Work in progress...

I have a confession to make.

All those weeks of painting my house? Well, the paint may be on the walls, and the furniture may be back in place... but most of the the "finishing touches" are STILL not done yet.

I KNOW.

With all the rain we've had here, and all the time I've not been able to spend in the garden, you'd THINK I'd have at least finished hanging all the pictures. And run up a few pairs of drapes. And dotted a few potted plants around the place.

Nope.

But, today, I think I may have taken one small step forward.

For weeks, now, I've been agonizing to find a way to "finish" the girlies' bathroom, which I painted a lovely, fresh pale-lilac colour. It's really turned out to be very pretty, with a sparkly new mirror that swivels, bright white woodwork, and silver hardware.

But, the walls have remained bare. Mainly because I have been looking for just the right literary quotation to stencil up on one wall in particular. It needed to be a really special quote-- one with wisdom and meaning; one that would stand them in good stead and make them think, every time they look up at it over the next few years.

After weeks and weeks of perusing my library... I finally think I've found it.

Today is the birthday of Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, who wrote the wonderful novella, "Le Petit Prince" (The Little Prince). The story is narrated by a pilot, who has crashed his plane in the desert. There, he meets a strange little boy who claims to have come from an asteroid. The little boy asks the pilot to draw him a sheep, and thus begins a series of fascinating stories and conversations... mainly about the simple truths that people tend to forget as they grow older, and why it is that grown-ups are so difficult to get along with.

My favourite quotation from the book is this:

"Voici mon secret. Il est très simple: on ne voit bien qu'avec le cœur. L'essentiel est invisible pour les yeux."

("Here is my secret. It is very simple: It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye.")

What a perfect phrase for my three girlies to read every morning, as they stand looking in the mirror, getting themselves ready to face their day. I hope they will always remember how to "see" with their hearts, and discover what is truly beautiful and unique about their own individual personalities, as well as recognizing the most important qualities of those around them.

It is only with the heart that one can see rightly;

what is essential is invisible to the eye.

Yes. Perfect.