Saturday, January 28, 2012

Flowers, brown paper packages and keeping up appearances...

I wrapped a gift with brown paper and string and it reminded me of that song from the Sound of Music.
I viewed the movie no less than 7 times
my grandmother took me to the theatre often
as my grandfather was a projectionist at the Pantages Theatre here in town for years.....
he earned his gold watch.


brown paper package tied up with string...


a package of another kind

I drove up island awhile back and stopped for coffee in Cobble Hill
at the Drumroaster cafe
it turned out to be the best cup of coffee I have had in recent memory.

www.drumroaster.com



these little sweets came in a small brown box nestled on top of spun cotton


dainty pearls
and
deep red garnets

   I will wear them when I want to feel feminine.....



I like taking the extra time to get dressed up to go out
I don't always do this and I should
because I have been "caught" in my Yoga pants and sneakers!

It does seem to me that when I am thoughtlessly dressed I invariably meet up with a well turned out woman friend
who politely ignores my attire

she graciously excuses me when I stammer
 "I have just run out of a key ingredient for something that is simmering on the stove and I really must run."

I make a hasty retreat and vow under my breath, that I will not leave the house in the future 
unless I look decent...
(until next time that I must dash out unexpectedly!)


Sunny Yellow Tulips

fresh flowers in the Bungalow are a staple
considered not to be an extravagance.

In spring and summer the Bungalow garden has plenty of fresh flowers free for the picking.


Roses are plentiful....


Bright blooms are so cheery
 I buy them by the bunch in winter.


My "go to" flower shop is Harry's.


they carry a wide variety of greenery
and berries
as well as the mainstream blooms...


 I do so love the frothy petals on peonies.


Florist roses are not highly scented like the David Austin Roses 
that I tend and grow in The Humble Bungalow Garden.

I'll be perusing and choosing some flowers today
after taking Mother and darling daughter out to tea.

"Take care of luxuries and the necessities will take care of themselves."
~Dorothy Parker~

Have a fabulous weekend
and treat yourself and others kindly.

36 comments:

Pondside said...

Lovely post, Hostess. Aren't the flowers at the corner stores tempting?
Leaving Pondside requires some thought and preparation, but after my Thursday walks I am sometimes caught looking a little disheveled and shabby (as you well know!). One just does one's best, smiles, nods and sails on, head up!

Anonymous said...

What a lovely post for today. I just bought and received The Sound of Music. It was inspired by your last post about children. When my daughter was about 4, we began watching that movie over and over, she was totally entranced. My grandparents took all 4 granddaughters to see it when it first came out, at the Grauman's Chinese Theatre in LA. We had reserved seats in the loge, and we all dressed up to go. A wonderful mulit-generational memory.
Such beautiful flowers, and since we're moving to a new home, I will have room for a rose garden. Will consult with you about the David Austin's.

Anonymous said...

A much needed post.... remembering the lush scent of roses, honeysuckle and sea mist on the shore is soothing against winter's rage. Thank you! Add the simpler side of our Christmas - gifts wrapped in paper from recycled brown bags over the year, a colorful ribbon and a tag cut from the faces of the previous year's greeting cards. It's amazing what brown can do. Who knew? I'm still "who-knew-ing" in awe at lessons learned from my Mom, never one to leave the house with out some degree of "applied" effort. Needless to say, for me, that one gained significant traction as well!

Anonymous said...

I've never been a millionaire but I know I'd be darling at it.

Dorothy Parker

Sheree

Anonymous said...

Flowers in the home - essential! I picked some violas from our front door planter, bought some tulips, alstromeria and then today I ventured home in the wind with another orchid. Determined to learn to grow - actually get to re-flower is my problem! For $20, even if it never reblooms, I am a happy girl!
Liked your post yesterday about motherhood! Thanks for your beautiful memories, they echoed mine.

Peg - UI (Up Island)

Lorrie said...

I'm loving bringing home fresh flowers at this time of year. In the fall I manage with branches, berries and greens, but by January I crave colour. I have purple tulips on my table today.

the gardener's cottage said...

i love using brown kraft paper and twine to wrap presents too.
harry's sounds like a wonderful place for flowers. wishing you a wonderful weekend.

xo
janet

Northmoon said...

I bought myself some white chrysanthemums today at the grocery store. Not nearly as glamorous as your flowers, but more comfortable for my down to earth style.

L.O.L . aka Lady Of Leisure said...

I remember seeing The Sound Of Music, three times in the first week it was shown in our local cinema!
I was completely enchanted, and played the album over, and over.
I watched the film with my son when he was only three years old, and he still remembers it to this day.

Mummaducka said...

I have a huge roll of brown paper that I have bought for covering books and wrapping presents. Lately I have been wrapping my Ebay sales in it with black ribbon (not being able to find twine)to send off. I have had great feedback about it. I love the stuff.

Judith said...

Beautiful flowers the colours are so cheering at this dull time.

The brown paper & string remind me of the parcels we use to send
years ago....I was always allowed to put the red sealing wax on
the knot to hold the string secure. Ida

mette said...

I´m frugal with flowers, so expensive over here, frugal with magazines and grocery store shopping. If/ when I have to hop in my car and drive to the store, I don´t mind about how I dress, usually it is stable wear.
But - I have ruled myself to wear clean, cute and good undies and never step outside without my studs.
My boots might be muddy, I might have hay in my pockets and hair, but then- that´s my lifestyle.

La Vie Quotidienne said...

Such pretty flowers...I love peonies, alas they won't grow here and I seldom see them for sale. You are so chic that I can't imagine you ever going out looking anything but put together...even in yoga pants.

Bonnie said...

Brown paper is my wrapping paper of choice. Tea with your mother and daughter, how wonderful! I hope you had a wonderful time. Happy Sunday! Bonnie

hostess of the humble bungalow said...

What a great quote!

hostess of the humble bungalow said...

I only grow the phalaenopsis orchids and they re-bloom for me. I water once a week letting the water flow through the roots and they do not like their roots to sit in water or they rot. Mine like to be in a north facing window. Good luck with your new one Peg!

hostess of the humble bungalow said...

Lorrie it must be our weather that makes us crave colour! bought 2 bunches of red and yellow tulips yesterday.

hostess of the humble bungalow said...

How was the hike in Palm Springs? Those fluffy pancakes looked delicious!

hostess of the humble bungalow said...

I think Chrysanthemums are glamourous and white is so elegant.

hostess of the humble bungalow said...

LOL- That movie must have made an impression on your son.
Films from my childhood must have been very special too as I still remember them. I loved The Chalk Garden with Hayley Mills and The Moonspinners.

hostess of the humble bungalow said...

Jodie- The black ribbon must really add a touch of elegance to your parcels.

hostess of the humble bungalow said...

ida- Wasn't it exciting to receive one of these packages in the post? Red sealing wax brings back memories too.

hostess of the humble bungalow said...

mette- I'll bet that you look gorgeous in your equestrian attire. Frugality is a good habit. Mother impressed upon me the value of wearing decent knickers too!

hostess of the humble bungalow said...

Peonies do not last very long once they are cut. I have several shrubs in the garden and rarely pick them for bouquets.

hostess of the humble bungalow said...

That's an interesting bear that you have on your blog header. Is he bronze?

hostess of the humble bungalow said...

I have given in to temptation!
BTW you do not look disheveled or shabby, honestly.

hostess of the humble bungalow said...

Your memories of getting dressed up to go to the Grauman theatre in LA sounds very glamorous!
Oh a new home, how exciting! You can't go wrong with David Austin roses, they are superior performers. They like a lots of water and are greedy when it comes to top dressing them with compost. I like to sprinkle epsom salts around their roots every month in the summer. I'll be happy to share my rose knowledge with you anytime.

Anonymous said...

Most days I go out in sweats, trainers and no make up, I don't care what people might think, I'm a lot more than what i chose to wear, as are you! I only make an effort if it's for work or an evening out.
I really really love your blog, it has such great rythymn to it.

hostess of the humble bungalow said...

It sounds like you must be experiencing some beastly weather.
I find that flowers are such a tonic when the weather is inclement.
I hope that you are keeping warm and snug, spring is on it's way.

Your Mother and mine sound like they shared the same values.

hostess of the humble bungalow said...

Tabitha- I'll bet that you look very chic in your casual attire!
I love your blog too and your kind words are most welcome :)

Suburban Princess said...

Bleepity bleep! It's always the way isn't it!? I always run into around 7 people I know when picking up one thing without makeup, in baseball cap...looking tired.

Duchesse said...

The availability of local flowers is seasonal here in Quebec. Though longing for fresh blooms, I'd rather not buy imported flowers, due to the massive environmental cost. (Am not perfectly consistent in "green" matters, but this is one I'm careful about.) When I do capitulate it is for plants (orchids, bromeliads) because, I rationalize, at least they last for months.

hostess of the humble bungalow said...

Oh yes Bleepity Bleep!

hostess of the humble bungalow said...

I had never considered the distance that flowers are flown to us until I did the flowers for our son's wedding and the chartreuse orchids came all the way from New Zealand and I can tell you they were the most beautiful specimens!
Orchids are a savvy buy!

annie@mostlovelythings said...

Love your bangles and your Burberry. I too get caught in my yoga pants late in the afternoon...long after class and sometimes by the very same women with whom I went to class...only they are well dressed...I need to take a little extra time before I go out...

Love all these flowers! Harry's looks like the place to go.

hostess of the humble bungalow said...

Annie- Yoga pants are so comfy! Perhaps it's the comfort factor that keeps us wearing them long after the class is finished!