What We See...

My favourite spot in my new digs.  This is where I read, watch movies, listen to music, sit and think.  My hideaway. I have used bookcases to outline the space.  The cases on the far side separate my reading nook from my sleeping area.  I do not like open concept, at least not for my personal space. I was allowed to paint the room before moving in - previously it was white.  I chose two shades of peach and layered the darker shade over the lighter with a rag to create depth.  It provides a warm, cheerful background for my framed photos and other decorative touches.   The hangings on the back wall are two cushion covers safety pinned together and hung from removable, adhesive hooks. The gold and green circular tray in the foreground is from Pier 1 Imports as is the fringed throw and cushion on the tub chair. The vintage look string lights are from Canadian Tire.

I picked up this lovely purple print fabric in Malawi over 20 years ago.  It has gotten worn over time but I didn't want to just dispose of it.   To make this keepsake I bought a dinner plate from the dollarstore and used decoupage glue to adhere the fabric to the plate.  I used epoxy to afix a large paper clip to the back to serve as a hanger but the plate can also be displayed using a plate holder.

I lived in India for five months in 2008 as part of a program run by Youth With A Mission .   Left to right:  at our program graduation celebrating the annual Hindu harvest festival "Onam" on our way to church

“Canoe Club Quill,” January 2011. Excerpt from "Beloved", a collection of my writings. “Little deeds of kindness, little words of love, help to make earth happy, like the heaven above.”    So wrote Julia F. Carney and I think she’s right.  Much of life consists of small deeds, mundane conversations, and decisions of moderate significance and it’s easy to think that because of this “smallness”, your life doesn’t amount to much.     But when I think of my own life, the things I’ve learned and how I’ve been shaped and how I’ve made an impact on others, I realize that significant things can come from little things.  Patting someone’s arm when they were sad, paying a compliment, giving a smile.  Maybe it was one line in a book that I needed at just the right time.  How many times has someone made my day or helped me through a difficult situation just in something small like that?     I’d like to pay more attention to the l...

Love faux fur but can't keep it looking nice?  This is the easy solution!  It's a "slicker dog brush" with soft wire bristles.  Just use it to de-mat your faux fur coat collars and cuffs.  I also use it to keep my bedside sheepskin rug fluffy.  WAHL Small Gel Slicker Pet Brush, available at Wal-Mart for about $8.

This has become my new go-to garment.  Faux fur vest with zip enclosure and zip front pockets.  Guess, available at The Bay.    It works well with a long sleeve sweater or T-shirt and can be dressed up or down.  Great for the winter months.

You may not use your china everyday but it doesn't need to stay packed up except for special occasions.  A simple bookcase can serve as a display unit for your china, giving you the chance to show off your heirloom pieces and add to a room's decor. I have this set up in my office/study/bedroom entryway - it fills the fall and makes the pieces accessible should I want to use them. Royal Doulton, Harlow pattern; inherited from my paternal grandmother.

Cobb Hill Alexandra , women's ankle book, teal, ruching.  I bought mine at Rockport in Market Mall, Calgary.

This is my go-to suitcase.  I did a five month stay in India with YWAM several years ago - it was super important there to have manageable luggage for train and rickshaw travel.  I also did a two month solo trip to Europe and again, saw the need for small luggage.   I found this case ( Wheeled Tote  produced by Atlantic) several years ago at The Bay and have used it almost exclusively ever since.   I will use this for my week-long Christmas trip to Ontario:  Travel outfit: winter boots, jeans, long sleeve sweater, faux fur vest, winter coat.   To pack: second pair of pants and two sweaters.   All pieces will coordinate so I will have enough outfits.  I will also pack a dress and appropriate shoes for the Christmas Eve service.   Outside front pocket handy for a book, magazine, travel documents. Top zip storage compartment for shoes and toiletry kit. Case unzips to completely fold ...

This trip was taken with my parents in May 2007.  Nine days in Israel, three in Greece.  Jam packed.

I charge you, O daughters of Jerusalem Do not stir up nor awaken love until it pleases How hard it is this waiting this un-stirring this allowing of love to slumber still silent unobtrusive quietly waiting subtly aching longing yet waiting still He has made everything beautiful in its time How slowly time passes in this beautifying loveliness deferred until its hour of blossoming love in restraint waits until the time and waits… and waits still clinging tenuously by a thread to this tiny seed of hope

This piece contains a coin belt, a coin necklace and a pendant headpiece.   I found a frame at a second hand store and covered the back with fabric.  I pinned the pieces in place with straight pins and inserted the back into the frame.

Here is my backyard set up at one of my previous homes.  Perfect for unwinding at the end of the day, it was an ideal reading nook. I purchased four dark pink sheer panels on sale from Fabricland and used 1.5 inch metal hooks (probably from Home Depot) to hang them.  I screwed the hooks into the wooden overhead deck, inserting them into cracks in the wood rather than creating new holes. I purchased Canvas Vintage Edison String Lights (10 bulbs, $29) from Canadian Tire to hang from the hooks as well. The white metal bistro set belonged to the home owner. The seat is a faux wicker tub chair similar to Canvas Catalina Collection Wicker Patio Armchair ($140, Canadian Tire) covered with a deep green fringed chenille throw from Pier One, and two patterned and fringed throws from Fabricland in light aqua and deep pink.  The cushion is also from Pier One.   One the table is a mosaic glass serving tray which held an assortment of can...

I didn't think there was any one subject that I could blog about enough to make a worthwhile site. But then I realized I could take my whole life as my subject and break it down into categories. So let's see if I can do that. "What we See" is one of my most used expressions when lecturing. I've been producing content for courses for a college lately and in editing my videos I've seen that I say this a lot. It seemed to be an appropriate expression for a lifestyle blog. Perhaps it will be a catch-phrase for videos I produce. I am a book worm.  My favorite place to be is at home in my "study", surrounded by my collection.  Digital is here to stay but curling up in my tub chair with a hot drink and an actual paper book surpasses watching a screen!