Thursday, February 28, 2013

Surround Yourself


Surround yourself with the dreamers and the doers,
the believers and the thinkers,
but most of all,
surround yourself with those who see greatness within you,
even when you don't see it yourself.

If there were dreams to sell,
what would you buy?

Blessings
Yaya

Tea and Fruit


We are still unpacking and getting settled into the Frenchtown house.
It is a cold, grey day on Lake Erie,
but a nice pot of tea warms the spirit.
I love this adorable little electric tea pot...
And the delicate English rose cups are perfect for spiced tea.
Oil paintings still waiting to be hung.
Traveling Man found this lovely French painting...
Reminds me of a bygone time in Paris,
oh so many years ago.
The fruit came from our beloved island,
deep in the southland.
I miss my south,
but always treasure our travel time.

For me it is enough to say
That something beautiful passed my way.
Ida Catherine Rohlf

Blessings
Yaya

I DECLARE...Day Nine


I DECLARE unexpected blessings are coming my way.
I will move forward from barely making it
to having more than enough.
God will open up supernatural doors for me.
He will speak to the right people about me.
I will see Ephesians 3:20,
exceedingly,
abundantly,
above-and-beyond favor increase in my life.
This is my declaration.

Joel Osteen

Look to this day!
For it is life, the very life of life.

from the Sanskrit

Blessings
Yaya

Wednesday, February 27, 2013

Beautifully Frozen In Time




Lake Erie...
Frozen in time.
Forever beautiful in my mind...
This winter work of art.

Inspiration is like a gift of morning sunlight to the spirit.
To be inspired is to be reawakened to the miracle of being,
to be made suddenly more aware of the beauty that surrounds us,
to be filled as never before 
with the day to day wonder of living
in a world that shines with hope.
Welcome to a new day.
A new beginning.
A new adventure.
A new blessing.

Blessings
Yaya

Home Away From Home


Traveling Man (my sweet husband) is always off on some new project.
That means finding a place to call home...
Home away from home.
It must 'feel' like home...
It is always exciting to drive off into the sunset on a new adventure,
in this case,
into the northern lights.
Here in Frenchtown
we found this wonderful old home,
empty,
needing a family to love it,
sitting pretty,
right on a golf course...
It called to us,
and so we said, "we'll take her."


Now the fun starts.
We look for treasures to use while living here,
but treasures we will love for years to come.
Treasures to take back to our south.
Treasures to fill the country house when we return home.
Ohhh how I love the painting here in the above photo.
Love at first sight.
And the OLD antique Imari bowl.  GASP!
It is over one hundred years old!  Yes!
And the tall green piece...
Green Scroll Collection from the Philippines.
It is stone, and so heavy I can hardly lift it.
A few Italian pieces, and one decanter from Mexico.


A wonderful sweater throw.
Perfect for those cold snowy nights.


Traveling Man spotted this sturdy little beauty.
He made an offer of $45.00.
They took it,
and so it now lives with us.
Pretty little silk cushion filled with down...
$2.00


OH MY GOSH!!!
Be still, my heart!!!
I LOVE this painting of the grand piano.
It will hang somewhere in the Frenchtown home until it is moved to 
the country house.
It takes my breath away.


This is one of the paintings bought at a local starving artist sale.
I love the lovely iron breakfast table and chairs found in a junk store.
Do not judge a store by its front...
Sometime the 'junkier' the better.
We found the perfect place for the iron table and chairs,
and it is the perfect spot for supper or breakfast,
as it over looks the sun porch.


This wonderful old home has a sun porch,
always full of light,
even on a cold snowy day.
Traveling Man found a beautiful bamboo sofa, and chaise lounge...
Just perfect for this area.


Did we 'need' the white German vase?
No.
Did we 'need' the white Italian candle stick and plate?
No.
Did we 'need' the 40 year old baker man?
No.
But how could we leave them there?
They fit perfectly in the little kitchen niche.

We awoke this morning to a new, fresh snow.
Everything is so white.
I am loving the northland,
but my heart is always in the south.

Blessings
Yaya

Tuesday, February 26, 2013

I DECLARE...Day Eight


Sharing yet another found treasure while in Frenchtown.
Such glorious bursts of color...
"To hope and dream is not to ignore the practical.
It is to dress it in colors of the rainbows."

Anne Wilson Schaef
Southern Lady

Day Eight of "I DECLARE"
"I DECLARE God's dream for my life 
is coming to pass.
It will not be stopped by people,
disappointments,
or adversities.
God has solutions to every problem I will ever face
already lined up.
The right people and the right breaks are in my future.
I will fulfill my destiny.
This is my declaration."

Joel Osteen

Blessings
Yaya

You Are...


"You are the books you read,
the films you watch,
the music you listen to,
the people you meet,
the dreams you have,
the conversations you engage in.
You are what you take from these.
You are the sound of the ocean,
the breath of fresh air,
the brightest light,
and the darkest corner.
You are a collective of every experience you have had in your life.
You are every single day.
So drown yourself in a sea of knowledge and existence.
Let the words run through your veins
and let the colors fill your mind."

I love this beautiful painting that I found in Frenchtown,
and I love the beautiful words above.
I have no idea who wrote them...
I believe they came from an old soul...a wise one.
I feel certain we "are" what we think,
what we read,
what we take part in...
We "are" a collective of all our experiences.
Seek knowledge, seek wisdom,
seek beauty, seek love,
seek grace, seek God...
Seek inspiration...
Find a way to pass it on.

Blessings
Yaya


Monday, February 25, 2013

Monday Morning Chocolate


It is a cold, but sunny morning in the northern land.
I journeyed with Traveling Man to Lake Erie.
Each trip is a blessed adventure,
and even though it is work,
there is always time for treasure hunting.
Treasure hunting,
good coffee,
and chocolate.
That always makes me feel better.
This morning's breakfast is a blueberry or two, or six,
covered in dark, delicious chocolate,
and a pot of cafe mocha.  
I always make good use of the treasures we find along the way.
Like the fine Bohemian china from Czechoslovakia.
Be still, my heart...
A beautiful 'find',
and one that will hold memories of another fabulous trip.
This quaint northern town, Frenchtown, is blanketed in snow,
and another storm on the way.
I miss my south,
but I love the beauty of the snow,
and the awaiting of more to come.

Blessings
Yaya


I DECLARE...Day Seven


I DECLARE that God has a great plan for my life.
He is directing my steps.
And even though I may not always understand how,
I know my situation is not a surprise to God.
He will work out every detail to my advantage.
In His perfect timing,
everything will turn out right.
This is my declaration.

Joel Osteen

Blessings
Yaya

Saturday, February 23, 2013

I DECLARE...Day Six


Day Six of "I DECLARE"



I DECLARE a legacy of faith over my life.
I DECLARE that I will store up blessings for future generations.
My life is marked by excellence and integrity.
Because I'm making right choices
and taking steps of faith,
others will want to follow me.
God's abundance is surrounding my life today.
This is my declaration.

Joel Osteen

Blessings
Yaya

I DECLARE...Day Five


Day Five of "I DECLARE"

I DECLARE I am grateful for who God is in my life
and for what He's done.
I will not take for granted the people,
the opportunities,
and the favor He has blessed me with.
I will look at what is right 
and not at what is wrong.
I will thank him for what I have
and not complain about what I don't have.
I will see each day as a gift from God.
My heart will overflow with praise and gratitude
for all His goodness.
This is my declaration.

Joel Osteen

Blessings
Yaya

Friday, February 22, 2013

I DECLARE...Day Four


Day Four of "I DECLARE".

I DECLARE it is not too late to accomplish everything
God
has placed in my heart.
I have not missed my window of opportunity.
God has moments of favor in my future.
He is preparing me right now
because He is about to release a special
grace
to help me accomplish that dream.
This is my time.
This is my moment.
I receive it today!
This is my declaration.

Joel Osteen

Blessings
Yaya

I DECLARE...Day Three


Day Three of "I DECLARE".

I DECLARE I have the grace I need for today.
I am full of power,
strength, and determination.
Nothing I face will be too much for me.
I will overcome every obstacle,
outlast every challenge,
and come through every difficulty better off than I was before.
This is my declaration.

Joel Osteen

Blessings
Yaya

I DECLARE...Day Two


Day Two of "I DECLARE"

I DECLARE I will experience God's faithfulness.
I will not worry.
I will not doubt.
I will keep my trust in him,
knowing that he will not fail me.
I will give birth to every promise God put in my heart,
and I will become everything God created me to be.
This is my declaration.

Joel Osteen

Blessings
Yaya

I DECLARE...Day One


Day One of "I Declare".

I DECLARE God's incredible blessings over my life.
I will see an explosion of God's goodness,
a sudden widespread increase.
I will experience the surpassing greatness of God's favor.
It will elevate me to a level higher than I ever dreamed of.
Explosive blessings are coming my way.
This is my declaration.

Joel Osteen

Blessings
Yaya


Thursday, January 24, 2013

Grandangels and Just Another Day in the Countryside







Two of the six little grandangels came to the country house,
and there was much anticipation of another winter storm.
Maybe a little snow.
Maybe a little ice,
or not.
However, the sled was made ready.
They pulled and tugged and got it to the top of the little hill.

Big sister talked little brother into pulling her...
Even without snow.

He pulled and pulled,
and she returned the favor.
They practiced 'sledding' 
and then off to walk the field road.
Rabbit hunting, actually...

Here bunny, bunny...

Look!  Is that a rabbit track?

He heard a noise,
and thought for sure it was a bunny...

I love walking the old field road.
When I was a child, 
my grandparents had cotton in all the surrounding fields.
So many memories linger,
as new memories are made.

A little boy stands looking out across the field...
I wonder what he is thinking,
and if he will remember walking the field road,
just as I did at his age.

Heading back to the country house,
he stops and takes great interest in Papa's rare 57..
Do all little boys love cars...old cars?
And grow into men who love cars?
Old cars?

And on to the tractor...
Just something about a red tractor.
Especially one with a scoop full of water.

Still looking for rabbits,
but not one rabbit did we see.


The afternoon is turning colder,
and the thoughts of chicken and dumplings cooking on the stove
cause us to think about returning to the house.

One last look for a rabbit...
But still no luck.

And one more look...
They thought for sure there was a rabbit in the field...

It was a nice walk,
and we return with a few rocks and sticks.



The sled is parked on the hill
awaiting the snow or ice
that may or may not come tonight.

There really is nothing better (in my book)
than grandangels spending time in the countryside,
making memories with Yaya and Papa

May your days be filled with blessings.

Yaya

Sunday, January 20, 2013

The Kitchen Cupboard

Nothing matches...
Most of it comes from Italy...
Some from Poland...
A few pieces from Tunisia,
France, England, and Germany...
And some by way of T J Maxx...

The stack of plates to the left are all different.
All fine china, but different.
My mother started a collection of mismatched,
fine china dinner plates many years ago.
It was always fun to pick a plate.
I still love looking at her plates 
and choosing one,
depending on my mood...

I have had such fun collecting pieces that spoke to my heart...
It never mattered to me that nothing matched.
Many remind me of trips,
and treasure hunting.



What really matters is coming home to what you love...
There are no decorating rules in this houses.
The only rule is this;
"We must really love it,
or we must really need it."
I must remind Traveling Man to never buy
just because the price is cheap.
Remember our rule, I say to him.
Otherwise, he might bring home a box of snow globes,
and porcelain dolls.
Bless his heart.
He did that once.
Funniest thing....I can't seem to let them go.
I find myself picking up his snow globes,
turning the music box key,
and listening.
Our three little grand daughters 
love the beautiful dolls that Papa bought.
We have another rule.
We only keep it if it is needed, we love it,
or it has special meaning.
I suppose that makes my old kitchen cupboard
a very special treasure chest,
because it is filled with only the things 
that I love,
and many with very special meaning.

Blessings
Yaya