Fresh from Seattle...

My previous post generated an amazing number of comments and responses.
Thank You!

I had no idea that it would create such a flurry of emails and comments.

Thank you for taking the time to write and for sharing your thoughts...
Just knowing that google was responsible for the sudden drop in followers makes me feel better.

I write the blog as a hobby, not as a job and post only when I feel the desire.

Readers are important...I'd be kidding you if I said it didn't matter.
It is not for the "approval" as one commenter mentioned...
there is comfort knowing that there is an audience of readers out there.

So without further adieu...

Mr. HB and I have been away on a little jaunt to Seattle and we returned last night to our cozy Bungalow, which was well taken care of by our house sitter...who also took great care of our cats.

View from the BC Ferry crossing the Strait of Georgia.

The Clarks are super comfy and we walked a lot!

The new leather cross body bag by Maggie turned out to be a winner.

Not too big and the area at the front has a pocket for my IPhone which is handy for taking pictures!

My carry on bag had plenty of room as I packed light.

I wore my Barbour jacket

NYDJ skinny version

took various Eileen Fisher tops

a dressy pair of ponte knit pants 

my new coral top and sweater.

a warm grey knit pullover

Burberry cashmere scarf

walking shoes by Clarks Artisan 

It was chilly walking around downtown in Seattle and there were rain showers.

I got a chill and so I kept sipping hot beverages.

Turns out the chill was a warning of a cold coming on.

It is the first cold that I have had in over a year!

Pike Place Market is always on our list of spots to visit when we go to Seattle.

The flowers are really beautiful and so reasonably priced...

Love white bouquets with simple greenery.

We had lunch at a French cafe...

the menu was much like those I visited in Paris.

Ham, baguettes and cornichons.

Olives, salads, oysters, terrines, sausages.

We enjoyed a steaming hot bowl of French onion soup.

When we visit Seattle we always stay at The Mayflower Park Hotel.

It is comfortable, the location is close to shopping and situated close to many fabulous restaurants.

Valet parking, an award winning bar ~ Oliver's 

a restaurant  ~ Andaluca 

wonderful ambiance 

comfy beds

lovely decor

prompt room service

fresh flowers

The staff are efficient, polite and friendly.

Old world charm built in 1927...the same year that my Mother was born!

I'll be keeping close to home until I shake this cold.

Will work on a few more snippets from our trip and post them when I get time.

Thank you for stopping by The Humble Bungalow Blog!

Walks, weather and the weekend.

The sun came out on Friday and it is amazing how it lifted my spirits.
I decided to walk to town...

Cyclamen blooming in a rustic vessel on the front porch of The Humble Bungalow.

The sun illuminating the trunk of the Arbutus tree beside the front porch.

Lime green and sienna bark mingle...

a few puddles remain

I look taller in the shadows...

I daresay that this is not the original concrete ball atop the wall!

Looks suspiciously like a bowling ball to me.

The building that houses the Bike Shop looks crisp set against the blue sky.

Street tiles from many years ago still remain on a few streets in Fairfield.

I took a zig zag route to town and enjoyed looking at the heritage houses that line the streets.

I pottered about in the shops and looked at the sales.

In the end I opted for a new pair of NYDJ in a dark wash in their skinny style.

Not on sale but I had a $50 credit so they were a better price, one that I can live with!

All that walking and shopping made me thirsty so I stopped for a cup of tea and enjoyed the view of the Inner Harbour.

Victoria Harbour views looking west...
a seaplane taxiing out for take off

masts just visible above the rooftops

the Victoria Clipper high speed ferry at the far left middle of the picture.

The weekend is going to be full to the brim...

on the agenda

lunch out and shopping with lovely daughter

brunch with our son, DIL, and grand children

dessert here with our neighbours and their month of holiday snapshots from Australia

routine domestics

tea

coffee

baking 

 a few walks.

What are you doing this weekend?

Be Well and Be Kind.

Jeans...OOTD

If we are talking about our favourite clothes
and we are today
I have a confession...

My all time favourite OOTD to wear is a white Tee or shirt and pair of great fitting jeans.
They can be worn with diamonds, gold or pearls...
a Hermes silk scarf, a pashmina, a thrifted woolen wrap,
they can be worn with heels, ballet flats, boots or flip flops...
a Chanel tweed, a leather Moto jacket or a soft well worn hoodie.

If I only could choose one outfit for the rest of my days.....
jeans would figure prominently in the equation.

It might sound silly coming from a grown woman who is just a few weeks away from 60
I am here to confess that  "I DO LOVE JEANS!"

I've worn jeans for decades and think I always will...
they are on my "desert island list"
after sunscreen, moisturizer, mascara and lip balm.

My tatty 2 year old g21 skinny jeans have worn out their welcome,
but it's not surprising with so many wearings and washings....
so they have been donated to the charity shop.
At $10, the cost per wearing must be less than 5 cents by now.

I've seen and heard of NYDJ jeans but have never actually tried a pair on until recently...
they are available in Petite which is wonderful because I really hate shortening jeans.
I didn't go looking for them, they rather fell off the hanger as I was perusing the racks at The Hudson's Bay store.
A woman of a certain age mentioned that she had several pairs of NYDJ and thought they made the best of a "woman's assets" Hmmm...
I thought I'd give them a try...

I'm not sure if I should be raving publicly about these jeans

(they may fall into that shadowy category referred to as "Mom jeans!")

Are the Fashion Police on duty?

I do like how they fit...

(I am a Mother and a Grand Mother)

A great fitting pair of jeans can take you most places...

not the red carpet, a funeral or a wedding

not in my crowd

BUT

they are on my "desert island list." 

I have worn jeans since I was a teenager

plan to wear them forever

they have no expiration date...

and are so versatile in how you can style them.

I have put together a few jean OOTD options.

Vintage beaded wool sweater ~ Pelican Cove

jeans ~ NYDJ

gumball pearls which IMO

compliment and elevate a simple Tee and jeans

Tank top ~ Lands' End

beaded cardigan ~ Spanner

pearls

jeans ~ NYDJ

tank top ~ Lands' End

cashmere cardigan ~ Lands' End

jeans ~ NYDJ

remember to have fun and be creative with accessories

think of yourself as a painter and take risks

put you own personal stamp on things

Why Not?

black top ~ Jeanne Beker

jeans ~ NYDJ

shoes ~ Amalfi

I love these shoes...they make me feel so happy when I wear them.

Tweed jacket ~ Jeremy Spenser

jeans ~ NYDJ

shoes ~ Stuart Weitzman

love the bows on the toes...

this vintage baroque pearl pin is a perfect pairing with the jacket

(thank you darling daughter I adore this gift and wear it often)

I'm feeling the Paris vibe with this OOTD

striped top ~ Gap

jeans ~ NYDJ

ballet flats ~ Lands' End

sterling stack of bangles...

Tiffany and Co.

mingle with artisan designed silver bracelets

I've had fun putting these together and I have oodles more options in my closet...

Do you wear jeans?

What brand of jeans are your favourite?

BTW 

if you like to watch British dramas...

Mr. HB and I have just finished watching Last Tango in Halifax 

 and now are binge watching Happy Valley on Netflix...

Sally Wainright writes entertaining and engaging TV.

Downton Abbey is not the only show in town.

Take care

XO