Summer sights and sounds surround us intensely.
Rusty metal meets…
Vines…
Belonging to gourds and watermelons…
Hello baby watermelon…
Watermelon reminds me soooo much of my early childhood.
It was such a different time, late seventies early eighties, when there was still a huge amount of freedom in things that later became banned. Like, going to the river, lollygagging in the deep pools of water, mom running out to bring me a huge slab of watermelon. Me putting globs of wet sand on my legs and pushing it off with the watermelon rind.
Riding the 3 wheelers through water as 6 year olds, raising your legs up high so you wouldn't get burned from the motor steam.
70's music, 60's music, loud.
Barbecuing.
The river.
And then, going to the river was banned, and it became a part of lost time, memories.
But, we've still got watermelon 😉
There I go again, veering.
What about weekend happenings?
Let's see…
Oh, yes.
Sculpting lots of little faces.
Making new friends…
Hearing their tales…
Keeping a close eye on Matty, who had an emergency vet visit on Thursday night. He was limping badly, so, I took him in after hours. There was waiting, wondering, x-raying. Was his back right leg broken? Was it not?
It was not. Thank goodness, but it is still swollen.
He is on medication for pain, and I am wondering if it was a bug bite?
We are watching him every second. Which is all we can do at this point.
Thank goodness for pretty things, and cozy home, to calm the nerves…
I really can't get over flowers.
Can you?
I just can't stop marveling at them.
I am so amazed by their intricate details. Just incredible…
If you pay close attention, nature gives you lots of painting lessons.
The more time one spends outdoors, the more shadows and contours come to life. The brain opens itself to dimensions, and layers….
The sun is hotter than hot.
Is it crazy hot where you are? It is super dry here most of the time, except right now. It is humid. Last night we were swinging in the garden, and I got one or two mosquito bites. I asked Mister Lovee if it was this humid in places like Wisconsin or Louisiana (of course I knew it was). He immediately says, are you kidding??? It is waaaaaay more humid, and lots more bugs.
Are you in a region as such? What are your nights like? I wish we had fireflies.
Here are some shots of more gourdy gourd gourds hanging around. They are huuuuuge. Wild things, aren't they? They smell funny on your hands if you touch them. Sort of like, faint and stale cigarette smoke.
We have started some new projects too…
I know, insane 😉
The way I look at big projects is like this. You only have to do the hard work once, and then you reap the benefits forever. Isn't that the truth?
Oh oh…
The bestest thing is when you happen to have your camera on you, and a little someone stops by to check out the flowers…
I am telling you, if you like zinnias make plans to plant seeds in spring. They are the gift that keeps on giving and giving, not to mention withstanding the heat beautifully. Growing 3 feet tall, and gifting flowers in abundance.
I just planted two spots with leftover seeds a few of weeks ago, and they are already pretty tall, with flowers on some.
They bring happy flying creatures to visit.
Summer goodness is all around us…
The gypsy hollow beckons us by night, as we all gather, singing, laying in the swing, reading under candles and fairy lights…
One of my favorite little spots…
Where if you are lucky, you might find a handful of dreams and ideas floating about. Waiting to be captured in canvas, and clay…
A few little random weekend tid-bits.
Finishing long audio books (always so heart wrenching to leave a story, isn't it?), reading haunted tales voraciously. I have read a small stack of books this summer actually. Something I had not done in a long while. We have never had cable in the country. The television is only on for netflixed movies, and I do listen to NPR and a lot of music, along with radio shows, and audio books.
With summer here in full force I am simply living in the moment, trying to enjoy the days, keep calm, keep happy and keep sane 😉
Also, always filling the hope jar in my heart.
What are you up to?
Love, V
Vanessa:
I haven’t been on the computer much today as I have been busy hosting a sale in my zibbet shop, celebrating my daughter’s 18th birthday, baking cakes and making homemade chicken pot pie. More than once while I was working, I wondered what you were doing today. I just checked my twitter, and what do I find? A tweet about your new blog post. So, I decided to take a break and visit your blog to see what was going on in your neck of the woods.
I’m so glad Matty is coming along and nothing is broken.
I’m so glad that you shared the fact that young gourds have a faint smell of cigarette smoke. I love learning new things about garden goodness.
And…woman, you and Lovee are crazy and fabulous! More garden projects? I would so love to stand slap in the middle of your property so as to get a proper view of your land. It’s hard sometimes to get the true perspective from photos.
Well…back to celebrating. I can’t believe my baby is 18 years old!!
Kim
Gerushia’s New World
P.S. I 🖤 Watermelon!
Kim
Hey Vanessa,
I am in one of those very humid places. NORTHERN ONTARIO! HAHA! Who would have thought? We have lots and lots of mosquitoes and all sorts of bugs. Be glad you don’t live in a humid place, we can’t set up year round Gypsy gardens because of the unpredictable rainy/humid/hot/cold weather. Matty will be in my prayers. Poor little fella 🙁
Love and light,
Jenn
Haha is it humid in Louisiana???? Well Ms. V, been 94-100%humidity every day here….with Soooooooooo many mosquitos around,it’s crazy…but we have actually seen more lightning bugs this summer than I have in years…
I love reading your blog, I seem to escape to a wonder fairytale…. In fact you have inspired me to make a tent in my bedroom and string lights all around…:)
I hope Matty feels better soon! Oh I could dream the evening away in your magical gypsy dreamland, so wonderful! I just finally did a post about the lovely little stars you gave me. My nook isn’t quite as pretty as yours, but it is coming along nicely, so thank you.
Hi Miss Vanessa, I am sending oodles of love to Mr. Matty! Perhaps it was a bug bite – or he landed funny. I am sure he has the best of care – but Willow, Neo and me will be thinking of him and wishing a speedy recovery. It has been humid here (I can tell by how poofy my hair gets) but not overly hot. I can stand heat better than humidity. Flowers do make everything better – I am forever in awe of their beauty, as well. I will keep the zinnias in mind. Yesterday we had a lovely day…picked up some picnic treats at a Whole Foods and went to see Richard III – there is nothing like Shakespeare under the stars. This was amazing – and the staged combat scenes were AWESOME. Plus, we won a raffle to see a performance at a local prestigious performing arts school…hurray!
Oh I just Love, Love, Love your blog and your fairy tale writing! I also loved your little story about watermelon and childhood dreams. We eat a lot of watermelon all Summer long and I am forever thinking about the watermelon we had when we were little children and all the memories.
I almost planted Zinnia’s and pumpkins this year and I had the seeds and I don’t know where the time went, so now that I see yours I will make sure I get them in come Spring.
I have a doggie that looks just like your Miles. And I hope Matty gets better really soon!
p.s. I had to laugh about your Lovee possibly drinking the Maple Syrup LOL
You’ve made your property so dreamy and fun. I love the gypsy hollow, it beckons that’s for sure. Why, I’m surprised and forgive me for saying that I’m shocked that some cute little V’s and Lovee’s haven’t been created in that little dreamy love nest of yours 😉
High humidity here too in the Ohio Valley. If I were to have a sweet night time getaway, I’d be carried away by the skeeters. I’m like a smorgasbord for them.
Hope Matty is running with perfection soon 🙂
You even have watermelons in your garden! amazing!
Oh Miss V,
I love the gypsy hollow soooo much. Me and the little hatters are still working on ours. We have the old quilts and sheets blowing in the wind beneath the trees, a table(set up for tea of course) and some rocking chairs.
ohhhh Guess what … My father told me he would help me build a gypsy caravan…Yep…we found blueprints. That is my 5 year project, because that is about how long it will take. lol.
We moved our pumpkin patch over beside the area where we are making the Enchanted gypsy garden and guess what. After two days we are gifted with about 8 little sprouts topped with little pumpkin seeds. We planted them under the trees in hopes that they would climb all the way to the sky… Then we could climb up and touch the clouds.
It is sooooooo very Hot in this part of Texas… and talk about Humidity…. in Houston(which is 45 min. away) well lets just say all we have to do here for a steam facial is walk outside. I better look 25 forever with this moisture. hehehehe.
I loved all the enchanted goodies that your garden gifts you and all the magic in the air where you are.
Enjoy the remainder of the summer. I have already started sewing for Halloween and Christmas. I have to stock the stores early, but I am hoping to stop for a few little moments to Just Breathe and take in a few more seconds of the summertime joy.
Whimsy and Wishes
Wendy from Wonderland
So glad Matty’s leg isn’t broken! Emergency vet trips are so awful… I hope you never have to make another one! Love & hugs to your poor pup. He’ll be good as new soon! ^-^
I am madly in love with your gypsy hollow… your entire home & gardens, actually… =D
I’ve been reading a bunch this Summer too… and listening to NPR & a podcast (Alderpod) of The Aldersgate Cycle. I’m loving it so far!
I think I’m the luckiest girl in the world, not having a TV. I don’t know if I’ll ever have one again… ^-^
Well then… I best be off to do some actual work while I’m here at work… although I’m mostly done & there’s not much more for me to do until 0430…
Love & hugs!
XOXO
Sculpting lots of new little faces, started some new outdoor projects?? Eeekness, how you do love to tease us, V! : D
Last night I was so pleased to see a dragonfly in the backyard. Hubby sweetly took a pic of it just for me, even though it was getting rather dark outside. That dragonfly stayed in one place the whole time for us, just waiting while hubby went to get the camera. Oh, and I love your pics of that sweet little hummingbird!
I have already started some Christmas crafting. I am soooo proud of myself.
Hubby and I spent about an hour yesterday morning doing some yard maintenance. I must ask if you have any pointers for removing dead English ivy we had growing up the front of our house. I figure it might have fallen victim to really cold February weather. Those ivy feet are SUPERGLUED to that brick. What a giant pain to try to pry them loose. AND when we do, they leave ugly marks PLUS take paint off the wood! Argh.
Merci beaucoup for another dreamy post!
Oh, and I forgot to say that I am so glad Matty’s leg isn’t broken. I do hope he heals quickly! Lucky him that he has such a sweet mommy!
So happy Matty doesn’t have a broken leg, but bug bites (especially spiders) can be awful too – poor little guy!
Your gypsy hollow is enchanting, and I look forward to seeing your new work!
Haven’t been up to much here except painting and more painting, preparing for the Ghoultide Gathering show up in Michigan. Soooooo excited about it, but also wish I had more time – eek!
🖤 Carolee
Vanessa,
How you inspire me! I love your little gypsy nook and I wish I was able to build my own…unfortunately, school starts up in a week and I will be very VERY busy when that happens. Maybe next summer….sigh. Wistful thinking, I know.
I hope Matty feels better! He is so adorable and loving and caring and it is horrible when one of your pets are injured, but you have no idea what it could be. I know because my cat Smudge had a black spot on his lips and it was painful for him, but we couldn’t figure out what it was for a while. Eventually we discovered that it was his plastic food bowl! Isn’t that weird?
Anyhow, as everyone else has said, I too am a lover of watermelon and wish I had a Gypsy Hollow to escape to…I will just have to add it to the wish jar and hope that one day it comes true.
Goodbye for now 🙂
<3 Jessica from A Woodland Fantasy
I Hope Matty is on the mend and feeling more like himself. Vanessa, I can just imagine how worried you were! Is he much better today? You truly deserve to enjoy your beautiful gypsy hollow after the busy days you have had. I am wondering what beauties you are sculpting? They have me very curious! Speaking of curious what kind of alien looking teardrop gourds are you growing from your tree Missy. I wish we could get fireflies here they are so magical. Stay Cool and calm and enjoy summers finale 😉
I sure hope Matty is feeling better soon! I will have to plant Zinnias next year. I so love your Gypsy Garden…..it is so very inspiring.
I hope Matty is well soon.
I love watermelon.
I love zinnias
and I want a gypsy hollow. One of these days.
I’ve been working, stitching on a secret project for a friend, reading, taking care of the grand and trying to stay cool.
Humidity is what makes it so miserable here. Sometimes I come out of work in the evenings and it feels like I’m walking into a sauna. I love it when I make it to my car and I turn the air conditioner on full blast:)
Get well soon Matty! <3
Whenever I visit your blog, I find peace. I love it. 🙂
Adoro los picaflores,son tan dulces y alegres.
Besos
I see that the baby is bigger than Matty now. Reminds me of when my baby brother grew taller than me. He’s 6’2 and I’m 5’4. One minute I’m the big sister and the next I’m the shrimp (well in comparison). I love your swing and fairy lights, so I pinned it to pinterest. 🙂 I’m already thinking about the Halloween Party, I hope I can pull off something fun again.
It was such a different time, late seventies early eighties, when there was still a huge amount of freedom in things that later became banned. Like, going to the river, lollygagging in the deep pools of water, mom running out to bring me a huge slab of watermelon. Me putting globs of wet sand on my legs and pushing it off with the watermelon rind.