SAINT

Think On This

A little child on a summer morning

stood in a great Cathedral Church.

The sunlight streamed through the 

beautiful stained glass windows and

the figures in them of the servants of

God were bright with brilliant color.

A little later the question was asked,

'What is a saint?'

and the child replied. "A saint is a person

who lets the light shine through."

~Anonymous

Have a blessed day!  Dee Dee

Image borrowed from Google Images

Rainy Day Meal

Today's been a sweet time,

beginning with an early 

morning rain that signaled

certain kinds of foods were

in order.

Rewarded with generous smiles,

during the evening meal,

I served  generous portions

of slow cooked pot roast to

the man of the house.

 Mashed potatoes were 

ladled with brown 

onion and bay leaf flavored broth,

 and the buttered green beans

were steaming hot.

For desert, miniature cheesecakes

and rich roasted coffee.

Life is good!  Have a blessed day.....Dee Dee

A Souvenir Mug

What do you do with that

thoughtful souvenir 

mug gift?

Do you use them, 

or do you store them on

a shelf in your cupboard? 

Or are you someone who

considers souvenir mugs

a bit of rubbish,  and toss

them in the trash bin?

A dear friend of mine,

once visited

the Atlantis resort, in the

Bahamas....

and she thoughtfully

 brought me a "souvenir mug." 

Cobalt blue with raised gold

letters, probably made an

 impression on me back then.

Not your ordinary souvenir

mug, it was "fancy smancy,"

so I stored it away on a

top shelf in the cupboard.

While spring

cleaning today, I discovered the

mug again, gave it a good

washing and made me a nice

"cuppa."

For a good stir, I used an

antique twisted silver spoon, also

discovered while sorting 

through my odds and ends 

silverware drawer.....

more spring cleaning.

Holding that warm

souvenir mug 

of coffee in my hands,

I thought of my friend and

the good times we had back

when.  I was glad I'd saved her gift,

and just maybe I'll hold on to

the "souvenir mug" a while longer

as a reminder of those sweet days.

Have a beautiful day, everyone.  Dee Dee

More Signs Of Spring in Florida

Having seen the dormant stems....

the Mandevilla

seemingly lifeless, all winter long....

.....it was good to see pink

buds earlier in the month.

"Welcome back to life

sweet Mandevilla."

One of the first blooming plants

in the spring.....and last to sleep

in late fall.

Our potted Mandevilla is

pretty much neglected and yet

survives beautifully.....due to 

the habits of the plant.

It likes a well drained soil,

and does not like wet feet. 

Properly fed with 8-8-8 fertilizer,

mulched and watered, we should

have beautiful pink blooms all

spring and summer long.

I'm glad you stopped by!  

Have a sweet ole' day, everyone.  Dee Dee 

Diane von Furstenberg's Artististic Efforts

I suppose one would call it

"impulse shopping"

and they would be right.

I paid $2.99 for each bottle

of Evian water and the

longer I look at them, the

more excuses I'm finding

for having made my purchase.

The cashier at the Fresh Market

was seemingly more pleased than

I was.  She insisted on reading the

message on the bottle, finding

it all too clever and lovely

 for a bottle of water. 

 Sharing the writing  with the "bag

boy" brought the eyes of other

shoppers....they too wondering

what Evian's message for the 

world might be.

We all confirmed the idea noble......

"Life is water is life is love is life is 

water is life is love........"

The world has Diane von Furstenberg's 

artistic efforts to thank  for such  

pretty Evian bottle images.

I'm pleased and planning

to use them as vases for my

cottage white Roses.

Have a blessed Lord's day!  Dee Dee

Jonquils and Daffodils

                                                       

The shops have lots

of potted spring flowers.

  We are indeed

having a beautiful

 early spring.

The trees are budding, 

the Azaleas are blooming

and all is well with my soul!

......so, I brought home 

what promises soon to be

clusters of small fragrant

yellow flowers.....

and, I'm waiting eagerly for the

transformation.

Nothing says spring louder 

than Jonquils and Daffodils.

The official date for 

the beginning

of spring is March 20,

but who needs a calendar

when the signs are everywhere

indicating

that God has sorted  out the 

weather, readying our part of the 

world for flowering plants.

I say rejoice!

Have a sweet ole day!  Dee Dee

Art?

Playing with watercolors, pencils

and Photoshop......

I call it "Wall Art"

or "Woman In A Red Hat" 

graffiti.

Have a sweet ole' day!  Dee Dee

They've Almost Finished Blooming

Just as the Camellias finish blooming,

I'll begin noticing signs of  spring. I

suppose Easter coming early this year,

makes it quite all right.

  The large oak tree has for days now, scattered

all sorts of "squigglies" all over the garden.

The Mister's kept the "leaf blower" handy.

  Such a nuisance, they seem,  but

tolerated as part of nature.  Before long

tiny new oak leaves will appear, the birds

will look for nesting areas and the squirrels

with make homes in the cross branches.

I cherish the last few days of winter flowers.

It's beautiful  and needs no special attention from me.

The Camellia bush is somewhat like an old friend, 

that brings lovely flowers

to our garden each November....

and falls back to sleep when spring arrives. 

So, they've almost finished blooming and I'm 

beginning to feel a little melancholy about their

departure.  

Have a sweet ole' day!  Dee Dee

Think On This

One encounters all sorts

of interesting things while

walking through the streams of life.

~Dee Dee

What a large volume of

adventures may be grasped

within this little span of life

by him who interests his heart

in everything. ~Lawrence Sterne

Have a sweet ole' day......Dee Dee

Flowers and Perfume

Last evening I rescued the 

final bloom on our pink

Camellia bush. 

Temps 

were dropping close to

freezing and I couldn't

think of leaving this

pretty thing

to such extreme elements.

I placed it in a small crystal vase, 

along side my perfume bottles......

.....that set on a mirrored tray, on my bedroom dresser.

While taking photos, I thought of

how each perfume was given to me

on special occasion......thinking further

how each has a sweet 

cherished story.

He appreciates better than any man I

know the value of a woman who has

something to give in return for 

being given to. ~Mary Anne Disraeli 

about her husband Benjamin Disraeli

Have a sweet ole' day!  Dee Dee

click on images to enlarge

Common Miracles

The miracles of nature do not seem

miraculous because they are so

common. If no one had ever seen

a flower, even a dandelion would

be the most startling event in the

world. ~Unknown

Blessings.....Dee Dee

Come What May

Over-cast skies and prediction

 of rain this morning.

We've had so little of the coolness

 we longed for last

summer while dealing with the

 dreaded heat.

When will winter come?

 This week

we've needed air conditioning!

Tomorrow we've been 

promised seven degrees 

above freezing.

Really?

Already I find myself 

counting the days left on the

calendar that are called 

the coldest days of the year.

I wonder.....sigh....

Late afternoon, 

I found  beautiful new 

white blooms on our Camellia

 bush......a reminder of 

our masterful Creator, in charge of

everything.....come what may.....

I'm giving Him the glory!

Have a sweet ole' day.  Dee Dee

Celebrating Years Of Answers

"Coffee and biscuit? I've just made fresh."

The sun was hidden by rain clouds

this Valentine day.  We walked beneath

the umbrella, making our way to

the restaurant door.  Earlier we 

had eliminated places of fine dining,

 settling on a favorite 

family run neighborhood Italian eatery.

This  is our "comfort zone."

We try and prove, don't we?  

Greeted with polite and familiar

salutations, we are then seated,

 offered drinks and

served in a calm, for the most part,

and serene atmosphere. 

We've celebrated first one special

day after another through the years,

and yet still they have real meaning to us.

We have years and years of answers.

"How do I love thee?  

Let me count the ways."

Have a beautiful day, everyone.  Dee Dee

A Sonnet

If I could write the beauty of your eyes

And in fresh numbers number all your graces,

The age to come would say, "This poet lies;

Such heavenly touches ne'er touch'd earthly faces."

William Shakespeare, Sonnet 17

Happy Valentine Day

sweet family and friends ......Dee Dee

Sweet Sentiments

"If I had a single flower for every time 

I think about you,

I could walk forever in my garden."

~Claudia Ghandi

Enjoying the fragrance of flowers

and seasonal traditions......Dee Dee

Heart Garland

It all began when I found this 

beautiful fabric.

  I envisioned a sweet Valentine garland...... and 

so it began with cutting, pinning, sewing

and stuffing.

Today I finished ......

and displayed my little Valentine

"heart garland" project......

I then stood back, took a few photos, and

breathed a sign of contented approval.

Very soon, my Valentine cards and goodies,

and my handmade garland,  will bring 

messages of "hugs and love" to quite a 

few very young recipients.

Lovin' February's message of love.  Dee Dee

"White Stuff"

The yellow caution flag was waving

in the strong winds this day, warning 

swimmers on Clearwater Beach.

Thinking of and praying for family and friends 

enduring another kind of "white stuff".......

Stay warm and take care of one another. Dee Dee

Suggested Listen and Read

Never have I been more pleased

or impressed with anyone in the

public eye.  Such is the case

for Dr. Benjamin Carson, 

pediatric neurosurgeon 

at John Hopkins hospital. 

Not to worry if you've

missed his speech,  at the

National Prayer Breakfast. 

Thankfully,  it's been 

posted all over the Internet

for the whole world to see and hear.

www.drudgereport.com

or www.youtube.com 

Finally a man of faith and

integrity with a voice and

the courage to speak

 the truth.

Dr. Carson began by

reading scripture from God's

Word, the Holy Bible and

spoke of Jesus Christ as his

role model.

What a blessing to hear him 

speak, and today I am 

encouraged. 

Read his book and find what

is in  this beautiful man's heart.

I believe Dr Carson is a 

true blessing from God....a light

in the dark, giving us all hope. Dee Dee

Violet's Bonnet

My first painting of the new year. Was

real nice to hold my pencils and brushes again.

Ms Violet wears an especially pretty bonnet.

Once upon a time, little girls

were not completely dressed

until a special bonnet was

placed on their pretty little head.

  When our granddaughter

wore one recently, I was inspired

to do this painting. 

With brush and watercolors in hand, 

my mind drifted back to a scene

in Gone With The Wind.

Rhett Butler and Scarlett take 

 Bonnie Blue for a pram ride,

 for all the neighbors to see her.....

dressed in her finest from head

to toe.... *Note bonnet worn.

Have a beautiful day!  Dee Dee

Image....periodmovies.blogspot.com

The Cottage Tales of Beatrix Potter

Wednesday, 24 April, l907

The tale I am about to tell you

begins on a bright, clear, April

sweet morning in the Lake 

District village of Sawrey......

It was a magical morning, and 

the little village seemed more 

than ever to occupy a magical

place in the world.....

In the northwestern corner of

England, in the Land Between 

the Lakes, March is a month of

uncertain weather.

Our story takes place in

March  1912......

If your a fan of Beatrix Potter, I

promise you'll enjoy these 

charming cottage tales.

Have a sweet ole' day!  Dee Dee

Ducks

The ducks are back in our

Florida neighborhoods. I 

thought it a good time for

re-posting these fun

"duck" photos.

Florida has many beautiful lakes,

and this time of year they are

home to a variety of ducks.

This group, 

swimming together, seemed to

 get along just fine. They have

plenty of food, after all, so

there's no need for squabbling. 

On this day, they were

communicating with one 

another....lots of quacking.....

 an indication to me,

they were either good friends

or family members.

I was amazed at the colors....

being especially fond of the

lone white duck. 

A favorite image, one showing

the ducks reflection in the 

lake waters.

Of course, there were some

odd looking ducks about on this day.

The "Muscovy"  duck sort of took the

prize for the most interesting costume.

 I thought the iridescent colors in it's

wings were quite spectacular.

"I'm glad you stopped by....and I hope

your having a perfectly happy day!"  Dee Dee

click on images to enlarge

Day Break

Another day filled with possibilities, 

and oh that time

being so precious,

 should not be squandered.

The morning, which is the most

memorable season of the day, is 

the awakening hour.....Little is to 

be expected of that day, if it can be

called a day to which we are not

awakened by our Genius.  All 

memorable events I should say, 

transpire in morning time and in a

morning atmosphere. To him whose 

elastic and vigorous thought keeps 

pace with the sun, the day is a perpetual

morning.  Morning is when I am awake 

and there is a dawn in me. 

~Thoreau~ "Walden."

Have a blessed day, everyone!  Dee Dee

Heart's Ease

MY COTTAGE HOME

Every house where love abides and 

friendship is a guest, is surely home, 

and home, sweet home, for there the

heart can rest. ~Henry Van Dyke

Have a beautiful Lord's day,!  Dee Dee