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

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