I was going to attempt to contain myself…
You know, show some form of restraint.
Prove that my enough button is not in fact, dysfunctional.
But it is, so why lie?
Actually, I don't even think I have an enough button.
Do you?
Is less really more?
I suppose in many cases it is.
But, in the case of a rose…
Or many roses, and them springing up in our garden –
Then, I really don't think less is more.
Am I wrong? 
Every single year, since the first year I found myself here, I have asked friends to come see the 30+ year old rose bushes. Rarely does anyone get to see them blooming. Yesterday my neighbor came over, and I sent her home with the bundles in the first photo. I am so delighted to share them.
She oohed and aaaahed with me.
You see…
They took my breath away, these roses-
on a weekend, ten years ago, a week from yesterday.
I followed a map given to me by a man.
A man I would come to know as Mister Lovee.
A map that took me to a place, that unbeknownst to me at the time, was where my heart would find its nest…
And, stay.
I made a path of coral color roses that last weekend in April 10 years ago.
Mister Lovee gave me a basket, and I filled it.
So many roses.
Enough to toss up in the air…
Coral roses made paths, and the frosting pink ones filled vases…
We hiked up to the petroglyphs.
We went swimming in water holes.
He invited me to stay for dinner.
We grilled salmon and made mango salsa…
I played with the roses.
I felt so free, I was 25.
Just bursting with happiness.
My heart felt like a cloud bobbing in air.
(come to think of it, I still feel that way)
As I tumbled…
Love.
I was enchanted with a manboy who was fun and interesting and artistic.
I loved him for his wisdom.
His music, his soul.
His entire self.
We had an incredibly charming "getting to know each other" time.
It was exciting and wondrous.
Soo many tales.
I loved his plot of earth, and how cozy and safe it felt.
And the roses, oh the roses…
He had (has) such charisma.
And oh, his wacky sense of humour!
His ability to have a childlike outlook.
He's even a little like Peter Pan…
Don't get me wrong.
He is rotten too.
But then again, so is the girl typing.
So, we are even.
When I set foot on this property, I felt like I had found a missing void in my being.
As though I was intended to find my way here.
(Mister Lovee says that I was always meant to be here)
With these roses, and this man.
Loving these two boys…
I ask, where did the time go?
It feels like yesterday, and at the same time, it doesn't.
How did the rose bushes become 30+ years old ?
I wonder if they wonder the same thing?
🙂
How did a whirlwind romance turn into a decade?
How did we lose our beloved girl?
And then find our way out of sorrow, and into more pure love?
Do we have a path?
Is it all predestined?
Or do we make it up as we go along?
I don't know.
But I do know, that I am happy to be here.
On this little parcel of land, with two furry boys, a furry girl in my heart, one man and hundreds of birds and trees and growing things.
A place where I have planted more rose bushes, more seeds…
More love.
So curious, time is.
It twists, it turns, it teaches, it changes.
The folks who planted the huge 30+ year rose bushes before Mister Lovee found this place, are probably not with us anymore…
And yet, their roses live on.
I tend to them.
I make sure they are nourished…
And every spring, I take hundreds of photos, and I remember that girl that felt like a fairy, who followed a map into the hills…
And found love, and…
Home.
And just like that, memories come, and memories go, and memories swirl to and fro.
Hearts feel full. Hearts get broken, hearts mend, hearts laugh, hearts cry, hearts play, hearts trust, hearts stay.
I am so happy I came here, 10 Aprils ago next week.
And that, that little hand-drawn map Mister Lovee gave me to get here, is now the very map to my favorite place on earth. Our home.
I am looking forward to a continuing journey, and many many more memories to be made.
ps: Last year's roses still blooming in June, right here. That gives me June to look forward to 😉
pss: This is so beautiful, sent to me several weeks ago by an even more beautiful soul. So worth watching to the end. Thank you Nathalie!
what a love story!
Awwww. How sweet!! The roses are amazing.
Lovely lovely tales!!
Thank you for sharing!
Lovely!
hi! what a wonderful story! april is a magic month for me and my husband too!!!
i looooove your roses! i wish i had a garden to plant some…but in my imagination i have yours!!!
please keep on ispiring all of us!we need it!
beautiful tale of romance and roses.
xoxoxo
Oh man that video has me sitting here with tears. Just made me think of my grandparents and parents.
I love all the roses. Beautiful. And a beautiful tale of love that grew among the roses.
Personally I’m glad you didn’t couldn’t restrain yourself.
Such a beautiful post-the roses, the romance and love-perfect! I am so pleased that you found your perfect place to be! x
How beautiful <3
what a beautiful tale! it’s really quite like a fairytale! and the roses are lovely, but your story even lovelier! and I find it hard to believe either one of you are ever “rotten”! ha! (well I’m sure it doesn’t last long anyway!) wishing you both many more years of happiness together. xo natalea
The roses are just gorgeous, Vanessa! I have several in my yard and I love when they start to bloom. We just have buds coming to life on trees and daffodils blooming; weeds that grow no matter what the weather, so I’m looking forward to my roses and all my other plants coming to life.
What a beautiful story to read early on a Monday morning! Thank you for sharing the love and beauty. The warmth of your love warms me on such a cold day (it snowed yesterday!). Wishing you many many more rose filled Aprils! XOXO Nathalie Thanks for posting the video too…
Beautiful story and memories … happy anniversary … love and hug each other and the furbabies. My love left this earth in February, but the furbabies and I carry on with our memories and our garden.
oxox
Oh my goodness, Vanessa. It is too early in the morning to cry, but I got tears over that video. It was so very beautiful and heartbreaking all at once. It was a lovely ending to a very romantic post about finding roses and home and the man you love. This post was absolutely sweet, and all the more meaningful because just Friday my husband bought two rose bushes, and he planted them in our yard last night. Next month will be our 30th wedding anniversary.
This was gorgeous and oh, so delightful. I want to hear more about your story. Don’t tell it all but do tell us some more!! (wink , wink)
Have a rose petal filled Monday! Cheers, Kathy
Awww super sweet Vanessa, what lovely rose bushes and little tale. And I can’t believe how big Miles has gotten, what a big boy! Hugs to all,
Jamie 🙂
Oh Miss V, those roses are so SUPER lovely! I wish I had some roses like that! You are a very lucky girl and your neighbor is a lucky girl too 😉 Thanks for giving me some eye-candy to enjoy at work today.
What a beautiful thing, this post, Vanessa. I’m so happy to hear it. Makes me think of a lot of things… Your words do that.
The roses are beautiful! You both surely deserve it all. Happy anniversary!!
OMG what a video. You should have provided kleenexes.
Well I don’t remember seeing those roses before! What do you feed them? I love that coral!
Happy Anniversary to y’all 🙂
You have a magical love affair, that is to be sure Miss Vanessa. But the real magic is that you notice it, you nurture it, you are awed by it. You have tended your decade long romance, as you have tended these flowers. And I am certain that Mister Lovee would echo my words, that we are so glad you have come… to find this love, this rose-strewn path, this place to let your heart call home. Because you share this wide-eyed wonder with us. And we are better for it.
Enjoy the day!
xo
Erin
You live a charmed life my friend 🙂 I must admit that I experienced a moment of jealousy! However, I know that I too am blessed albeit in different ways!
Thanks for sharing and making me look at all of the beauty in my life!
A little light of love went dancing one day,
Across a moment of memories that had found their way-
With cool and delicate footsteps
curving and twirling they say,
the love light landed to play.
There were roses in bloom who sang a tune,
And danced petals a spin, to loves sweet grin.
The Princess held tight the map in her hand,
As she felt her heart begin to swim in the magical land. The Prince so dashing toured her around, as nature wove loves light into sound.
Laughter and joy crossing time,
past present and future love light rhymes.
Ashes floating time….
I LOVE how you love! Beautiful post Vanessa!! So lovely to read of your romance…swoon.
Congratulations and happy anniversary and so glad you also have June to look forward to.
A quarter century ago I also followed a map. The ending was not the fairytale, but the man-boy is still part of my life. I will admit it HAS been an adventure.
I am totally jealous and I want to have all those roses in my house immediately!
This is so sweet, V.
I’m glad you’re still burrowing and blooming in your fairy nest.
Miles is so BIG!
Gosh—-I thought it was Baby at first. Do you ever get a glimpse of Baby in him?
Those roses are beyond dreamy. What a gorgeous paradise to wake up in everyday! That and your Mr.Lovee rose! The true bloom in the garden of your life. Lucky are we who find true love.
The video is beautiful. xo
Happy anniversary! The roses are divine and who doesn’t love them – the smell must be wonderful! Your youngest furboy is growing so fast – those legs are long, long, long!
Vanessa!!!! You are going to think it is silly but…something just hit me: we’ve both made posts with lots of flowers and…no rounded edges ! he!he! I know it is silly, but sometimes it makes me smile to find similarities with some of my blog friends.
Your roses are absolutely stunning!!!! Do they smell like candy? some roses do!
Oh my…you dog is growing so much!
You are sooooooooooooooooooooo romantic! I love this!
:-)))))))))))))))
Gather Ye Rosebuds While Ye May
and
Ashes to Ashes, Dust to Dust…………
Vanessa, Beautiful roses, incredible video! Reminds me of Johnny Cash’s final “Hurt” video – a tribute he did to his wife June after her death, his own followed shortly there-after (you can find it on you tube if you haven’t seen it). Enjoy your blooms! Ironically, my gardens are just beginning to sprout here in the “Garden State”-but my lilacs and magnolias will be in full bloom in about a week with the spring perennials,azaleas and rhodies to follow…but roses…I won’t see those before JUNE!
thanks for the wonderful post!
connie g
Aww, very sweet story indeed! Congrats on your anniversary and what beautiful roses!
you are truly bless to bee with a loving & kind soul as Mr. Lovee…may your years together multiple just like the roses that grow on your land…the beauty of your love that shows in your words and the beauty of the roses that radiate through the camera lens…are gifts that are blessed from heaven above…thank you for sharing & blessing us with the beeauty of both…have a honey of a night ~ sweet dreams! Marlene ;O)
Your Roses are so beautiful, and your love story is heartfelt. It makes me happy to hear of such romance and life in a relationship. You offer such wisdom and I long to learn from your whimsical life!
I am also anxiously waiting for the date of the next Mad Tea Party!!
Until Then,
Wende
Aaaaaahhh your Roses are stunning!
So glad I stopped by!!
Have a Happy & Blessed Easter~~ Sweet Friend :))
xo
Kay Ellen
Dear Vanessa! What a beautiful and magical tale. Roses and romance are synonymous, don’t you think? How amazing that seeing all that beauty is a constant loving reminder of your beloved. Just enchanting. And to share that love with your furry babies – both here and in your heart. Young Miles is a strapping young man, I must say. 🙂 Enjoy this special time and many more years to come! xoxo Theresa
Had to stop by again.
Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah those roses, I can smell them through the screen.True!
What a beautiful post–visually and linguistically! That’s just what I needed today. 🙂
Thankyou.
(darn those snail trails on my face…)
Your roses are fabulously beautiful, Miss V
and what a magicical tale you wove to share with us from ten years time ago…it’s no wonder you fell in love with Mr. Lovee and his homestead.
Life is full of magic and that is what never ceases to amaze me…
Thank you for sharing your fairy land
Miss Teresa
Such lovely photos… thank you for sharing! :]
Love, love, love, da ta da! I am soo happy for you, two! For all of you. Bless you.
You are indeed a blessed young woman. I run across so many young couples who truly don’t get the full scope of what love is but you my dear hold it tightly in the palm of you hand with every beat of your heart. Continue to cherish it and live it fully. Hubby and I have been together for 35 years and we are still dancing in magical sunbeams and loving in blessed moonlight and I wish you and Mr.Lovee the same on your very special day.
What a sweet love story. It sure seems as though you were meant to find your home there! I have my soulmate too; 18 years in the making of a lifelong dream love story!When you find the right one, it’s as if there was never anyone else…
I really like the idea that my gardening can outlive me and make people happy for years to come. That is a great way to think about it. There are a lot of flowers in our yard from the previous owners who have passed away. I have added more flowers, maybe they will also be there when I am gone.
Oh…that video made me cry.
AH! Predestined or chance…that is always the looming question, is it not? I choose to believe “predestined” for in my own short life I’ve seen many paths meant to be crossed and yet there was still much that needed to be accomplished before the paths could intertwine ;-).
Maybe just maybe whoever planted the roses planted them with you in mind. Even though she may not have know. What is it that ties us to places in time? Is those who have gone before or is it something within ourselves? Hhhmmmmm….questions, always questions…hee hee!!!
love me
A beautiful touching tale, I felt a pricking in my eyes (must have been the rose thorns) I wish you and your Lovee many more magickal years together! How Miles has grown so huge so quickly, must be a fabulous handful of a companion for Matty.
misting up here… 😉
I haven’t visited here in a while and what a wonderful true-life tale to come back to. Absolutely beautiful. I also have been blessed by a wonderful man/soulmate/friend/nutcase-like-me and April is a special time for us as well; after spending 2 years together, then 23 years apart, we found each other again(Destiny?) and were married in…April:) Keep loving your life and being an inspiration to others…we need more Vanessa Valencia’s in this world 😉
I sadly don’t get to visit as often as I would like, but when I do Im always left speechless by your story’s and photos. Beautiful roses and equally beautiful love story!
I have to admit you are this precious little mysterious being to me, and Im always left wanting more.
Love your dreamy world….love you! 🙂 XO,Jenn
Oh, Vanessa – what a beautiful post. My eyes are welling up…
I’m so happy you and your Mr. Lovee found soul mates in each other, and are living happily ever after in your rose covered desert paradise.
Sending much love, and wishing you both a lifetime of adventures together…
🖤 Carolee
Thank you for sharing your beautiful story and the roses with us. You remind me that is definitely OK to be as much of a romantic as you want to be and you give me hope to having that English Garden I have always wanted, even if we were to live in a place like Arizona!!
Happiest Anniversary to you and Mr. Lovee and hugs to your sweet puppy dogs!
xo,
Betty
You shared such a fabulous pictures over here.I am speech less to see this nice pictures.
What happened to little Miles. He’s growing so fast! I’m glad you got so many adorable pictures of him in his early puppy stage.
I’m glad to see you are feeling better too.
you continue to fill my heart with joy. and that video,made me cry. thank you for sharing it. xxx
Rose is a king of flowers it best suited for every tradition occasion.you post such a awesome pictures of it.
What wonderful reflections, thank you for sharing them. I don’t go to many sites to look at pictures of flowers, despite my heartfelt appreciation for their beauty, but yours always keep me engaged with their natural beauty and your obvious pleasure in the simple things…the things that really matter.
Love that video. Especially poignant having just finished reading, moments ago, a selection by C.W. Gusewelle (in the collection On the Way to Other Country) called Lighted Windows which spoke of loneliness and connection.
Roses are my favorite flower. Thank you for posting so many pics and telling us a story of your love. The video was touching. Makes me appreciate what I have now in this moment… My wonderful husband and my baby boy sleeping in my arms…