Sunday, January 24, 2010

Steeped in Mysticism

Secret societies...
Their members unknown...
Only to each other...
The old guard...
Our unique French Southern culture...


"It's just a man on a horse, baby girl"...
Quote from a very Southern movie...

Oh pretty lady
With a mysterious air...



You
In the red mask...
Lovely lady of a mystic society...





















Look, look!!
There's....sssshhhhh...
It's a secret.












































































A marvelous 'first of the year' Mardi Gras Parade
was enjoyed by all!!!
Don't you love a carnival?!!!
















Baby's first Mardi Gras...














Salute!
HAPPY MARDI GRAS
Blessings
*****Yaya*****















Thursday, January 7, 2010

ROLLLLL TIDE ROLLLLL


Oh so proud...
'The Bear' is smiling,
And all of Alabama is cheering!!!
ROLLL TIDE ROLLL
Blessings
*****Yaya*****

Friday, January 1, 2010

Thoughts For A New Year


If you get the chance,
I hope you dance...

Your future depends mostly upon you...
When shall we live, if not now?
It's time to prove to the world
that probably the most courageous thing you can do
is to be yourself...
Thus, choosing to be your most beautiful...
Happy New Year
and
Beautiful Blessings
*****Yaya*****

Tuesday, December 29, 2009

Another Christmas Come and Gone...























Another country Christmas,
with all the family gathered 'round...
The strong smell of cedar throughout the house...
Papa's tradition of going into the woods,
and cutting a live tree...
A tree-trimming party,
with the little ones decorating every branch...
Much food, laughter, good Italian wine,
and wonderful gifts...
The magic of Christmas,
such as it is...
Ohh to be a child at Christmastime...
Capturing beautiful memories,
and locking them away
for safe keeping...

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




Monday, December 7, 2009

Just A Little Tropical Christmas Spirit


Little gift bags,
perfect for that Dirty Santa gift,
or that bottle of wine...
You can always dress up your starfish.





Pretty little mermaids and pink poinsettias...

May you be blessed with the spirt of Christmas...
*****Yaya*****


Sunday, December 6, 2009

Peace


Wishing you peaceful days all thru the year...

May you have blessings of peace...

*****Yaya*****

Saturday, December 5, 2009

A Winter Moon

Yes, it is a winter moon...
An island moon...
Rising out of the water,
Hanging over our island in all of its glory.
We had not planned to be here...
We do not spend time on the island during December...
But it was meant to be,
And it is wonderful,
This 'Island Time' in December.


Oh beautiful moon,
high above the palm trees,
like a diamond in the sky,
on a cold winter's night...


And then the rain came...
The winter wind howled and the rain poured...
And it was so cold...
A damp wet cold that chills you to the bone...
A cold that requires a fire, cashmere and hot mulled wine.


We closed the shutters,
sipped wine,
listened to Christmas music,
cooked homemade soup,
and sprinkled Christmas magic throughout the island house.




December is such a beautiful time of the year...
All dressed up in holiday style...

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


Tuesday, November 24, 2009

Poulet De Normandy


Poulet De Normandy
1 large package Pepperidge Farm herb seasoned stuffing mix
1 stick of butter, melted in 1 c. hot water or chicken broth
1/4 cup green onion tops
1/2 cup diced celery
1/2 cup mayonnaise
1/2 teaspoon salt
4 diced chicken breast, cooked
2 eggs
1 1/2 cup milk
1 can mushroom soup
Grated cheese
Mix stuffing and butter melted in the hot liquid and set aside. Combine onions, celery, mayonnaise and salt. Mix well with bread mixture. In a greased 9 X 13-inch baking dish, put half of bread mixture, then spread diced chicken. Top with rest of bread mixture. Beat eggs in milk and pour over the casserole. Refrigerate overnight. Take out 2 hours before serving and spread mushroom soup. Bake uncovered, at 325 degrees for 40 minutes. Cover with grated cheese and bake 10 minutes more or until cheese melts.
This is the perfect dish for your company lunch or supper. Serve with glazed carrots,
strawberry congealed salad, and yeast rolls.
Happy Eating
Blessings
*****Yaya*****

Pleasures of Fall


Pumpkin pie...
Spiced tea...
Sweet potatos...
Falling leaves...
Dinner with family and friends...
Tweed jackets...
Soft sweaters...
Hot mulled wine...
Smokey Hams...
Dressing...
Honey roasted turkey...
Indulge yourself in the pleasures of fall...


Harvest Blessings...
*****Yaya*****

Monday, November 2, 2009

Bitter Sweet Days of Fall

Dear little island cottage by the sea...
The time is drawing near for me to leave you.
Your pink shutters will be closed...
The swimsuits and sundresses will be packed in tissue paper,
and placed in pretty boxes with seascapes on them...
All filled with scented packets that smell of seabreeze and rosemary.

The summer days are long gone,
and crisp autumn nights have arrived on our island.
Oh how I love the golden, russet days of autumn,
and the harvest moon...
The smell of firewood burning in a fireplace,
hot mulled wine,
and old cashmere sweaters...
Long walks on an empty beach,
watching an autumn sunset.
I will miss you,
my little cottage by the sea.


I will miss sipping a cold chardonnay
from my handpainted palmtree wine glasses...



And I will miss all of my much beloved tropical whimsy...
The bright colors that speake of summer.


And fresh homemade lemon cake,
made with our very own Meyer lemons that grow in our back yard...












And making seahorse and lighthouse cookies
with our grandangels...






And open windows and dancing windchimes....
















Island breeze and billowing white curtains...
Oh so fresh is the smell of salty air...




















Ponytails and seahorse mirrows...
























I love living seaside,
but I also love the countryside,
and when the last October sun dances across the Southern sky,
and the first November moon rises,
it's time to close the island cottage
and drive north to the country house.
The holiday season is upon us.
As much as I love my island time,
I equally love time spent in the countryside.
I'm ready to fill the old country house
with the scents of apples and spice.













A few more days of island time and packing,
then we must take the drive along the narrow island road,
under the goat trees with their weeping Spanish moss...






























Saying our goodbyes to yet another season of wonderful memories,
but oh so excited to move into a new season,
with holidays in the countryside awaiting.
Blessings
*****Yaya*****