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

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

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 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

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

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