Saturday, December 5, 2009

A Winter Moon

Yes, it is a winter moon...
An island moon...
Rising out of the water,
Hanging over our island in all of its glory.
We had not planned to be here...
We do not spend time on the island during December...
But it was meant to be,
And it is wonderful,
This 'Island Time' in December.


Oh beautiful moon,
high above the palm trees,
like a diamond in the sky,
on a cold winter's night...


And then the rain came...
The winter wind howled and the rain poured...
And it was so cold...
A damp wet cold that chills you to the bone...
A cold that requires a fire, cashmere and hot mulled wine.


We closed the shutters,
sipped wine,
listened to Christmas music,
cooked homemade soup,
and sprinkled Christmas magic throughout the island house.




December is such a beautiful time of the year...
All dressed up in holiday style...

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


Tuesday, November 24, 2009

Poulet De Normandy


Poulet De Normandy
1 large package Pepperidge Farm herb seasoned stuffing mix
1 stick of butter, melted in 1 c. hot water or chicken broth
1/4 cup green onion tops
1/2 cup diced celery
1/2 cup mayonnaise
1/2 teaspoon salt
4 diced chicken breast, cooked
2 eggs
1 1/2 cup milk
1 can mushroom soup
Grated cheese
Mix stuffing and butter melted in the hot liquid and set aside. Combine onions, celery, mayonnaise and salt. Mix well with bread mixture. In a greased 9 X 13-inch baking dish, put half of bread mixture, then spread diced chicken. Top with rest of bread mixture. Beat eggs in milk and pour over the casserole. Refrigerate overnight. Take out 2 hours before serving and spread mushroom soup. Bake uncovered, at 325 degrees for 40 minutes. Cover with grated cheese and bake 10 minutes more or until cheese melts.
This is the perfect dish for your company lunch or supper. Serve with glazed carrots,
strawberry congealed salad, and yeast rolls.
Happy Eating
Blessings
*****Yaya*****

Pleasures of Fall


Pumpkin pie...
Spiced tea...
Sweet potatos...
Falling leaves...
Dinner with family and friends...
Tweed jackets...
Soft sweaters...
Hot mulled wine...
Smokey Hams...
Dressing...
Honey roasted turkey...
Indulge yourself in the pleasures of fall...


Harvest Blessings...
*****Yaya*****

Monday, November 2, 2009

Bitter Sweet Days of Fall

Dear little island cottage by the sea...
The time is drawing near for me to leave you.
Your pink shutters will be closed...
The swimsuits and sundresses will be packed in tissue paper,
and placed in pretty boxes with seascapes on them...
All filled with scented packets that smell of seabreeze and rosemary.

The summer days are long gone,
and crisp autumn nights have arrived on our island.
Oh how I love the golden, russet days of autumn,
and the harvest moon...
The smell of firewood burning in a fireplace,
hot mulled wine,
and old cashmere sweaters...
Long walks on an empty beach,
watching an autumn sunset.
I will miss you,
my little cottage by the sea.


I will miss sipping a cold chardonnay
from my handpainted palmtree wine glasses...



And I will miss all of my much beloved tropical whimsy...
The bright colors that speake of summer.


And fresh homemade lemon cake,
made with our very own Meyer lemons that grow in our back yard...












And making seahorse and lighthouse cookies
with our grandangels...






And open windows and dancing windchimes....
















Island breeze and billowing white curtains...
Oh so fresh is the smell of salty air...




















Ponytails and seahorse mirrows...
























I love living seaside,
but I also love the countryside,
and when the last October sun dances across the Southern sky,
and the first November moon rises,
it's time to close the island cottage
and drive north to the country house.
The holiday season is upon us.
As much as I love my island time,
I equally love time spent in the countryside.
I'm ready to fill the old country house
with the scents of apples and spice.













A few more days of island time and packing,
then we must take the drive along the narrow island road,
under the goat trees with their weeping Spanish moss...






























Saying our goodbyes to yet another season of wonderful memories,
but oh so excited to move into a new season,
with holidays in the countryside awaiting.
Blessings
*****Yaya*****
















Saturday, October 31, 2009

A Spooktacular Halloween

Do you feel like you are being watched?


The neighbors are so nice
and very interesting...


Is that Spiderman and Batman?







Look!
Is she real?






That MUST be Wonder Dog!






Is that a SPIDER?







The candy is over here by me...
Come and get it, little one....








Welcome.....




















Hungry?
Have some fingers...











Or eyeballs and Vampire wine...
It's delicious...
Try it...













Oh go ahead...
Sit down and enjoy dinner...
Stay awhile and visit...
BOOHAHAHA



























Ohh, I get it...
We are filming "Growing Up Creepy"....
No...
No?
It's HALLOWEEN!!!
BOOHAHAHA
































Two super heros came to save the day!!!


HAPPY HALLOWEEN
and
AUTUMN BLESSINGS

*****Yaya*****














Tuesday, October 20, 2009

Life's Simple Pleasures




































































We can find a world of miracles
in the simplest of things
Like the wonder and the pleasure
that a sunrise often brings...
The ocean's sound in seashells,
rainbows bending in the sky,
The fluttering of bird's wings
when they first begin to fly,
The twinkle of a starry night
as the moon winks off to sleep,
And the cycle of the seasons
leaving memories that we keep...
Poem By Emily Matthews

May you have many blessings and simple pleasures...
*****Yaya*****