Last Week ~ in a wink of an eye...

 

Gorgeous flowers

a surprise cottage welcome bouquet from a friend.

Springtime seems to have finally arrived at the Cottage...

warmer days and sunny skies.

Such a tonic after all the grey gloom and rain.

~ Thrift Shop Finds ~

Adams English ironstone jug and a well used wood board

A soft wool sweater...

it is lovely but is a wee bit too small.

I have a friend who stretched a lovely wool sweater by washing it in conditioner and manually stretching it back into a larger size!

I hope the conditioner trick works!

Read this book and loved it...

set in a charming picturesque area of Cornwall

involves a woman who has a daughter

is recently separated

and

with her mother buys a rambling old house on a cove by the sea.

This book appealed to me on so many levels...

I would LOVE to buy an old rambling home by the sea and redecorate!!

If one cannot have a rambling old home by the sea...

how about a week at the cottage once a month?

(I cannot nor dare not complain, I am immensely grateful)

My husband brought a few lettuce plants with us so we could harvest it fresh.

He really has discovered his "green thumb" upon his retirement.

The expansive sea views feed my soul.

They never "get old" and there is always something to see.

Boats, otters, whales, birds...

I baked a sourdough boule and two kinds of cookies.

Found a "flat oyster" shell on the beach...

they are a European variety.

I walk the local beaches daily in search of sea glass and the occasional shell.

I am surprised by the amount of glass I find.

There must be 8 or 9 jars full downstairs here in The Humble Bungalow.

What to do with it?

I suppose if I felt creative I could make mosaics...

for now I just keep it on the window ledge in the vintage sealer jars.

Have you read Anne Morrow Lindbergh's book Gift From The Sea?

I love the gentle story that she weaves of her time spent alone in a small rustic cabin on the beach.

She went there to rest, restore and recharge...

we all need a place to find solace and peace.

Years ago when life was really busy and hectic I went to the Spa for relaxation.

It was not a frugal option, but I was working and could justify the expense.

As a retiree, now living on a pension, I chose to find relaxation in Nature.

~ Things I find soothing ~

puttering in the garden

 reading a good book

knitting

sipping a cup of tea from a pretty vintage cup

baking bread

walking

beach combing

soaking in the tub

looking in thrift shops

ironing linens 

What do you find soothing?

Our week at the cottage passed so fast...

in the blink of an eye and here we are back home in The Humble Bungalow.

Well I have a busy week ahead...

lots of social things planned and will be catching up with friends.

How about You?

What does your week ahead have in store?

Hope its a good one.

Until next time...

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

Seeking Solace in Nature...

Sitting...

listening to the sound of the birds and the waves as they lap against the shore.

Lighting a candle...

Gazing out the window...

breathing and feeling grateful.

Reading a good book

sipping tea.

Walking along a beach

searching for sea glass

watching the otters and the gulls.

Taking time out to be soothed by the beauty of Nature.

Inviting Natural Beauty Indoors...

Bright and cheerful flowers

Diving into a new book.

Going for a walk in the misty rain...

Looking for bright pops of colour.

Taking in the views 

admiring the details

embracing the various colours and textures.

Wet logs strewn all over the beach and this one looked like a seal.

Do you see it?

Are you seeking the calm and soothing hands of Mother Nature?

Are you taking local action?

I'm looking into more ways to help...

We've made donations of money and plan to make more.

Fresh salt air 

the moist wet mist

slippery logs and mossy rocks.

The gentle lapping of the sea...

the Raven's Song.

A gentle breeze blowing 

shells crunch at our feet.

These don't solve our problems but they do help release tension.

Wishing, Hoping and Praying for Peace.

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

Friday...

Waterfront walks along the seafront are the highlight of my day.

The scenery is beautiful and there are always things to see...

gulls, eagles otters swimming in the Salish Sea near the shore.

There are creative people among us who are cheering us up by painting rocks.

This is one of several rocks that have been popping up on the concrete railing along the waterfront. 

The rocks left last week have been "adopted" by people passing by.

I was tempted to take one but thought not...

I appreciate the bright and cheery rocks 

they made me smile.

Our daffodils and blooming.

Rich yellow and orange mingle together in harmony.

The mini tete a tete flowers are putting on a fabulous display.

These are sold in pots early in the Spring for a reasonable price and I bought a flat of them for under $25 and popped them in the garden with hopes that they will multiply over time.

The deer do not eat them 

so they can be planted out front of The Humble Bungalow.

The deer love tulips so I have a few in pots on the front porch.

Our star magnolia is blooming 

the petals are a stunning bold white that glows.

So delicate and fragrant.

Afternoon Tea with a treat.

Stemmed ginger shortbread from Edinburgh Scotland.

This book deals with sensitive subject matter...

it is a rather disturbing read.

I have three much "lighter" themed books on my shelf waiting to be read.

What are you doing these days?

Are you working from home?

We went outside on our front porch last night and banged pots and pans...

making noise 

in support of all the hard working medical staff that are on the front line .

Most of our neighbours were out there too.

Have you seen Pluto's  announcements on You Tube, Instagram and Facebook?

Meet Pluto

Stay Home and Stay Safe 

Salish Sea Life at the Shaw Discovery Centre...

Last weekend
we took the grandchildren to The Shaw Discovery Centre in Sidney.
I am not sure who had the most fun...the adults or the wee ones!

Aquatic life viewed from beneath the sea.

Mira loves looking into the tanks...

Silver salmon swimming...

Colourful fish and graceful anemones.

So much beauty abounds under the sea...

The centre has a "hands on" open area 

where we washed our hands and were permitted to use a baby finger to gently touch the sea life...

the children were fascinated by this opportunity and spent a large portion of our visit at this tactile area of the centre.

The Shaw Centre is a popular venue for school field trips.

The last year that I was working in the school

 we took a small group of our special needs students for a visit.

The children had a wonderful time

were visually stimulated 

with various activities 

that held their attention and they were fully engaged.

It was fun to see how happy and enthusiastic they were during the visit.

It's also a fun place to take family.

Parks, the seashore, museums, libraries, recreation and activity centres 

provide hours of fun and they are not just for kids!

This beautiful tray caught my eye and was purchased recently...

at a local gift shop on sale at half price!

It works well on the boat or at the cottage.

Here is a snapshot from the archives...

taken at Sidney Spit Marine Park on one of our summer visits.

Our family love the sea, enjoy cottage life and boating...

I met my husband many years ago while boating

 I was just 15 !

so this love of ocean and marine life has deep roots and it keeps us connected.

We feel very fortunate to live so close to the Salish Sea.

Do you love the sea?

I must close for now and get some work done here in The Humble Bungalow!

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

Summertime Snippets....from Quarter Deck Cottage

Jude the Obscure 

a David Austin Rose 

my favourite rose.

summertime beach reads

both set in Paris

Perfect for the week at the cottage

I read them both in a couple of days 

so I needed to get to the bookstore asap!

Fortunately I found a fabulous book.

I am halfway through this novel and do not want to put it down!

Friends came by for drinks on the deck...

fresh strawberries from the Farmer's Market

assorted cheeses and crackers, 

grapes

pepperoni

I like to keep it simple here at the cottage...

I give myself permission to relax by not making any meals 

that are too labour intensive.

Making more time to read, walk, swim and knit...

or just gaze out at the sea.

The pretty flower baskets hanging by the pool 

are frequented by numerous swallowtail butterflies.

The weather has been hot so the pool has been a great spot to cool off.

Jude is wilting in the heat!

It is cool on the deck after the sun sets.

A great day at the beach...

we found all this sea glass to add to our collection.

The jar is already half full!

Award winning rose from the local Sea Star winery

perfect with a summertime dinner.

grilled lamb chops

fresh carrots from Raven Rock Farms

sweet nugget potatoes with butter and mint leaves

Views of the Salish Sea and the setting sun...

I found a broken oar on the beach...

I plan to distress it a bit more and will keep it at the cottage.

You never know what you'll find on the beach.

I love to explore and keep my eyes open for things washed up on the shore.

I've got some things that I need to tend to here in the Humble Bungalow

deadheading the roses for a start!

so I will close for now.

How is your summer going?

Are you planning a holiday somewhere exotic or do prefer to spend time at a cabin or cottage? 

Perhaps camping or glamping is on your radar...

or a staycation.

Whatever you choose I hope that you will have fun.

Thank you for stopping by The Humble Bungalow Blog!

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~