I am visiting with you, searching for type keys through the most swollen red and watery right eye on the planet. If you were sitting in front of me, you would be turning away because my eyes would be making your eyes water.
I feel like I have pipe cleaners with feathers in my nostrils. Any attempted inhaling through my nose leads to Ah, ah, ah, ahhhchooooooo. For good measure, let’s not forget to throw in the fact that I also feel like someone hit me with a frying pan on the forehead, right above my eyebrows.
I am not shamelessly looking for sympathy, I am not whining, and I promise, I am not being sarcastic 🙂 It just seems, my golden Roman warrior shield of anti-allergens (10+ years of 4 allergy shots, twice a week) has abandoned me.
Unless it is a curse from some witch. But that would be a tad far fetched. Right?
How can happy lil’ green plants be sooo mean? And then they get upset when someone calls them weeds? Shhhhheesh, the nerve of them…
I kind of brought this, no wait, I did in fact bring this on myself. The rains, have caused our once manicured back yard to grow eye level weeds, with small tree like trunks. Our helper never showed up to help mow them down. We waited for two weeks, but no sign of him…
So, I have been going out day after day, tackling the acreage with my long handled sickle (a scythe, is what it really is, but I have gotten used to calling it a sickle), and hacking weeds down myself. I was impressed with the excercise value, and the wonderful feeling of hacking them down. Talk about releasing any frustrations. I used my best tennis moves, with good follow through 😉
I covered tons of ground. I could be heard through the neighborhood crying out things like "take that you evil little buggers." And, "Hack, argh, get out, you nasty horrid things." There were cauliflower looking bushels under each weed. Gooey and thick. Weed effervescence would shoot up in the air, as I whacked them down.
What on earth was I thinking??????
I am putting my sickle away forever.
I don’t think I should even be asking questions like "have you seen my sickle?" I mean, who do I think I am?
So, after a couple of days of weed whacking, I got sickled.
You see, one thing you might not know about me, is that I am overwhelmingly determined. Sometimes to a detriment. I take on HUGE projects alone (while in heels sometimes). You need that giant armoire moved, don’t worry, I can do it. You car alarm doesn’t work? Don’t worry I will figure it out (even if it takes me all night and a day). Your toilet is leaking, allow me. Which leads to, oh the acreage has 5 ft. weeds, don’t fret, I’ll do it myself with my super munchkin girl sickle. Aye aye aye…
The silly thing is, I don’t know the accurate names of tools, but I can describe them. I ask questions like, "You know that little tool, that turns those little nut things, that you can tighten?"
"You mean a wrench?"
"Ya ya, you got one of those?"
I might even ask, "Can I just look in your tool box myself?" (I also carry my own little tool set in my car, which most of us should do anyway)
Well, a wrench is just what I needed yesterday, when I attempted something I had never done before, nor seen done. Something, that, for a girl who owns 2, 3-wheel bikes, I should know how to do with no problems.
You see, I was done asking for help from men. I have been asking for months for someone to help me put a new tube in my tire.
I had had it, I was taking things into my own hands.
4 hours later, and lots of mosquito bites plus upside down maneuvers…
I did it!! Woo hooooo!
New and lovely. I figured it out, got the tube in, then weasled that tire back over it, put the bike back together and filled the tires with air…
I jumped on the thing, and looked just like a cartoon. I was ready to speed off when the pedals went round and round, and I went nowhere.
I jumped off, in my tool time mode, and, oh no!
The chain came loose. So, there I go, taking the darn thing apart again. And getting the chain back on (not easy)… I was screaming, fists flailing in the air. (don’t forget I have a bit of Latin blood)
Just as the moon came out…
I was off!
It felt great, the wheels felt like I was pedaling on clouds. My vintage Schwinn was all smiles…
I rode up and down the road. Then I heard crack, snap, crrrick. I jumped off, only to find that, the little geary thingamajig inside is broken. So, once again, my bike needs an operation. Only this time, I am putting it in my suv and taking it to a professional…
For now, I am just sticking to drawing…
And playing with pretty things.
I am staying out of the weeds, and making myself useful in other ways 🙂
Like plotting a new thriftventure for you! So how about it? I have one that is something I myself am in love with. I am a book hoglette, so this one is extra hard to part with.
This week’s thriftventure giveaway is, Balzac’s, The Girl with the Golden Eyes…
A love story ( I had never read it), which has a marvelous cover that I just couldn’t resist. It is translated from French to English. It has super duper wonderful old pages, and no print date.
I just love the look of it… So, if the content is good, it is just bonus to a lovely book 😉
There you have it. Leave your name for the drawing, and I will pull a name out of the hat in a couple of days.
I am off to enjoy this months Domino. Lot’s of good stuff…
And to prepare for a fun event this upcoming week. I am a horrid girl for not sharing this sooner. I have a terrible memory I tell ya. Just terrible. But, my friend Lisa and her friend Terisa, are having a fun interactive event. Project Blogway. I should have told you sooner, it will be fun, and you should jump in if you can… It is right up my alley, a life size garment made out of paper, is the task…
It doesn’t have to be a whole dress. It could be an apron, or a blouse or a skirt… Anything, but paper paper paper…. See the link above for details.
Now, I must be off, I am suffering majorly here. I feel like I have a hedgehog caught between my nose and my eyeballs…
I am off to breathe and dream of being carried off to a dreamland beyond the realms of my wildest imagination…
See you soooon!! 🖤 V
I’m so sorry to hear about your friend. How very, very tragic! I will send positive thoughts through you.
As for you, oh gosh, you remind me of me. I fix bike tubes, I chop weeds, I mow the lawn…all because I can, even though sometimes I shouldn’t.
Okay, I will just start at the beginning of this post and work my way to the end…
I feel so bad for you, and also, your drawing is sweet and sad at the same time, I just want to give you a hug and a box of extra fluffly kleenex. (Yes..fluffly)
And, since Halloween is nearing, I wouldn’t put it past a nasty little witch to have hexed you with such awful allergies.
Now about all that sickling…you have to slow down Missy! I do that too though, except it’s always with room rearranging. It’s..hmm, I think I can just move a few things and I’ll be done in an hour…(eleven hours later…)yeah, I don’t like that, maybe tomorrow I’ll try again (another six hours later…hehehe)
I think weeds have a mind of their own..think they’re so tough, but they’re not once you hack em’ down…(unless you don’t get to the roots, then they just come back and try to attack you while you’re walking through them..yes, they’ll wrap around your legs and pull you down. Better watch out for them…they’re evil, I tell ya) As for your bike, I don’t even try to fix stuff most of the time. I mean, when I do, I’ll sit there and fuss with something, then get mad and throw it at a wall, it breaks, and then I buy a new one. (This is a good excuse to go shopping quite often) Your tiny mushrooms are so adorable I could cry and even throw a tiny tantrum. (But I’ll behave) I don’t know, I have this thing for cute little mushrooms (not real ones of course, but magical fairy ones) The book looks lovely & I love domino magazine and ooh look I’m the 2nd person to post a comment! Yay for me! I know I’m random. OMG I’m sorry you’re probably going blind by now, all this nonsensical rambling. You’ll feel better in your dreams. Maybe I’ll send some marshmallow puff clouds your way. Have a magical evening~
XOXO
~K
P.S. Did I really write that much?
….
Sorry!
hehe
oh, that book looks great! 🙂 I like the picture of Balzac, he looks like a pirate and/or like my dad’s best friend (in his younger years.) XD
mosquito bites, got those too.
I am about to lose my mind! I am ever so thankful that I dont have the allergies to go with them.
I bought the Domino mag myself. Could not resist all that great color on the cover…although the lattice on the dining room wall was not sitting well with me. On the other hand, the GIANT wall of books with its own ladder????? yeah, sign me up for that one!
Hope you are feeling right as rain in no time!
and no, have not been able to find the bedding yet…still working on it 🙂
thanks though!
~k
Maybe the weeds wanted revenge? Fun post – I think us gals should do like you and fix stuff, even if the result isn’t always perfect. It doesn’t always come out right when the guys try, either. I loved your typewriter with the little balls! Re: Domino: you’ve seen their web page, I presume. I signed up for my very own Deco Files account there only yesterday – looks like great fun if you’re into hoarding and categorizing interior pictures!
Get well soon. Trudi
Hi
Your are invited to spend a weekend, with me, traveling around my home in the beautiful Tyne Valley, Northumberland. Enjoy!
Di
as i sit here i am scratching the roof of my mouth with my tongue, cursing the retched but sweet smelling jasmine outside our bedroom window. must remember to get some antihestamines tomorrow;)lovely to get an idea about your fortitude and nature, you wouldnt happen to be a scorpio by chance? catch you soon mmwah rosey
aww poor darling, I do hope you feel better..I must ask, where did you find that wonderful 3-wheeled bike?? I have never seen one in person..well I hope all goes well for you, just drink up some good tea, and relax, allergies will go away soon,once the spell (from the withc..hehe) is broken..take care darling!!!
It must have been that crazy sort of weekend for many!! I hear you about taking on tasks on your own, I myself a self described “true Aries” would always take on things I feel others just can’t get around to. Its my nature to feel they just cannot bring it to task and if they do its almost always never right.
I also am bitten by the allergy bug but not as bad as it used to be,so I am grateful.
Yesterday we welcomed my new nephew into the world who decided to come 5 weeks early!! My sister-in -law broke her water in bed around 2 am and there you have it, a c-section later!! The kids were thrilled and my youngest is glad he is not the youngest cousin anymore!
Have a happy day Miss Vanessa, oh by the way this past Sunday before we went to my brother’s for a birthday dinner my little guy wiped out on his bike and is quite scared of it now, it must have been one of those bad bike weekends!!
I just LOVE your new bike!
You are hilarious with the fierce sickle!!! I am imagining you in your beautiful outfits swingin’ that thing….i can’t help but giggle. I am so sorry that the allergy goblins are tormenting you now, tho’!
I hope your bike gets all better soon too! Kudos for grabbing the tools and fixing her up as best you could!
Oh my, you sound so much like me. Take care of yourself and get well soon.
Oh, you are sooooo grounded! I don’t think you should even think about going out in that pollen infested world! I hope the shots start to work for you again if you keep your sickle where it belongs! Ugh! You poor thing! And you poor bike adventure, how frustrating, to tackle the beast and still be bested! Definitely time for a good movie and some drawing! Feel better!
Good luck getting your bike fixed…schwinn bikes are quite nice when they’re ride-able.
And after all…no matter what you do; fixing bikes, gardening adventures, or even lounging around is always much more fun in heels anyway.
I have also put myself in parall trying to manage the impossible.Who needs a man with a bush hog tractor mower thingy~ when I have this pair of large, scissor type thingy and shear determination on my side?!
Ms. V.~ I hope you are feeling so much better soon~Amy~
I”m so sorry you’re sick! However, I think I know why your bike broke, baby needs some oil! She’s looking a little rusty, there kiddo!
I didn’t go off sickling the back yard (even though it needs it), but the allergy pollens are so awful this year! I haven’t sneezed or rubbed my eyes so much in years. I never had allergies until I moved to arrizona…supposedly even though I wasn’t there I’m allergic to ragweed! Oh…for the love of sneezing!
Seems you have had your fill of mischief this week…I think you need some tea and more reading material!
Allergies are the worst! I hope you feel better!
Oh yes…sneezing has been sneaking up on me and almost blowing my nose off. I keep thinking, “what on earth could I be allergic to this time of year!?!?” It’s exasperating. I am currently looking at my tall weeds wondering if I have something that can take care of them…we shall see. I am proud that you fixed your bike as well as you could and then decided to get some help for it! Good work…this leaves you more time to create…
*achoo* I think I’m allergic to this post? All that weed wacking and talk of GREEN… oh my swimming HEAD!
Ha!
Cereal-ously, I UNDERSTAND.
But, then think of the NEW drawings you will come up with… perhaps GREEN made you return to a much loved passion?
~Monica
maybe you’ll come spend a weekend with me in my house (once we officially find one and move in, but we do have a very promising one we’re going to see again tomorrow)???
we can ride our bikes through the park!!!!
I hope you’re feeling better fancy pants! & I am especially in awe of you fixing bicycles all by yourself!! You are a trail blazer 🙂
Such a lovely blog Vanessa! I check in daily just to see what adventures you are having!Please include me in your draw? ( I love books) :0)
I am totally like that! I have always been like that. My mother tells me I was known for the phrase, “Leave me alone. I will do it myself.” That was everything … changing car tires, nursing my injuries, repairing my stereo, mowing the yard, and always lifting things that are far too big for such a small girl. Now days I have a boyfriend who likes to be the man around the house, so most of the time I let him.
I love the 3-wheeled bike! Maybe someday I’ll get one of those beauties.
PS – Feel better!!
PS 2 – looks like a fun book 🙂 Maybe it wants to come to Brooklyn hmmmm
I too, am a very determined and independent person (some say stubborn and pig headed), and enjoy the challenges thrown at me on a sometimes daily basis. I try to fix leaky verandahs,doors that swing wildly in the wind and have also been known to weild sharp objects in the garden, so I know where you are coming from.
I hope your allergies settle down and you can soon be back to your glorious self, tho I must say, even with pipe cleaners up your nose, tears running down your cheek and frypan indentations on your eyebrows, you do write a fantastic blog! I check in daily to see where your adventures have taken you, and I am never disappointed.
I love old books, can I go in the draw too?
Have a wonderful sniffle free day!
Greetings sweetie! I suffered from allergies and then discovered this magical solution. Go here for more info: https://1-800homeopathy.com/products/details.html?productid=L059
I really like the homeopathy way – I’m not big on medication if I can help it. This stuff helps (plus I just love the colorful write-ups of their products)
Take care of yourself – I know it’s not fun. The book however, does look like fun! Such bewitching eyes!
P.S. love the photo of the witch blowing on the culprits 🙂
Your bike is just wonderful – broke or not. I agree, the cover to the book is lovely. Have a great week!
those nasty weeds….how dare they make you sick…i bet it was a witch…there are a lot of them around here…and naughty little fairies…
i need to get the new domino…i love that mag….
hope you feel better…
and that book looks marvelous…would look lovely in my new library…:)
oooohhhhh i loooooove your bike!!! hopefully it gets fixed up all brand new like. poo to allergies… feel better soon! girl power!!!
oh dear i am so sorry about your allergies. It’s still hot around here and making my allergies go nuts and I’m getting quite bitter about the late appearance of fall weather. 🙂
I looooooove your bike. 🙂 And also that book! Such a great find!
Hope you find a good remedy for your horrid allergies. Feel better!
You may want to try out the very effective remedy for allergies we use in the Spanish-speaking world, which is actually extremely cheap and simple; a nutmeg.
It goes like this: take a needle, heat it in a flame until it gets red (this happens faster if you hold it in a gas burner in the kitchen but be careful to hold it with an ovenmitten or something like that).
Then, with this hot needle pierce your nutmeg until you have a little hole and you can put a piece of cord through it. This may take a little time, and you may have to lightly use a hammer, but be careful not to break the nutmeg.
Once you have your nutmeg-collar ready, wear it at all times above the chest (also at night, take it off only to shower). Of course, you may have to wait a week orso to see the results.
Don´t ask me for the scientific explanation, but it really works. I can bore you with countless recounts of relatives and friends who tried this and were cured of hay fever. Where I live, many homeopathic shops sell nutmeg-collars because it is so effective.
Best of luck to you!
I SO love your blog!!!! I have been peeking around for months now, working up courage to comment….yes, I’ve been blogging awhile and do comment regularly, but I’m just in AWE of what I see here ….your blog is like a fairytale land, and I’m shy around the fairy princess! So sorry you’re not well! Hope it doesn’t last long! Please put me in for the draw! I love Balzac and that looks like a very special book, indeed!! XOXO
I hope you feel better soon!
You are my favorite dork in all the land….and this is why I adore you! 🙂
i
love
the way your 3~wheeler
looks so wistfully at the full moon.
🙂
wait
did i just PROJECT the ~*wistful*~ part?
man
see what your stories do
they personify EVERYTHING…
EVERYTHING!
{{ i love that about your writing, missy }}
Oh, you poor thing. It’s spring here so I sympathise with your allergies. Hot, windy, dusty and polleny. You could always try just sneezing at the weeds- those tickly allergy sneezes have the force of a cyclone, so I’m sure you could blow the weeds out of the ground.
Drink some hot tea and have a nice warm shower. that should ease the blocked sinuses a little.
Ahhh your having hay fever! Too bad I cannot cure that with my good vibes. But I’m going to try the nutmeg for my little girl too! I’m amazed that you still have done so much! I’m the kind of person that believes she can do anything too, but I’m a kind of lazy as well. Reading literature to enhance your soul with a lot of douceurs lying in bed or on a comfy couch, that’s my kind of thing…I shouldn’t tell anyone, because it’s nothing to be proud of. And in the meantime I travel in my head. Doing everything and working things out in my head. We girls we can do everything!
Oh, I do hope you are feeling better…
My mom had a bike like that, it was the hardest thing to keep straight; it was always veering off the rd…
And no, it wasn’t because I drank to much wine…
Love all your pretty things and drawings…
Louise
So sorry to hear about those nasty allergens. Pesky little buggers. *passes the kleenex* Hope you clear up soon.
And high five to you for taking the bike matter into your own hands! It’s a lovely bike and I can only imagine the fun of riding it in the moonlight.
Another giveaway! You are too kind. I would love my name to be put in the magical hat in hopes that this lovely book will come my way!
oh – i feel sorry for you – allergies are horrible :(. but you still make me giggle! i love your attitude ( and your photos, drawings, cards, stories etc. but you already knew that 😉 ). i hope you’ll feel better soon!
and thanks for the little message :)! you’re too sweet.
Playing with pretty things always helps. 🙂 I am just dreading my allergies coming at me. So far I’ve been ok, knock on wood. I hope you’re feeling better.
Okay… first I am IN LOVE with the felted beads… I could swim in them & sometimes do secretly!
& I do so hope you are feeling better… allergies STINK!!
As for your drawing…. I live for old book!!!!! I have tons of old french books lining my bookshelves!!! ADORE them!!!
Allergies? Uggg!!!! Yuck! Yuck Yuck! I am so sorry. Allergies can ruin the most lovely day. I hope you start feeling better and stay out of those weeds.
You are such a talent and your lovely drawings realy are just the best kind of “eye candy” so let someone else take care of those weeds. Until someone can help just imagine all of the faries that are prarading among the weeds, perhaps it is their own mysterious haunted forest (just in time for Halloween.
Speeking of Halloween that tool you’ve been using is a little scary, you could use it as a Halloween prop!!
Helloooooo Vanessa!!!! I looooove your Halloween cards so much I went to your shop and bought me a set!!! I looove them!!! Can’t wait to mail them out to my witchy fiends…ahem, friends!! I love how you get into the Halloween spirit so soon and excitedly! Ta ta for now my dear pom-pom fanatic, weed-wacking, bicycle-fixer, drawing/painter/maker of amazing and pretty things lady!!
You poor thing! I’m very fortunate that my allergies haven’t been acting up at all lately. That witch must have blown that wicked pollen spell by way of the southwest winds. Totally missed me this year.
Well,try to stay indoors my dear until those SW winds stop blowin. Until then, I wish you dreams of sneeze-free happiness.
I really hope your allergies get better. I love your postcards and your Halloween house. Everything you do is just so majical! Thanks for the post-it made my day.
OK, the imagery in your posts is killing me. 🙂 Just reach up there, grab the hedgehog by the snoot and pull him out! Who invited him anyway?
Your bike is lovely, and I agree – it looks like it could use a lube job.
I think your sickle-y drawings are wonderful. maybe you should design a line of get well cards for your shop?
Hugs, and here’s a big mug of steaming tea…
Kate
Hi Vanessa,
You are so clever fixing your bike-I have a bike and I am really bad at fixing it. I take it to the bike shop and, sad to say, get a man to do it. Oh dear!
I love your pollen blowing witch. Shame about her inspiration though! Hope you feel better soon.
Take care:)
This is a great post. All the right ingredients – tears, witches, sharp instruments, wheels and Balzac! I always wanted to read Balzac because his work was banned in so many places. That means it must be GOOD! That book cover is just awesome!
Your so hilarious. I can sympathize. This past Monday I was attacked by an unforgiving and horrible Monster Migraine…it kept me hostage in the dark bedroom from 8am to about 12pm and sucked royally! Me thinks the culprit perhaps are our 4 bunnies, the jewels of our hearts..Hazel, Jin, Ella Luna and Roo all shedding like crazy all at once, releasing enough hair to create 4 other rabbits I am quite sure! Anyhow…the fur has wrecked havoc on my poor nose thus Mondays Monster Migraine! Be well my fellow blogger and can’t wait to see what your up to next. Mandy Saile of Bijou’s Whimsy.
p.s. How do you get so many people commenting? I had a print giveaway over at my blog the other week and I think I had 4 people enter their name for the draw!!!
Oh Dear! Hope your feeling better real soon! Nasty weeds!
Sandra Evertson
Oh, I hope your bike will be alright!!! That’s a fantastic 3-wheeler!
The book is beautiful, such wonderful illustrations. I’ve never read anything by Balzac, but I’m up for trying! Send it our way 🙂
I hope your allergies calm down – I know what it’s like to have them go crazy, and it’s not fun. Best wishes!!!
I hope your feeling better soon I know your pain oh so well, knock on wood yet this far my allergies have stayed at bay…may be smiling and shining bright very soon..lisa
Oh, you poor dearie….
i’ve been away too long, why is life so busy and i can never keep up? i would just like to come on over in my cozy jammies, plunk down across from your watery eyes and have some cookies and milk. And watch Miss Potter perhaps while we laugh about silly animals and cry about critters…
k?
xo
Thank you for your always entertaining posts–Im off to dream too 🙂
Rachel
I can hardly keep up with you, creating so much magic even when the pesky critters make you sneeze and your eyes water…
The dress is divine. I’ll take one in black, please!
xoxo
So sorry to hear that your allergies came back, sometimes some tasks are best left for the guys in your life (though I admire your determination)! ~Get well soon.x