Tuesday, September 18, 2012

The Cliffs





Near Abiquiu...
"Tonight, I am sitting on the ground near a pinon tree, 
beside the trail to the cliffs,
leaning on a walking stick
facing her seated on a wooden folding chair,
as a pupil at the foot of a sage.
We watched the sun set.....
She gestured to different parts of the cliffs as her favorite places."

Quote from "Weekends with O'Keeffe"
C.S. Merrill

I feel so blessed to have been given the opportunity to see and feel
the land that so inspired Georgia O'Keeffe.

Blessings
Yaya

Monday, September 17, 2012

Crosses of Abiquiu







Inspired by Georgia O'Keeffe
and her 'Cross Series'...
I have been blessed to walk the dirt roads of Abiquiu,
and see what she saw.
I believe the spirit of O'Keeffe is still there...
In the wind...
In the air...
It's different up there.

Blessings
Yaya

"Days In A Life"









"Days In A Life"...
by C. S. Merrill...
The 'feel' of this old casita is amazing...
Reading "Days In A Life" while here seems perfect...
"Breakfast with O'Keeffe
fresh sliced fruit, fresh orange juice
Jasmine tea or fresh coffee
hot chili with oil
marinated with garlic
in the fridge overnight;
maybe eggs soft-boiled
or scrambled, to your taste,
the bread a meal itself
whole wheat flour and soy flour,
wheat germ, ground flax seed,
sunflower seeds, and butter
mixed with safflower,
then savory jam maybe
ginger and green tomato
or sweet raspberry.
One day she said
what do you write about me?
Are you going to tell
what I eat for breakfast?"

April, 1974
C.S. Merrill on O'Keeffe

Blessings
Yaya

Saturday, September 15, 2012

Playing With Light







With camera in hand,
I wanted to capture the early morning light
as it came through the kitchen window,
and the open iron window in the center courtyard...
There was such  quiet...
No noise.
Just birdsong.
I found myself lost in thought as I walked through the old casita...
Thinking of those who have spent time here...
Another time, but the same place.
I found a photograph in the casita of an artist that lived and worked here.
Oh so many  years ago he stood at the gate,
his gate,
but for this weekend,
our gate...
Ghostly images as I play with the camera...
And then the day passed,
and the late afternoon light fell on the mountains, and the old morada
behind the house...
I became enchanted with the light just as Georgia O'Keeffe did...

Blessings
Yaya

Enchanted





I feel at home in O'Keeffe country...
It is quaint...
It is old...
It is enchanting.
And so tonight we are in Taos, New Mexico,
sitting by the fire, (39 degrees)
sipping wine,
in a studio of a famous artist...
Casita Morada,
I think I love you...

Blessings
Yaya

Wednesday, September 12, 2012

Casita Morada





It is time to slow down,
if only for a weekend...
The last few months have been filled with over-flowing business...
I am about to pack,
and embark upon a journey that is equal to a dream...
A dream of staying where Georgia O'Keeffe stayed and worked...
A place where she was enchanted by the light
playing upon the old morado behind the house.
A house which is surrounded by sacred Taos Pueblo land...
A house where Ansel Adams stayed...
A house that was originally Saint Teresa's Mission...
A house that was part of  Mabel Dodge Luhan's estate...
A house where Georgia O'Keeffe was inspired to paint her "cross series"...
A house that will be mine,
if only for two nights...
Two glorious nights...
I, too, will be enchanted by the light
that plays upon the old morado behind the house...

Blessings
Yaya

Friday, August 10, 2012

Chasing Sunsets, Seeking Inspiration, and Pondering Life


Are you inspired by a beautiful sunset?
Birdsong?
The smell of the ocean?
A full moon rising?
To be alone with nature
recharges my soul...my mind.
I slow down,
and float away,
deep into my thoughts...
Pondering, pondering...
Life,
such as it is...

"No one is useless in this world
who lightens the burden of it 
for anyone else."
Charles Dickens

Blessings
Yaya

Saturday, May 19, 2012

Rainbow Palette


A bank of flowers...
The birds are singing...
The warm sun beckons you to spend time outside...
Take a walk...
Ride your bike...
Pick wild flowers and put them in a beautiful vase...
The world is a rainbow palette...
Don't miss it!
Go outside and soak it all in.
Let your creativity flow freely...
Become enchanted with life.
Magical ambience is all around you.
"Do fairies live here?"...she said...

Blessings
Yaya

Friday, May 18, 2012

Quiet Time


Of all the wonderful things in the wonderful universe of God,
nothing makes my heart sing,
like time spent with grandangels...
Is there anything more soothing
than an afternoon nap with a baby?
Such peaceful, blessed quiet time with my angels...
I love snuggling with them,
telling stories, and watching them as they drift off to dreamland...
"It is the simple things of life
that make life worthwhile,
the sweet fundamental things such as love and duty,
work and rest
and living close to nature."
Laura Ingalls Wilder
Thus, simple as a little child,
we learn a home is made from love.
Warm as the golden hearthfire on the floor.
Author Unknown


Blessings
Yaya

Wednesday, May 16, 2012

Collecting Thoughts


If you have people in your life to love, you are rich...
Slow down and enjoy the simple things in life...
Know what to ignore...
Recognize your gifts...
Take nothing for granted...
In everything give thanks...
Stop complaining...let it be a reminder to give thanks for all that is right...
Choose your battles...
A bulldog can whip a skunk any day of the week, 
but sometimes it's just not worth the stink...
The best strategy is to take a step back,
draw a deep breath and say, 
"What truly matters here?"
Proverbs 20:3  Avoiding a fight is a mark of honor...
Make your home a place of peace...
We all have a direct connection to God...
Laugh like a child...
Proverbs 17:22...A happy heart is good medicine,
and a cheerful mind works healing...
Smile, and the world smiles with you...

"Every Day A Friday"...by Joel Osteen

Blessings
Yaya

Thursday, May 10, 2012

Perseverance



Consider it pure joy,
whenever you face trials of any kind,
because you know that the testing of your faith
develops perseverance.
Perseverance must finish its work
so that you may be mature
and complete,
not lacking anything...
James 1:2-4

Blessings of Perseverance
Get up and carry on...
There is work to do,
and joy in faith...
I claim peace, order, grace and favor...

Yaya

Wednesday, May 9, 2012

Be Silent



Shhhhh...
Listen...
Be silent...
When you think you don't have time for meditation,
yoga,
quiet,
silence...
that is when you need it most.
How can you expect God to speak in that gentle and inward voice...
the one that melts the soul,
when you are making so much noise...?
Be silent and God will speak again.
Fenelon

Blessings
Yaya

Run If We Must





Run If You Must
Half the joy of life is in little things taken on the run.
Let us run if we must...
but let us keep our hearts young and our eyes open
that nothing worth our while shall escape us.
And everything is worth its while
if we only grasp it and its significance.
Charles Victor Cherbuliez

Blessings
Yaya

Thursday, April 26, 2012

God's Driving



Just when I think I know the direction,
life takes a turn.
We arrived at the country house,
and stayed just long enough to 'smell the roses'...
And then God blessed us with all of the above.
I had not planned to be back in Colorado so soon, 
but as I stood and gazed upon God's artwork,
it occurred to me that
GOD
has each of us exactly where HE wants us.
After all is said and done,
GOD is still on the throne, and he has a plan.
I'm happy to let GOD drive this thing called life.

Blessings
Yaya

Wednesday, April 25, 2012

Country House Blooms


Such a welcome sight,
especially when one has been away from the countryside for so long.

The scent of roses in the country air...
There is nothing to compare.
Sitting on the porch sipping morning coffee,
breathing in the sweet perfume.
Bliss!

You are beautiful,
sweet red rose.
Oh how I love you!

An Iris in bloom...
A morning walk around the country house
fills my senses,
and soothes my soul.

Oh how I love to drive through those gates
after a long trip,
and close them behind me.
The Scripture says in Psalm 30:5 that joy comes in the morning.
I choose to wake up every morning and say,
"Father, thank YOU for another beautiful day.
I will be happy.
I will enjoy this day.
I will brighten somebody else's life.
I am choosing to receive Your gift of joy."

Blessings
Yaya