I was convinced that dreaded night was upon me. You know the moment you plan for, reenact (if you are paranoid like me) and have all planned out. That thing you’ll do if you think an intruder is near…
It is a seemingly gorgeous, peaceful night… You are on your 15th dream, when…
All of a sudden, you hear a thud… You reach for your scissors, your flashlight, your back scratcher, your remote control… But all you can hear is your heart pounding… You are frozen. You go over the karate moves the guy at pottery taught you… Was it aim with the left first, to throw him off? Oh, how could you forget it all now?? You had almost put Mr. Lovee in the hospital the last time you practiced that move on him…
Another loud thud. Oh no!! What could it be?? You shake off your sleep… Get re-combobulated. Thud, Thud, Thud… Is it the door to the outside from your private boudoir?? Thud, thud… Ahhh, eeeeek, ackkkk, eeeep!! Thud… Oh no, it is coming from somewhere else? But where???
From the wall?? You got it. The furry creatures. Back again… She was certain that there must be 1,267 mice waiting to Huff and Puff and knock her house down…
But wait. This sounded like kicking… Like, something bigger than a mouse… Thud, Ahhhhhhh!!
That is when it all changed. The face of the intruder changed dramatically…
And, what do you do? When you have accused the wrong furry family? It’s not like you can say, oh sorry Mr. Mouse, my bad (details in last post)… Her mind raced with thoughts… Is that why the mouse traps were never tripped? No signs of mice in the studio… Just signs of something trying to get in. Something aggressive. Something that could knock down stairs? (okay, one stair face board, but still)
Could it really be…
Little Bunny Foo Foo and his pals?? No, come on?? Rabbit harrassment??? She assumed it was a mouse because, they did catch one once… A round guy, that looked a bit like a hedgehog… Not a rat, not an ugly thing. A cute-ish little guy… (That didn’t change the fact that she didn’t like them in her house or studio though)
Those sweet floppety ears??? No way… Couldn’t be, I love bunnies!! (Miss Dees made the lovely bun bun below)
We were up all night… Flashlights in hand… And then, they emerged, early in the morning… From a crawl space… These little buggers!!
First two. And I swear they were speaking some exotic language, and walking on two legs… Talking about how they were going to get in the house… Steal my shoes & mascara, make pancakes… Take over my studio… Make it big in Paris, by using my art supplies… I think one was even smoking a cigar… No, really, I am not hallucinating… You have to believe me!!
And then there were 3…
I mean, these guys were royal meanies. Could they really have it in them to be so mean?? Then she remembered… When her private boudoir was being built, some rabbits got in, and actually, would run and slam their feet into the screen door that used to be there before the real door came… And once, they even broke through the door. She found them inside… Could they be the same guys??? Hmm, that was years ago… Who knows??
All she did know, was that these guys did most certainly emerge from the crawl space… And that, there were many many more than usual scurrying around…
A bunny epidemic? You be the judge…
I must say though. For now it gives me a tiny bit of relief. The whole tiptoeing around the thought of mice was getting very tiring… Have you ever heard of rabbits being so aggressive?? Mr. Lovee nodded. Like he knew it was the bunnies all along… He found and sealed up their entry point today.. Boy oh boy, are they gonna be mad or what???
Well, anyway, getting closer to the real culprit is a good feeling… And, being that it was an extra rainy day, meant that, baking felt like the perfect thing to do…
While those were baking, I ran around the yard in some crazy amounts of rain. I mean outrageous rain. I was beyond soaked, and I even took a video for you. I will try to edit it and make it viewable. If you are at all interested? I dunnoooo….
The peach tree gets so heavy with all the water and the plump growing fruit, that it weighs all the way to the ground. And our monster Agave looks huger than ever…
I almost forgot! Look at this stunning huge hawk I saw this afternoon on a power line in our backyard…
All that goin’ on outside while lovely scents wafted out from the inside… Cakes. I wanted to make my friend Sarah, a cake for her birthday (even though she lives in Iowa). I had this perfect Mini 4-tier cake in mind. But, I made a butter cake. Which was so fragile, you could hardly frost it… So, it didn’t really work… Sooory Foxy! I had good intentions… I had to share the photo because it is so pitifully funny… Proof that my cakes won’t always turn out like this 😉
But the cupcakes frosted just lovely. So, I had a party for one (me). And toasted to my friend Sarah. While also, throwing a welcome party for my two Sleepy Sam’s, happily captured in Miss Emily’s last originals shop update. I love them Miss E!!
I like collecting art, as much as I like making art… It makes my heart sinnnnng!! 😉
So, that is where we are at in the Vanessa Valencia Saga… Oh, by the way, I just looooved Cranford!! As well, as the Forsyte Saga… Have you seen them?? Totally different but just wonderful. Cranford will charm your socks off!!
In Mexico we have novelas. Like American Soap Operas. But more dramatic, and they actually end after a few months. They don’t go on for years 😉 Which is why I loved Cranford and Forsyte (just a few episodes from beginning to end. Viewable in a weekend)… Mombie always says, "thank goodness my novela is over, I am not getting hooked into another one again…" But she does… Because they do that to you 😉 I think one of her last ones was, Alborada.
Well, I best be off… But before I go, I want to share some night time photos I took tonight. (click on photo to see the stars)
I tricked my camera into taking them. I used my tripod, and the manual setting. Then I set the 10 second timer. You see, normally, my big camera does not take night shots… But, I have to say, I am sooo impressed by these. They are so amazing. The colors the camera picked up… And I have to tell you, it was way dark when I took these… Yet there is so much light in them… I can’t wait to try that trick again 😉
So there you have it… Magical stars for extra outrageous dreams….
Tomorrow I hope to paint all day… See you real soooooon!! xoxo, V
ooohhhh!!!!
magical stars, all righty!
and glorious skies, missy,
but
Take Warning:
stunning huge hawk
was looking at your yard*bunnies!
!!!
trust me,
they do that around here all the time
and,
quick as a wink,
you must put a protected spell
on your little softies living in your
out*doors.
you must!
hang sparkly thingies that chime
and move
to keep the
stunning huge hawk
at bay…
oh
wait
never*mind..
yours is only
a prince~in~training.
that happens sometime…
David got out his bird book to check the species of your hawk; was most impressed w/ your photo. I’m particularly impressed with the night sky ones – absolutely gorgeous! As for the bunnies, how naughty are they!! Happy B-day to your friend Sarah. xoxox
Ooooh! Your night photos are lovely.
I also really liked your jumpy little frog from your rainy day rainbow post-
Bye!
Laura
Sorry, Vanessa, but that 3-tier cake is so-o-o SAD! Cupcakes are much better. Bunnies! I do so love bunnies, but they are such sneaky critters. I’m sure they will be quite unhappy to find their entryway blocked. Beware the revenge of the bunnies!
Phew, looks like it was only rabbits after all…so glad you didn’t have to practice your karate kicks, and a back scratcher? oh gosh, you are more vicious than I imagined 😛 Stunning photographs, love the new Miss Emily pieces. Enjoy!
BEAUTIFUL pictures!
And that bunny story is oh so cute- those funny little wabbits may be pesky but don’t you just wanna cuddle ’em?
We have a lovely hawk family of three in our neighborhood, too. They actually live in Mauricio’s back patio…they took over his patio furniture. I have this awesome book that Nadia gave me for Christmas…or was it my birthday…anyway, it’s called Tiny Treats and it has instructions for how to make a tiered cake with cookies. You know, so it’s mini. I should blog about it. I’ll embroider you some towels, do you want actual towels or flour cloth? OR Handkerchieves? OR cocktail napkins? Let me know. xo-your sis.
send your bunnies down my way whenever you need a break!
I am so jealous of all the rain you are getting…it keeps just teasing me here….lots of gray clouds but no lovely drops.
Your cupcakes have inspired us, I think there will be beautiful yummies made here this week!
They will be on the Trinkets and Treasures blog, check us out later!
have a great day Vanessa!
Oh, V, that is too funny. I laughed through your whole post at the idea of clever criminal bunnies sneaking into your studio : )
Those night shots are amazing, by the way–I’m absolutely in awe.
And I love your Black Apple originals! I had one of the small ghosts in my Etsy cart, but it was gone before I got to the payment : ( You have to be quick like a–dare I say it?–bunny to snap up things on Emily’s shop update day! Ha.
Love the photographs after the rain..and the cakery ones — yummy yum yum….
As for the 4 legged creatures …where there are 2 rabbits…you can bet there are more — ask Peter Rabbit!!
Oh how I love your intruders, both the animated and the inanimated ones. 🙂 And it’s a sign: I was thinking about reading the Forsythe saga books and now that you mention it, I certainly will.
Hmmm in the mood for something sweet now. Wonder why…
You are just so clever and intertaining! Love reading your stories. Pictures are always great. Can’t wait to see what you paint next too! Thanks for stopping by our blog. Twyla
Bunnies and mice, are cuter in books, or even outdoors, than they are in houses! (and we once had a housebunny who lived in our bathroom – bunnies are hard on houses, I know! He was lucky my name was not Mrs. McGregor 🙂
Hope your bunny relocation program is a success!
(we also had a skunk under the house once – now, THAT was one VERY unwelcome houseguest!)
oh bunnies are much less scary than mice. Mice are pretty cute and all but they are so quick and dart around everywhere, you just never know what they’ll do. Oh and if you do come to visit you may be required to bring peach preserves. 🙂
Hope the hawk doesn’t decide to dine out on your bunnies.
A rabbit mom used a bedroom in our house in the mountains for a birthing room. She selected a bed with a pink quilt. I found the bunnies dead inside the house cause she could not haul them back out with her. Very sad. We have since plugged up the holes in the house. The rabbit colony hangs out at the barn now.
I used your recipe for apple cobbler with nuts but I used some pie cherries a neighbor gave me. Very delicious. Thanx.
btw your peaches look marvelous.
Vanessa, I laughed so hard I cried over your bunny misadventure. Too funny!
Your night shots were breathtaking. Good job with your camera.
Thanks for the giggles,
Kate
I love you.
That is all.
First of all….hawks…I do not trifle with hawks! ACK! The first time I saw a hawk, I swear, I thought it was an eagle! He was 9,000 times the size of your guy….he was ‘uge! And now when I see them I know, I know they are hovering, circling, looking for something. I have no doubt I shall one day come out of my house to find a hawk at the wheel of my wee VW Bug getting ready to drive off to who knows where hawks hang out!!
Enough of that….back to the bunnies….SO glad it wasn’t meeces!!
And I would take that birthday cake any day…it looked yummy to me! 🙂
WOW! You really had me scared there until I realized it was bunnies!!! My heart was racing right along with yours. Why those naughty things! Everything is magical . . . My eyes are full of STARDUST.
Hugs!
Nancy
holy @(*$&#@*($^!!! i can’t believe you got 2 sleepy sams!!!! i love them so. and i love that they’re named sam ’cause that was my grandfather’s name and he was equally dapper (and quite a bit sleepy!!!) lucky, lucky you!!!
Oh, poor falsely accused mice! Wacko rabbits though! Hope they are not too upset with Mr. Lovee! I loved Cranford so much! I wanted to watch it again last week but it isn’t on pbs.org anymore, I may have to buy it I loved it so much. I will have to try your other reccomendation too. Have you seen North and South? Same author as Cranford done by the BBC too. You lucky, your Emily’s are darling! And what wonderful night shots, you never stop being amazing! Have fun painting tomorrow, wish I could come too!
Listen, there’s a lot of action going on in Fanciland as of late! Guess when it rains the whabbits find ingenious excuses to invade. And wanting to use your art supplies to make it big in Paree!! Will you be preparing Lapin Bourguignon anytime soon?
Nice cupcakes for little Foxy (thank you for her link). She’s a thrifter! I love thrifters!!
Your night photos turned out great vv! So did the armless bunbun. You’re the BEST!
xox
Constance
When do you have time to watch movies???
Oh how lucky you are to have little visitors with whiskers! And the rain always make me want to cook, my baking still leaves a little to be desired!
Bunnies! Hawks! Uh, oh….
Those night~time photos are STUNNING….
Glad the entry point is sealed…
Happy painting!
What a wonderland you have there right in your backyard. What yummy goodness you have cooked up. The goodies that I am going to post today…don’t look that good! LOL!
Sorry to hear of your bunny troubles! They are much smarter than they ever get credit for. Although in bunny defense, if you ever hear them thumping their feet (which can be VERY loud) it means they’re scared…thats about all the defense a poor fuzzy cute creature has!
your garden looks beautiful too- magical!~ And love Emily’s work as well 🙂
I just wanted you to know that I have had the pleasure of giving you a “Brilliante Weblog Premio – 2008†award. This award was given to me and in turn I get to pass it on to 7 other blogs that I admire. Yours is one of them. I really enjoy your blog and I think other people will too! If you stop by my blog you can “pick up†your well deserved award! Keep being you, you are wonderful! ïŠ
http://sweetmango-sweetmango.blogspot.com/
And now I know why everybody loves you! You have the most colorful, fantastical, playful imagingation EVER! It’s like taking a little trip inside a fairy tale every time I visit your blog. Just divine!
We have a whole bunch of bunnies living under our deck. I don’t think they have tried to get into the house though. I’m not so fond of them only because they muliply rapidly and they poop all over the yard BUT they do keep away the skunks we had last year!
Karla
Dear Vanessa, coming here to visit you is always so much fun. I love your adventure, and how you can have us on the edge of our seats until you reveal the outcome. I have been trying to create more this summer too, and I have been painting and I am taking a class on photoshop elements too. The summer is a wonderful time to create, I always feel like a kid on summer break. Happy painting, Karen
Oh my! Jack rabbits! Ack! The hawk was probably thinking about having rabbit stew.
Loved your bunny story. We thought we had squirrels in the attic but turned out it was a mama racoon and two babies running around on top of the roof. Dunno what we’d have done if they’d been inside.
Great night shots, too.
Happy painting day!
From France, I watched your wonderful skies … thanks for the pictures, for your light spirit and fanciful writings. We met for the tea party the other day. If ever they read this comment, I would like to thank for their visit Ann-Denise, 3rdEyeMuse, Irma and Sherry to whom I cannot answer directly … the connection with their blog doesn’t work from here. I apologise for using your blog for this, Vanessa! It is the only way I could think of!
We had some dormouse in the house a few years ago, I even caught 30 (yes, 30) one year! I caught them in a cage and took them anywhere in the countryside, in other villages, in the mountain! Once, I had to fight with one in my very bedroom, a pillow in one hand to protect me in case it would attack, a stick in the other to try to lead it to the window. It finally jumped to the window, I rushed to close it and one of the legs of the poor animal stayed stuck in between the 2 parts of fhe window!!!There still are some, but they now stay in the roof, and sometimes Pussycat runs after them! Very noisy!
Visit me any time, I would appreciate your comments on my blog.
marie neige
Oh those silly bunnies…you may either have to hand them a key to the place or just build them their own special get-away before it’s all over. I envision a very colorful circus tent…wouldn’t they just look divine in that? Of course, they would want things to dress up in then as well…rabbits can sometimes be very vain.
The cake still looks delicious…I would have no problem eating it right up. And, I am loving your night shots, isn’t it fun to learn a new camera technique?? Just don’t drop your lenses 😉
I will tell you this, bunnies in the crawl space is much better then opossum or SKUNKS!
One skunk under your house is engough to make you want to move away, and never come back! It sounds like your bunnies are just trying to get out of the rain. We had them under our front porch when it would rain, in Nevada.(I lived in the county there, I miss it very much.)Can you send some of your rain here to Oregon? It is hot and dry and yucky! Oh the stars at nignt are big and bright….. Wait that’s Texas. Oh well, they are beautiful in Arizona!
Love Erin
Oh those silly bunnies…you may either have to hand them a key to the place or just build them their own special get-away before it’s all over. I envision a very colorful circus tent…wouldn’t they just look divine in that? Of course, they would want things to dress up in then as well…rabbits can sometimes be very vain.
The cake still looks delicious…I would have no problem eating it right up. And, I am loving your night shots, isn’t it fun to learn a new camera technique?? Just don’t drop your lenses 😉
First, amazing photos! Your talent is impressive.
Second, I can’t believe that rabbits, and not mice, were the culprits!
Third, I love telenovelas! I haven’t watched one faitfully since Gitanas. I need to find another one to watch, because I love the drama and Ilove that they come to an end,unlike soap operas that never end!
Ah, your bunnies are so sweet! And oh, how I wish our peach tree looked like that! Lovely photos,
T
I just Love your bunnies! They are too, too Cute! Are they Jack Rabbits?!
Sandra Evertson
Oh how I’ve missed coming here. It’s been soo long. Too long.
Those silly little rabbits.
Love the cake creation. Lovely!
I didn’t know about Cranford. Ohh can’t wait to check those out. Excitement here.
Thanks for a magical and dreamy little adventure as always.
xo
Your bunny escapades reminded me of my aunt’s story about someone she knows who fell asleep patting his cat and woke up patting a possum that had got into their house through the chimney.
Beautiful photos. Seeing your peach tree makes me miss summer fruit!
Poor little rabbits got washed out of their homes. I thought I would need a boat to get home from yoga class last night. But it was so refreshing.
Ya know … even what you claim are disasters look fabulous. You could have served that cake to someone and they would have thought that was how it was supposed to be. You are simply gifted.
Hi, how are you today? I am glad to hear your intruders were bunnies! Thats a whole lot better than those meeses! Hasnt the rain been awesome. Last night in tempe, I was driving when it hit. Water was coming over the hood of my little car. Scary stuff, but cool at the same time.
I love the night pictures you took. I love the moon pictures and getting those stars is awesome. Well, happy creating, gail
HI Vanessa,
Love the bunny chronicles…I had
a”house bunny” at one time – she lived in
my house until she ate all the phone and
electrical cords… then her home changed into
an outdoor abode!!!
pamela
Coincidence time all the way over the Atlantic! I LOVE Cranford and also loved the Forsyth Sage when it was originally screened back in the 60s but what do ya know – I had bunnies living under my workshop until we took it down to make way for the new extension. They were not happy bunnies and they now live in our neighbours garden and turn their noses up whenever they see me. I hated the thumping noise they made when I was working ;(
Oh, Miss Vanessa. I so love coming here for a good story. You are my most favorite teller of tales! XO,
Bari
PS We had a mouse infestation a couple years ago when lots of houses were being built… dreaded dreaded beasts!
beautiful night shots. stunning, really. I never knew bunnys could be so brash! I have to tell you that I adore the little white floppy eared one … and love that you bake cakes for friends that live miles and miles from you. you are such a treat. 🙂
….i thought i was your friend….so,wheres my cak:p hehe i love the bunny man you made<3you cant be serious...the bunnies came to my house when they were down with you and told me you started it...i gave them candy after that and promised to give your mom a call...now what!now i know how tricky they can be....i best be keepin' an eye out....maybe not for you though...until i get my cake:p
xoxo
ryce
I must confess Vanessa, I am one of the bunnies that tried to break into your country house. You see, I can magically transform myself into a hare when a full moon is approaching. I am year of the rabbit you know!! It was I who was a-thumping all night long….after my long journey all day hopping from Canada I arrived at your doorstep in the wee hours of the morn, hoping you would awake and greet me with a 4-tiered cake and tea, followed by a raid of your chocolates. I’m so sorry I frightend you and Lovee so and I do apologise for the late or…er early visit. Alas, I was not able to visit with you, as a horrible snake came around to see what all the commotion was, and it scared me so that I hopped back to Canada. Ah well, there’s always the next full moom for our tea and cake party!!