Tuesday, April 26, 2011

Excerpts of my life

It rained all day last Friday. Then on Saturday a marvelous bright sun came up bringing with him a sort of magical vapor that wafted from the ground, making the garden smell like maple syrup... We had a special Easter program at church that morning, and so I got to wear my favorite silver high heels. I love those shoes... I can’t tell exactly why, but when I wear these shoes I feel like Cinderella in her beautiful ball gown. I say they're enbued with magical properties. They’re my talisman. I wear them almost on every special occasion.

Oh and I do have a face! ;) That's just the back of my head on the above picture! ;) People say long hair can be aging, and I see so many women my age with the same short, layered hair... but I want to be me, and you can never go wrong being who you are, right? So it will always be extra long hair for me!

I hurried back home after church, as some of our friends were coming for lunch and I had to get things ready. So I went to set up a pretty table with all sort of yummy and pretty things in it.

I had already prepared a marvelous cheesecake the night before, and because this was my first time ever making a cheesecake, I was super thrilled at how it turned out! That cheesecake was simply the best, most wonderful cheesecake I have ever had, and have ever made! ;) You can find the recipe I used here.

I made extra frosting and let it drizzled onto the plate for extra goodness. This recipe produces enough sour cream topping for a thick layer, but I used a thinner layer by reducing the amount of sour cream in half. It was super yummy!


Do you ever find yourself waiting impatiently and watching the flower buds, just wanting them to open so badly? I faithfully stroll through my garden every single day to see what small miracle is unfolding out there... I do this every year. Even in the grip of below freezing temperatures, at the beginning of March when nothing is alive. I talk to my plants. One by one I check them, one by one I talk to them and tell them to hurry up and grow and unfold. It’s a game of patience but really, it is more a game of eagerness and excitement, and sometimes even annoyance. Things just don’t grow as fast as I’d like to, and the sight of my dear roses in early spring could be very discouraging... waiting to see if they have yet survived another winter kills me...


Oh, and remember my "Enchanted Ivy Path", last year?

Well, now it’ll have to be called the "Enchanted Daisy Path! Yeap, my precious ivy had to be removed to keep it from tearing up our walls. Removing ivy roots wasn’t a fun job. I don’t like the use of herbicide, so the job had to be done all by hand and the help of Mr. Muscle.


I love English Ivy; they’re such a lovely intricate little plants and they conjure such fascinating mystery. They remind me of shadowy places, and abandoned castles and ancient stone walls and lovers in secluded secret gardens. But ivies are infamous for suddenly popping up in cracks and holes, and they can causes building walls to break further and badly damage the entire structure.


The impairment becomes more severe when ivies come into contact with wood. The roots would cause the timber to split, allowing moisture and fungus to enter and begin total destruction of the material. So I had to give them up.


I have planted a full row of Shasta Daisies in their place. Daisies are native in our area and they’re a magnificent source of attraction for birds and butterflies. I can hardly wait to see them grow! And of course, I have to have another type of climber growing there, but I haven't done that yet. Any suggestion on what would thrive in a semi-shady environment and won't destroy my wall?

May the birds come sit upon your window sill,
and may the flowers sing you an enchanted song
and may the sun shine sweetly upon your shoulders.
Peace be with you.

I'm linking this post to: Cottage Flora Thrusday

21 comments:

  1. What wonderful posting! I enjoyed it so much.
    I would love to have a day of rain. We are in a terrible drought. There must be some way to ship water someday.
    Have a great week.
    Karen
    Ladybug Creek

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  2. What a great post! I LOVE your long hair! I feel the same way as you do. Who says we have to have short hair when we gracefully grow older?
    Love the shoes too. Oh how I'd love to be one of your 'local' girlfriends! I'm sure all those you entertain for appreciate all your sweet and thoughtful lunches etc.
    Your gardens are gorgeous as always!

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  3. I also love your hair. You have a whimsical fairy tale way about you and I love it.

    I love roses too, and you've given me great ideas. :)

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  4. Cielo, your silver shoes and graceful black dress match your beautiful name. I agree with you about long hair and aging and have long hair too, but as I age, it stops growing at my shoulders!
    Goodbye ivy and hello daisies. Our ivy is 10 feet tall and 5 feet thick and has engulfed a 6 foot tall wooden fence.

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  5. Dearest Cielo,

    AMEN to long hair... mine has been long since I was 15 with only once a very short hair cut in-between.
    You are so right about the ivy, there are so many plants that do become invasive. So falling in love with them at first is one thing but than to eradicate them is a tough act.
    Have a look at my French Country Style Lavender Sachet GIVEAWAY at the top on my side-bar.

    Lots of love and glad you had a perfect Easter weekend!

    Mariette

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  6. I'm loving your post Cielito! You look gorgeous with long hair, hon...keep it that way! My hair is medium long too, I just can cut it like most women my age either! Wish I had been there for Easter, great table and that cheese cake looks yummy! I love your garden to, in full bloom...can you ask for more?! Everything is lovely...we haven't visit in a while, I have a new post and 2 others for Easter Sunday and I too had family for it and had a great time! I love it!
    LOVE
    FABBY

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  7. Honestly I love your long hair and I'd love to have such ones. It doesn't matter how old we are. We must be yourself to be truly happy. Well, I have a long hair, but without these sweet curls. And I really like your silver shoes. They will be look wonderful with white dress!
    Have an inspiring week, Cielo. :)

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  8. You look marvellous in your silver heels. And about that long hair... I cut my hair to shoulder length last autumn- regrets...now I´ll grow it longer than ever...and I´ll be 60 in a couple of years-
    Maybe I will wish for extensions ´til then...*giggle*
    Your garden looks fantastic. We still have some tiny bits of snow left...
    hugs elsamarianne

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  9. Beautiful post Cielo!
    Your hair looks lovely on you!!

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  10. Your home & writes are as beautiful as you ... so love your picture, you look stunning. The magic you bring in your daily living, to us, is so lifting ...

    Thank you for featuring our home in your post ... we are honored you selected us.

    I hope that your Easter was full of joys & blessings, Cielo.

    I am working in my gardens feverishly planting, mulching, trimming, etc. What about a climbing rose for your climber?

    Have a beautiful day, my friend.
    TTFN ~
    Hugs, Marydon

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  11. CIELITO YOUR HAIR IS JUST SO BEAUTIFULL,I AM A LICENCE COSMETOLOGIST FOR 30 YEARS.I DO NOT PRACTICE ANY LONGER .THERE IS NO REASON THAT A LADY HAS TO CUT HER BEAUTIFUL HAIR JUST BECOUSE WE ARE PAST SOME AGE,NO NO,LONG HAIR IS FEMININE ROMANTIC AND MORE.I DONT HAVE LONG HAIR DO TO MY PAST BREAST CANCER TREATMENTS.IS GROING BAK IS TO MY SHOULDERS,THERE IS NO AGE LIMIT FOR LONG HAIR.NOW I LOVE YOUR SILVER HELS ARE BEAUTIFUL..THANK YOU FOR FEATURING MY FAVORITE PLACE AT HOME I AM HONOR...HUGAS AND BLESSINGS

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  12. Love rainy days - so sweet and meditative - and so very good for our gardens.
    Your shoes are beautiful - a great part of being a woman - great shoes!
    Long hair is a good thing - mine is fairly long, and fine. One time I'd put a shirt on and forgot to pull my hair out - my husband panicked - he thought I'd cut it - so, as long as he likes it and I believe I always will -I'll have long hair -
    The Bible says it is a woman's glory!
    Hope you have a terrific week
    Kathy

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  13. CIELITO EL PASTELITO DE QUEZO ME INPRESIONO ESPECIALMENTE CON ESE TOPING DE CREMA AGRIA DELISSIOSO,COMO ME GUSTARIA VER SIDO TU INVITADA,ALGUN DIA HERMANITA,NO PIERDO LA ESPERANZA,DONDE ESTAN TUS ZAPATILLAS DE TIGRITO ANIMAL PRINT QUE USASTE CUANDO FUISTE A PORLAND OREGON.VOY A PEDIRLE A MI ESPOSO QUE ME TOME FOTOGRAFIAS PUES NO HE QUERIDO HACERLO HASTA QUE ME CRECIERA MI CABELLO,NUNCA HAVIA TENIDO CABELLO CORTO .TAMBIEN ME GUSTAN LAS ZAPATILLAS PERO NO PUEDO HUZARLAS SOLAMENTE POR CORTO TIEMPO.ME ALEGRO DE TODO CORAZON QUE ESTES LLENA DE ALEGRIA ,DIOS ME HA CONTESTADO MIS ORACIONES POR TI..UN GRAN HABRAZO Y BENDICIONES

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  14. I really like the path way. And Ivy is a nice plant.
    And I love your music. Thank you.

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  15. I'm planning on keeping my long hair as long as possible.If it's healthy and well groomed I don't see the problem. My great-aunt didn't cut hers until she was 90! Yours is beautiful and seems well suited to your lifestyle.

    Ann-Marie

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  16. Your garden is divine and inspires me to get in my garden!:-)

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  17. Hi Cielo,
    I enjoyed your post as always.Your long hair is beautiful- I hope you never cut it!
    Looks like a pretty lunch you set with a delicious cheesecake.
    Take care,
    Carolyn

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  18. Cielo... Love your garden! I love ivy too but to bad it's so invasive. Your cheesecake looks perfect, bet it tasted so good.
    xo, Amber

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  19. Beautiful post! How lovely your table looked and the cheesecake made my mouth water! I did not know that about ivy--how sad :( That pathway was enchanting! I'm sure you've turned it into something just as extraordinary though! And I talk to my plants even in the winter -- telling them to hang tight -- spring IS coming! So exciting to see those first little green stems breaking through the ground! Thanks for sharing you pics!

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  20. Oh Cielo-I am so happy to see your beautiful OUTSIDES match what is beautiful INSIDE you...the part where it really counts...and you have been doubly blessed.

    I am a long-hair too! I had my hair almost that long for many, many years and a few weeks ago went shorter...just past my shoulders a bit...but I am letting it grow again because I AM my hair...if that makes sense! People always associate my hair with me and I look AWFUL (trust me on this) with short hair. I am at an age where all my friends are wearing their bobs and short coifs but that is not for me...I think we should do what we feel is right for us and not bend to all the fashion gurus that give us advice! lol

    Your gardens are beautiful ... and that cheesecake is one I will try, I am at a conference with the hubby this week and using his old laptop and you don't wanna know how long it took me to type this comment...let's just say I am going to bed now, Happy, beautiful week to my lovely friend- xxoo Diana

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  21. I love long hair...and your's is beautiful! You are so smart to keep it long and enjoy it. Phooey on that age stuff. :)

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