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*****









Monday, October 19, 2009

Summer Days Have Come And Gone...








Our island beaches are empty...
As far as the eye can see, not another soul...
Just the splashing of the waves,
and the song of the seabirds.

































































































































Time does its dance again,
and summer turns to fall...
















Saying goodbye to our golden days of summer...
Sunkissed and saltsprayed.
It is time to get out the old cotton sweaters,
sip wine by the fireplace,
and enjoy the the crisp air of a new season.

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















Monday, August 24, 2009

Sail Away

I love the adventure of a trip.
The thrill of a new place.
Exploring quaint shops
and enjoying the local food.
Finding great treasures to take home
are the best of all!
The above oil painting is going to hang in our island cottage.
It will be perfect.



The boats are coming!
The boats are coming!
We love the island 'Sailboat Regatta'...
Once a year
our little bay in front of our cottage
comes alive with many sail boats.
Racing....
Racing...

Boats, Yaya....LOOK!


And one is leading the way!



Watching sailboats, looking for Hermit crabs...
Perfect bliss!




Who's taking the lead?!?








































































































And so it is,
that I have found another treasure...
A treasure not found in our deep Southland,
but on another wonderful trip.
When I hang it on my wall,
I will always be reminded of our trip
to the mid-Atlantic seaboard,
the quaint little shops
and the wonderful crab cakes and creamy crab soup.
But,
the painting also reminds me of wonderful summer days,
watching the boats sail into our own little bay.
I hope you find your own beautiful treasures...
Treasures that remind you of fabulous trips
and happy times.

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














Saturday, August 22, 2009

Capturing The Beauty

And so they left the deep South
and drove,
and drove,
and drove all night...
Under the light of a full moon
they arrived on the mid-Atlantic seaboard.
And it is here
that this beautiful work of art was found.
Yet, another treasure in oil to hang on our wall,
and remind us of a beautiful place...
Another trip...
Another adventure...
Capturing the beauty
of a place....in a painting...
To have has a reminder of something wonderful,
forever.

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

Friday, July 17, 2009

All Dressed Up





Treat ordinary life
as 'The Big Show'...
YOU
are on the stage of
LIFE...
Live, love and laugh to the fullest...
Make each day an event...
Make yourself beautiful...
Make your home beautiful...
Make your garden beautiful...
Make life beautiful...
Have a blessed and beautiful day...
Oh, and don't forget to get 'All Dressed Up',
because you are on the big stage of life!
*****Yaya*****


Wednesday, July 8, 2009

Unforgettable Days Of Summer


Sun-drenched beaches...
Uncrowded...
Where ocean waters stretch endlessly into a Southern horizon of bluegray...



Salt-kissed breezes,
as summer cast a magical spell...


Golden, sunkissed curls...



Sand between your toes...
Summer dreaming...




Afternoon at the beach...







Southern summer days...














And more colors of summer...






Treasures by the shore...






Seashore blessings...
*****Yaya*****


Tuesday, June 23, 2009

Sweet Things



Baby faces...
Tiny little jewelry...
Cute little hats...
Sugar & spice...
Tiny little feet...
Ribbons & bows...
Flowers & butterflies...
Italian crystal...
Roses & lollipops...
Kisses...
The world is full of so many
sweet things...

Sweet Blessings
*****Yaya*****

Monday, June 22, 2009

Our Princess StellaDonna


Life keeps us busy with blessings abound...
Grandangels...
Housework...
Cooking...
Gardening...
Yardwork...
Taking care of the elderly...
The list goes on and on...
Each and everyone is a blessing,
and so is our health to be able to enjoy our blessings.

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

Sunday, June 21, 2009

In Honor of Papa

Papa, with our little grandangel, StellaDonna...


HAPPY FATHER'S DAY
"The words that a father speaks to his children are heard,
as in whispering galleries, by posterity."
Words by Jean Paul Richter (1763-1825)
Because her father listened to her,
she knew she had something to say...
Because he believed in her,
she believed in herself...
Because he said she could do anything,
she did...

Wishing a blessed day for all fathers,
and remembering my daddy on this very special day.
Father's Day Blessings
*****Yaya*****

Saturday, June 20, 2009

Silence is Golden


Find a place of silence...
Give your mind time to relax...
"To the mind that is still, the whole universe surrenders."
Lao Tzu (c.604-c.531 BC)
Zen master Chuang Tzu dreamed he was a butterfly.
When he awoke he didn't know if he was himself
dreaming he was a butterfly,
or a butterfly dreaming he was himself.
Set yourself free...
Let go of all thoughts and emotions...
Stop striving to understand.
Just be, and true understanding will dawn.
"Come to wish that everything should come to pass
exactly as it does."
Epictetus (c.55-c.135 AD)
Blessings
*****Yaya*****