Snow in the Countryside

There is nothing more wonderful

than awakening to a winter wonderland.

Morning coffee in hand,

it's time to take a walk with the dogs.

It's so quiet.

Not a sound.

Everything is blanketed in snow.

It doesn't last long in the south,

but while it is here,

it is ever so magical.

So clean.

So white.

The trees looked like they were made of crystal.

It's time to head back inside,

and enjoy the winter beauty

through the window

 by the fire.

We must enjoy it while it last,

because tomorrow it will melt away,

like magic,

as if it never happened.

Blessings

Yaya

A Rainy Winter Night

The holidays are over,

and all the Christmas decorations have been packed away.

The ballgame of the year

came to an amazing end for Alabama, AGAIN!

National Champions...

The celebrating is winding down,

and I must admit,

I am ready for the quiet.

I'm ready to start new home projects,

and finish those that were put aside.

I am ready to clean and organize...

Maybe even redecorate a few areas of the old country house.

Maybe I'll paint and change rooms altogether.

It's wonderful to have some extended time in the countryside.

Time to ponder the desires of the new year.

On this rainy winter night,

I spend my time looking through beautiful magazines for inspiration,

decorating books,

and oh how I get lost in the magic of decorating blogs.

Tomorrow will be a busy day,

but tonight by the fire,

listening to the rain and dreaming

is just what I needed.

Blessings

Yaya

Everybody is a Leader

If everybody will just do their job,

we're gonna be all right.

Everybody's a leader...

Note to self...

Apply this to life in general.

Blessings

Yaya

A Dose of Motivation

Motivation does the soul good...

It seeps in never to leave.

This great motivator left a legacy for all Alabamians,

but not just in football.

We took his wisdom to heart,

oh so many years ago,

and hung on tight.

He kept a poem in his pocket,

and read it everyday of his life.

I decided to place 'him' here,

in my special place beneath a southern sky,

so that I might listen to his 

voice...

that deep, mellow

warm like good whiskey voice...

Everyday.

He inspires me to live 85%, at least...

Pardon us Alabamians,

as we are still on a 

crystal high!!

National Champions once again!!

Roll Tide!!

Blessings

Yaya

A New Day

This is the beginning of a new day.

God has given me this day to use as I will.

I can waste it or I can use it for good.

What I do today is very important

 because I am exchanging a day of my life for it.

When tomorrow comes

this day will be gone, FOREVER.

Leaving something in its place I have traded for it.

I want it to be gain, not loss,

good, not evil,

success, not failure,

in order that I shall not

forget the price I paid for it.

Blessings

Yaya

ROLL TIDE!!! So Proud of My South!

And the Bear said from Heaven;

"This Saban fellah is pretty good."

Blessings.

Roll Tide, Y'all!!!

Yaya

Jim Brickman - Winter Peace (The Gift)

Winter

I love the feel of a warm fire on a winter's day...

The smell of coffee throughout the old country house.

I love the feeling that I get when I sit at my large, old desk,

next to the fire,

on an early winter morn.

The comfort,

and the safety of home in the countryside.

The winter walks that I take around the field road with the dogs...

Old flannel shirts,

my favorite old soft jeans,

and my very old boots...

The smell of vegetable soup cooking on the stove.

Winter allows us time to come inside and slow down.

Slow down with a book,

a cup of hot tea, coffee, mulled wine,

and the old cashmere wrap.

I love the feel of the old wool rug under my feet,

as I do my yoga.

I don't mind the early night time..

It's the perfect excuse to light scented candles every night.

Winter is a time for thinking...

Dreaming...

Planning...

Organizing...

It is also a time for the new season of Downtown Abbey!

I am truly loving the wintertime at our country house...

This is also the time of year to look through all the seed and plant magazines.

I could stay lost in my thoughts, dreams, and books all winter long...

May you have a cozy and blessed winter...

Yaya

Long Ago

Haunting music that reaches down into my soul of long ago...
I think of those who are gone, but never forgotten.
My grandmother, when I was a child...
Her porch...
Her swing...
Her smile...
Her cornbread...
My dad...
How he was always there for me...
No matter what...
I miss him...
I miss them..
I miss 'long ago'...
I learned so much from 'long ago'...
Thought for the day;
"There is somebody in your life
that needs to see you live a spiritual example."
Your life and the memories you make
will someday, too, be 'long ago'...
Blessings
Yaya

Asleep the Snow Came Flying...

Michael Hoppe - Golden Leaves

Such soul soothing music...The Poet..Romances for the Cello

Enjoy!

Blessings...Yaya

God's Masterpiece

In this new year,

"Let no one ever come to you

without leaving better and happier.

Be the living expression of God's kindness:

Kindness in your face,

kindness in your eyes, kindness in your smile."

~Mother Teresa~

You are God's masterpiece.

Know it.

Believe it.

There is a miracle in your mouth 

just waiting to be spoken into existence.

Speak what you desire.

Ask and you shall receive.

Let your requests be made known to God.

Blessings in the new year.

Yaya