It's happening.
The time is here.
That time of year where things happen, that only happen once a year.
Things you just can't miss.
Things you are inspired to endlessly take part in.
So you brew some tea and grab some treats, and off you go to immerse yourself in…
Apricot Blossoms!
Oh apricot blossoms!
They're here.
And with them come the bees and butterflies as well.
Everyday there are more blossoms, and I am there to drink in their scent.
Milk and honey.
We are there early morning…
As the sun comes over the mountains.
Oh Spring, you are here so early!
Thank you.
Ten days away from spring equinox, hooooray!
We ooo and aaaah.
Play with pups.
Watch spider webs in early light.
Watch bees delight once the sun wakes them.
Cousins run and play.
As I blossom obsess.
All sorts of butterflies flutter about.
Love them so.
As we all wait for more.
Like popcorn popping open.
Sky and blossom, what a sight.
Winds are intense and blow petals around, creating a perfectly lovely movie quality scene.
How silly would we be, if we didn't have picnics two and three, in celebration of such things?
To nature's beckoning we oblige.
Don't have to ask us twice.
Tea and fruit, and baguettes too.
The occasional visitor comes by.
My best guests stay the whole time.
We are surrounded by the most curious specimen.
I love these (below), they happen naturally around here.
They are positively wonderlandish, aren't they?
Do you know what they are, by chance?
I've enjoyed them for 14 years now, and I am so glad they turn up like early spring clock work.
Some of my guests roll around, gazing up through the trees.
Making hilarious faces.
Mesmerized it seems.
I look up too.
Lay back and watch.
We nibble this and that.
Some of my guests need etiquette lesson though, me thinks?
Haha.
Stealing baguettes off the plate and all.
Although, they are so sweet and enjoyable.
How can one stop to say no?
I just sip and smile.
I'm so glad they are here and well.
Here and happy.
Here and tea party picnic loving.
Delightful boys.
Who cares about etiquette anyway?
Especially when these days, it's all about…
The giant apricot tree!
Sitting happily, right at the farthest point of our back garden.
Beyond the vegetable garden.
Just looking over us all.
With more blooms to come.
As we wait.
Eagerly.
Patiently.
Spring really hits the spot.
I've been listening to Vivaldi lately.
Concerto's in G major.
Which is funny because, one of my best friend's in College and I, had nicknames for each other.
And, one of her nicknames for me was Vivaldi, hahaha!
She's the only one who ever called me that, so Vivaldi always makes me think of her with fondness.
I suppose some Vivaldi and Spring Allegro is quite apropos?
Because of the blossoms and all.
Are you in a snowy place?
Just think of how green and wonderful everything will be there when spring arrives, after all that snow?
Snow makes our fruit trees so happy.
We have had a whole winter of 68' – 80' with no real winter to speak of.
And for the mood I am in, I am sorta glad for it.
I am in the mood for sun and spring.
I hope we aren't pan fried in summer though.
Well, I have a slew of chores and studio things I should attend to.
I hope you are doing lovely.
Do fill me in on all your shenanigans, I love hearing them!
See you soooon!
Looove, V
Beautiful!
Vanessa:
This is just full of swoons. So dreamy and magical. So much loveliness can be found in the most simple things in life…blossoms, blue skies, puppy picnics. I am swooning still.
xoxo
Kim
Gerushia’s New World
I was going to say a big SWOON here too. Oh to have apricot blossoms and a sweet time under the tree. You create quite a lovely, dreamy picture there.
What a gorgeous tree and beautiful setting. I love your bluebird tea pot. I just got a bluebird cup at the thrift store and will show it off on my blog tomorrow. We’ve had a mild winter here in Florida…I love it! Sweet hugs to you my friend!
Oh my, how bright and beautiful!
I love the cousins playing and I am so envious that your spring is like our summer…
How beautiful! Makes me want to picnic! AND have dogs!
They are so delightful!
Jealous! And here I thought we were doing well with a high of 65 today. Your pictures give me hope for an early spring here in Iowa……Really I will just be glad when all the snow melts! Your blog makes my winter a bit more tolerable. LOVE all the colors.
That is the best. picture. ever. Mattise, staring up into the sky. I am loving loving loving that, and it should be a postcard in the Fanciful Twist shop PRONTO.
Seriously. Puppy LOVE!!!!
I mean the apricot tree IS gorgeous, don’t get me wrong, and I’m all giddy today with blue skies and swaying leaves….
…but oh that picture.
XOXOVVIIXOXOX
uhoh, it wasn’t Matty! My bad!! hahaha!!!
M name all the same 😉 Miley or Miles indeed. You should hear me, I go Matty, I mean Douglas, I mean MILES!! hahaha!
Oh Miss Vanessa, I nearly faint from the joy when I see your beautiful flowers and greenery. I miss the sunny days. Yes, we are in Michigan where it is very snowy… on the ground that is. today it was 49…ahhh… the trickling of water cascading down the driveway from the melting snow… I can smell Spring, she is right around the corner. I can see how happy Miles and Matty were at the picnic you made. It is all so wonderful.
This post is like a dream! We still have 4 foot snow banks here and I am so looking forward to spring teas.
Thank you for showing us how happily simple life can be. Miles and Matty look so relaxed and happy. The pic of Miles looking up is priceless, and Matty looks very content with the baguette. What sweet companions!
Ps. The wildflower could be a Henbit Deadnettle. Here is the link to it on Firefly Forest- http://www.fireflyforest.com/flowers/1376/lamium-amplexicaule-henbit-deadnettle/
Your furry boys are a riot with their funny faces and stealing the tea time food!
I adore the owl tea plates too! So divine!
I still have apricot jam from a year ago when I canned. There just weren’t many apricots on the tree in 2013, as the rain had knocked down most of the blossoms. So I will be interested to see how the blossoms fared this year here, as it also rained during the blossoming time. You tree is so full of blossoms! Some years our tree has had branches break when there has been tons of apricots and I have had to thin out the fruit. I know you have shown photos where you had to prop up the branches of your tree for support when the apricots begin to ripen. Looks like lots of fun work ahead for the summer!
Oooo! And what an unusual flower/plant from wonderland! It looks like the fairies turned a gnome into a flower! Hee! Hee!
I do love this time of year too!
Miss Teresa
That is exactly it, thank you thank you!!!! 3
Blog: http://www.aFancifulTwist.com
Website: http://www.VanessaValencia.com
In a message dated 3/10/2014 8:43:49 P.M. US Mountain Standard Time,
Miss Teresa, the giantapricot tree does decent fruit wise, but our
peach tree is the shining star. It a twisty weird lil tree, but it gifts
hundreds and hundreds of peaches. Not sure how this year will do with no
snow or winter to speak of, cant wait to see the peach blossoms turn up.
Loooove that you still have apricot jam, yummmms!!
Blog: http://www.aFancifulTwist.com
Website: http://www.VanessaValencia.com
In a message dated 3/10/2014 8:50:06 P.M. US Mountain Standard Time,
I enjoy just how much You enjoy life and how much You appreciate what You’ve been given.I want to be more like You Dear One.Please drop by and see what I did last weekend-Your boys would have loved it.Love hugs to You
I believe your precious little purple flower is “henbit”, Lamium amplexicaule.
It is for sure, I did look it up and it is, thanks so much! 😉 Also,
to find out it is edible is super interesting 🙂
Blog: http://www.aFancifulTwist.com
Website: http://www.VanessaValencia.com
In a message dated 3/11/2014 9:47:21 A.M. US Mountain Standard Time,
Such an absolutely gorgeous tree, it’s beautiful. We are having spring now and I love taking my camera with me on my morning and afternoon walks. You never know what you’ll find. I’ve taken so many beautiful photos of the Bay and the gorgeous trees blooming around here. I’m in my planting mode now and cannot seem to stay away from the plant shops. I’m headed again tomorrow to pick up some more! I tend to plant perennials because I love to see them come back every year but I do plant some annuals here and there for added color and texture.
The boys are so beautiful! I love the smile on your retriever he melts my heart! 😉
How old is your beautiful apricot tree Miss V? Do you get just a ton of apricots?
I love your owl plate! Is this one of your older or newer finds? The boys look so contented having a picnic there with you and there cuz! So Fun!!! 😉
How beautiful!! I believe those strange flowers are some sort of fairy plants.
QUOTE: “I hope we aren’t pan fried in summer though.”
No kidding and that’s perfectly expressed, although knowing where I live, I’d expect nothing less than that. Oh well, there has to be balance after the stunning “winter” we always have in Florida. I just hope the mild temps of Spring stick around a bit longer. The 20th of this month is when the calendar officially switches us.
Your picnic underneath the apricot tree is a slice of heaven…just gorgeous and the smiles on your furry companion faces prove it. So cute. Hahaha.
I’m hanging in there for that green springtime! Snow snow snow, just got another blizzard. I want to lay out in the grass with Remington and have a french picnic!
Lovely post and photos! I love getting a glimpse into your world! The purple flower is henbit. It is a wild edible weed in the mint family. I am a forager and herbalist and include henbit as a regular part of my diet, when I can. The young leaves are usually preferred, it is high in iron and fiber. It is delicious fresh in a green salad, or dried and made into a tea. It has a history of being used to reduce fever.
★ love your blog sooo much! ★ great storys, great pics, great person,great artist! best wishes and cant wait to see more! di and the ooshulumms ;0)
Magical, magical, magical..what more can I say? 🙂
Except that I loooove the pictures of the boys!!! Bliss for everyone, that is very clear!
We do have some snow, with more to come, but I am looking forward to the luscious crabapple blossoms…in so many colors…our whole street is covered in them …soon!
xoxoxo
How absolutely idyllic! The apricot blossoms are so lovely. 🙂 I cannot believe you have bees and skippers already! I shall gladly welcome them here. Those strawberries…yum. They are my favorite fruit. 🙂 Thanks for sharing the beauty – I cannot wait for it to arrive here!
Yay for dog picnics! Violet says “I really like your blog Vanessa. It’s so nice. You did a good job on that spider web picture.”
Lovely! This is exactly the kind of thing that keeps me going.
Wishing, wishing for Spring.