Today was such a sunny happy day.
I splashed some water on the dirt as I watered my roses…
And, for a split second, I smelled that heavenly scent of summer.
So, I decided I had to stay outside all day and paint flowers.
I love painting flowers.
I have a few huge flower paintings I started years ago and have yet to finish.
(6 feet long)
One is hanging in the cottage.
Today I decided to paint a smaller piece.
You should see the stacks of all sorts of paintings I never share.
Just painting for the health of my soul.
Today it was bright colors splashed around.
The sun was so warm, it was about 78' and glorious.
80' is what is on the menu for tomorrow.
So odd, this eternal spring weather.
Normally we have spring from late March early April, to mid May.
Then summer from Mid May to the end of October.
Then a mild fall from November to December.
Winter from January to Mid March.
And it always snows here at least once in February.
So, having endless weeks of 70'+ is just bliss.
And 80' tomorrow?
I could faint.
Yay!
No wonder I have flowers of the brain.
It's so much fun to just brush paint around.
Making a mess.
Having a blast.
Music playing, sun shining…
Doggies laying around me.
Bright colors on the palette.
Lots of fur hugs.
(I should probably take down the orange and purple Halloween lights on the cottage)
The honk of the UPS truck.
Dogs barking.
Sun setting.
What has happened to me?
I always longed for mittens and boots and wool coats.
I have a wide variety of all.
But today was summer dress weather, and I am totally into it.
I am not into feeling cold in my bones at all.
I guess it's lucky I live in Southern Arizona then.
And not at the top of the cool forest mountain I see everyday.
Or in a very snowy place.
Although I do love the snow.
For now…
I am painting happy things.
Just because.
What are you up to?
Is it freezing cold where you are?
Last night we had dinner and hot chocolate on the cast iron stove in the gypsy garden.
The stars were so lovely.
Our sky is so clear, and the air so fresh.
I can always pick out constellations.
Once there was an astronomer at our house.
And he made it so easy to see all the constellations with his guidance.
It was ah-mazing.
One day I HAVE to see the Aurora Borealis.
And not just on sparkly Swarovski beads 🙂
Have you ever seen the Northern Lights??
Looove, V
ps: I am a guest blogger at Stampington's blog, Somerset Place, this week.
Please stop in and say hello if you have a little chance 🖤
Ahhhhh, your post makes me long so for warmth. It is presently about 2 degrees here….bitter cold,cold, cold. Snow on the ground..that has been there for weeks. The sun comes out in the daytime…but it has no warmth. So aside from keeping the farm animals fed and warm, the days are filled with knitting by the fireplace with warm pots of soup on the stove and fresh baked bread. This is our hibernation season…..dreaming about the gardens in our future. Living vicariously in the warmth of your Arizona sunshine!! Enjoy!!
Vanessa:
The weather has been lovely, hasn’t it? I long to set up my easel and just paint….outside, flowers, trees, bugs. I haven’t painted outside in a gajillion years.
It must have felt heavenly to be outside with the pups, in front of your amazing cottage just painting such loveliness.
xoxo
Kim
Gerushia’s New World
What pretty flowers you painted! I love the black background!
I’m so jealous of your weather down there!
This winter has just been plain brutal! It’s finally above zero today!!! It was sunny & in the teens today, it felt so nice!
It’s a sad day when 13 feels warm! It’s supposed to get in the 20’s but there are 3 snow storms coming with that!
I am so ready for Spring or a vacation in the southwest!
We were actually supposed to be in upper Michigan right now on a ski trip. We had to cancel because of the weather, bad roads, & wind chills around -20. Last weekend it was too bad to be driving for 6 hours through Ill., Ind., & Mich.!
That huge pile up in Michigan City, In. ,which isn’t that far from us, really opened our eyes to how dangerous this weather can be. It’s more than just a nuisance, it’s deadly! We would have had to drive right through there. Creepy.
Keep posting pictures of flowers, gardens, & sunshine for those of us without!
The band my husband just formed is practicing downstairs right now. The drummer has family near Phoenix. We were just discussing Arizona. I asked him about the heat in the summer & he said that it’s still better than all the humidity here!
It is so cold here. We have 6 inches of snow! But it is fun. Kids sledding. Doggies running and jumping! I think I need to paint flowers too though.
It was awwwwesome! I cant wait to get back out there tomorrow.
It felt like the day went by soooo quickly xoxo
Blog: http://www.aFancifulTwist.com
Website: http://www.VanessaValencia.com
In a message dated 1/29/2014 7:43:43 P.M. US Mountain Standard Time,
Beverly!<3 Hug the farm for me, and stay cozy warm. I am just amazed at our warm summer. They say it will be in the 60's beginning this weekend, but all January was 70's bliss!! It does drop at night and get cold, but not freezing yet. Have a big bowl of soup and a huge slice of fresh bred for me 😉
Oooooh, sledding!!!!Too fun!
The heat is brutal, BUT it’s dry heat and it feels good. And there is zero humidity, which is awesome, so not that many bugs. It is only humid in monsoon season, which lasts a couple months, and it’s not even that humid. Plus the days will be 115′ and then dark clouds roll in and it pours and you run around in it like maniacs, it’s awesome. (at least I do that is 😉 Stay safe Miss Laura!!
Dearest Vanessa,what beautiful colors! I love your article. Very inspiring I must say. Makes me want to go create! ( unfortunately I am in bed nursing the flu instead.) Your writing and photography are amazing!Thanks for cheering me up!
The painting is beautiful!
Now I don’t feel so bad that I have canvasses sitting unfinished. I pulled one out to work on a few days and became stuck again. You have inspired me to take it outside and try again.
Su, you know what happens to me? If I dont finish something, I am
onto the next thing – I have this HUGE painting hanging in the cottage, that is
only half complete, and it might just stay like that 🙂
Blog: http://www.aFancifulTwist.com
Website: http://www.VanessaValencia.com
In a message dated 1/29/2014 10:26:30 P.M. US Mountain Standard Time,
ps: Yes, pull them out and work on them – or paint over them and
start something new 😉
Blog: http://www.aFancifulTwist.com
Website: http://www.VanessaValencia.com
In a message dated 1/29/2014 10:26:30 P.M. US Mountain Standard Time,
What beautiful flowers. I will go over to Stampington and check out your guest blog. You know I love all their stuff. Way too many of their magazines.
And it is so cold here. In the teens again. And we got caught in a snow storm yesterday and a trip from Chattanooga to our house that usually takes about 30 minutes took us 4 hours. It took 3 hours to go 2 miles. Our interstate was in a lot better shape than south of us in Atlanta (we were just down there a couple weeks ago and there is a traffic jam no matter where you are there). At least we made it to Ringgold where we ate and went to the grocery and then came home. My granddaughter’s bus never made it to the school to pick her up so her step dad got her. They had hot chocolate from Starbucks on the way home 🙂
It looks like the flowers are doing a slow dance, beautiful! I’m glad that you have a perfect temperature. It’s very cold in Sweden, we had lots of snowing and icy winds and I’m freezing a lot. But I hope I will be able to bring out my skis to go cross country skiing on saturday, in the forest 🙂
I LOVE your painting! It would look lovely on my wall 🙂
Yes, freezing our buts off definitely. It’s been snowing for a couple of weeks and yesterday the car got stuck in the snow when I was driving to work …
I hope you are well, Vanessa. A little spring sun sounds lovely – soak it all up as much as you can!
Miss Vanessa, I can feel the warmth from your sun from here, and it’s good, believe me. Today we have a real heat wave…it will be 18 (F). I’m off to work finally, as do to the weather has been closed. Your painting is amazing, with all the colors. It is so nice to paint out side…Lots of inspiration comes from the out of doors. Wish I could do that…(too cold)
I know that spring will be here soon and my muse will come fluttering back. Thank you for all you say and do.
I love the flower painting! And your “art cart” so reminds me of college and the art studio. fun times. Of course, we didn’t have a garden to look at all day. =)
Here in west central FL we’re having a few gray/rainy/cold days, but we’ll be back in the high 70s soon. 🙂 I’m very thankful for it, that’s for sure. The warm days make me long to start buying plants & fixing up my little patio garden, but I know more cold will come, so I just dream for now. 🙂
Ooooh warmth! and loverrrrly flowers, too!! It was 5 degrees here this morning..and 0 up at our house back home!! eeeeeeek! Tee hee…..I’m longingly dreaming of summer days to come, a light cardigan, dress and flats….that’s it! I can’t even begin to count the layers we must don to venture out as of late…tee hee. Still….the snow is awfully pretty, and warm and woolies are fun to wear, too…..so I’m sending you some cool air by way of magic wishes….do you feel it there yet? ; )
Cheerio & Happy painting to you!!!!
I’m so glad you’ve had the sun visiting up near your mountain. I bet the boys are so happy, too.
Oooo! I just got my own copy of ‘Somerset Life’ in the mail yesterday…what a marvelous article you wrote and I swooned at the glorious Gypsy life photos you shared. I felt like I was in the Gypsy Garden with you…what relaxing fun!
What a lovely painting of flowers you are painting and I especially love the black background as it highlights the brilliant shades of colors you have chosen.
We actually got misty rain all day today…kind of like God left the ‘misters’ on for us. It has been a very refreshing day at 57 degrees. Lovin’ the rain! We needed it desperately.
XO
Miss Teresa
What lovely paintings 🙂
I’m so jealous of your warm weather! Its been below freezing for weeks here in the middle of NC. And the crazy thing is we’ve only gotten snow one time so far! In my opinion if it’s not going to snow then winter can get the heck away!
How I wish I could be standing at another easel painting next to you.
What inspiration you are. It is beautiful!
I am inside making small picture charms surrounded by copper foil and
solder. Gifts that were suppose to be for Christmas, but will probably
done in February.
So glad you’re having wonderful weather and making the most of it. Your flower painting is beautiful. It is freeeeeeezing here in NY. Although I hate being too hot, I’m longing for some warm sun. I have seen the northern lights when I was young and went cross-country with a friend of mine. We were two brave girls, I tell ya. We went into Canada, which is where we saw them. It was a thrill. You must head north and experience it for yourself. Oh yes! You have to paint that!
Beautiful! Yes, it’s freezing cold here with snow in the Deep South, but gorgeous and such a treat!
Love your flowers and all your creations. Big thanks to you for always giving us a chance to see your creations Vanessa.
Now, I’m off to read more.
Ciao bella,
Suzanne
Love your painting! It’s a lot colder here in coastal Georgia than we are used to, but it’s starting to warm a little. I’ve been holed up inside making jewelry and listening to music… Speaking of music (and Aurora Borealis) have you seen this video?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QrtUp_Diawc
80’s degrees!! The high here was 28 degrees. Though I enjoy winter, I am longing for warmer weather. It has been cold, snowy and chilly winter.
I do enjoy those snow days when me and my family can snuggle together, have fun, while I bake brownies.
Have to enjoy whatever season you are in. Please savor the warm sun and tell her to come soon here in The Bronx
It looks so lovely there <3
We only got snow a little more than a week ago and it's not really cold, very unusual for Sweden. I had escaped to Paris (yes, seriously, and then deliberately missed the plane home) when I saw the snow on facebook. Bleh. Could have done without it! 🙂
Where I live, northern lights are pretty frequent!
That painting is so beautiful, just love the black backdrop! Why don’t you share these stacks of paintings?! 😉 I’d diiiieeee to see em! I wish it were spring here, and not freezing cold. Come visit me and you will see the Northern Lights! We get them in the summer all the time!