December greetings from The Humble Bungalow...

 

~ Festive Greetings from The Humble Bungalow ~

We've put up the faux tree with twinkling white fairy lights.

One of our cats still climbs the tree

so we do not add our vintage glass baubles.

One year the cat knocked the tree to the floor 

resulting in a mess of shattered baubles...

sadly several vintage treasures were lost.

 

We keep our decorating simple and have added some silver baubles and stars.

Do you follow Pamela Anderson on Instagram?

She has moved back to the island, renovated her family home,

 planted rose and vegetable gardens and more recently has published a cookbook.

She has totally reinvented herself...written a memoir, appeared in a documentary

starred in a play on Broadway, and is appearing in films.

Pamela is a co-founder of Sonsie skincare products.

My skincare products were getting low and when I heard that she had a rose scented cleanser I thought I might try some.

I purchased the "bundle" cleanser, serum and moisturizing balm.

I would have bought the lip balm but it was sold out.

I have been using the Sonsie products for about a week and already can see an improvement in my skin tone.

Having rosacea and seeing a reduction of redness is VERY exciting!

Hydrangeas are almost done for the season but I managed to salvage a few blooms.

These have dried nicely in a vintage Crown Ducal Vase. 

After 3 years of lusting after this Cocoon wool and cashmere coat from Aritzia

I finally bought it and I am SO GLAD!!!

 ~ SO COZY ~

Cold weather means warmer accessories...

the walks by the sea are very cold.

I had a fall a week ago...

Hurt my hip and knee which are badly bruised.

Sustained a cut above my eye.

My eye lid and area below were really red but now are a limey green shade.

Managed to get to see the doctor who sent me for X Rays.

Fortunately nothing is broken.

However I do have a concussion and have had a CT scan...

results should be forthcoming.

Research on walking assists inspired me to buy walking Poles.

Our local Wellwise store carry the poles.

Hubby bought a pair for his walks too.

I have used them a few times and they make a HUGE difference.

 My confidence, stability and balance are much improved.

Do you use walking poles?

Have you ever had a nasty fall requiring x-rays?

How about a concussion?

Tis the season for candles!

Beeswax and a scented candle on the vintage silver tray add ambiance.

I like to sip my coffee, read my book, or knit with these candles glowing.

Silver baubles...

Harrods George V fluted silverplate Teapot and Creamer

Still on the hunt for the sugar bowl...

It has been a quite a week with my bruises and fuzzy head.

Hubby "cooked" which meant that we ordered Thai food and had White Spot.

Thank you honey it was a nice treat :-))

He was my gallant chauffeur for a few appointments and for that I am thankful.

Feeling much better

I am driving again and have been shopping and running errands.

Lots of Christmas baking to do to fill my cookie tins...

are you getting ready for the holidays?

What are your "go to" traditional festive treats?

This might be my only post for December...

SO

I am wishing you a lovely festive season!

Thank You for reading my Humble Bungalow Blog and for all your comments!

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~ 

Using what is on hand...

The garden is very dormant this month.

I don't have an opportunity to pick fresh flowers

to bring inside...

There are oodles of these dried limelight hydrangeas outside 

in a lovely faded sepia shade

just right for the arts and crafts hammered copper vase in the dining room.

The fairy lights stay up all year.

I've added some silver stars that I purchased about 10 years ago.

The wreath is from my husband's family.

It was made by a friend of his mom's around 1960

using rhinestone brooches

and 

Christmas tree decorations.

It's dim in the dining room 

so it might be difficult to see the wee Noel sign on the cabinet.

A flock of Ojibwa tamarack duck decoys 

sitting perched upon an arts and crafts copper tray.

The wee battery operated copper lights were purchased several years ago.

I've been toying with the idea of putting up a small tree in the kitchen 

but I think the cats would rip it to shreds !

As you may have gathered we don't over decorate.

It's mostly because of the mischievous felines that reside here with us!

I've still got some baking and shopping to get done for Christmas...

 I am pacing myself to avoid unnecessary stress.

Keeping things simple just feels right.

We received a call from a long time family friend tonight that there has been a death in our circle...

it's been an emotional evening to say the least.

We have spent the past few hours recalling all the memories...

life is to be cherished.

How are your holidays preparations coming along?

Try not to get stressed...

Take Care 

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

Love the "little things" ~ a recipe for contentment.

Reading home decor books, Instagram and magazines inspire me.

I often get frustrated and wonder how I can make our little bungalow look better.

  I actioned a quick and inexpensive DIY fix.

I purchased 3 black metal hooks 

(Mr. HB installed them for me)

I hung up my French Market basket

 gardening hat 

and

  watering can. 

As conscientious stewards 

of a Heritage home

we are required to honour the historic significance 

we do not stray too far from their original architectural design.

With one exception...

The laundry area is painted white 

the basement is dark with very little light 

with only a few small windows.

The bright white walls 

make it much more enjoyable to work in and it feels far less oppressive!

I like to do my ironing while gazing out to the garden.

Looking out and beyond at the foliage and flowers 

while ironing 

feels like a form of meditation.

A handy rolling cart in the space is used for towels.

I fold the laundry on the top of the counter

and

I have a small ironing board that I use for small jobs 

like our linen tea towels and napkins.

Domestic jobs are a necessity.

To make them a wee bit more enjoyable

I have "fluffed" my downstairs "workplace" adding a few accent pieces.

Vintage enamel tins, ceramics, bird sculptures, and trophies...

Work and chores need not be looked upon as "drudgery."

Attitude is key to making these everyday tasks pleasant.

Taking joy in the results of one's labour and effort is so important.

The feeling of accomplishment is felt...

as I stand back

admiring a stack of freshly laundered 

(scented with lavender soap)

neat and tidy crisply ironed tea towels.

It's the "little things" that make our days richer.

How do you add Joy in your daily duties?

Do you have a secret to share that you use to make your daily round feel richer?

On that note, 

I will close this post...

Thank you for taking the time to stop and visit The Humble Bungalow Blog.

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

October in The Humble Bungalow...

BOO!

Snippets from The Humble Bungalow.

October has flown by...it has been a bit of a blur.

Where does the time go?

Copper tray on the buffet...

Ojibwa duck decoys

white mini pumpkins

a dome with a dried allium inside

Vintage

First Nations woven baskets on the shelf above the built in buffet.

Fortnum and Mason baskets

with a

pudding bowl

I love baskets and have quite a few in The Humble Bungalow.

They are handy for storing things and I leave them out on display as I like the rustic natural effect they give to the decor.

Antique basket

First Nations tray on ledge

tarnished vintage silver 

dried hydrangeas in a copper vase

A peek inside the drop front arts and crafts desk

Surprise!

a headless "scarecrow" in our spare lot

someone is into the "Halloween spirit!"

Happy Halloween!

How is your week going?

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

Embracing Wabi-Sabi...

Are you familiar with the japanese art of Wabi-Sabi?

Wikipedia has this explanation...

"In traditional Japanese aesthetics, wabi-sabi (侘寂) is a world view centered on the acceptance of transience and imperfection. The aesthetic is sometimes described as one of beauty that is "imperfect, impermanent, and incomplete".

I have unknowingly followed this practice for many years...
finding beauty in the imperfect.

I just didn't know that it actually had a name.

The Globe and Mail published this article on Wabi- Sabi in April.

The following images are just a few things in The Humble Bungalow that are examples of how I embrace the art of Wabi-Sabi.

Vintage McCoy crazed bowl atop a distressed and well used quarter sawn oak arts and crafts trestle table which sits in our kitchen.

I bought this bowl years ago at a church sale...

the crazing is what attracted me to the bowl which was 50 cents!

It is one of my favourite pieces.

A wee vintage ironstone jug

also crazed 

found at a thrift sale.

Tarnished silver 

I like some of our silver polished and some of it wearing a dark cloak of tarnish.

The tarnish does not really detract from the piece.

It adds a patina that speaks to its age.

Original patina on the hand hammered copper arts and crafts tray.

a different and unexpected example of Wabi-Sabi...

soap cube from Marseille France.

Do you embrace Wabi-Sabi?

Please leave a comment to let me know what you have in your home 

that speaks of Wabi-Sabi.

Thank you for stopping by The Humble Bungalow Blog.

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

Lightening up...

Have you noticed how the days are getting lighter?
The sun is setting later and we have been fortunate with our weather lately...
as the sun has been out several days this week which lightens up my mood enormously and energizes me...making me more efficent in the home department.

Love the sliver of light shining through the front door 

illuminating the orchids and making shadows dance on the wallpaper.

Bradbury and Bradbury heritage wallpaper in the arts and crafts style

hangs in our entry hall.

Looking towards the hall from the living room of The Humble Bungalow.

You may be able to see the wallpaper border at the top from this angle.

When the sun shines I like to get outdoors for my walks.

Emma Bridgewater has such an imagination...

I bought several of her shopping bags.

One I gave to a friend for a birthday...

it said Take Me To The Shops.

I'd never give this bag to a friend...this one is mine all mine!

I've culled some of my clothes...

again...

when one has a small wardrobe and closet the clothes get worn a LOT 

the fabric of my frequently worn tops tends to pill and look yucky after a couple of seasons.

I wash then inside out and hang them to dry 

but despite the gentle care 

they still develop these nubby bits which I find unsightly...

I've switched up my red lipstick for a pinker shade.

L'Oreal # 580 Pink Peony

It feels lighter on these sunny days.

OOTD

 a long lighter weight shirt by French Dressing

worn with my ponte knit skinny Calvin Klein pants and Chelsea boots.

Has the weather lightened up in your patch of the woods?

Have you been curating your closet?

Whats new with you?

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

What a differance a day makes...

This past week of weather has been punctuated with rain and clouds...
and when the sun makes an appearance
we rejoice!

Today was a sunny day with clear blue skies...
a perfect day for walking along the seafront.
There were crowds of people out and about walking
obviously with the same thing in mind.
The views were spactacular...Mount Baker looked like an ice cream sundae.
The frosty white snow stood out against the deeper blue of the sky and it felt so much closer than its far off location in Washington State.

Just before we were leaving for our walk I spied some crocus blooms and had to stop and take a few pictures to share with you. Mr. HB is used to me delaying our departures when a garden flower catches my attention!

Earlier in the week I stopped to capture the Hellebore Blooms

One sunny morning 

the sunlight illuminated Our Humble Bungalow 

bathing it in a warm and cozy glow.

Our arts and crafts bungalow is dark

due to the use of wood in the interior

and the design of the roof overhang and front porch detail.

We rely on many lights and even more lamps during the Fall and Winter.

There is salt spray from the ocean on the windows in our living room

which always surprises me as we are a block away from the ocean.

The gusty winds carry the salt spray and deposit it on anything and everything. 

(I'll be calling our window washer in a few weeks.)

The Massage Therapist worked on my shoulder this week.

 While the session was uncomfortable (painful) 

it was so worth it 

because I have more range of motion and less pain.

I plan to go every week for awhile...

I am starting to feel like a "high maintenance" woman!

We went to the Belfry for the world premiere of Forget About Tomorrow.

I highly recommend this play if you ever get the chance to see it.

In other news 

our lovely DIL and I dined out one weeknight

then we headed to The VV Boutique for a peek.

(aka Value Village)

I found a silk twill scarf with hand rolled edges.

made by Vetter of Switzerland.

The scarf should go well with this top.

Hope that your weekend is ticking along nicely.

Thank you for stopping by The Humble Bungalow Blog.

 ~ Be Well and Be Kind ~