Wednesday, July 30, 2008

A Peek Into My Discovery Journal

Have you ever kept a Discovery Journal? It's something I came across several years ago when I first read Sarah Ban Breathnach's book Simple Abundance. The idea was to gather pictures from magazines and wherever else you might find them. They were to be pictures that spoke to you and then they were to be arranged and collaged into a scrapbook and during all of this you were supposed to "discover" your true inner you.

Well a lot of mine was no surprise. I knew who I was inside, but I did discover that I am lacking what makes me, me in my everyday life--as far as my surroundings that is.

I discovered that I need at least 3 things:

1--I really, really need more flowers! Now I do have a small flower garden, but what I really need is flowers inside my home. Faux flowers are quite fine with me, but I am severly lacking in this area I have found. The more romantic the flowers I have found the better.

2--I need fragrance! I used to burn candles all of the time, but seem to have gotten away from that. Partly because I burnt them all up! LOL! I love spicy fall scents no matter what time of year it is as well as vanillas and spiced plum and pear scents.

3--The next thing I need--although you can't tell it by my journal is music. I've never been one to collect music, but I'm finding I would love to start a collection of music, so I can have it playing softly in the background. I've never been one for loud music or music that is right there making you listen and interrupting your thoughts. I need something soothing or romantic like the classicals of the 18th and 19th centuries--Mozart, Bach, Shubert--those kinda guys. I love Enya and Yanni and Celtic music as well as old timey barn dance music--no lyrics (bet that surpised ya--it doesn't match the others!) I also love to listen to hymns--old hymns. Not the new stuff. See lots of discoveries!

Here's a peek at just a few of my pages in my discovery journal. They pretty much sum me up....





Roses. Soft. Delicate. Yellow. I've also discovered that yellow is a favorite color. I absolutlely love soft creamy yellow on a house--to me it says Home.




Ah, the color lavendar and lilacs are that! And China and Wicker!




Oh yes Pink! And Quilts! And soft country farmhouse pieces!






A picnic--with a basket--not an ugly plastic cooler. Maybe somewhere to escape to and enjoy a favorite book or an engrossing chat with a dear friend.





And aren't we all princesses carried about in a golden carriage with our prince. Graceful. Romantic. Beautiful.





The simple lines of white stoneware pitchers. The softness of a rose. The gate that says Welcome.





Linens and Lace. A girl can never have enough of either!




Or enough flowers.




And lastly--the entrance into the secret garden of one's heart..............


What I really need is a cottage near the forest with a huge flower garden. Filled with all of the soft romantic and simple pleasures of life and a victorian wardrobe.........