A week in time.
Lots of photos snapped, visits, baking, making, wrapping gifts, guests and more photos of this and that taken.
I chose some of my fave photos from this week to share.
Using just a few words per image, here's why I chose these…
Soooo ~
The lemon raspberry birthday cake was quite liked.
Maybe even loved?
One can hope.
Wishes were made…
Yay!
Crazy weekend.
Dad and Lovee's b-days.
Father's day.
Family luncheon Saturday.
Shopping with sis, mom and dad.
Visits at my pad Sunday Morn.
Preparing for shish-kebab making this afternoon.
Crazy pumpkin patch madness out back.
A taste of monsoon rain visited yesterday afternoon.
First time in so many months, that I can't even remember the last time it rained.
Record heat set for this coming week.
Yikes!
It's already 105' F.
What is record heat I wonder?
Giant sunflowers grow grow grow, and then are born…
Then a volunteer sunflower gets extra major tall, and has tons of babies…
I become obsessed.
I stalk the sunflowers.
Morning, noon and night…
I annoy everyone who comes over.
I talk like this about the sunflower above…
Have you ever seen anything like it?
I haven't.
Are you sure?
Have you?
It's amazing isn't it?
I can't get over it.
Oh my.
I just can't get over it.
Did you see the giant sunflower with lots of babies?
Oh, do you want to look at it one more time?
Then everyone leaves because I am annoying.
Just kidding.
But they probably want to.
But really, a volunteer sunflower with all those babies?
I really can't get over it.
I must get out more?
Nah.
The giant multi head sunflower shares a bed with the carrots and the red onions.
I am addicted to pulling carrots out of the ground.
I said that before, didn't I?
It fulfills me like picking at peeling paint does.
More actually.
The sound of dirt as they pop out, oh so good.
You can't pull them when the ground is dry and hard.
It has to be soggy, at least here it does.
Mmmm.
So flavorful…
All of a sudden, pumpkin vines go even more Jurassic Park, as does the rest of the garden.
What's going on here?
Oh ya, it's hotter than an oven, that's what 🙂
The corn shoots up.
Then we eat.
Squash blossom love!
Lots of male squash blossoms show up.
This means, females soon.
That means pumpkin babies, possibly maybe.
Wishing.
Hoping.
I have been spoiled with pumpkins the last few years.
Even one will make me happy.
We moved the patch to the opposite side of the property, since the bugs had found us in the other spots.
You have to do this every so often.
Rotate.
Hide from the bugs.
Tricky garden shenanigans.
In the new patch, some zinnia seeds from last year somehow found their way in.
Cosmos too.
This is very unusual here.
Yay!
Onion flowers rock.
They are so pretty.
Not all onions will flower.
If they do, you won't get a very big onion.
No matter.
A handful will make me happy.
Collecting basil, lettuce, chives and dill ensues.
It's growing in mass abundance.
Yay too.
Of course, we are slaves to watering.
But, that's no matter.
(okay, sometimes it would be nice to actually sleep in in summer, alas, basil wins)
Mister says some people never have to water their gardens because of rain.
Rain is rare here.
That sounds like a dream.
A crazy major dream.
Lucky them.
Is it you?
Lucky you!
By the way.
I love shadows.
Do you?
The corn shadows look like spider webs below.
I used to love spiders.
Now, they freak me out a little.
New feelings.
I see them now, seemingly everywhere I turn.
I used to say hello and good day to them.
Now I say, please leave.
I know. How rude.
But I still love spider web looking shadows.
(veg garden to the left, pumpkin patch to the right)
I adore this colorful little bunchcake below.
Delicious color scheme.
Lucky flower.
My zinnia seeds, new and collected from last year, are growing up.
I grow mostly everything in my garden from seed or bulb.
Or little dry roots, like the strawberries.
All the flowers and vegetable garden are from seed.
(Or bulbs)
Amazing what seeds can do, isn't it?
Amazing.
Unfurling.
Palest pink.
Early morning deliveries…
And, the greatest gift.
Late afternoon…
Arizona…
Sunsets…
Sublime.
Well, I must run and get my afternoon shindig in order.
Didn't want the sharing of the photos do go by the wayside.
You know what I mean?
In real life I say that a lot.
I hear.
Or so says my sister sibling.
She called me the other day and said, I know exactly who you talk like!!!
(I talk with my hands too, btw)
I finally figured it out, she says.
Who who?
Whooo could it be?
I think of a million people.
Then she says.
Isaac Mizrahi.
Isaac Mizrahi?
I do?????
What??
I dooooo???
Hahaha!
Love, V
(Happiest of Father's Days!!!)
ps: I might get a complex.
Now, when I look at Isaac Mizrahi, I think he is me, or I am him, or some weird combination of the two.
Isn't that hilarious?
I am sure I do not talk like Isaac Mizrahi.
I think?
pss: My spell check in Typepad is not working. Forgive my typos, please!!
Oh man….I love this post! It’s all fast and giddy and delicious and happy! Reading it made me laugh and giggle!
I just took a break from the kitchen and checked my twitter and found your new post. That twitter…it really works!
I’m up to my elbows in homemade chicken pot pie prep and homemade boysenberry syrup. I squeezed just a little fresh lime juice into the syrup while it was simmering and added a few chocolate mint and orange mint leaves.
We’re celebrating Father’s Day and my oldest baby’s birthday today. 24 years old today! Can you imagine that I was actually having a baby 24 years ago today?
Your cake looks absolutely gorgeous. Love those 3 colors together. And your sunflower is crazy….over the moon! I’ve never seen so many sunflower babies!
Have a great celebration today.
xoxo
Kim
Gerushia’s New World
Sounds like you have been one busy girl! I understand your heat woes! I am in California, and it is HOT. I mean, seriously hot. I was sweating when I was just standing in the kitchen, making coffee filter butterflies. Come on, man! Right now I am attempting to stay cool by just sitting in my room, wearing my gray daisy duck tank top. It’s not working.
Hope you have a great day! (The cake looks delicious. Stop torturing me!!!)
super sweet photos…happy birthday to the men in your life. it is not fathers day here in australia for a few more months but it is nice to celebrate what family means to us and you obviously love your famliy. they are lucky to have you!
xxrosey
Soooo sorry for the heat! But your garden must love it. I am getting so much garden love from this post! Yes, those are magic sunflowers! They really are quite something!!!!!
But I am captivated by your beautiful carrots! I have a garden too, and my carrots are always so wonky looking! Now your carrots are worth bragging about!
What a fun, fast and fabulous post! You had me giggling!
Your gardens are definitely inhabited by fairies. The lush, jungle of growth is amazing, and I know it is all due to your persistent watering scenario. If we don’t water everyday too, everything begins to wilt. Our outside temperature gauge says it is 105 degrees. So, yeah, summer has hit the central valley here in California.
I read Kim’s post, above, and her chicken pot pies sure sound scrumptious.
I have seen very huge single bloom sun flowers, but not with so many babies.
I would say a record breaking Arizona temperature would be 120 degrees. I remember being at Lake Havasu when it was 121 degrees…now THAT is HOT!!! That is when my grandparents bought us some date shakes in the local lakefront store years ago. Those date shakes were so welcome in the heat.
xxoo
Miss Teresa
Even though this is belated…Please say Happy Birthday to Mr. Lovee from Me!!!! As always, your garden looks amazing!!! Seems as if you may be feeling a bit better too🖤 I sure do hope so! You are always on my mind!
xoxo,
Dena
Loving your amazing blog. The sun flowers are to die for. They just appeared? It must be the fairies who you have made so happy with such a delightful place to live. Thanks for making such a delightful place for me to visit.
HI V !
I had a sunflower like that once and it was a
volunteer too. It was ginormous with tons of babies and a trunk as big as a sapling…i was hoping it would reseed but it never did…but it did bring me many happy smiles that summer…..
Beti,
the sunflower with lots of babies appeared on its own (magic). But I
did plant the other sunflower seeds.
I hope the fairies love it here 😉
Vanessa
Valencia {A Fanciful Twist}
Website: http://www.VanessaValencia.Com
Blog: http://www.aFancifulTwist.Com
In a message dated 6/17/2012 7:24:58 P.M. US Mountain Standard Time,
Your post made me smile. I would look at the sunflower and tell you that you are right it is amazing and that I had never seen anything like it.
Love all the pics. Hope you had a great time with the family. I had to work this weekend but we went shopping on Friday and I got hubby new shirts for FDay.
I want a garden full of pumpkins (next year for sure). We’ve had lots of squash, green beans and cucumbers. Hubby says corn this week:)
I’ve been turning veggies into jars of relishes and canned green beans. More canning tomorrow.
I don’t know how he sounds but it must be a compliment coming from your sister.:)
Oh, how jealous am I of your heat and sunshine! It’s nearly mid-summer here in England and we’re still waiting for the sun to arrive. It has rained probably every day now since April – including torrential rain and flash flooding – and the temperature is barely making it into the low 70s. Many of us have had to turn our central heating back on. It has, though, made growth everywhere extremely lush and oh-so-green, and, weirdly, it’s been an amazing year for roses here so far, so I guess there’s some kind of upside! But some sun now would be lovely – if you could send some our way?
Yes it has rain buckets here in England…. though I think September/October is going to be fab! The Rooks built their nests quite low in the trees round here where I live, this year. Not a good sign for summer. The colours are so out there…. makes me smile.
I remember Isacc on USA TV.. I loved him.
PS Your sunflower alien is amazing…….. xxx
That is an amazing sunflower, Vanessa! A few years ago, on Long Island, one of the last farms still around planted a whole field of sunflowers. It was stunning. People were stopping on the side of the road to take pictures. Of course, being at the entrance/exit of our development it could get a little congested, but it was well worth it to pass by that field everyday.
I hope this isnt creepy, but it is a dream of mine to visit your amazing garden and fruit trees. So inspiring! <3
I LOVE sunflowers!! and sunflowers with babies, O! I would still be gazing at them!!! 2 years ago sunflowers really were a comfort to me as my daughter Gina took me every day(except Sat and Sunday!)to my radiation treatments for 6 weeks and they were my heroes as we passed them every day!!! I have yet to knock on the lovely’s door who grew them and let her know how much they meant to me!! My zinnias aren’t growing this year!! maybe a bad batch of seeds?! I LOVE cosmos!!one of my FAV flowers besides daisies, sunflowers,and roses!What a JOY a garden is and YOU!!!We’re always mimicking(sp?!) my husband who can’t say anything without the accompliment of his hands! hehehe
Beautiful garden views….you have that magic garden touch for sure my friend! See talk of bugs and spiders just reiterates why I don’t. 🙂
As for Isaac….you never call people darling or darlings (that I’ve ever heard)…so nah, wouldn’t say him. You know what I mean? 😉
XOXOXOXO
P.s. It was BohoHandyman’s birthday Friday too….he should have come to your house for cake.:)
Vanessa, I am soooo laughing about your sister thinking you are like Isaac Mizrahi? I was like …. Who is she like? REALLY! Wow, to FUNNY!!! Sister’s sisters! ; )
OHH yes, the garden looks Fab! Love the flowers EvERY OnE of them! Did you plant foxglove this year? I am glad the pumpkins are looking so LuSh! I would be just as giddy about my sunflowers as well. Mine just didn’t do well. You say you have to play hardball with the bugs HUH! I have to try to get rid of some sharp shooters and a major ant infestations, ANY suggestions? I don’t like using poisons cuz of my dogs and yet the ants are on there turf too! Yikes! This gardening stuff is a challenge here in AZ. Vanessa you really do amazing things! Glad you had such a nice weekend with the family! <3 & 😉
I just made it to the volunteer sun flower and had to rush to comment, that NO! I have NEVER seen such a sun flower!!! It is a sun flower TREE!!! I could stand there with you for at least 123 minutes, discussing the wonders and magic of this flowertree. OMGoodness!!!
Now, back to reading…**kisses** Deb
The sunflower bush is worthy of admiration! I love that you notice the corn shadows……during the eclipse, did you notice how strange the shadows looked?
I heard Isaac Mizrahi got some of his design ideas from Little Edie of Grey Gardens!
p.s. love the frosting color ~ ~ ~ it makes me want to dip my finger into it
Oh Royal Gypsy Queen, so much Garden Goodness on your mountain top! So much life going on. Your corn looks amazing. I love love love this life you have built with Mister Lovee. It’s so essential. And Oh Pumpkin Love 🖤🖤🖤 Could you please please pretty please save me pumpkin stems? The longer and wilder the better!! **blows kisses** Deb
Sister, you totally talk like Isaac Mizrahi. I saw him on QVC once and he describes things in a fabulous wonderful way and after each sentence, he says, “Do you know that I mean?”
I think you talk like him because you are part drag queen. It must be because of all your jewels, hats, and the fact that there is a layer of glitter and shimmer all over everything you own… Yes, that’s what it has to be… you are totally part drag queen….
Happy Father’s Day to your dad Vanessa! And to Mr. Lovee and his fur children 🙂
Hey, I nominated your blog for the Versatile Blogger Award– More info can be found here: http://craftchick.wordpress.com/2012/06/18/a-thank-you-for-the-versatile-blogger-award/
Totally, awesomely, magical sunflower!!! I just keep having to scroll back up and view its wonderfulness. wow Wow WOW!!!
Queenie has been away this last week visiting the Queenie Mother and Father at the homestead in beautiful Ohio… The land of no watering as it falls regularly from the sky. On one of our adventures we stopped at a farm side market stand and bought native strawberrys. YUMMY! They were little wee guys about the size of a quarter, much smaller than what is at the grocery store, but mercy me oh my the flavor is full to overflowing with strawberry sweetness.
Sending big birthday wishes to your Mister Lovee and your Father, hoping thier special days were great!
Have a wonderful week!
Always, Queenie
Isaac M, reallllllly? No disrespect to your adorable seester, or to M., but you’re just WAY TOO fabuloso to be gunched (is that a word?) up with him. I mean, he sold me a really nice black pencil skirt one time, but he did. not. sparkle. at all. not even a wee bit. So even if you have some sort of conversational similarities, you’re more “VeEvAla VeRSacE DoeS FRiDa KAHlo Collection” to me~
{Coochie! Coochie!}
WHAT young lady, are you saying to your sunflowers? Did you tell them they were grapes so they would grow in clusters? Casually mention they looked like flat bananas and that they needed to bunch? Brilliant magic gardening, you should teach an online class!! One at a time is lovely but your sunflowers are so joi de vivre happy that the sun smiles when it looks at your garden, for petie’s sake!!!
Okayyy really, it’s going down like this. I’ll be your spider tamer. I’ll teach them to do acrobatics at the gypsy circus tea party review. I’ll catch mouthfuls of monsoon quality H 2 O and gently sprinkle the volunteer babies, while gargling lullabies to them.
I’ll live in the Bizarre A pumpkin patch and eat a raw veggie diet. I will only howl at full moons when the fur babies invite me to howlalong. I will whisper grow poems and sing ancient songs of the squash.
And, you’ll barely know I’m there. Promise.{sorta}
xoxoxviviixoxoxoxvii
PS But i may need a bath in the gypsy garden tub every now and again. please. xoxoxoxox
Is it bad that I have no clue who Isaac Mizrahi is? I’m going to have to google him now.
The sunflowers are gorgeous! Just divine! I haven’t seen any with so many babies before! *giggle* So lovely.
What a fabulously fun post! Thank you for sharing the week with us in photos and words! I am glad Mr. Lovee and your dad had wonderful birthdays (and Father’s Days, too). The cake looked amazing. I baked like a fiend – strawberry cupcakes with strawberry frosting and chocolate cupcakes with chai tea-infused frosting. Yum! And oodles of food to be eaten and great company was most enjoyed. Your sunflowers are so beautiful – I would be most smitten with them, too. They just make you want to smile. 🙂 There is a farm orchard not too far from us that has a sunflower maze each year. It is so pretty to look at! xoxo
You have such an amazing garden! I am in swoony-super-love with all your plants! =D
As for the spiders, perhaps just ask them to bite only the pesky bugs they eat and not you? But I can most definitely understand your wariness of them now… but it stinks that fear has tainted some of the things you love. I hate that about fear.
I found a quote from Hunter S. Thompson about fear that I liked so well I printed it out and taped it to the cover of my day planner:
Never turn your back on fear. It should always be in front of you, like a thing that might have to be killed.
Now usually I’m not for killing things, but for fear I make an exception. One of my favorite literary heroines (Anita Blake) has a need to do something once she realizes she’s afraid of it.
I think you mentioned before that part of what was so scary was that you don’t know exactly what it was that caused the allergic reaction. I think fear of what is unknown is one of, if not THE, greatest fear. I’ve found that when this happens to me, I name whatever I’m afraid of because I believe that naming something gives me a certain amount of power over it, even if just my fear of it. ^_^
You are amazing and brave. Not many people would get back out into their gardens so quickly. And I know that your garden spiders will understand if you ask them to move elsewhere for a while. ^_^
XOXO
thank u for sharing!it’s very good!
I have the exact sunflowers in my garden. Any luck identifying the type of sunflower we have? I just love them. they have taken over a section of the garden, but I just can’t take them out <3.
~Heidi