Red Bird, Oh Beautiful Little Red Bird

How pretty you are,

sitting up in the tree

singing for me.

You take my breath away,

you really do.

And your song...

Oh how I love your beautiful song.

Oh beautiful red bird,

please come into my courtyard

and stay a while with me.

 You will find water for bathing,

and all the food you can eat...

There is no better way to celebrate spring,

than with my fine-feathered friends.

Every bird feeder has been cleaned and filled.

The bird bath gets fresh water everyday.

My south is full of blooms and song birds.

Have a blessed and beautiful day.

Yaya

Happiness Is...

Happiness is...

Walking in faith everyday,

knowing that God has given us this day,

just the way it is,

for a reason.

Happiness is...

Kissed by spring

and angel glow,

yellow blooms

and butterfly wings...

A rainbow flower garden

filled with the magic that only a fairy can bring...

Happiness is...

The trickle of a bamboo water fountain

and distant zen music floating in the air...

A wood flute...

Wind chimes...

Birdsong and grandangels...

And so it is

that

happiness is

all the things above

and so much more.

Blessings

Yaya

Sick Little Grandangels, Dress Up, and Strawberry Cake

Spring is almost here,

and we dream of planting a rainbow flower garden...

We dream from the fluffy, down bedding...

We dream by the warmth of the fireplace.

It's chilly outside,

and baby girl is sick.

Baby brother, too.

We play dress up...

We read...

We take pictures...

We have tea parties...

We nap...

And we bake...

Strawberry Cream Cake.

It's so pink...

It's so fresh...

It's so perfect.

Thought for the day...

"There is no spot of ground,

however arid,

bare or ugly,

that cannot be tamed into such 

a state as may give an impression of beauty

and delight."

Gertrude Jekyll

Blessings

Yaya

Yes, YOU can do it!

I can't do it, Yaya.

Yes, you can!!

Watch.

Like this.

And so I made the necklace for her.

Papa made the hippie headband for her.

Then...

after watching,

and being told that she could do it,

and believing she could do it,

she did it!!

One beautiful bracelet after the other.

She made them

all by herself.

To accomplish great things,

we must not only act but also dream,

not only plan

but also believe.

Anatole France

Very little is needed to make a happy life.

It is all within yourself,

in your way of thinking.

Marcus Aurelius

Blessings

Yaya

I DECLARE...Day Eleven

I DECLARE Ephesians 3:20 over my life.

God will do exceedingly,

abundantly above all that I ask or think.

Because I honor Him,

His blessings will chase me down and overtake me.

I will be in the right place at the right time.

People will go out of their way to be good to me.

I am surrounded by God's favor.

This is my declaration.

Joel Osteen

Blessings

Yaya

at home with Andrea Bocelli

At home with Andrea Bocelli

In Tuscany, Italy.

Spring is around the corner,

and one can dream of a fabulous

trip to Tuscany...

However,

an armchair trip must do for now.

Dreaming of Italy...

Blessings

Yaya

Andrea Bocelli: Love In Portofino -- Exclusive Cinema Interview

For those of us who can NOT get enough of Andrea Bocelli...

Love in Portofino.

An Exclusive interview from his home.

Truly gifted from God.

Blessings

Yaya

Old Lace, Andrea Bocelli in Portofino, One Italian Restaurant, and a Glass of Cabernet...

So the weekend arrived.

We slept late.

Spent a lazy morning having breakfast and coffee,

all while watching a heavy snow fall.

It snowed all day,

but the roads remained clear,

so off we went on a treasure hunt.

And there it was...

This beautiful lace cloth,

just waiting for me to take it home and cherish it.

We dined at a wonderful local Italian restaurant,

and the food was divine.

Then home to the lovely old Frenchtown house

for a glass or two of Cabernet Sauvignon,

and a fabulous armchair trip to Portofino, Italy.

Yes, that is where we spent the evening.

Portofino...with Andrea Bocelli and his magical music.

Bliss!

Blessings

Yaya

I DECLARE...Day Ten

I DECLARE that God will accelerate His plan 

for my life

as I put my trust in Him.

I will accomplish my dreams faster than I thought possible.

It will not take years to overcome an obstacle,

to get out of debt,

or to meet the right person.

God is doing things faster than before.

He will give me victory sooner than I think.

He has blessings that will thrust me years ahead.

This is my declaration.

Joel Osteen

Blessings

Yaya

March Brings A Kiss of Snow

It is soft,

and light as a feather,

this little kiss of snow

on the first day of March.

Thought for the day...

Don't let people pull you into their storm.

Pull them into your peace.

Blessings

Yaya