Getting My Happy On

Oh my the overcast rainy days are getting tiresome...
almost everyone I encounter seems to be focusing on our wet Spring.
We are craving some sunshine and warmer weather
but until that happens, I believe in being proactive by making my own sunshine...

A pretty new brolly...

from France

a tasty latte sipped in a local cafe

Warm thoughts sunshine and yellow sunflowers...

a dear reader from Vancouver

sent me a card and a packet of seeds for sunflowers 

which we plan to plant 

in The Humble Bungalow Garden

that put a smile on my face!

Thank you R

you are a kind and thoughtful friend.

XO

With a passion for  French interiors and homes... 

 no plane ticket or holiday accommodations arranged

I'll be transported as I peruse these beautiful magazines.

The hunt for the illusive pink lipstick is over...

it is a bit darker pink than I thought would suit me but with help from the savvy gals at the pharmacy I bagged a winner!

L'Oreal Colour Riche #580 Peony Pink

It's frequently the little things that can help keep up our spirits.

a cheerful mug

(Emma Bridgewater)

a warm hug

a smile

perhaps an afternoon to relax and read

indulge in a pot of tea

nibble a square of good chocolate

maybe even have a nap

If things are not going your way

I do hope that they will get better...

This blend is divine...

what are your favourite teas?

Raindrops like wee diamonds sparkle on the stems of the snowdrops.

Your turn now to chime in and share with us 

what do you do to keep your spirits up?

The sun is out as I put the finishing touches on this post.

Wishing you a lovely week.

Energy ~ Sleep and OOTD

A decent night of restful and restorative slumber is bliss.
It gives one an energetic start to the day...
often times we wake after a fitful night of tossing and turning...
this is more common for me.
When these nights occur I try to be gentle with myself and start the day slowly...
I have not tried sleeping pills and asked the nurse at Hospice if I should try some after Mom passed away and she suggested that I try Gravol.
I purchased a small package and have tried them on several occasions...
they do work, but I wake feeling groggy so I am not planning to use them often.

Coffee helps wake me up 

 a good book

 transports us away 

it helps to gain perspective

put our troubles aside for awhile.

Once I hit the shower I am wide awake...

ready to seize the day.

Dressing for more energy means wearing some of my favourites...

OOTD

Moto leather jacket ~ Danier

Hermes scarf

NYDJ boyfriend jeans

simple white Tee ~ Joe Fresh

my birthday shoes...

Ferragamo from darling daughter.

These shoes make me feel happy!

I wore this outfit to run errands and I had so much energy that I very nearly forgot to stop and eat lunch.

Parrot tulips from the grocery store...

spreading a beautiful energy 

into The Humble Bungalow Kitchen.

Home style meat loaf, mashed potatoes and carrots...

the ultimate comfort food.

Refuelling with tasty food provides me with more energy.

I made a double batch of this meat loaf so that tomorrow evening all I need to do is reheat the spuds and the meat loaf and boil some peas.

The recipe is from Best of Bridge...

here.

I broke the chipped Emma Bridgewater bowl I used for soap

when I was washing it the other week...

it just slipped out of my hands and smashed into a bazillion fragments.

Fortunately it did not damage our farmhouse sink.

Hooray the Hellebores are blooming!

Hope that your week is ticking along nicely.

What have you been doing?

Anything exciting to share?

Please don't be shy!

Hostess

XO

Gratitude...

Thank you for your kind thoughts,
supportive comments
all of the lovely emails behind the scenes...
they have meant so much to me, they cheer me up and really make a difference.

Some of you are sharing pictures of your beautiful roses,
your gardens full of flowers
green verdant pastures
and beaches from continents far away.

There is so much beauty in our world...
not a day goes by that I do not find something beautiful to lift my spirits.

It could be the darling faces of our grandchildren,
the cheerful daffodils blooming in the garden,
or blue skies overhead dotted with puffy white clouds.

Thankfully these simple joys are not too hard to find in my daily round...
and for that I am very grateful.

These cheerful yellow Gerbera daisies were given to our lovely DIL when we took the "littles" out for lunch this week.

I planted up the urn at the bottom of the stairs of The Humble Bungalow

 New Zealand Flax and primulas.

They look good even sprinkled with raindrops...

I got soaked on my walk today.

The skies opened up and the rain pelted down and soaked right though my coat.

When I left home the skies were blue and the sun was out and in the matter of an hour the skies darkened and the clouds let go...

Friends from France sent me a birthday gift several weeks ago and I have been remiss in not sharing the lovely contents of the parcel.

Fragonard soaps and dotted French socks.

Do you love getting parcels in the mail?

I do, especially when they are filled with such beautiful surprises!

Yesterday I made pasta with spicy tomato and Italian sausage.

I cooked diced onions and red peppers in oil 

then I added slices of the hot Italian sausages and cooked them until they were no longer pink

popped in a jar of Italian passata sauce 

and added sliced black olives, some anchovies and spices.

The sauce tastes better if you leave it simmering on low for at least an hour.

Cook the pasta and when it is al dente

ladle the sauce over top and grate a bit of parmesan cheese on top.

Enjoy!

Retail therapy today...

This spotted dress is called a swing dress for a reason...

it has a lovely weight to it and actually swings when you wear it!

I had thought I needed some colour and I still may...

but when I put this dress on I just KNEW it was a great choice for me.

I own a few other pieces by Gilmour and they are fabulous, 

made in Vancouver and reasonably priced.

Thank you for stopping by The Humble Bungalow.

The attitude of gratitude is my mantra...

whats yours?

Hope you have a great week.

XO

Week two...

Life has been moving at a fast pace here in The Humble Bungalow.
I prefer to take my time accomplishing tasks
"needs must"
feels like the right phrase
to explain why we are living at this high level of activity.

The bungalow is scented with floral bouquets.

Chrysanthemums, lilies, hydrangeas, roses...

Flowers and food from friends offer up such care and comfort.

They are my go-to gifts when friends and family experience turmoil and loss.

We are on the receiving end this time and it does help...

Coffee has been a key player for me these past few weeks...

sleep and early mornings and a foggy brain have needed a little extra boost!

I've taken myself out for coffee in between meetings with the lawyer, the bank and various agencies.

It has been a full roster of appointments with little time to cook or prepare decent meals.

I have relied on the kindness of friends

and indulged in some easy meals.

The staple BBQ chicken and deli salads are becoming a fast favourite of mine.

Tea and an apple with cheese 

at Mom's 

after I staged the condo for the Real Estate Photographer.

Sitting in the quiet 

listening to the ticking of the clock

surrounded by mom's things

offered up a wee bit of respite.

Mother Nature has been busy tending her garden.

Spring flowers are emerging from their winter slumber.

Parrot tulips for a wonderful friend who kindly made us a meal and has stood by us through thick and thin...

Thank you

XO

Today for the first time in many weeks I slept in...

the bed felt warm and cozy and I slowly got up

easing into a quiet morning

with no appointments until after lunch

I put the laundry in the washing machine

made a coffee

and opened up my dusty laptop to write this post.

It feels good to be alive

I feel such gratitude

and 

although my heart aches for my Mom

I know that she would not want me to be maudlin for too long...

she was a sensible woman

resilient

strong

stylish

with a no nonsense approach to life.

So, in her honour, I am going to try to do my best...

moving ahead

 I will cherish her and keep her memory alive in my heart.

Thanks MOM

XO

OOTD and a few snippets from The Humble Bungalow

Blue skies, sunshine and fresh air greeted us this past Monday.

 The weather put me in a happy state and I felt I had a bounce in my step 

with oodles of energy.

The garden is in transition...

bulbs are popping up and things are looking lush and green.

The freesias are still as fresh as the day that I purchased them...

their fragrance is out of this world.

a closer look

offers me the opportunity to

breathe in their intoxicating scent

Flowers from the local merchants are particularly welcome at this time of year.

The garden has not yet emerged from its winter slumber 

 so it is nice to have a few vases filled with blooms in The Humble Bungalow.

I have been busy cleaning out closets, drawers, the pantry cupboard, 

 weeding out my books and cosmetics 

washing and ironing

donating goods to the thrift and charity shop.

Life here is ticking along...

nothing out of the ordinary.

My OOTD today is pedestrian and simple.

I am channelling a matronly vibe...

it is comfortable, cozy and conservative...

well maybe a hint of a rebellious woman wearing leather boots and vest.

I expect there will be critical comments as a result of me putting myself out there...

that happens on the blog these days.

(moderation will weed out the rude and blunt from the constructive and polite)

OOTD

Grey tights

grey boiled wool skirt

white top with lace at the hem

vintage leather vest

chelsea boots

It is a challenge trying to take a decent selfie...

(in the laundry room with the graphite grey LG washing units behind me)

I am still lacking in this area but you get the general idea.

How about this Topsy Turvy image?

The Diptyque Ambre candle is almost finished...

How is your week going?

Any highlights that you care to share?

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

Dinner in the dining room of The Humble Bungalow...

We are fortunate to have a decent sized dining room in The Humble Bungalow.

In the home where I grew up, we had a sardine can sized dining room where guests were squeezed in around a table, and once you were seated you had to stay until the meal was over.

The white fairy lights are plugged in for special occasions

opting for simple white Sophie Conran china 

and

French Bee glasses.

There is plenty of crystal and Royal Albert china tucked away in the buffet.

Those pieces come out for bigger gatherings like Christmas and Thanksgiving.

Fragrant freesias from Thorn and Thistle Flower Merchants,

my favourite spot in town for fresh flowers and plants. 

We gathered together with darling daughter and her husband to watch their honeymoon video.

For starters

a plate of cheese, crackers, fig jam and olives were served.

Beef tenderloin cooked on a bed of mushrooms 

in a black bean Asian fusion sauce. 

Recipe is in Susan Mendelson's cookbook page 135 

 Mama Now Cooks like This!

(I cannot find her recipe online and for copyright reasons I cannot print the page so I hope you can find a copy of the book in your local bookseller or library)

Served with green beans and garlic mashed potatoes.

The garlic mashed potatoes are from The Barefoot Contessa's Paris cookbook 

(recipe here)

Mixed fruit and berry crumble which we topped with coconut ice cream.

I used Ina Gartens's basic recipe from her Paris cookbook 

substituting apples for the plums.

(recipe here)

Late Evening Tea Time

decaf Yorkshire Blend and a scented candle.

Time to reflect on the day

count my blessings 

then write in my journal.

It was a lovely evening...

Today

Mother and I walked the Esplanade this afternoon 

then we went for a coffee.

Our usual cafe was closed for holidays.

The blue skies and sunny weather were a tonic 

I am feeling a bit unsettled and persnickety.

I seem to have developed 

a headache

after purging our filing cabinet 

which took me several hours...

and 

has left me with a stack of shredding

that I need to attend to in the morning.

(UGH!)

We

also need the dishwasher motor to be replaced

we could opt for the whole new machine but I do not think that very green or eco friendly so we will replace the broken bits and hope for the best.

I plan to wake up with a fresh attitude

brew my cafe creme

sit and reflect on the good things.

Then

put on a crisp white shirt, pearls and my NYDJ boyfriend jeans

and seize the day!

Do you ever have a day where you just feel like someone has hijacked your life?

Don't be shy...

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~