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Danielle Hatfield

Slow Home Living and the Lesson of Small, Kind Gifts

July 6, 2012 By Danielle Hatfield 4 Comments

6 Jul
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While working with Experience Farm client and friend, Gloria B. Collins on the design of her website, my husband and I were introduced to her passion for sustainable living through mindful choices . . . Slow Home Living.

homemade preserves from a neighborAs Gloria and I got to know each other more, I began to look at my world through her careful and caring perspective and what I learned is that Slow Home Living was a lifestyle.

It took me back to the basic values my parents and grandparents held. Dinner as a family, bringing soup to a neighbor when they are under the weather, smiling at a stranger, saying thank you often, looking a person in the eyes as you shake their hand, calling a friend you haven’t heard from in a while, giving (regardless of what it is) from your heart.

We each possess the power to offer small, kind gifts that are the essence of Slow Home Living.

For me it’s waking up to a kiss on the forehead, taking naps in the sunny spot of the library, receiving homemade preserves from a neighbor, baking bread and sharing our favorite local honey with a friend, it’s the warmth of a hand made blanket on your lap, it’s long walks hand in hand with the love of your life . . . it’s unexpected packages from far off beautiful places that make the distance between friends melt away. It’s all in the little things.

I think Gloria described it best in her guest post for Stagetecture “Slow Home Living is a belief about creating a mindful approach for everything we do in our lives and for our families, it’s about allowing only treasures into our homes and feeding our lives the very best we deserve.”

To me, Slow Home Living is more than a mantra, I believe that it’s a series of small, kind gifts . . . to ourselves, our family and friends. These gifts have the power to lead us down a beautiful winding path to a better way of life.

—

What small, kind gifts have you received lately?

How have you been inspired to slow down and take a more mindful approach to your life?

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Filed Under: Lifestyle, Motivational, Uncategorized Tagged With: family, Friendship, GBC Style, Gifts, Gloria B. Collins, kindness, Slow Home Living, Stagetecture

About Danielle Hatfield

Owner/Chief Dirt Digger at Experience Farm - DIYs, recipes and sharing my 2 cents on social media

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I love to share recipes, DIYs, and my two cents on social media.

I am also proud to be the Chief Dirt Digger at Experience Farm where I have worked with my partner and husband Brandon Pierce since 2009.

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daniellehatfield

I love #DIYs, #recipes, and sharing my 2 cents on social media.

My next #FurnitureRestoration project! 😍 My de My next #FurnitureRestoration project! 😍

My dear @thebrandonpierce found it at the local #HabitatReStore and it’s a near match for a desk he inherited that once belonged to his great grandfather. 

I have BIG plans for this beauty!

It will become home to my new @singersewingcompany heavy duty sewing machine and all of my sewing notions. 

This means I can *finally* begin sewing curtains, cushions, and tackle a few other upholstery/restoration projects. 🤗
#HomemadePastaSauce > store-bought #PastaSauce. #HomemadePastaSauce > store-bought #PastaSauce.
Practicing #WorkLifeBalance with some quality time Practicing #WorkLifeBalance with some quality time outside this morning. 

With temperatures in the mid 60s and a cool breeze ahead of the thunderstorms forecast for tomorrow - it is the *perfect* weather to show our #GardenLove.

This #Iris is one of many transplant successes … I moved it a few years ago and it is nearly waist high! 

Is our #CottageGarden picture perfect? No. 

But slowly, with patience and hard work, it’s more lush and colorful… I dare say it’s well on its way to resembling #BeatrixPotter’s beloved garden. 

Now, about those children’s books I’ve been meaning to write and illustrate…🤔
A #watercolorportrait I painted of #ElvisPresley l A #watercolorportrait I painted of #ElvisPresley last year. 

I didn’t share this #watercolorpainting before because I thought it was mediocre at best. I still feel that way - but that’s okay. 

#WatercolorPractice never makes perfect…it makes improvement. 

I’ll probably paint another portrait of him this year to see if I’ve improved my fabric, skin, and hair painting skills. 

I’m thinking maybe the next painting will be a still from his 1968 One Night With You special...or of him in uniform from WWII. 🤔

Do you have a favorite memorable photo/video of #Elvis?
I’ve been encouraging the #dandelions. I’m I’ve been encouraging  the #dandelions. 

I’m harvesting leaves for sandwiches/salads and transplanting volunteers into pots in our small #CottageGarden.

Some see a weed - I see Clara’s #DepressionEra salad and #DandelionRoot tea. 😍
@thebrandonpierce surprised me with the sweetest # @thebrandonpierce surprised me with the sweetest #springflowers from our #cottagegarden. 😍
#SpringFlowers found on our walk tonight. 😍#Wha #SpringFlowers found on our walk tonight. 😍#WhatIsThisPlant?
My dear @thebrandonpierce keeps the birthday month My dear @thebrandonpierce keeps the birthday month surprises coming with TWO books by @jamesgurneyart! 😍

If you need me, I’ll be sipping coffee and getting lost in a wealth of #ArtInspiration.
#PracticeMakesProgress 🙌🏻 The first #waterc #PracticeMakesProgress 🙌🏻

The first #watercolor #painting (on the left) I finished last year. Good, but a bit dull. 

After receiving all of my new #artsupplies this month (thank you @thebrandonpierce 😘) I *HAD* to paint it again… isn’t she a beauty?! (on the right)

I’m slowly working to improve mixing skin tones, painting eyes that have a bit more depth, and a fabric that doesn’t look splotchy…

This #watercolorpractice is inspired by the February 1927 #PictoralReview #CoverArt by  #illustrationArtist #EarlChristy. 

#WatercolorPaint & #Paintbrushes: #KingArtCompany 

#WatercolorPaper: #cansonpaper 140lb cold press
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