me, itching all over inside and out.

Even my organs itch and hurt.

Then it subsides.

Then it returns.

Then it subsides again.

I keep trying to think about what I ate that could have caused this?

I did eat a couple things out of the ordinary.

What did I do, what was different?

I did see some strange bites on me when it all began.

And, I was deep in the parsley and tomatoes trying to stand it all up, as it was so tall.

I also was washing 2 kinds of bugs off of sunflower leaves one by one with dish-soap.

Who knows?

It is a total mystery to me.

It could have been anything.

 

Have you ever had an allergic reaction as such?

How long did it last?

Did you find out what it was?

How?

I am on a bland diet now, just in case.

Today started out not so good, and has gotten to be a better day so far.

I was switched off of Benadryl last night to reduce the itchiness, as I found it exacerbating the issue.

 The new ant-itch meds have helped greatly.

I got 5 hours of sleep today after taking the new meds, finally, some rest.

I think the Benadryl was making me worse.

 

At this very second all the hives I had this morning are gone.

But they come and go.

All I can do is hope for the best right now.

I have my steroids, my pills to reduce the hives and my EpiPens in case of an emergency.

The Doc said I will get allergic hives off and on until this thing runs its course.

The doctor looked at Mister Lovee last night and said, you have to know she is suffering.

Boy am I ever.

BUT,

I hope and pray to be back to normal soon.

So soon, I hope and hope and pray. 

 

This is just an allergic reaction my body is having to something I ate, or something that bit me.

 

All parcels will leave here in a couple of days.

(All parcels have left the building)

I promise.

 

I guess my tale wasn't so quick :)

 

Love, Vanessa

 

 ♥

 

Tea and Blooms

It is so warm here.

So sunny.

So bloomy.

So nice...

Blooming things make everything look beautiful, don't they?

I am being extra good.

Sun, rest.

Tea, vitamins & medicine.

Sweet succulent oranges...

I could eat bowls and bowls of sweet oranges, you?

Warm toast.

Missing Mammie most when I am not 100%.

Lovee asks, what does she do, that I can't do for you?

(Umm helooo?  Is he insane?)

Well for one, she would bring me Tang with a straw.

Mister Lovee says, Tang is not orange juice.

(he is a health nut  - who loves sweets)

And I say, yes, but I like Tang when I am sick.

(never mind that I have not had it in 20 years)

Then I say, and she would bring me little crackers with perfectly cut pieces of yellow cheese.

And 7-up with a straw.

(never mind that I don't really love cheese)

She would make me soup, and toast, and and and...

(even though I have had soup and toast)

I say this through a congested nose, a barely audible voice, and lots of soppy wet tears.

But mostly tears because my head is stuffed up like a water balloon.

Then Mister Lovee says, well, Mazel Tov to you.

(in his most hilarious tone)

Then he asks.......

Do you want some salsa and corn chips?

Me - quizzical look on face.

I say, no, no thanks.

Wondering to myself if chips and salsa are supposed to make you feel better?

Wondering if there is something I simply don't know?

Haha!

But in all honesty, Mister Lovee has been grand, delivering water and tea and medicine and boxes of kleenex.  We just had to keep him at a distance so he wouldn't catch anything as well.

When I got a little flutter of feeling better, I conjured up my Mom, and made a tray of goodies like she would, just for me.

From Mombie.

For pretend, but still for reals.

(Mister Lovee hates it when I say "for reals" - I don't say it that often)

I called her and told her that I made myself a Mombie tray.

And by golly.

It fixed me up.

I am sure of it!

Large poppies included.

And some other garden treats.

If that doesn't fix you up -

Well.

Then.

Call Lovee, he'll bring you chips and salsa, or anything you want.

As he says :)

There are Tinkerbell flowers everywhere in the garden.

Curious specimens!

And, lots of lavender.

Mmmmmmmm...

Oh, it feels good to breathe!

I had not been sick with a flu/cold in 5 or so years.

I was so proud of that.

But, this time....

It kicked my tooshie.

And I had certainly, never had the flu.

I thought that I had the flu in my life.

People always say they have the flu, when they have a cold.

Boy, did I find out how different the flu is from the common cold.

After this last adventure with the real flu, I am sure, I had never really had the flu.

Horrible thing.

Scary too.

If you have the flu, I hug you.

Now, make sure you wash your hands any chance you get.

No hands in mouth or eyes or face.

Follow all the tips for not getting the flu.

Okay?

I am obsessive about these things, and I still got it.

But, we have to try to keep the germs at bay :)

My Dad and I had it at the same time, so we got to whine about our ailments over the phone everyday.  Or at least tried through coughing fits.

He had a great nurse.

My Mammie.

Lucky duck!

But he only got the flu.

I got the flu for a few days, then I got a sneezing head cold on top of it.

Mister Lovee and the boys were extra busy while I was hacking up a lung.

They put irrigation in the vegetable garden!!

YAY!!!

Being really really sick makes you have all of these midnight thoughts.

Right?

Thoughts about being a better person.

Taking better care of yourself.

Following you dreams more.

Listening to you heart.

You make plans at 3 a.m. as you drift in and out of consciousness.

A couple nightmares.

A couple shezam moments.

A lot of desperation to get well.

A lot of wanting to not take things for granted.

That's the biggest perk, to a cough that makes you shudder.

I suppose the majorest perk though, is getting better.

Oh yes.

Mmmmm.

Breathing is so nice!

House disinfected.

Time for some gooooodness!

Just a little way from being totally back to myself.

Hooooray!

Love, V

 

Oh and, extra thanks to Mister Lovee, for taking care of orders, and making post office visits.

 

 

ps:  My Granny heard I was sick, and wanted to call in the cavalry!  She tells my mom, you must go get her. You must bring her "home."

My mom says to her mom, she is in her home.

Then she says to my granny -

Are you kidding?

Vanessa would be kicking and screaming, she won't come with me if I go get her.

Then my mom asks me, would you?

And I go, heck no, through laughter.

Then I say -

I wanna be in my own bed - plus, I don't want you to get sick.

And my mom says, ya, I knew it.

:)

  Isn't that hilarious?  Grandmas are the bestest.  They always see you as a 5 year old baby. 

I love it.

Makes you feel loved.

Who Who???

You will never ever ever guess what happened this week...

Busiest week ever.

I don't even know where the days went.

So......

You know how I am all flower, tree and plant obsessed?

And talk to my plants, and practically live for seeds?

Well, the plant lovers dream came true!

This is what happened.........

My neighbor wanted to get a steam cleaner, and I had to run a few errands, so we jumped into my car, went here and there.  Then, we stopped at one of those big box stores for her steam cleaner.

Of course, I "had" to go to the plant section.

My neighbor comes with me, and I nudge her in dismay, showing her that the manager is throwing all the plants away into a giant dumpster.

"If it doesn't look fresh, it is getting thrown away," she tells her employees.

(they looked a-okay to me, a bit over-grown or in need of some love, but okay)

My neighbor says "no no no no, why are you throwing them away???!!"

The manager looks at us and says, "well, you can have them if you want."

Have them, we ask?

Well, not "have" them she says.

Then she says, you can buy them for 25cents each.

25 CENTS each!

So, we load up 7 carts of trees and shrubs and desert plants.

We would have kept going, but the manager told us to walk away.

That was hard, knowing more would get tossed.

So, I take each item out of the cart so she can ring us up.

Then I load the car, in two trips.

Then, we unload at my house.

Then I organize it all by plant type.

Then my neighbor and I split our plants.

Half and half.

Then we load half back up into the car, and take them to her house.

Then we start planting, and planting and planting and...

Well, still planting.

These are mine below...

My suv was so full, you couldn't get another toothpick in...

We never worked so hard.

Loading, loading loading, bringing home.

But, we saved soooo many plants and trees from the trash can!

And it was soooooooooo worth it.

It was like, plant Christmas!!!

My dad says it (the tossing out of plants and things) happens at all big box stores, all the time. (which I knew, but sort of had blocked out)

Isn't that sad?

I still have my work cut out for me, however, I am working on some new paintings.  So, I will have to learn real quick how to manage my time.

So, that is the plant tale.

I know some people who dumpster dive as a way of life, and find all sorts of perfect food and plants and things.  It is crazy, what gets thrown away.

On another note...

We (me and lovee) needed to take a trip to the groceries this week.  But, I sort of wanted to play that game, where you try to make a meal out of whatever you have in the house.

We always have staples like butter, flour, olive oil, oats, fruit, veggies etc.

So, I sauteed some onions, garlic and peppers.

Then I defrosted some pesto.

Then, I went searching on my own blog for this recipe for pizza dough.

And, boy was it better than I remembered.

Lovely dough to work with.

I get two pizzas out of one dough mixture, and I just knead everything by hand.

I made one veggie cheese, and one with just pesto and sweet onions.

I so recommend trying this dough this weekend.

Just make sure you run your bowl under warm water, before you begin working with your yeast.  Just a tip.

I roll my dough out thin, as it puffs up nicely, and I like a thinner crust.

It was sooo goood.

And I am not even a pizza lover.

Oh oh, the Fairies also are on a journey out of the country, to their new home, so they are now available in print form, in my shopling.

So, that's the 411 around here.

That was such a wordy post, wasn't it?

I still can't get over the whole plant thing.

Anything weird wild wacky or plain crazy happen to you this week?

Off I go for now....

Love, V

A Fanciful Twist dot com {Technical Glitch}

This is me sitting on my bed. 

Sulking. 

With a note saying that, if you are visiting me and have found that the following link is taking you to a Network Solutions page: afancifultwist.com

Where it says that my services expired in December of 2012.

(I know, in the future, spooky!)

Instead of to my blog (here) -

It is because there is a technical glitch that is being fixed as I type.

(which some folks have noticed)

Network Solutions was trying to tell me that part of my huge payment in September, had not been made (which I made over the phone with a sales rep, bad idea).  And, that (months later) many of my services were now showing up as expired, and it would cost me hundreds more to reinstate my services and fix the situation.

Me = so confused

Luckily, after two hours on the phone this morning, and a copy of my credit card statement with proof of my payment -

They agree that I did in fact pay.  For sure.

And, that I shouldn't have to come up with more doubloons to reinstate anything.

But, it will take 3 days to fix.

And then, that link will come to my blog again.

Argh.

Trivial.

Totally trivial.

But, still annoying.

Don't you just loathe getting on the phone to deal with such things?

It makes me anxious and crazy.

Turns me into a mean little girl who wants to cry on the playground and kick dirt.

But, I am ever so glad when it gets resolved, yay!

So, let's hope it does all get resolved soon.

For now, you will find me...

In the garden digging three foot holes and putting in 12 ft. posts, in an attempt to build something extra fun.

I pretty much did most of the work yesterday, but it is so glorious and sunny that I have an insatiable urge to keep digging!

 

♥ ,V

 

ps:  Mini Vanessa was made by lovely Patricia, right here...

Mega Bolt (I'm Back, Hoooray!)

I am writing to you from a foreign computer.  Well, Foreign to me at least.  I am at the home of a life long friend of Mister Lovee's and a dear friend of mine.  He is a Musician, kindest heart, and a lightning chaser + photographer...

(Photo by Dick Arnold of Catalina, Arizona)

So, telling you all about my kind friend Dick Arnold, who is letting me use his computer, has taken me away from whining about why I am not at my own computer.

Let's just say that, the frustration level of having your phone line fixed, only to have the fixer take out your internet line and not put it back in is, well, beyond annoying.

(oh and, they can't fix it for 2 days, thanks Century Link)

It is glitchville around here, so, I won't be skydiving any time soon, because we know what would happen with my parachute....

I am on a glitch roll my friends :)

Nothing major, nothing life changing, nothing that really matters, just glitchy.

But, I will tell you this, if you want to see my friend Dick in lightning action (and our friend Adam Graham too), click here, you won't be disappointed.

See you in a day, I hope!!

 

Love, Vanessa

 

♥

 

ps:  Get if off your chest, share your glitch tales of late too, and we can burn the list ;)

No glitch, complaint, or annoyance will be turned away in this post, haha!

 

pss:  I am back from the unplugged world!  Hooray! 

(My whole family says that, if I were a cat, this would be me)

The most lovely lad came over from Century Link, re-connected my Internet, which got turned off in order to fix the phone on Thursday, and never turned back on.  So, he turned back on my internet on Saturday, and went above and beyond with service and great attitude.  He even fixed some bad parts etc., which the last 3 techs (over the last 10 years) didn't bother fixing.  I am sooooo happy with the outcome.  Not that you care to hear all those details, tee hee ;)

And, it's funny you know....

All the little glitches I have faced over the last two weeks, have been super aggravating, and yet, turned out with pretty great outcomes.  Even better than one could hope.

So, once again, I am taught to just take a deep breathe, hope for the best, and good things will come.

(cat photo found here)

Art & Life + The Peacock Dance

Shall I begin with tales of art, or tales of life today?  Hmmmm, let's, see....

How about we choose art?

This tale begins almost a year ago, when...

I began a dance with a...

Certain Monsieur Peacock...

By the by, he glimmers like a hologram, on command ;)

I met Monsieur Peacock, at the request of a lovely lass, who asked me to perhaps incorporate a fancy peacock into one of my paper dress paintings.

Peacock jumped onto canvas quickly, in early spring...

Then we patiently waited for ballerina, to share her bliss in dance, at just the right time....

So that I could try to capture her feeling, just so...

Summer came and went, Monsieur Peacock got a few eyes, I worked in the garden, I started a handful of new paintings...

All the while, spending elaborate tea times with my feathered friend.

In autumn the clouds came...

And with that, the dance ensued...

It was an emotionally moving dance, that peacock dance...

And then, it was time for peacock and ballerina to voyage far far away...

To their loving new home, and so, I said good-bye...

But, not without a tasty canvas print to pop into the shop.

The Peacock Dance canvas print can now be found in my online shop.

Hopefully more pieces I have been working on will emerge sooner, rather than later.

Life has a way of twisting and turning, and throwing all sorts of unexpected happenings at me.  Oh, at you too you say?  Oh thank goodness I am not alone in that ;)

So, as for life...

I am feeling much better, thank you so so so much for egging me on to feel better, it helped very much.  I marched on, even if still a tad swirly in the head.

The days are so pretty.  Even a hint of frost in mornings can't hurt the growing things, because day time warms up so nicely.  Arizona can be weird.  A tinge of frost in the morning, warm by noon.  Weirdness, I tell ya.

It has also been raining, so a moist ground is such a treat around here.

Pumpkin babes are still growing outside the cottage and in the back garden.

I can't believe it myself...

There has been soup on the stove.  And cooking pumpkins + gobbling spicy pumpkin muffins before a photo could be taken.  I had 3 over the course of a couple of days.  I let Mister have all the apple pie.

As you know, I looove baking sweets and feeding them to Mister.  But, I prefer eating savory myself.

The soup turned out delicious in the end.  Following Mombie's tips to saute all my veggies, and do all my spicing up, right before the soup was done (the beans took about 4-5 hours to cook, I love the barley in there).  It worked perfectly.

In the garden there are lots of roses.  Is it strange that there are so many blooms, pumpkins and tomatoes out there, or did I never notice the spring in autumn before?  I think perhaps our winter is mostly in January and February.

Pretty coral petals...

I planted my ranunculus and freesia bulbs.

Then, I went out and sprinkled all my poppy and wild flower seeds.

The good luck was that, the day after I sprinkled all my seeds, we had a huge rain storm, so hopefully, the seeds got pushed into the earth and will gift lots of blooms in spring.

Walks in the garden are so nice right now.  The summer heat doesn't let one appreciate anything.  So, cool weather is a ginormous gift...

Do I sound like a broken record?

I just had déjà vu of telling you that already.

I am turning into one of those old ladies that repeats the same story over and over and over, haha!

Oh goodness!

One more garden thing, I am loving watching the biennials get huge, especially the ones that will bloom for the first time in summer 2012.  Such as the hollyhocks below...

Gardening to me, makes time go by even faster than it already does.

There is always something going on for the future, and time slips away at crazy rapid rates.

Isn't this color combo so....

Delicious?

My wonderful neighbor says that the colors are so delicious, you almost want to bite into the candy colors.  So right!

Anyhow, I am about to veer, and spiral into babble.  So, before I start talking about exploding commercial printers in my office (and HP discontinuing service and the product altogether), plus woes of getting a new huger one (which is awesome in the end), unexpected upgrades and purchases and this and that, I am going to take a deep breath, and leave ;)

Go with the flow, that is my mantra for the day.

Yesterday I had a stressful thing happen, and I decided to go with the flow, and then it turned out to be that the outcome, was even better than I could have hoped for.

So, letting go sometimes really is key.

Have a beautiful day!!!

Off to paint...

 

Love, V

 

Some Days are Made for Apple Pie...

When the weather, inspiration, fruit of the season and mood is just right, then it is time to bake.  Or, when you just plum feel better, and you have to do something nice to lift yourself...

I went to bed on Thursday night feeling fine.

But, at 1 a.m. I knew something was wrong. 

I normally sleep like a log through the night, but I was wide awake. 

I cuddled back up, as best as I could, between Miles and Matty, and tried to go back to sleep, but I felt something strange. 

Then, I knew...

When my head began to spin and I couldn't lift it, and my stomach was in waves, fast waves, and I felt like I could fall right off the edge, never to be a part of this world again...

I knew.

Hello inner ear.

Hello vertigo.

So horrible to see you.

(as some of you know, I suffer from this a few times a year, due to a teenage horse fall head injury)

I grabbed my medication, or rather, dragged myself to it.  I took one for my inner ear, and the golden one, especially for vertigo.  And then, I held on for about 15+ hours.  (funny enough, it was going to rain, something that does not happen often here, and the air pressure had changed.  Am I am human barometer now?)

On Saturday, I came back to this earth.  Still a little wobbly, still a little like my head was waving.  But no longer feeling like I was literally going to die.  Yes, that is what full blown, actual vertigo, feels like - to me at least.

I shuffled to the kitchen, and saw the heaps of Empire apples Mister Lovee had brought home.

And then I knew, that in slow steps, I just had to make apple pie.

I just had to.

It was a life line, back to my safe world...

I slowly peeled, cored, chopped...

I used this recipe.

One change I made is, where the pastry calls for 6 tablespoons of shortening, I used butter instead.

And then, Sir Cuisinart did the rest.

I love this machine.

He makes everything so easy.

Pop it all in, and then...

Dough? Pesto? Presto!

The recipe is really easy...

For the leaves, I just rolled out the dough and used a sharp knife to cut them out free hand.  Then I shaped them and scored some details in with the end of some random kitchen tool.  It was actually a corn ear holder thingy.

Very supple dough.

I had never made a double crust pie before, but it really was a breeze, and so much fun to do.  Like creating edible art...

A pie for Mister Lovee.

He is such a love.

He is a gemini, so he has one angelic side, and one rotten side.

But mostly, he is fun and hilarious, and inspires me to bake him nice things.

He came in from the store just as I was finishing adding the leaves, and he just LOVED the look of his surprise pie.  He asked me to paint the center berries with red food coloring.  I told him they would turn black, but he said he would like that, so I said okay ;)

I baked it, putting foil lightly over the pie during the last 30 minutes of baking...

While it cooled, I made stuffed peppers, per Mister Lovee's request earlier in the week.  I had so much to do, paintings I was working on, tidying, washing clothes.

But when you get so sick that nothing matters, then sometimes, for that moment in time, nothing does matter but...

Homemade apple pie...

I am still a little funny feeling, so I think that, on this dark rainy lovely autumn morn, I will cozy up with my 3 boys, and have a quiet little day...

See you soon!

 

Love, Vanessa

 

 

Dog Missing! Chocolate Lab named Coco, Missing in Tucson, Arizona

Hi friends, I am coming to you with a vast plea for positive thoughts, and for hopes that someone in Tucson might see this post, and know where Coco is.  Please please, help us find Coco!

Coco is a female Chocolate Labrador, 5 years old, missing from the Northern Heights area in Oro Valley (Tucson, Arizona).

Coco NEEDS daily medication!

If you have seen her please call: 520-237-2703

Update:  Coco is still missing as of October 9, 2011.  If she is found or any info comes my way, I promise to update this post, as well as mention any news in the current post at the time.  Thank so much ♥

Coco belongs to a friend of mine, who I have known since I was 14 years old.  And to her grown son, who I have known since before he was born.  Coco is their everything.

Coco went missing from her backyard night before last, in a home my friends had just moved into a couple of weeks ago.

Her boy misses her desperately!!!

 

There are oceans of tears, search parties, prayers, handmade signs and hopes swirling around thoughts of Coco right now.  Constant calls and visits to the humane society, animal control and more.

Their lives are upside down right now, searching, helpless, sleepless.....

 

Coco is a part of their family, and they love her so so so so so very much.

If anyone knows anything, please call 520-237-2703

 

She needs her medication, it is so hot outside......

Please send positive thoughts to my friends.

I can't imagine, don't even want to imagine what they are going through.

 

We don't know how or why she is missing.

My friend got home from work and Coco was simply gone from their backyard.

Sigh......

This is the area where she went missing from (Northern Heights), map below.

 

This is all I can do to help, short of praying my heart out-

In hopes that someone might google info about her, and find this.

She is wearing a collar with her contact information.

Please please call 520-237-2703 if you know anything about Coco.

I know you will send up some thoughts, in hopes Coco is returned home, safe and sound.

 

Gulp.

Love, Vanessa

 

 

ps:  I took these photos of Coco last summer, on a whim, and searched for them frantically today.  Such a beyond important thing to have really good pictures of your pets, kids, loved ones.  Take pictures if you have not, have them handy.  That is a lesson learned......♥

 

pss:  Feel free to spread the word and use any of my photos!!  Thank you from the bottom of our hearts!!  Coco is in Craig's List, and her grandma lives at her previous home.  So, everyone is working hard to find her.  Oh, how I hope to all hopes!!

Update:  Coco is still missing as of October 9, 2011.  If she is found or any info comes my way, I promise to update this post, as well as mention any news in the current post at the time.  Thank you so much ♥

Today

I found my heart in the garden today...

 

In a beautiful leaf, with markings much like those on my hand.

(cosmos)

 

Today was also a wacky day.

Nothing went as planned.

My printer went bonkers.

5 times.

I wrote a blog post that took 3 hours, and when I went to publish it, my screen turned blue and told me the entire system was shutting down.  My draft did not save.

I took a deep breath and wrote it again.

I had edited 40 photos for the post.  I had chosen flowers instead of art and things.  The flowers beckoned me, taught me lessons this morning. 

So, I went with the flow-ers.

(zinnias)

 

I wrote about going with the flow. 

Twice.

About-

Beethoven.  Petals.  Feelings.  Reflections. Hearing. Seeing.

About just being.

(zinnia)

 

About not sweating the small stuff.

(zinnias)

 

2 minutes ago I finished another 2 hour stint of re-writing the post.

When I hit publish, the screen said internal error on the web page.

(zinnias)

 

And disappeared again.

I had saved my work along the way, so I thought for sure I had a draft.

But, it was corrupt and would not open.

(zinnias)

 

None of these things have ever happened on this computer.

So, I am taking my own advice.

(zinnias)

 

I am walking away, taking a deep breath.  Hugging fur!

(zinnia)

 

I am going to breathe and finish baking bread.

(Dahlia Holland Festival - dinner plate size)

 

C'est la vie.

(zinnia)

 

Huge deep breath.

(zinnias)

Tomorrow will be a wonderful new day...

(zinnias and squash blossoms below)

 

With the sun shining big and bright!

(zinnias)

And I'll be there...

(zinnias)

Collecting along the way... 

(zinnias and roses)

 

And hopefully, not sweating the small stuff.

I handled today well, I just sighed and gave in.

Because really, do we have control over anything at all?

If things aren't life altering, then, why freak out?

Although, if this doesn't post, I might fall over the edge.

:)

(cosmos, morning glory, cosmos rose bon bon)

 

Anything wacky happen to you lately?

See you soooooooon!

Love, V

 

 

ps:  I will add more Halloween partiers to the list tonight or early in the morning.  I am so happy for Halloween Party mooooods!  Yay!

Fairy Light + Bakelite

Well, hello there, how do you do?  (that would be Mister Lovee's greeting to you, in his very deep voice)

But, since you've got me typing here, I'll say ~

Hoooooola!  Hellooooooooo, Bonjour!

Doesn't that 3 tone zinnia up there make you just want to jump so high you bonk your head on the ceiling and faint?  Oh wait, maybe that's only my personal way of thinking ;)

Of course, I wouldn't want to literally bonk my head and faint.

You know that, right?

(there are a handful of those red/pink zinnias right now, yumm!)

The thing is, the witches wanted me to share that beauty with you, as a thanks for being so excited about the Halloween party.  They are beyond delighted!

 

And, quite busily cooking up all sorts of goodness!

In the meantime, you and I have chapters and chapters of catching up to do.  What with me having guests all last week, and then the Halloween party announcement this week, why, I have hundreds of photos and tales I simply have not shared.  But, maybe I shouldn't bore you with them.

Did I tell you about the fairy light?

 

Before I get carried away with that, let's catch up a little.

What have we been up to?  Oh so many things, I can't think.

Let'se see....

I have been painting up a storm (canvas and furniture).  I made 2 pumpkin cheescakes (with my own punkin babies) last week, which I shared with all manner of friends, and not one photo.  So sad.

 

Still getting up early every single day to tend my garden for a few hours.

 

Beautiful mornings, garden flourishing with lower temps.  Everything getting crazy tall! (still in the upper 90's but not 100's)

I took a photograph of the angle below, that you have seen before, so you could see how tall the zinnias are.  Almost 5 feet tall, gifting endless vases of flowers every day, never once whining about the heat.  I simply did not know that they would do so well.  I am totally gobsmacked...

 

A friend brought us a mountain of manure from her miniature goats, for the garden.  Isn't that the sweetest?  I mean really, collecting it and delivering it.  I gave her half a cheesecake.  But then we talked so much, I was certain it had turned into a cheesecake smoothie.

Mister Lovee and I have had the bestest evenings, putting up purple lights, and laughing (plus ooing and aahing) at all my bins of halloween treasures.  Which I might add, I went and picked up at the city house (I used to throw lots of decadent witches parties).  And then, went on to load my car, full until bursting, with every thing in my storage room at the city house.  So many treasures re-found.  I feel like I basically closed the door on city life, and plunged full time into country life 4 years ago (well really 10 years ago, but living here super full time 4-5 years ago).  So, now, refinding my treasures, that are all slowly coming to the country, is super delightful.  I am doing it all myself, little by little.

I don't know what is wrong with me, when I am super busy I always take on 5,000 more projects.  And curiously, am more effective at getting them done.  I decided I wanted to clean out all my drawers, paint furniture in my room, and organize some of my bakelite (and a handful of random bangles) differently.......

I wanted to stack it up.  So I could see some of it...

 

I went searching for something that just had to work as a bangle stacker....

I found a hat stand, and pulled the head off so I could use the pole stand alone.  Then I found one of those "measuring stick skirt marker thingamajigs attached to a stand," in my sewing nook.

 

Perfect I thought...

So, here are 4 stands of bangles.  The only two that are working for me are the front center and front left, that I already used for bangles.  One is a victorian letter holder with birds, the other a candle holder.  But the other two tall ones, front right and back center, hmmmm....

Topsy turvyness, not working for me. 

So, now I get to put them all back where they originally went, lined up in a drawer.  Don't you love wasting time on such nonsense?  At least I got to play a little dress up, and put them all on (not at the same time, of course).....

So, now, I am back to cleaning drawers.

I have to admit...

I have become not very good at keeping my life in sparkling tidy order.  I don't like filth, so toilets and sinks and floors are always clean and scrubbed.  But as far as tidiness.  I am failing.

And, I don't care.

I think it is because, I know how it looks clean, so, yarn and jewelry and shoes and all sorts of random thing strewn about feels cozy to me.  That is until someone wants to come over, and I freak out.  Because, how can you explain to someone how nice things look when they are tidy, when they are not?

I am ruined for life because of Olga.  I just have to face it.

When I was growing up, the housekeeper/nanny lady, Olga, used to follow me around (then Letty, then Luz, then Theresa then, oh I don't know, I tormented so many of them they quit, but Olga stayed around a long time.  She would quit and then come back, from the time I was 4 years old until college, and she followed me there too).  Cleaning up after every step.  Olga was a whirlwind.  I made a mess and before I knew it, it was polished to sparkling heights and put back.  She left everything feeling cool and lemon fresh clean.  Oh and Theresa, getting me dressed to the nines in literally, 1 minute, as a boy came calling at the front door.

(I was always, from the time I can remember, in trouble for getting paint everywhere, because no one could get dry paint off of anything, not even Olga with her wire brush)

But what do you do, when you are all growed up, and you realize Olga is not with you?

(MOM, call Olga!!)

 

When you chose dirt and paint and fur, and love, and music and more love, in a love shack no less, because that is what filled your soul to bursting?

I fell in love in the quaint simple country, and stayed.

Dirt, gardens, too much to keep up, too much to do.

Too much junk and too many "treasures."

And, I wouldn't trade it for anything ever ever ever ever ever.

Living on this little parcel of earth, with these boys (and once a fur lass), and the trees and the mountains and my full heart, is the only place I have ever felt so complete in my whole life.

So, untidiness it is.  It's not that untidy, is it?

haha!

And that's that.

See, easy.

Decided, done.

:)

And, now that this post has spiraled into nothing that I had planned.  I want to share the fairy light. 

(Sometime I will share more childhood stories that would make you turn pale, about how I dressed up and hid, and scared the housekeepers into oblivion.  Or, how I lived on the roof dressed in a wig when my parents went out of town.  Or, how I "borrowed" my mom's enormous boat like, white Lincoln town car when they were out of town (they had taken away my car keys), and went cruising around town like all the kids did, and went to the Mexican fiestas.  And how I was always grounded.  Oh, maybe another time.  We should all share a story from our youth, yes yes!  Soon, let's do that!)

But for now, I am a much wiser, less less less less party girl version of myself (I love parties now too, but now I like the ones where tea and cakes are served, and you go to bed early.  Not the ones where you are at the height of discotheque dancing at 2 a.m.). 

I still feel 17 in my step, but those tales feel light years away.

And, I like that.  Memories to love and giggle about.

But the nowness, so much better.

These days I am deeply enamoured by fairy light...

Oh such fairy light.

My calm soul, wanting silence and solitude, loves the trickling in of the daily fairy light....

Through the trees, over the roof.

If you happen to be standing there at just the right moment, you get struck with the blinding glow....

 

And then, as it begins to fade away, it leaves the perfect amount of shadow, to view the flowers at their best....

(zinnia)

(3rd giant dahlia below, with 17 more buds, can you believe it?)

 

Light that does not wash them away with its strength, and yet, not darkened by evening.  Just a perfect combo of light and shadow...

(roses)

 

 

A play of light and shadow, that lasts about 5 minutes...

Just enough light, to fill your swoon cup up, until tomorrow...

 

Oh, how the garden is coming to life, with a huge wave of happiness now that the temps have dropped a bit.  The evenings are glorious.  I take a light sheet out to the garden chaise and read magazines.  (btw, has anyone noticed how the October decor magazines have no hint of fall, not one pumpkin in them?  Am I missing something?)

It's heaven out there.  Watching nature flutter by...

 

Time to finish the drawer and room job, and get to painting for the day.

Much love!

 

Wilfred & Maude {+ friends}

So, I thought today would be a perfect day to tell you a tale about Wilfred and Maude.  I am in a funny little curious mood, and orange garden globes are a must at this very moment...

You see, there was this time, where this massive huge vine was growing with 14 inch wide leaves that stretched 17 inches+  long....

I often wondered how such a very hearty and long vine could have no babies.

I pondered.

Waited.

Wondered some more.

And then, one day....

 

Lo and behold, two large punkin' heads peeked out.

What tricksters!

I was so certain, with all my poking around, that there were no babies.

Now, the one on the upper left (above), that is Wilfred.

And, can I just say, Wilfred was a big growing baby.

He had a rugged look.

Strong, tough, handsome.

Maude was a bit smaller, smooth, gentle...

Isn't it so nice that they had each other to grow up with?

I am sure days feel like years to pumpkins :)

I really hated to cut them off the vine.

They seemed so happy, but the buglings were trying to get inside of them, so, it was time to begin collecting...

I have lots of mini pumpkins this year.

They are second generation, which means, in 2009 I bought tiny pumpkins, saved their rotten little bodies until spring, planted their seeds.  Had babies from them in 2010, took those 2010 pumpkins, saved them until spring, planted their seeds, and voila, 2nd generation in 2011.

They get tinier and tinier, wonderful!

Don't forget, buy any beautiful store bought squash/pumpkins, use them for decor all autumn and winter, and then use the seeds in spring to grow your own squash.  It's grand I tell ya, just grand.

 

Pumpkin collecting days are so much fun around here.  We have had several this summer, and will have one more batch full in a week or so.

 

Then, the pumpkin season is over on our pad of earth.  Until next year.  This summer has been the longest foggiest time ever.  Foggy brain wise, with heat I really never recall experiencing?

I have cooked lots of pumpkins and put their pureed selves in the freezer.  Our freezer is stuffed with corn and okra and pumpkin.

I just love the littles!

 

Makes me happy.

Sure does.

I am planning for next year.  Moving my patches, working on all the things you have to do when you grow pesticide free, and the pumpkin bugs find you.

 

My brain is bursting with vegetable gardening knowledge, and things yet to learn.

Have you seen Vanishing of the Bees? 

You must, if you ask me. (you can Netflix it)

I am ferociously intent on making sure bees have a place to get happy in my garden.  With a variety of different plants to keep them healthy.

(I loved when the bees visited us here)

 

Help the bees in your own garden if you can, even on your apartment porch, won'tcha?  If you can, try to stick to organic edibles when shopping (I know, it's very hard, but we can try little by little, can't we?).  It is our way of doing any tiny bit we can to help the planet, and keep ourselves healthy too.  Systemic pesticides are scary (all are, but those get my attention the most)!

Hug a pumpkin ;)

If you want to talk about changes in people.....

I went from Platforms to Earthworms!

That's my new self description ;)

Platforms to Earthworms...

Who would have thunk? (is that a word?)

By the way, Wilfred and Maude have reminded me, we have a Halloween party to talk about asap.  Are you game?

Next week we have all sorts of fun things to chat about.  Treats up my sleeve too.

Soooo, with that I say, have a glorious Labor day weekend if you are in the USA, and stay safe!!

We'll be eating the last of the little garden watermelons, summer is beginning its descent, yay!

 It was good, but I am ready for a change.

 

I am off to Le Poste...

 

Random Thoughts Alert ~

I was up until 2:53 a.m. last night finishing parcel packaging.  The most curious thoughts dance in your head, in the wee hours of the night, whilst working along.  I realized that my girlish heart has changed, and become more sensible. 

During this self to self conversation at 2 a.m., it was brought to my attention that, I am no longer in love with Bryan Ferry and Mickey Rourke.  Sorry Mickey, you can't come to my house and have cookies after-all.  I changed my mind.  I like them both of course, but as far as sharing my heart with them.  I outgrew them.  Oops. 

;)

Who knows, I might change my mind in a couple of hours.  I am just that kind of girl.  "Love Kiss and Tell," I know, cheesewhiz.  It's my thing.  I am not ashamed, wink.

Will you pretty pretty please, share your secret famous crush with me (and what you like about that person)?? Please?  Oh, this could get good!  I am dying to hear!  It doesn't 't have to be profound.  I have fallen in love over interesting teeth before.

See you sooooon!

Love, V

 

 

Tea for Two & Two for Tea

I'd say it is certainly about that time...

 

Set the table, cozy into the nook in the office, hide from the heat, work, sip, be, heal...

 

It is time to savor the here and now.  I have had a grueling summer, mainly with the fact that I fractured my foot at the end of April/beginning of May, whilst slamming a flip-flopped foot into the corner of a shovel, in an attempt to dig a hole in dry hard dirt (I normally wet dirt first).

 

Breaking glass electrocuting pain. 

And, because I am soooo smart, I did not do anything about it at first.  I was certain the pain would go away.  Until my foot swole (is that a word?) up and turned blue.  Not one of my more brilliant moments.  I finally sought help, and took the advice.  Although I chose against a cast or boot.  Then, I carefully hobbled all summer, slowly, through all of my chores, with ice and belladonna/arnica salve as my best friends.  Rotten.

 When I was almost healed a couple of weeks ago, I forgot about my injury and jumped up onto my hurt foot, and into bed with a re-crack.  Yet again, not another Einstein moment.  I have troopered through it.  Grinned and sunk into pain with each step.  And then, I ordered a bunch of foot healing shoes, and did all the things the powers that be had told me to to in the beginning.  Hard head alert.  I feel better.  Light, tunnel, hello.

They scared me with the fear of lifelong pain.

Although, my foot hurts less in heels, and doctors say that is common for folks who are used to heels and have high arches.  I will say, the fit flops, saving grace from heaven.  Until I got them, my foot throbbed.

So, 4 months of forcing myself to do everything through pain, and now, I succumb.

Tea, nook, breathe.

 

As I cozied up with the American Pickers and my new Wii last night (thank you Mistah Lovah lovah! Yay instant netflix on the television), beloved Miles took a springing leap and landed with his heavy paw + nail right in my left eyeball.  I was pain confused at first, then afraid.  I have never had an eye injury, so I didn't know that your eye will simply not open when hurt.  Boy did it hurt.  Man oh man.  It was all so very scary, until I could see again this morning (hello prayers, pain killer, ice, tea bag, lovee).  I feel like Raggedy Ann.  My goodness, so silly.  So so silly.

I know it's all trivial compared to all going on in the rest of the world, so I am not complaining, just sharing real tales of my little orb.

And, because I teeter on the seesaw of being logical and superstitious, I say, perhaps I should heed the warning, and stay away from ladders, sky diving and all other sort of adventurous activity for now.

 

Why yes, I don't mind if I do.

 

This sounds so much better, cool room, hot goodness in a cup...

 

Real cream.

Ooo, aaaaaaaaah.

 

Gentle.

 

I won't bore you with garden things (too much), but, zinnia seeds.  As I have said, plentiful beyond words.

I have been pruning a lot, and the more I prune, the taller and taller and taller they become, and the more flowers they gift.

Pruning is key.

And now, 4 foot marigolds, from last year's plant seeds I collected, are springing up.

 

Just the place to be.

A book, clay, safe...

 

Pretty, calm, so needed this...

Sometimes, you just have to follow the path life wants to push you into.  I must learn to pay attention better...

 

I see, I savor, but do I really see and savor?

It's in the calm & silence, isn't it?

 

Keep the pouring up, I am in heaven ;)

 

I have been obsessed with haunted tales lately.  And, I am sad to report that I am having a hard time being spooked.  I guess, once you go into my granny's attic, and then down to the witch's house (plus ancient tales of family witches and spells + ghosties of old ladies), it is sort of hard to get scared of haunted house tales?  I am sure if I was actually in a haunted house, then I would be mighty spooked to the core.

But the tales alone are soooo much fun.

I am actually on a haunted plantation kick.  I just finished reading about the Myrtles...

Anyhow....

If you need me, here is where you will find me...

Catching up on long over-due e-mails, sculpting, sipping, being.

 

Oh and, if you'd like to own the book about the haunted plantation and the writer's journey into owning it (below), grubby finger graced and all, let me know in comments, I am giving it away.  If a handful of folks want it, I'll pick a name out of a hat.

 

 

Love, V

 

 

ps:  One of Tori Amos' songs, off of her new September release album "Night of Hunters" (with a classic flair) was leaked, I love it, listen here.  So good.  Amazing that so much time has passed since this.  Sigh...  She gets so beat up with words by critics.  I think she is amazing.  People inevitably change so much as they age, and when you are young it is hard to understand it.  It is in the going through it, that you start to understand little by little.  And then, it clicks...  You realize that, perhaps not only has your favorite artist changed, but the listener has too changed.  We long for our fave artists to make us feel how we felt by their songs early on.  But, the trick is, both parties have changed.  We all long for our youth from time to time.  Rarely does the listener realize this, and so we hold the artist accountable for our feelings, and bash their new work (not to mention how they look etc.).  Maybe it isn't our taste anymore, which is fine, but the listener is so often intent on searching for that early original feeling (I am guilty of this too).  Alas, change is inevitable, we can't be 28 forever.  If we change our perception, we might see and hear things differently...?

pss:  In June, Miles left me the most helpful little tool on earth.  A perfectly Nanny McPheeish cane.  It works like a charm, and was so helpful on the extra tough days.  (He loves sticks and keeps a nice stash of them.  He left this one on my office stoop)

 

Isn't that funny?

psss:  Something extra fun up my sleeve in a couple of days.

Life & Tales

I am not sure how it happened, you see, when I started painting as a young girl and into my teens and twenties, I painted on huge canvas.  Splashing paint around like a mad woman.  But somehow, over the years, I have found myself painting the most delicate little details, with paintbrushes that look like eyelashes... (although, I still like to splash color on large surfaces)

This means that when I am working, I like to escape for breaks every hour or so.  Stretch, crack my neck (yes I am one of those people), check on the garden, make sure the real world is still outside the door...

Although, if I am not careful I will be beckoned by the garden, enchanted into leaving my painting duties, and back to playing with petals and leaves...

We have had two glorious days.  Big, fluffy, moist clouds, filled with intense monsoon rains that cool the earth and gift a huge relief from the incredible heat.

On cloudy days, I really can't pry myself out of the rustic garden paths.

Gathering treats along the way...

The gobs of dichondra seeds I planted in April have really exploded late in the summer...

Dichondra is like, a fairy carpet, don't you agree?

Tiny and sweet.

I love hearing water trickle, and am crazy about fountains, are you?  I tried to bring my giant fountain from the city house to the country house, and almost broke my shoulder.  So, once I get some help, I will bring the huge one over and a mid-sized one over too.  I think they want to live in the country.

But for now, we listen to the trickle from here...

I gave my mom one of these fountains for her birthday, as I love mine so much.

Can I just tell you a bit more about the storms?

A monsoon storm is like, I can't even describe it.

If you have experienced one, they are unreal.  Massive heat on a summer day, and then, a crazy wild downpour that hits the spot like nothing else.

If there is summer rain, I am the first one in it.

Yesterday I worked so hard on our new garden project, in two storms, drenched, digging out beds to put wire bottoms in, and then putting the soil back mixed with other soil.  Poor blistered battered me ;)

But it is so worth it.

Although, I am so sore, oh my goodness, am I sore.

3 down, 5 to go.

I need only go foraging for edibles to know the why, in why I am doing this.

:)

My mantra, you only have to do the painful part once.

As I worked out there, in the heavy rain, tilling earth, digging beds by hand, I felt like a homesteader.  A lone girl, with a little piece of land, in a place that time forgot. 

Time shifted.  It was 100 years ago.

And, I needed to grow things so my family would survive.

I felt a sense of desperation, thinking of no grocery store down the street.  And about, needing to get my seeds in before it gets too cold.

I felt guilty when Mister Lovee called and asked me if I wanted anything from the store.

But then again, it isn't 100 years ago.

Still, I feel a burning passion for working in soil, so I forge on.

I got soaked to the bone twice whilst working out there, and decided that, baking for the first time in 4 months sounded beyond scrumptious.  It was squeal worthy. (oops, wait, I baked a cake for Mister in June, I forgot about that)

I found a giant fig on my little fig tree, and immediately had a plan...

I ran out to the peach tree and grabbed a couple of juicy ripe babies, and headed for my package of phyllo dough, painting on each layer with melted butter. 

Layering...

 Phyllo, butter, phyllo, until I had ten layers. 

(I love working with phyllo dough.  I began making the family baklava when I was 15, and learned how to work with phyllo back then.  It is easy once you get the hang of it)

I folded up the edges and sprinkled the phyllo crust with brown sugar.  I layered my fruit, brushed it with the remaining butter, sprinkled some more brown sugar on top, and baked at 400' F for 20 minutes...

So rustic, so yummy.

What a week.  I tell ya.  What a week. Busy crazy times.

For a little break, this video is delicious....

Ah, blissful, the Victorian Kitchen Garden.

 

For now I must be on my way, everyone is assembling for happy hour, and I don't want to miss it ;)

 

See you super sooooooon!

 

 

ps:  I just got these shoes (FitFlops) in the mail 3 days ago (I ordered a half size smaller), and they are sooooo cozy.  Trust me.  I was leery at first (as they are not something I would really ever wear), but they are great, and the brown and grey are lovely too.  I highly recommend them, especially if you have a foot injury, or stand or work hard all day, have concrete floors, want to be kind to your feet or simply have achy feet.  Yummmms for the feet.

 

pss:  Matty is healing nicely.  I think it was simply a bug bite (hello after hours emergency x-rays etc), thank heavens!  It is not huge and swollen, and he can walk on it perfectly.  He still has a tiny lump under the skin, that gets smaller everyday. Hooray!

Summer Daze {Weekend Snapshots}

Summer sights and sounds surround us intensely. 

Rusty metal meets...

Vines...

Belonging to gourds and watermelons...

Hello baby watermelon...

Watermelon reminds me soooo much of my early childhood.

It was such a different time, late seventies early eighties, when there was still a huge amount of freedom in things that later became banned.  Like, going to the river, lollygagging in the deep pools of water, mom running out to bring me a huge slab of watermelon.  Me putting globs of wet sand on my legs and pushing it off with the watermelon rind.

Riding the 3 wheelers through water as 6 year olds, raising your legs up high so you wouldn't get burned from the motor steam.

70's music, 60's music, loud.

Barbecuing.

The river.

And then, going to the river was banned, and it became a part of lost time, memories.

But, we've still got watermelon ;)

There I go again, veering.

What about weekend happenings?

Let's see...

Oh, yes.

Sculpting lots of little faces.

Making new friends...

Hearing their tales...

Keeping a close eye on Matty, who had an emergency vet visit on Thursday night.  He was limping badly, so, I took him in after hours.  There was waiting, wondering, x-raying.  Was his back right leg broken?  Was it not?

 

It was not.  Thank goodness, but it is still swollen.

He is on medication for pain, and I am wondering if it was a bug bite?

We are watching him every second.  Which is all we can do at this point.

Thank goodness for pretty things, and cozy home, to calm the nerves...

I really can't get over flowers.

Can you?

I just can't stop marveling at them.

I am so amazed by their intricate details.  Just incredible...

If you pay close attention, nature gives you lots of painting lessons.

The more time one spends outdoors, the more shadows and contours come to life.  The brain opens itself to dimensions, and layers....

The sun is hotter than hot.

Is it crazy hot where you are?  It is super dry here most of the time, except right now.  It is humid.  Last night we were swinging in the garden, and I got one or two mosquito bites.  I asked Mister Lovee if it was this humid in places like Wisconsin or Louisiana (of course I knew it was).  He immediately says, are you kidding???  It is waaaaaay more humid, and lots more bugs.

Are you in a region as such?  What are your nights like?  I wish we had fireflies.

Here are some shots of more gourdy gourd gourds hanging around.  They are huuuuuge.  Wild things, aren't they?  They smell funny on your hands if you touch them.  Sort of like, faint and stale cigarette smoke.

We have started some new projects too...

I know, insane ;)

The way I look at big projects is like this.  You only have to do the hard work once, and then you reap the benefits forever.  Isn't that the truth?

Oh oh...

 

The bestest thing is when you happen to have your camera on you, and a little someone stops by to check out the flowers...

I am telling you, if you like zinnias make plans to plant seeds in spring.  They are the gift that keeps on giving and giving, not to mention withstanding the heat beautifully.  Growing 3 feet tall, and gifting flowers in abundance.

I just planted two spots with leftover seeds a few of weeks ago, and they are already pretty tall, with flowers on some.

They bring happy flying creatures to visit.

Summer goodness is all around us...

The gypsy hollow beckons us by night, as we all gather, singing, laying in the swing, reading under candles and fairy lights...

One of my favorite little spots...

Where if you are lucky, you might find a handful of dreams and ideas floating about.  Waiting to be captured in canvas, and clay...

A few little random weekend tid-bits.

Finishing long audio books (always so heart wrenching to leave a story, isn't it?), reading haunted tales voraciously.  I have read a small stack of books this summer actually.  Something I had not done in a long while.  We have never had cable in the country.  The television is only on for netflixed movies, and I do listen to NPR and a lot of music, along with radio shows, and audio books.

With summer here in full force I am simply living in the moment, trying to enjoy the days, keep calm, keep happy and keep sane ;)

Also, always filling the hope jar in my heart.

What are you up to?

Love, V

 

 

Gourdy Gourd, Home?

Hello there!  I escaped for a couple of days, and have returned to my little space on the planet...

I packed my bags full of trinkets and such, drove to the airport to pick up my brother (whom I adore), and we had a mini road trip to the family pad.  He surprised Mammie for her birthday.  It was wonderful.

I took a few garden treats with me to gift to my Mombie.  A box of my babies...

And, oodles of fresh flowers picked from my garden.  I also gave her a fairytale garden fountain and a necklace I made (she owns about 800 of my jewelry pieces by now).  Plus, some zinnias I started for her in a pot, and some potted pumpkin sprouts, that sprung up while I was there.  My dad was fascinated by them.  I hope they grow and gift her some punkin' babes.

We ate too much.

At least I did.

I am still full.

Mombie made her own fave coconut cake.  She insisted, but my brother and I stopped and got her a beautiful white chocolate and raspberry cake anyways.  For good measure.  Oh and, oodles of balloons that I had pre-ordered.

Her cake was unreal.  She only makes things from scratch, using fresh ingredients.  Like real coconuts, etc.

It was a blast, but I missed my three boys.

Especially the furry ones ;)

I was eager to see them when I finally turned onto the street, that takes me to the street our love shack lives on.

I missed the gourd tree too.

It makes me feel like, if I pretend just right enough, I can slip into a fairytale, of the real variety.  If only for a smidgen.

Below is the back side of the tree, also covered.

Gourds are born of white flowers.

Where most squash (pumpkins etc.) have yellow to orange flowers.

I spy a great huge gooseneck gourd!

And lots of birdhouse babies...

There are some huge ones hanging above head, but it got too dark to take their picture today.  I will take some in the daylight.

As soon as I arrived, I picked some edibles, and we even gobbled some tender sweet corn, which will be super ready in about a week.  It is yumm when it is young.  We cooked it, slathered on some butter, and shared it (sometimes we eat the corn raw when it is young).

My juicer was waiting for me to juice a large glass of one of my favorite treats.  Beet carrot juice.  I also love carrot alone.  And, lots of other juices.  I love juicing.  Do you?

Now I have to unpack all of my stuff.

Something I am not good at, at all.

I have to decompress.

And get back into the swing of my week.

How are you??

Tell me something delicious.  Won't you, please?

A good tale would so hit the spot.

Even an invented one would be grand ;)

How about it?

Love, V

What to do?

So, I am in a pickle.  Yes a pickle.  You see, tomorrow is the birthday of my most best friend, and love, in the whole world.  The person I adore snuggling up next to on the porch, and watching nature roll by.  The person who makes me feel totally happy and loved.  The person I love to bits.  The person who takes part in all of my antics, and believes in (plus encourages) all of my nonsense...

Don't get me wrong, he can be more rotten than me.

But percentage wise, he is overall pretty nifty.

So, yes....

Did you guess?

It is the birthday of Mister Lovee.

A total gemini.

The thing is, he wants nothing.

He said he just wants me to be my lovely self all day long.

Which means, I can't be rotten.

Okay, done (I hope).

And, when I asked him if I could make him a special dinner, he thought about it for a moment, and then said "sandwiches."

For pete's sake!

What shall I do?

I can't get him to budge.

I need to get swimming on an idea, like yesterday.  Any thoughts?

I am on my way to the store to get ingredients for a cake for sure.

Plus, I am baking a whole slew of other treats, because on Thursday we are celebrating my Dad's birthday, which is actually on the 17th.  Can you believe it?

But, what, oh what, do I gift my most beloved Lovee?

I was thinking something funny?

Or something homemade.

He is a hoot, has a hilariously wicked sense of humor, and he is a musician too.

As you can imagine, over the last decade I have come up with all sorts of gifts (including surprise parties at midnight), but this year I am simply stumped.

I want it to be lovely.

This is the man who I lovingly say to..."Lovee, you really are my soul-mate."

Then he looks at me quizzically and says, "cell mate?"

And I say, "ya, sure, your cell mate."

Then we both laugh.

He is so thoughtful and kind to me, I need to do something nice.

Maybe I should clean his room and do all his laundry?

(I am dead meat for posting this photo of him, taken a few years ago in Mexico)

 

Help me ponder, won't you?

What would Mona do?

What would you do?

Something kind, and thoughtful.

No gadgets or things as such...

Hmmmmm.

Ponder.

Pondering.

Pondersome.

Love, V

 

A Rose & A Tale...

I was going to attempt to contain myself...

You know, show some form of restraint. 

 

Prove that my enough button is not in fact, dysfunctional.

But it is, so why lie?

Actually, I don't even think I have an enough button.

Do you?

Is less really more?

I suppose in many cases it is.

But, in the case of a rose... 

 

Or many roses, and them springing up in our garden -

Then, I really don't think less is more.

Am I wrong? 

Every single year, since the first year I found myself here, I have asked friends to come see the 30+ year old rose bushes.  Rarely does anyone get to see them blooming.  Yesterday my neighbor came over, and I sent her home with the bundles in the first photo.  I am so delighted to share them.

She oohed and aaaahed with me.

You see...

They took my breath away, these roses-

on a weekend, ten years ago, a week from yesterday.

I followed a map given to me by a man.

A man I would come to know as Mister Lovee.

A map that took me to a place, that unbeknownst to me at the time, was where my heart would find its nest...

And, stay.

I made a path of coral color roses that last weekend in April 10 years ago.

Mister Lovee gave me a basket, and I filled it.

So many roses.

Enough to toss up in the air...

Coral roses made paths, and the frosting pink ones filled vases...

We hiked up to the petroglyphs.

We went swimming in water holes.

He invited me to stay for dinner.

We grilled salmon and made mango salsa...

I played with the roses.

I felt so free, I was 25. 

Just bursting with happiness.

My heart felt like a cloud bobbing in air.

(come to think of it, I still feel that way)

 

As I tumbled...

Into... 
 
 

Love.

 

I was enchanted with a manboy who was fun and interesting and artistic.

I loved him for his wisdom.

His music, his soul.

His entire self.

We had an incredibly charming "getting to know each other" time.

It was exciting and wondrous.

Soo many tales.

I loved his plot of earth, and how cozy and safe it felt.

And the roses, oh the roses...

 

He had (has) such charisma.

And oh, his wacky sense of humour!

His ability to have a childlike outlook.

He's even a little like Peter Pan...

 

Don't get me wrong.

He is rotten too.

But then again, so is the girl typing.

So, we are even.

 

When I set foot on this property, I felt like I had found a missing void in my being. 

 

As though I was intended to find my way here.

(Mister Lovee says that I was always meant to be here)

With these roses, and this man.

 Loving these two boys...

 

I ask, where did the time go?

It feels like yesterday, and at the same time, it doesn't.

 

How did the rose bushes become 30+ years old ?

I wonder if they wonder the same thing?

:) 

How did a whirlwind romance turn into a decade?

How did we lose our beloved girl?

And then find our way out of sorrow, and into more pure love?

 

Do we have a path?

 

Is it all predestined?

Or do we make it up as we go along?

 

I don't know.

But I do know, that I am happy to be here.

On this little parcel of land, with two furry boys, a furry girl in my heart, one man and hundreds of birds and trees and growing things.

 

A place where I have planted more rose bushes, more seeds... 

More love.

 

So curious, time is.

It twists, it turns, it teaches, it changes.

The folks who planted the huge 30+ year rose bushes before Mister Lovee found this place, are probably not with us anymore...

And yet, their roses live on.

I tend to them.

I make sure they are nourished...

And every spring, I take hundreds of photos, and I remember that girl that felt like a fairy, who followed a map into the hills...

 

And found love, and...

 

Home. 

And just like that, memories come, and  memories go, and memories swirl to and fro.

Hearts feel full.  Hearts get broken, hearts mend, hearts laugh, hearts cry, hearts play, hearts trust, hearts stay.

I am so happy I came here, 10 Aprils ago next week.

And that, that little hand-drawn map Mister Lovee gave me to get here, is now the very map to my favorite place on earth.  Our home.

I am looking forward to a continuing journey, and many many more memories to be made.

 

 

ps:  Last year's roses still blooming in June, right here.  That gives me June to look forward to ;)

pss:  This is so beautiful, sent to me several weeks ago by an even more beautiful soul.  So worth watching to the end.  Thank you Nathalie! 

Truths...

Hello there!  I can't begin to tell you how happy I am to be here.

 

I just had a more than rotten 2 day journey with my nasty one or two times a year visitor.

Vertigo.

(what is vertigo?)

You may have heard of him in my life before.

I don't like him at all.

He is not welcome.

He tries to do me in every time he visits.

This time was one of the rottenest. 

I quite honestly, did not think I would make it back to the world of non-spinning this time around.

But, here I am, taking baby steps back into the real world.

 

The only good thing about this, is the renewed sense of life I get, after I start to feel better again. 

 

How every thing in the world like, birds, trees, dogs, sprouts, seeds, mom, dad, sister, brother, Lovee, granny, grandpa, aunts, uncles, you, air, sun, here, clouds, friends and more is 200 times more important to me. 

 

And everything else seems frivolous.

I have two fading blackish eyes from all the tiny burst blood vessels I acquired around my eyes whilst in the worst moments (think porcelain god).

I toyed with not telling you this tale. 

I mean, who really wants to hear about such a thing...?

 

Alas, it's the truth.

It's where I've been.

It's part of my reality.

I loathe not feeling good.

I rarely catch colds.

(have not had one in 4 years)

I eat tons of healthy things.

(and non healthy things too :)

I like to think I am strong and tough.

 

But when I get those vertigo spells once a year, brought on from a head injury horse fall in 1993 and subsequent messed up inner ear, I get lost in a scary abyss. 

I start to think about all the folks out there, who don't feel good regularly.

How it's so easy to take life for granted in the day to day hustle and bustle, not realizing how fragile we really are.  How fleeting our time here is.  How we must try to savor each moment..

 

How so much of what we put importance on is meaningless.

How we should be kinder to ourselves.

And, how those we love are really all that truly matters in the grand scheme of things.

Memories...

 

(Below, my Dad holding Miles the day I adopted him, with sis and Mom surrounding us)

 

Thanks to vertigo meds, I am feeling much better, and I can slowly turn my head and play with the boys.

 

I can eat yummy things again too. 

Like sushi and buttered toast. (not at the same time)

I can walk outside, I can call my Mom on the phone.

You get lost in vertigo.

No place to turn, no relief, no thoughts about anything but the overwhelming spins and waves and twists and turns your loss of equilibrium puts you in.

Crying, hanging on to the bed as though it is spinning in space.

And, when it's over - it's blocked out, until the next time...

(hopefully not for another year.  hopefully never again)

 

I guess what I am trying to say is, I feel compassion for anyone out there who doesn't feel 100% well.  No matter what level of ailment.

That includes heartbreak and depression.

And, I guess I just wanted to share a real side of my world.

Most of the time when I tell people I have vertigo, they sort of brush me off.

And I wonder, have I ever done that to someone when they come to me, trying to tell me how they feel?

I think I have.

It's human nature...

It's hard to understand things, unless we are going through them ourselves.

So, this post is for anyone going through anything in life that's thrown a wrench at you.

Anything at all.

I am thinking about you, out there somewhere...

If you have anything you want to share, about anything you might be going through in your life, please feel free to chat about it here.  I will be checking in throughout the day.  Putting in my two cents.

I think sometimes, a great gift is a moment in time to share our thoughts and feelings. 

I know I am grateful to be able to come here and share. 

Even some very private life happenings from time to time...

 

Love, V

 

 

 

ps:  Matty never left my side while I was under the weather.  What a special guy... I love him so.

pss:  Miles - my sleepy studio companion.

 

psss:  Helooo! Happy Monday! I am chatting in comments.  I have never done this as such before - but this is a good post to share thoughts in such a way.  I posted 2 different (hopefully no too long) comments so far ;)  my second one is way at the end, on the 2nd comments page.

A Warm Little Day...

It's been crazy busy days around here.  But, no matter what the chore list looks like, I make certain to stop and do fun things - like making green rice krispy treats for St. Patrick's day...

Mister Lovee LOVES my rice krispy treats.

I use extra butter, to say the least ;)

They are yummy, fun and keep things light hearted... 

By the way, don't forget you can still access my free printable St. Patrick's Day cardlettes here...

 

And, my printable Shamrock Brooch Tutorial, here...

As for swirling thoughts... 

It seems I have been quite busy lately with silent chores.

Lots of time for thinking, dreaming, pondering... 

 

Which I don't mind at all, such as -

Kneading bread.

Washing the floor.

Scrubbing the inside of the oven.

Planting my garden. 

Watering my garden. 

Planting s'more.

Laundry.

All quiet things, that lend so much time to think and reflect.

Preparing our every Sunday dinner... 

Veggies (carrots, onions, garlic, potatoes, celery) and chicken tossed with olive oil, garlic salt, parsley flakes, rosemary and thyme.  Chicken on top of veggies in baking pan, and popped into the oven (uncovered) for 30 mins at 400' F and then another 30 mins at 350'F  - an hour of cook time total, for a super delicious and healthy dinner.

Every weekend I make this, and we so enjoy it.  You can use any chicken you'd like.  Skinless or not, boneless or not, it always comes out yummy.  Unless you are a vegetarian, and by the way, the veggies turn out amazing on their own as well. 

It seems like baking bread on the weekends has become a regular occurrence.

I am enjoying this part immensely.

Such a gratifying feeling, baking bread at home...

And the scent-

Mmmmmm.... 

(are you sick of me baking bread yet? ;)

On another note...

I have been doing some outrageous projects.

Those sort of projects that make you wonder why on earth you decided to do such a thing in the first place?

Like, taking all the books out of a HUGE bookcase, moving the bookcase to another spot on the property (on my own).  Putting everything back in.  Deciding it's not right and it must go back.  Then taking everything out again, moving it back, and putting everything back in.

Phew.

Although,  I have had Japan on my mind so very much, that I have felt sort of foggy in undertaking any tasks.  My heart feels overwhelmed for the people.  So, it was almost like I took a sort of comfort in doing something tedious and unnecessary in the bookcase project, because I couldn't focus on anything else.  Have you felt that way at all?

I find myself tending the garden, watching for sprouting babes...

 

While all the positive thoughts I can muster, are with the people of Japan... 

 

Much love friends...

 

 

A Saturday

Hello on a Saturday!  I have had a week that sort of blink, blink, blinked away.  I don't know what's cooking with me?  I have continued my tidying and sorting our love shack - and spent all day yesterday pulling everything out of the linen closet, refolding everything, and organizing.  My brain feels like it can't do anything else until I do these random things that entail taking everything out, tidying, and then putting it all back in....

 

Yesterday I opened a drawer to find all sorts of activity from moths. 

I proceeded to dump 5 drawers out and wash everything.

Clean the drawers.

Get some new cedar chips.

I didn't need to wash everything, did I?

But it fit with the roll I am on.

I enjoyed it.

Odd.

:)

 

I slowly put back thing by thing.

(Swarovski crystal collections I made when I was younger.)

Maybe it is the sort of ritual of cleaning, admiring & putting back that I am enjoying...?

 

As I type, I realize that the feeling I have towards all of this cleaning and organizing (which includes the pâtisserie in a way), is that, I am practicing the art of respect towards my home, and my possessions.

I have been so slow in this process, and yes yes, that is what I feel!

 I feel a true sense of respect towards, even the spice cabinet.

Loving my surroundings.

Not getting angry at the housework, but instead, doing it with thankfulness.

With gratitude that, a love shack, a roof, health, my 3 boys, and our space is -

A gift.

A morsel in time, a place we call our own.

Yes yes, I think I am paying respect to living in my own little world.

And what's more, loving its tattered imperfections.

 

I even stop to admire a little ceramic shard I have been carrying around for years.

I found it 10 odd years ago, and felt attached to it immediately.

Funny how those things happen, don't you think?

I look at it as a symbol of exactly what I am doing in my cleaning/organizing endeavors -

Which is, appreciating every little thing that surrounds me.

 

And what a perfect time to do so, where Winter lingers, and the gypsy garden awaits the birth of brand new leaves on trees, and warmth in the air....

It is a sort of beautiful, quiet silence.

Tending the home.

Looking out to see pups covered in mud.

 

Watching Miles discover that he outgrew his tiny hiding place behind the big garden pot...

:)

 

Watching love grow even stronger, between adopted frothers (fur brothers).

Feeling like, Miles was always here.

Watching Matty love him back.

 

Throwing a laundry basket on the floor, and running to get the camera, in an attempt to document sleep...

And then, whipping back around, to the main topic at hand.

Just being, and enjoying life.

In its simplest forms really.

 

And I suppose...

That's all I have to say about that ;)

Oh wait, I forgot to tell you -

Baby carnations are starting to bloom in my garden....

 

A sign that spring really exists, and is not merely a manifestation of our imaginations!

Okay, off I go for now ;)

 

 

ps:  Random Tidbit - I have not had any coffee for almost a month+.  And, I was a true black coffee in the morning gal, for 4 years. 

Caffeine always makes me feel truly rotten.  I can't even consider drinking a soda pop.  So, we tested to see if possibly I was allergic to it.  As lots of odd things popped up, after starting my black coffee drinking 4 years ago.  Seems, coffee/caffeine was not my friend.  So, I went off cold turkey, suffered, got through it, and almost a month later, here I am.  No coffee.  And, lots of the coffee drinking symptoms I was having are really faded big time.  So, if you feel like caffeine is making you feel bad and causing strange symptoms to you, take it from me.  Getting off it works.  So, that's the 411 in that random pointless bit of info department ;)

However, if coffee/caffeine doesn't make you feel bad, then by all means, please enjoy a cup of 100% freshly ground black Kona for me, won't you?

At Play....

While I am at play, delving into the most sensical nonsense I can think of...

 

Including creatures and paint...

 

I can hear the boys outside...

They love their dad.

Littles (aka Miles) loves dad extra much. 

Miles is growing, but he is still a pretty small runt.  I think Matty makes him seem bigger, since Matty isn't that huge. (he's about half the size that Baby was)

I can't, I mean can not, get enough of Miles running.  His ears are like wings.  Squeal cute, don't you think?

And, when I turn up outside to join them and call -

Miiiiiiles...

My-my, My-my...

And he comes running with all the joy in the world bundled up in that fluffy little body...

Why, I just melt. 

Melt, I tall ya. 

Melt. 

Cuties, plus paint, plus Lovee, plus warm days =

Darn near perfection.

Wouldn't ya say? 

Speaking of paint.  I am knee deep in a project, so I best run.  I was on a, waiting for a layer of paint to dry break, so I snuck away to visit you ;)

 

Tomorrow the whole family (all 4 of us) goes to the vet.

(Just got a call, vet's sick.  Rescheduled for Friday)

Shots for all the furs.

I got so many shots in my life for severe allergies, that I don't mind them.

(4, twice a week, my whole life)

But, I don't think Matty will be thrilled at all.

To say the least.

:)

Wish us luck ♥

 

 

 

 

ps:  A random tid-bit on vet visits.  Miles had an emergency vet visit 2 weeks ago.  He turned out to be fine (thank goodness).  He actually enjoyed the vet visit.  But, Matisse will probably be carried in, by his 5' 2" human mom, whilst he hugs her so hard she chokes.  Not a strange occurrence when visiting the vet.  Although, he is doing awesome on his leash, so we'll see.  Maybe he can surprise his vet and walk in like the debonair leash wearer he becomes on walks.  That would be awesome.  Actually, I think he can do it, he was great around all the people during the holidays.  I have high hopes friends.

A Secret Sweet Treat

Well, I suppose it's not so secret, since I am telling you ;)  ...

Sooooo, the secret is that, I am working on a super special Valentine's Day present, for a super special person, that I looooove.

 

You see, it's not exactly easy to say that this person is super special, and that I love this person oodles and oodles.  I mean, I do (even though sometimes I can't stand her).  But, it's still sort of tricky to say I love her bunches, when that person is...

ME.

Yes, I am my own special Valentine.

 

Throughout the years, I have shared posts in February that tell of how, I LOVE Valentine's day.  However, I love this day because I use it as a me me meeeeee day.

It's the one day that is maybe even better than a birthday.

Because, my most important Valentine, is myself.

In the beginning (a few years ago) I was sort of silly about being my own Valentine.  Doing it in a sort of joking way. 

But now, I am crazy serious about it, and I go out of my way to make sure my super special Valentine has a splendid little day. (so, I am working on something that might take until V-day to be done)

It's so important to be good to yourself, even if it is a difficult feat.  It will get easier over time.

 

If you sort of delete the idea of someone else being your Valentine (along with all of the expectations that can create), you can't imagine how fun Valentine's day can actually be.

First of all, I love red and pink.

Second of all, I think a heart shape is the bestest shape on earth.

And C, when you become your very own Valentine, you actually enjoy the over-zealous shop offerings of stuffed hearts with faces, and plush roses.

So, I am working on my Valentine's day gift to myself.  (have been for the last week)

Plus painting, and doing a million other things.

Yesterday, Matty and I spent the entire day at the city house packing my car with lots of treasures (big furniture etc. - my arms are sore today), that I wanted to bring to the country house.  Pretty soon I will have to just face the fact that, I officially live full-time in the country, and love love love it here, and that's that.

Sooooo, I was at Home Depot today at 7 a.m., then ran a long list of errands (getting ready for planting for spring too), and am about to keep working on my Valentine's day gift. 

Which might take me a couple more weeks. 

Hopefully less.

I have sooo been enjoying using Mister Lovee's workshop, and his saw and such.

I can't wait to show you when I'm done.

I also have a couple of paintings I am working on too.

Phew, busy as a beeeeee.

Bzzzzzzzz.

Love, V

 

ps:  I am soooo loving all the February magazine subscriptions I receive.

Yumm.

It's a fab way to get over the holiday's are gone blues.

pss:  Mister Lovee is a darned good Valentine, I shouldn't overlook that.  He gets major brownie points.  But, even so, it is still important to be nice to oneself, on any ole day for that matter ;)

Sunday, I Love You.

I love Sunday Morning. 

Coffee Brewing...

Grapefruit + grapefruit spoon.

 

Rye toast, sunshine, NPR, Liane Hansen's voice,

Garrison Keillor, pups, the Sunday paper.

Many of the same rituals as every morning, yet, it feels different.

Maybe because it includes boys who... 

Crawl back into their beds...

Whilst I make curtains.

Then there's

1 o'clock lunch prep.

A rough cut of veggies for our lox treat.

 

It's funny, I take hundreds of everyday photos.

Lots of food pictures.

Like, the colors of my juicing pulp.

(Carrot and beet pulp make incredible colors)

So many photos of our day-to-day lives, and yet, I rarely share them.

I intend to.

(note the thick blond eyelashes, tee hee)

 

But time...

Time is a tough thing to wrangle in, you know?

So today, let's savor the layers of our Sunday eats, and some everyday photos.

Shall we?

 

(I took these a couple of Sundays ago, but we are having the same thing today)

Left over mashed potatoes and 4 eggs make incredible potato pancakes...

Topped with... (from bottom to top)

Sour cream (the real stuff).

(you can use cream cheese)

Avocados.

Vine ripened tomatoes.

Lox.

Red onions.

More sour cream.

And a dollop of caviar, for a hint of salty ocean goodness.

 

Oh and, don't forget a few capers too.

(I looove capers, but caper-berries freak me out, you?  I once had a particularly bad flavored inner fleshy skin tone one, that scarred me for life.  So, I'll stick to capers.)

This is one of my most favorite eats.

I could have it everyday.

After our nosh, I go back to my thing, and Mister goes outside to work on his things.

There is always somethig to do out there.

Our list is never ending.

So, when late afternoon rolls in...

 

I always make an afternoon delight pick me up for Mister.

(I do this on Saturday too)

A large cup of coffee, one package of cocoa mix, and some whipped cream.

 

Oh, and a dash on cinnamon.

(I always steal a sip or two)

He loves this.

He Mmmms while he sips.

 

(I got a few thriftventures yesterday, along with this shirt for Mister, which he has decided to use for working in the yard, but it's uncanny how it matches the mug)

 

And yes, he is always plugged in to NPR.

I should have never given him my walkman arm band thingie.

:)

Everyday photos.

Heartwarming.

Oh and, how about this one...

Miles begs Matty to break him out of his little room.

 

Matty is always on baby brother alert.

He even tugs on my sleeve, if Miles gives the slightest whimper.

Well, I better get back to work.

I was on a roll working on a project, and making curtains, and then, I got off track talking your ear, err, eyeballs off.

Sooooooo....

Off I go for now.

 

 

 

ps:  Have you seen Blood into Wine?  Do you like Maynard James Keenan of Tool (and A Perfect Circle?).  I love that he has a winery in Az.  And I loved the movie, it was funny too.  I saw it a couple of months ago, but his winery and it's locale have been on my mind this morning.  More about Caduceus Cellars here...

Sparkly

It's getting mighty sparkly out there in the world, in the midst of holiday week madness, don'tcha think?  I love it, the chaos.  I mean, if you take a deep breath and say "c'est la vie," then it's kinda fun...?

 

I have been to the post once, and on my way back for one more "oodles of parcels" shipment.  Although, I am shipping every 24 hours or less, up until the 22nd (per my shop).

I am the gal in the post office that everyone dislikes (too many packages & holds up the line).  I can literally feel the eyeballs on me.  So, I just smile and make sure to be super organized, so I just get there and Jason slaps a price on everything, rings me up, and off I go.

Which is what I am about to do in 3 minutes.

So, here's the deal.

When I get back, it's party time.

You and me, blogstyle fiesta.

Okay?

 

You know what that means?

Anything is possible.

Internet + imagination + comfort of your own home.

=

Awesomeness party times.

Slippers included.

 

 

 

 

 

ps:  I do a lot of my shipping from home too, but sometimes, I love visiting our little post office, which is tiny and usually not that busy ;) 

 

Hola and Heloo!

Hi friendssssss!  I missed being here.  I have had the most crazy wacky outrageously busy week, and have been out and about running errands, more than ever (oddly, nothing Christmas related).  So I feel slightly out of the loop.  I so missed this lovely little world we share.

 

I am cleaning and painting today (my sis is coming for a visit in a couple of days, yay!), and so, I have to run and mind my chores. 

But, I have been meaning to tell you a story for ages and ages.

It was Holiday 2009.

My beloved friend Laura had sent homemade, beautiful chocolate covered caramels.

I ate one, they were mind blowingly splendiforous.

Then I put them in the middle of the dining table and went to make coffee.

A few minutes later, with a cup of hot coffee, I walked over to grab a confection, only to find that they were gone.  I yelled at Mister Lovee, telling him how rotten he was to not save me even a bite of one (he is known for such antics).

He looked at me quizzically.

It wasn't him who gobbled them.

We both knew what that meant.

So, we both looked for Matty.

(picture below is from today, while he was doing back flips)

 

Matty's face was covered in chocolate.

And, the pretty chocolate wrapping was by his side.

I went bonkers, because they tell you chocolate can kill dogs.

Which it can, but after doing some research and talking to the vet, it turns out it has to be more than he gobbled.

Phew.

But, he did get extra hyper.

:)

We learned our lesson.

No chocolate can be left unattended.

Here is the video I took December 2009, after Matty had eaten all of the chocolates, and we knew he would be okay.

(I love how he looks side to side when I say "and now look")

I love this crazy monkey.

He is my 24/7, partner in crime.

Aren't I super annoying?

I know, I know.

At least I am totally aware of it  ;)

 

This is him making faces at me :)

I guess I best be off.

More super soon.

I did a little holiday decor a couple weeks ago, and want to do more tonight.

Oh, and a cold front came in.

Monday it was a high of 85' F

Yesterday 63'F

Today, I am not sure, but there are big fluffy clouds in the sky, and snow on the mountains.

That's Southern Arizona for ya.

Love it.

  

♥ ,V

 

 

ps:  Oops, maybe it was February (Valentine's) that Matty ate Laura's chocolates? and not December?  Either way, the story still stands.  Even though the date may be wrong, haha

 

Golden Leaves

Every morning, the sun peeks over the mountains, and sends flickers of light through the windows...

I wake up, just as the sun peers over.

I put on something warm, or simply grab a blanket, and go outside with Matty.

It is a groggy walk around our yard, on that first lap.

 Our property is enclosed by either a fence or a wall on all 4 sides.  Giving Matty a sort of biosphere to live in.  He runs around, almost always on the same route.  It's his world, this little plot of land.

We start out in front, through the corridor of trees...

He runs ahead, and I look around, seeing what I can see. 

Marching on slowly, in my slippers. 

Waking up, whilst walking...

Sometimes, I get dressed to run around the yard myself.  But other times, Matty is so impatient, I just hop out in my pj's and grab a throw, running out for the first morning jaunt. 

And so, it was on this golden leaf morning, as we whipped around to the back yard, that I realized how delighted I was that I ran outside quickly with Matty, in two flannel nightgowns and grey slippers.  No tennis shoes, no running around garb.

No time to waste.

Nature beckoned us.

It was quiet.

The sun was cresting over the mountain.

Our beloved huge apricot tree, had almost lost all of its leaves...

Leaving behind...

 A golden ocean.

I had a song in my head.

I hummed it softly.

Making sure, to close my eyes...

Creating a memory of the brisk morning air, the sun's luminous rays -

and, the golden sea of leaves....

Our weather is ever so curious in Arizona. 

It froze a couple weeks ago, only to warm up into the mid 70's (F) for the last week.  And, just to make sure it fits its name (or what I call it), A Bizarre Arizona...

It will be 81' F today.

In December.

Fancy that wackiness...  :)

I have a long "to do" list this week, so I best get some coffee brewing and get to work.  Are you extra busy too?  I bet you are.  Up to anything delicious? 

 

  

ps:  I need to throw you all a party.  Some of you lil' rascals remembered my b-day on Decemeber 11th.  I was sort of being quiet about it because I felt guilty being all me me meeeee, all the time :)  But it was a gloriously lovely day, and I had a little birthday party dinner with my Mom and Dad and Mister Lovee.  There were oodles of flowers and balloons, and it was plain wonderful.  Thank you for sending me birthday wishes, faaaaank U!

Can you spot the carnation elfin puppy face? 

Faintingly cute! Just like the beloved gifter ;)

And thanks to Mombie for the 2 dozen mini cheesecakes, for her cheesecake daughter.  EEEEks.  I ran some over to my lovely neighbor, in my pj's.  But I fear, I might gobble the rest with the help of mister.  Must send some to Yodi (who I miss) ;) 

pss:  Update: I shared 16 of my mini cheesecakes with friends.  Hooray!

Holiday Decor & a Proper Thank you

First of all, I wanted to say, thank you.  Thank you for being you, for sharing your heart's turmoils and delights.  Thank you for being so supportive and caring.  I think we all agree that even in the depths of a rotten day, things can turn bright and lovely.

 

It is so important for us to let our friends (and all loved ones for that matter) feel what they need to feel.  I think it is just as good to cry, as it is to laugh. 

As we all know by now, life is full of ups and downs.  I personally don't like downs, who does?  And I try to make good out of yuck, as quickly as possible (like the other day I was all fixed up the very same day).  But when stinky things happen, they happen, and everyone dusts themselves off at a different pace.  Which is a-okay in my book.

I also think that it's good to talk about things, when we feel like it.

So, what a treat, that we get to meet here, and chat.  And tell life secrets from time to time.

I am just finishing up some wee faces, and should "so not" be here right now.

But, I had to share my thoughts.

Annnnnd......

Because I couldn't resist, I had to throw in some -

Sparkly decor...

 

It is soooo super sparkly in person, but the photos do it no justice.

I am officially holiday inspired.

I intend to make Nigella's Christmas cake this year.  Although, sometimes I watch her make this, simply for amusement.  I think I shared it before?

(teddy bear noses, eeeeeeeeeeee!)

Okay, off I skeddaddle. 

You are lovely!

I will back back sooner than ever, I hope ;)

 

 

 

ps:  Here is a link for "do it yourself" mixed spice