The rain has found us, and I for one, am more than thrilled.
Magical rain in the desert.
The scents, the cooling of the earth…
It's more than enchanting.
We prepare for our 4th of July festivities.
Independence day.
We celebrate with garden treats.
Heading out to the veggies…
The hard work and endless days of watering with no help from the sky can take a toll.
But then monsoon season turns up with a handful of rain days if you are lucky.
Softening the ground and cooling the air for a moment.
Making it perfect for carrot harvesting fun.
And then every bit of suffering is beyond worth it.
Pulling carrots out of the earth is one of the most satisfying feelings.
My sister helped me and she commented on what good fun it was.
She is an excellent helper, weeding as she goes.
Darn weeds.
The strawberry patch is having a fresh wave again.
So, we enjoyed some as we worked away.
Dogs stuffed their faces and bodies under growing things, on the hunt for rodents me thinks.
Baby pumpkins bloom and grow and bloom some more.
Lots of little brothers and sisters out there.
We squat for hours, digging out the tops of our carrots to make sure they are ready.
Such big carrots too.
Not too long and thick.
I planted seeds for these shorter guys as I thought they were so charming.
Love them!
We get some little guys too.
All will be great for roasting this afternoon.
We gather and gather.
Ever so many.
As I pick basil tops for avocado, basil, parmesan, swiss, and tomato toasted sandwiches.
Butterfly bush for a 4th of July centerpiece.
We leave many carrots behind to get bigger and stronger.
Then head out to wash.
Cutting tops off…
Getting ready to toss them in olive oil and salt + pepper.
Roasted until they are candy sweet and perfectly soft.
A few zinnias for good measure.
We sit in the swing and eat more strawberries.
Chopping more tops off of carrots.
Watching clouds roll in over mountains.
Getting ready to toss glitter in the air and watch fireworks from our driveway in the country. Put on by the hidden resort down the bend.
Happy 4th of July friends!!
And happy weekend to all!
Stay safe and happy and have a good time!
We are off to make our plans.
Feeling lazy from collecting 5 a.m. carrots.
Maybe we will just swing as the sky sprinkles on us.
Our wavy hair turning into ringlets.
Puffing up like cotton candy.
In this normally dry place.
Love the rain goooooodness!
I had been yearing for a day off of my early morning watering duties for months.
Off to seek out some firecrackers.
See you soooooon!
Love, V
Sounds perfectly wonderful to be You 😉
Happy 4th of July gorgeous lady!!! Oh and don’t garden carrots taste the best, better than any carrot?! I can’t even eat the ones from the supermarket anymore!
Your posts just charm me to no end, Vanessala! I think that is the best way to put it. Thank you for letting us get a peek into your colorful, lovely world. Happy Fourth to you and yours!
Happy 4th of July! Your sandwiches sound sooooo tasty… I’ll have to make some for myself & the Missus one of these days… =D
I hope you have a lovely night of rain & fireworks!
XOXO
Happy 4th to you and everyone! We just got back from seeing the fireworks, avoiding the crowds as we can see them a few streets from where we live!
Have a great weekend everyone!
Wow, your garden is amazing, like some hidden oasis! I wish could go there, and sit among the flowers and pat the dogs! I hope I will have a garden like that someday!
I love your little faery teaset! I want to have a lot of things out for the faeries when I have a proper garden!
Happy 4th to you and your family. I hope that you had a wonderful time watching the fireworks..
Vanessa, so glad you finally got ur well deserved rain! We received a massive dust storm or H
Vanessa, so glad you finally got ur well deserved rain! We received a massive dust storm or Ha-boob and NO rain here. UGH!!! I was back to my usual watering by hand the next day but enjoyed a cloudy morning so it didn’t seem so harsh.
Love seeing Matty out and about enjoying your bountiful lovely gardens. Your tea looks inviting for a 4th celebration.
I sense you have been looking for a Rabbit as well! 😉
Ughhh!!!! Opps my bad!!! = )
Love your little teaset on the mushroom.
And those carrots are just so cute. Makes
me wish I had some in the garden.
Vanessa, I wish I could give you some of our rain. We have daily thunderstorms/rain here, especially now that it’s summer.
But your garden is just beautiful!! I know it takes a lot of effort, but it’s so worth it in the end!!
happy weekend!!
Yay monsoons!!! I am so happy the rain has come, I hope there are lots of storms this year. I hope you had a good 4th!
I love this delightful post…
I have a post ready to publish on the 12th for MadHatter party and will be out of town at that time. I am hoping to have wifi where we are going and I can link my post to your party. If I’m not there, would you kindly link for me? Thanks so much.
xo bj
Ah! I am so glad you got some rain! How refreshing and needful.
Your carrots look so scrumptious. There is nothing like home grown carrots.
This year’s Fourth of July began Thursday evening when various parks and stadiums began an early fireworks celebration. Last night it was one big fireworks party all over our city from 6 P.M. until 1 A.M. in the morning as we were still hearing the booms (of the illegal, yet super, duper fireworks we could see all over the city from our two story house). This was the noisiest Fourth of July I can remember. It was non-stop noise for seven hours straight and even the big, bright, beautiful ones were being set off very near to our street. Anyway, lots of fun watching the fireworks.
The Mad Tea Party is so close, I can almost smell the tea and cakes! I am sure the Red Queen is practicing her ‘Off with her head!’ as she prepares for her royal croquet game. I am looking for the White Rabbit and will follow him at once to follow him down the rabbit hole.
Ta! Ta!
Until the party!!!
=^..^= The Cheshire Cat
Miss Teresa