“…Every day I discover even more beautiful things. It is intoxicating me, and I want to paint it all – my head is bursting…” ~ Claude Monet

Good morning, dear friends and welcome to Maison De Jardin (The Garden House).  I am so happy to see you and I love your visits.  It is always wonderful to enjoy friends and hear their comments, even virtually. 

While unlike Claude Monet, artistic ability is not a talent I possess.  Therefore, I cannot paint the lovely things I see.  But, I can tell you the stunning array of beautiful things which constantly comes across my path certainly makes my head whirl.  So do come in, make yourself at home, and enjoy your coffee/tea while I share a few off these lovely things.  Perhaps a little inspiration?

“May all those who enter as guests, leave as friends.” ~ unknown (I hope you will.)

“In the presence of Beauty, there is quiet contentedness.” ~ unknown

“I would like to paint the way a bird sings.” ~ Claude Monet

I think it would be simply marvelous to be seated in a comfortable chair, appreciating the beauty of the fog, the ocean, and watching the artist at work.  “Quiet contentedness.“

It was morning; through the high window, I saw the pure, bright blue of the sky as it hovered cheerfully over the long roofs of the neighboring houses. It too seemed full of joy, as if it had special plans, and had put on its finest clothes for the occasion. ~ Hermann Hesse

Isn’t it wonderful to greet the light of a new day?  Light is a true blessing ~ in many ways.   Perhaps, these thoughts stem from my childhood.  When I would go to bed at night, my mom would always open the curtains and say, “Honey, you want to make your wish upon the stars and you want the sun to greet you in the morning.”  Needless to say, I thoroughly enjoy seeing the outside.  To me, it is wonderful to see the stars and greet the morning.   

The person who designed our old home must also have loved light, as she has many windows with the light always pouring in. This is a blessing, especially in the winter, as there are many gray days in North Central West Virginia.

“Tomorrow morning, when the sun shines through your window, choose to make it a happy day.” ~ Lynda Resnickic

Beautiful windows are a pure delight for me.  To see the sunlight bouncing around a room makes me almost giddy.  And, what a lovely spot this is with nature as your companion.  A perfect place to enjoy, while reading a marvelous book, sipping a cup of tea, or giving serious thought to an untold novel which has been spinning around in your head for years.  By the way, mine is titled, “The Girl in The Blue Coat.”  And yours?  

“Live in rooms full of light.” ~ Cornelius Celsus

“I look out of this window and I think this is a cosmos, this is a huge creation, this is one small corner of it. The trees and birds and everything else and I’m part of it.” ~  Morris West

Ah, to see sunlight on the water, dancing like glittering diamonds, is an exquisite sight.  It looks as though the beautiful swan is enjoying it too.

 

 

“One way to open your eyes is to ask yourself, What if I had never seen this before?  What if I knew I would never see it again?” ~ Rachel Carson

Capri, along the Amalfi Coast of Italy. 

The light is magnificent and breathtaking.  Such amazing beauty certainly would open one’s eyes.

“A sensitive plant in a garden grew,
And the young winds fed it with silver dew,
And it opened its fan-like leaves to the light,
and closed them beneath the kisses of night.”
~Percy Bysshe Shelley, “The Sensitive Plant,” 1820

The human soul needs actual beauty more than bread.” ~  D. H. Lawrence

In such a lovely place, I would stand in awe of the beauty and wonder about all those who have enjoyed the same, years before me.  The light creates a bit of magic in this photo, along with the pretty hand-tied bouquet. 

“To love beauty is to see light.” ~ Victor Hugo

In closing, certainly, I would be remiss if I did not mention the most important light ~ the one ‘which shines from within.’  Each and every one of us is born with such light.  Unfortunately, for whatever reason, it seems as though this light has been snuffed out for too many souls on this earth.  

Now more than ever,  I believe with a heavy hand, we must scatter beauty and its light to everyone and every place we roam.  And, in any way we can, put a light in places where we see darkness.  By doing so, we enhance humanity.  And, to keep our inner light burning brightly, we must feed it with wonderful inspiration.  Feed it with our dreams and the things which make our heart pound a little harder.  For each of us, certainly, these things will be different as well as the inspiration which feeds them.

For me, my dream is to see the Lavender Fields of France.  It is hard to explain, but in my heart, I know I am meant to see this part of our glorious world.  

So, dear friends, whatever your dream/dreams maybe, or the inspiration you desire, remember to,   “Drop your fears and pick up your dreams. The world needs dreamers like you. You are the light of a brighter world.”    Really, you are!

 

 

Wishing you a beautiful summer day.

 

And… 

 

May your day be filled with kind people and happy moments.

 

Au Revoir,

Sandra

 

 

Notes:  Ending quote ~ Liam Tinker

Images:  via tumblr