Hi there!
I have been working on a few projects that are utterly autumn related.
Going through many photographs of autumns past.
And while we aren't ready to part with summer quite yet…
I have been enjoying it sooo much, that I thought I would bring you along for a smidge.
Wanna come?
Jump in my garden for quick sec, won'tcha?
I was on a hunt for some fave magical autumn moments.
Some of those are definitely from the gyspy wagon at Halloween.
There were sooo many photos to choose from throughout the years.
Oh my!
I grabbed a few to relive with you today.
These pics are inspiring me for the months to come as well.
I have had so much fun these last few years in the blogosphere with you.
These pics are a constant reminder of all we have conjured.
Haven't we had such great times?
The gypsy wagon all spookified.
I have such fun out there I tell ya.
I love when Mister Lovee joins in and becomes the fortune teller.
Oooooo!
Sooo creepy.
Offering me a wee treat.
He does all his own costumes and is soooo into the spirit of it all.
He quite surprised me that year when I saw an old witch rifling through the bushes.
Eeeeks!
He even acted in Old Tucson in the 80's.
He's got endless tricks up his sleeve, that one.
What does the crystal ball tell you?
What a wonderfully magical time.
I can almost smell the caramel apples and popcorn.
The candles, the pumpkins.
I am sooo inspired to have the best autumn ever.
What about you?
There is such magic that swirls in with the rains of late summer.
We had one of the hugest storms ever on Friday night.
Soooooo much rain, it was amazing.
Yesterday the whole place felt like a swamp, and the gypsy wagon was extra mysterious.
Odd when the desert turns to swamp on rare flooded monsoon moments.
With vines crawling all around the wagon.
Cool breeze sweeps into our crazy heat wave of endless days of 100+ degrees.
Reminding of what is to come.
My mind flutters with ideas and things I want to do.
Sooo many things.
All have to do with playing of some sort, of course.
As I get older I feel younger.
I am not sure what exactly is going on.
Is this normal, and should I feel this way, I ask you?
I have more frolic and skip in my heart than ever before.
Is growing up a choice?
I don't know any of these answers really.
But what I do know is that I want to make each day as wonderful as can be.
Live in the moment.
And, most of all, have a blast!!
(More photos from the gypsy garden Halloween here)
What sort of delicious shenanigans do you think we should plunge into?
Love, Vanessa
Ahh I love it!! I wish I could decorate my yard and such but it rains here waaay too much for that. So, I drag to the outside bits and bobs when I want to “play.” Speaking of, the more one plays, the younger one feels!! Keep on playing!!
Your posts always whisk me away to such enchanting, whimsical, magical places! Thank you for all the delight and inspiration you bring to my days! 🙂
In some respects, growing up is most definitely a choice, but in others, well….sometimes circumstances force us. 😉 But growing up does not have to equal growing boring; in fact, I think it means growing more interesting, more open minded, and more free-spirited, yes? As to shenanigans (and frivolity – they go together, you know), I’m anxiously awaiting the annual Halloween party. In the meantime, I’m sure you’ll think of something!
🖤 Carolee
Oh….I’d love to have my fortune told at the gypsy wagon! I love my visits to your little corner of the world. Thanks for having me.
Lovely post, thank you so much.
Such magic! Your Halloween parties are my favorite! And of course, I snap up the images when you offer them as cards too.
We have had more than our share of 100 degree days now too – I’m ready for some cooler fare.
Never, ever grow up!
Oh Yes :)… but please also remember and keep in mind those of Us who really enjoy Autumn celebrations more than Halloween celebrations.Autumn is so pretty and can be magical too.Does any one remember the old Oct.issue of Martha Stewart several Years ago,where She separated the magazine into two? One part for the cute Halloween/ Autumn and the other for scary Halloween. That would be nice to incorporate both…Me thinks 🙂
I love the Gypsy wagon, is it a permanent thing? If so how do you keep it dry?
I want to have a room like that one day, the decor is magnificent!
The older I get, the more I love the things from my childhood like faeries! I think maybe as we get older we allow ourselves to be more imaginative as we realise what others think does not matter!
That little area – the gypsy wagon, glittering stars, the lit-up amber-colored courtyard with the candles, vibrant fabrics, burstingly-round pumpkins, and the skulls, too…all of those things speak to my soul. They make me *sigh* and laugh and feel right at home in the magic you’ve created and invited into your home. As always, thanks ever so much for sharing this with us. Seeing this makes the daily routine less monotonous.
Side note, this year (because of Sean’s 7 yr old son,)I’m throwing a Halloween party for KIDS. I’ve been doing tons of Halloween research and pre-party shopping already. Yesterday I spent hours going through my special holiday cookbooks and scouring the internet for fun KID RELATED ideas. This is something I’m not used to – trying to entertain younglings. I’m exhausted already…but excited at the same time. It’s a challenge trying to figure out what’s scary but not TOOOOO scary that I freak them out and they start crying. More cute and less therapy-inducing scary. Hahahaha. SO YEAH. That’s what I’ve been up to lately.
Oh yes, the gypsy wagon is always out there. Well, it only rains a
few times a year around here but also, it has doors and it seals up, like a
little room. Its all safe and sound in there
🙂
Oooooh, yeah, I can imagine the “creepy” factor, Vanessa, when Mr. Lovee dresses up as the fortune teller. That’s one of those chill down the spine feelings, I think. : ) It sounds like he is very good that way, and we all know he is when it comes to your Mad Tea Party. How fun that Tucson place looks. Do you ever go to Ren Faires? I love to see how people dress up for the one by us. It is coming up at the end of the month and runs through October and, while I hate the porta potty deal, I do like to see the costumes and outfits people put together.
I think feeling/acting young keeps us young. So you just enjoy yourself, Vanessa!
Amasing! Awesome! I loooooove it!
Oh your Halloween’s past photographs are one of the reasons I fell in love with your magical world. Sparkle, spooky, and sweet all at once. Just the perfect combination. I’m stalking the stores for everything Halloweeny to come out right now! Michael’s is the only place that has anything yet!
It’s all so very wondrous….and the Gypsy Wagon one of my favorites. Your findings never seize to amaze me…Something new around every corner. Wonderful and oh so grand to visit.
I dare say that you are the Princess of Plunge,
And fair say that you and Mr. may be shenaniganeeuns.
Heres a few offerings for the sort:
Sugar snakes in graveyard dust,
Magic mice and witches flying mix dancing
With oranges and peppermint sticks.
The Silent Supper with candlelight,
Or making magic mirrors out of sight.
Souls light tins a whole harvest room.
Candied love apples and charm bags,
Full of necklaces who want to be charm bracelets,
And charm bracelets who want ot be necklaces.
Giant pumpkin punch bowls for
Water divination at midnight,too sea,
Who’s coming for pumpkin bread and harvest tea.
Gourd rattles or bowls ..mmwwhahahaha
A red heart leaf fell from a magic tree,
It flew on the winds of mystery,
My love found it and gave it to me.
No tree on our property had such a leaf.
A dream moment, early autumn treat.
On little breezes like sneezes. xo Pinkster
OOOH… so atmospheric, I just love it!
Teresa,
sugar, spice and whatever’s nice
I always love it when you post photos of the Gypsy wagon. It is a world apart from everyday life, so exotic and full of freedom. The care-free Gypsy life, the Bohemian Life, with it’s flamboyantly colorful scarves, drapery, carpeting, all mismatched but perfectly entwined together. And the one-of-a-kind bangles, and lamps, musical instruments played all in a summer’s eve. A get-away in your own back acreage. Like camping out in a spooky backyard long ago as a child. That rare feeling of belonging to another era. You have it all on your Gypsy acreage.
Autumn is definitely in the air!
May star sprinkles, and toasted marsh mellows follow the rest of your summer days.
Lots of love!
Miss Teresa
I want to live in your gypsy garden. I would be very quiet.
Vanessa, I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for so many years of inspiration, dreams and magic! I was inspired to host my own Hollowween parties after coming across your old Videos many years ago, of witches and apothecary shops. Since then you have evolved into color – craziness and then vignette – chaos as your photography skills grow and grow. Over the years, my friend and I who take turns hosting our parties, have seen a drop in attendance. In fact she told me that last year would be her last Halloween party. So, now I’m thinking of going in another direction, of a theme dinner party for some diehard Halloween friends. I would cut way back on my decorations which I put everywhere, and just have some key vignettes as well as a killer dinner tablescape. I wish I could share some photos with you from over the years, but I do not have a blog and so can’t participate in your Halloween party sharing. Perhaps soon as retirement is around the corner.
As far as ideas for your party this year, I love the fairy theme idea that the person posted above. That could be tied in with the gypsy wagon. Or, you could take it to a different place, and have a vampire theme with your gypsy wagon set in Romania.
Don’t you think Mr. Lovee would make an amazing vampire!
Oooooooo a Romanian gypsy vampire Halloween??? How fun is
that!!? Brilliant!!!
Thank you for the props of photography etc. I minored in photography
at the University of Arizona, and I miss those dark room late nights developing
photos, not knowing what you are going to get, what fun!!
I used to throw outrageous real world parties back in the day, it was
awesome!!!
My Halloween party was always a witches party, everyone came as a witch,
and I just had lots of crazy food and decorations, it was a blast!!
Warmest,
Vanessa
he would LOVE that, I must mention it to him for sure 😉
Blog: http://www.aFancifulTwist.com
Website: http://www.VanessaValencia.com
In a message dated 8/7/2014 9:07:52 A.M. US Mountain Standard Time,