Every morning, the sun peeks over the mountains, and sends flickers of light through the windows…
I wake up, just as the sun peers over.
I put on something warm, or simply grab a blanket, and go outside with Matty.
It is a groggy walk around our yard, on that first lap.
Our property is enclosed by either a fence or a wall on all 4 sides. Giving Matty a sort of biosphere to live in. He runs around, almost always on the same route. It's his world, this little plot of land.
We start out in front, through the corridor of trees…
He runs ahead, and I look around, seeing what I can see.
Marching on slowly, in my slippers.
Waking up, whilst walking…
Sometimes, I get dressed to run around the yard myself. But other times, Matty is so impatient, I just hop out in my pj's and grab a throw, running out for the first morning jaunt.
And so, it was on this golden leaf morning, as we whipped around to the back yard, that I realized how delighted I was that I ran outside quickly with Matty, in two flannel nightgowns and grey slippers. No tennis shoes, no running around garb.
No time to waste.
Nature beckoned us.
It was quiet.
The sun was cresting over the mountain.
Our beloved huge apricot tree, had almost lost all of its leaves…
Leaving behind…
A golden ocean.
I had a song in my head.
I hummed it softly.
Making sure, to close my eyes…
Creating a memory of the brisk morning air, the sun's luminous rays –
and, the golden sea of leaves….
Our weather is ever so curious in Arizona.
It froze a couple weeks ago, only to warm up into the mid 70's (F) for the last week. And, just to make sure it fits its name (or what I call it), A Bizarre Arizona…
It will be 81' F today.
In December.
Fancy that wackiness… 🙂
I have a long "to do" list this week, so I best get some coffee brewing and get to work. Are you extra busy too? I bet you are. Up to anything delicious?
ps: I need to throw you all a party. Some of you lil' rascals remembered my b-day on Decemeber 11th. I was sort of being quiet about it because I felt guilty being all me me meeeee, all the time :) But it was a gloriously lovely day, and I had a little birthday party dinner with my Mom and Dad and Mister Lovee. There were oodles of flowers and balloons, and it was plain wonderful. Thank you for sending me birthday wishes, faaaaank U!
Can you spot the carnation elfin puppy face?
Faintingly cute! Just like the beloved gifter 😉
And thanks to Mombie for the 2 dozen mini cheesecakes, for her cheesecake daughter. EEEEks. I ran some over to my lovely neighbor, in my pj's. But I fear, I might gobble the rest with the help of mister. Must send some to Yodi (who I miss) ;)
pss: Update: I shared 16 of my mini cheesecakes with friends. Hooray!
Happy birthday! Glad you had fun. Love the sea of leaves-so beautiful! x
Vanessa:
Hahaha…here I am again, coming straight over from twitter!!
What a beautiful way to start your morning…a walk about your own property, a golden sea of leaves…Funny, I just put up a blog post yesterday with a bit of writing and some photos of our red and yellow leaves.
Our weather has been wacky here too. It was 88 degrees here yesterday. Can you believe that?
Have a fantastic day. I am packing prints and making my way to the post office!
Kim 🖤
Gerushia’s New World
Happy Birthday, my friend. I know your day was as Fab as you!
In honor of your birthday, I like to let you know whenever you want a free tarot card reading from me via e-mail let me know. I have the prettiest tarot cards too.
Kisses and loves to you, Lady V.
Come visit me for some real winter over at Retired in Alaska. I recently tied up with your blog again after loosing you for awhile. I love popping in and seeing the mystical images you create from your surrounding. Happy Birthday.
Nan
Those golden leaves really are pretty, I must say! So glad you had a nice celebration with your parents and Mr. Lovee. Are you up to your chin in wrapping, boxing, and mailing all the creations you sold on Friday night and Saturday morning? Take some time to stop and smell the roses, especially since you have some beautiful ones you showed us on today’s post.
I’m glad you had a great birthday and to get up and walk in all that sunny gold. Wish I were there. It’s 22 F here, snowing, and windy. I miss the warm weather.
V~
Happy Belated Birthday my friend 🙂
I hope you have enjoyed your dolly Birthday!
…
???
You don’t remember? Awwwww…
Obviously, becoming human again must have affected your memory.
But here are some photos of your party !Weeepeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
http://papillonbleuuk.blogspot.com/2010/12/vanessa-was-our-guest.html
😉
Happy Birthday! Mine was last Thursday! Sags are the best! 😉
Should have guessed you were a sag!
no leaves left sticking to any bare and frozen branches around here… some of the evergreens have plenty of snow on them still…
but…we had some darn cold days and now… it is balmy for December. Today….+8C if you can believe it. Friday night….it was -20 C with a whipping wind… felt like -35C…. my ears were numb after walking 4 blocks to the Christmas party…ooooohhh…..
happy birthday!!!!! may all your dreams come true!
Wishing you a Happy Birthday full of magic and fantasy …
Vanessa your really hot and there with us in Colombia flooded but go ahead …
happy birthday sweet darling girl……
Happy Happy Belated Birthday!
I love the ocean of yellow leaves around your tree, it’s beautiful!
Happy birthday! Glad you had fun
Fantastic post today by the way…fabulous pictures!1
hugs
lila
Happy Birthday!!!!!!!
This is soooo beautiful! What a wonderful way to wake up and start you days!
Happy belated birthday.
Happy Belated my lovely V.V., thank you ever so much for the delicious cheesecake delivered by the mister!!! I miss you bunches as well…xxxo
Yummy photos!
The golden leaves are so pretty. Fall leaving you a present.
Your temps were about 50degrees warmer than ours. We got snow, ice and a high of 25 today. This isn’t right this is Georgia. I’ve even had to wear a coat (it has to be really cold for that).
I love your morning jaunt with Mattie. I do that sometimes when the weater is warm, I just go out in my pjs and just enjoy the day.
Baking (Scottish Shortbread) and wrapping and addressing cards.
I don’t know if I told you happy birthday. If not Happy Birthday. Sounds like a wonderful day.
You, you, you deserve a party and many birthday wishes. Happy Birthday!
A golden ocean of leaves is like having fluffy clouds from the sky at your feet…
how utterly amazing to wake from dreaming to find a dream to wake you!
Yes. Roo who loves Trees approves! xoxox
{she also approves of cheesecake}
{and sharing cheesecake}
<3
OH! I forgot to give my weather report!
North Florida reporting in at 17 degrees tonight-with the wind chill factor today it was TEN!!!
happy birthday vanessa ^____^ ..,Thank you for the golden ocean …love u ^^
Happy belated birthday! I love your tree. Although I much prefer having 80 degree weather in the middle of December as opposed to the cold and snow in Oregon, the one thing I do miss is fall and all the lovely trees. It is nice to see that there is a bit of that here too! (Even if it is in your back yard and not mine)
ps. If you need help eating any more cheesecakes I am available! Hehe I loooove cheesecake.
Ah bummers! I missed your purrday! Well happy belated birthday V!!!!! I’m glad it was a good one. Of course isn’t any day that you get to have a party for?!?!
This post is beautiful!!! Will you look at all those golden leaves?!?! Pure beauty!!! Of course I’m not sure why a tree would drop it’s leaves in those kind of temps….maybe it got too hot for it 😉
Purrs!
Romeo and “her”
Ooops, I`m a tiny bit late. Happy birthday Vanessa 🙂
~brightest of birthday wishes and blessings upon you this year…may it be a year filled with memories you long to savor and moments that forever steal your breath away!!! as for your walk…what a gift you were given…a sea of gold waiting for your eyes to see the beauty they lay before you…always a mystery and magic that lay in the hands of our mother earth!!! simply gorgeous!!! much l🖤ve light and holiday blessings upon you and yours~
A belated Birthday to you. Mine was the 13. I love all your golden photos, you have a beautiful yard and i can only emagine how you love it. Enjoy your wonderful weather, it was 14 yesterday here in Michigan.
Happy birthday, Missy!! So funny to think of you padding around outside in your jammies with your dear Matty. Your weather sounds delightful and the pictures of that tree were splendid! – Kathy
Sorry to have missed your birthday – but it sounds like it was well celebrated!
LOVE the Vanessa-birthday-celebration-altar-and-balloon-holder!!! So colorful and magical and festive!
My best best wishes!
Happy Belated Birthday Vanessa! As you get older you get to extend the celebration by a few days..:) Lucky you getting to enjoy all of that color and bloom all year round..you ought to be on the tourism board for Arizona, you make it all so inviting!
Take Care:)
What a beautiful way to start your day!
A happy belated birthday, I’m happy it was nice and special. 🙂
Oh yes, I’m very busy writing and making cards and presents, baking, decorating… plus the normal things. But I enjoy and looove this time of year!
Maia
Happy belated birthday!!! What beautiful pictures of the leaves….and the sunlight…..I can feel the warmth!
Your early morning walk looks full of beauty and delight….two of my most favorite things.
The apricot tree is stunning in her fall/winter state, really, what pure beauty there!
Hugs,
Terri
Isn’t it funny how nature always show funny faces in leaves and branches and sunlight and shadows? I have seen fantastic magical faces on tree trunks, some I have sketched for future reference. But I have always seen faces where ever I look. It is so enchanting!
And yes, I see the elfin puppy face! I also see a funny face in the heart of apricot leaves!
Oh! Cheesecake! How divine! I love homemade New York cheesecake with the real flaky pasty crust that falls apart in your mouth. Oreo cookie crust is good too, but I am not too fond of gramcracker crust as it seems too sweet and overwhelms the light, lucious taste of the cheesecake.
Your carnival canvas is breathtaking. I love any thing carnival or circus or marrionette theater. I swoon over tiny stages full of paper doll puppets! I am in the middle of buying a marrionette stage from a lovely doll maker who sells all over the nation from San Francisco to New York.
Tiny stages are so magical!
Have fun creating more magical things to go with you carnival canvas!
Ciao!
Miss Teresa
Happy Birthday Vanessa
I love cheesecake with rasberry and white chocolate sauce like they make at The Cheesecake Factory. Sometimes my sister in law gets that for Christmas dessert. If she doesn’t do that she makes an amazing Mint Liquor cake. One year she walked to the local bowling alley to get a shot of liquor in a cup (to go). She had to beg since it’s illegal. She and her husband don’t drink so she didn’t want to buy a whole bottle.
I have to get the recipe from her..major yum!
I’m so delighted you had a wonderful birthday! Cheesecakes? Yum!!! What a delicious little treat – and that’s fabulous that you shared them all. We are in the 30 degree temperature here – so it’s amazing that it is so warm where you are. But that warm sunlight beaming down upon the trees and leaves is rather intoxicating – no wonder Mr. Matty loves playing and running in it so much. Sheer bliss. 🙂 xoxo Theresa
boo hoo
am i ever going to get here on your birthday?
what a stupidhead.
Many happy returns of every day for the next year and forever!