Weight Watchers...and watching out the window.

Our kitchen window looks out toward the neighbours yard.
My laptop sits atop a quarter sawn oak trestle arts and crafts table so when emailing or blogging I can observe the work going on next door.

Here's a low Weight Watcher point breakfast that I ate a few days ago.

Low fat cottage cheese and fresh fruit.

I have been unable to focus on my WW since Mother passed away but now I need to get back on track.

It is proving to be more of a challenge this time...

I am trying to be disciplined but think I am in trouble and I may need to go back to the meetings as they really helped me before.

Coffee first thing in the morning is my only "real" caffeine of the day.

The rest of the time I opt for decaf beverages or I have trouble sleeping at night.

Dinner one boneless skinless chicken thigh, 

curried quinoa and brown rice

salad with 1 Tbsp. of low point yogurt dressing.

Our views from the kitchen window are changing daily and dramatically...

This used to be a demolition site...just a big hole.

Things are taking shape as the building is being erected.

A basement and main are being framed here...

And here is the view a couple of days later

There will be two new homes on this site.

Breakfast this morning was a symphony in red and white.

I have not seen any movement on the scale so far but I am not discouraged.

My pants feel looser so that's a good sign.

We are celebrating Canada's 150th birthday tomorrow on July 1st

there are a lot of people expected to attend the events on the lawn of the legislative buildings at the Inner Harbour.

I plan to avoid the crowds as I do not like getting jostled or stepped on and because I am so short I can never really see what's going on!

Mr. HB hung the flag up and we are hoping to watch the fireworks

from our neighbourhood.

Happy Canada Day!

Hope you have a lovely weekend.

I'll be back on the blog in a few days...

A garden visit to Point Ellice House.

Victoria has oodles of gardens worth a visit...

Butchart Gardens,  Abkhazi Gardens, Royal Roads, 

and this historic garden home Point Ellice House which is off the beaten track.

It's fun exploring local sites and seeing the parts of Victoria that the "tourists" see.

 I chose a sunny Sunday to explore before perusing "the secret vintage shoppe."

Point Ellice House also offer a tasty afternoon tea which can be savoured while sitting in the verdant garden with heritage roses and plants.

The home and garden are not open every day so please check the website for times on the link above.

Frothy Native plant Ocean Spray

Yellow Phlomis

After the tour of the gardens I wandered into the secret vintage shoppe.

There were chintz pillows, linens, scarves, housewares, silver trays,  collectibles, wicker pieces, teacups, plants and more...

I purchased this charming white candle holder which will goes nicely with my vintage ironstone pieces like this simple white tray.

Hope that you enjoyed this scenic tour of one of our local heritage sites.

Do you go on an adventure as a tourist in your own hometown?

I needed a break from all the weeding and deadheading in the garden so this was a perfect escape!

What is new with you?

Weekend Snippets...

It's been a very busy weekend here in The Humble Bungalow Garden!

The weather has been very hot and so watering has been a top priority.

With water restrictions in place, there are certain times one is permitted to use a sprinkler and the rest must be done by hand.

This has allowed me to wander about and take time to observe all the plants.

Roses love water and this white Iceberg climber is in full flush so I do not want to let it go dry.

If you look closely you can see the new obelisks beyond the iceberg rose.

These were required to help support the 4 new David Austin roses that we purchased this Spring.

Claire Austin is a fragrant white rose with climbing tendencies and the multiple blooms on each stem are heavy so she needs a little help.

Before painting...

After painting...

All four settled into their new spots.

We finished in time to sit for a bit on the deck. 

A glass of bubbly for the Hostess

and a single malt Islay scotch for Mr. HB.

Who BTW painted the obelisks most of the afternoon in the hot sun.

Thank you darling!

XO

We joined friends this weekend for a delicious BBQ dinner and sat on this gorgeous porch with expansive ocean views.

I also went to historic Point Ellice House and wandered in the garden and perused the new Secret Vintage Shoppe.

I'm working on a post to share the photos I took while I was there...

so please stay tuned and you can see what I found in the shoppe!

In the meantime 

it is laundry day and have a bunch of ironing to do.

How is your week going so far?

XO

Salt Spring Island visit and a Rose Garden Tour

It's been a whirlwind week and one of the highlights was a trip across to Salt Spring Island to visit a friend. I did not go empty handed and I took her a wee gift and a bouquet of our Humble Bungalow garden roses.

My friend lives on a lush acreage where she has created a beautiful Mediterranean style garden.  She and her husband travel to Provence every year and spend a couple of idyllic months exploring the villages. I think she has been inspired by the lovely gardens in France.

The garden plants are selected with an artists eye...

and then one needs to be mindful of 

the deer who have voracious appetites!

Ali took me on a garden tour with the local rose group.

First we stopped off at Ali's friend Anna's home.

Anna and her husband Paul are artists and they have a gallery on their property that showcases their artwork. In case you are interested I have included a link to their site below.

Blue Horse Gallery is located in the Southey Point area of Salt Spring.

Weddings are frequently held on this picturesque property and they also run a B&B called Bloom.

I was so smitten with this adorable suite...

I could imagine waking up and taking my coffee out to the terrace and listening to the bees buzzing and the birdsong.

We visited quite a few gardens and there are many keen rosarians on the island.

I felt very privileged to be included on the tour and have Ali to thank for arranging it for me to join in.

A clump of poppies caught my eye...

I must get some of these for our garden.

Ali and I had lunch in Ganges and perused some of the lovely shops.

I was tempted by many of the lovely linen garments in the shops 

but I do not "need" any more...

 I cannot say that for roses 

as I am already thinking where I can find room to squeeze in a few more in our garden!

One of my favourite gardens on the tour was a 6 acre property near Vesuvius. 

Pauline and her husband have a vast garden with over 200 roses!

A fragrant oasis of roses

which Pauline has mixed with many lovely plants.

The most stunning array of vibrant blue, mauve and purple delphiniums 

stood tall with her glorious roses.

Pauline is an avid and knowledgeable gardener and very gracious.

It was difficult prying myself away from her garden but I had to catch the ferry. 

Ali and I plan to meet again on the island 

as there are so many wonderful things to see and do...

I am heading out to the garden so I will close before donning my garden gloves.

Hope you have a lovely weekend.

XO

Humble Bungalow Garden Roses...

Life is unpredictable and can shock and surprise us...
often throwing us curveballs.

I know that this is true...

All we can do is "fasten our seat belts" and hang on tight for the ride.

So in light of the turbulence that life can bring.

I offer you some beautiful roses...
to add some beauty to your day.

Growing right here in The Humble Bungalow Garden.

I hope you enjoy them.

Joesph's Coat roses

Constance Spry

Iceberg

(I forget the name of this rose)

Graham Thomas

Jude the Obscure

Climbing Royal Sunset

Abraham Darby

Graham Thomas

I am planning to visit a Gulf Island to view a garden and visit a friend.

At my Yoga class the instructor has just returned from a workshop.

She was very excited about her experience and spoke to us about looking for the "juicy" things in life...

The "juicy" being those things that bring us JOY

things that we need to seek out and embrace to "Get Our Happy On.

I am doing just that.

A "full to the brim week" of social events, 

a garden visit

walks 

Yoga

a movie out 

dinner with the girls

birthday shopping for a very special DIL.

Our garden is a riot of roses...

they are shedding their petals in the gusty winds today.

So many petals cover the walkway, the deck and the porch.

I hope that the winds blow them away...

it could save us hours of raking and sweeping

this weekend!

Wishing you a wonderful Wednesday and a week of "juicy" good things.

~ Take care as you go about your day ~

and 

~ Please Be Kind ~