It sooooo windy.
I am hiding and typing, and the music is way too loud to think and type at once.
But for some reason, the last few evenings I can't help listen to Stevie on repeat.
Not that Stevie 😉
I know it's sort of sappy of me, but I like it.
With early evenings these days, I find myself fluttering here and there.
Meeting up for instrument time, and in the studio.
The studio is such a fun place for me.
Oodles of meaningless trinkets and treasures scattered about.
Mice stealing tiny tea cups.
You know, the usual shenanigans.
I stop to fold laundry.
Mend a few things.
Music and sewing machine collide.
Sewing machines are so darn amazing, aren't they?
I hide out in the sewing nook, sewing this and that.
I inspect shelves, searching for random tid-bits that oddly disappear.
Then reappear years later.
Curious indeed.
I plot and plan.
Boxes of fresh clay arrive, beep beep, UPS.
I make all sorts of dinners and treats.
Blueberry crisp (or crumble to some).
I chop up a fairy tale pumpkin from the garden, some leeks, and some kale…
Pop them in a pot with butter and olive oil…
Add my pumpkin which I cubed.
(Meanwhile I cook up some rice with olive oil and chicken bouillon on the side)
I toss in some garlic powder, ginger, brown sugar and cinnamon.
A little more butter, stir good, get it cooking a bit, and then I put in 2 cups of water.
You can add some chicken bouillon for extra flavor if you'd like, to the pumpkin mix, too.
Then, when my rice is ready, I toss it into the pumpkin mixture.
Yumm.
The flavors were unreal.
I didn't add any curry powder, but the dish did have a lovely aroma with scrumptious Indian notes.
A little sweet, a lot savory.
After a bowl of the good stuff, little clay gals get painted…
A pup hangs out on the couch.
As another day goes by and we meet another evening, I make plans for the wheel of brie a friend sent my way.
Yes, I do like brie, if we are talking about cheese that I like 🙂
After reading an article about quince in the newspaper, and how they are 4 quince for 5 bucks at our local grocery, I decided mine needed to be savored in over the top goodness.
I chop some of up (see, they look like dry pears or apples), did I mention they are really hard to chop, cuz they are really hard in general?
Then I cook them down with butter and brown sugar.
Then I add some water and white sugar.
A little jam like, a little compote like.
Quince have a distinct honey flavor, and with the brown sugar, they were extra honey like.
Toast up some brie in the oven until it is bubbly…
Ladel the quince goodness on top….
And that is dinner.
A perfectly decadent dinner to inspire some painting.
Pink shoes with red puffs?
Yes please 🙂
I shape very old dictionary pages around chicken wire bustles…
Adding and drying, in this intricate process of paper dresses.
Taking a break to check on furs.
One fur takes all his toys out of the toy bag.
Then falls asleep.
Aaaaawe, stuffed animal love.
Sorry about the missing eyes 🙂
When the winds get very intense, and full moons shine through the window…
I meet my fave person.
Strings and keys by evening.
And then, we play.
That is a little bit of how evenings mish mosh around here.
I hear many of you are really really chilly?
Are you crocheting or knitting up a storm?
Keeping extra warm?
I need to get my yarn out.
It's about that time.
What's going on out there in your fairy tales?
Any massive tales to share, big or small?
Can a person tell massive small tales?
🙂
Wellssss, all my boys need some attention.
They each keep visiting me.
One blonde one in particular insists on bonking me for affection.
So, typing must cease for now.
Plus, my pop music section of my Itunes just began, and 17 year old me wants some jumping time.
I love such a diverse selection of music, it's sort of weird, but true.
Over and out 🖤
See you sooooon!
Love, V
ps: Is there a way for us to share our ITunes?
Like, our playlists?
pss: Monday I have some fun for book lovers.
A little treasure hunt I decided to say yes to, for a new book coming out.
With wonderful possible winnings for you, it should be good fun.
I really do have to try some quince. They don’t even sell it here, at least that I have seen.
You sound like me with your trinkets & treasures! I was just in my craft room today looking around at all
my little odds & ends things that I have collected. A bird here, a butterfly there, a little troll on the bookshelf, a pewter dragon with a crystal ball. I think about how they are my special little things that many people just wouldn’t appreciate.
It’s nice that you guys play music together. My husband is converting our basement family room into a music studio. We’ve been very busy with that.
I think I may try your potato leek soup tomorrow. My husband made himself a turkey so I made turkey soup this past week.
We had cold & a little snow but this weekend it’s supposed to be warmer & rainy. Then cold again! Oh well, pretty soon what we think is cold right now, will seem warm in a month or two! :0)
Oh Vanessa, you make my mouth water. I wish I knew how to cook like you. You make everything so warm hearted and friendly. what size shoe do you wear? Lol.
You pumpkin and leek concoction looks simply scrumptious!
I seriously do not know where this year has gone. It’s here one minute and gone the next!
I have been randomly crocheting for the past couple of months as I always send my sister and her hubby and four kiddos, crocheted hats (six of them)for their very, long winter, which is a scenario smack dab out of Laura Ingalls Wilder’s book ‘The Long Winter’, as my sister lives in Minnesota, and their winters are looooong! I sent the hats to them last week and she says they are already wearing them around the house.
So it looks like you are busy creating up a storm! Our weather is tapering down to the low 70’s during the day and 50’s at night. But I am still piling on the blankets as I like the comfy feeling, and we keep our heater off at night. I’d rather snuggle up and hide under the blankets then be too hot with a heater.
And I have been reading enchanting and strange faery tales, seeing things in the dark! If I ever had any doubt about faeries existing, I am now convinced and also convinced there is faery magic, to be sure! And most of it began in England or to be more precise, in the United Kingdom.
I love our music room too. With our piano, and sitar (which I need to learn to play)also a violin, and a concertina (small accordian-type instrument), and of course a guitar.
I did get to see Four Shillings Short, a traveling husband and wife team who goes to the Friends of the Library events and does shows where they play 30 various instruments together, and the wife does play a sitar, so they were very fascinating and entertaining to listen to.
Have a lovely creative weekend!
XO
Miss Teresa
I wish you had more tutorials. I would pay for a tutorial of anything you wanted to share.i love everything you do.
I’m so glad I’m now getting a message in My mail every time You post 🙂 I’m now loving not missing even one little charming tidbit of Your ramblings of life-Thank You
I’m going to have to try to find quince at the Farmer’s Market next time I go. You make it sound oh so delicious! Today is going to be pumpkin bread day, I think. Or maybe apple pie day. Some baking needs to take place in my kitchen pronto! 🙂
love & blessings
~*~
Such delectable goodies you make. From food goodies, photography and art. All are wonderful.
BRIE!!!!! *swoon*
Hi, Vanessa! As always, I just love your posts. You really convey “cushiness.” 🙂
That lovely doll face is very interesting… I can’t wait to see more.
I’ve been cooking on the weekends (when I have time) – cranberry sauce, raspberry pinwheels (yum), and since I have Thanksgiving week off from work, I’ll be making most of the dinner. I can’t wait. Cooking is so creative and relaxing. I totally agree about the music – I ALWAYS have music playing in the background.
Happy Autumn!
What an inspiring sewing nook! (And I don’t even sew!) ~Tricia
7.5 or 7 jump in ;)))
Blog: http://www.aFancifulTwist.com
Website: http://www.VanessaValencia.com
In a message dated 11/15/2013 10:16:44 P.M. US Mountain Standard Tim,
I looooove sitar!! Mister has soooo many guitars, we have a whole
room designated to all his instruments, and the door is kept shut with proper
humidity. From a huge organ, to bass (es) and guitars of all kinds
and flutes, mandolin. In fact last night, we couldnt even get in there
happily it was so over stuffed, and I just organized it, go figure. I LOVE
concertinas!! We have such a huge variety of little and big
instruments. I have 2 other pianos in one of our storage cottages.
Its silly really. If there were a bunch of elves aroundI could
start a marching band ;)))
Blog: http://www.aFancifulTwist.com
Website: http://www.VanessaValencia.com
In a message dated 11/15/2013 10:29:43 P.M. US Mountain Standard Tim,
What sort of tutorials???? I am game 😉
Blog: http://www.aFancifulTwist.com
Website: http://www.VanessaValencia.com
In a message dated 11/15/2013 10:40:56 P.M. US Mountain Standard Tim,
Thats wonderful Miss Denise ;)))
Blog: http://www.aFancifulTwist.com
Website: http://www.VanessaValencia.com
In a message dated 11/16/2013 6:26:55 A.M. US Mountain Standard Time,
Carmen, I agree, cooking is soooo creative and relaxing, I enjoy it so so
so very much. I cook almost everyday, but I never really shared it too
much. Thanksgiving week off is more than awesome!! ;)))
Hahahaa 😉 I think I spend more time mending than anything else….
😉
Great! A new quince recipe! I must tell my mother. Too bad that she has used all of her quinces this year so we have to wait for next years harvest. It’s so romantic that you can make music with your loved one. All the little things in your home are looking so lovely, cozy and heart-warming. I wish you a very nice weekend, my dear girl.
I dont want my quince to run out yet, hahaha! 😉
Blog: http://www.aFancifulTwist.com
Website: http://www.VanessaValencia.com
In a message dated 11/16/2013 9:46:09 A.M. US Mountain Standard Time,
Even your sewing room is magical. You continually amaze me.
I love the photos of Lovee making music, so magical! One of the reasons I love your blog (and you) is because it really appreciates the little things and makes them seem wonderous and fantastical. My little bit of news is that I was in a car accident this week. Don’t worry I am okay! Just a bit sore. My car however is not and the routine of my life is all shook up while Mister B and I are sharing a car. It was scary and now it is a pain to have to deal with, but it makes me appreciate the little things even more!
OH MY!!!! Alia, how scary awful!!!
Blog: http://www.aFancifulTwist.com
Website: http://www.VanessaValencia.com
In a message dated 11/16/2013 10:31:37 A.M. US Mountain Standard Tim,
What an endearing and sweet pic of Matty considering he is so camera shy.
oooooo she’s creating dolls! but the food looks amazing too 🙂 yum yum
xoxo
Deb
This post has put me in a dreamy creative mood, Even your cooking is magical! Thank you for sharing, you have such a beautiful positive influence on those who peek into your world xxxLaurie
I love coming here and reading your posts…I wish I could decorate my space to be so pretty, cozy and magical…I’d like a tutorial on THAT! lol
Hello ms. Vanessa
Everything looks yummy as always….
It would be cool to share our play list….I listen to pandora ….one of my faves is kerli and libera radio….. Manic Monday ….enya radio…
Fairy night songs radio is a fav….any hoo those are a few of my faves …..let me know what some of your faves are 🙂
Xoxo Gina
Btw your my favorite blog 🙂
What a lovely post both in words and photos. I so want to come be a fly on your beautiful wall for an hour or two or twenty. I will back this afternoon for another read and to check on the answers in your comments.
I’m so ready for snow! I can’t believe what just blew through here!
There was a huge line of storms & tornadoes that came by here. Tornadoes touched down in a couple cities just south & west of me & another just east. It’s liked it skipped over us! We were watching the Bears game when all heck broke loose! The tornado sirens went off & we hunkered down in our basement. They’re waiting to start the game again but everyone had to leave their seats. I’m glad I wasn’t out there! It’s scary when they mention your specific city as being in the path of a very big & dangerous tornado! I think I’d like to live someplace where there aren’t a lot of tornadoes. We are in a bad area for them.
It’s almost Thanksgiving…we should have snow & not this!!! Crazy!
P.S. I’m making your potato leek soup tonight. Yum!
Oooo, the soup is amazing, I need to make more I have a whole bed of leeks
out there. What was I thinking?? hahahahaa!!
Oh oh, it just came in on the news, tornados in Illinois it
says!!
Blog: http://www.aFancifulTwist.com
Website: http://www.VanessaValencia.com
In a message dated 11/17/2013 1:25:25 P.M. US Mountain Standard Time,
I was smiling at the title because my cousins use to call me Mish Mosh when I was little.
Today, was a rainy and foggy day. Me and my family still went out to get fresh air. After taking a delicious nap, I made peppermint patty fudge brownie from a recipe I found on Pinterest. It is so good and perfect for a rainy evening.
Looking forward to your book news tomorrow.
V-I have to know what y’all are playing!
What do you guys play when you get together?
Usually just some of my songs I think up – and he interjects – bassists are
good like that, they can join in anywhere, its the bestest. Sometimes we
do silly duets on the piano, me low keys, he high, or vice versa 😉
Blog: http://www.aFancifulTwist.com
Website: http://www.VanessaValencia.com
In a message dated 11/17/2013 7:52:54 P.M. US Mountain Standard Time,
i adore everything you do. adore! from creating magical pieces, to cooking to writing…you are just amazing. xo
Sometimes I just crave a little taste or inside look into your spaces (no one else quite compares) and this hit the spot just perfectly! I have been listening to a lot of the OTHER Stevie. That and nature sounds haha!