“The beauty is pleasing to the eyes, the sweetness charms the soul.” ~ Voltaire

Isn’t she pretty?  I wonder if she has a name.

Good morning, dear friends.  I am so happy you are here this morning, and I do hope you will enjoy your visit. By now, you must know I love gardens full of flowers and, well,  pretty much any and all lovely things.  So today, I thought I would share a few things I found while in pursuit of specific photos and information.  Or, I should say, “I am sharing my distractions.”  It does seem, beauty finds me.  Therefore, what I am about to share are photos I consider to be beautiful and which touched my heart.  

While my photography skills are slowly improving, I do not always have gorgeousness at my fingertips to photograph.  At least, not the visions which continually float in my mind.  Oh, but they are in internet land. Whatever did we do before the internet?  I have divided my finds to make it easier for you to navigate and, hopefully, to prevent you from feeling as though I have taken complete leave of my senses. 

Be sure to find your coffee or tea, get comfy, and  enjoy ~  ‘A Few Pretty Things.’ 

“The voice of beauty speaks softly; it creeps only into the most fully awakened souls.” ~ Friedrich Nietzsche

“Arranging a bowl of flowers in the morning can give a sense of quiet in a crowded day ~ like writing a poem or saying a prayer.” ~ Anne Morrow Lindbergh

For me, something unexpected always enhances a floral arrangement, such as the honeysuckle vine in this lovely arrangement.

“I cannot imagine a world without the sight and fragrance of a flower.” ~ Rachel Ashwell

Or a world without visits from special friends.  You know, the ones who make you feel like it is a privilege to be with them.  Seeing a praying mantis in our garden makes me almost giddy with excitement.  I think they are quite special and amazing. 

“Architecture is frozen music.” ~ Goethe

I do love and admire gorgeous architecture.  And, to me, the ‘old’ holds unmatched beauty.

This magnificent angel spans three stories of an apartment building at 57 Rue de Turbigo in Paris. With massive wings unfurled, her feathers brush against the fourth-floor windows of the building.  She was designed by architect Eugène Demangeat in 1860, who at the time was an art student at the school of fine arts and architecture; école des Beaux-Arts et Architectue.  She remains today and has come to be known as the ‘Paris Angel.’

A beauty in Bourgogne, France.

You can almost hear the stories coming from this lovely lady.  I am sure she has lived, and hopefully is continuing to live, a fascinating life.

Something wonderful must be about to happen in this beautiful room.  Wouldn’t you love to attend?  Oh, I certainly would. I could spend hours in complete awe.  The artistic ability and craftsmanship in the architectural details are magnificent.

 “The ache for home lives in all of us, the safe place where we can go as we are and not be questioned.” ~ Maya Angelou

I wonder if this beautiful home has a name.  What would you name her?  

“Still round the corner there may wait, a new road or a secret gate.” ~ J. R. R. Tolkien

Pretty iron gates are something I have always admired, perhaps it is because I always feel beauty lies beyond.  These two were in my view last week.

“Ever since I could remember anything, flowers have been like dear friends to me, comforters, inspirers, powers to uplift and to cheer.” ~ Celia Thaxter

These stunning window boxes would certainly “uplift and cheer” anyone who happened to pass by.

Did you know the French believe the color blue on the exterior of a home keeps away evil spirits?  My sweet husband painted our front door a lovely shade of blue.  

Perhaps, this is what Vita Sackville-West had in her view when she said, “Flowers really do intoxicate me.”

“Surrounding yourself with beauty is a sublime experience.” ~ Unknown

Classic and timeless elegance ~ tablecloths to the floor make my heart sing.

Soft and beautiful.

Perfect, for resting and refilling your inner well.

“One day the first greens appeared on our table; then the first carrots, still tiny and so delicate, so bright.  Oh, there were very few of them, so few that one would have thought they were for a doll’s dinner, but if you could have seen our hands clasped in wonder!  If you could know what an unforgettable miracle it will always be for me, the memory of that birth, in the middle of war, of living, growing food.” ~Fernand Lequenne, My Friend the Garden  ~ A Month in the Country

The quote above has been in my ‘little book of special things’ for many years.  When I first read it, I truly realized how blessed my life has been and what I have taken for granted over the years.  Having beautiful fresh food from the garden is a luxury, not one to ever be taken for granted. 

Love, skill, and fresh ingredients equal excellent taste as well as beauty.  Cooking for those you love is a privilege.

“Smile, it is the key that fits the lock of everybody’s heart.” ~ Anthony J. D’Angelo

Precious ‘little ones’ always make us smile ~ don’t they?

“It was a glorious evening, the sun seeming to hesitate in the process of setting, as if it couldn’t bear to end the day. It was teetering on the horizon, throwing ribbons of pink and mauve across the sky like life ropes, and the air was sweet with jasmine.” ~ Kate Morton

The End

Dear friends, I do hope you have found in this post “beauty which pleased your eyes” and “sweetness that charmed your soul.”   And, perhaps inspiration and good thoughts to carry with you through the week.  Thanks so much for your visit! 

Wishing you and yours a most beautiful week ~ enjoy these summer days !

Au Revoir,

Sandra

Note:  Images ~ (Via Tumblr and M.S. Lambiotte) Unless otherwise stated, I do not claim ownership of these photos. These photos are the work of tremendously talented people.  I simply compiled them for your enjoyment.

“If we opened our minds to enjoyment, we might find tranquil pleasures spread about us on every side. We might live with the angels that visit us on every sunbeam, and sit with the fairies who wait on every flower.” ~ Samuel Smiles

“Nature is painting for us, day after day, pictures of infinite beauty.” ~ John Ruskin

Wishing you and yours a beautiful day of “tranquil pleasures!”

Au Revoir,

Sandra

Note:  Image~viatumblr

“As human beings, our job in life is to help people realize how rare and valuable each one of us really is, that each of us has something that no one else has–or ever will have–something inside that is unique to all time. It’s our job to encourage each other to discover that uniqueness and to provide ways of developing its expression.” ~ Fred Rogers

“I believe in hope, dreams and decency, love tenderness and kindness. I believe in mankind.” ~Leonard Nimoy

Wishing you and yours a most beautiful and peaceful day!

Au Revoir,

Sandra  

Image~viatumblr~I do not claim ownership of this photo.

“Pink is a beautiful color because it is one of the colors that the sun makes at twilight and in the dawns.” ~ C. JoyBell C.

  Pink Oleander

“In difficult times carry something beautiful in your heart.”~ Blaise Pascal

Good Morning Sweet Friends.  My post this morning is for my friend, Laura.  Laura and I are friends, through my dear friend, Anne.   Today could quite possibly find Laura in need of a little inspiration and comfort as she has recently endured some rough days.  

I don’t know if you followed the dreadful storms which hit the south and along the east coast last week, but I have several friends who were in the mix of it.  The area I am speaking of is where my husband and I made our home for 32 years, Virginia Beach, Virginia.  We lived in the Pungo section of Virginia Beach, one mile from Back Bay.  Absolutely God’s country until there are torrential rains, a hurricane, and winds blowing from the south.  When this occurs, the vast gorgeous farmland, which seems to blend into the horizon, can become horribly flooded.   The southern winds push the water from the Bay out into the fields and into whatever else may be in its path, including homes.  And, that is what happened last week, it became a flooded disaster, for the farmers and for many residents of this area.  Laura was one of those residents.

Laura’s home is on the shore of Back Bay and her home is undergoing major renovations. Water flooded part of the home, including her new kitchen, leaving her with difficult cleanup days ahead.  So Laura, as I am unable to come to you with mop and bucket, this post is for you.  My source tells me you enjoy pink, and I believe I may have found a few lovely things for you to “carry in your heart” during these difficult days.  I hope you and all my other treasured friends will find your coffee, come along and be inspired by ‘Visions of Pink.’  Pink is a sign of hope (a note in my mom’s garden book).    

“It’s pearl who has captured my heart, but it is pink who has captured my soul.”  ~ Anthony T. Hincks

Isn’t this old and historic home lovely, wearing a soft pink?  When I saw it’s pink exterior it reminded me of many homes along the Gulf Coast of Mississippi.  To me, they always appear so happy, wearing their soft pastel colors ~ many are pink.

Oh, how I love this pink sun-kissed beauty in France.  I deem this absolutely Gorgeous!

What do you think about this entrance?  Lovely, isn’t it?  Wearing crisp white, black accents and an inviting pink front door.

“You can never go wrong with a little pink…a lot works too.” ~ Dana Dalgetty

I feel we need to share with the world that pink is not just a ‘girly’ color.  My husband is definitely a man’s man.  But he wears pastel-colored shirts and stands in awe at the beauty of our pink tree peony when she is in bloom.  If pink is a color one enjoys, it should not be a color to shy away from… in and on our homes.  To me, pink is warm and inviting ~ it is a happy color.

“Anything is possible with sunshine and a little pink.” ~ Lilly Pulitzer

I always enjoy seeing pink in a bathroom.  If you do not want to invest in a more permanent choice of the color, such as cabinetry,  the color can easily be added with linens, paint and window treatments.  And, there are so many lovely shades of pink to select from.

“I always look to nature for inspiration.” ~ Alexandra Stoddard

If you are pondering a room change and are not quite sure about a specific shade or color.  Do as Ms. Stoddard tells us ~ “look to nature for inspiration.”  That is truly where you will see the most beautiful colors, and you will never find greater inspiration.

“A profusion of pink roses being ragged in the rain speaks to me of all gentleness and its enduring.” ~ William Carlos Williams

“In the end, color combinations come down to our personal preferences, which we must discover through observation and experiment.” ~ Montagu Don

Should you love and enjoy the color pink, here is a little information about the psychology of the color. The color pink represents caring, compassion and love. The color pink stands for unconditional love and understanding and is associated with giving and receiving care. It is a positive color which inspires warm and comforting feelings.  

Are you considering home renovations in the near future?  What are your feelings about the color pink?  Perhaps, you have found a little inspiration here this morning.  But, should you have any doubts about the color ~ look what Laura has given us to ‘carry in our hearts.’ This is sunset over Laura’s beloved Back Bay.  Just look at the magnificent shades of pink!

“Sometimes I just look up, smile and say,

“I know that was you, God! Thanks! ” ~ Unknown

Thanks so much for your visit and know I so love your comments.

  Wishing you a beautiful day and week ahead!

Au Revoir,

Sandra

Special Note:  Just as I finished writing this post yesterday (July 30, 2018), I received word that Virginia Beach is getting hit again, with hurricane amounts of water and winds coming from the south.  Also, the same for many areas of the South and along the East Coast.  Please keep everyone in these areas in your prayers.

Images:  Sunset photo, by Laura

House Beautiful, Pinterest, Traditional Home and Tumblr

“A man should hear a little music, read a little poetry, and see a fine picture every day of his life, in order that worldly cares may not obliterate the sense of the beautiful which God has implanted in the human soul.”~Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

                Lavender field ~ Provence, France

Wishing you and yours a day filled with beauty and peace!

Au Revoir,

Sandra

Image~Pinterest

“White…is not a mere absence of color; God paints in many colours, but He never paints so gorgeously as when He paints in white.”~G.K. Chesterton

Good morning dear friends!  It is so good to see you this morning.  Grab your coffee or tea, and join me for a stroll through, ‘A White Garden!’ 

White Wisteria

The inspiration for today’s post came from two different women ~ both loved white in the garden.  The first woman of inspiration is my dear mom.  She did so enjoy seeing white in the garden.  And I loved her white Bridal-Wreath Spiraea.  To stand in the spring and gaze upon the massive, roughly 40-foot section, of gorgeousness in her garden backed with luscious Canadian Hemlocks, was nothing short of magical.

Bridal-Wreath Spiraea

It is interesting, as I look back on my first gardening days and think about what I enjoyed.  Then, it was all about color and more color. Now don’t get me wrong, I still love and have many colors in our garden. However, I have come to enjoy the softness white adds.  Just as a point of information, according to color experts, a preference for white often forms in ones middle age years.  

                                                   White azaleas blooming in a well-established garden.

I do love lilacs and a white lilac in full bloom can make a huge visual impact.  Oh, the fragrance, certainly you smell them.

Tell me, what do you think of this planting of Astilbe?  I have always been partial to pink Astilbe, but this mass planting of white is fabulous, in my opinion.  Astilbe loves the shade and really loves to be watered. It contributes a distinct texture to a garden with its tall, feathery plumes.  White flowers seem to have a cooling effect, especially on hot summer days. And they almost glow in the evening, making them a perfect plant for along walkways or a patio. 

“The more one gardens, the more one learns; And the more one learns, the more one realizes how little one knows.” ~ Vita Sackville-West

                                               White wisteria cascading over the garden wall of Sissinghurst.

The second woman of inspiration is the famous gardener, Vita Sackville-West.  My mom introduced me to Ms. Sackville-West through books.  Mom had studied her garden designs, especially her White Garden at Sissinghurst. Should you not be familiar with Sissinghurst,  Sissinghurst Castle Garden in the Weald of Kent in England at Sissinghurst village is owned and maintained by the National Trust. It is among the most famous gardens in England.  The garden was created in the 1930’s by Ms. Sackville-West and her husband Harold Nicolson.  She was a poet and a gardening writer, her husband was an author and a diplomat.  The garden is designed as a series of rooms, each with a different main color/theme.  One of the rooms or gardens is a white garden.  Only the colors of white, green, grey and silver are grown in this pale garden.  Therefore, creating the lovely White Garden, one of the most famous garden areas of Sissinghurst.

                       Tulip, White Dream

       Delphinium, Snowgoose and White Foxgloves

   Anemone, Honorine Jobert

   Clematis, Duchess of Edinburgh

I also thought you may enjoy the poetic writing of Ms. Stackville-West regarding her beloved White Garden.  With her lovely words, she transports me to this garden ~ I sincerely hope she does you, too.

“The white-and-grey garden begins to look well in June, when the little avenue of Almond trees down the centre is draped with the lacy white festoons of Rosa filipes and the genuine old ‘Garland’ Rose, and when generous plantings of Lilium regale come up through the grey Artemisia and silvery Cineraria maritima; but it is perhaps at its best a little later on, when the great metallic-looking Onopordons have grown up, and clouds of Gypsophila ‘Bristol Fairy’ throw a veil round the pencils of a white Veronica, and a few belated white Delphiniums and white Eremuri persist, rising among this grey foliage, with the grey willow-leaved Pyrus salicifolia sheltering the grey leaden statue of a Vestal Virgin.”

Clearly, I have not begun to touch the surface of the fabulous variety of plants in the White Garden or of the extraordinary talents of the designer.  But, I hope you have, perhaps, formed an impression of the multitude of magnificent things growing there ~ creating glorious beauty.  

“The Earth is crammed with heaven.” ~ Elizabeth Barrett Browning

  Casa Blanca Lilies in bloom at ‘Maison De Jardin’

I do not want to take all your time this morning so I will close by saying, “I hope you have enjoyed your visit.  Perhaps you may have found a bit of inspiration for your own garden ~ possibly viewing white through new eyes.”

Wishing you a most beautiful day!

Au Revoir,

Sandra

Note:  Images~ Pinterest, Tumblr, and S. Lambiotte

Unless otherwise stated, I do not claim ownership of these photos. These photos are the work of tremendously talented people and I simply compiled them for your enjoyment.

“Peace is always beautiful.” ~ Walt Whitman

Wishing you and yours a beautiful and peaceful day!

Au Revoir,

Sandra

Image~ via Tumblr

“When one gets quiet, then something wakes up inside one, something happy and quiet like the stars.” ~  William Butler Yeats

Wishing you and yours a glorious day.  One of peace, beauty, and joy.

Au Revoir,

Sandra

Note:  Image~viatumblr~I do not claim ownership of this photo.