Our first gypsy trip of the year

Some people around here were saying that it was going to warm up this weekend, and thus, we got ready and droved our gypsy home on wheels all the way to the desert….

It wasn’t.  It wasn’t warm at all.  In fact, it was colder than normal, colder even than those few days at the end of January when the sun came out—strong, and rubicund, and warmed up the earth for a few hours, permeating it with a new joy.  

Cold, and so windy it was, that we were not even able to open the awning of our gypsy caravan for fear that it could blow away.  We stayed inside all day long Friday; reading and writing and doing this and that...  

In the afternoon, I worked on adding new tiles to my little kitchen...

It turned out so beautiful... and better that my first time trying, when I used flooring tiles... remember?

I loved these black and white tiles so much, but they were too thick and heavy and they didn't stick too well to the walls, they were always falling off... so I removed them.

We cooked our meals inside this time—we usually never cook inside, because we like to keep our gypsy home free of stinky smells and such, and only cook our early breakfast of toasts and coffee inside, but this time we had to keep away from strong winds, and cooked all of our meals inside. 

 

Then, I sat down to rest... and daydream...  

Our gypsy caravan felt so cozy and warm inside... 

I really didn't care how windy or cold it was outside

Ollie the owl kept me very warm and cozy at night... and the Fisherman too.

On Saturday morning after breakfast we put on our big coats and went for our usual walk in the desert all the way down to the sundial.  We were surprised to find how much the landscape had changed during the winter months.  Winter had totally changed the topography of the desert in so many ways. The many silvery and glossy leave plants were all gone and much of the sagebrush had been moved or shifted by intense winds, leaving some areas of the desert emptied or naked, while others, such as the trails people usually take were completely covered, to the point that we almost lost of tracks... you could see the tumbleweeds awkwardly moving throughout the desert floor like some sad souls.  The desert, it is so strange, and lovely. 

Plants and more plants

I hear the garden calling my name—there’s so much to do out there… yet, I’m so not ready for any of it.  My little creative soul keeps wanting to create something and the only thing I can think of is adding more plants to my already plant saturated home… so I’m been doing that.

I’m also dreaming with making one or two terrariums… or a candle holder or a pinecone store or a small garden in a glass.  Whatever you can call it! 

I particularly like this idea...

There are many kinds of plants to pick from, that work very nicely with terrariums and sometimes, even using fake greens to create you inside garden can add charm and a natural feel to your rooms…  

I have been experimenting with a water garden, which consists of adding water to a pretty thrift store bought jar and placing your cuttings in it…

First, I bought a few things from the dollar store to embellish my jars—small river rocks, some colored stones, the ones you use for plants, cacti and succulents bedding and things like that.  I also bought two containers of the clear water beads vase fillers… they are like gel water pearls, and they come in an assortment of colors… I just liked the clear ones.  These things float and are perfect for floral decorations.  And that’s it!

Later, I decorated an old silver tray by placing a piece of wrapping paper on it and look at how pretty everything looks now!  To the tray I also added a string of pinecones, my peace rock, some fake pearls and I’m so loving this! Oh and I’m thinking I also need to add some fairy lights for a warm ambient at night… what do you all think?

Cozy winter nights

The snow-moistened February garden seems to be whispering, “remember me”? And, “do I know you?” 

Indeed, winter has kept me away from the garden; trapped on its icy grip for far too long.  But winter still stretches wide and unkind over my little world, and things have changed in my life. I can barely hear the garden’s voice calling my name any longer, and the desire to work outside has diminished.  My enthusiasm had lost its fire too.  

When spring comes around and the tips of branches and shrubs will fatten up again with new life, I’m sure my heart will again hear the voices of Nature that winter have silenced inside me.  And perhaps… perhaps I will still find the time after my regular job to work the soil and do all the work that the garden is already begging of me?  

In the meantime, I keep busy inside.   I love the upstairs in the winter time.  It is a cozy, warmer little nest where both of us, the Fisherman and I find our own special little delights for a few hours before going to bed for another day—the Fisherman go his theater room to watch his movies and I to my gypsy room where I have my own TV too.  

We get home around 6pm, dark and cold and after making something for dinner we go straight to or ‘second’ home—the upstairs part of the house.  We've been sleeping in the guest room throughout all winter, which I love... it is a cozy little room, and I love it...

...but the bed in this room is a queen size and I don't know if you've noticed, but when you grow older and 'wiser' you have to have your king side bed.  So, last weekend, we decided to make another bedroom in our upstairs home... this one with a king size bed in it!  Thus, my little gypsy room became another bedroom… we bought a king size mattress, a bed frame and went to work.  Remember my beautiful gallery wall and Frida collection? 

We took everything down, filled every hole and retouched the walls with paint... we took the couch and chair downstairs and rearrange things around to give space to our new king size bed!

A boho styled low bed, a mandala for a frame, some of the art set on floors and just a few favorites on the walls..

 

Plants, of course.  I really want to bring some of the big ones from downstairs, but then I will miss them downstairs, so I guess I'll need to buy more...

I really love how everything turned out.  This bedroom is now my favorite room in the entire house.. it is so cozy and the bed so very comfortable and I love to watch tv from this nest, and then wait for the Fisherman to join... 

 Need more fairy lights for sure

Happy winter nights!

Extended winter blues

I miss my little white cottage in the wet, green space where red birds used to come down each day to serenate my hours. Small, low ceilings, and white all over. How cozy, and sunny it always felt, and how my soul misses it here in our large, tall-ceiling cold home where icy dark winter days kept stretching and widening throughout my days, throwing dark shadows upon my head. I’ve been sleeping in the smaller upstairs room, so that my soul can wrap itself in gentle coziness during cold nights, and it is been good—good to rest upon cozy shadows and dimmed lights, lower ceilings and white comforters. I’ve been making hearty soups in the evenings and toasting cranberry-walnut bread to accompany it. Nights are long and the sound of frizzing rain pitter-pattering on peat gravel outside seems to be singing a mournful quiet song. I got my book published this past week, and the amaryllis by the kitchen window has opened, and it sits in front of me laughing at my enthusiasm. Dead leaves have found a permanent home on the back porch, so it seems, and they will remain there until the sun comes back or until I can find my soul back.

“Melancholy were the sounds on a winter's night.”
― Virginia Woolf