Your People...

Set up a beautiful life,

and tribe

that lifts you up,

inspires you to soar,

and loves you

whether you fly or fall...

Those that will help dust you off,

and encourage you to try again -

Those that celebrate you...

For you...with you...

As you do the same for them...

Those that celebrate your beauty,

and greatness,

your uniqueness and imperfections...

We are all perfect in our imperfect way...

Those people are your tribe...

Your people!

They allow you to be you,

and love you just the way you are...

Those that do not allow this,

are not your people...

Never stop being you,

because someone else says you're wrong...

Grandstand the essence of you...
Be true to your unique self...
Do it,
and life will be beautiful...
And remember to always sprinkle kindness everywhere you go...

Blessings,
Yaya

The Porch

A late summer afternoon

on a southern porch

conjures up dreams...

There is no better place than the porch...

Problems are solved here...

Books are read here...

Friends sit here, sip iced tea and visit...

Grandangels play here...

Memories are made here...

The smell of cornbread baking is in the southern air...

Okra frying...

Pinto beans simmering...

Iron skillet fried potatoes crisp and brown on the outside,

soft on the inside...

Macaroni and cheese baking...

Blackberry cobbler is ready...

Slices of sweet onion, and Big Boy tomatoes...

Homemade bread and butter pickles...

Oh the smells of my mother's kitchen...

How I miss that...those loved ones of yesteryear,

and bygone days..

Time spent on my grandmother's porch,

this same porch,

but a different time...

I was the child...

Now I am the grandmother,

but the porch is the same...

Summertime,

and livin' is easy...

Fish are jumpin'

and the cotton is high...

Blessings

-Yaya

Fields of Gold, Light and Love

Finding beauty in the small things...

Smell the air, and feel the sky...

Let your soul and spirit fly...

Wild gypsy soul...

Stop thinking,

and let God rush in...

HE will fill you up with more

love

than you know what to do with...

Soak it in...feel it...

Send it to them...

Light and love...

Create beauty...

Pray...Send out more love...

Pray...

Feel God rush in...

Be one with nature...the universal power...

Meditate...

Be still and know that I am God.

A lesson in the art of living...

Blessings

-Yaya

Summer's End is Nearing

Capturing every last moment of those precious summer days...

Picnics under the old peach tree...

Barefoot in the soft grass...

Lightening bugs in a jar...

Mud pies...

Peaches ripened and warm from the summer sun...

Peaches and cream...

Peach cobbler...

Baseball in the back yard...

Chase...

Butterflies and flowers...

Sitting in a tree...dreaming...

Ice cream...

Swimming...

Fresh country air...

Sunkissed faces...

Freckles placed there by angel kisses...

Thinking...

Dreaming...

Rocking chairs and porch time...

Water fountains splashing...

The sound of a tractor...a bumble bee...

Tomato Pies...

Cornbread Salad...

A southern sunset...

Twilight in the country...

Serenaded by the night orchestra...crickets...bull frogs...

Open windows, and screen doors that bang...

The problems of the world seem far away

from this tranquil country setting...

When I enter the driveway gates,

I feel such a sense of peaceful relaxation...

Summertime in the country is God's medicine for the soul...

The perfect place for that morning cup of coffee,

and bird song...

Or moon and stargazing

with a glass of wine...

Inspiring thoughts from the country house...

Bring a dream to life...

Be inspired...look for it...pass it on...

Blessings...

-Yaya

First Kiss of Spring

For a moment

I am seven years old,

climbing in fragrant trees

with gorgeous blooms...

The sky is deep blue...

It is almost twilight,

and a full moon is rising...

Spring is coming...

Spring is coming...

Fairies are dancing in the daffodillies...

Joy is everywhere...

A season of new beginnings...

Blessings...

Yaya

My Haven...My Retreat...

Our little countryside community

must be one of the most serene...

My beloved country house...

We've traveled the world,

but we always return here for a lifetime...

Home to me... my grandmother...

My mother was born on this property in the 1920s,

and before my mother and my grandmother,

my great-grandmother.

I love the country lane that takes me home...

A day in January can bring the occasional snow storm...

It is enchanting...

The firelight...

The candlelight...

Delicious coffee...

Flannel pajamas...

A book, and a lambs wool blanket...

I believe winter becomes us.

It provides the peace I need.

Serene within...

My refuge...my home...enchanted cottage...

A world away.

It is good to be home,

and it is good to have time to write again.

In creative writing they insist you write

EVERY. SINGLE. DAY.

I haven't written in days...weeks...months...

But,

never stop.

Write when you can, and when you must.

Never, ever stop dreaming...

you can change your dreams a thousand times,

but never stop dreaming...

And never stop writing.

Blessings,

Yaya

An Island Out of Time...

An island out of time...

Where time has almost stood still...

Sea washed island of mine...

Are you a shell seeker?

Looking for a gift from the sea?

Could you spend a year by the sea?

Would you come away a changed spirit?

Sea washed and sun kissed...

My beautiful seagulls...

Their song is as soothing to me as the rushing of the waves...

The splash of ocean spray...

A foghorn beckons...

Or is it a ship leaving port?

It is time to return to the island cottage...

I will be greeted by the aroma of slow roasted chicken,

and vegetables...

Rosemary and lemon blossoms...

A sea fog settles over the island,

like a soft moist cloud.

A warm fire,

and a glass of wine...

Flannel pajamas,

some reading, and a little writing...

Peaceful bliss,

and soul renewal...

Teach us to number our days aright,

that we may gain a heart of wisdom.

Psalm 90:12 NIV

Blessings,

Yaya

Sea Walk

The winter has been mild on the island...

Cool and misty,

but not cold.

Soft cotton clam-diggers, and a heavy cotton sweater is enough to keep you warm...

A basket is packed with the most delicious sandwiches from the island bakery...

A bottle of wine...

A cloth is spread,

and canvas beach chairs are open.

Soak it in...

The salty air, and sea spray...

The song of the sea birds...

Such peace...a kind of peace that can only be found by the sea shore.

Go.

It is bliss...

It is tranquility.

Go somewhere undeveloped...not full of tourist.

An island cottage at the end of a narrow lane...

A Hemingway state of mind.

If ever you sleep on an island,

a piece of your heart will stay.

Pssst...do you see the mermaid?

Rambling thoughts from the island cottage...

The mighty one,

God the Lord,

speaks and summons the earth

from the rising of the sun to its setting.

Out of Zion,

the perfection of beauty,

God shines forth.

Psalm 50: 1-2

The Lord is my rock...

In the shadow of your wings...

Your life is your greatest work of art...

Give God your weakness,

and He will give you His strength...

Blessings,

Yaya

Hello Beautiful. I Love You.

Love yourself...

Do your best...

There may be days when your best is just a little...

That is okay...

All is perfect, whole and complete in this moment.

You are one with the power that created you.

You are beautiful.

Rejoice...

You are a child of the most high God...

Your Father is King of kings...

You are beautiful in his spirit.

Look in the mirror...

You will see God's creation....

Hello beautiful...

You are wonderful...I love you...

This is the best days of your life...

Everything is working for your highest good...

Whatever you need to know is revealed to you...

Whatever you need comes to you...

All is well...

-Louise Hay

Open wide the windows of your soul

and let God's love fly right out.

Perhaps someone near may catch

a bit of your song...hope...joy...

Walk in peace, and without fear...

The angels walk with us.

Remember, you are one of God's masterpieces...

Hello, Beautiful...

Blessings,

Yaya

Rambling Thoughts From the Country House...

Did I offer peace today?

Did I bring a smile to someone's face?

Did I say words of healing?

Did I let go of my anger and resentment?

Did I forgive?

Did I love?

These are the real questions.

I must trust that the little bit of love that I sow now,

Will bring forth many fruits,

Here in this world and life to come...

-Henri Douwen

Blessings...

Yaya

Spring Cleaning List...

Spring cleaning, and spring fever go hand in hand...

With the warmer weather,

I want to clean,

and clean,

and clean...

As we pack up the Nashville house,

and prepare to return to the country house,

I'm ready to get home and start spring cleaning...

I was reviewing our tenant agreement for the rental house in Nashville,

and thought its move-out list was a good beginning for any spring cleaning list...

All cabinets, kitchen and bathroom, thoroughly cleaned...inside and out.

Thoroughly clean stove eyes, stove hood, inside oven, dishwasher,

and refrigerator...inside and out, including top and underneath...

All ceiling fans cleaned...top and bottom of fan.

All light bulbs in working order.

Bathrooms thoroughly cleaned including commode base, and mirrors...

Baseboards, window seals, mini blinds, doors, and walls thoroughly wiped down,

and cleaned...

Carpets shampooed and all floors thoroughly cleaned...

Fireplace cleaned...

All air conditioner unit vent area cleaned and filter changed...

Must have new filter.

Water heater cleaned...top and bottom.

All glass storm doors, and mirrors cleaned.

I thought it was a good list to use for the beginning of home spring cleaning...

along with my own personal list...

Windows washed...

Decks washed...

Porches and outside furniture painted...

Thresholds scrubbed...

Closets organized and cleaned...

The list could go on and on and on...

Do you ever get it ALL finished?

Do you ever find yourself with absolutely nothing to do?

Food for thought...

Make home life a priority...

The power of order...being organized, and clean.

An extraordinary life begins at home...

It's so much easier to keep a neat and tidy house clean.

Don't put it down, put it away.

Chaos does not invite peace.

30 days of cleaning...

It will be Monday through Friday.

I need weekends off.

Happy Cleaning...

Blessings,

Yaya

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