Wednesday, July 31, 2013

In the garden and beyond

Lovely cool morning today... mud kissing my feet, thorns tattooing my skin, the smell of fresh earth in my body, in my hair; freckles, blameless wrinkles, and then... then there is this freshness; this glorious newness all around—the second spell of summer, I called it.
 
 
Rose bushes are in full bloom again, indescribable gorgeous marvelous roses... roses hanging from my kitchen windows, roses bursting through my bedroom window... I am trying to store all the magic I see around me in all the quiet spots of my person, so that I may conjure them forth when needed be.  
 
 
 
 
  
The grapevines are almost reaching their fullness—bunching types of grapes ready to offer all their goodness by the end of summer... it's so easy to grow some spectacular grapes around here... and all because of this unique combination of geography, climate and soils found in our valley...


Late summer perennials are filling up my little world with glorious color too...

 
 

Strange little surprises found along the way...


A sign, hidden trails and passageways... an invitation to imagination and some enchanted places...
 
 
Predictable things... unpredictable happenings
 
 
Fairies flitting across a woodland glade... a witch's cottage


found at the bottom of the garden...


and her lovely tomatoes vines growing outside...
 
 
Things that always, always, know how to enchant and take my breath away.

 
Look around, wherever you are, my friend! 
Enchantment is waiting...
Love, joy, peace, mirth and all the good vital forces are
about us just as the atmosphere,
 but because we are sometimes a little blind
we only believe in what we can actually see. 
 
 

Sunday, July 28, 2013

Tucking memories away

 Wrapped in Nature's loving arms


A summer bed tucked under grapevines...

Lovers being lullaby to sleep by the enchanting songs of the night...

Under fairy lights like floating stars


Dreamy gypsy nights...


and then...



THE garden looks glorious resting comfortably in the palm of summer; sinuous and lovelier than ever. I am entranced by this green lushness and beauty; the amount of life buzzing, and bustling and growing in it; spellbound I am, rapt in light and deep thoughts as I see, and hear and feel—the hand which sustains it all; this hand which moves the skies and pours out the rains, creating, nourishing, caring for every organism in our beautiful world and beyond it. I am but a speck of dust in the hands of my Creator—waiting, as with all living thing under the sun to be feed and filled with His wonderful peace and light and every goodness there is. "For every beast of the forest is Mine, the cattle on a thousand hills. I know every bird of the mountains, and everything that moves in the field is Mine" (Psalms 50).

I'm tiptoeing over my dream to retain it; be able to keep flowing, keep dreaming... and perhaps, keep the strangers away? For how would I ever forget and forgive myself for throwing away my dream—this Paradise-garden of mine? Would it be cared for when I leave... would it be neglected, ignored? Would it be loved? And if so, how well will it be loved? Would it be enough?

I'm taking it with me—taking my garden with me tucked in my heart in the way of memories... a wedding, a dear little fairy, a baby singing, bright nights, rose petals, a sleepy kitty amidst the hostas, the music of a saxophone beyond the garden gates, birds singing, the miracle of a hummingbird, the song of the cicadas, the gathering of four generations, a dog the color of the sunset, memories tucked away in my heart and mind to store them away so I can later carefully look at them with perspective that only time can provide.


Thursday, July 25, 2013

Little big things

Roses from the garden, dried in their water...



Morning coffee, with cream and sugar and a dust of cinnamon



A chunky candle on a vintage saucer... some rose petals scattered around.



An old basket holding some pretty plates and some freshly cut roses from the garden



I have started packing up things—mostly kitchen utensils; glassware and pitchers, dinnerware and delicates that are not used on a regular basis. While sorting through my beloved stash of junk jewelry I got sentimental. How could I part from it, or give it away? But I had to. And thus, I have gotten rid of a lot of the thing that I adored, but were really not essential.
     

 
 

I'm starting to really enjoying the thought of moving South; the thoughts of a new home, the view of the wide opened country and fields and fields of peaches and lovely country houses adorned with yellow jasmine... of offering a final farewell to Father Winter and not even feeling a bit sorry for this... to fly along fireflies at the kiss of nightfall—like that first time, a few weeks ago when we visited what is to be our new hometown...  and how these fascinating creatures came out that evening just to greet me; to welcomed me to their home with twinkling lanterns on wispy wings.

I don't know when it is most beautiful down there,—when it rains and the heat raises up and lies along the fields in delicate mists, or in the morning when you hear the most enchanting song you have ever heard and you look over the tall cypresses and white hickories and see the red cardinal shimmering in the light of the morning as though it were some miraculous flame. And them there are those lovely evenings of the South; soft and warm, growing dimmer and dimmer beyond sight, swooning away through tender gradations of greens and gold. I seem to be seeing it all now for the first time again, with new eyes... what a lovely, lovely place that is. And although my truest heart is still here, and part of it will always be, I am now embracing the expectation of a new beginning. I am ready for it. I am excited.

Monday, July 22, 2013

Some boho love...

I'm craving color lately...


Craving bohemian style—in my home décor and clothes
 

 
But only if you have a taste for something a little 'unconventional' you could understand how I feel, of course...
 

 
Craving fabulous prints and soft fabrics...
 
 
So I went hunting for treasures and found myself a few hand-me-downs and thrift store lovelies...
 

This adorable fairy tunic blouse and avocado green plastic sandals.  They're so comfortable and chic... They're my favorite shoes right now.  Love them! 
 
 
Love these tan leather shoes.  I have three very similar pair of shoes... just like these ones; only a few variations in the design, but very similar...  guess I'm attracted to this style and color of shoes.
 
 
I’m really loving the colors and patterns in this gorgeous dress. 
 

I'm finding myself less afraid to mix and match textures, colors and pattern when it comes to my decorating style...

 

This is just some marvelous remnants of fabric, or pieces of fabrics that someone put together and then decided to give away—tucked in a slapdash fashion over my $80 couch. Love it. Thank you to whoever made it!


In a world when so many people jump all over whatever trend is hot at the moment there's definitely something very refreshing about those who do the unexpected.

 

Our realtor is coming tomorrow to place the "For Sale" sign in our front yard. The painters are coming on Sunday to paint some of my furniture. I'll show you the colors I've chosen later. We have finished working on all those boxes we'd kept in our garage for years. We have painted and cleaned all doors and trims and have gifted and given away a lot (and I mean a lot) of my treasures... I just hope I won't regret having done this later, but right now it feels marvelous. I feel lighter; as if a heavy weight has been lifted off my shoulders. Getting rid of many of the things not required or needed to live a healthy happy life it's some sorts of a catharsis—an emotional release and purification of the soul. I say, 'try it'! Even if you are not moving or planning on moving. It cleans you up inside, really!

A huge THANK YOU for all your support and bloggie love on my previous post. Love ya all!