Here you will find writings about life in the deep south, the love of an old family country house, time spent at our tiny island cottage and an old lake hideaway, adventures with our vintage Airstream....books, recipes, yoga, herbs, overseas adventures, flea market and thrift finds, decorating and just southern life in general.
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
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...
A full moon about to rise up out of the water.
Do you believe in beautiful mermaids?
Look!
Far out on the rock...
No, it isn't a dream...
It is real,
this island paradise in the misty sea fog...
without bringing me dreams...
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
A Place in the Sun
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.
Breathe...
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
Thursday, December 9, 2010
A Winterscape
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
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
Home and Hearth at Christmas Time
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
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
Home For Christmas
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
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
Sunday, November 21, 2010
Savouring Autumn
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 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
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
Saturday, November 20, 2010
Friday, November 19, 2010
Autumn Sunset
Our world is so fast, and hectic...
When I come here to the countryside,
I feel the peace start to flow.
I STOP.
I sit on my country house porch,
and
sip wine
at
sunset...
An autumn sunset.
Running here, dashing there...
We can feel so scattered and pulled in every direction.
I love sitting here...
Just being still...silence...
Every part of me starts to feel grounded to the earth's core.
The sunset looks like a brilliant, but soft light of energy.
Energy from God...
It fills me with such peace.
Find your place of peacefulness and connect to it.
Let it carry you along.
Peaceful Blessings
Yaya
Don't Forget to Live
Let go...
Stop concentrateing on work...bills...difficult people.
Give yourself a few minutes of leisure time,
if not each day,
several days a week.
Set the alarm 15 minutes early...
Program the coffee pot (you will awake feeling pampered),
when you smell the fresh coffee drifting throughout the house.
Slip into your fuzzy slippers...
Grabe your favorite throw blanket...
Take your coffee outside into the crisp autumn mist.
Breathe...
Sip your coffee...
This is your time...
Take it...
Make time for precious, quiet moments.
And,
don't forget to live...
Enjoy life.
Fill it with beauty, and grace...tenderness...
Fresh flowers...wine...sunsets...
Oh the list is long...
Don't forget to live.
Blessings
Yaya
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