Take me to a place to conjure dreams, a nature b&b, of sorts. A cozy little lovable nook, with a stack of old tattered books. A place that for me, can only be, under a billowing and wise mesquite tree…
It took me 2 days longer to arrive at that place. A place I so longed to lose myself in. After power outages, and storms, and an unforeseen schedule, I realized that the hurdles to get there, made the being there, even more special…
I see a simple world through a broken mirror, glimmering like a puzzle, waiting for someone to capture its enchantment…
An old abandoned candle, a dry rose. What would it take, to aid in your escape?
I think it is so important to let things go. To take a moment and decide not worry yourself to pieces, not care about anything trivial. But to live.
If we stop to think about it, what is living?
I think living is finding some form of peace. Of appreciating the small things, which actually, end up being the big things in the end…
Perhaps carve out a little space (that you can easily roll up if it rains), hang tablecloths (as walls) all around you, and create your own little world where you can let your mind rest and breathe.
That's the gypsy garden for me. And, that is where I planned to be, lollygagging in my garden bath, peeling peaches for baking. Looking up through the trees…
Collecting tiny flowers and pressing them into old book pages, to dry in a perfect stillness of time.
Lighting candles, admiring lace & reading about lace makers from times forgotten (I have a huge lace obsession these days, I want it all around me), enjoying all the roses collected in spring (saved in glass jars), and refueling, refueling, refueling…
Beautiful scents flutter through the air…
Roses, lavender cuttings, lemon and orange candles – and the delicious scent of rain on the horizon…
And then, just as I get cozy, breathing and still, the perfect visitor joins me, and begins to snoop around.
Mister Matty.
Interested in flowers and candles and books too, funny enough. (Although he likes the books for sniffing and not for reading, of course).
His sister who I miss desperately, taught me so many things. One being, not to care about dirt and fur. I was an obsessive person, no dirt or fur around me, thought I. Now, I don't care. I think of what I would give, to see Baby again. She could have my bed. She could have my fancy towels and sheets. She could have it all. I have learned what that kind of love is, and so, I share it all with little brother.
All of it.
I don't care.
Love teaches.
Love wins.
I watch him sniffing around. I look in dismay at my feet that have been tanned 55 times over with 6 different pairs of flip flops, looking ever so odd 🙂
I feel my heart full to exploding, when I look at Matty's face. He has given love in a way that has taught me, not to dare take one moment with him for granted. For his cuddling love came slow, months and months of peeking out, little by little. And now, I savor each moment, because the love he shares is incredible and bountiful, and most of all, it is true.
True Love.
Trust.
He shows me that he trusts me, something that he was not going to do easily. I admire his little self for having boundaries, and knowing when to open his arms…
He melts my heart….
Together, we watch a storm roll in, and all our table cloth curtains billow exquisitely from the ropes they are tied to in the trees…
And then, the most curious rainbow flicker appears in the distance, and lasts all of 20 seconds. Long enough for me to be in awe, of the gloriousness of this earth…
And so, that's what I have been up to (amongst other fun things). Only there is a second part to my tale, which I shall share next time, because it took me two days to get to my gypsy garden dreams, and two days to enjoy them (one afternoon and one morning). Goes to show that, planning things is for the birds 😉
The treasures are all around us, aren't they, if we take the time to see?
Down the little garden path, purple flowers lead the way to and fro…
With, canary yellow polka dots…
And hundreds of bees aglow…
Down the path, the purple flowers await your visit, guiding the way to your own gyspy dreams. Will you take a second to admire them, the ones in your world I mean? Perhaps you already do? Or perhaps you walk on past the tiny flowers growing through the cracks in the pavement? Too much on your mind, plaguing you?
I used to be that girl. No time, no time, no time to breathe.
And now, in abundance, I do.
In and out.
Slowly.
Some days, I would rather hide inside, from heat and mosquitoes aplenty. I'll tell you a secret, making my wee dreams come true, like building a gypsy garden, is real hard work. I mean, real hard work. Dragging things out there, hanging fabric from the trees, all my antics, all the decorating, all the outdoor stuff, I do on my own – even the mad tea parties and such are a solo job ( I have no hidden helpers, not even Mister. But he would help if I asked).
The thing is, what you get at the end of all of that hard work, is so precious, it is worth every bit of hard work (to me at least). The outcome is a bit of magic.
My Mom always would say, don't be lazy, set the table beautifully for one (I have told you this before), or do something superb, like bake or throw yourself a party. All those things take hard work and a hearty dose of self motivation, it's true. It's easier to lay around, especially when you are exhausted from work or life in general…
But what you get, from pushing yourself to do it, is golden…
It is.
But, I got off the subject, you see 😉
I'll tell you one other thing. If you ever break a mirror, just remember, it doesn't mean 7 years of bad luck. It means that you have just opened a kaleidoscope of portals to many more places untold, through the looking glass.
Portals to the gypsy garden, and more…
And with that, I quit my rambling for the day. Thank you for your super fun playing at guessing last time. I had a blast reading your words. You are just incredible!!! So many of you were close, and others gave me many ideas for what I should do on my next brain break.
So, because I could not quite figure out what to do about my giveaway, I used a random number generator. And let it magically choose Krista Komis! (I almost fainted when it chose her, as it has been many years of entering giveaways for super wonderful Miss Krista ~ and her lovely self was bound to win someday, hip hip hoooray!) A little bag of loot, from me to you, is on its way! (send me your snail mail addy, please)
that rainbow glimmer was a fleeting woof from Baby 😀
Peacefulness is in simplicity. Sometimes I try to make things too complicated, too perfect, but I think just enjoying nature and earth’s beauty, the people and furry friends we surround ourselves with (and a good book to curl up with too!) is all we need for an oasis.
I always learn a bit about myself through your posts, and learn to just let go and enjoy life.
And I’m so excited about the giveaway! 🙂
I can’t wait.
-Krista
I lost my own Baby three weeks ago and I cannot tell you how much it has helped me to come to your blog and see Matty giving you all his love, seeing such sweetness makes me feel better. If I could give him a big HUGE hug I would. And Mermaiden is right about the rainbow.:)
magic post!
I’ve often wondered if you had help schleping all that magical stuff around or if you just left it outside all the time. A bit of a peek behind the magic curtain if you will… 😉
a tiny story of mine to share after hearing your encouraging words about dirt and fur and time that ran out (with Baby) and setting the table for yourself:
Many years ago I had a house fire while I slept alone in the house. Thank the good Lord I was awoken (thats another story). My biggest lesson I learned was to not keep things for good or for special… it is coming out a bit awkward but what I mean is to use your best stuff now, you never know what the next day holds for you or may not. You see I had these beautiful silly shoes that I only would allow myself to use for good and had only worn then just a few times as to not use them up and of course, they where totally ashes from the fire. So treat yourself well… you’re the only you you’ve got.
I’ll step off my soapbox now, sorry V. I just felt the urge to share.
lovely post as always my magical friend
Jaime
Sigh…
I guess we were all so close in guessing but yet so far away…
I definitely love your mysterious answer as it so exceeds my expectations of what you had in mind in the simplicity of your heart. You touched my heart with your lovely gypsy garden, time away from time itself. Very magical indeed.
Thank you for the enlightenment…
May fireflies float in your garden (too bad we don’t have them here past the Rocky Mountains!) I guess you’ll just have to do with fairies!
May moonbeams grace your lovely outside gypsy garden as you read by candle light…
Otherwise, I am kind of in awe and speechless…
hugs,
Miss Teresa
Aha – portals to other lands, of course! That’s why they tell us it’s bad luck, to scare us away from the adventure. What do they know? Here’s to many tales to tell from our journeys into the mirror lands 🙂
I remembered to breathe. Thanks for the moment of peace.
I am so happy to see you back and finding some lovely time and places to relax – I just ADORE the picture of Mister Matty with his little paw on the bed and the lantern above his head and his cute little dotty tongue! I want to come and daydream away with you all the gyspsy garden 🙂 This is such a poignant post for me at the moment little friend. Have the happiest weekend xxx
So pleasant to read! And that rainbow, wow!
This post is so refreshing Vanessa…that Matty is a doll I tell ya! I am going to take time to relax and breeeeath today, tee hee 😉 Thank you for reminding me to do so. Enjoy your outside book nook, it looks so comfy.
Jamie 🙂
I cannot remember how I found your blog – wandering, looking for beautiful places – but I knew I had found a magical place. And then you mentioned Amy – perhaps it was Amy that led me here?
I don’t know. I just know I love your gypsy garden and all the inspiring, heartfelt words you’ve shared. Joyful!
Happy weekend to you & yours,
Zuzu
Soooo, here am I, lying in bed with a viral respiratory infection that came out of nowhere, feeling a wee bit sorry for myself because I’m SUPPOSED to be at an Aerosmith concert this evening, but the doc said NO, so i went to bed early last night pouting and wondering why me?
But then. I had this incredible dream, of this beautiful house, and all my friends were there, and we were having a picnic of incredible proportions and i remember thinking in the dream, this is what it means, to breathe…
And I woke up happy, truly deeply ridiculously happy. It’s the best coffee i have ever had, and the best morning that’s ever broken, and the most beautiful butterflies flying outside, and you are the best friend a girl could know.
<3
XOXOXOXOX
Random:
1. i cleared off my nightstand and my weelings are there, to cheer me on getting well
2. buddy the wonderdog doesnt read books-he's a laptop kinda guy as i discovered one afternoon :p
3. next friday is friday the 13th! 🙂
~an oasis you created…serene and ever so sweetly magical indeed…your sorrow has brougt forth lessons we may never have learned if we had not gone through such…a blessing you behold in yoru hand to discover and grow and learn to savor each moment that arises…i am so sorry for your loss and wish for you still much time to heal your heart and ease your mind…though gone…your baby always walks beside you…your words are a nourishment for ones soul…and your mother so wise…thank you for sharing such beauty with us…warm wishes and brightest blessings~
oh, such a lovely post 🙂 if I could I would hide away in this lovely place and tell your sweet little dog all about my beloved cat which passed away 2 years ago and who taught me a lot of things, too… 🙂
thanks for your post…have a lovely day!!
cuddles
on December 2009 ,i think u might remember a mail from me,i don’t know what to say more than THANK YOU Vanessa…my life had been changed a lot ..the world is clearer ,i can see the things as they are…this world is very mysterious and i’m sure your job makes this world wonderful..thank you for cheer me up on the day that i felt my life are full of sorrow..and i’m sure my late grandma will be more happy in heaven to see me this day…THANK YOU ,THANK YOU ,THANK YOU…Thank you for being such a good friend to a stranger like me ^_________^ XOXO ~🖤🖤🖤~
Reading about Mr. Matty made me tear up. Once upon a time I had a house full of poms. Just this morning I stumbled on pictures of them that I had forgotten about. Often our beloved pets can teach us just as much about life and living as a any human, sometimes more. Thanks for a touching and beautiful post!
How true this post is. I truly believe that you have to give that extra touch just to make it special and magical. Most times I find myself making an array of whimsical setting, just to feel that I am taken to another place…and it works every time:)
“Shield your joyous ones” – Saint Augustine
You are a joyous one – it takes consciousness to choose to be happy and to uplift through beauty…..to give glory to our Maker – (a rainbow, flowers, fur angels, rain, sunshine, shade giving leaves, imagination)…..
The world sometimes tries to take away our joy but you remind us to make our own……
You are right about letting things go….being peaceful….enjoying life and taking time to make your own world you want to revel in day after day!
I will soon be making a space like that……
Someday I will visit you and we can sit in the gypsy garden dressed in lace and talk and laugh and whisper our dreams!
XOXOXOXO
Hi Vanessa!
Que post tan alegre y calido.
Siempre me alegro el alma cuando te visito.
Espero que ese año organices nuevamente la fiesta de Halloween,la pasamos tan lindo.
Un besote enorme amiga.
Your gypsy garden is one of my favoritest things! I don’t have a garden, but I do have a yummy window seat that I go to to escape. Matty is such a handsome boy, looking very grown up these days. I got your package in the mail and it made me EVER so happy, thank you so much for all the lovely little things!!!
I just cut some sage branches covered with purple flowers and placed them in my studio. love them. It would be so wonderful to have a little place outdoors hidden in the trees and textile walls…just to relax and read, or do nothing at all. Seems storms are headed this way and I have a lovely book to go read…hugs to you.
Oh how beautiful!
I have just never seen more prettier pictures!
You are gifted at photography!
Thank you for sharing!
Leticia
This is my first comment on your page, Vanessa, but I have been visiting your page for a while now! I have to tell you, I absolutely adore it and every time I come and visit, I feel like I have taken a small sliver of my day to escape to a far away magical place 🙂 I am a twenty-three year old girl and you’re such an inspiration to me!
Thank you, dear friend, for another exquisite post. Such beauty emanating from the page. You are right – one really and truly needs to let go. To just enjoy and appreciate the simple, little things in life. I am still learning to do that. I appreciate nature in ways that I never did when I was young…today we went for a nature walk and it was so serene and beautiful. I found the most delightful mushrooms and saw little toads, and fish, and larvaeing (if that’s a word) cicadas. I love the smell of the forest – it brings me happiness. And then I come home to leaps and delighted barks – for I know that my furry babies are overwhelmed with joy and love at seeing me. Matty is one handsome boy. It’s no wonder he loves and trusts you – for you have given him love and trust in return. Dogs are uncannily perceptive. 🙂 I did read Amy’s beautiful post – what a joy she is! I love listening her realm.
Thank you for your random things today! I’ll definitely check them out. I love learning about art. Have you seen the show Work of Art on Bravo?
http://www.hulu.com/work-of-art
I don’t watch that many “reality” shows, but I think this one has merit and it inspires me. This link is for snippets of the show from Hulu.com.
I can spend an entire DAY in an art museum. I so wish I could!
xoxo Theresa
Beautiful. Just beautiful words and thoughts. I sometimes find myself getting tears halfway through your posts, but they’re good tears.
Beautiful… Thank you for sharing..
I, too get so very busy with my life, and barely take time to stop and take a deep breath.. Every day I awaken so early to get my darling husband off to work, then awaken my daughter, get the two of us ready for work as well. (My daughter goes to work with me on her summer vacations.) Sometimes I work 7 days a week, sometimes just 5. The evenings are filled with cooking dinner, washing dishes, and folding the laundry…
Tonight I took the sound machine into the bathroom and ran a warm bath, soaked while listening to a “waterfall”.
Thank you for reminding me to take time to smell the roses.
Oh I was way off on my guess with the wedding! I like your idea better. What a beautiful retreat! Such an awesome place to escape to. And you are so right in your idea about living each moment. Use the good china, light the good candles. Make each day count. I had a bad biking injury last week, but luckily I was wearing my helmet. The paramedics said it could have been way worse when they saw the condition of my helmet. I got off with a concussion, stitches and lot’s of road rash. I didn’t get up that morning thinking it was going to happen. It’s those kinds of things that really catch us off guard and make you really appreciate life. It made me realize that there is so much more living I want to do! So glad I found your sight! I’m really getting hooked!! Hope you enjoy the rest of the weekend! Sherri : )
I love how you care for your soul! “You have made us for yourself and our hearts is restless until it rests in you.” (4th c. prayer)I think God created us to enjoy beauty and to connect to him through it. Aaaaaah.
amen miss v…what a Sabbath song from you…matty looks so much like my mags who we lost after 15 beautiful years of friendship and companionship…that face speaks volumes doesn’t it…
XOXOX
G’Morning – after packing up all of my belongings, stowing them in a 41 foot semi truck (*literally* – Truck Driving Mama) and personally driving them across the country (over 1500 miles) – I come here to your beautiful gypsy garden.
Just what my soul needed since everything around me is stacked to the ceiling and in shambles. I tell you what though, every box I unpack is like a gorgeous riddle being solved and *if* I manage to find a spot in my tiny apt for it – that’s even better! Hahaha. ‘:)
So so beautiful!! You are blessed to live in such an oasis and with such privacy as to be able to take a bath with nature and sleep outside without being disturbed … listening to the songs of the birds and the humming of the bees…
By the way LOVE that tongue!!
LOTS OF HUGS
JO
So beautiful this outdoor b&b. I would love to escape to this secret place and share it with this special friend.
What a beautiful, magical, enchanting post. It says volumes!! I love your Gypsy Garden….I am trying to figure out how I can create one of my own somehow…..a place that I can escape to and learn to enjoy the little things in life. Our pets teach us so much while they are in our lives…..the way they love us teaches us how we as humans should love each other…..but our furry friends are so much better at it than we humans.
I have a question about your Gypsy Garden (which I wish I could come visit)…..I know you said you take everything out there….but do you leave some items out there? I wish I could bath outside! That is SO cool!!! How about the bed? I’m going to go back and read other posts you have about the Gypsy Garden….but if you could tell me more…..I’m so intrigued!
Oh Vanessa…your gypsy garden is truly magical – the stuff of dreams. I love that you make the effort to drag everything outside. I have always tried to surround myself with beauty and taken the time to savour all that nature has to offer…it soothes me so…yesterday at the beach house, I made a little bed in the garden and had a decadent afternoon nap with the sun beaming down on my face – I can’t tell you how happy it made me…have a wonderful week darling friend x
You have created a haven of perfect respite. I am inspired. Thanks dear one for the mention and have a beautiful week. Blessings.
I am blown away by the beauty of your post. The images are beautiful, it’s the words that capture me. We all need a place to dream, think and thrive.
The reward for hard work is the satisfaction of seeing your vision come to life as you do with all your parties. Hard work mixed with what you love is priceless.
I loved this post Miss V! Every single word…
Your beautiful posts and pictures should be illegal, my dear! Lest they drive us all to madness striving to achieve them 😉
All such beautiful gifts to enjoy…gardens, clouds, blue skies, stormy skies, lightening, wind…..I could go on…gifts for sure!
Matty love is one of your gifts.
And your blog is a true treasure and gift to me!!
Thank you
Hugs
SueAnn