Today I had a face slap moment. I realized (whilst in the height of watering), that I am so immersed in the keeping green alive and all other chores of summer, that summer just might have passed me by, if I hadn't caught myself. Phew!
Everyday, I do my garden chores (as you have heard ten million times by now). As of now, there are ten areas I water and check. It's a lot. It is hot. You might have wondered, why does she do this??? Doesn't she have anything else to do?
Why yes'm, I sure do. Gulp gulp.
But the thing is, I can't help myself. I am sort of addicted in this odd way.
I just love the garden. It is out of my control. I HAVE to do it (this thing called gardening). Something about an itch in my soul, or one of those insane things that make us do the things we do.
Everyday I put on one of my hats.
No hat, no me outside.
(I have two faves)
Then I double up on crisp cotton Eileen West's, and off I go…
Not the most proper wardrobe, I suppose.
But, I do add one of Mister Lovee's shirts to go out to the mailbox, or to greet a guest. I don't go farther than that in said attire. No worries. (Oh wait, I do run down the street to my neighbor's cottage from time to time)
If a close friend comes over, I hand her a thin crisp cotton gown of mine, to throw on. One of my friends questioned my attire from time to time, until she came over to play in the garden, and I let her put one on.
Then she kept saying, oh oh, this is great. This is great! It's so great!
Keeps you cool, and is pretty too!
Yes I know.
I am no fool.
Well, at least not when it comes to avoiding heat stroke.
click.
On days when I am feeling extra wilty (after to do list), I hide out here.
A place you have spied before…
I fear, my shenanigans continue from season to season..
Have you ever had a bath or shower in the garden?
With birds flying around you, and leaves glistening in the sun?
I dunno, but somehow the soap and shampoo makes it curiously different from a swimming pool.
It is mighty glorious.
Trust me.
I told Lovee that, being out there with the birds and the music, and the whole bit, is sort of borderline almost ridiculously too good. So good that, it's silly good.
I make sure to have my dandy lil' radio with me, tuned to 690 a.m.
Nothing like vintage tunes, while bathing in the garden.
The last time I was in there, I was overjoyed with this and this.
Splash splash!
And fresh treats too!
Golden sun…
Baths for everyone!
Tomatoes, parsley, chives, basil, peppers, chilies, pumpkins, cucumbers, evening primrose and a volunteer black eyed susan…
Ripening up…
So many tomato vines this year, all planted from tiny seeds.
Tomato delights, here we come.
(I have grown to love tomatoes, by growing them in my garden. I still don't like wooly warm restaurant tomatoes. They freak me out.)
Can't wait to start collecting.
Although, I must confess. I ate lots of little cherry tomatoes straight off the vine over the last month, and then devoured a huge red ripe one, with Mister Lovee, under the moon light…
I don't know about other gardeners, but for me, there comes a point where I start to feel a tinge overwhelmed, when the days get way hot and long. And then, when the veggies and fruits and flowers start to show up, all of those feelings pass. Then, you are so happy you forged on…
(Are you growing anything? Are you addicted too?)
We're all happy.
Waving to you madly, from our desert jungle!!!
Love, Vanessa
and Matty
and Miles
and the birds
and the bees
and Lovee too.
ps: You have to see this kitchen in a cupboard link, that my sis sent me. (something is wrong with the link off and on, but here are the photos by Culshaw Bell) By the by, here is an updated link to the company that carries these, right here.
pss: Funny tale-
Every morning I have to delete spammers that have left comments in my blog posts. Sometimes they choose blog posts that are years old to post comments at, and sometimes, they are really funny (but mostly just annoying).
So, today, I received this one on a Paper Garland Tutorial blog post…
" I will always care about the content of your hair. Thank you!"
(Left by some drug company)
Hahahaheheheee!
I can't get over it.
It is so funny.
Why, I love to carry around possums and lady bugs and nests and baby turtles in my hair. What are the contents of your hair these days?? Pray tell? I myself, will always care about the content of YOUR hair too, dear friends! hahaheheee!
Silly spammers.
I love reading about your gardening! Love the pictures as well. It is amazing how you make the desert bloom. Hugs /Therese
Gardening is something I can’t Not do so I relate 🙂 Wonderful post, as always!!!
The contents of my hair? I would wish for an extra set of hands. I’ve got mine so very full these days, I’m finding it hard to keep up!
Love your garden shenanigans. I haven’t been able to do much in mine this spring/summer, but come next year, just you wait!
Today I have birdseed in my hair. 😀 😀
I’m addicted to my garden, too. Yeehaw!
they freak me out too…those tomatoes. V! I’m in Chicagoooh! What adventures here!
those silly spammers want me to be more erect…hmmm, guess they are talking about my posture?
i love your outdoor shower and bath…awesome!
I carried a bit of chocolate in mine this morning when I arrived back home after a plane ride and a loooong nightly bus ride!
How lovely your outdoors bath looks <3
Hi Miss Vanessa! What a truly BLISSFUL post you have today. I loved every moment of this. I can just imagine being there, frolicking around in the garden with you and the pups and the birds and bees. 🙂 Enjoy every amazing minute in your garden, Vanessa. It really is a sanctuary!!! 🙂 That kitchen in a cupboard is so cool – I want one! LOL What a space saver. I get those occasional weird spammy comments, too. Although the last one was a bit disturbing – it was a tirade against American women. Whatever. Have a BEAUTIFUL weekend!!!! xoxo
DEAR Vanessa because U inspired me I tried growing in large pots the smaller variety of sunflowers and added marigolds this summer. I had some problems and I will go with the larger variety of sunflowers next year. I too spend my mornings with my dog watering my various potted plants. I sooo enjoy this time and it fulfills me. It does get hot fast out here in Phoenix and I admire your commitment to such a large garden. I must say you blow my mind with the amount of watering you do everyday. I do love to see all your posts and how you keep such beauty alive. Your bath time looks sooo wonderful and I can imagine is such a treat. I do understand your love for the garden and how it gives back to your soul. Now about your hair! Hee Heehee haw haw heehee! Too funny! 😉
It sounds like you are enjoying Summer just fine, Vanessa! Your garden looks lovely. That little kitchen is amazing. That would be so great in all these little houses that seem to be the darling of the moment.
I keep hoping one day you will throw a party or something wonderful & invite readers to your lovely gardens & gypsy wagon. I live in Tempe & have never seen a place in this desert as amazing as yours.
Wow – what a fantastic post!
1st – I am obsessed with your rose Dr.-bag-satchel-type bag – lovely!
2nd – Always enjoy views of the garden. The bath tub is especially dreamy. I have yet to take a bath outside, but I have showered outdoors and it’s heavenly – especially if it happens to be raining.
3rd – The contents of your hair! Let’s see, the contents of my hair…? On a good day, maybe some rose petals, a bit of ice cream, and definitely a dog or two. 😉
Missy V, have you and Lovee checked into a water “drip” system for watering your garden? Plants do not like overhead water, unless it’s rain water. The chemicals in “tap” water makes them “crazy”. Just a suggestion, but I did garden for 35 years before I got crippled up. The poop lady.
I love outdoor showers! I have never had an outdoor bath, but yours looks like heaven!
Miss darling Jackie, the bulk of our garden is on heavy duty industrial irrigation, but my spots, that I plant myself every spring/summer, are watered with our well water, by hand. And sometimes, I go crazy giving them a bath, even though they don’t love it 😉 I like to hope that maybe, they might like it a little, tee hee 😉
What a beautiful space and beautiful place! Lucky you!
In my hair hide baby bunnies, a salt shaker for the tomatoes and a few crows who have moved into my backyard.
My garden is so full of green tomatoes and peppers of all sorts. My herbs have been dressing up my salads with parsley, thyme,oregano..oh have you tried a bit of fresh oregano on a veggie cheese sandwich…yum…and my basil is just waiting to become a lovely pesto.
Haha! I got a nice giggle from imagining possums, ladybugs and baby turtles in your hair. You’re a hoot!
Love your post today! Since I first saw your outdoor bath I have been pining for my own. *sigh* Someday when I have my own ‘space’!
Love your garden and I admire your dedication to it. I have a small front yard veggie/herb garden and with the heat that’s been sneaking up on us I’ve been out there at first light lugging out my watering cans to give it a daily sprinkle. To get me going I sometimes tell myself “If Vanessa can do it, so can you!” 😀
Contents of my hair.. well, usually a could of kitties, a pencil, hair sticks, and my hair flower of the day. But when I’m outside it’s my funky funky straw cowboy hat! *grin*
Long time no been around! I’ve missed your blog — things have been crazy!
Your shower looks soooo refreshing!
You are living like an oasis goddess…
Do you have plans to put a ‘kitchen in a cupboard’ in your cottage? Then you could have tea inside with the fairies!
My daughter is having a Mad Hatter Tea Party over at our brick ‘mansion’ this week with her day care kids…I will be sure she takes photos and maybe I can post them on my blog at some point.
Naughty me…I didn’t even tell her I participated online with my own Mad Tea Party!
I will have to give her your blog link so she can see what everyone did whilst holding their own versions of your Mad Tea Party. (This past June was one of the craziest yet for being busy!!!).
I love your hats, BTW, and your flowing, delicate dresses you wear to keep cool in the summer sun. Might as well be feminine whilst you do your gardening.
Ta, ta
Miss Teresa
Loved your post. Love the outdoor bath and shower. That must be amazing.
On my days off I love to get up early and go out and check my plants, water all the pots and flowers in the flower bed. I planted white marigolds this year and they are full of tiny buds, can’t wait til they open.
The print arrived. Its lovely. Thank you so much.
Spammers want me to share my info so they can give me tons of money.
In my hair…hmmmm….more memory.
Dear Vanessa, the water spraying downward from your tree shower looks soo refreshing. If I were you, I would stand under that spray multiple times while I was out working in the garden. Ooooh, that would feel good and make the heat more bearable, too. Do you ever do that?
Oh, and that kitchen in a cupboard! You should consider that for your lovely little cottage!
Another thing I must add. Very important for you to know. I will always care about the content of your hair, tooooooooo! It must always have a proper misting of fairy dust.
Dear Ms V, your garden is LOVELY! I don’t blame you for spending mucho tiempo out there!
P.S. Do you have a link/button I can grab to add to my blog? I MUST share you with my family and friends!
Vanessa,
Speaking of bathing outside, try reading Saving Ceecee Honeycutt. There is much talk of fanciful outdoor plumbing!
PS. Hay and horse dander in my hair today!
GREAT POST! Your veggies look divine! But, most of all I LOVE your idea of bathing/showering in the garden. Where did you get the white dresses? LOVE THEM! And they would keep you cool. Jeans are sooooooo hot. Thanks for sharing!
Charlene
What I enchanting garden that you have! If only I could have one like yours (well if could only have one at all!). I can understand this gardening addiction, my mother has the same 🙂 we say in frech “avoir le pouce vert” (having a green tumb)!
Seeing pictures of your garden is just total bliss. I understand the addiction. I’m a gardening addict myself.
Gardeners Anonymus The Netherlands ; )
Have a magical day.
The idea of an outdoor bath sounds just gorgeous. Although I’m not sure what our neighbours would think if I started splashing around outside :-0.
My hair sometimes feels so heavy that I’m sure I’ve got bricks hiding up there. 🙂
Dear Vanessa, your garden bath looks dreamy. Your pictures are so beautiful I can really imagine being there. I always visit your blog on a Sunday before the new week starts, for it is like a special delicious treat.
It is your blog that inspired me to start my own, although I really am dragging my heels at the moment. I always think I am too busy, but when I see all the art, gardening , cooking and everything you do, well I have no excuse!
I see nothing wrong with venturing out to water plants or fetch mail in your Eileen West’s. You are plenty covered, much more than those in a swimsuit or none.
Your tomatoes look lovely and a bath in the garden sounds divine. I have an outdoor shower to rinse off sand and and dirt that we might have on us after a visit to the beach down below. But to linger, indulging in a lovely bath amongst tree, bush and flowers, all sounds so very lovely. I just adore the kitchen in a cupboard and think it might be nice to have one in our guest suit. What a clever idea.
Thanks for sharing this.
Wishing you a beautiful day….
Wow! I LOVE your garden and your outdoor bath! Every time I see it I fall in love more…..and wish that I could have one! Just DREAMY……
I thought I was the only one who gardened in their nightgown.
Love from one fellow desert gardener to another,
~elaine~
Those spammers are pretty funny sometimes…sometimes not:)
Could your outdoor shower pics be anymore beautiful…I think not.
x..x
Thank you for your inspiration over the year. Im finally making me a patio garden hide away. I have an old wicker hanging swing and metal chair and table my ex finally gave me,they were in their junk storage place for 20 years. I have a few plants, veggies in containers, citronella candles and twinkly christmas lights,I call them fairy lights. I also have a home made fire pit. I love to eat ,watch movies on my laptop ,read, sleep anything out there.
Hello Miss Vanessa…
What a delight to seeing Mother Nature & yourself put on a beeautiful show of garden delight…
I didn’t get the chance to plant a garden on the 4th in honor of my grandmother Ann (she would have loved to have seen your garden) but I promise to do one this weekend…
I know its late in the year but I’m going do a little cheating and buy plants already started…I purchased a statue of St. Ann with Mary (the Blessed Mother) when she was a little girl a while ago, but I plan on placing them in the garden in honor of my grandma…
Time to call it a night ~ Have a honey of a night, sweet dREaMs! ;O) xox
Most days the contents of my hair consists of tiny leaves from the evergreen elms, shine drops, and currently little spots of baby sticky.
Oh oh oh Vanessa!!! The shot of the sun bursting through the trees is so fabulous. Actually awe-inspiring! It should be used in the dictionary to illustrate “glorious”.
So happy to have moments again to spend with you in Bizarre, Arizona. **kisskiss** Deb
Happy Happy Desert Home!
I love addictions, I really do. i think having them makes life sweeter.
You have a great garden. I just have to grow tomatoes too. I water them by hand although I have a drip system for one bed and for the house. (We have to water the house foundation in this part of the country to keep it from cracking due to shifting clay.)
Thanks for putting this together – this is a great article for those of us with our heads buried in the keyboard all day.