Summer rain makes air thick in the hot desert.
So thick you can almost taste it.
It tastes like wild grass and moist dirt.
It tastes like sun rays on weeds, with a hint of mint leaves.
You can taste basil as you take a morning walk.
Past the veggie garden, arugula and basil intertwine.
There is a path that winds around our entire property, which Mister Lovee and Baby (our golden who died in 2010) created many years ago.
I walk this path every morning for an hour, music in ears, thoughts fluttering about.
Sometimes in the middle of the day, always in the evening, I meet the path again.
Wild grass and weeds make the desert a very green place during monsoon rains.
Surprisingly green really.
I collect jars of wilted roses on my walks.
And I think.
I think a lot.
I think about paths on a path.
I think about life and perceptions.
I think about how perhaps today…
The most important choice I'd like to make is…
What Bakelite bracelet I should wear?
Should I choose smooth or carved, orange or green?
Something simple and uncomplicated.
Yes yes, for today I choose this.
Root Beer Bakelite.
(its real name)
Even if I am just going to the grocery store.
It sounds so much more lovely than anything else, for today.
Or maybe I'll mix a little cinnabar in?
I must remember to wear these bangles as such more often, you?
These are some of the things I think about on my walks.
How something as simple as bracelets can add some lightheartedness to a day.
Walking with music in ears, playing in jewels, laughing out loud.
These are all fun things, that to me, add balance to this thing called life.
I whip around our path.
It is lined with trees in some places, and on super sunny days the shade is awesome.
I step out from the path to see the storm rolling in over the mountains, from the east.
This is the view from the gypsy wagon.
The sun and storm clouds collide, hope it brings rain again.
I live for rain in summer, as you can probably tell by now.
I have probably bored you silly with all my rain chatter.
I love passing by the quince.
All furry and then smooth when you rub the fur off.
I see Matty and Miles running about sniffing my footsteps.
Wondering where I am.
I crouch down and make funny noises until Matty finds me.
Passing the peach tree, headed down the path through our invented Fanciful, Arizona.
Where the cottage sits, to the west of our property.
It's such a joy to see Matty coming back to himself after his ordeal with Valley Fever.
We almost lost him, thank goodness his ornery little self is skipping around again.
Took him a good year to get better.
Mister Lovee is trimming branches on a ladder.
I pass our little tiny cottage village and look back, only to see Miles hiding in the cool weeds.
Weed oh weeds.
Boy do we get weeds when it rains.
But if you mow them, it looks like a gorgeous lawn.
There is also a ton of wild grass this year.
Not sure where it came from?
It is short and soft.
I pass Baby's grave and the sanctuary, way out in the furthest most Northwest part of the garden.
Round and round I go.
Every morning, the landscape changing, in the growing days of summer.
The front fence nearly covered by the honeysuckle.
Towering prickly pears looking on.
And that climbing America rose bush coming along wonderfully for its first year.
A sea of self seeding morning glory vines has turned up in major ways, in several places.
These are purple and in front there are blue.
My sis makes morning waffles, how fun!
As I hunker down making all sorts of things in the studio.
And thankfully, I take a break just as the thick moist clouds begin to light up and glow.
Early evening brings out something in all of us.
Does it do that to you?
We all meet up for a stroll under clouds as dogs chase each other around.
Last evening the clouds put on quite a show.
Grey then blue then golden then pink.
Then layers of colors all together, sublime!
Clouds are one of the most amazing things aren't they?
Tufts of puffs floating in the sky, for us to admire.
Glowing with the setting sun, outlining mountain tops like neon signs.
Who knows what a cloud will morph into from second to second?
And so, my rambling post goes hand in hand with my rambling path.
The path I find myself on day after day after day.
Hidden away on our little plot of earth.
A place to go to for walks and daydreams and breathing and being.
Now, I don't even know what I intended to say.
But, that was that 😉
I am really so busy doing a million things that taking walks is crucial I tell ya.
I need to run outside and clear my head and refuel all the time.
And sometimes, I even take my camera to show you what I am up to.
Boring as I may be, haha!
Anywhooooo….
Back to jewels and making I go.
I am sooo obsessed with pink chalcedony these days.
It's soooo delicious looking, ain't it?
I hear major thunder again, hoooooray!!
Must post before I lose internet.
For some reason when it storms I loose my internet connection.
The other day the lights even went out, just as I hit publish!
Lucky save.
Love, Vanessa
ps: My sister is laughing hysterically as she says this is the funniest most random post ever because she says it's me saying "It's bracelets, and clouds and paths, and ALL my favorite things!!"
But, she is saying it in the most silly mocking 5 year old voice ever!
Hahaha!
By the way, she says I sound like the Lumpy Space Princess, whoever that is?!
🙂
(She's a purple cloud, I think?)






























Even a simple bracelet can put a skip in your step…What a fun post…see my cloud post….Love your clouds.
Beautiful.
Purple clouds are the best. I hope your rain is spectacular. (purple even)
Man oh man, that is the biggest most monsterous huge prickly pear in the whole wide world, wow!
We are truly blessed living in the southwest with it’s beauty especially the ever changing dynamic of the monsoon clouds at sunset. It makes Queenie smile.
Mmmmmmm arugula and basil mmmmmm…. Yum as in Eeeee!!!
Have a great day!
Always, Queenie
Hello Miss v! I have been oh so busy this summer. It is rare that I have any catching up to do on your blog, but just now I was behind by like 5 posts! Say it ain’t so. I just got back from Grand Teton National Park where I went for a work trip and it was so spectacular. So different from our Arizona mountains. Oh, and the weather was gloriously cool (compared to here) with rain and misty clouds. Lovely. Hope you have been well!
One of my all time favourite posts, I loooove every bit of a fanciful twist, just when I think you have shown us everything….BAM there is a glorious secret path! Your life is bliss Miss V, and you know what? I think I spotted Monkey Magic flying around in those clouds! 😉
xxL
So much fun and light-heartedness in reading these Summer post’s of Your’s.Your property seems gigantic,I’m happy for You because You appreciate it.Hugs Denise
I adore the clouds you have captured on your camera! My Down’s son loves sunsets. We can view sunsets out our back kitchen windows, and sometimes, as the sunset is arriving, he will let out an ‘Oh! My! Gosh! Look! Mom!’ And we will both run out the back kitchen door and up the steps leading to our outdoor swimming pool, to get a better view of the sunset with clouds, and watch them until they turn a deep crimson, at times. Such exuberance in my son! It’s highly contagious when he gets so excited about the beauty of nature.
I love your outdoor path too. Memories everyday at your beck and call. There is nothing so in tune with nature as a backyard sanctuary. Thank you for sharing the blissful moments in your daily routine.
And the bracelets are fab!
lots of love and hugs, with fairy dust!
Miss Teresa
You, my dear, are just what the doctor ordered. So much sadness this week. Where to go for a cheer up? Here! All swirls and twirls and goofy randomness. I loved it all! Thank you! :o) And, of course you love pink chalcedony. It looks like CANDY!
Thanks for the smiles and cotton candy clouds.
Kathy in Chicago
Oh, this post – what a wonderful, wonderful ramble, all of it just right.
And that pic of the mountains (4th from the end) is just stunning!
Hope you got to go out and play in the rain!
~Jennifer
P.S. – I am soooo jealous of your fab Bakelite bracelet stash! Root beer? Really? So fun!
I love reading your blog and seeing all your wonderful photos! The clouds are fabulous-i used to live in Prescott, so I know those beautiful Arizona sunsets. I love the photo of your dog running–(s)he looks so happy! and the path so inviting. And last but not least-what a fabulous collection of bakelite bracelets–wowza!!
LoL, got to luv siblings!!!! Yes, my daughter says yes mom, lumpy space princes from the show she and my other kids watch…. ADVENTURE TIME. I admit I know who it is too, cuz I do watch the show at times with them. Kind of a Bizarre show it is! LOL, you would shake your head if you watched it. I think you are more like Princess bubble gum. TeHeeHe!!! I’ll bet you are really wondering now!
Its pure joy to see that Miles is roaming your Fanciful lands like he used to.
Never tire of seeing all that you post my dear!
Oh YES, the clouds and sky have been extremely beautiful in the AZ evenings! It’s been quite the treat! It puts a grand smile on my face.
The time draws nearer for my eldest daughter to head off to college! Yikes, where did our summer go. = ( Well Vanessa, enjoy your summer days with the boys and your sis!
Oh yes, I am hopeful my card made it your way??? <3
My sisters are silly, crazy too! I love them dearly! And my brothers as well…:-D
That plate that you have your delicious looking waffles on…I have that same exact one! My most favorite plate of all and I am the only one who is allowed to use it!
Hahahaha! LSP = Lumpy Space Princess from “Adventure Time” – a funny and weird kids show that admittedly, I enjoy very much. I make the LSP voice when acting dorky. She’s a great character, although Flame Princess and Bubblegum Princess are my favorites.
It’s been raining like MAD here. Just as a summer in Florida should, finally, after what feels like has been a dry season for this state. I can’t complain because it brings down our temps to a “reasonable” level, only 80 and humid. LOL
Sean’s mother is driving in today from the Mtn’s and bringing Tristan back home. He starts school on Monday. After a fun-filled week of white water rafting, hiking, camping, swimming, and staying up late with his grandparents’ – I wonder if he’ll be ready for a dose of reality? I know I wouldn’t be. ‘;)
ðŸ‘ðŸ‘ðŸ‘ðŸ‘👠I needed thar stroll 😊 thank you !!!
The clouds were gorgeousâ˜ï¸â˜ï¸â˜ï¸â˜ï¸â˜ï¸
My sister also picks at me ,but the funny thing is that I sometimes catch her enjoying herself in my little world ðŸŒ
It’s always a pleasure to see your boys they are adorable 💞
Well it’s time to start my day…lots of makings going on here😉
Have a beautiful day my friend ((((hugs))))
💖Gina
Oops,so sorry V, I was referring to Matty above!!! I do get names mixed up here to cuz all my kiddos names start with Js. UGH!!! Happy Saturday<3
There is nothing wrong with bakelite bracelets being the most important choice of the day. No sireee! More people would be much happier if they were able to say that was the toughest choice they had made today. I wish I could taste that thick humid desert air. Our weather is surely slipping into fall crispness. Rain and low temps. I kind of like it, and it’s kind of making me lazy. That’s probably why I kind of like it!
Kelly, I call every one every different name in the book, hahahaa!! I
go Lovee, Matty, Maaaah, I mean MILES!!
Hi, again, Vanessa!
I know I already commented, but this will make everyone laugh. (Please everybody, don’t make too much fun of me!) : )
So, 1st funny part: I had no idea who Lumpy Space Princess was. Like, not a clue. Like, so little did I know, that when you wrote, “…She’s a purple cloud…”, I wondered why you were, for some indecipherable reason, calling your sister a purple cloud. (I know, I know – why would you do that? I couldn’t figure it out myself, and just assumed I was missing something – remember, I had never, ever, heard of this Lumpy Space Princess person before.)
2nd funny part: Last night I had to buy a new alarm clock, and was in a big electronics department – you know, the kind with 47 giant TVs looming over you from the back wall of the store. I turned around, and there, on EVERY SINGLE screen, as if to explain it all, was this strange purple cotton ball with a face and arms and legs. I just sort of stared, and then announced (to no one in particular), “Oh. My. Gosh. That’s got to be Lumpy Space Princess!!”
On the drive home, I giggled the whole way. : D
~Jennifer (who is feeling a bit silly, but who just had to out herself for the smiles!)
Jennifer that is BEYOND HILARIOUS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I LOVE
it!!!!! I have lost two important things and am all crazed searching for
one for two days the other for a week. It has swallowed me up the
search. I am in the just give up mode now – but still searching,
eeeeks! so your story really made my day!! Also, I have an email to
send you very sooooon!! Love, V
Oh, good!
I’m glad I’m not the only one who didn’t know who the Lumpy Space Princess is. Ha!
I hope you find what you have lost, Miss V. Sometimes, things are EXACTLY where I put them last…you know, it’s always in the LAST place you look! I have done this with books. Rearranging books, and they are exactly where I put them…which I have too many books as it is! I did misplace your lovely ‘Enchanted Play Room’ specially made print! GRRR! It is somewhere in my craft’s room. Arrrrgh! Sometimes I find things in purses which I have ‘changed out’ for whatever reason.
Thinking of you!
hugs,
Miss Teresa
Thank you Miss Teresa!!! I found my pearl earrings in some random
spot, finally today. I have a lot of stuff but I know where everything is, and I
scan it with my ocd brain, and if I see one thing missing I have a fit until I
find it 😉 several years ago my most favorite bestest bee brooch went
missing and it is still lost 🙁 And I never use it, but I may have hid
itso well I will never find it again.But we lost the remote to my
office tv 2 weeks ago, and cant find it. We have taken every piece of
furniture apart etc. So, I think I will just order another one and
move past it, haha!! I didnt know who the lump chick was either, tee
heee!! Until my sister said I sounded like her, yikes!!
Blog: http://www.aFancifulTwist.com
Website: http://www.VanessaValencia.com
In a message dated 8/17/2014 3:02:43 P.M. US Mountain Standard Time,
Such a magical post! I love it! I know what you mean about the air feeling heavy! your place is such a paradise! I wish I could love somewhere like that! I love those clouds!
Beautiful, beautiful pictures.
Love it. Missed your posts. Typing on the Kindle is such a pain and auto correct drives me nuts.
My computer needed a tune up. Then realized the monitor was shot, too. So now I have this huge screen to look at.