Hello from after party land!
What a fun mad tea season it was.
Now it's time to put back all the treasures and restore some sense of order.
If only I could remember how everything fit in my cabinets originally, haha!
(Pics help a little)
Stacking and…
Layering galore.
I have been ever so busy the last few months.
Today I woke up utterly exhausted.
So, I took a day off from running around hills or garden paths today.
Arizona heat, blaring sun, up at the crack of dawn every day.
Chores and things.
Maybe I might need a vacay soon?
My deadlines are all sent in, the tea party is all cleaned up.
Summer is here, right smack in the thick of it.
Dogs are napping.
We've had Matty with an emergency vet visit eye injury, all cured now.
Miles with check-ups, both eating plain cheeseburgers after.
House a wreck.
Pups napping in the studio.
Following me around like baby chicks.
Matty (brown dog) leans on my knee as I do laundry or try to get ready to go anywhere.
Miles snores and yawns, snores and yawns.
I've enjoyed lots of nice dinners out.
Several movies at the actual theater.
Pineapple and coconut frozen yogurts, with fresh coconut and pineapple on top.
Standing in the hills watching storms roll in.
Running through sprinklers.
Shopping in antique stores that have no a/c, just swamp cooling.
Melting.
Grilling dinners, eating all colors of beets and veggies at whole foods.
Quinoa & avocados & lime soaked yams with salt, yumm.
Tending my gardens every morning and evening.
Wishing I knew what kind of rose bush I planted in front of my cottage.
I don't think I saved the tag 3 or 4 years ago.
Gifting roses all summer like mad in pure sun.
A floribunda of some kind for sure.
Sprinkles on hollyhocks that are seeding everywhere for next year.
Sitting on the front porch with a fan in my face.
Watching zinnias bloom.
(having to cage them as the yellow belly finches are eating them to the ground, leaves and all, even though we feed them thistle seeds)
Picking basil.
And then, the most kind of awful and exciting thing has been going on.
Huge amounts of animal activity in our garden this year.
For starters, I shall tell you that I lost my entire vegetable garden out back.
Twice.
Once to racoons.
I rebuilt it and just lost it again to javelina.
Pumpkin patch and all.
I might be able to save a few vines, but maybe not.
Our property is walled and fenced in, but they busted through fencing.
My vegetable garden is also fence in, but they busted through that too.
I have to say, I'm not upset.
The pumpkin patch did have me almost at tears.
But then I thought, it's hot, there hasn't been tons of rain this year.
The poor critters are starving in the desert.
So, I fed them well, if nothing else.
Even a pack of coyotes got into our property.
The animals are obviously struggling, which makes me sad.
I think I may be able to save my strawberry patch.
It literally looks like bombs went off in every veggie bed.
Dug up, chomped up disaster.
Luckily they didn't come to the front yard where my flower garden is.
The birds have also been very active this year.
They ate all my plums and grapes.
It's a crazy animal year.
So, Mister Lovee has covered the peaches with bags, haha!
Kinda funny, no?
Desperate attempt to have peaches at least.
Here is a link to what our peach tree and veggie garden normally look like when not being treated as a buffet.
Ah well.
I'm not upset.
More ready for a vacation really, haha!
Maybe the universe is trying to tell me something.
Miles sure knows how to live it up.
Matty didn't let me take his photo, oh well.
The sunset was glorious last night.
I felt the faintest most curious vibe last night.
Just for a split second, out of the corner of my eye, I saw autumn.
Just for a second.
Even though it's still summer hot, it flickered somewhere out there.
And I thought, I better absorb this summer goodness.
Golden sunset through trees included.
Lighting candles and fairy lights at sunset.
Turning up the music…
And basking in the summer night garden.
Life is so lovely.
I think it's telling me to take a lil' break.
The sun possibly did me in a little yesterday.
Or it's an accumulation of endless days in it.
So, I'd say some popsicles and r&r are in order for the rest of the day.
How is summer treating you out there?
I'm not sure I'll sit still, ideas are swirling about big time.
The end of July looms.
Oh time, you rascal, you never sit still yourself!
Can't wait to hear what you are up to out there in your neck of the woods!
Love, V
I’m sorry to hear that your garden was torn up. I love your attitude about it though! I enjoyed your tea party this year. Wasn’t up to having one myself, so I just visited yours and those that signed up. Glad Matty is better!
love & blessings
~*~
ps…hugs to Matty and Miles
Looking at your photos always makes me feel like I’ve been on a bit of a vacation myself. Thank you!
In my neck of the woods (Oregon), it’s been incredibly hot, and we’re not used to that here. We’re all wilting. But the last two days it’s cooled off, and today there are clouds and the thought of rain in the air, and it’s lovely.
I hope you’re able to save some pumpkin vines! And some peaches, too. 🙂
It’s very hot on the Gulf Coast, but then, we ARE subtropical. I had a small raccoon eating at my one of my bird feeders Saturday night and I kept yelling at him in the dark. My little two year old grandson was looking at me in wide eyed concern. I asked him if he wanted to see what I was yelling at and he nodded. We got the flash light and went out and I shined (shone?)it on a little masked faced fellow. My grandson said, “It’s a rat-coon.” It’s too bad about your gardens, but you seem to be very Zen about it.
What a magical world you make! I think that is very sweet of you to think of the hungry critters. I am sorry to hear about your poor garden though! I live in Western Massachusetts. Today it is in the mid-70s with zero humidity, which is amazing, really. Tonight it is supposed to get down to the lower 50s which makes it feel like autumn and makes me want to read spooky books! Right now I am reading a really fun YA book called “Lockwood & Co.” It is about ghost hunters and it was recommended to me by a friend. Usually, the leaves begin to change in mid-August, but last week I spied a tree with a small patch of orange and gold. I have been spending most of my time lately, sewing. Every year I put out a big Halloween Collection and so the months leading up to the release are exhausting. I can’t wait for October, when the work slows down and I can enjoy it all! Have a beautiful day! This is more like a penpal letter, I think…haha!
I so enjoyed your post. The tidying up is part of it all and you have made even that a little more glamourous. Your words about loosing your garden without loosing your temper touched me. It’s all perspective, but sometimes it’s incredibly difficult to change our mind set. You lead the way.
Hope you find some days of rest and popsicles.
I’m so sorry to hear about your garden. We’ve lived in our home for 12 years, and for the first time we actually have a level back garden and patio that we never had before. I’m new to gardening, and everything has gone well so far except those dastardly white geraniums that didn’t work out.
I enjoyed reading your post and seeing your lovely photos. July is one long party for use with four family birthdays and the Mad Tea Party. I still have some birthday stuff to put away, and a stackable teapot, a holdover from the Mad Tea Party.
I love your fairy lights! Your home is magical!
xo,
Ricki Jill
Vanessa, I’m so sorry about your garden…but, bless you for your sweet attitude about it and the poor animals! I have to admit I felt very sad when you said your pumpkin patch is gone, as I look forward to seeing photos of it every year. I gasped when you said you caught a glimpse of autumn because I heard it in the wind here today! I hope you’re able to save your peaches and flower garden…
Blessings,
Victoria
I would probably be scared out of my wits with the critters that ate up your garden. I don’t do very well around wild animals, even if I can’t see them if it happens during the middle of the night! All of that hard work you did to maintain your garden every day! The animals must have been really, really hungry! We had apricots galore on our tree, but it was so hot, too hot really to go out and pick them, and within three days about 300 apricots ripened so fast and literally dropped to the ground and turned to mush rapidly. I was just too busy with other things, so no apricot jam this year. Which was actually one less thing to worry about. Oh, well. We do what life gives us which we can handle at the moment.
Your tea cups and plates are so divine and lovely. Such Marie Antoinette charm of that era.
Yes, you need a vacation, dear. No rain here, but ten miles away it rained a few days ago. But maybe we will get some with El Nino in the works.
Your mountain photo is glorious!
XO
Miss Teresa
Oh I love your pumpkin patch, I hope you can save it somehow, we have too much rain here this year, I wish I could give you some, and the mosquitoes are very dangerous, lots of warnings about them this year also, that is why I had my mad tea indoors, all you can do is “go with the flow”, Nature is a powerful force! take care,
I haven’t enjoyed Summer weather too much, in fact maybe since I had Children at home.As I age Summer just gets very uncomfortable. You though always know how to express Summer Magic. Thank You for helping Me remember those magical Summer moments of Years gone by and helping Me put that shimmer back into My late in life Summer days.
Bags on peaches, a good thing. I keep a pile of rocks and throw them at the squirrels and raccoons. I am not a very good aim, but they do run away. Watching my grapes, figs, and plums diligently. Your fairy lights remind me I must go to the store and buy more while they are on sale. Happy Summer Daze.
I’m trying not to let the summer heat get me down and force me indoors. Believe me, it’s a challenge because of the awful heat and high humidity. I think more than anything the key is to doing outside exercise and chores at an earlier time. If I wait around until 11 or thereafter, it’s a bust and a complete waste of effort.
Anyway, you absolutely deserve a vacation and you should take one. You have an amazing set of waterfalls in your area, especially Havasu Falls. Have you ever been there? You have to hike 6 miles in to get to an Indian reservation and I’m told the experience is stunning. It’s on my bucket list.
http://www.onlyinyourstate.com/arizona/waterfalls-az/
So much beauty! Your place is like a wonderful dream!
The heat here in TX has definitely gotten to me of late. I feel sorry for any animal that has to forge for food and shelter while we can retreat to our comfortable AC homes and refrigerators full of food. ‘-)
Hope the peach crop is saved for your dining pleasure. I brought more peaches home from the farmer’s market this morning. Sadly probably the last for the season here.
You certainly live in a beautiful spot. Enjoy the weekend!
I relate to trying to remember how everything was displayed if a vignette is ever broken down. I have tons of antique porcelain too and am going to try stacking a little more so I can get more of it out. Lived in Phoenix for years so can relate to the heat issue. I have to admit I totally hated the climate except for about four months a year so my heart goes out to you, but you do seem to make the best of it. Love your lighted night garden!
Was reading about your pumpkins vines which I know are a source of joy and fun for you. I know the critters have to eat, and you have been generously helping them out, but could you possibly plant more? I am in Oklahoma and just planted a bunch of new pumpkins. My caterpillars have been gobbling up my morning glories and pumpkins, so I planted more! Do you have a long enough Fall season in your growing area? I figure they will get Aug., Sept., and most of Oct. Pumpkins seen to grow overnight and even my new, smaller vines are getting blooms. I live in an addition, but I plant mine along the side of the house so they can trail. Also my dogs don’t spend much time in the dog runs, so now they are pumpkin vine spaces. Do you have any kind of porch on your house? Perhaps you could plant pumpkin seeds in a tub and let vines creep on your porch do critters cannot access so easily.
I remember my Dad talking about setting out his Fall garden, so this year I am going to try it. Some of my flowers are fading now too. I collect their blooms let them dry out and replant their seeds. Its like something new is always sprouting!
Thanks for sharing your garden!
Patrice
Wow, Vanessa! So much heartbreak. But, you have taken it all so very well. Completely unlike me. I just love the way you look at life. I have never heard of a javelina. I had to look it up! My two youngest babies are with me now as I type this and I have read this post to them and showed them your garden from the link you gave. They are in awe! They want to live where you are! 🙂 Wish we had monsoons. Always inspiring, you are! xoxoxo Jen
Love your writings and pics. I’ve lost my garden the last three years to either the spring rains, the hot summer heat and/or the grasshoppers! Mostly the latter. These little armored guys and gals can destroy everything in a short amount of time. My MIL had given me some beautiful iris that I planted last year and they were coming up this past spring only to be chomped down to the ground. Did I mention we have gophers too!? My, my…your site gives me respite while I cool off as it is 105.1 degrees right now in NE Texas! How I long for fall during these dog days of summer.
I wonder if that rose is Belinda’s Dream? My love just ordered me one for Valentine’s Day, so I’ve been reading up on it, sounds like, and looks like it :). Looking forward to this spring in CA with all our rain!
xo,
Kara (accidental_decorator) 😉