The Magic of Santa Claus

Santa and his reindeer are getting ready

for their magical journey on Christmas Eve.....

Oh to see Christmas through the eyes of a child.

It truly is magical.

The reindeer take flight

with lightening-fast speed.

They must have wings!

It won't be long

and on the roof they will land,

then down the chimney

Santa descends,

filling stockings with toys and joy.....

Santa must work with his elves every day.

These good-hearted helpers

know just what to do.

They make trains, skates and dolls,

balls, toy soldiers and books...

The workshop is a miraculous place.

Horses that gallop and dollies that walk,

And teddy-bears ready to cuddle and rock.

Who Santa Claus is,
there's no need to tell.
Children around the world know him so well.....
Jolly old Saint Nicholas,
Lean your ear this way!
Christmas Eve is coming soon!






'Giving' is the secret of Christmas cheer.
Blessings
*****Yaya*****

Winter Time In The Country

Looking at the beautiful Currier & Ives

"Winter In The Country",

causes one to reflect on yesteryear.....

Another era, another time...

A time when life seemed much slower.

We have come a long way

and gained so much,

and yet, it seems to me

that

we have lost something along the way.

Do you miss those olden days

when everyone gathered at Grandmother's house?

Of course.....

But,

I am now Grandmother...Yaya...

Times have changed

but not the tradition.

I can't wait for our children and grandangels to arrive!!!

Merry Christmas to all,

and to all a good night.

Christmastime blessings

*****Yaya*****

Winter Wonderland

I wanted to share another

Currier & Ives

placemat from my mother's collection.

It sets such a mood.....

Oh to dream in winter white.

Blessings

*****Yaya*****

Currier & Ives

To gaze upon certain things of beauty

can speak to one's soul.

The prints of Currier & Ives

have always filled me with a sense of 'home'.

Somehow, they seem comforting.

As I rambled through storage boxes this past week,

I came across an antique set of six

Currier & Ives place mats.

They belong to my mother

and I recall her using them in my childhood.

I haven't seen them in years

but what a treasure.

They now have a place on the dining room table

and I can't stop looking at them.

I wish for you,

comforts of home and family...

Christmas Blessings

*****Yaya*****

O Christmas Tree

A little Christmas tree

just for the dining room...

All dressed up in shimmering gold,

snowwhites and crystal.....

O Christmas tree,

O Christmas tree,

your leaves are so unchanging.

Not only green in summer's glow,

But in the winter sleet and snow.

O Christmas tree,

O Christmas tree

I always want an angel atop the Christmas tree...

From angels bending near the earth,

to touch their harps of gold:

Peace on earth, goodwill to men,

From heaven's all gracious King.

The world in solemn stillness lay

To hear the angels sing.....

Blessings

*****Yaya*****

All Through The House

The word Christmas calls up cherished memories.

Oh the happy anticipation...

I always experience the happy anticipation,

the memories and that wonderful longing for the magic of it all.

Christmas always has to do with the getting ready for,

as much as the day itself.

Preparations for the great day start way in advance.

It's a ritual here at the old country house.

Nothing is thrown together quickly.

I take my time and play with everything...

ribbons, pine garlands and cones, crystal and china.

Polishing until everything is all a glow.

I love the decorating...decking the halls.

By the time Christmas Eve arrives,

all will be ready for the arrival of Christmas magic!

The kids and grandangels arrive with their gorgeously wrapped boxes

and the little wee ones listen for sleighbells.

Oh the excitement!!

I just love an old fashioned country Christmas.

It's Christmastime, y'all!!!

Blessings

*****Yaya*****

Christmas Is...

Magic...

Sweet-smelling cedar...

A dusting of fresh snow...

Pinecones...

Candles so bright...

Ribbons that shimmer...

Silver bells...

Giggles of little elves and children...

Bundles of cinnamon sticks wrapped in red plaid ribbon...

Apples and oranges and fruitcake...

Pretty pine garlands...

Rock candy...

Mama Peggy's peanut brittle...

Gingerbread...

Silvery tinsel...

Walnuts...

Ruby red ornaments, shiny and bright...

A crackling fire and the smell of woodsmoke in the air...

Reindeer in flight...

Presents under the tree...

A star for the Christ Child...

Angels...

Sweet gifts of love...

A glass of wine and a long winter's nap.

May Christmas be a time of great blessings for all.....

Yaya

Boughs of Holly

Wrapped in the soft warmth

of a golden glow,

and the quiet of a cold December night,

we are snug unto ourselves.

The world is put on hold for an evening.

Blessings

*****Yaya*****

Time To Deck The Halls

"It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas".....

With Christmas music playing,

I am beginning to decorate the old country house.

When I finish,

everything will be all dressed up

with ribbons, magnolia leaves, cedar, pine garlands and more.

Inside, all is abustle

with Christmas boxes scattered all about.

So much to do

and so little time.

Trees to put up and decorate...

Tables to be dressed in their Christmas best...

Stockings to hang...

Christmas china to wash...

Silver to polish...

Gifts to wrap...

Baking ...

and baking...

Lights to string...

More Christmas shopping...

Eggnog to drink!

Blessings

*****Yaya*****

Sweet Little Companion

For every day you've made more special

and every time I forgot to let you know.....

I Love You,

my little sugar bear.

The presence of our beloved pets

can be as warm and comforting as a hug.

You will never be alone

with a journal in your pocket

and a dog by your side.

Blessings

*****Yaya*****

A Grand Serenade

Oh, to be inspired.....

If one can only give a child

the atmosphere

in which they can find out who they are

and

what they really ought to become.

The memory of a smile.....

Music reveals your hidden soul.

Music can touch one deeply

and

transport them into another world.....

The music paints pictures,

and

I lose myself in them.....

Nobody ever got anywhere

without dreaming it would happen to them.....

In order to get anywhere,

you always need to know where you want to go.....

When you wish for your children,

wish only for health and happiness.

After all,

that's all they'll really need.

Blessings

*****Yaya*****

The Duchess Of Earl And A Gift From France

To Yaya

From The Duchess Of Earl.....

A very special person

came to visit

my little place beneath my Southern sky.

She delivered a gift,

all the way from France.

It was a very sweet surprise

as I opened my invitation from the Duchess of Earl.

No, 'twas not for tea,

but

an invitation to play

'Random Things Meme'!

Thank you, Duchess, for visiting my place beneath my Southern sky,

and thank you for thinking of me

and including my lil' blog in your list.

Y'all can visit her special place at

http://www.theduchessofearl.blogspot.com/ .....

Now,

this has caused me to think,

and

think some more...

for

I am to choose seven special blogs

(you are all special)

and

pass along the tag.

I am also suppose to tell you

seven random and/or weird facts about myself.

Okay, very quickly....here are seven facts about me.

1. I once saw a UFO!!! Really!

2. I have spent many hours sunbathing by the South China Sea.

3. One of my favorite Southern meals is pinto beans cooked with ham,

iron-skillet fried potatos, cornbread, sliced sweet onions

and

iced sweet tea.

4. I once considered tasting snake wine, while in Vietnam.

5. I once lived on a cliff in Bethioua, Algeria,

overlooking the blue Mediterranean Sea.

6. I once shared my homemade cookies

with wild monkeys in Tipaza.

The big leader of the monkey pack

smelled my cookie and tossed it to the ground,

making a horrible monkey face.

Why, I have NEVAH!!!

7. I have been in the tomb of Cleopatra Seline,

daughter of Mark Antony

and

Cleopatra, queen of Egypt.

It is amazing

that in this day and time,

by the click of a mouse,

we can visit and travel around the world and back,

from the comfort of our leather armchair,

by the fireplace,

in our cozy den...

all while sipping our favorite wine

and listening to our favorite music.....

It has been most difficult to choose,

but

I must pick only seven,

so say the rules.

Okay, I'm sending out my tags

from beneath my Southern sky.....

Pamela, Edward and Apple at http://www.fromthehouseofedward.blogspot.com/ .....

The head hen at http://www.achickenineverygrannycart.wordpress.com/

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

The very pregnant Southern Belle at http://www.londonsouthernbelle.typepad.com/

Lynn at http://www.middleeastcrazies.blogspot.com/

Judy at http://www.gracioussouthernliving.blogspot.com/

Lala Ema at http://www.mycastleinspain.blogspot.com/

Here are the rules for A Random Things Meme.....

1. Link to the person who tagged you and post the rules on your blog.

2. Share 7 random and/or weird facts about yourself.

3. Tag 7 random people at the end of your post, and include links to their blogs.

4. Let each person know that they've been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.

I may not know you personally,

but I know the beauty of your spirt.....

Blessings

*****Yaya*****

Ushering In The Holiday Season

A wonderful smell fills the air of the old country house.

Turkey

Ham

Chicken & Dressing

Sweet Potato Casserole (for the girls)

Creamed Potatos (for Tom & the boys)

Mac & Cheese

Spinach Casserole (for Jodie)

Corn Casserole

Cranberry sauce

Yeast Rolls

Spinach Salad

Green Bean Casserole

Mixed Vegetable Casserole (Mother's old recipe)

Coconut Pie (for Mother)

Chocolate Cake

Wine

Tea

Coffee

Indian Tree China

Yes, I always go to Yaya's for any holiday meal.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING

Blessings

*****Yaya*****

Lamp Glow

Don't you just love a rainy, foggy night?

I do. I also love the cozy feeling

of lamp glow on such a night....

Don't you think every woman needs a beautiful dressing table?

Place beautiful pieces of crystal on it

and a beautiful lamp nearby....

Add an amber bulb and you have a mellow 'lamp glow'.....

Rambling thoughts from the country house.....

Let your imagination soar

for it is your souls blueprint for success.....

Know the things you love

and surround yourself with them.....

Make the place you live

the place you love.....

Throw conventional design rules out the window,

shake that hair free

and live in a space

that speaks of adventure, journeys

and everything

that you dream of.....

'From a junk gypsy'

Love your space.....

Blessings

*****Yaya*****

A Simple Path

Embrace a child.....

Desire to inspire.....
Live your life with such perfection
that the inspiration
you
provide others will set them
on the same marvelous course.....





Rambling thoughts from the country house.....


Life rays...your beautiful energy,
drifting out and into the universe. It is there. It is real.
As real as the sun, the moon and the stars.....
Let your thoughts reach out
and grasp the stars.
Make every day of life count.....



Take time to think...especially before you speak.
Take time to pray/meditate.
Take time to laugh/be kind.

It is the source of power.
It is the greatest power on earth.
It is the music of the soul.


Take time to play/talk.
Take time to love and be loved.
Take time to give...
Mother Theresa...from "A Simple Path"




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

Serenity In The Countryside

Fall is here in all of it's jewel-tone colors.....

Leaves of gold, amber and rusty red

are drifting in the wind.....

Falling, falling.....

When life feels as if you are in the fast lane,

it's time to escape...

Get away from it all.

Seek rest, peace and tranquility.

A remote place, hidden from the world...

The island cottage is closed.

As I drove North, into the rural Alabama countryside,

the landscape started to change.

The gentle rolling hills glowed in brillent autumn color

and the air felt different.

When at the country house,

you can almost feel the quiet.

Breathe...

The air seems pure and intoxicating.

Today it is cold, damp and gray.

The perfect setting for a fire and beautiful lamps with an amber glow.

Such is the charm of the rural countryside.

It feels enchanting.

I love the feeling of driving through the gates

and closing out the world.

Flannel-clad, I love sipping hot tea or hot mulled wine

while sitting on the porch

watching the fog roll in over the pastures.

Is that a distant murmur of a quail?

With the fireplace blazing away,

the night has arrived,

casting a misty golden glow into the grayness of this perfect fall day.

Blessings

*****Yaya*****

"Summer's End"....

"Summer's End"...

An old book by Danielle Steel,

or "Islands", by Anne Rivers Siddons,

causes one to 'feel' an island.

The smell of woodsmoke and salty air...

A gulls cry in the gray sky...

Rain dancing on the old tin roof,

and Lena Horn singing "September Song"...

Swimsuits are wrapped in tissue paper

and tucked away in drawers...

Drawers that are scented with fragrance sachet.

A scented candle flickers,

and distant chimes ring in the island breeze.

We walked the beach at sunset,

wrapped in old sweaters,

sipping hot mulled wine,

and savoured the moment of

the summer's end.....

In the coastal South,

the weather can be warm & beautiful

right on into fall.

But, when the last October moon,

travels across the Southern sky

and the first November sun rises,

that, for me,

truly marks

"Summer's End"

Blessings

*****Yaya*****