be the Poem

"...for we are God's handiwork..."

"...created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do."

-Ephesians 2:10

 Always be a first-rate version of yourself, instead of a second-rate version of somebody else.

-Judy Garland

It takes courage to grow up and become who you really are.

-e.e. cummings

If you cannot be a poet, be the poem.

-David Carradine

The swan glided by as we waited for our dinners at the S & P Restaurant in Mystic Connecticut.
Watching it inspired thoughts of grace, serenity
. . . and inner beauty . . .

Wishing you a weekend filled with inspiration, serenity, beauty
and overflowing graces.

♥ Maria

Visit Sky Watch Friday for more beautiful sky scenes

and Joyce at

for other lovelies.

Bird Songs

More birds are arriving daily.

I hear them singing outside my windows.

On the way to my car in the morning, I hear them singing in the trees

and I want to turn back around and stay home to listen.

Soon they will be nesting.

I'm wondering what trees they will choose,

perhaps the front porch again this year.

~

In the meantime, I am enjoying these beautiful handmade joys from

Elizabeth's Etsy Shop,

Tattered Rose Art.

Thank you, Elizabeth!

I love my "nesting blocks" and bird songs banner!

~

Wishing for warmer temps and steady sunshine,

to get that snow all melted

and make things cozier for our returning feathered friends
and for those tiny little buds on my apple trees.

Have a magnificent week friends!

Sun, Sea and Sky Watch

Laughter is the sun that drives winter from the human face.

-Victor Hugo

Enjoying the sunshine of California
through the lens of Juan and Rachael's camera.
I love looking at the sun's rays and the sparkling diamonds of sunlight on the water.
~ Now I only need wings ~

-Albert Schweitzer:

Constant kindness can accomplish much.

As the sun makes ice melt,

kindness causes

misunderstanding,

mistrust,

and

hostility

to

e v a p o r a t e.

~
 *)(  A joyful heart makes a cheerful face  )(*

-Proverbs 15:13

May joyful hearts and cheerful faces

surround you and warm you

with lovely sunshine

~ always ~

Visit Sky Watch Friday for amazing skies the world over!

 

Thank you Sky Watch Team!

Happy Spring!

A little something warm

{hydrangea candles}

a little something sweet

{chocolate tulips, bunnies and M & M treats}

Photographed at Fresh Market on Sunday.

*

Warm weekend  breezes melted all that snowing.

Mountain streams are finally flowing,

and tiny buds are shyly showing.

Candles

Chocolate

Snow

. . . Slowly melting into joy . . . 

Have a wonderful first day of spring everyone!

~Maria

ps.  Did you see the heart in the stream?

So Simple

We picture love as heart-shaped because we do not know the shape of the soul.  

-Robert Brault

Who, being loved, is poor?  

-Oscar Wilde

Let us make for ourselves

...a treasure in Heaven that does not fail...

-Luke 12:33

 ♥

Treasuring the gift of
YOU!

Have a wonderful weekend my friends!

~ fill it up with love ~  

~Maria

 Enjoying pretties with Joyce on Friday and pinks with Beverly on Saturday.       

{Pink heart pillows for my nieces}

Making bluebirds at home

Love begins by taking care of the closest ones ~ the ones at home.

-Mother Teresa

My sister-in-law, Devon, took this photo from inside her house recently.

It's time {Feb/March} for bluebirds to scout for nesting places.

I promised myself that this spring I would be ready

to warmly welcome bluebirds to my yard.

I have some open space {which they love}.

I'm hoping the bluebirds think there's enough.

Wild Birds Unlimited 

is a great place to go for bird supplies and education.

I'm sure they have some helpful ideas for me.

I love their outdoor live camera.

Right now, it's poised to give us a glimpse into the lives of a Barred Owl family;

Mama, and her two owlets, Sarah and Percy.

How fun is that?!

My simple challenge right now is to make a bluebird mama happy with a new home.

Do you have bluebirds nesting nearby?

I'd love some advice!

*  *  *

Home is a name, a word, it is a strong one; stronger than magician ever spoke, or spirit ever answered to, in the strongest conjuration.

-Charles Dickens

The light is what guides you home, the warmth is what keeps you there. 

-Ellie Rodriguez

There is nothing like staying at home for real comfort. 

-Jane Austen

Where thou art - that - is Home. 

-Emily Dickinson

*

Wishing you

Peace, Warmth, Comfort and Love.

Have a beautiful day today,

love,

       Maria

Hope is . . .

always there

somewhere in the heart.
It is a free spirit whose silent song is of strength and courage.
It is a song of believing and of never giving up.

Once you choose hope, anything's possible.

-Christopher Reeve

Hope is that thing with feathers that perches in the soul

and sings the tune without the words and never stops... at all.

-Emily Dickinson

"At the point where hope would otherwise become hopelessness, it becomes faith."

-Robert Brault

  

Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing,

so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Romans 15:13

~ Praying for the people of Japan ~

for hope, strength, courage and faith.

Ironically, last Monday, I told my students that this week we would be reading This:

{The story ends with great hope.}

Dear family and friends,

Thank you for your loving hearts.

You bring hope to the world

and make a beautiful thing

out of each new day.

Love,

       Maria

More Birdie Love {a special thank you Doreen, Teresa and Lisa}

You know I love my birdies

... They're on my puzzles, pillowcases, porch, and patio ...

. . . Well . . .

now I can enjoy birdies everywhere I go!

...thanks to Doreen for her sweet sister gift

of the birdie bracelet

...and to Teresa {Blooming on Bainbridge} and Lisa Leonard for their

grand give-away of the birdie necklace.

Thank you so much ladies,
I treasure these loving gifts!

 ♥

Dear Friends and Family,

I hope you have a sunny weekend,

even if the sun isn't shining outside...

keep it sunny on the inside!

Love,

      Maria

{sharing something for Friday Pretties at Joyce's blog

and something for Beverly's How Sweet the Sound ~ Pink Saturday post}

Life Phases

Dependence

Independence

Interdependence

"How, child, do I know where you're headed?

Because I'm there, and I can see you coming."

-Robert Brault

It's amazing how time flies.

...one minute...
We need our hands held, lots of hugs and tender care.

...then next minute...

We're off and flying.  Look! No hands!

...before we know it...
We need our hands held, lots of hugs and tender care.

{because we realize that life feels better this way}

What a treasure each and every moment is!

They are each a gift from God.

Let's count our blessings!

~ to one thousand and beyond ~

Sprinkle some love ♥

where all her little cupcakes get sprinkled with love ♥

~

There is no effect more disproportionate to its cause

than the happiness bestowed by a small compliment. 

~Robert Brault


Have you had a kindness shown?

Pass it on;

'Twas not given for thee alone,

Pass it on;

Let it travel down the years,
Let it wipe another's tears,
'Til in Heaven the deed appears -

Pass it on.

{by Henry Burton}

Wishing you lots of love and kindness always,

{sharing something for Friday Pretties at Joyce's blog

and something for Beverly's How Sweet the Sound ~ Pink Saturday post}

Beneath the ice {life still stirs}

Father please give me ears to hear

the music

of the wakening world around me.

~ Underneath the ice and snow, life still stirs ~

It's amazing to think these blossoms are tucked inside waiting, waiting
for a few weeks of warm sunshine.

Inspired today by Hazelmarie Elliott's (Mattie) beautiful poem,

posted by her daughter

Spring in Late Winter

"And here I am,
breathing in a promise
of another spring . . ."

"There is a tendency to see divine intervention

in things that happen in the normal course of miracles."

-Robert Brault

 {Stop and visit his website ~ you'll be smiling}

Wishing you days filled with 'the normal course of miracles'

and then some!