The end of summer seems to be just around the bend. Southern Arizona is paradise during the fall and winter months. People from all over the world find their way to the mild lovely weather here, from October to early May…
Still, I want to sop-up the heat filled days before they are gone. Another season, another time, and before we know it Summer 2009 will be but a mere memory.
So if its too hot, it's no big deal. Too humid? No problem. A moment in time is fleeting. I want to embrace the moment, hug it tight, absorbing the scent, the feeling. Much like you do a loved one, right before they board a plane, not to be seen for a long long time…
I find myself doing just that, in the Gypsy Garden…
The heat feels so good today. Again, it all comes back to perception doesn't it? I feel in love with summer. Sweltering days, laden with coconut oil, and pina coladas. Dripping in peaches and berries, snuggly fit in a handmade clay bowl…
My fruit gets warm and the flavors become more intense. I get these thoughts, like, what if I was never able to eat a peach again? I close my eyes as I eat my fruit. I am grateful.
On my beloved blanket made of antique saris, saris frantically trying to keep their fibers together, I dream…
I spent most of the weekend in town, doing grown-up duties (yucky yuck). I long for moments such as these, at the country house. I am ever grateful for this virtual space that holds memories recorded and suspended in time…
Mmmmmm, life can be so good. It really can…
As I romanticize my moment with summer, I hear footsteps crunching through the dirt and leaves. It's time to share my moment. I hand my bowl to a certain someone. He always closes his eyes when he chews. He always feels the moment (especially the ones where I annoy him ;).
And, I always share whatever I have with him. Even if its the best rice krispy treat in the world. I make it seem so simple to him, my sharing. But it is an extremely kind gesture from the heart, for a girl who would like to be greedy with her berries…
It's time for the man-boy to enjoy the Gypsy Garden, and all the fluttering moments of summer…
I turn on the little hand held radio, NPR, and I pass the Gypsy Garden on to him…
I walk away smiling, knowing that someone else is fully enjoying summer, and summer is getting a wholelottalove…
(As I type I sing the words, a whole lotta love, out loud. And, I get a whole story about the song and its history from the man-boy musician storyteller)
🖤, V
Two Important notes before I go -
1) We have a Mad Tea Party 2009 Page! When you click on the Mad Tea Party 2009 flyer, located in the left hand sidebar on my blog, it takes you to the new Mad Tea Party 2009 page. Thank you so much for your help sending me your links to your actual party (there are about 60+ there now). I still need 200+ links to have everyone on the list.
Please keep sending me your direct links to your Mad Tea Party if you hosted one. Details about that request located here.
2) Spellbindingly mysterious details about the Halloween Soiree 2009 will be announced this week ;) Bwwwwwwwahahahhaahaaaaaaaaa!!
See you soooooooon!! 😉
Most exciting about the next Halloween Soiree!
When I posted Halloween art on my blog the widget for past post of interest popped up last years and I was saying oh yippeeee, it’s that time of year again!
Donna
I’m also in Arizona, and it hasn’t seemed unbearable this year. A couple of days in July were horrible, but so far that’s been the worst of it. I am, though, looking forward to fall. 🙂
V~
Oh how exciting!! A Halloween Soiree….Yippppeeee!! I can’t wait to hear the details!!
I too am dreading the end to summer. Even though the heat can be dreadful at times I’m always sad to see it go 🙂 Don’t get me wrong the fall bring cooler weather and Halloween 🙂 but Summer was always my favorite time growing up. Sitting outside swinging on my granny’s swing watching the other neighborhood kids play and eating fruit and popsicles…oh the memories!
Have a lovely evening. I’m off to enjoy my raspberry lime smoothie the hubby made for me…hugs xoxoxoxo
Kylee
Oh, that fruit looks so very delicious and cool! Yummy! 🙂
Sharing your fruit and your gypsy garden was a very special sacrifice! And I know it was well appreciated! Love your sari quilt. I have some hanging in my bedroom! I love them!
Hugging you
SueAnn
Lovely summahtime goin down in the gypsy garden! ripening fruit in a little bowl…yummy. What a good girl you are sharing your sumptuous feast!
I was in the mood to embrace mother nature’s gifts too today. 🙂
xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxox
Summer time is my VERY favorite season! I love the bright warm sunshine and all the fresh fruit and veggies! I can’t wait to see what you are cooking up for Halloween! OOOhhhhh!!! Or…BOOOoooooo!!!!
I just SO ADORE you and your lovely whimsical enchanted attitude!!!! And the berries look simply scrumpdilly-icious!!!! That man-boy of yours looks perfectly content in the gypsy garden…ooh! Speaking of gypsy, when are you going to invite us to tea in your gypsy wagoon? I can bring the scones ;-).
xoxo Cori
Berries on your fingers may be my favorite, but the teasing photos of the gypsy wagon are right up there at the top. Why is it that every August I begin to think of Fall…perhaps it is that school starts now and I watch all the little ones on the street head back to school…maybe it is because August is the most difficult time for all of my more delicate plants, and I begin to think of what I will plant once it cools down…and then I begin to long to sew and make Christmas presents…what a lovely thing it is to have lived long enough to know the rhythm of the seasons by heart. But I believe you already know them.
**blows kisses** Deb
This is a splendid post dearie! The red berries remind me of elf hats on the little fingers! Soo cute! We just celebrated my Dad’s 70th and the day has that slow lovely feel that the heat brings. We found two four leaf clovers out at their glorious land and smiled so much. Off to bed for this sleepy head. Thanks for sharing such a delicious bit for dreaming sweet dreams. Blessings.
Do you even know how excited I am about the Halloween Soiree Ms. V!?! It’s my fav holiday (even though my Mum says it’s not a holdiday 😉 It sure is in my book! Love that Gypsy Garden of yours and how sweet of you to share your berries, I know how hard that can be, tee hee. I swear I can’t ever have a snack for myself because I’ll fix something, then all 3 of the girls and then the hubbers comes over and ‘tries’ it until it’s gone…but I still love them anyway 😉
Jamie 🙂
I know how you feel!
Here, it’s sweltering, and stepping outside is almost like stepping into a sauna, the air is so thick, but I still love to sit outside and soak it up through my skin. As much as I love winter, sometimes I feel like I need to store up that sunny feeling like a bear getting ready to hibernate!
Those berries look amazing…and so does the Mad Tea Party page…It is starting to turn towards fall up here already…it’s cool at night, and I’ve been sleeping under all of my feathers!!
Mmmmm, summer,and berries and the gypsy garden…truly magical.
I had some blackberries on my digits just earlier today!
I am so excited to hear about the Halloween happenings, I have all sorts of ideas swooping around in my skull (insert bats in a big black cave here). Ha!
Eeeeks!! Omygosh omygosh omygosh the Halloween Soiree!! I can’t wait!! I wish there was a way to type how absolutely bursting with excitement that I am right now, but there isn’t. I love Halloween sooo much. (I was due to be born on it but..silly me, I came a day later) I can’t wait! Did I mention I was excited? I don’t think I mentioned it enough. Your parties are the bestest. Oooh and I saw your pics in the latest issue of Artful Blogging, soo lovely! And your cupcakes look like they came straight from a fancy French bakery. (Why French? I don’t know, it sounded fancier) But I know you baked em’, you’re super talented. SO…..woohoo Halloween Soiree!!!!!!!!
Okay so I just read my comment and realize I sound like I ate too much candy corn. I didn’t, I swear. I tend to over-do things when excited. Heehee
Ahhhh, the sweet tales of a girl enjoying life for all its moments – no matter the weather. It’s always lovely to embrace each moment and look for the fun and the thrill of it 🙂 My summer may not be as warm, but I am enjoying sitting in my green garden and watching the clouds tumble along. And of course I enjoyed sharing your summer, too 🙂
I really like the picture of the raspberries on your fingers! I look forward to the Halloween Soiree!
I really like the photo of the raspberries on your fingers! I look forward to the Halloween Soiree!
Savor every moment in the Gyspie Garden with Mr. Lovee and your raspberries. Greetings from the OTHER
Hotsville
NE Tx.
xox
Constance
Ah, you’ve soooooooo captured the essence of summer with your magical gypsy garden berry photos!! Stunning, as always…
Cannot WAIT for the Halloween Soiree!!! Teeheehee (she says in her best witch’s cackle)…You’d think being a full time Halloween artist, I’d have had enough of Halloween by now, but NOPE…never enough!
Waiting with bated breath….
~ Carolee
Hi Vanessa,
What a magical gypsy garden. It must be so wonderful all lit up i the hot summer nights.
I checked the links on your Mad Hatter Tea, but mine is linked to another blog. Here is the link to my party.
http://karenharveycox.blogspot.com/2009/06/mad-tea-party-on-pink-saturday.html
I hope that you have a lovely day. We finally are having hot summer days. Most of our summer was cool and rainy with a bit of nice days speckled in between.
Karen
oh…you remind me not to rush for Autumn….thankee Miss! And your pretty raspberry fingers look like some mysterious variety of forest mushroom!! 🙂 love love love!!
You two got a whole lotta love, that’s for sure…imagining your gypsy tent and savoring fruit and berries…
x..x
your sari quilt is lovely – and I just read through the gypsy camp post – HOW FABULOUS!
Why has no one done that for ME??? LOL
Your fanciful and enchanted imagination is an inspiration!
I just finished reading “The Time Traveler’s Wife” for the second time, and the love you and Mr. Lovie have for each other just reminds me of Clare and Henry. 🙂
I hate heat, anything beyond 80 and I’m uncomfortable, beyond 90 and I’m miserable. (Thank goodness I’m in CO instead of AZ!) So, summer has never been my favorite time of year.
I was born on the autumnal equinox and I’ve always loved autumn. I love wearing layers of velvets and tweed and making apple pie and mulled cider and the smell of wood smoke and falling leaves. Lately I’ve been feeling the chill in the air as night falls and thinking excitedly, “autumn’s coming!”
Like you however these past few days I’ve starting thinking, “summer’s ending,” instead. I have yet to get to the ice cream truck before it slipped past my block! I haven’t eaten enough watermelon! I haven’t had nearly enough picnics and it’s almost over! So, in this last bit of summer I’m loving summer too. Thanks for sharing the feeling with me.
I was just thinking about the fast disappearance of summer. Here in the Willamette Valley I cling to those sunny days!
One of my favorite treats with raspberries is to fill the “cup” with a couple drops of honey – like a little fairy ambrosia 🙂
Your blanket made of saris is delightful!
Vanessa, I want to hang on to every last minute of summer too! It’s been a wonderful one to remember. I am SO excited that you are going to have a Halloween Soiree! You can count us in! Twyla
I agree with you about the wonderful-ness of summer! Why complain that it is hot and humid? That is what summer is all about! I live for these days. so hot you can barely move. I love it. It forces you to slow down (or stop) and listen. Listen and hear the life about you 🙂
Ooooh Halloween? Sounds like fun!
Lovely pictures.
I have unfortunately never been in Southern AZ during the nicer months of AZ weather. My trips down have always been druing hot summer months. I was lucky to be able to spend yesterday in Prescott though…that was heaven low 80’s just heaven! <3
It’s so nice that you are able to appreciate the nuiances of summer. Personally, I am such a winter child that I don’t get on well with summer. The heat makes me wilt. But thank you for reminding me of the beauty of summer. It’s so important to cherish the little things.
Oh, you can make the excessive heat and humidity of summer sounds almost good to me… Your gypsy garden looks wonderful – and your bowl of berries…I don’t think I could have shared. Well, maybe a little… 🙂 Silke
I am having tomato love, white peach love and berry love here in the Garden State.
I will be enjoying the South West in September…New Mexico and Arizona 🙂
Summer is my least favorite season of the year and I generally have to work at embracing it, enjoying it for what it is, and not wishing the time away. This one has been odd for so many reasons. It started with a surgery for my wife and a long recovery process (all is perfect now) and that time involved a lot of helping out around the house, etc. but it drew us all closer together and was the start of an odd but generally embraceable summer. Fresh fruit and veggies ALWAYS makes summer bearable and is one of the few things I would sorely miss if I gave into the temptation to move somewhere that was more autumnal year round. You’ve captured a key here, whether that was your intention or not, and that is to truly savor each and every moment of each and every day, whether the weather is to our liking or not.
Cuantas frutas deliciosas y frescas para disfrutar del verano.
Por aqui estamos en pleno invierno,la primavera y todo el renacer comienza el 21 de Septiembre.
Estoy esperando ansiosa la fiesta de halloween.
Besos amiga.
your beautiful words and pictures truly do make my day, my week, my year. you inspire and fill me with joy. thank you so much
sssshhhhhhhhhhhhhh….winter will hear you. I have so been in love with summer this year – AND your delightful blog. Although, hmmm..that being said I did have a blast with your Halloween party, bloggy, thingy, that you and the Mr. did last year. I can’t WAIT for that. I CAN wait for another Chicago winter… ugghh.
In the meantime, it’s fresh corn and peaches with my dinner tonight! — still summer Kathy in Chicago
The fruit looks delish. Your Gypsy Garden is Enchanting. Ah, I always enjoy your lovely and magical posts.
Halloween party..oh, I can’t wait. It is going to be fun. I already have idea brewing already. Hugs to you, Lady V.
I just love you blog, so fun! and your photos take me somewhere magical and whimsical. Can’t wait to see what you have in store for Halloween.
Kind Regards,
Amada
Just HAD to visit your blog one more time tonight to soak in the magic and fill my soul with your writings and my heart has so much gratitude right now for my hot California days (which I truly hate) haha…but again, everything is perception as you said.
Sending blessings and sunshine-y love to you,
Debrina
what gorgeous photos!! love it all!
You are wicked fun dear heart.
Love Renee xoxo
I’m doing the same, savouring, being grateful, fully breathing in each and every sun infused breath…relishing the fruit. 🙂
Ah saris are best (like old denim) when they start to show their character (age) and fray baby, fray.
Man-boy sure knows how to enjoy the most of a summer afternoon, lazin, eating happily away in the gypsy garden. Sounds perfecto!
ox
Love you!
Yep, Summer is blazing away here in Texas too!
It’s so hot in the afternoon you can look outside and SEE the heat waves flowing by!
Sandra Evertson
Great post, i’ve already subscribed to your feed. thanks.
Excellent article, and beautiful pictures!
Excellent post, I liked a lot. Success!
Congratulations for the post! Thanks very much for sharing.
Hi;
Thks a lot for take u time to post it !! I live in Brasil…very nice.