My Beachy Things

We are on an island...

When I walk into our tiny island house,

I want everything to say

BEACH.

Beachy Blessings

Yaya

A Summer Place in Winter

Touched by the beauty of a child...

Blessings

Yaya

Salt Air, Sea Birds, and Sunsets

Listen...

Sea Birds calling...

Soaring high out over the bay.

I stand in my garden,

and listen to their music...

Breathing in the salt air.

A sea fog settles over the bridge to paradise.

And the gulls cry...

The sea is calm as the sun sweeps low in the western sky...

A full moon about to rise up out of the water.

Do you believe in beautiful mermaids?

Look!

Far out on the rock...

Misty island dreams...

No, it isn't a dream...

It is real,

this island paradise in the misty sea fog...

For the moon never beams,

without bringing me dreams...

Bliss. God's perfect bliss...

There are those who would not notice God's sunsets.

I am not one of those, thank you, Lord.

Six years ago,

on a January day

at sunset,

Daddy journeyed into heaven...

What a gift he gave me...

With every setting sun,

I look upon its beauty,

and feel the spirit of someone who thought I hung the moon...

Blessings

Yaya

A Place in the Sun

Our tiny cottage...

deep in the southland,

through the lowlands,

across the causeway,

out into the Gulf,

there sits a tiny island...

Our place in the sun...

A place to slow down...

Rest...

Read...

Think,

and ponder life...

When I am away,

I dream of being here....

Soaking up the salt air...

Renewing the soul.

Walk...

Breathe...

Thank you, Lord, for this place in the sun.

Ramblings from the island cottage...

Listen, alone beside the sea...

Gather a shell from the strewn beach...

The echo of the whole sea's speech...

Sheer miracles of loveliness...

And round the sandy beach far and wide...

The rushing of the sea-tides of the soul,

and inspirations that we deem our own.

Blessings

Yaya

A Winterscape

A frosty winter's day...

A cup of hot chocolate...

The country house glowing from the inside with warmth...

Memories of childhood Christmases gone by...

Carols filling the winter air with the sound of holiday...

The magic of the season

can take us to Christmases of yesteryear,

thinking of loved ones

and

blissful reminiscences...

All on a frosty winter's day

while sipping my hot chocolate.

Snow is on the way,

and I can't wait to experience the magic of a true

winter wonderland...

May you have blessings of a beautiful winterscape...

Yaya

Home and Hearth at Christmas Time

Welcome Home...

Oh how I love those words

when we return from far away...

After a busy day of shopping,

wrapping presents,

it's time to slow down and relax...

Christmas music fills the air...

Hot mulled wine in hand,

candle light,

a warm fire...

It feels so go to be home by the hearth,

getting ready for Christmas

and family

to arrive at the old country house.

Blessings

Yaya

Home For Christmas

No matter where you are

out there in the big beautiful world...

Paris...

London...

Old New York...

There is no place like home at Christmas time.

Merry Christmas Blessings

Yaya

Harvest Blessings

Welcome!

It's harvest time at the country house...

I love the autumn fruits and vegetables,

and many of them will be used in our country kitchen

as Thanksgiving dinner is prepared.

Of course,

the quintessential autumn main course is roasted turkey.

Bliss is going to the Farmers Market

and coming home with baskets,

and baskets,

of sweet potatos, squash, apples, pears, pumpkins,

cabbages, brussels sprouts, broccoli, cauliflower,

eggplant...

And don't forget to pick your persimmons,

if you should be so lucky to have a tree.

Yes, the country house does have a persimmon tree...

Don't you love picking fresh sage for your dressing?!!

Ohhh so good.

May you all have a blessing of plentiful harvest!

Yaya

Savouring Autumn

Mornings start slowly, but early,

with coffee and conversation...

Country life has a rhythm and heart all its own.

Some thirty miles out of town...

I love having a place to retreat from the hectic world.

Music fills the rooms,

and flows out onto the porch.

Sounds of Mozart or Chopin,

and so much more...music from around the world.

We play Rook...we read...sip hot mulled wine.

A home is where one puts all one's favorite things...

A home is where family gathers together for the holidays...

There is no place I would rather be,

than in the countryside

savouring autumn,

and waiting on the arrival of family

and

Thanksgiving.

Blessings

Yaya

Autumnal Palette

Colors of autumn

suffused

with

beauty and warmth...

I love filling the old country house

with

vivid hues from outside my window...

Set a beautiful table with warm colors of fall...

It looks as if it would smell of spice...

It does.

The smell is cinnamon and apples...

Spice cake...

The perfect place to sip warm cider

or

hot mulled wine.

Open your home to family,

and celebrate the season of

Thanksgiving.

Blessings

Yaya