Retreat From the Summer Heat

On a hot summer afternoon,

one must retreat to that special place,

behind closed shutters,

near the secretive balconied windows,

somewhere under a high ceiling,

with slow-turning fans...

In the distance,

I hear a splashing fountain

and the strands of a lone violin.

I smell the scent of the sweet olive tree,

just beneath the window...

I see the draping Spanish Moss,

ever so elegant...suspended in Southern time...

Deep in the heart of the old South.

My South...

My home...

Blessings

*****Yaya*****

A Summer State of Mind

Crisp whites...

Incredible blue sky...

Straw hat...

Seashore...

Strappy, sexy sandals...

Ocean spray...

Beaches at twilight...

Long, loose, tousled, windblown locks...

Magnificent cliff views of the sea in the moonlite...

Beautiful seashells...

Sand dunes...

Light house...

Icetea and lemon...

Lazy-day afternoon...

Hot, sultry breeze...

Tan, skinny legs...

Sand in your shoes - Sunshine in your life...

Remembering some Greek island...

And dreaming...

A summer state of mind...

Blessings

*****Yaya*****

Summer Dreams

Deep in the heart of the South,

in the land of bayous, lowlands and barrier islands,

a little boy sits dreaming...

On a Southern summer's day,

what's better than a bowl of gumbo,

crabclaws and a catnap.

I hear the flutter of wings and feathers.
A pelican comes in for a landing.



Many summer afternoons are spent
soaking up the sun,
laughing and telling stories,
eating fresh seafood straight from the Gulf...
watching the boats and dreaming.





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

Some Quiet Time

Sometimes I feel as if life gets faster

and faster...

As we get older,

one would think it should get slower...

It doesn't...

And then,

my soul begins to seek escape...

I need to sit on the beach

and listen to the seagulls...

Breathe the salt air,

look out across the ocean

and do nothing...

Nothing...

It is so soothing to place tired feet into warm sand...

and just sit,

doing nothing,

but feel the warm kiss of the sun...

How peaceful,

this restful slumber...

My senses are being put back in order...

The sound of the gentle waves

and the taste of a frozen coconut daiquiri

asure me that we are on

island time.

Mother Nature is inspiring enough,

but a few beautiful books

can send your dreams

over the rainbow...

I do believe this is my favorite place on earth...

Well, at least one of them.




Life just doesn't get better than this...





Blessings
Yaya

A Humble Cottage

The old cottage...

A place of enchantment...

Old wood furnishings...

Painted wood floors...

Soft music...

The porch...

The wicker rockers...

The roses...

The sweet country air...

Invite enchantment...

Plant a rose garden...

Jasmin...

English dogwoods...

Turn on the soft music...

Sit on the porch...

Enjoy life.

Blessings

*****Yaya*****

Art & Musings

I love this painting!

This is 'Sandy's Art'...

I have a dear friend who is so talented, creative,

and

such a good artist.

More of 'Sandy's Art'...

And more...



How cute is this!?!

Here he is...

in real life...

sitting for his painting.

Ohhh so cute.

He is as sweet as he is cute and handsome!

She leaves her beautiful old country house,

and goes to the river...

living by the water

and

paints...

Musings of a far away trip...

Oh, it was a far away land,

across the ocean and desert.

We arrived and crossed most of Syria.

There is a point where one can stand,

and look upon the Tigris River,

Iraq and the mountains of Turkey.

It is from here,

a far away village,

that is the home of the artist who painted the above picture and

the one below.

Sometimes one accquires treasures

that are truly irreplaceable.

I so love our Syrian treasures,

and I treasure our time there.

An old European painting from 1-1-1953

takes me away to another time and place.

Wanderlust grabs hold,

never to let go.

Another trip, more treasures, pleasures and blessings.

Chart your travels on an old antique map.

Each tiny stone represents where we have journeyed.

Sometimes I gaze at the old map,

always grateful for every trip,

and always longing for another.

Some far away place yet without a stone on our antique map.

Once upon a time,

there was a young girl who left the country house

and lived in the big city.

She studied fashion design and art.

This is one of her drawings.

And another...

And if you get the chance,

I hope you dance.

Or paint,

or write,

or love & laugh,

or travel.

Live in a happy and beautiful place,

and appreciate the joy of each passing moment.

Blessings

*****Yaya*****

Sacred Space

Welcome to my 'Sacred Space'...

Walk through the old painted door

and enter into a place of peace.

We need that space where we can go

and listen to silence or beautiful music

or our heart's desire.

A place to 'be'...

Country silence...

The trickle of water in the fountain...


Your home can become an island of peace in time and space,
radiating these qualities out into the universe.
It's energy can touch the soul of all who visit.




Become aware of the power of space...
Clean...
Clear...
Create beauty...
Music...
Paintings...
Beautiful books...
Candels...
Flowers...
Animals...a dog, cat, birds, fish...
It doesn't need to cost a fortune.
Shop for things of beauty that speaks to your soul.
Go to thrift stores, yard sales, flea markets...and on and on.
Create that sacred space that speaks to your soul,
and feel the healing power.





A beautiful rug placed near the fountain...
What a wonderful spot for yoga.
Everyday I come to this small sacred space,
and everyday, after yoga, I feel renewed.




Blessings
Yaya

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*****