All Dressed Up

Treat ordinary life

as 'The Big Show'...

YOU

are on the stage of

LIFE...

Live, love and laugh to the fullest...

Make each day an event...

Make yourself beautiful...

Make your home beautiful...

Make your garden beautiful...

Make life beautiful...

Have a blessed and beautiful day...

Oh, and don't forget to get 'All Dressed Up',

because you are on the big stage of life!

*****Yaya*****

Unforgettable Days Of Summer

Sun-drenched beaches...

Uncrowded...

Where ocean waters stretch endlessly into a Southern horizon of bluegray...

Salt-kissed breezes,

as summer cast a magical spell...

Golden, sunkissed curls...

Sand between your toes...

Summer dreaming...

Afternoon at the beach...

Southern summer days...

And more colors of summer...

Treasures by the shore...

Seashore blessings...

*****Yaya*****

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*****

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*****

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*****

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*****

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*****

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*****

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*****

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

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*****

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*****

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