In the Gypsy Caravan

This weekend we dusted up our Gypsy Caravan and hit the road for the first time after our move and new life in the South… Over the fields up the mountains we rode, making new memories as we went. 

Blankets, wool socks and fussy warm pjs were left untouched in their drawers, still holding in them all the memories collected along the snowy fields and high forest of the past—mountains, and valleys and fields unpolluted and fresh and washed free of all the heaviness caused by humidity and the stabbing of killer mosquitoes of the South… what a huge difference from what we were used to. 

The beauty found in Nature and in which the spirit nurtures and grow, it is nevertheless the same, if not lovelier here.. and one might think that the atmosphere is made out of raindrops and blue butterflies, and trees and clouds and skies are the shrine where the soul finds the perpetual presence of the Invisible… 

We surfed above the clouds 

And down we came full of awe and hearts beating with faith and praises to the Creator of all beauty and goodness.  

Making note as we went down of everything we saw and felt and tasted and listed to... 

Oh it is so good for the soul to see deeply.

Then later, food prepared by gentle hard-working hands...

Displayed on a lovely table setting where wildflowers were never a reckless lavishness…

 Discovering Nature's trails in the afternoon...

And inside the Gypsy Wagon hot during the day

yet ever so cozy 

with books and favorite magazines a plenty...

We are now back in the comfort of our little white cottage 

Music from the wind plays outside through the trees 

Leaves rustle in night breezes

Nature's symphony of songs that set us free.

I am contented and grateful for big and small blessings. 

Thank you for being here my friend

Hope you enjoyed our little trip!

Magic in the garden

There’s always something pretty and leafy and green blooming out there in the privets. I like to tease this wild space out there by going as far as its boundaries go and then steal some of its blossoms to embellish my home with...

But I must be very careful out there. A whole new world of creepy crawly gooey flying creatures dwell in that jungle and I better not take any risks… Nature is so wild and strange and unpredictable around here, and I have so much to learn is overwhelming at times. 

Whenever I’m out there I think of how fortunate I’d once been to have had a garden so pure and lush and bountiful and such safe place to be and to work. I remember how I used to garden barefooted and I never thought of using garden gloves, and the sun was always your friend and the only insects were the good insects and evening lovers, the cicadas. I was free of all the menaces and dangers we face here in this humid wild jungle… Things are not the same around here for sure… there are venomous spiders and huge mosquitoes that would drive you nuts, and there are fleas and ticks and I’m so frighten of lime decease… 

I have hundreds of magical stories to share thought… because this is a wild place, the more enchanted it is… and I have seen and heard and felt so many strange and wonderful things around here… this is an enchanted place indeed, and the privets are home to fairies and wood’s imps. If you don’t believe me, take a look at what I found in the garden the other morning and you tell me… 

Lovely tea cups left on my magical tree? 

Left there by who?

And for what reason?

Can things get more exciting or magical than this around here?

Oh could this be a sign?  A hint from the Magical Kingdom people?  A celebration going on out there in the privets? Or a fairy gathering in the woods? Or perhaps, it's a witches’ jamboree... some sorts of a celebration going on beyond the garden?   Shall we go and see what's going on?  Shall we not?

I was pondering on these difficult matters when all of a sudden out of nowhere appeared that mysterious black kitty I’ve seen around here from time to time…

And from the privets came the eerie cry of the ravens… 

I was alarmed, and frightened…

Oh yes the witches of Neverland must be near!

Was Nature challenging me to dare cross the bridge to the Magical Forest?

And what should I do? 

What would you do? 

Investigate?

Run away?

Cross that bridge into the darkness beyond?

I suspect the King and Queen of Neverland are offering a Tea party at the Royal Castle and they have invited every magical creature in the Magical Kingdom and beyond; except for the witches, of course.  That’s why they are acting on the edgy side lately.  But what's one to do?  I would love to go to the King and Queen’s party.   Who wouldn’t?  The problem is…  I don’t have the appropriate attire for such a fancy occasion, and my only pair of shoes are the ones I use everyday in the garden, and they’re a true mess right now with all that rain and mud.  And my hair and my nails oh dear me… no no I could not possibly go.  One could never do too much or be too good or exceed enough at those kind of parties... that's what I think...

If you're like me, but still want to celebrate life and keep that small flame of magic alive within your heart, then you should go visit SHERRY, AT ROSES AND WISHES.  The fairies living in her neck of the woods are throwing a simple tea party just to celebrate life… isn’t this wonderful? Simple, unpretentious and unadorned.  Simplicity at it’s best.  Beside, Sherry is starting her new blog and she’s one of the nicest fairies of all Neverland.  You should go say hi to her! ;)

 

We love you Sherry!

My days...

I have never taken so many showers in a day in my entire life… never been so soiled in the skin so contented in the heart… and every morning I will go out there and do the same… go to my garden, remove more sod, open a new path, fill wheelbarrow after wheelbarrow of sod and broken roots and debris and all sorts of unimaginable things that were left behind by previous owners… among the things I have found, cans of beer by the buckets, a muddy piece of some carpet remnants, a dilapidated men's shoe, bottles of pills… oh I’m sure the Walking Dead people lived here at some point... out from the privet they must had come out every night growling and spitting… it was a world overrun by zombies I’m sure…

But I’m cleaning all that stuff up… taking all that trash somewhere and discarding it, coming back, planting some more plants, moving some other ones, pulling more weeds—for goodness sakes would I ever, ever win this battle with weeds? When I get so tired I cannot move a finger any longer, I would then go inside, take a shower, prepare me one of my power juices and rest for a little bit before the whole ordeal begins again, and then again… 

I have new wrinkles tattooing my face, my skin is sun-toasted, my hands callused my spirit elated and all optimistic and jubilant and, days are too short for this God’s given glee and nature produced pleasure inhabiting my soul… not enough daylight for contentment to fully unfurl and stretch out and be savored it as one should savor it, and wear it, too, upon the soul like a brand-new magical gown sent from heaven.

I am thankful for nights that turned into mornings, I am thankful for what I have and for what I don't have.... thankful that my garden is finally starting to look like a garden...

Mr. Cottontail here is up to something oh I know… he’s been here once or twice this week and always entreating me to follow him across the bridge at the bottom of the garden, where he usually disappears behind the bushes.  Where does he go to—I want to know.  Perhaps next time I see him I will muster all the courage I need to follow him across the bridge to the magical forest kingdom?  We’ll see… oh will see.

This day is yours to imagine my friend... where will you begin?

LINKING TO:

FISHTALE COTTAGE GARDEN PARTY

Rainy days

I am so fortunate to live in a place where rain is a constant—like the sprinkle system that faithfully watered my roses in our garden at the house in the roses.

And it is always a warm, balmy welcoming sprinkle of life that lets you continue gardening under its charm, without being bothersome, or inconvenient. I am fortunate. 

And thus, after gardening under a light morning shower yesterday I came in… little lights were turned on here and there… 

 Gently dissipating shadows...

I love the sound of rain and the solitude it brings to the already peaceful space. What a privilege to make peace with God and others. Peace in our inner selves…

I like to listen to the music of the Native American flute of C. Nakai on those peaceful rainy mornings as I go around the house performing small tasks and always amazed and always grateful and always complacent to let my Heavenly Father transform my common days into thanksgivings and routine jobs into joy… 

The garden is already looking marvelous… the transformation is amazing.  I can hardly believe this is the same place of a few months ago…

Have a great day my friend... enjoy life as it is.  Make it better if you can and always always remember that life isn't always sunny (nor should it be), but when it is, it helps, and when it isn't, we often need to look within... 

Be blessed!

Cielo

LINKING TO:

BOUQUETS OF TALENT

Roses and painted Mason jars

All through my days I make rounds in my newly established garden to enchant my life… 

It is warm and the butterflies are finding their way here…

I’ve planted a Sioux Crape Myrtle that gives clusters of dark pink flowers… It stands right on the epicenter sort of speaking of our garden, and because I couldn’t wait for another small bush to grow and grace our space in some future time, I decided on a pretty good size of a tree this time. Thus, this Crape Myrtle is now the heart of the garden. Lovely, and promising in beauty and marvelous blooms to come. 

I have surrounded this tree with the spikes of pure white flowers of the First Lady Speedwell and the pink blooms of Veronique Pink Speedwells, and I have also planted at its feet a small plant called Angelonia, which I had never seen and it is also called summer snapdragon, with fascinating snapdragon-like flowers with beautiful colorations in purple, white and pink. It's the perfect plant for adding bright color to our hot sunny spaces and this tough plant will bloom all summer long. I love its spire like spikes of blooms. 

I am exciting about the huge variety of perennials you can find here… some variety I had never seen; others I have only read about. All beautiful and extremely hard to choose among. 

 

The Elle rose bush is in bloom… 

 The first roses of the season in our newly established garden.

Evocative of another garden in another place in another time...

I’ve been experimenting painting the inside of my Mason jars and I’d have to say that I prefer this technique to that other of painting your jars on the outside…

 

I love the “milk glass” finish and I love that the paint color clearly shows through the glass, but it still have that distinctly shiny appearance and smoothness to the touch, because the paint is viewed through the layer of glass, rather than being applied on the outside.   

I didn’t want to do all the swirling and twirling around the jar thing you need to do when pouring in the paint into the jars, so I decided to use spray paint instead of regular paint… I just sprayed the inside real good, and let the jars dry in the sun for a while.  A second coat got them all covered.  That easy.

I love love this sweet shade of pink…  Krylon Satin Ballet Slipper pink.

I didn’t have the heart to cut my Elle roses to make a bouquet, so I’m using faux this time.  I think any shade of pink, or purple roses will look fabulous in my newly painted pink mason jars… I don’t mind using faux roses at all.  In fact, I use faux often; particularly when I don’t have a better way to satisfying my need of them… 

LINKING TO:

HOME SWEET GARDEN

IVY AND ELEPHANTS
INSPIRE ME TUESDAY