Hostess Hasty Notes...

 

Bateaux Mouches Scarf knit in a grey yarn by Drops.

Alpaca and Silk

It is super soft with a nice drape...

very cozy and warm for these colder days.

Mornings this week have been very icy...

A delightful week of Yoga

Yoga for Osteoporosis

Yoga for Balance

Yoga For Hips

Scraping the ice off the car before heading off to Yoga Class. 

I am focused on the new classes 

which are improving my hip alignment and strengthening the muscles that support the hip.

Training me to be in balance 

with a goal of stability and the ability to avoid future falls.

All of this is taking up time and energy and are an investment in my health.

My flexibility is not what it was prior to COVID.

My goal is to

get back as much flexibility as possible.

My instructor says it takes time.

Do you practice Yoga?

\

Marshalls dressing room selfie...

I LOVE denim!

 So when I spied this soft cozy fleecy knit denim blue shirt...

I pounced and have been wearing it on rotation these past few weeks.

I am loving this new Sonsie skincare.

The redness from my rosacea has completely calmed down.

If you want to try it please use the 15% discount code...

https://www.sonsieskin.com/LESLIE65651

If you have any questions please do not hesitate to shoot me an email.

Joanne from Steveston came to Victoria for a few days.

We got together for an afternoon of fun.

Shopped thrift and consignment shops 

visited the Vic West Market on Catherine Street

before we had lunch at The Snug in The Oak Bay Beach Hotel.

The Market has a very European Vibe...

lots of interesting food items and the displays are works of art!

Am knitting another Bateaux Mouches Scarf/Shawl

Using Bamboo Yarn in white for Summer.

Feels lovely in the hand...soft and light.

Soup for lunch at Pure Vanilla...

red lentil with a spicy tang.

New LG Washer and Dryer Set

Our former set were 

15 years old and the washer ground to a halt on Saturday.

I had to rinse the entire load in the bathtub 

before wringing the clothes by hand to dry!

Our laundry room is bright and cheerful...

I can look out onto the Humble Bungalow Garden while working downstairs.

There are some rustic touches in the minimalist decor.

Simple

but so important!

There are Joys in clean clothes and freshly ironed cottons.

I spend a LOT of time doing laundry!

Another sourdough Boule has baked...

"Alexandra Cooks" basic sourdough recipe is my favourite.

After making bread for several years now I can do it with my eyes closed :-))

The flavour is amazing and the bread is easy to make.

Do you bake your own bread?

White Orchid

Do you shop local?

Think we need to help these shops stay open and keep their business thriving.

So many small businesses are struggling to survive and many are already shut down.

Buying Power is in our hands

(and wallets)

we have choices

 through our decisions of 

who we buy from...

where we spend our money

If we

consciously

 support companies run and owned by women.

We are empowering them to continue...

Just like the

Cordova Candle Company who are local and make lovely scented soy candles.

I light mine every morning while I sip my coffee and read my socials.

What are your favourite local shops?

Are you a repeat customer?

Do you know the women behind the business?

Speaking of Socials...

several friends have quit Facebook

others are taking a 3 week break from all online platforms.

Are you considering leaving any of your social memberships?

We have the power to make changes...

it is up to each of us to decide what is right.

What is new with you?

Are you worried about the state of the world?

Have you, like me, had to limit your exposure to the news?

I do not go down rabbit holes...

I act locally...making changes where I can see the results of those efforts.

I bake, I knit, I drink tea, I read, I walk, I go to Yoga, I live an honest and simple life.

~ STAY SAFE ~

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

Thank you for popping by The Humble Bungalow Blog

Hostess

XO

Mid Month...a MISH MASH of Musings

 

~ Green Moss Growing on a Rock ~

I stumbled upon this pretty lush green sight and thought how beautiful it is...

How many people would stop and take notice?

Would they have TIME to stop?

Would they even care?

I think simple things of beauty in our world are worth noting.

When I was young

I would lie on the grass in our backyard and imagine fairies living in the grass.

Buttercups would be their yellow bonnets and clover would be their parasols.

Bees would be buzzing 

making the music that the fairies would dance to...

These wee worlds would whirl around in my imagination...

obviously I have not forgotten 

the power of their magic.

I still look for the MAGIC on my walks.

If only to regain those innocent and naive ideas and thoughts from my youth.

~ Baking Sourdough Bread ~

The simple process of mixing, folding, and baking bread has many rewards.

There is a sense of purpose and a genuine feel of true comfort.

The finished fresh Boule is so much more than just a loaf of bread...

it is a vehicle that transports us back to a simpler time.

The day of bread mixing is a Joyful experience.

The basic routine offers up a schedule that one wholly participates in...

mind and body.

(It might sound a wee bit "airy fairy" but that is how I feel)

I look for opportunities to relax the mind and body...

bread baking is an escape from reality.

So much in our world is in chaos and I seek solace.

I deliberately choose solace...

Yoga, knitting, walking, reading, and baking bread.

Things that are soothing and force to take me "out of my head."

~ Healthy Lunch with My Besties ~

Lunching with long time Friends as we celebrate and honour our birthdays.

We meet up for an annual Christmas lunch too...

we are good friends from primary school.

In a few months ALL of us will be in our 70's

so many stories intertwine and connect us.

In order to entertain more efficiently we purchased an antique table.

Our tiny living room has no coffee table so we used an oak card table

or 

set up the food in the dining room where people had to wander in and help themselves.

Now we can move the table into the living room and put the food on the table!

SO much better! 

It must be time to invite some people over to gather together. 

~ I snapped a selfie while waiting for the ferry ~

Yes the pearls came out to play!

OOTD is very casual.

Jeans ~ Mango Mom Jeans

White Tee ~ Mododoc

Knit vest ~ Churchmouse Library Vest pattern

Puffer coat ~ Lands' End

~ Here's the ferry ~

We are off to the Cottage

Grabbed two books that were on HOLD from the library.

Started with Elizabeth Strout's newest...

in LARGE PRINT !

I almost don't need to wear my glasses :-))

~ Ran a few errands this morning ~

Got a few groceries and bought some body balm at the pharmacy.

I forgot that I had run out when we left last month...

Alas

there was hardly any beach for walking...

 so I went to the Thrift Shop and the shops and galleries at Hope Bay.

With only a scant amount of scent left in my perfume bottle 

I found myself sniffing the samples.

Well this certainly sounds inviting...

Choosing the Rose Quartz option AURA

made locally on Pender Island by Fiadh Alchemy.

Sunshine and Blue skies are keeping us company today and feeling grateful.

Going to make French Onion Soup for our dinner...

chopping and slicing are such a tonic.

Hope that your New Year is off to a good start...

Take and Make time to nurture yourself, employ self care when necessary.

You will need to use that stored positive energy.

Thank you for stopping by The Humble Bungalow Blog.

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

Wardrobe Basics ~ A symphony in Black and White, a recipe and our Star Magnolia

 

Our Star Magnolia

is

blooming out front of The Humble Bungalow.

I love the elegant waxy white flowers.

They emerge from fuzzy cocoons...

if you look closely you can see one as it is about to pop.

The tree was planted many years ago and has grown quite slowly.

It is in the middle of a bed and makes a bold statement.

My linen skirt has an asymmetrical detail that makes it more interesting...

I like a flounce and it sways as I walk.

I can dress it up or wear it simply 

with a casual white top and my distressed denim jacket.

I actually wear it with my white "trainers" or tennis shoes and lacy white socks.

The length is longer on me so I don't feel I NEED to wear capri tights.

My legs are not at their best...they have scars and marks which I try to hide.

One cannot live to 69 and still have pristine unblemished skin.

This white blouse is a favourite of mine.

I love the texture and the fabric is pure white.

The shape is forgiving especially for my mid section 

which is where I now carry most of my weight.

Nice detail on the cuffs.

I wear this with black Eileen Fisher pants, and often with casual denim jeans.

The Big Baroque Pearls add an interesting touch.

I feel so much more "dressed up" with pearls.

Black and white wardrobe basics are so easy...

I can get dressed for almost any occasion and have a lot of mix and match options.

Recently I found a lovely Saint James black sweater which has a good structure.

I purchased it second hand for a fraction of the original price.

It is almost like a sweater jacket...

Saint James make lovely clothing...I visited one of their stores in Aix en Provence.

I have my sourdough boule baking in the oven as I write this blogpost.

The kitchen smells wonderful...

I just finished making Hamburger Soup.

It is a recipe that I have been making for many decades...

I used to make a big batch and freeze it in containers for my lunches when I worked in the schools.

We had a bowl for our lunch today with a couple of small pieces of sourdough toast.

I try to make soups once a week...

the soups is quick to heat up and works well on my aqua fit days.

I arrive home hungry and my husband has soup and toast ready when I get home.

Do you like to make soup?

Have you tried making sourdough bread?

I got my starter from a good friend and I have given batches of it to many people...

she has shared hers with many others as well!

We both use the recipes on Alexandra Bakes.

I have recently discovered Farmhouse on Boone and am enjoying Lisa Bass's site.

She lives on a large farm and has 8 children!

I wear a vintage rhinestone brooch on my wool beret and other hats.

Wearing vintage pins are a bit of a habit of mine. 

I don't seem to find many but I always look!!

Do you enjoy thrifting?

Thank you for popping by The Humble Bungalow Blog.

I appreciate your comments and invite you to share your thoughts.

Take care and until next time...

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

Week of wild weather...

Beeswax candles glowing...

adding ambiance on a frigid cold day.

Very snowy here these past few days...

not a lot of accumulation in The Humble Bungalow Garden.

Other areas of Victoria have a LOT more!

Schools were closed, traffic was snarled, buses got stuck.

Mr HB and I stayed home.

I read books, played word games on the computer, 

knit a few rows on The Sophie Scarf,

decluttered and cooked.

Chester seems unfazed by the snow.

He is an indoor cat so he isn't really affected by the weather.

He has been taking advantage of having Mr. HB home...he's snoozing on his lap!

Chester asleep on the cat blanket.

I make soup for many of our lunches.

This spice was in a French Country Home subscription box.

It is made by Compagnie Francaise...

peppers, turmeric, oregano, thyme, curcumin, paprika, sage, basil, tamarind, onion, cinnamon.

The Christmas Cactus is still in bloom!

I bought this orange cactus recently...I love the bright shade of orange.

Here I am just before my Aqua Fit class....

no make up, just lipstick.

My decades old Burberry scarf, Columbia Puffer coat and a hand knit gift hat.

The Sally Hansen Insta Dri nail polish matches one of the stripes!!

Post swim relaxation.

Reading an interesting book by Lesley Crewe called Amazing Grace.

I have not read her books before but I am really enjoying this one.

What are you reading?

The weekly sourdough boule baking is still very much part of my routine.

I keep the sourdough starter active stored in the fridge.

The recipe I use I found online at Alexandra Bakes.

Cooking, baking, cleaning all these things happen here in The Humble Bungalow.

I accomplish a lot everyday but I intersperse the jobs with rest and tea.

I've been wearing these pink gloves to wash the dishes.

They are help my manicure last longer!

What is the weather like where you live?

We aren't used to snow so any amount can mess with the commutes of workers.

It makes getting around much more difficult...especially when the buses are stuck!

Tomorrow the forecast is for warmer temperatures and rain.

I think the snow will melt quite quickly and we will all resume our normal activities.

I plan to get out for some groceries and perhaps peruse a thrift shop or two.

Have you found any treasures recently in the shops?

I go into shops with an open mind and look at all the stock...

if I go in with a certain item in mind I find that I feel stress.

You never know what is waiting in the thrift and charity shops!

~ Happy Thrifting ~ 

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~