Silver stars ~ Roses ~ Happy and Sad news

Hope to goodness that you are not tired of seeing The Humble Bungalow Roses because I am posting a couple more...if you are bored scroll down and check out some of my favourite lotions and potions.

This vintage silver BREAD tray caught my eye at the Thrift Shop...

I know it will need polishing...many people despise silver now because of the work it takes to maintain the lustre and shine.

That's why it's showing up in so many shops AND for next to nothing you can take them home!

I quite like to spend time cleaning tarnished silver pieces...for me it's rather meditative.

I bought some French Rose and sipped a few glasses

I pretended I was still visiting France...

I can close my eyes and still recall the dizzy and giddy way I felt when I was in Paris.

I'm so glad I went and would encourage you to follow your dreams if Paris is on your bucket list.

I mentioned this mask recently and am doing so again because it is saving my face.

With our hot summer weather it has been a real challenge keeping skin hydrated.

I'm test driving a new eye product by Andalou Naturals.

1000 Roses Eye Revive Gel.

The skin around my eyes is getting very crepe-like these days.

I'm guilty of not using specific eye products very faithfully over the years.

Not expecting a miracle but a little reduction in lines would be a welcome and pleasant surprise.

I'm not one to give up and give in...

L'Occitane's Almond Milk is still a star player 

my arms and legs would be as dry as the Sahara 

without a daily dose of this wonderful silky lotion.

~ Happy News ~

Our grand daughter's name is Mira Louise Austin

she weighed in at 6 pounds 15 ounces and was born on August 10th.

We think she's a red head like her big sister Isla!

She's a precious little bundle.

It's no surprise that hearts just explode with JOY when we cuddle newborns...

they are such a gift.

Babies are just so darned wonderful aren't they?

Can you feel the excitement?

~ ~ ~

We've also had some very sad news...

there has been a death in the family 

out of respect for those involved 

I will not go into any details 

but suffice to say it was very tragic, and although expected, came all too suddenly...

~ ~ ~

And just yesterday we got the call...

dear friends lost their adult daughter to cancer.

Our hearts go out to them in love and support.

"Grief can be the garden of compassion. 

If you keep your heart open through everything, your pain can become your greatest ally in your life's search for love and wisdom."

~ Rumi ~

a little bit of this n' that

The previous post generated many comments and emails.
Thank you, so much!
I am very grateful for your support and am most appreciative of your thoughts on this issue...
I've had time to reflect and put things in perspective and although this is "behind me" I will take greater care driving and especially when encountering and passing cyclists.

The roses are still showing off their floral finery...

soft pinks tips meld with a creamy white.

I love this masque...

the gentle fragrance is soothing and it really delivers a lot of hydration.

I dug out my gold hoops aka "creoles" and paired them with my diamond studs.

I took photos not realizing that I have a spot on my chin...

oh well welcome to reality blogging!

I'm letting my hair grow...

we'll see if I can stand this growing out stage 

or maybe I'll rush off to the hairdresser and have it all lopped off again.

I've been a wee bit busy these past few days...

taking care of our darling grandchildren.

Non stop Grammy!

Lots of games and activities...

and

 there's a new addition to our family!

It's a girl...

I'll share more later but I'm keeping it "hush hush" until they tell make an announcement.

Look what arrived in the post!

I'm excited to read Sharon's new book.

But first I'm off to the baby shops!

Hope your week is ticking along nicely.

Cheerio for now...

A foray into the past ~ clearing the cobwebs and thinking back.

Spring cleaning is a wonderful opportunity to revisit and get reacquainted with things that we have stowed away in the deep recesses of The Humble Bungalow....things that we can not bear to part with as they are family pieces, they are intricately interwoven with memories...they have history and still hold a place in our hearts.

The vintage phone is our land line...

we have another set of phones that we use which are cordless and are current.

Our children's first baby boots have been bronzed for keeping...

does anyone do this anymore?

 I spied a few stray pairs of bronze booties in the local Value Village and wondered whose they were...

I'm curious when I see framed vintage family photos...why they have been discarded and donated?

Are there no relatives wanting to keep them?

Or is it that someone has passed away and an agency has been called in to dispose of all the personal possessions?

Our daughter's shoe is on the left and our son's is on the right.

My goodness it seems like it was yesterday when I held those wee ones in my arms...

wherever does the time go?

I can still remember how cozy and warm I felt with those babes swaddled in soft flannel receiving blankets nestled in the safety my arms...my heart was filled with joy.

Such soft pure skin

the brightness of their eyes

the smell of their hair

their wee fingers curling over mine

those tiny mouths as they rooted for my breast

latching on, suckling and swallowing in gulps

the contented sigh

slowly slipping off to sleep 

all to be repeated again in a few short hours...

You can see what I mean about how "things can transport you" back to an earlier time...

a time of such innocence

a simple time when priorities were plain to see

children, a husband, and a home.

Van Briggle Bunny

He was a potter from Colorado that worked during the arts and crafts era.

Bunnykins made sturdy bowls and cups for babies...

this is mine from the mid 1950's.

Designed and signed by Barbara Vernon.

I do not know who gave this to me and I will make a point of asking Mother later when we go for dinner.

My family were thoughtful in their gift giving...things that would stand the test of time.

I have kept quite a few books that were gifts from my grandmother and aunts and uncles.

Those were the days when they would write in the front of the book so you knew who they were from and when they were given.

"Dear Leslie, Happy Christmas, Love from Aunty Kay and Uncle Owen."

"Happy Birthday Leslie, Love from Uncle Alf and Aunty Georgia."

These are our children's bowls...they are from the late 1970's and early 1980's.

Such cute images of bunnies and their families.

You can see the sweet gentle innocence of life depicted here.

Happy Times.

Isn't that the way it is supposed to be when you are young?

No worries, 

and the freedom to go about growing up in a safe community surrounded by people who love and care about you.

This is what we gave our children...and this is what our son and DIL are giving to their children...

Doulton still make Bunnykins sets today.

I think they make a great baby gift even today when life is much more complicated...

Gosh I've really gone off on a tangent...

perhaps that's what happens when you tackle the dust bunnies!

Well that's my two cents worth this Tuesday...

Hostess

XO

Snapshots of an emerging Spring....walking OOTD.

Today it's a sunny morning!
I'm smiling as it is such a gift after a dull week of weather.

The Spring flowers are blooming

the plum and cherry trees along the boulevards are budding forth in various shades of pink

  the petals are fluttering down like pink snow.

A fog bank hugs the Washington shoreline on Juan de Fuca Strait.

Walking the 5K route I weave through the picturesque Gonzales area of town.

it's a scenic spot to perambulate.

OOTD

My walking gear is pretty standard, keeping warm is very important.

I wear a warm scarf to chase the chill and keep cozy.

Chillax coat which is waterproof, lined in fleece and is not too heavy.

I carry my keys, some money and my IPhone in this small cross body bag by Roots...

it's a hands free option which allows me the freedom to swing my arms.

Lands' End trail shoes...

I love the word perambulate...

per·am·bu·late/pəˈrambyəˌlāt/

verb

"walk or travel through or around a place or area, especially for pleasure and in a leisurely way."

I also love an English pram...

Mr. HB and I are over the moon that our son and his wife are expecting their 3rd baby!

I'll be getting my knitting needles out soon.

I knit blankets for Isla and Henry and so I will continue the tradition with the new one.

When I had my Grammy Day this week Isla was so excited about the new baby...

she wants a sister...

Sunny clumps of yellow daffodils.

Earlier in the week the weather was rather bleak

and I had to force myself to go out.

The weather was dreary...positively beastly.

(not as cold or snowy as those in the east are enduring)

Mission style arts and crafts house on Hollywood Crescent.

Bald Eagle looking out to the sea...

Carrot Ginger Soup

Gordon Ramsay's recipe for lamb breast was very tasty.

I'd never cooked a breast of lamb before and it is a very inexpensive cut so it's a budget friendly way of enjoying our fresh local lamb.

A couple of light reads from the library.

Toss the Gloss had some great tips.

I specifically liked that she mentioned various brands of inexpensive products that deliver as well as the higher priced lines.

Oak Bay Street art...near the library.

The weather forecast is favourable for a Happy Valentine's Weekend.

Tip toeing back...OOTD

Life events have contributed to unhinge my mood somewhat...
and they have influenced my confidence with regard to writing The Humble Bungalow Blog.

We have had our share of general strife in the past... both financially and in the health department.
Like most families cancer has struck several times...so it is not as if I don't know what it is like to experience stress.
I just don't usually write about it here on the blog.

Day to day things don't get me too ruffled up unless I am sick or tired.
But these past few weeks have been different.
Mother's health has been a concern, she has some medical issues that have cropped up and she has been depressed.

Our grandson has been hospitalized for a post pneumonia respiratory issue and he has been on oxygen.
Our son and wife were at his bedside during his stay.

We were worried, naturally, of course, and I felt so very helpless.
Yet to pace the floor all the time felt odd so I got busy in the kitchen and prepared some food for them. It was the easiest thing that I could do...and it helped me to keep my negative thoughts in check.

Thankfully our grandson is home now and things are settling down...along with my blood pressure.
I really like it when things are calm and I'd take boring and mundane if given the choice.

I took a few days "off" and went up island to visit a girlfriend.
Girlfriends are such a gift...they understand and do not judge.
My friend  L has retired with her husband to a small island that we usually visit when we are on the boat.
More about our visit later in this post...

On the long weekend in May we cruised over to Pender Island and moored at Port Browning Marina.

I took this photo from the back deck of our boat looking west so you cannot see our Sea Ray.

We had three idyllic days in the sunshine and slept comfortably in our bunk.

I came home feeling quite rested...I gained 3 pounds!

The cats came with us...they got their sea legs (paws) right away!

This wind sculpture is at Zanatta Vineyard in the Glenora area of Duncan.

The tasting room and restaurant are located in this farm style house.

The charming covered patio was a perfect place to dine as the weather was warm and sunny.

A "selfie" of my OOTD

taken in the washroom 

I wore a Lands' End scarf (new this season)

white tank top, black Pure Knit sweater and dark wash skinny G21 jeans with my black ballet Mee Too flats.

My friend ordered the roasted beet salad which looked amazing.

I decided on the crab and shrimp cakes which were done to perfection.

We sipped wine, of course...I opted for a glass of Zanatta Ortega.

I have enjoyed their Damasco which is a light summer wine and their Pinot Noir is delicious.

I purchased two bottles of Ortega to take home.

Over the next few days we had nothing but fun.

(exactly what I needed)

We went for walks, watched a movie on Netflix, did some shopping at a consignment shop, had massages, 

drank tea, planted a shade garden on her acreage, cooked together in her ultra modern kitchen, 

researched Paris flights, looked at the map of France, 

 we chatted...

it was a calm and easy time just to be.

(just what I needed)

The wee trip was over after a couple of days and there was a ferry to catch.

Mr. HB said that the cats were "out of sorts" without me...

I got such an enthusiastic greeting from them when I arrived home you'd have thought I had been gone for weeks!

 My friend will be coming here to visit in our Humble Bungalow...

I am already planning our itinerary.

Thank you for stopping by and visiting...

my Humble Bungalow Blog.

I try to be honest and upbeat

 but life is not always a cake walk 

so you might find yourself reading some posts that might surprise you...

you get real life here at The Humble Bungalow.

I have been thrift shopping so fasten your seat belts as a post is in the works...

and thank you all from the bottom of my heart for all your comments.

They have made me so happy...

I think it feels good to be back!

Hostess

XO