My next installment will be, just that. To Stop and Smell the Roses.
And, what exactly does that mean?
I am hosting a Wellness group that I am in this month, and my theme for this meeting is to simply, stop and smell the roses.
what does this mean to you?
I have compiled some excerpts of friends stories from near and far, and will share in my next installment… of Stop and Smell the Roses.
I asked myself one day, where my passion of collecting “Fish out of Water” started?
Well it all started with this one, that I love. On a girls weekend getaway several years ago, I came across this lovely Raku Pottery piece, which reminds me of a Siamese Fighting Fish, the Betta.
“Raku” remained a lonely little fish out of water without company for quite sometime. That is, until we moved to the country 8 years ago. Then my obsession exploded with passion !
Another passion is photography, which I am a still quite a novice at, but happy to belong to a photography club (more later about that) and photo editing, which I enjoy dabbling at.
Here are just a few of my favorites, some of which I have edited for my enjoyment, and hope yours to:
Balinese Healing Fish: Friends from Australia recognized my passion by sending me this lovely fridge magnet.
Raku Pottery: From the Local Color Art Gallery, Flesherton, Ontario. I love this technique in pottery design.
Mexican Black Clay pottery: From one of our trips to the Mayan Riviera, Mexico. This is a very special one, as my husband bought this for me, while I was in a Mexican hospital recovering from breaking my back in a “freakish” boat accident.
Every home would not be complete without a “Fish Shaped” Thermometer.
Or a clay “fish” wind chime beside the Hot Tub. Found in Cuba.
Or a Paper Mache, 3 dimensional picture, another Cuban find which is picture perfect for hanging over the door leading to my “Gal Cave”
A Pier One purchase, which sits on the window ledge in our Bedroom, overlooking the Lilac bush.
Cheers ! A collection of favorite Wine glasses. A couple, are gifts from me, to me. Another from friends who just knew what to give me as a hostess gift.
Another gift from my funny hubby. Smile, you are on Candid Camera !
A Dominican Republic Find. This one is a painted wood carving.
Brass Serving Plate: On the coffee table in my Gal Cave Home Sense, of course.
Oh, just because ! And, why not? Flanked by my wonderful kids.
A small group photo-op: The wooden one, a purchase from California. A special plate from our travels to Ireland. A pottery serving dish, another gift from my hubby. And, peaking through the looking-glass, actually resting nicely in my China Cabinet is a “goodwill” find. A gorgeous big mouth pottery Bass, at least I think it is. And, as if gorgeous can be found in a Big Mouth Bass. You never know what you will find there.
Red, White and Yellow Gurgling Jugs. My favorites for when we have dinner guests. Loving the sound of the water, or wine gurgling out of the jug to the glass.
Fish incognito, looking over the lower level walk out garden.
A beautiful, art glass sculpture. A gift from my favorite son-in-law. Actually, my only son-in-law. He’s the greatest !
What’s for dinner tonight? Jesus is not impressed with that comment. Who was given to me by my daughter and fav, son-in-law. They thought I needed to have an actual, FISH in WATER !
These beads almost swam to me. From Holy Crow Beads. They had my name on them, wanting to be made into this design. Another love of mine, jewelry design.
And, last but certainly not least. Is Nemo. What collection would Fish out of Water be, without this little guy. A “whim” purchase I am sure by dear friends who just knew that it would sit well in my China Cabinet !
I have many more in this collection as you can imagine. From serving dishes to jewelry to clothing. One day I will have to document them all. If anything for me to enjoy in those twilight years. Thinking, what was I thinking?
I came across this article. On, when hoarding becomes more than collecting.
Hoarding comes in a variety of shapes and sizes. Most people collect something. Some stuff their closets with super 3-for-1 deals from discount clothing stores. Others pack their kitchen cabinets with great bargains they got using grocery store coupons. Some people’s medicine chests may be overflowing with free samples of everything from band aids to face creams. Many people collect objects having seemingly little value to anyone but themselves, from used concert or movie tickets to the books and toys they loved as children. You may think nothing of these behaviors until you decide it’s time to straighten out your stash. Then you find it surprisingly difficult to throw out those cherished memorabilia or those sale clothes you never ended up wearing.
I love to mix up my collection from time to time. Keeping my husband on his toes… thinking to himself, Hmmmmm? Or asking me. Is that one new? I also think, that true hoarders, just keep their treasures under wraps, never to be seen or displayed ! And, how sad is that? I am a lover of my collection. And, would never consider myself a hoarder. But, then again minimalists might think otherwise.
To be continued…
At the lake, as Loch Arran has another entire collection. It never ends…
I cannot believe I haven’t posted another post to my blog since March, which was my first.
My daughter initially got the wheels in motion for my blog. And, as the heading goes…
This is about, the Life and Times of Denise Dorothy Hall. I just thought the life and times would be more than what they have been in regard to the world of blogging. So, I have decided to be more diligent and get this up and running, like a proper blog should be.
I just can’t commit to how often I will be able to actually think about, and what I want to write about.
Some people write, to reach out to the masses. And, some people much like me will write for myself and for those who may want to follow me on this journey.
With that said.
I will say this. That during the winter months I had a nasty accident, which left me with a broken ankle.
With virtually no weight bearing on it for 6 weeks, I was in panic mode. What to do, what to do? As those who know me… know that I can’t keep still for long, before I am on another project or participating in an outdoor activity, such as Snow Shoeing in the winter. In hind sight, having this accident was a good thing to happen during our Winter months. If having any accident is a good thing. Mainly because the Spring, Summer and Autumn in the Gorgeous Beaver Valley (more on the Beaver Valley area later) are filled with a multitude of activities such as, Hiking and Biking which I love to do. And, so much more.
So, my husband literally transformed our Dining Room into what a friend called “Mission Control”. What that meant was that everything I do, in regard to my crafts where brought up from my “Crafty Gal Cave”. Men are allowed to have Man Caves. So, women can certainly have Gal Caves.
I kept myself busy, getting caught up on many things. Scrapbooking, Making Cards, Jewelry design, knitting a multitude of Funky Scarves, Reading, Sourcing our trip this September, and all the while trying to heal. Of which I am proud to say that, I have healed wonderfully.
Here are a few of my projects that kept me sane during this healing process.
I cannot believe I haven’t posted another post to my blog since March, which was my first.
My daughter initially got the wheels in motion for my blog. And, as the heading goes…
This is about, the Life and Times of Denise Dorothy Hall. I just thought the life and times would be more than what they have been in regard to the world of blogging. So, I have decided to be more diligent and get this up and running, like a proper blog should be.
I just can’t commit to how often I will be able to actually think about, and what I want to write about.
Some people write, to reach out to the masses. And, some people much like me will write for myself and for those who may want to follow me on this journey.
With that said.
I will say this. That during the winter months I had a nasty accident, which left me with a broken ankle.
With virtually no weight bearing on it for 6 weeks, I was in panic mode. What to do, what to do? As those who know me… know that I can’t keep still for long, before I am on another project or participating in an outdoor activity, such as Snow Shoeing in the winter. In hind sight, having this accident was a good thing to happen during our Winter months. If having any accident is a good thing. Mainly because the Spring, Summer and Autumn in the Gorgeous Beaver Valley (more on the Beaver Valley area later) are filled with a multitude of activities such as, Hiking and Biking which I love to do. And, so much more.
So, my husband literally transformed our Dining Room into what a friend called “Mission Control”. What that meant was that everything I do, in regard to my crafts where brought up from my “Crafty Gal Cave”. Men are allowed to have Man Caves. So, women can certainly have Gal Caves.
I kept myself busy, getting caught up on many things. Scrapbooking, Making Cards, Jewelry design, knitting a multitude of Funky Scarves, Reading, Sourcing our trip this September, and all the while trying to heal. Of which I am proud to say that, I have healed wonderfully.
Here are a few of my projects that kept me sane during this healing process.
I was not sure how to begin my journey of Blogging.
After having many upsets lately… this one came in from a Dear Friend, and I thought, let’s begin with this wonderful email she sent me tonight.
So, friends… Come and sit with me in this journey of highs and lows and everything in between.
Come Sit With Me
“There comes a time in your life, when you walk away from all the drama and people who create it. You surround yourself with people who make you laugh. Forget the bad, and focus on the good. Love the people who treat you right, pray for the ones who don’t. Life is too short to be anything but happy. Falling down is a part of life, getting back up is living.”
Quote: “Today may there be peace within. May you trust that you are exactly where you are meant to be. May you not forget the infinite possibilities that are born of faith in yourself and others. May you use the gifts that you have received and pass on the love that has been given to you. May you be content with yourself just the way you are. Let this knowledge settle into your bones, and allow your soul the freedom to sing, dance, praise and love. It is there for each and every one of us.”
Breathe Deeply.
So, please join me in this journey… of the life and times of Denise Dorothy Hall…
I do know a little about a lot of things… and we’ll have fun in this journey.
Denise Hall 