Seeking Solace in Nature...

Sitting...

listening to the sound of the birds and the waves as they lap against the shore.

Lighting a candle...

Gazing out the window...

breathing and feeling grateful.

Reading a good book

sipping tea.

Walking along a beach

searching for sea glass

watching the otters and the gulls.

Taking time out to be soothed by the beauty of Nature.

Inviting Natural Beauty Indoors...

Bright and cheerful flowers

Diving into a new book.

Going for a walk in the misty rain...

Looking for bright pops of colour.

Taking in the views 

admiring the details

embracing the various colours and textures.

Wet logs strewn all over the beach and this one looked like a seal.

Do you see it?

Are you seeking the calm and soothing hands of Mother Nature?

Are you taking local action?

I'm looking into more ways to help...

We've made donations of money and plan to make more.

Fresh salt air 

the moist wet mist

slippery logs and mossy rocks.

The gentle lapping of the sea...

the Raven's Song.

A gentle breeze blowing 

shells crunch at our feet.

These don't solve our problems but they do help release tension.

Wishing, Hoping and Praying for Peace.

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

Abkhazi a jewel of a garden...created by Prince and Princess Abkhazi.

 

Abkhazi Garden is an oasis of beauty.

It is full of rhododendrons and azaleas which are full of blooms in April and May.

This magical place was created by Prince and Princess Abkhazi.

It's a hidden gem here in Victoria.

The profusion of peachy pink blooms on this azalea are incredibly fragrant.

The shed was built when the royal couple were beginning the garden in 1946.

 It used for tool storage and picnics.

You can read more about the history in the book 

A Curious Life: The Biography of Princess Peggy Abkhazi by Catherine Gordon.

From here there is a fabulous view of the curving lawns under the vast Garry Oaks.

You can see the house that they built on the left

this is now a gift shop and tea room.

We sat on the patio in the sunshine.

The tea room has 3 teas on the menu, this is Elevenses.

It was the smallest of the three but it was plenty of food.

There are two resident turtles 

one was swimming and the other one was sunning itself on the rocks.

This driftwood cat is a newly installed art piece from a local Fairfield artist who specializes in creating woody creatures.

We enjoyed our walk, the tasty tea and the incredibly beautiful flowers.

I felt like I was transported away on a lovely holiday.

Parks, local gardens, and the seaside, are such a tonic in these unusual times.

Hope that you are staying safe and taking care of yourself.

~Be Well and Be Kind ~

Pop of colour ~ Rouje Lip Compact from Paris

 

Rouje

Lip Compact from Paris

01- Signature

New lipsticks for 2021

Beautiful Rouje gold case and a gold lip brush by Jane Iredale.

Some women might like to use their fingers to apply the lipstick. 

I prefer a lip brush.

We are all wearing masks these days for safety

but when I am at home or out for my walks I want to add a pop of colour.

This compact feels luxurious and with the variety of lip colours I can vary the shade depending on what I am wearing that day.

The lipsticks run true to colour.

 Are very emollient and last a long time.

This is the bold red lip.

The plum shade.

I wear very little make up so I focus on my lips.

A couple of readers emailed me asking about my skincare regime...

I use Avene 3 in 1 cleanser

Mad Hippie daily facial oil and at night Mad Hippie Vitamin A serum

I wait 10 minutes then follow up with rosehip night cream by Sukin.

I avoid the sun and use Avene BB cream with an SPF.

I hope that answers some of your questions.

If you have any more queries please leave me a comment.

Winter bloom on Jude the Obscure a David Austin Rose.

Wishing you a wonderful week.

Take time to nurture yourself...we are living in a strange time and it is easy to forget to make time for those rituals which are soothing and relaxing.

Thank you for stopping by The Humble Bungalow Blog.

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

My love affair....with roses

For many years I have loved and grown roses.
They are such beautiful flowers...
so many wonderful varieties
my favourite roses are those from David Austin.

Many of you who read and follow my Instagram page are inundated with photos of roses during the summer season.
I can't help myself from sharing the amazing blooms.

Growing and tending roses has become an all consuming addiction passion.

Today I am sharing my all time favourite rose Jude the Obscure...
I will let the pictures speak for themselves.

Look at those luscious frilly and frothy petals.

So many blooms!

In bud, bloom and overblown.

The three phases of Jude.

A veritable bouquet growing on the bush.

I can completely "lose myself" in the garden.

 Troubles wash over me when I am in the garden tending to these beauties.

Hand watering is so soothing...

with

 hummingbirds and butterflies 

flying in the mist at the edge of the spray.

Dead heading spent roses is a simple yet rewarding job.

Listening to the birdsong ~ a natural symphony.

 Bees buzz as they collect pollen 

 a steady drone of deep reverberations.

At ease

 the gentle rhythm of repeated movement

a mindful meditation 

 tending to these jobs

when 

working in the garden.

Gardening is a tonic to the soul.

Many gardens are created by people just like me.

We have a vision for natural beauty 

enjoy the respite 

that working in the dirt provides.

Do you have an all consuming passion?

Do you grow roses?

What is your favourite rose?

Until next time...

Thank you for popping by to visit The Humble Bungalow Blog.

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

April Snippets

April seems to be flying by faster than last month...
odd how some months feel like they are long and others short.

I suppose it's how busy we are and how much we pack into each day.

I've been focusing on healthy eating and walking these past few weeks
in my attempt to shed some of the winter weight gained during the cold winter months.

This lane is tucked away off the beaten track in Oak Bay

we saw sunny yellow forsythia and Kerria Japonica 

bright bold red rhododendrons, 

various varieties of tulips and daffodils.

By this sign we spied evidence of the hollyhocks yet to bloom

we will come back along this way again as check on their progress.

I love hollyhocks but for some reason they do not grow well in our garden despite my best efforts,

The Iphone has a health app that helps me track my steps and distance walked.

Here is the readout for today...

A friend and I walked in Oak Bay today

around the waterfront and up into Uplands Park.

The native wild lilies are blooming.

The shooting stars are such a vibrant shade and look amazing en masse.

A camellia bloom was purposely placed on a green dumpster waiting for the company to come by and empty it!

I had to stop and capture this image...there is so much unexpected beauty out there is we just take the time to stop and look.

We rewarded ourselves at the end of our walk...

a cuppa with a view at The Oak Bay Marina.

The Karl Lagerfeld graphic tee...

I wore it in honour of Notre Dame.

The devastating fires yesterday at the iconic cathedral in Paris

have shocked and saddened so many

myself included.

It sounds like they plan to rebuild it.

They have raised millions already with more donations yet to come.

Taken in 2015 when I was last in Paris.

It's time that I prepare dinner so I must close for now...

Thank you for stopping by The Humble Bungalow Blog.

Until next time...

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

Book chat...at Quarterdeck Cottage

I devoured the book Bella Figura written by Kamin Mohammadi

It "spoke to me" on many levels and the author included Italian recipes at the end of each chapter...I am going to keep it and put it on my cookbook shelf!

I was so inspired by her descriptions of the food 

that I made the pasta dish for dinner at the cottage.

Kamin describes the Italian city of Florence and the hills and villages of Tuscany so exquisitely that I felt that I was right there with her...

I am not going to give away any of her "secrets" but I did take away some very important tips that I will be incorporating into my daily regime.

I highly recommend this book...

Look at these fresh heirloom tomatoes!

Seriously flavourful and an easy salad to prepare...

you could dress it with a smidgen of good quality olive oil or do as I did.

I used Julia Childs' basic vinaigrette that I mix in a Bonne Maman Jam jar.

'Tis the season for Farmer's Markets and fresh produce...

I love the variety and availability of these roadside stands

 my basket is stuffed full to the brim

overflowing 

with healthy tasty veggies.

The bounty of beach combing is the expanding collection of sea glass.

Fresh air and exercise are benefits of this hobby.

Clam Shells with barnacles dot the local beaches.

The twinkling light bouncing off the Salish Sea

 a million diamonds dazzling....

the melodic waves are licking the shore

the seabirds are swooping

the cacophony of songbirds is music to my ears

contentment found in the beauty of nature

to slow down

to notice

to be silent and observe

these are times that I treasure

for they present me with

opportunities

 for reflection and gratitude

Do you find solace in the beauty that surrounds you?

Are you able to be still, sit quietly and absorb the gifts of Mother Nature?

We had a busy weekend here in The Humble Bungalow Garden...

there is a bounty of flowers

a riot of roses blooming 

the wee hummingbird babies can be seen in the nest...

two very tiny beaks pointing skyward waiting for food from their parents.

Hope you have a lovely week.

Thank you for stopping by The Humble Bungalow Blog...

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

Rainy Day Rhythm...

Cheap and cheerful

chrysanthemums

perk me up on a grey rainy day...

The power of flowers can elevate any decor...

a simple jam jar with daisies

a Baccarat crystal vase with roses

a single bloom in a flask

an orchid in a blue and white porcelain planter

depending on your budget

you can get as creative as you like when it comes to floral arrangements.

Vintage Verlys glass satin dish bowl

etched simply with pine cones

sits empty 

beside the window

catching the light

The grandchildren made this colourful Easter Wreath at Michael's.

We were meant to go to the workshop together but I had Vertigo and had to cancel...

it sounds like they had lots of fun.

Our sunsets have been quite stunning 

this week at Quarter Deck Cottage.

I love how sculptural the arbutus trees look set against the yellow skies.

One needn't go far to find beauty 

it is outside just beyond the front door...

all you have to do is open your eyes and look around.

It may surprise you to find that there are ordinary things 

which when studied 

on close inspection

look like works of art.

I never come home from a walk without seeing something quite lovely.

Perhaps that is why I love to walk so much...

not only do I feel restored and re-energized

there are snippets of Nature's handiwork at every turn.

I make it my goal to seek out the delights that Nature has provided...

A juicy red rose hip still clinging to the vine...

Queen Anne's Lace seed head boldly standing tall against the blue sky.

A reclaimed lifeboat

re purposed as a planter at the end of the road.

The Riddle Family plant this boat with seasonal offerings...

The sign says 

"The Point...Of it All!"

A scarecrow and mums were on display for Fall

daffodils and tulips for Spring

 I am already curious what they will plant for Summer.

The rains have arrived after several sunny days so it's a day of domestic chores...

laundry and tidying.

A pot of tea now waits

 I will return to my books and knitting

after I hit the publish button on this post.

The Humble Dishcloth

(a knitting pattern that I return to time and again)

Size 6 or 7 (US) needles

Cotton yarn

Cast on 4 stitches

Row 1 - Knit 4 stitches

Row 2 -  Knit 2 Yarn over knit to end of row

Repeat Row 2 until you have 44 stitches

Row 3 - Knit 1 Knit 2 together, Yarn Over, Knit 2 together knit to end of row

Knit row 3 until you have 4 stitches left on the needles

Bind off.

so soothing to knit

useful to use

soft

makes a great Hostess Gift!

Wishing you all a Very Happy Weekend.

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~