What A Wonderful Weekend In The Countryside!

Ohhh, the magic of being a child,

and having a visit to the country house...

So many adventures...

So much to do...

The magical bliss of climbing a tree,

and looking at all the land, far and wide...

Oh, I could live in a tree...

I could, I could...

Way up high among the leaves and Southern breeze...

Kissed by the sun and butterflies.

And walk in the fields of clover...

And smell the sweetness of the fresh country air...

And run and play...

And run and play...

A little boy,

and another lil' boy...

and a beautiful springtime day,

spent in the countryside

at the old country house...

When little legs grow tired,

there is always a porch nearby...

Sit a spell...

listen to the birdsong

and day dream...

Watch out for ANTS!!!

Don't forget to chase your dreams...

Always...

Live in the moment...

Capture them if you can,

and keep them locked in your memory box forever and ever.

Country Blessings

*****Yaya*****

Photo Session With Our Princess

Our lil' angel...

Our lil' princess...

Princess Stella Donna

Photos by Heather Mitchell Photography

I can't say enough about Heather!

She is an eclectic, Bohemian style artist of photography.

Her blog is www.heathermitchellphotography.blogspot.com...

If you are in North Alabama and want a fabulous,

and artistic photographer,

call Heather.

She also does beach sessions in

Destin, Flordia.

Thank you, Heather! You capture the magic!!!

Blessings

*****Yaya*****

"Kiss Me...I'm Cute"

Irish kisseskisseskisses!

Lil' Stella Donna and her mommy visited Yaya, today!

Lucky stars above you,

Sunshine on your way,

Many friends to love you,

Joy in work and play -

Laughter to outweigh each care,

In your heart a song -

And gladness waiting everywhere

All your wholelife long.

It has been a blessed and happy St. Patricks Day at the country house.

Blessings

*****Yaya*****

Let's Go Shamrock Hunting!

May your blessings outnumber

The shamrocks that grow

And may trouble avoid you

Wherever you go.

How about some fresh baked bread?!?!

Yaya's Irish Soda Bread

1 TB soda

4 C all-purpose flour

1 TB sugar

21/2 ts salt

1/4 ts cream of tartar

2 C buttermilk

1 TB butter

Combine soda, flour, sugar, salt, and cream of tartar in

large mixing bowl; mix throughly. Add buttermilk, and

with mixing fork stir this mixture until moist.

Turn out onto a lightly floured board and knead through

one verse of " Mother Machree." Shape into a ball, place

on a greased baking stone or sheet, flatten a bit, then, with a sharp

knife, slash the bloomin' top fourrrr times.

Bake in a 375 degree oven for nearly 45 minutes. Remove

to wire rack, brush top with butter, eat and enjoy!

Happy St. Patricks Day

Go mbeannai Dia duit

(May God Bless You)

IRISH BLESSINGS

*****Yaya*****

A Sunday Sunset Toast

From the front porch of the country house,

I capture a Southern sunset,

and raise a glass

to honor Fats and all of our dear island friends.

From time to time,

we gather on our barrier island

and make a toast to the man,

Arkansas Fats, who brought us all together,

and to friendship.

We couldn't join them tonight,

but I raise my glass

into a beautiful sunset

in honor of our friends.

Laughter is the sunshine of the soul...

Friends are the flowers in the garden of life.

Blessings

*****Yaya*****

A Southern Porch

Welcome to my country porch, my friend.

Old Southern porches

have been and still are,

places of laughter, family visits,

singing and dancing.

Here, deep in the South,

where yellow flowers bloom

and exotic fruit trees grow.

At my grandmother's house,

the peacefulness was extraordinary.

The wooden front porch,

stretching across the front...

The tin roof during a spring rain...

The flowers...

The birdsong...

The old ones sitting out on the porch,

on a Sunday afternoon...

We still use it just as the old ones did...

I have just finished reading

"A Bit Of Velvet & A Dash Of Lace"...

The fabulous interiors of Magnolia Pearls

old country home.

I love her Bohemian style.

It caused me to drag out old wool rugs

and place them on the porch.

As I walk across the porch,

I feel the warmth in the planks,

from the springtime sunshine.

I feel the breeze and smell wonderful smells coming from the kitchen.

I see her smiling...

Wearing an apron.

Chaos cannot reach me here.

Sitting in an outdoor space

bathed with pure breezes,

sunshine and moonbeams,

one can feel the universal power in every thing.

Create your outdoor space and connect with the peace of the universe.

Blessings

*****Yaya*****

Throughout The Countryside

The beauty of spring is here,

waiting to be rediscovered.

When I think of early spring,

I think of yellow and freshness.

It is such a delight to visit an old, gracious country home.

Especially if a friend is there to greet you

and offer a cup of tea.

I have many friends who have

lovely, old, gracious country houses

and I am going to make time to visit their lovely homes

and walk in their gardens.

I hope I remember to take the camera!

Our lives are infused

with

buttercups and birdsong.

Don't miss it!

Slow down and have a cup of tea or a glass of wine on the porch.

Amble down a country lane...

Fill the window boxes with flowers and ivy.

Turn your front porch into a wonderful and inviting place...

A place to sit a spell

and

watch the world go by.

Blessings

*****Yaya*****

A Touch Of Spring

I welcome in the renewed season

and enjoy it's beauty.

Through the fluffy white blooms,

I gaze at the old barn

and I am inspired with images

and reminders of bygone days.

The birds are singing the song of spring,

and winter's gray skies brighten with sunshine

and the landscapes burst with color.

The air smells of freshness so I open the windows and let it fill the country house.

As the sun sets and night falls,

the early spring air is cool.

It's time to come inside,

light the scented candles

and snuggle into my soft flannel pajamas.

Slow down and enjoy the splendor of springtime.

Blessings

*****Yaya*****

Island Delights

Just being here is a delight...

Looking at my beloved paintings is a delight...

The feel of this tiny little house,

full of tropical whimsy,

is a delight...

My cats in the window

are a delight,

especially to the grandangels...

And this cute lil' thing
speaks of tropical times,
and tropical times
on an island
are always such a delight...
The birds are singing
and the lemon trees are in bloom.
The oyster shells crunch under foot as we take long walks...
The Spanish moss drapes from the goat trees
as we ride our bikes along their shaded paths...
I am always so island-smitten.
Tonight we will have homemade French Onion Soup
served with fresh French bread from the Light House Bakery.
We have come to the island for a few lazy, slow days,
but,
tomorrow we shall take the boat across the bay
and shop until we drop,
then have a glass of wine
and dine on the beach at Bahama Bob's.
I smell deeply and enhale the scent of island perfume
drifting through an open window.
These are just a few of my
'Island Delights'.





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

The Joys of Life

The tiny island cottage feels so wonderful...

When I have been away from our island,

a salty piece of land, a spit of a sand bar,

off the coast of Alabama,

it starts to call my soul...

I long for it...

for the humid, salty air in my hair...

I long for the feel of the green and white strip, cotton sheets,

crisp and ironed...

The smell of Shrimp Strada baking in the oven...

The smell of the lemon tree blossems...

My books...

My paintings...

Chasing sunsets...

The dogs stretched out on throw rugs...

Windows thrown open...

Windchimes dancing in the Southern breeze...

The smell of the rosemary...

Good coffee, good wine, good conversation...

Simple pleasures

are

the joys of life...

Blessings

*****Yaya*****

Little Valentine Blessing

Such a beautiful lil' princess...

All dressed up for the 'Season of Love'...

Our new valentine...

A true blessing of love!

Blessings

*****Yaya*****

Nautical...

Sandi, over at www.whistlestopcooking.blogspot.com ,

is doing another photo search, soo...

once again, I decided to play.

Today's theme is

'nautical'....

This photo is just a few blocks from our lil' island cottage.

This is our island fish camp.

Does it give you

spring fever?

I'm ready for some island time!!!

Blessings

*****Yaya*****

Season of Love

The Rose...

Flower of Love...

Today, Tomorrow and Always...

Soulmate...

My Heart...

You...

Together Forever...

You Make My Heart Smile...

Sentiments of Love...

Falling...

Thinking of You...

When We Meet Again...


In Paris...

Or Venice...

Music by the Moon...

Wine and Roses...

Only Us...

In some little European cafe...

It's the Little Things...

I Am Throughly Charmed...

Silly in Love...

Practice giving love instead of taking love...

If everyone gave love,

then the world would be filled with love...

And while we are giving love,

give a smile...

give gentleness...

give tenderness...

give kindness...

give hugs...

There is nothing more beautiful than tender, gentle sweetness,

wrapped in kindness...

Grace...

Beauty...

Love...

Giving...

Kindness...

Tenderness...

Sweetness...

Love...

Smiles...

And more LOVE...

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!

kisseskisseskisses

Blessings

*****Yaya*****

He Went to Paris

lookin for answers

To questions that bothered him so

He was impressive, young and aggressive

Savin the world on his own

But the warm summer breezes

The French wines and cheeses

Put his ambitions at bay

The summers and winters

Scattered like splinters

And four or five years slipped away

Then he went to England, played the piano

And married an actress named Kim

They had a fine life, she was a good wife

And bore him a young son named Jim

And all of the answers and all of the questions

Locked in his attic one day

cause he liked the quiet clean country livin

And twenty more years slipped away

Well the war took his baby, the bombs killed his lady

And left him with only one eye

His body was battered, his whole world was shattered

And all he could do was just cry

While the tears were a-fallin he was recallin

Answers he never found

So he hopped a freighter, skidded the ocean

And left England without a sound

Now he lives in the islands, fishes the pilins

And drinks his green label each day

Writing his memoirs, losin his hearin

Bur he don't care what most people say

Through eighty-six years of perpetual motion

If he likes you he'll smile and he'll say

Jimmy, some of its magic, and some of its tragic

But I had a good life all the way

And he went to Paris lookin for answers

To questions that bothers him so.

Lyrics by Jimmy Buffett

Parrot Heads in Paradise...

Tropical shirts...

Flip-flops...

Broadshorts...

Drinking a margarita...

Singing Jimmy Buffett songs.....

Eating at Lulu's!!!

Blessings

*****Yaya*****

Life...

It's yours...

your life.

Take nothing for granted!

Simplicity...

Kindness...

Love...

Family...

Harmony with nature, all things that are right,

and

a sense of calm and goodness...

Life should be hassle-free...

filled with what matters...

family, home and love...

Blessings

*****Yaya*****

Wintering by the Seashore

Sharing a blissful island moment.....

Nothing compares to the pleasure

and

tranquility of salt air and sea birds,

while listening to the song of the sea.

Our little island offers

the perfect escape from a busy world.

Dreaming of the picture-perfect seaside sanctuary,

in harmony with nature,

just waiting to be explored

on yet another island adventure.

Imagine being gently rocked to sleep

by the symphony of the sea.

It's time to breathe deeply,

slow down

and

soak in the atmosphere of peace.

Such beauty on a winter's day

on an island.....

Blessings

*****Yaya*****

Looking for Hats

Sandi, over at http://www.whistlestopcooking.blogspot.com/

is doing a Saturday photo search.

The theme is 'hats'.

Okay, I decided to play along.

A cute lil' green hat...
And another big green hat...

We can't have green hats
without having
pink hats...




And old worn out beach hats...

And red hats...

Blessings

*****Yaya*****

A Splash of Pink

Yes, I love pink and green...

It feels bright and tropical

on such a cold day.

And, when the oleander blooms

the entire yard is bursting with pink.

I hope you are snuggled in by the fire

on this very cold winter night.

Winter blessings while dreaming in pink and green.

*****Yaya*****

Sitting On The Dock Of The Bay

Watching the time slip away.....

I'll be sitting on the dock of the bay

watching time.

Blessings

*****Yaya*****

Another Island Sunset

Approaching the island by boat

and seeing it in all of its glory...

Kissed by a sunset.

Blessings

*****Yaya*****