Beauty…
Pretty things from nature.
They really hit the spot, don’t they?
Today I walked into a flutter of butterflies as I stepped out the office door.
I decided to go out and pick lots and lots of zinnias.
Zinnias love to be pruned.
The more you prune, the more they gift.
I threw a couple purple dahlias and some red and lilac roses in too.
But mostly, zinnias.
The butterflies chased me around.
When I was a little girl my grandma’s garden was so full of butterflies, you could hardly believe your eyes.
It felt like millions, all around, surrounding you in droves.
My cousins and I would capture them, and fill big jars with them.
Isn’t that horrible?
Then my Aunt Denise would find out what we had done and cry, and make us release the butterflies.
I was only 5.
I didn’t really understand why she was upset.
Now I do, of course.
Capturing butterflies.
How naughty.
I think about that every time I see a butterfly.
And I secretly tell them, don’t worry.
I am not into that anymore.
Haven’t been for 31 years.
🙂
Zinnias are such wonderful flowers.
They are so forgiving, and last for a couple weeks after they bloom, looking mighty nice.
Then you prune, and up come more and more and more.
Then they gift you seeds attached to the ends of their petals.
Really, what more could a person ask for?
Such a kind flower.
They also self seed, and pop up during monsoon season in the most curious places.
They seem to like the earth when it is extra extra hot.
Then they last until the first frost.
Lovely things.
Those zinnias.
Matty and I enjoyed them, he followed me around, as I was snipping.
Then, we sat in the gypsy wagon.
And he kissed my knee and my shoulder and my cheek.
What a guy.
I am so happy to be able to venture back into the gypsy wagon.
Since it isn’t sooo hot anymore.
Pretending I am delivering flowers to and fro.
Isn’t pretending awesome?
Remember when you were a kid, and you could pretend yourself to all sorts of places?
You’d stand with your friends and all plot where you were.
Who each character was.
A castle, a moat, a dragon.
And then, there you all were.
Running from the firey breathe of the dragon.
In long sparkly gowns.
All in your imagination.
Trees became castles.
Rocks became safe spots to get away from the wart mongers
in the surrounding swamp.
Magic was everywhere.
Man oh man, what an awesome gift that was.
Memories are the bestest.
Making them and reliving them.
Yumm.
Miles turns up with the mail.
He won’t give you the paper or the mail until you hand over a treat.
He’s so smart that boy.
Hello Martha Stewart!!!
(he ran all over the place with the mag in his mouth)
Yesterday he went to Petsmart for the first time after the vet.
Or was it Petco?
He loves toys.
He has a huge bag of toys, and drags it around.
He sits in the living room and plays with toys every evening.
Sometimes Matty will play tug of war with him.
They especially love if Mister Lovee plays toys with them.
Miles picked 3 toys for himself at the store.
He literally sniffed them all, and picked 3 from the $2.49 area.
As we were paying, a man came up to us, knelt down.
(a tall strong man, in his late 50’s)
Tears on his face.
And hugged and loved on Miles.
Then he stood up, put his hand to his heart, bent his head and said to me.
Thank you…
Oh my heart.
What a moment.
I figured he must have lost a pup that looked like Miles or something.
It was really so touching.
I know how he felt.
I love that Miles was so kind to him.
Well, I best be off to care for my boys, grill some chicken.
Pull together some sides, and voila.
Have you ever burned your eyebrows or eyelashes off turning on the gas grill?
Once, a lady I knew in real estate was curling her eyelashes while driving, and someone hit her, and she pulled out all of her eyelashes.
They never grew back.
On one eye.
I always think of that when I am tempted to do the same.
Imagine?
The pain?
Wholey Mackerel!
Okay, babbling brook.
Off I go.
Thank you for yesterday.
You are loves.
I hope you know you can e-mail anytime.
If you should need a shoulder yourself.
Here’s to smooth sailing, and the wisdom to know what to do if the wind changes.
xoxo
I’m so glad you feel better today, dear Vanessa…the story about Miles and the stranger brought instant tears ~ just a couple (you know why) even though I didn’t lose a sweet baby like Miles. All our babies and furbabies are connected, aren’t they? Just like we all are. This was an especially yummy-beautiful post…my poor zinnias have been looking soooo bad…but I think the recent rains will bring them back out until frost…sometime in November ~ yours are still wonderful, though…beautiful photos!! The bike/trike reminds me of one my Mom had…(though she never rode it, she had plans to!) I wish I still had it; I would paint it up pretty and use it for flowers, if nothing else! You know, one thing blogging has NOT done for me, is lessen my “hoarding tendencies” ~ 🙂 ~ I was getting better about NOT keeping every little thing (though I’ve never been in any danger of minimalism, don’t worry!), but now with looking at people’s blogs and Pinterest, I’m afraid I want to keep more!
And the memory of “pretending”…we “‘tended like” so many things, the little friends that lived around my Grandma’s house and I…Captain Hook and the Lost Boys (though we were mostly girls…:)…Bambi…I myself, at home on the farm with just the doggies, became one of them…LOL…so long ago!
Continued hugs sent your way!
Anne
Oh Vanessa, I am glad you are feeling better and I love your bushels of Zinnia LOVE!
Today your stories about your grandma’s garden and the butterflies, along with Miles and his meeting the man who hugged him with tears in his eyes, affect me emotionally. In a good way! The poor gal with the missing lashes is a WOWser! They never grew back on that side. Yikes! Let that be a lesson for all of us!
Just being you and sharing all your creativeness, loves and disappointments brings me JOY as I feel I have a kindred spirit. <3
I love your blog. Your colorful flowers are gorgeous and your pups are wonderful. I’m glad you’re feeling better today. Diane
The gentleman who hugged Miles brought tears to my eyes, the lady w/ the missing eyelashes brought tears to my eyes too, but for a totally different reason. Teary roller coaster. :0)
I’m glad you’re feeling better! The flowers are beautiful! We just had a light frost but not bad enough to hurt anything yet. My husband had a similar driving situation. A young girl driving behind him had a cup of coffee in one hand & was putting on lipstick with the other. Everyone had to stop fast & she hit him since she wasn’t paying very much attention to the driving part. He was a little perturbed but then amused when he saw her. There was coffee all over her car & lipstick all over her face! I guess a little justice was served.:)
Oh that’s such a sweet story about Miles, your doggies are both so gorgeous, and that eyelash story made me laugh out loud, so funny. I shall make sure to never do that!
I love this post, Vanessa! I have always loved zinnias. I need to look into planting some next year, especially if they love the heat. There’s puhlenty of that to go around in my neck of the woods come summertime. The beautiful zinniac colors make me feel so happy. I especially love the salmon-y pink!
What a beautiful serendipitous moment you provided for the man at the pet shop. I probably would have started crying myself as I witnessed his reliving a special memory while showing love to my own fur boy. Yes, that is wonderful that Miles was sweet to him.
Eeek about the eyelash story! A cautionary tale to us all!
Bellisimas las flores.
I am so very happy that you are feeling better. It helps to share days like that with people that care very much for you. I’m glad that you shared.
Many tears have been shed because of other amimals in different settings, a very special moment that we can give others with our furry friends. Great story and Post. The colors are amazing.
Miles!!! You’re looking mighty handsome today. I’m sure you are enjoying your new toys. I’m not surprised to hear that you brought tears to that gentleman’s eyes…you’re a special boy.
P.S. Tell your mama I said “HELLO!!!!”
Your pictures are beautiful! Miles and Matty too! You must live on a magical piece of property! I have 7 acres and always dreamed i would make it like a Better Homes & Gardens spread, but then I was a bit creeped out when I saw all the spiders and creepy things! (It’s Michigan, so nothing too seriously creepy)Your pictures are very inspiring, I will try harder this spring;)because when I look at your pictures, I can imagine how wonderful it must be to walk thru all those flowers and butterflies!! I too used to capture them, and fireflies, but I have taught my little girl how wrong it is, and so we just enjoy watching them as they do their thing! Hope you are feeling better, it appears you are 🙂
I love your zinnias, Vanessa! What beautiful bouquets they make with all those lovely colors.
Think I’ll go out and prune some zinnias. And save some seeds for next year.
Beautiful pictures.
And love the store about the man in the store with Mattie.
Somewhere I read that butterflies only live one day. Surely that can be true.
Now I’m off to find a Barnes and Noble coupon I printed off and have lost.
I LOVE that first picture with the pumpkin. Postcard or print worthy, I think. The zinnias are beautiful. My mom and grandma always called them “zinnies”.
Your blog is always a treat, Vanessa. Glad you are feeling better.
Oh – you had me at “zinnias” I love them so!
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Oh, I want to pretend again.
Laughing so hard about those eyelashes!!!
My college boy and I are sitting here reading together and the Petsmart story charmed us both!! Pets are the most wonderful things, nooooooo doubt. Man, dude.
I’ve been away from blogland tending to Honey Man’s surgery recovery. I feel like I’ve been away forever. I’m so sorry you were feeling blue and having a rotten time of things the other day. Me and the Delicious send big furry hugs and love for your happiness and smiles.
Playing Pretend is what we used to call imaginative play back in the day. Admittedly Queenie’s mind doth wonder in flights of fancy at least once a day. I know, crazy, but I believe it keeps me sane and staves off the big bouts of the blues. Somehow I think the small bouts of the blues are part of being human and keep me thankful for the happiest of times.
How totally awesome that Miles shared his furry love with that man!!! I’m having a wee Kleenex moment myself. Its those memories that live forever. What a good fur baby he is!
Have a wonderful weekend!
Always, Queenie
Beautiful story….Miles is a sweetheart…I lost my black lab 2 months ago and know how that man felt. Beautiful…beautiful. Thank you…and love your bicycle
When I was little, i spent every workday at my aunt & uncles’ house. They had a finished basement where the let the kids play. Hanging in the center was a wooden swing, the kind usually found on front porches. My oldest cousin and take me to the swing and we would go on flying trips. He would start pushing the swing with his legs and would hold my hand (so I wouldn’t fall out) and he’d ask me where we should fly that day. we would fly over my grandparents house, to mars, to disney world, to england…anywhere we wanted to go 🙂
How sweet your Miles is. Love, love zinnias. I planted some this year, but I guess our weather was too cool and they never made an appearance. Sniff! I will enjoy your zinnias and my roses.
Hooray for zinnias! I love them too now thanks to you and how much your seeds have taken off in my garden. I finally sent out your package a couple days ago (I know I am a very bad blog friend who probably shouldn’t hold giveaways anymore because I can never send things out on time) so let me know if it doesn’t show up for some reason! I hope you like it.
I love these sentiments: Here’s to smooth sailing, and the wisdom to know what to do if the wind changes.
That eyelash story—-eeeegads!
Can you IMAGINE?????
I use them, but eyelash curlers freak me out.
Those zinnias. Wow. Those coraly pink ones are my favorite. But they all turn out the nicest colors, don’t they?
I think it’s so funny Miles is taking a chunk out of Martha.
You should make him a Martha doll.
magnificent colours, beautiful words. Thank you. Emalina x
Your zinnias are truly magical!!!! What beautiful colors – sort of makes the summer last a bit longer. I can imagine the butterflies flitting around you, as you picked these lovelies. What a story about Miles and his admirer. A very poignant moment…and one that will always be remembered by all.