Tuesday, June 23, 2009

Sweet Things



Baby faces...
Tiny little jewelry...
Cute little hats...
Sugar & spice...
Tiny little feet...
Ribbons & bows...
Flowers & butterflies...
Italian crystal...
Roses & lollipops...
Kisses...
The world is full of so many
sweet things...

Sweet Blessings
*****Yaya*****

Monday, June 22, 2009

Our Princess StellaDonna


Life keeps us busy with blessings abound...
Grandangels...
Housework...
Cooking...
Gardening...
Yardwork...
Taking care of the elderly...
The list goes on and on...
Each and everyone is a blessing,
and so is our health to be able to enjoy our blessings.

Blessings
*****Yaya*****

Sunday, June 21, 2009

In Honor of Papa

Papa, with our little grandangel, StellaDonna...


HAPPY FATHER'S DAY
"The words that a father speaks to his children are heard,
as in whispering galleries, by posterity."
Words by Jean Paul Richter (1763-1825)
Because her father listened to her,
she knew she had something to say...
Because he believed in her,
she believed in herself...
Because he said she could do anything,
she did...

Wishing a blessed day for all fathers,
and remembering my daddy on this very special day.
Father's Day Blessings
*****Yaya*****

Saturday, June 20, 2009

Silence is Golden


Find a place of silence...
Give your mind time to relax...
"To the mind that is still, the whole universe surrenders."
Lao Tzu (c.604-c.531 BC)
Zen master Chuang Tzu dreamed he was a butterfly.
When he awoke he didn't know if he was himself
dreaming he was a butterfly,
or a butterfly dreaming he was himself.
Set yourself free...
Let go of all thoughts and emotions...
Stop striving to understand.
Just be, and true understanding will dawn.
"Come to wish that everything should come to pass
exactly as it does."
Epictetus (c.55-c.135 AD)
Blessings
*****Yaya*****

Thursday, June 18, 2009

Retreat From the Summer Heat


On a hot summer afternoon,
one must retreat to that special place,
behind closed shutters,
near the secretive balconied windows,
somewhere under a high ceiling,
with slow-turning fans...
In the distance,
I hear a splashing fountain
and the strands of a lone violin.
I smell the scent of the sweet olive tree,
just beneath the window...
I see the draping Spanish Moss,
ever so elegant...suspended in Southern time...
Deep in the heart of the old South.
My South...
My home...
Blessings
*****Yaya*****

Saturday, June 13, 2009

A Summer State of Mind

Crisp whites...
Incredible blue sky...
Straw hat...
Seashore...
Strappy, sexy sandals...
Ocean spray...
Beaches at twilight...
Long, loose, tousled, windblown locks...
Magnificent cliff views of the sea in the moonlite...
Beautiful seashells...
Sand dunes...
Light house...
Icetea and lemon...
Lazy-day afternoon...
Hot, sultry breeze...
Tan, skinny legs...
Sand in your shoes - Sunshine in your life...
Remembering some Greek island...
And dreaming...
A summer state of mind...
Blessings
*****Yaya*****

Saturday, May 16, 2009

Summer Dreams

Deep in the heart of the South,
in the land of bayous, lowlands and barrier islands,
a little boy sits dreaming...


On a Southern summer's day,
what's better than a bowl of gumbo,
crabclaws and a catnap.





I hear the flutter of wings and feathers.
A pelican comes in for a landing.



Many summer afternoons are spent
soaking up the sun,
laughing and telling stories,
eating fresh seafood straight from the Gulf...
watching the boats and dreaming.





Blessings
*****Yaya*****



Sunday, May 10, 2009

Some Quiet Time


Sometimes I feel as if life gets faster
and faster...
As we get older,
one would think it should get slower...
It doesn't...
And then,
my soul begins to seek escape...
I need to sit on the beach
and listen to the seagulls...
Breathe the salt air,
look out across the ocean
and do nothing...
Nothing...


It is so soothing to place tired feet into warm sand...
and just sit,
doing nothing,
but feel the warm kiss of the sun...
How peaceful,
this restful slumber...
My senses are being put back in order...
The sound of the gentle waves
and the taste of a frozen coconut daiquiri
asure me that we are on
island time.



Mother Nature is inspiring enough,
but a few beautiful books
can send your dreams
over the rainbow...



I do believe this is my favorite place on earth...
Well, at least one of them.




Life just doesn't get better than this...





Blessings
Yaya





Wednesday, April 29, 2009

A Humble Cottage


The old cottage...
A place of enchantment...
Old wood furnishings...
Painted wood floors...
Soft music...
The porch...
The wicker rockers...
The roses...
The sweet country air...

Invite enchantment...
Plant a rose garden...
Jasmin...
English dogwoods...
Turn on the soft music...
Sit on the porch...
Enjoy life.
Blessings
*****Yaya*****

Friday, April 10, 2009

Art & Musings


I love this painting!
This is 'Sandy's Art'...
I have a dear friend who is so talented, creative,
and
such a good artist.

More of 'Sandy's Art'...


And more...



How cute is this!?!


Here he is...
in real life...
sitting for his painting.
Ohhh so cute.
He is as sweet as he is cute and handsome!





She leaves her beautiful old country house,
and goes to the river...
living by the water
and
paints...






Musings of a far away trip...
Oh, it was a far away land,
across the ocean and desert.
We arrived and crossed most of Syria.
There is a point where one can stand,
and look upon the Tigris River,
Iraq and the mountains of Turkey.
It is from here,
a far away village,
that is the home of the artist who painted the above picture and
the one below.





Sometimes one accquires treasures
that are truly irreplaceable.
I so love our Syrian treasures,
and I treasure our time there.








An old European painting from 1-1-1953
takes me away to another time and place.







Wanderlust grabs hold,
never to let go.
Another trip, more treasures, pleasures and blessings.
Chart your travels on an old antique map.
Each tiny stone represents where we have journeyed.
Sometimes I gaze at the old map,
always grateful for every trip,
and always longing for another.
Some far away place yet without a stone on our antique map.








Once upon a time,
there was a young girl who left the country house
and lived in the big city.
She studied fashion design and art.
This is one of her drawings.











And another...











And if you get the chance,
I hope you dance.












Or paint,
or write,
or love & laugh,
or travel.
Live in a happy and beautiful place,
and appreciate the joy of each passing moment.

Blessings
*****Yaya*****












Saturday, April 4, 2009

Sacred Space


Welcome to my 'Sacred Space'...
Walk through the old painted door
and enter into a place of peace.
We need that space where we can go
and listen to silence or beautiful music
or our heart's desire.
A place to 'be'...


Country silence...


The trickle of water in the fountain...


Your home can become an island of peace in time and space,
radiating these qualities out into the universe.
It's energy can touch the soul of all who visit.




Become aware of the power of space...
Clean...
Clear...
Create beauty...
Music...
Paintings...
Beautiful books...
Candels...
Flowers...
Animals...a dog, cat, birds, fish...
It doesn't need to cost a fortune.
Shop for things of beauty that speaks to your soul.
Go to thrift stores, yard sales, flea markets...and on and on.
Create that sacred space that speaks to your soul,
and feel the healing power.





A beautiful rug placed near the fountain...
What a wonderful spot for yoga.
Everyday I come to this small sacred space,
and everyday, after yoga, I feel renewed.




Blessings
Yaya





Sunday, March 22, 2009

What A Wonderful Weekend In The Countryside!


Ohhh, the magic of being a child,
and having a visit to the country house...
So many adventures...
So much to do...

The magical bliss of climbing a tree,
and looking at all the land, far and wide...
Oh, I could live in a tree...
I could, I could...
Way up high among the leaves and Southern breeze...
Kissed by the sun and butterflies.





And walk in the fields of clover...



And smell the sweetness of the fresh country air...




And run and play...
And run and play...
A little boy,
and another lil' boy...
and a beautiful springtime day,
spent in the countryside
at the old country house...












When little legs grow tired,
there is always a porch nearby...
Sit a spell...
listen to the birdsong
and day dream...







Watch out for ANTS!!!








Don't forget to chase your dreams...
Always...
Live in the moment...
Capture them if you can,
and keep them locked in your memory box forever and ever.

Country Blessings
*****Yaya*****







Wednesday, March 18, 2009

Photo Session With Our Princess


Our lil' angel...
Our lil' princess...
Princess Stella Donna
Photos by Heather Mitchell Photography
I can't say enough about Heather!
She is an eclectic, Bohemian style artist of photography.
If you are in North Alabama and want a fabulous,
and artistic photographer,
call Heather.
She also does beach sessions in
Destin, Flordia.
Thank you, Heather! You capture the magic!!!
Blessings
*****Yaya*****