“There is a magic in that little world, home; it is a mystic circle that surrounds comforts and virtues never known beyond its hallowed limits.” ~ Robert Southey
Good Sunday morning, dear friends. I hope this finds you well and happily snuggled in your sweet home. Honestly, I can tell you, “There isn’t a day that goes by when I do not give thanks for our dear home.” It is such a haven in these stressful times in our world, not to mention that it is so warm and cozy on these brutally cold January days. And I am sure you feel the same.
Isn’t this home above lovely? Ah, blooms make everything simply gorgeous! Understand, I am not rushing spring as I know she will return(probably before we are ready) in all her glory. And, I do so enjoy the peace and beauty of winter. However, since we are having such a cold month, I thought perhaps a few luscious blooms and gentle words would warm your hearts.
Home, by Nikki Banas, from “Walk the Earth”
Find the people and places that make you feel at home.
Find the ones who take care of your soul and make you feel like you can be completely yourself around them.
Find the ones who light you up from the inside out. . . and encourage you to be yourself.
Find the places where you feel at peace, the places you could spend forever exploring and wandering.
Find the places that make you want to see even more of the world and make you happy to be alive . . .
And whenever you find one of these people or places, hold onto them so tight.
Tell those people you love them often. Visit those places as much as you can.
Never let go of those people or places, because when you find peace, love, and joy in this world, it is worth more than gold. . .
It is where you are meant to be.
“There is nothing like staying at home for real comfort.” ~ Jane Austin
Winter is such a wonderful time for reading. And a perfect time for garden dreaming. I do love old garden books and I am grateful to have several that belonged to my mom. They are all full of treasures.
It is a joy to read lovely books such as “The Secret Garden.” I would be thrilled to come across an old copy such as the one above. The book was originally written in 1911, my copy is from the mid-1950s, but I imagine the one above is much older. I have lost count of the number of times I have read this book.
Do any of you read cookbooks? They are like novels to me. My latest addition to my cookbook collection is, “Chocolate Desserts,” by Pierre Hermé and written by Dorie Greenspan. An absolute gem of a book, filled with decadent recipes and easy-to-follow instructions.
“Flowers are nature’s fine jewelry. Particularly in the springtime, they gleam with flair and entice with sweet scents.” ~ Angie Weiland-Crosby
At the start of this post, I did mention I would share a few luscious blooms. Therefore, before I forget to do so ~ a few whispers of Spring appear below.
“There is a silent eloquence In every wild bluebell. . .” ~ Anne Bronte
“Daffodils are yellow trumpets of spring” ~
“If every tiny flower wanted to be a rose, spring would lose its loveliness.” ~ Therese of Lisieux
Dear friends, I hope these few whispers of spring have not given you an early onset of spring fever. But if it has given you a wee touch of the fever, don’t scold yourself. Spring has been inspiring writers and poets for centuries. Nature comes alive in the spring. Our souls are once again filled with blooming flowers, spectacular green meadows, singing birds, sunshine, and magnificent joy. Such a splendid time to be alive.
“Tulips make me happy.” ~ Rebecca Wells
Thank you so much for your visit. Know I wish you and yours a gorgeous day.
And. . .
I hope while you are enjoying your sweet home, you too “will think to yourself, what a wonderful world.” ~ Louis Armstrong
Amour,
Sandra
Images: Tumblr
That chocolate cookbook looks amazing! Thank you for your lovely words and pictures this morning. Have a wonderful week ahead.
Thanks, Penny. You have a lovely week as well.
I am 100% grateful for our home and all the comforts against the seasons, especially winter, but I must say, I am wishing for spring! I love your thoughts on home sweet home. Have a good day and start of a new week, Sandra.
I know you love your dear home. Old beauties such as yours don’t come along every day. Thanks for your kind comments. Have a lovely week.
Sandra, home is my refuge from all the noise that comes at us at break neck speed. I love your thoughts about home, and of course, I love the spring blooms. I never want to rush seasons, winter is the perfect time to read and I love to read cookbooks! Thank you for the lovely images and sweet sentiments. Happy week to you!
Thank you dear Pam for your sweet comments. I agree with you that home is our refuge, I think we may all go mad if we didn’t have such a retreat.
Wishing you happy winter days.
Sandra, I appreciate my warm and cozy house, too. Winter does have a serene beauty. I enjoy the bare silhouettes of the trees and the restfulness and peacefulness of the season.
Your pictures are beautiful and give us something to look forward to soon. You find the nicest quotes.
I always enjoy my visits here. Have a very nice week, Sandra.
Good morning, Bonnie. Home is wonderful and I think every day of the many who do not have a cozy home. Thank you for your lovely comments. Bonnie, most of the quotes come from the volumes of them I have collected through the years.
Wishing you a wonderful week.
Happy Sunday, Sandra! Thanks for all of the pretty spring inspirations. It is just what I needed on a cold winter’s day. Your photographs are so beautiful, and the words of inspiration are perfect. I love to be home surrounded by the people I love and the things that make it warm and happy. I am thankful everyday for the roof over my head. Speaking of spring, I have been getting a jump start on all my spring cleaning. I don’t think I will be able to move a muscle tomorrow-lol. I keep telling myself that getting those chores done ahead of time will allow me more time outdoors when spring arrives. Wishing you a beautiful week my friend! Take care!
Hello, Shannon. We all need a bit of spring inspiration. We have had quite a bit of snow and extremely cold temperatures. A home is a wonderful place to be – I don’t know what we would do without it in our crazy world. You are a smart lady to get a jump on your spring cleaning and you are right it will give you more time to enjoy the beauty of spring.
Have a lovely week, sweet friend.
Beautiful flowers and spring. But what I loved most was memories of “The Secret Garden.” What a wonderful book. I suspect there will be a lot of chocolate baking going on in your world! Savor it!
You are right, Jeanie. “The Secret Garden” is a treasure. I love to enjoy it as often as I can. It has a special place on my bookshelf where it is never hidden. Yes, there will be chocolate baking happening here – I will send along recipes that become favorites.
Stay warm and well. Have a great week!
What a beautiful and heartwarming post, Sandra. Our home is our haven and refuge, and I hope it is welcoming to all who enter it, too. I’m so grateful to have a home, and so thankful for all the people who visit it. The flower images are a welcome sight on this chilly winter morning, beauty to look forward to. But what I love most is the writings of Niki Banas- I will copy that, and read it again and again. It’s so beautifully written, and warms my heart. Thank you so much for another sweet post. Wishing you a blessed week, friend. xo Lidy
Good afternoon, LIdy. It is always such a treat for me to see your name and that you came for a visit. I know you are as grateful as I am for our homes. I do feel for those who are not as fortunate-it is concerning. I thank you so much for your kind words and I also enjoyed the writing of Nikki Banas.
Again, I thank you for your visit and hope to see you again soon! Stay well.