Shopping ~ a mix of items....some surprisingly good quality and much more economical than expected.

 

Crisp George brand Cotton Shirt 

White Athletic Works Tee

(Walmart)

Baroque Pearls from Hong Kong

(a mix of high and low)

Athletic Works Black Shorts

(Walmart)

First pair of shorts in at least a decade.

Will be worn on hot days at the cottage...

Comfy Vessi Sneakers

waterproof

(Nicholas Randall)

~ Casual Chic ~

Shirt is longer so will be a good pairing with the shorts and the Tee.

Canadian Marcelle Mascara

My favourite kind of mascara wand...

basic black and the formula is free of clumps.

~ Little Black Dress ~

I spied this dress on the sale rack at our local Marshall's Shop.

It looked loose fitting, easy to wear and cool for this heat wave that we are having...

I wore it twice this past week and it was a winner!

The Debra K handmade necklace has been in my jewellry collection for about 17 or 18 years...it is a black plastic "FIMO" type base with vintage clear crystals.

Very versatile and a fun piece that makes a statement.

It was an "investment" piece at the time of purchase but if you factor in the CPW

(Cost per wearing) 

it has been a real bargain.

Cupid's Dart 

happily blooming on the patio

growing and thriving in a big terra cotta pot.

I love the colour.

More lavender sachets...

these ones are smaller as the Dollar Store had sold all the larger gauzy bags.

Great for gifts and perfect to pop into a lingerie or sweater drawer.

Our lavender is having a fabulous year!

The bees are abuzz and so busy collecting pollen.

At any given time there are about 3 different types of bees hard at work.

I tried to get pictures of all the different bees but they were too fast!!

New backpack bag...

great for picnics, beach combing, walks, shopping and holiday time at the cottage.

Lots of compartments, zippered sections.

 Ample room for all my basics, a book, water, snack, and some treasures...

hands free shopping!

As I was leaving to go to my Yoga Class....

I spied some hungry visitors.

Twins that were busy munching the Alstromeria and some Hostas!

Too cute to scare away...

as soon as they get bigger they won't fit through the openings in the front gate.

Went to my hairdresser today for a CHOP!

I haven't seen her for several months and my hair was a MESS!

She cut the back up shorter in a wedge (as per my request)

then left the sides a bit shorter 

but long enough for the hair to fall in waves and curls.

I look so much like MOM.

( I miss her so much)

Would love to walk along the Esplanade, then go to the Willows Tea Room with her.

We used to do that so often on a sunny afternoon.

XO

Hope that your summer is ticking along nicely...

what are you up to?

Travel, picnics, garden parties, teas, lunches out with friends and family?

Cottage time, boating, camping, day trips, adventures, staycations?

Take care and thank you for stopping by The Humble Bungalow Blog.

Until next time...

~ BE WELL AND BE KIND ~

~ Sweet Peas ~

Matucana Heritage Sweet Peas 

(1680's UK variety)

from Westcoast Seeds.

Mr. HB is so clever...he keeps me supplied with these fragrant flowers.

Thank you darling..

XO

LBD ~ Linen Black Dress

Keeping cool has been a personal challenge in this hot summer weather.
We are not accustomed to unrelenting high temperatures here in Victoria and like many people I am learning the hard way how to modify and adapt my routine and habits in accordance with the changing climate.

The roses in The Humble Bungalow Garden are totally loving this summer sunshine and they are putting on a spectacular and repeated display of blooms.
A few David Austin Roses in the front yard have proven to be a delicious snack for our local deer :-(

Roses are rather high maintenance in the heat as they are "thirsty plants"...
I've decided that I am in that "same category" when it comes to maintaining my "cool."

Gardening in the sunshine is certainly thirsty work for this Hostess.
I've been mindful and hydrating while I work sipping sparkling Perrier when I am out in the garden.

A little later in the evening after a hard days work in the garden Mr. HB made me a Gimlet.
Do you know what goes into a Gimlet? I didn't.
Roses Lime Cordial, gin and a slice of lime.
It was delicious...

Our lower level of The Humble Bungalow is cool...

( we turn off the in floor heat for the summer)

I love looking out our French door to the patio when I am ironing or doing the laundry.

Sometimes I take a mug of tea or a cold drink downstairs and gaze out at the garden.

I plan a lot of changes when I sit on the bench.

Amalfi shoes

on the cool tile.

When I am not mucking about in the Humble Bungalow Garden...
(wearing my standard uniform of black Yoga pants and a Tee shirt)
I get cleaned up and change into something a bit nicer...

Lately have been wearing a cool loose black linen dress that was made in Italy.
I purchased it from Mercedes Lane, a shop in the Cook Street Village.
I proudly wear my natural linen dress with wrinkles!

It's a "sack dress" with slouchy pockets but the thing is so darn cool that I grab it more often than any other garment in my closet...the women that I met in the South of France wore Italian linen dresses too and they have very HOT weather there.

I wear a sunhat, sunscreen and sunglasses.

~ ~ ~ 

The Humble Bungalow Garden is undergoing a transformation this summer.

It's long overdue...

with marauding and hungry deer and the recent drought I figure it's as good a time as any.

 I will be posting some updates soon.

A lone Allium stands amid a bed of Lily of the Valley...

these dry beautifully and make an interesting feature in a simple glass vessel.

Thanks for stopping by...

Hostess