Yoga and Grief...

I am not at all surprised, at my age,
that there are still many things that I can learn...
or perhaps relearn
what I had thought I already knew.

In the quiet moments of reflection
sitting still

open
to absorb

adopt
new and healthy habits.

I do not hesitate or tarry
the desire to act is strong.
The rewards great...

Yoga has re-entered my life...
it has been a wonderful tool to help work through the grief.

Several women from the over 50 Yoga class have recently lost their Mothers.
I over heard them mention that have been also dealing with estate duties and grieving...it is easy to strike up conversation and compare notes and share tips.

Physical flexibility is slowly returning
stamina
stalled by recent events
is coming back.

Sleep has been deeper and more restorative.

Yoga practice
"with intention"
spills over and permeates the daily round.

The benefits are well worth the time spent at the studio.

Feeling more energy with fewer aches and pains has been a welcome change.
One that has pleasantly surprised me.

Looking at life with positivity and Joy...

fewer tears
renewed faith
comfort...

Letting go...

Maintaining peace and perspective in times of turmoil...
staying calm when all around you
life is noisy and speeding by at a rapid frenzy.

Breathing deeply and being totally aware 

living in the moment.

Being mindful of how stress can rob the body of its resilience.

You are at risk of getting sick in body, mind and spirit.

The regular practice of Yoga  

has re-energized and restored a sense of balance

in life

refreshed my lagging spirit.

Yoga

is helping me through this journey of grieving.

While grief is not predictable

when it does show up 

I am better equipped to ride the emotional waves

and 

allowing myself to feel the moments 

deeply

then move on...

The Humble Bungalow Blog

has been taking a back seat to real life.

Writing and publishing posts has been sporadic...

not much excitement to report

while life here has been routine...

some may even say dull

but that is exactly what I crave and need right now.

I hope you'll stay tuned...

 Spring is unfolding its beautiful wings

our humble bungalow garden is awakening

flowers are blooming

scents are wafting in the yard

birds are singing and building nests

the sun is shining

we sit and wait

for something to capture our attention 

something worthy of sharing.

Thank you for stopping by The Humble Bungalow Blog.

XO

Getting My Happy On continues ~ Grandchildren, a kind gesture, a gift in the mail and a win ~

Our darling Henry enjoyed exploring the "spare lot" on our street.

On this site we have some driftwood benches and a table,

a tire swing, rope swing and a wee lending library.

There are trees and a grassy meadow where children love to run.

Play is serious business...

first you need a plan

then you need to execute the plan

then organize all the pieces

sit back and discuss what will happen next.

Isla and Henry played together collaborating on the building of the tower

they decided on the roles of the players

and then they worked out the scenario...

meanwhile as I looked on

Mira sat on my lap and we played with the shape sorter.

The fellow who owns and operates the excavator that is working on the site next door

noticed that Grammy and three wee ones were at the window watching the action and the steady stream of trucks.

When we all went for a walk past the site he suggested that the grandchildren might like to sit in the cab of the machine...

he didn't have to wait long before he got an enthusiastic response!

My goodness that was a kind gesture and a wonderful highlight for our wee ones.

Smiles all round!

I received a thoughtful gift in the mail this week.

Earplugs!

These will help muffle the noise...

love the shade of green too!

Thank you R!

In other "green news"...

I purchased this organic Physician's Formula mascara awhile back.

I love the formula but cannot get used to using the spiky plastic brush.

It has been a messy and frustrating experience 

so I decided that I would give up and move on...

 Dr. Hauschka mascara is back on the job 

with a bristle style brush for an easier application.

I made a yummy prime rib dinner with Yorkshire pudding on Sunday 

we ate the leftovers on Monday

 Mr. HB made some beef sandwiches to take to work.

Probably the last roast for the season.

My back has been stiff and sore since Mom passed away.

(I will book a massage when the bulk of mom's estate is settled)

 Yoga is really helping limber up the muscles and the back seems to be on the mend.

Plus I am sleeping better since going back to the Yoga Studio.

(I love a decent night of sleep)

My Yoga mat is falling apart...

wee bits of the mat are left behind after my practise so I must find another one asap!

This is the mat that the cat scratched a few years ago

Swimming fish amid the lily pads...

I wonder if any of you have had a similar experience with your cats...

any thoughts on a thick good quality replacement mat?

We won a strawberry planter from the Garden Centre!

These planters are quite expensive so I have never bought one but when one gets the call that one is waiting to be picked up you waste no time and start the car!

Our neighbour across the street put this plant pot on the boulevard...

free for the taking so I grabbed it and planted a white hydrangea in it.

How is your week going so far?

Hostess Shopping habits...Friday post.

I try to shop locally as much as possible.
This is especially important when it comes to food.
If we want the farms to survive as acreages
and the local farmers to stay in business we need to give them our business.

I opt to shop in smaller stores where I know the owners...
the big box stores do not offer much in the way of service
and one generally does not engage in the same sort of conversation with the clerks while conducting business as these stores are usually noisy and crowded and the line ups long
which makes waiting to get through the till a rather tedious exercise.

Having said that, there are a few exceptions...

Like linens...
Our kitchen tea towels are all made of linen.
I love how soft the linen towels get after many washings.
After years of fighting with the iron I have come to terms with the job, and I love ironing...
standing back admiring the stack of freshly ironed tea towels each week on laundry day is a just reward!

I'm not sure why ironing was in the category of "domestic drudgery"...
it never occurred to me that all I needed to do was shift the way that I thought about the job in order to embrace and enjoy the process...
after all is said and done, it is repetitive and very meditative.
Calming...

Patricia Hines designed linen towels from Western Australia

found in a local second hand shop

as new ~ unused

$7.00 each

Each towel has a bit of red in the pattern which is why I bought the pair...

I have a red tea kettle and some other red accents in The Humble Bungalow Kitchen.

Coffee for my morning cafe creme comes from Italy

served in my favourite bowl

from

Emma Bridgewater Black Toast pottery from the UK

Since retiring I have been quite frugal...

especially with clothing.

I have kept a book where I record the clothes that I purchase and how much they cost.

It has been a great exercise and I plan to keep up the habit.

I love to shop vintage and peruse the charity shops.

 This is rather like a hobby as it can take up quite a bit of time.

If one is pressed for time this is not the best way to shop.

We have quite a few good consignment shops in town which are fun to browse.

One of my favourites is Good Things on Oak Bay Avenue.

I have consigned many household things with them...

recently we took some of Mom's items to them.

 I have purchased many more items from them that I could ever list!

(no book itemizing these purchases exists!)

Other shops are;

Value Village, Salvation Army, WIN thrift, St. Vincent de Paul, Super Chance and the James Bay Community Closet are located in town.

The Beacon Hospital Thrift Shop in Sidney is a 40 minute drive

but has a good selection of housewares, books, and clothing.

Like any second hand shop one needs to go with an open mind and look carefully at what is in the store.

Do you shop second hand?

Do you prefer to shop online or in person?

How was your Friday?

Mine was busy, but relaxed.

Yoga class, lunch out with a friend, and a wee bit of shopping

tried to go for a walk in the gale force winds

wrote this post while drinking a pot of tea

next up I will prepare a healthy dinner.

For those of you who may be curious about the lot next door...

and those who aren't please look away now.

This is the view from my kitchen window...

there is a huge pile of dirt waiting to be trucked away.

I wonder if we will have a weekend of peace and quiet.

Hope that you have some fun things planned for the weekend.

Hostess

XO

Excavating the dirt and the pursuit of peace.

The Humble Bungalow is usually a quiet place.
We are fortunate to live in a quiet area not far from the city centre...
buffered by Beacon Hill Park and the seafront is a couple of blocks away.

Birdsong, wind, and some local traffic sounds are what we usually hear.

Our peace and quiet has been disrupted by the heavy equipment that is on site next door excavating the lot for the construction of two homes.

You can see our bungalow and the close proximity to the digger.

A steady stream of trucks come by to transport the dirt...

It is rather like a truck parade.

The streets are streaked with mud 

it has been raining so there are many muddy puddles.

I have been leaving home seeking peace and solace elsewhere.

Healthy lunch post Yoga today...

kale salad

2 egg omelette

Eaten in peace while the operator was on his lunch break.

Thank goodness for this timely gift.

The Yoga Studio

 where 

I am able to breathe deeply

sit on the mat 

close my eyes

perform restorative poses

follow through the fluid sun salutation movements

which

restore inner peace and help achieve a sense of calm.

For this I am grateful...

There is an abundance of beauty in our neighbourhood.

Despite the rain I am getting out for my walks.

The noise and chaos next door is a great motivator!

Sipping tea

Lapsang Souchong

a smokey liquid that has an intensity that awakens the taste buds.

This large Emma Bridgewater mug in the Black Toast pattern makes me smile.

You can see my Spring and Summer shade of Lipstick 

 L'Oreal Everbloom

Next time I go to the pharmacy I am going to try to find a pink shade.

I'll ask the gals on staff as they are super helpful

  it would be nice to have another colour on hand.

Hellebores are putting on a great display in The Humble Bungalow Garden.

So that's about all the news from The Humble Bungalow...

what's new with you?

I'll be back soon.

XO

Nighty Night...sleep tight.

It's night time and all is quiet and calm in The Humble Bungalow kitchen.

Mr. HB and I have been watching House of Cards on Netflix and I am stunned by the evil and malice of Frances. 

He is the character that Kevin Spacey portrays so convincingly alongside his on screen wife Claire played by Robin Wright whose role is a nasty piece of work as well.

It is about as far away from delicious and addictive Downton Abbey as it can get but we sit riveted just the same.

I like the grittiness of the cinematography, the sepia tones playing against the blacks and white of the sets.

Robin's hair cut is very chic and she looks so attractive in her stylish wardrobe.

I do not know how she walks around in those high heeled shoes though...

meandering on a path in the park with her lover she walks with such grace that it looks effortless.

(a skill that I have never mastered!)

I have a routine at night...before getting myself ready for bed.

Do you?

I plump the pillows on the love seats.

Put all the dishes in the dishwasher and turn it on.

Wipe down all the granite counter tops and stove before turning out the lights.

I take off my make up and wash my face before applying a light layer of Sea Buck Thorn Salve.

Brush and floss my teeth and put some lip conditioner on before grabbing a bottle of Perrier.

If I wake up during the night I'll have a few sips so that I stay hydrated throughout the night.

I am a firm believer of drinking lots of water.

I think it helps in so many ways and keeps my skin clear.

Reading is not one of my regular night time routines unless I go to bed super early.

My mind gets over active when I read at night and I have a difficult time quieting it after I close my book.

Sleep is much deeper on the days when I walk vigorously and get plenty of fresh sea air.

On nights when I have had a busy or stressful day or had caffeine after 4 pm I need to practise Yogic breathing...

it works surprisingly well....no need to count sheep.

Alternatively view this You Tube Sleepy Time Yoga session.

Soft cotton sateen sheets, a feather pillow, and the goose down duvet all contribute to making my sleep as restorative experience as possible and I need at least 8 hours or I cannot function.

How are you sleeping at night?

What habits have you adopted to ensure that you enjoy a restful night of slumber?

Sweet dreams,

Hostess

OOTD, snow flurries and snowdrops.

Most days I wear more than one outfit...
so I am posting two OOTD ~ Outfits Of The Day.

One Tooth Yoga top in a glorious shade of aubergine.

(One Tooth has made lots of LuLu Lemon's products over the years.)

Black LuLu Lemon Yoga pants.

Grey cashmere socks

OT Fit Wear shop in Victoria is located on Broad Street across from Pagliacci's.

If you have never eaten at Pag's you are missing a tasty spot for a bite.

It's a fun place to meet a friend and you never know who you might see when you are there.

It's a popular place so be prepared to go early or stand in line...

it's worth the wait.

I wore my "uniform" to the Yoga Studio for a 75 minute Gentle Hatha class with Jacquie...
this is not an "easy" class even though it sounds like it might be. Jacquie has us doing the plank for what seems like forever! (Much longer than I can hold.) There is a roomful of strong "warriors" who often sway on our mats.

Let's not forget about the sturdy tree...I am unable to keep my foot off the ground for very long and must plant it firmly beside my trunk! Not to worry, I will get better at this Tree pose in time.
The benefits are already evident as sleep is deeper and I'm feeling blissfully calm.

OOTD

Vintage Spanner beaded sweater (thrift shop find)

white Coldwater Creek tank (thrift shop find)

skinny jeans g21 (Walmart bargain at $10)

Black leather belt 

(came with a skirt that I no longer own)

I love beaded sweaters and so does my sister.

She has quite a large collection and I have this one.

If a black or grey beaded one fell into my lap I would not turn it down!

I wore this OOTD to take Mother out for a drive and we ran some errands.

Snow was in the forecast but we dodged it in our neck of the woods.

Two years ago we got a serious snowfall.

Enough to make a snowman.

Our vintage Volvo wagon handles well in the snow as it has a "Winter" gear in addition to the regular gears.

The car has considerable weight so it feels safe and reliable in inclement weather but I usually opt to take the bus or walk when we get a serious dump of snow.

A gentle dusting of snow.

This image was taken a few years ago...

I simply cannot get enough snowdrops.

I plant some every year and am hoping to see the day when I have masses of them blooming in the garden.

I'm dreaming of a carpet of wonderful wee white and green bonnets holding their heads up high.

There is such beauty in the small details.

Emma Bridgewater mug, a gift from my husband.

Lunch wraps these days are my go to meal.

The Grimm Co. make corn and flour tortillas which are only 3 WW points so I have been filling them with fresh veggies and topping them off with a dollop of chipotle salsa.

Simple and delicious.

Quote for the day:

"To be beautiful means to be yourself. 

You don’t need to be accepted by others. 

You need to accept yourself.” 

~ Thich Nhat Hanh ~