OOTD, cocktails and Beautiful Blooms...

 

White rose on John Paul ll

Pure white blooms are very elegant...

they remind me of Coco Chanel's simple white gardenias.

I have been so distracted by Donna Leon's mystery books of late...

I am reserving them at the public library and are reading my way through 

her series with Guido Brunetti.

I highly recommend her books.

So this post will be a wee one and once I hit publish

I'll be back in my chair in the living room with my nose in her book.

OOTD

I wore a Cut Loose crinkly tunic top with black capri tights.

An artisan necklace

Josef Siebel red ballet flats

Vintage wicker Ann Taylor bag.

We met up with friends On Friday evening in the sunshine.

Cocktails on the patio at The Snug at The Oak Bay Beach Hotel.

So wonderful getting together with friends.

It has been many months since we were permitted to go out to eat with friends.

The vaccinations and our recent "circuit breaker" that was set by our provincial health officer has helped reduce the number of active Covid cases and the rules are once again eased...

This week while I was

walking in the Cook Street Village

 I popped into Mercedes Lane.

A large shop with oodles of fun clothes...many are beautiful Italian linens.

The skort is by UPP and The dress is made in Turkey by Sassy.

I had not planned to buy anything I went in merely to peruse their stock.

Slightly risky because you never know what you'll find.

Spanish Lavender

potted in an urn out front of The Humble Bungalow.

The bees just love this plant.

I like the feathery "hat" atop of the blooms.

Hope that you are enjoying your weekend.

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

Abkhazi a jewel of a garden...created by Prince and Princess Abkhazi.

 

Abkhazi Garden is an oasis of beauty.

It is full of rhododendrons and azaleas which are full of blooms in April and May.

This magical place was created by Prince and Princess Abkhazi.

It's a hidden gem here in Victoria.

The profusion of peachy pink blooms on this azalea are incredibly fragrant.

The shed was built when the royal couple were beginning the garden in 1946.

 It used for tool storage and picnics.

You can read more about the history in the book 

A Curious Life: The Biography of Princess Peggy Abkhazi by Catherine Gordon.

From here there is a fabulous view of the curving lawns under the vast Garry Oaks.

You can see the house that they built on the left

this is now a gift shop and tea room.

We sat on the patio in the sunshine.

The tea room has 3 teas on the menu, this is Elevenses.

It was the smallest of the three but it was plenty of food.

There are two resident turtles 

one was swimming and the other one was sunning itself on the rocks.

This driftwood cat is a newly installed art piece from a local Fairfield artist who specializes in creating woody creatures.

We enjoyed our walk, the tasty tea and the incredibly beautiful flowers.

I felt like I was transported away on a lovely holiday.

Parks, local gardens, and the seaside, are such a tonic in these unusual times.

Hope that you are staying safe and taking care of yourself.

~Be Well and Be Kind ~

Tulip mania courtesy of Butchart Gardens...

I've been busy here in The Humble Bungalow with little time spent on the computer.

So posting here on the blog has been rather spartan. 

Today 

I am sharing a lush group of tulips 

seen on my recent walk at Butchart Gardens.

I hope you will enjoy seeing the pictures.

Tulips are in full bloom at Butchart Gardens.

Pretty in pink...

Pink on Pink

Tulips and masses of pink forget-me-nots.

A striking combination of colour.

Frilly feathery fringed tulips.

Close up

A painterly mixture of tulips.

We wandered through the gardens and enjoyed the bold colourful planted beds.

Many others, like us, masked up and delighted in the beauty of the gardens.

We sat outside after our walk and had a cold drink and a wee bite of lunch.

It felt like we were on holiday.

Hope that you are enjoying your weekend.

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

Shopping and a surprise!

 

Lilies are blooming in the parks.

Like many women I've been wearing black Yoga pants for most of the past year.

They work well for cleaning house and my daily walks...

They are not as dressy as I would like for running errands or patio dining.

So, I went shopping at Tulipe Noire, a small boutique on Oak Bay Avenue.

Canadian made Lisette capris

After buying the capris I decided shoes would be a good idea.

(Aren't they always a good idea?)

I popped up to Walk in Comfort where I always can find a great pair of shoes.

Black leather loafers made in Spain by Bueno...

 Oh so comfy!

Imagine my surprise yesterday 

when a parcel arrived in the post!

The brown envelope was from a wonderful woman who lives in Vancouver 

She sends me gifts from time to time...

cute polka dot sox

sunflower seeds 

(in memory of my mother)

tea

earrings

Inside the package was a sumptuous silk scarf

by Ralph Lauren!!!

This scarf goes perfectly with my new capris

and

most of my core wardrobe which is black.

I use scarves as my go to accessory.

Thank you Rosemarie!

You are such a kind and thoughtful woman.

Lunaria 

also known as "money plant"

blooming in The Humble Bungalow Garden.

Our garden is bursting forth with flowers.

May is such a lovely month in our garden...

bright pops of colour in the perennial borders.

Hope that you are staying well and enjoying the first days of May.

We are feeling so encouraged since getting our first vaccinations.

The Covid cases here on Vancouver Island are slowly moving down.

Many people are in hospital with many in ICU.

We hope that all who want the vaccination will be able to get it.

Community Immunity is imperative for our future safety.

Good Luck.

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~