Heloooooo on a late August Day!
5:53 a.m. had an unusual breeze today. A breeze with a tinge of cool, a breeze that whispered, Autumn, Autumn Autumn. It has been summer here since March. The heat from May to now has been beyond yucky, and pulverizing. So, the tinge of coolness, if ever so small, was beyond delicious…
Butterflies in my belly, pumpkins on the vine.
The twins. It's time…
Yes, the twins said goodbye to their earthen bed today…
Snip. Snip.
I kissed them, I did. I thanked them for growing.
I know, you have heard this 52,000 times from me, but it is so surreal to have pumpkin babes. Pinch me, please? (not too hard though)
I have Halloween floating all around me. I very well might have full blown, Halloween of the brain. I am thinking up things for our virtual party (to be announced soon), and am simply autumn giddy, I tell ya.
Oh and look, another little brother came off the vine today too…
I know many of you don't want summer to end. I can totally understand that. I only wish I could bottle our heat and share it with you. I do, I do…
It will still be warm here on Halloween, and most of the time, it is even 80' on Thanksgiving.
I would give anything to have a real Vermont Autumn.
But, before I get carried away in autumn dreams, I wanted to give you some roses I picked today from our garden.
See, it's still summer, don't worry 😉
The cosmos are taller than tall. Oh and, today it was about 95', when all of a sudden a storm came out of nowhere, with full blown golf ball hail and cold rain. The temps went down to 65', and then one hour later, it is 95' again. The heat always wins in Arizona, it seems….
I am in love with cosmos. I had about 7 different plants in the ground (3 ft. tall) that had bloomed, and then one morning they were gone. Gophers.
Luckily the ones above are in a pot. Oh and, I have some 4 ft tall marigold plants that have taken since April to grow, and are just about to bloom. (half were eaten by rabbits. I thought rabbits hated marigolds?)
Oh oh, before I forget. Guess who is having a very merry little day this week?
Matty the furry boy!
But, I will share more about that later in the week…
He has turned into a full blown Mama's boy.
He helps keep my heart happy, from missing his big sister so much. He's my precious furry angel. Aren't I sappy? I just love him so much, I can't stop kissing him…
He loves stuffed animals. He has 3 bunnies (2 small, one large, his fave below), and a love-bug I gave Mister Lovee when we met. We play a lot with his stuffies during the day, he can't get enough. Mister Matty jumps incredibly high to try to get them from us when playing, leaving us utterly stunned….
Anyhow, there was your hearty dose of annoying pet lover mama mania.
Don't those sort of folks annoy you to pieces? hahaa!
🙂
Now, I am going to go do something, like brush my hair.
I am ready for bed already. It is 3 p.m., and I was up so early today that by 7 a.m. I had already gardened, cleaned the kitchen and baked. Who am I???
Where is the sleeper inner Vanessa????
🖤,V
Today's 3 Randoms
1) Into the Fairy Tale Forest is now a 12" x 12.093" print in my shop. Super high quality archival pigment ink on canvas.
2) We had a wild thought. A thought we just might do. We might bull doze down the country love shack (eeek~wholey mackerel!$%^&) and start anew. It's in serious talks (that is, if I find a pot of gold at the end of a rainbow). I kept talking about a Beatrix Potter style house. Well, wouldn't you know, her home is in the wonderful new issue of Victoria Mag. Is it a sign??
3) Today I baked the most curious little, umm rocks. They are so good. I messed up the recipe, and substituted ingredients, and now we have a cookie/scone type treat that we adore. Go figure?
I won't tell you the name Mister gave them (In Spanish no less). So FUNNY! Which I might add, is even extra hilarious coming from a non-spanish speaking, east coast lovely little Jewish Lovee. It's funny as heck 😉
3a) I have had tons of twins and conjoined growing things in my garden this year. I wish I had documented it all. It's been a sort of curious amount too.
Good Evening to you, Miss Vanessa!
Your posts always make my day, really they do! I cannot wait to find out more about your next virtual party! I love them so much! And what a fun idea to have a Beatrix Potter-type cottage! There was a time when Mr. V and I had considered moving to Arizona and I had told him that I could only do it if I could still have an English garden with pansies, morning-glories, nasturtiums and lots of herbs around! But then I visited AZ for the first time and fell in love with the purple cactus and chartreuse palo verde and thought that maybe, just maybe, I could love those instead!
Wishing you, Mr. Lovey and Mr. Matty a wonderful night,
Betty
Hey sweetpea!
It’s been a loooong time!! I never even knew you had a blog?? Shows how often I get on this silly computer. LOL I have enjoyed your blog very much and have about read all of it. Very inspiring.
We are moving the store, Yaya Chique, can you belive it has already been 4 years??? Anyhooo…I need some more of your work for the store. Don’t know if your prices have gone up and is what you have available on etsy?
Talk to you soon…look forward to having some more of your work for the Yaya!
xo…deb
twin babes? they look like *boobs* in that pic! what a hoot 😀
I have a Beatrix Potter fetish! my kids rooms were all Peter Rabbit and I have a wonderful collection.
Can’t wait for the Halloween party! Witch hats are flying out the shop on torpedo broomsticks ;]
Vanessa:
I adore conjoined goodness. I have had conjoined Cosmos blossoms, conjoined Nectarines, and of course, conjoined tree leaves of all sorts! Arent’ they miraculous!
I am soooo looking forward to the Halloween Party this year and will be waiting for the details!
Autumn is in the air here in So. California today too. But…I fear it won’t last.
Kim
Gerushia’s New World
P.S. Matty is so very handsome. I love his spotted tongue!
Eagerly awaiting Halloween! Will be beyond delight when you announce your party! Your twins are superb. What a awesome treat. Will they be tweedle dee and tweedle dum or a pie? Humm…. the ideas are endless.
Halloween is on every yellow legal pad before me!
sherry
could it be he thought “cajones”?? heh heh heh…..
I have Halloween on the brain too and I am not sure why, but this last week all I can think about is Halloween! I cannot wait, I even bought some decorations today. Your pumpkin babies are ever so delightful.
Ooooh a NEW love shack for Lovee and V!
I vote YES….the inspiration does look so lovely….I can see why the thought may become reality!
You do know, Oh Magical One, that boyz are very good to their mamas??? Well, they are! Once you get through all the extremely BOY stuff, that is! I love how he loves his bunnies. Beauteous photos, make me swoon. I like your dream. Very much. My Mister and I have a dream for when we win the lottery…we are opening a Jimmy Buffets on the lake by us! The bar will be on the dock and we will give free boat rides home. In the meantime, please send my garden fairies home, thank you very much. **blows kisses** Deb
Know what? I ripped out page 53 yesterday after receiving my Victoria and thought the same thing! We have the yard (well, on it’s way), now we just need the cute cottage (or Spanish style stucco) to go with it. If we bump into each other finding that post of gold, lets split it:P
It was freezing here today…I think I’m now in the mood to appreciate seeing pumpkins. I’m craving pumpkin or butternut squash soup, If you have a great recipe for either, may I suggest a future post with it included:)
Your print looks great:)I’d love to try that size. Have a great one!
pot of gold..
Nice pics of your baby by the way:)
hope you find that pot of gold…looks like a great house.
Hello Vanessa! So happy to hear you are well. Those pumpkins are AMAZING. I wish we could grow them – they require so much water, though, and our yard is small. But we shall be getting them from our local orchards very soon (fingers crossed). Vermont in autumn is indeed lovely. Here is one of my randoms for you – I could SO love there or in Maine (two of my favorite places). I live in Southern New England, but it’s always so much fun to travel north. We go to Vermont to celebrate our anniversary every 5 years. Or if I beg…I’ll have to share some of my past photos with you, if you’d like. 🙂
Can you believe that I have my Victoria magazine and haven’t even had a chance to crack it open??? Plus, I SAW Beatrix Potter’s name on the cover. I hope things slow down this week, so I can savor it.
Mr. Matty is TOO adorable. Our furry babes have many favorite toys, too. My eldest has to find the most perfect one to take to bed with her each night. She is interesting like that. It is her habit…and she simply cannot go to bed without a toy. Isn’t that too funny? Little guy just likes to sleep above my head and lick my pillow!
Hope you got a lot of rest, oh busy one! 🙂
xoxo Theresa
Since I’ve already provided two random facts – I’ll leave you with one more. I knit BACKWARDS! I’m left-handed, and I had no one to teach me. So I taught myself – there are very few books with instructions for lefties (only snippets). Right-handed people have a fun time watching me! LOL At least all the stitches still look correct!
Would the cottage be your main house or one of the magical houses on your property? Today it was cooler here, 81 instead of 111. It won’t cool off till late October. Our Christmas and Thanksgiving are usually warm. It’s funny my leaves change colors at Christmas time. lol Anyways, I can relate to your wierd weather.
Katharine
Twin fruits and veggies…this must mean something. Twice the fun in Fanciful world maybe??
Enjoy your touch of autumn!!
x..x
Aaaaah, a taste of autumn…I am starting to get giddy too, with talks of Halloween costumes already! Love the twins, they are just lovely Vanessa. Almost as lovely as that Matty of yours 🙂
Jamie 🙂
I just stumbled upon your blog and it has to be the most inspiring place I have had the pleasure on ‘stumbling’ upon in a very long time! Thank you for all the loveliness and charm!!!
http://soshesaid.typepad.com/so_she_said/
Your twins are beautiful.
Your post was wonderful.
I’ve been noticing that little bit of cooling weather that makes me start thinking of fall and halloween and thinking its not too early to start dragging out my boxes of fall decorations. I think I should just do it.
How lovely are your twins 🙂 And I can’t say it enough: what a garden! Each time I see photos of it I’m completely amazed by all these growing things, whish I could have one as beautiful as yours one day!
Looking at your Wonderful pumpkins I thought of a fabulous dinner I had at a friends house years ago…It was in the fall and they made a most delicious beef stew in the pumpkin and baked it in the oven till the pumpkin was cooked and easily came from the walls what a beautiful presentation when they brought the pumpkin to the table !!& it was delish !!(I no longer eat beef but I am now going to do a vegan pumpkin stew !! I am going to look on Epicurean cook …if I find a great recipe I will e-mail you xox Palmer
sigh…I wish I had planted pumpkins!!!
I’m so envious! I’m going to next year for sure!
Love your Matty photos!
I’ll have to get the new Victoria mag and check out that beautiful house. That house looks like it should be your home! It’s totally your magical style!
Oh! and talking about furry baby posts…if you have a moment, stop by my blog and see one of my little guys! (He’s an odd fellow!)
Bulldoze your country house? Oh my! I do believe a bit of autumn madness is in the air! ; ) Do keep us posted. I somehow think you will . . . .
We have gotten a hint or two of fall coolness here in N. Texas as well! I can’t wait. We were recently 107 here. Yikes. So happy for you that you have more “pumpkids.”
Our little fur boy loves stuffed animals, too. His passion, however, is de-stuffing them. His joy in life is pulling and pulling every bit of stuffed life out of them. Oh, and don’t ever get consumed watching a movie in the living room and lose track of his whereabouts. It has happened to us more than once. We go to my son’s room and find a heavenly celestial scene on the bed before us. One would think the bed had risen above the earth and was floating ethereally in the fluffy clouds. Then with a shake of the head, one realizes that the wee wicked fur boy has considerably flattened the pillow by pulling its plump and fluffy innerds out of an ever so chewed upon hole . . . . Oh, that fur boy–wicked but adorable!
The entire article on Beatrix Potter was glorious! The Spice House (featured in the Chicago section) is where my daughter works! She called me last year when the Victoria staff was photographing it. The windmill and Japanese garden are just a stones throw away from her shop!! I thoroughly enjoyed this entire magazine. LOVE your twin pumpkin babies. How utterly E-VIL of you to …eat them!! (wicked cackle) hahahahahahaha!! Your Mr. Mister sounds like such a peach! Or more fitting a lox and bagel with cream cheese! :o)
Kathy
Oh I just adore pumpkin!!! Your fur baby is too cute, I love that he’s into stuffed animals! Too cute!
You have an incredibly beautiful home! All these pictures are so lovely. I hope to have a home like this one day. You clearly create the environment around you from the heart. Thank you for sharing your thoughts and pictures. I’m inspired to continue working towards a lifestyle that is as enjoyable and complete as yours appears to be.
Thank you!
How mad would that be, to see Beatrix Potters’ house in Arizona, lol! I live about 50 miles away from it, and it’s so pretty, Vanessa! Tiny and very dark inside, but all the same, very pretty!
Oh! Gosh!
This post was so funny with Matty and his rabbits…what a goof he is!
And Mister calling your ‘umm rocks’ cookies a Spanish name…I was laughing hard at that one.
Oh! Beatrix Potter’s house is divine. I would say ‘go for it!’ I also love Ann Hathaway’s cottage too. (Not the actress).
And your pumpkin twins grew so very fast!
I am sure you will think up something yummy to bake them into. Or twin jack-o-lanterns?
And you had hail in the summer! I’m sure that was refreshing. It was cooler here in the central CA valley on Saturday with light rain as we traveled to Pleasanton.
May flowers ever bloom in your yard and pumpkin vines reach the sky!~
XOXO
Miss Teresa
Your prints are excellent quality, and so nice.
matty! Isn’t he fabulous?! When our little alix lost her sister, she was never quite the same. I still wonder if I should have brought a new sister home. But, it was not to be.
He looks very happy! I love those photos!
Beatrix Potter’s house is certainly worth a visit, as I live in England I have been a couple of times… as I come from the county where she lived I’m bias anyway….. I do love your photos, am in live with your dog. My 1st dog was a German Shepherd and he was definitely a momma’s boy! & jealous of my hubby:) give him a pat from me and some kisses too. Ciao
HEEEEEE!
It looks like Mister Lovee has size P
pumpkin jugs!
Matty is vicious….just vicious, I tell you.
I like the forest lady!!!!
OH….that Potter house is just lovely, no?
I’m sure you’ve seen —oh NO—what is her name? The sweet old illustrator nature lady that lived in the woods and wrote books and grew her food and raised kids and puppies. Oh faffle.
I’ll tell you when I remember.
Where would you live if you bulldozed, though? Share a doghouse with Matty?