It's rose season in this desert land.
Oh so many lovelies turning up for the occasion.
Bliss bliss bliss.
It's a big job with over 38 rose bushes, what was I thinking?
No but really, I don't mind it at all.
I love it actually.
I prune away so that I get more and more.
Keep everyone fresh and thriving.
I love tending my roses, it's so zen.
Such a wonderful way to literally enjoy each one.
I make bundles to dry and share huge vases full with loved ones.
Some of the rose bushes are floribunda, so they make these wonderful clusters.
I just can't ever get over the amazingness of flowers.
What incredible earthly delights.
Beauties.
Sigh.
They make me ever so happy.
I'm sure the cottage feels fancy in spring too.
Gifted all these petals.
I chase the sun.
Golden hour is always the best, as I've said a million times before.
My favorite thing is when the light hits just right and you can see little insects with their perfect tiny wings flying about. It's truly magical.
The sun was so hot last week that it scorched roses like mad.
But then it got super cool, and today it's downright chilly here.
Bizarre crazy place.
The Betty Boop roses below were never my faves but now they kind of are.
With their watercolor dipped edges.
I tucked so many rose bushes in at every turn, it's so nice to see them all doing so well.
Vintage 3-wheel Schwinn garden rounds are the best.
Especially when it's fairy lights o'clock.
And the music is on and the spring breeze is swirling scents around.
And you just faint from joy.
But not before you zip off in bluest evening light…
Through the arbor and front garden, past the giant oleanders into the gypsy garden.
Where gypsy wagon lights go on at sundown.
Dogs chase each other while a certain mad hatter plays his mandolin.
Dinner cooks on the cast iron stove.
I make grilled salsa, our fave.
I swing and swing from my tree as food cooks, trying to convince myself that you can't take extended vacations from life, in life, in your own house.
Or can you?
I guess you can, but I'm enjoying the enjoyments of life a bit too much, truth be told.
I have no one to enforce any rules upon me.
Well, I did have to do my taxes, yuck.
But my old demanding self left the building and she just wants to have fun you see.
So, I guess the consensus is…
This is what happens when Pippi Longstockings grows up.
I guess I better strap some bars of soap to my feet and clean my darned house.
Because it's out of control.
Miles went on a mini trip with me and we had a blast last weekend.
I meet a dear friend at the end of every week for a lunch date, so I always look forward to that.
Anywhooooo, what's up out there in the world?
Did you get freaky spring snow?
It rained here today which was not expected.
At least not by me 🙂
Anywho, life is grand over here.
I'm having too much fun doing lots of this and that.
I best get my act together soon, lest a sink hole eats me up because I've had way too much fun.
These are the things that go through my mind you see.
Sending lots of love!
See you real soon.
xoxo,
Vanessa
ps: Oh I forgot to say, I did have this rotten nightmare happen where I lost 10 years of files last week (external hard drive). All my pics, all my art – everything, todo, all of it. But I managed to scrounge up enough old files to piece some manner of sense together to keep plugging along in my shop etc. So, somehow it's coming together. The neat thing about getting older is you come to this point where you go, oh heck, who really cares, I just can't be bothered! Hahaha! I mean honestly, this is the gift of age I guess. Where you just cope with things much better, after a proper freak out of course 😉
Point is, that's where I've been regarding computer land.
But you can always find A Fanciful Twist on Instagram, so there's that.
Like if you really miss me 🙂
pps: I responded to comments within comments in my previous post, I hope that works.
I need to install an app that makes all that easier and notifies you that I've responded <3
Your roses really are amazing! I always think your garden is a faery wonderland!
So beautiful. Many of mine were sun burned on the edges and some even dried on the bush. xoxo Su
My Don Juan deep-blood red roses are blooming right now…but achingly slow…oh-so-slowly, and nothing compared to your magical garden. I get one or two, which honestly, that should suffice, but I get greedy and want ALL the petals. My dream is to have enough blooms to make the flower-confetti cake that you baked a few years ago. That was a thing of beauty. 🙂
This weekend I’m off to my Madre’s house and we’re celebrating Mother’s Day early. Well, she doesn’t know it yet, since it’s my surprise to her. Heheheheh.
So many roses, and each more beautiful than the last. I think the yellow are my favorite…
I must add, I admire you for not having a meltdown over the loss of files! (In your place, I probably would have let some very *fanciful* language fly, lol!)
I’m not sure how I missed you on Instagram, but I’m following now. 🙂
🖤 Carolee
The roses are so lovely! We are finally having a bit more blooming going on & more green showing! I don’t think there is such a thing as enjoying life too much or having too much fun! No way! The more, the better! Speaking of weather…I was just proclaiming how unseasonably warm it was…not so much now. It went from 80 to 50 overnight! Now it’s cold, cloudy, rainy, yucky! I shouldn’t complain when I’ve seen the news & how bad some states are getting hit. So much flooding & tornadoes!
I think I’m going to sneak back & take another look at your lovely lush garden! Thank you so much for taking the time to share all of your lovely photos with us.
Dear Double V,your roses are B.R.E.A.T.H.T.A.K.I.N.G!!!But,seriously girl,38!!!You really don’t have an Abundance cut off switch!!!Isn’t it grand!!Pooh pooh,to all those minimalists….BORING…..!I have a lil under 10 bushes,n I luv to share so much,sometimes I look up,n there r none left for me!!Oh,well,there is always tomorrow.Things r a lil wacky here in East Tx.Just got my husband out of the hosp. from his second surgery this year.Getting ready for prom,n buying a car for my last lil chick.I have been a full time Mom for the last 39n a half yrs.Seeing a lite at the end of the tunnel is exhiliarating,but,also a lil sad n scary.Sometimes I feel as tho I need to run away from home for a lil bit.I can’t think of a more magical place to go than your garden.If I bring my own hammock,would u pretend to not notice me?!The fur babes n I will have a blast,n never bother You or ML!! Ceci
Your photos are so beautiful. I often put them on my computer as the background. I hope you don’t mind. Just LOVE your garden!
Have a great weekend,
Tracy m.
Laura, oh yes I do talk to those mischievous fairies. Especially in the fairy bower 😉 <3
Lovely Su, for some reason typepad gobbles up your comments so I just saved them from the trolls. Imagine? I’m so glad I checked. You are so lovely<3 Oh yes, a bunch of mine got torched. But some are stronger than others. It's interesting to see. xoxo
Misha, I’m wondering if there isn’t something else going on with your Don Juan’s? I planted some spring before last, they are trailing up the ugly fence full of at least 30 blooms. Have you ever stepped your foot around the base of your rose bush to see if the soil is loose or if gophers or something else isn’t living under your rose base? The only ones that grow very slow here have some other culprit affecting them as such. Surprise goodness to your mama!! xoxo
Wow, your roses are amazing…beautiful, beautiful, beautiful!
Found you back on ig!<3 okay so, let me backtrack. I did freeeeeeak out and sob and drive like a mad woman to the repair place. And have a couple stressful days. But in all of that stress was a part of me that just was unwilling to care that much. Almost like, there has to be more to life. Maybe it was just shock and numbness, I don't know. Trust me, it freaks me out, but then, this other part of me can't be bothered. It's a very strange dichotomy. I kind of just hunkered down and started trying to scrape it all together from other sources and files. I think I'll lose 5 solid years in the end. xoxox PS, and yes, there was extremely fanciful language flying out of my house with sparks, hahahaha!
Laura, the quince tree is full of quince and I have a dozen with your name on them if they come through all safe and sound! <3 <3 <3
Matty might maul you to death!!! He’s so darned mean, he won’t let me have any friends. It’s a true problem. Oh yesss, so I have zero enough button. I never got one, the factory messed up on me. If I could plant more I would. But the gophers are really hard to keep in check and they are bound and determined to topple my rose bushes and trees, relentless little creatures. Ohhh, you are almost free. Well, trust me, one of my best friends is 80 and I will see her in 2 hours for our Friday luncheon. She told me that she never thought she’d still be mothering at 80 but she still is and she loves it. So don’t worry, they’ll go play for a while and then everyone will come back with significant others and babies and furs and and and, it’ll be crazy good. So enjoy your little time and go on vacay for sureee! 😉 <3 <3
Of course I don’t mind Miss Tracy!! xo
Thank you so much!
Vanessa Valencia
A Fanciful Twist {Through the Secret Keyhole}
Blog: aFancifulTwist.com
Website at http://www.VanessaValencia.com
Thank you! You just put a big smile on my face! :0)
good gobbly wobblies! drooooool lookit all the roses! I think you invented smell-o-vision, because I SWEAR I can smell them….aaahhhhhhhhhhhh. You’re rich, you know it? Super cali richy richistic. But you work HARD for it, so you deserve it! QUEEN! Oh, that reminds me of bees which reminds me of insects which reminds me of your Golden hour and seeing the tiny insects — yessssss yesss you’re right! Oh there is something so sweet and mystical about bees’ wings in golden light and they are heading home to their little families (ok ok they are in my head anyway) and it’s just so darn beautiful.
But say, you didn’t answer my question — do you have mosquitoes, and if you do how do you keep from getting eaten alive with all your night time outdoor activity? (Wolf boy believes in those zapper things haha haha eeeekkk)
I swear I can smell your roses STRONGLY through computer land! I love the purple roses, and the yellow roses with the tinge of pink around the edges. They are all so glorious.
Life changes, I think, about every five years, things turn around, or move forward, and we go with the flow of things, life is definitely most interesting. I am never bored!
hugs,
Miss Teresa
OH! This is so funny as I didn’t even stop to read Roostah’s comment too, about smelling the roses! Kindred spirits we are, all who visit your Fairyland.
Fairy lights o’clock! Oh, well, that is just adorable!!! Do you ever worry about not getting enough rain? Gosh, we’re still in a severe drought. It seems as if we will never ever get out of it. I haven’t been gifted with the “oh well” attitude that comes with age, unfortunately. I worry and worry and fret and fret and have definitely have proper freak outs daily! Ha! And I’m older than you! ;p So glad to hear you were able to piece things together again with the lost files. xoxoxoxo Jen
Another delightful post when I need the quick fix of delight, wonder, whimsy and Peace. ( oops except for your loss of work on computer. Sorry about that) I love the life you live. When I don’t have alot of time; I pick you blog first for a quick escape! : )
Your roses make me happy. I want roses, roses, roses everywhere. But hubby does not share my love of wanting all kinds of things every where. We have a few rose bushes and several Knock out roses. The Knock outs do better here because of the humidity. The yellow have a wonderful rose scent. I have been going out to work in my garden and cut things to bring in to put in little bottles on the kitchen window sill.
I am actually posting on my blog some of my spring pictures (although it already feels like SUMMER here in Georgia) I love planting things. My iris have been so pretty and the one white and purple I started in one area has spread 🙂
This whole post has me in bliss, and maybe I shall to go with the flow and splendor in the everyday. We are having awesome Cali weather with rain of and on. Ahh that golden hour is may favorite time to take sacred pause and sometimes grab the camera.
I’m always filled with jealousy when I visit your blog. Not bad, hateful jealousy, but wistful, wishful jealousy. Your roses are so gorgeous! Thank you for sharing them with us!
Truly a most enchanted magical place Miss V… and your words are as enticing as your photos… love the golden hour too… so many little special gifts at that hour… sorry you lost files but you are so resilient, you always make the best of things… and you are right, the older I get, the more I think C’est la vie!… life is too short to worry about things… and wonderful new gifts from nature and elsewhere always await us… I can just picture the gypsy wagon… the boys frolicking in the gardens to sweet music from the mandolin… much love, xoxo… Julie Marie PS Sooo enjoy your IG photos always!… xoxo…
Oh my goodness they are just so beautiful! It’s not rose season just yet here in the UK but this post makes me want to go out and buy rose bushes to plant in the garden ready for summer! Love your blog 🙂
Hi, Vanessala!!! I haven’t popped in for such a way-too-long time! Your beautiful flowers never cease to amaze me. My hubby and I have done a bit of gardening this year, too. Both edibles and non. Thank you so much for still being here! 🙂
So much beauty *sigh* Those dusty purple ones are simply amazing.
I had to give up any dream of a rose garden, since we apparently have every single rose rot and disease thriving in our soil.
It’s always such a pleasure to pop over to visit. And BOY, can I relate. Seems like those tech issues just keep multiplying. And you’re right. Sometimes you just gotta go with the flow and not stress over them. And other times oyyyyyyy. But how wonderful that you have so many of your photos in your blog here. That’s helped me out more than once….twice….way more 😉
Have a blessed and beautiful week here AND at Instagram where I enjoy your company as well. 😉
Kaye