I am not sure how it happened, you see, when I started painting as a young girl and into my teens and twenties, I painted on huge canvas. Splashing paint around like a mad woman. But somehow, over the years, I have found myself painting the most delicate little details, with paintbrushes that look like eyelashes… (although, I still like to splash color on large surfaces)
This means that when I am working, I like to escape for breaks every hour or so. Stretch, crack my neck (yes I am one of those people), check on the garden, make sure the real world is still outside the door…
Although, if I am not careful I will be beckoned by the garden, enchanted into leaving my painting duties, and back to playing with petals and leaves…
We have had two glorious days. Big, fluffy, moist clouds, filled with intense monsoon rains that cool the earth and gift a huge relief from the incredible heat.
On cloudy days, I really can't pry myself out of the rustic garden paths.
Gathering treats along the way…
The gobs of dichondra seeds I planted in April have really exploded late in the summer…
Dichondra is like, a fairy carpet, don't you agree?
Tiny and sweet.
I love hearing water trickle, and am crazy about fountains, are you? I tried to bring my giant fountain from the city house to the country house, and almost broke my shoulder. So, once I get some help, I will bring the huge one over and a mid-sized one over too. I think they want to live in the country.
But for now, we listen to the trickle from here…
I gave my mom one of these fountains for her birthday, as I love mine so much.
Can I just tell you a bit more about the storms?
A monsoon storm is like, I can't even describe it.
If you have experienced one, they are unreal. Massive heat on a summer day, and then, a crazy wild downpour that hits the spot like nothing else.
If there is summer rain, I am the first one in it.
Yesterday I worked so hard on our new garden project, in two storms, drenched, digging out beds to put wire bottoms in, and then putting the soil back mixed with other soil. Poor blistered battered me 😉
But it is so worth it.
Although, I am so sore, oh my goodness, am I sore.
3 down, 5 to go.
I need only go foraging for edibles to know the why, in why I am doing this.
🙂
My mantra, you only have to do the painful part once.
As I worked out there, in the heavy rain, tilling earth, digging beds by hand, I felt like a homesteader. A lone girl, with a little piece of land, in a place that time forgot.
Time shifted. It was 100 years ago.
And, I needed to grow things so my family would survive.
I felt a sense of desperation, thinking of no grocery store down the street. And about, needing to get my seeds in before it gets too cold.
I felt guilty when Mister Lovee called and asked me if I wanted anything from the store.
But then again, it isn't 100 years ago.
Still, I feel a burning passion for working in soil, so I forge on.
I got soaked to the bone twice whilst working out there, and decided that, baking for the first time in 4 months sounded beyond scrumptious. It was squeal worthy. (oops, wait, I baked a cake for Mister in June, I forgot about that)
I found a giant fig on my little fig tree, and immediately had a plan…
I ran out to the peach tree and grabbed a couple of juicy ripe babies, and headed for my package of phyllo dough, painting on each layer with melted butter.
Layering…
Phyllo, butter, phyllo, until I had ten layers.
(I love working with phyllo dough. I began making the family baklava when I was 15, and learned how to work with phyllo back then. It is easy once you get the hang of it)
I folded up the edges and sprinkled the phyllo crust with brown sugar. I layered my fruit, brushed it with the remaining butter, sprinkled some more brown sugar on top, and baked at 400' F for 20 minutes…
So rustic, so yummy.
What a week. I tell ya. What a week. Busy crazy times.
For a little break, this video is delicious….
Ah, blissful, the Victorian Kitchen Garden.
For now I must be on my way, everyone is assembling for happy hour, and I don't want to miss it 😉
See you super sooooooon!
ps: I just got these shoes (FitFlops) in the mail 3 days ago (I ordered a half size smaller), and they are sooooo cozy. Trust me. I was leery at first (as they are not something I would really ever wear), but they are great, and the brown and grey are lovely too. I highly recommend them, especially if you have a foot injury, or stand or work hard all day, have concrete floors, want to be kind to your feet or simply have achy feet. Yummmms for the feet.
pss: Matty is healing nicely. I think it was simply a bug bite (hello after hours emergency x-rays etc), thank heavens! It is not huge and swollen, and he can walk on it perfectly. He still has a tiny lump under the skin, that gets smaller everyday. Hooray!
Enjoy a lovely bit of happy hour, so well deserved Vanessa!
So glad to hear Matty is getting better, daily, poor guy.
Your Phillo pastry looks so scrumptious made fresh from a Fanciful gardener named Vansesa Valencia! I feel you may need to hire on a staff next year as I see your Fantastic garden grow. TeeHeHee! Where ever did you find your fountain log with birds, too cute!
Please send us some of your rain. We just got hit with mostly wind and dust in Phoenix. We are soooo dry and thirsty, not much left growing my way. I just continue to think of your pretty ice cubes. Bye for now. 😉
i grew up in southern ca too, in the sixties, and it was all about dichondra =) i also LOVE return to oz. hugs xo
Yes I’ve experienced the monsoons – love it – love the fountains and hard garden work too! Tho I don’t do as much of the heavy stuff now. I found so much of myself in this post that I was amazed – like how I run out into the garden after being holed up in the studio for hours just to make sure it’s all still there – ha! None of my friends was ever like me so it’s always a bit of a surprise when I connect with a lovely blog host such as yourself! Thank you for sharing Vanessa!
Jessi <3
What a sobering thought that once upon a time people HAD to depend on their gardens for their food because there were no handy grocery stores to pop into for the day’s meals. That would have been quite a pressure, wouldn’t it?
Your pastries are so beautiful!
My husband especially loves fountains and water features and would love to incorporate something into our needs-some-heavy-duty-attention backyard. Maybe when it cools down a bit we will be more motivated to work outside. We are still sweltering in the 100+ degree temps here in N. Texas. I know that high temps don’t stop the wonderful Vanessa, but we are more wimpy-ish. : )
V,
I too, am an avid gardener. We try to grow most of what we eat on our farm. Oh what I could do with an army of gardeners to help me!! I suppose when I get discouraged about the weeds, I should remember that I am only one person! Can’t wait to see your new project as it unfolds!
bev
Bee Haven Acres
Wow, you were doing a lot of work. But like you said, the heavy stuff just has to be done once. I love your garden. I have an area out the back door I want to do more with next year. We have a slab of concrete, too that is just begging for attention.
I would love a monsoon. It is so dry here. My grass starts getting crunchy. But I know in a few weeks the rains will start, the temps will be lower and everything will look better.
Some years we grow a lot of food. I can green beans, freeze corn, tomatoes, tomato sauce, etc.
your pastry looks so good.
Im so jealous of your garden. I really liked the little video, we have it way to easy now days. About those flip flops. I had a knee surgery last year and I work two jobs and stand on concrete all day. Someone gave me a pair or what I call ortho sandals,and boy has it saved my knee. My pair are getting flat, I think my brand went out of stock. I tried buying a cheaper version but after 3 hours my knee was so swollen. I think I will try the kind you mentioned. I maybe wearing then in a foot of snow but its sure saves my bad knee. Its amazing what a difference they make. I cant wear normal shoes
You would seem right at home in a Victorian garden wearing your cotton gowns and finished with work by 9…….charming video…..and I especially loved the bricked & arched mushroom house…..Figs are my absolute favorite but figs don’t grow in Utah – my sister sends me fig preserves from CA…..I never get jealous of anything but what a luxury having figs growing in your own yard…..
On your feet….take good care of them! I wore high heels from 13 on and positively ruined mine (bunions)…..I’m going to check into Zappos….
Oh my goodness… that was one of the most wonderful, enjoyable videos ever! =D I was completely absorbed! ^-^
I’ve also experienced something like your monsoon rains. When I lived in Florida (I was around 13), we’d swim in our neighbor’s pool all day… until the clouds rolled in. Then we’d swim a bit longer, just until the lightning started. Then our parents would force us inside for a half hour or so until the storm passed & then we’d be back to playing outside. =D I loved it so much!
XOXO
Your garden is a continuing wonder! And, I wonder what is going in the new beds? I don’t know if what we have here is like a monsoon. Summer thunder storms are probably similar but slightly less heavy maybe? Great after a muggy day anyway.
I saw this film very early this morning and watched the rest tonight on i-player. When I was reading about you painting it made me think of it-you might like it. I think she is so sweet! http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b013zgq7/Portrait_of_an_Artist_Gillian_Ayres/
Oh I am so relieved to hear that Matty’s injury has improved so! It must feel like a weight has been removed from your shoulders, and some of the stress has melted away….
I am very happy. Content. There are things I want to get done, things I want, and alas, school begins in merely two days, but I am sipping my mocha light frapaccino from Starbucks typing on my computer and I am HAPPY. I understand what living in the moment means now. I am clinging to the few hours I have left of freedom before the craziness of school begins once more and I know now how to appreciate the time I have in this very second.
Still, I look forward to the Halloween party I hope to host (pictures on my blog soooooon ;). I made one of your star and moon banners, edging the cutouts with gold and silver craft glue glitter and they make me so happy! I hot glued them to a glittery gold strip of ribbon and they just make me smile. I believe I will use them to adorn Hazel’s Apothecary–the little shop I am going to soon establish for the Halloween Party–so that will turn out nicely.
Well, I had best be off. My drink awaits!
Many hugs,
Jessica
Your post is quite an escape from the city life I live in! Thanks for such eye-candy!
Greetings from India 🙂
I do know about monsoons! I love how one day, the dark clouds just roll in and then the world is nothing but the grey and green of rain and trees in my hometown.
It must be such a relief that Matty is healing nicely 🙂 We always get so anxious when anything is wrong with Atom, too.
Your garden makes me envious, and when you talk of a lonely girl on a patch of land that time has forgotten, I think of Gone with the Wind…
what a huge fig! we had, via previous owner, a fig tree back where we used to live and it produced dozens of lucious fruits (we didn’t know what they were at 1st), and now we miss it very much.
your art and blog is wonderfully inspiring!!
thank you & best wishes
I am so delighted to hear that Matty is on the mend! Hurray, Vanessa!!!! I was thinking of him. I’m glad it was just a bug bite. Your shoes are super cute and look like they are quite comfy. I love Zappo’s. 🙂 Those tarts look amazing!!!! I do love peaches (but only in cooked form) and figs. Yum! Very rustic indeed. This Victorian Kitchen Garden…is it a show on PBS? I’m not familiar with it. Talk about beautiful. 🙂 I can picture you in the rain – toiling away in your garden. Just be sure you take care of yourself!!!! Enjoy your Sunday!
Your garden is lovely, your artwork, is so fanciful, and I too love a summer rain. It is very rare where I live to get a monsoonal summer rain. I am usually out in it too, when it does occur.
OK, you can paint, grow things AND cook… I love all the pretty garden and food photos, glad to hear that Matty is doing better. When I’m stuck in a hot, stinky subway car I think of your photos and am instantly transported out of NYC and into some heavenly peaceful place. Sigh.
Such great news about Matty!!! What a huge relief! I love that shot of Matty beneath the monsoon sky. Your photos always make me want to garden more, bake more, just more, more, more. So inspiring. That Dichondra is luscious! I think what I really love is that your blog reaches and means so much to so many. I was enjoying the comment above from Pixie, how you transport her to a peaceful place from inside a NYC subway….truly magical….
Oh my goodness Ms. Vanessa, I am drooling over your ‘rustic’ treats that you’ve baked! I mean…who doesn’t love lots of baked buttery and fruity goodness? 😉 😉 So glad Matty is feeling better. And good for you getting wet and working hard!!
Hugs and smooches,
Jamie 🙂
p.s. your pink flamingo bug photo reminds me of that Anthro beetle plate that goes the the bee one that you have, tee hee
Getting soaked in the monsoon rain sounds glorious!
And your huge, gigantic fig is amazing!
And your phyllo dough fruit confections are ever so scrumptious looking! How ever do you do it??? You must be embued with fairy dust every night before you go to bed, me thinks!
And to create artwork and dolls in between times is magical!
hugs to the fairy queen Miss V in her very own fairy land in Arizona…
I’m SO enjoying The Victorian Kitchen Garden…….I’ve never seen this and it’s just perfect for my mood today! ThankeeeeeeeMiss! Your gardens always inspire me ever so!! Happy new weekling to you and yours!!
Beautiful pastry! I haven’t yet worked with phyllo but you make it sound doable 🙂 Your posts always make me smile. Like Jessica, I am also looking forward to your Halloween party! I’ve been looking for some beautiful black lace and velvet for the party…
How beautiful! Those pastries look delicious. I’ve been craving for a good fig for a couple of weeks now.
The fountain is lovely, I just love the water and rain sound. Although I have no clue about a monsoon.. it might be quite interesting .. 🙂
Oh my god – you have a fig tree?!!!! Do you have any idea how jealous I am right now. Bad enough I’m drooling over your pumpkin patch and lovely flowers, etc., but figs?? Ohhhhhh!!! I’ve searched for years and years for a source to buy figs from, but you know what? Missouri apparently doesn’t think anyone wants to buy figs at the market so I’ve seen them a grand total of maybe twice in my life at the grocery store. My Yiayia used to have a house with a peach tree and a fig tree in the backyard. Every time I stayed at her house she’d wake me up at dawn and drag me outside to sleep on the little wooden bench in the back while she picked peaches or figs and then we’d eat them for breakfast in the early morning light. It’s one of my favorite memories as a child (and she’s now 90 and doesn’t remember this which makes me so sad), but still I crave that taste of a fresh fig in the morning. The few precious times I found figs at the market I bought them and found them a mix of mostly rotten and just a few precious (really tiny!) jems to eat. I’ve begged relatives that are able to travel to California and anywhere they might find figs to please, please bring me some and they never remember. Oh I’m so jealous. *sigh* I’ve thought of ordering a fig tree from a catalog, but it would be so hard to keep it alive here and keep it inside in the winter, etc. Not to mention I finally planted a peach tree that produced fruit (I named it Anna, for my yiayia) and the squirrels eat them ALL before they are ripe. They chew right through the nets and wire – it’s insane!
I long to one day win the lottery and move somewhere where I could have a fig tree of my own in my yard. You are very lucky, Vanessa – eat a few for me, too!! I am living vicariously through you right now. 🙂 Such a beautiful garden you have. I need to go out and pick my tomatoes. Thanks for sharing your photos!!
Can we be friends? I mean, I like you a lot how you were able to make magic on your garden. I hope I can do some also in mine. I can also see that you have many talents hidden in you. You should continue developing those.