A quick post ~ I missed last week as I was away...

Roses for a friend...

I am writing and publishing a quick post.

I've been a wee bit busy so I missed last week's post.

I was in White Rock with the grandchildren and our son.

We stayed at the Ocean Promenade Hotel 

across from the beach with the train tracks in between.

Trains pass by frequently and the kids loved watching all the cars pass by...

We went to IKEA at Port Coquitlam, had my first Swedish Meatball lunch.

I bought napkins, candles, and some inexpensive knives.

We also shopped at Zara at Metrotown for the girls outfits for back to school.

I was surprised how FAST they shop!

We also had a day at Big Splash Water Park...lots of water and slides.

Tsawwassen Mills Mall for the Adidas shop for Henry.

Our suite was great...it had a kitchenette

I was able to make breakfasts. coffee and snacks.

My husband turned 70 on Saturday.

We were out Friday for a happy hour, Saturday we attended the annual summer gathering hosted by my husband's former architectural firm.

The dinner was held at Mary's Farm and Sanctuary out by Goldstream.

Farm animals, a disc golf course, games, a tire swing and scenic walks and trails 

on the 30 acres.

The families just loved the amenities and the food was made by my friend Julie.

Everything was delicious and had a "country theme."

There was smoke in the sky...

forest fires burning up in the interior of BC and south of us in Washington State.

I am making Mr HB a pasta dinner tonight...

Vongole

(His favourite)

I have the ingredients all chopped and prepped and ready to go...

to the left you can see my new All Clad Pasta Pot.

(I've invested in a few new pots by All Clad)

Well I must get busy cooking as it is almost 5:30...

Will be back soon!

Hope that you have a fabulous week.

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

Flower power, a birthday and a thrift shop find...

Cheerful Primulas on the front porch...

they were on sale at the garden centre and I could not pass them up!

I culled my out of season clothes and took them to the thrift shop.

While there, I quickly perused the kitchen area...

I spied this vintage chopping board and grabbed it.

It has a new home here in The Humble Bungalow.

A friend gave me these branches and they forced into flower.

Pretty pink blossoms which are the harbingers of Spring.

This time of year, when the gardens come alive, feels so hopeful.

There is a sense of renewal and energy...

spirit soars.

Crocus are blooming.

Pops of colour are bursting forth in The Humble Bungalow Garden.

A new Hellebore from the garden centre...

a frilly chartreuse green.

I plan on planting this in a bed with Black Mondo grass.

Think that the green and black colours will be a pretty combo.

Mother Nature's Paintbrush must have had a hand in these flowers.

Slowly

 wake up 

smell the coffee

listen to the birdsong

feel the warmth of the sun

cocooning in my robe

after slumber

a new day

awaits

Hope

Promise

Gratitude

Feeling renewal and embracing a fresh year 

Cheers to 66!

Polenta coated mozza balls on a bed of spicy tomato sauce.

Salmon beets and baby potatoes.

Birthday dinner at Zambri's restaurant with my husband.

I had a martini 

did not count my WW points 

earlier I walked over 15,000 steps over 9.3km

Thank you for stopping by The Humble Bungalow Blog.

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

OOTD...spa time and lunch out.

Welcome to The Humble Bungalow Blog.

Blogger has introduced a new interface which is proving to be quite quirky.
If it continues to be problematic I will give up and post only on Instagram.

Vintage Coach bag and Maui Jim prescription sunglasses

Summertime Basics

Chaus of New York Polka dot top.

I found this at Marshalls and it is a comfy loose longer length top that I can wear with my casual black Yoga pants or dressy Eileen Fisher skinny black pants.

I have done very little shopping since Covid arrived.
When I do shop I wear a mask.

Except for a new pair of black Yoga pants and a blue pair of linen trousers by Ellen Tracey both sourced at Marshalls. I have only ventured into Toys R Us to buy birthday gifts for the grandchildren.

Our cases of Covid are up a bit more here in BC and both my husband and I remain very vigilant in our efforts to stay safe. Our ages put us at a higher risk and I have had pneumonia 3 times, the last bout kept me bedridden for 6 weeks so I daren't take any chances.

                       Pepper, our elder cat,
                       loves to find a ray of sunshine and have a nap.

My sister and I went to the Spa last week at the Oak Bay Beach Hotel.

We were celebrating her 60th birthday.

It was a beautiful sunny day and we really enjoyed soaking in the mineral pool.

We enjoyed lunch at Faro the new pizza spot in the hotel.

Sized for sharing

I met a long time reader Rosemarie for lunch last week.

She and I exchanged gifts.

Rosemarie is a vivacious and kind woman who sends me cheery emails.

She sends me sunflower seeds at the anniversary of my Mom's passing...

she has also sent me tea, earrings, and more recently some polka dot socks!

My current book stack...

Just finished The Guest List by Lisa Foley, an Agatha Christie type of mystery.

I never guessed who the murderer was, with so many twists and turns.

Well that about wraps up this post...

I hope Blogger can give us a tutorial on the new format.

It is difficult trying to figure it out withour much help!

Stay Safe

and 

Please 

Wear your Mask

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

Birthday highlights...

Life is speeding by...

now that I have clocked 65 years

looking back

it feels like a bit of a blur.

Japanese Tapa Bar lunch out with my husband and our son

who gave me this beautiful bouquet of flowers.

Flowers are filling many vases here in The Humble Bungalow.

Chester reminds me that we need to stop and smell the flowers!

Love a green and white bouquet.

Birthday lunch out with my girlfriends.

We have a wonderful restaurant nearby called Nourish that features healthy food.

The focus of the menu is mostly vegetables.

This grain bowl had lentils, roasted veggies, kale, radish and carrots

served atop a bed of butternut squash miso.

It was incredibly delicious!

A rather silly impish smile 

as I hold the vast bouquet of flowers that my darling husband bought for me.

We both enjoyed a quiet dinner out at a local hotel.

The place that mom, my sister and I used to go to on Tuesday evenings.

I wore mom's pearl ring and had a glass of mom's favourite white wine.

Remembering her on the anniversary of the day she passed away.

It is with mixed emotions that I celebrate my birthday 

while I remember it is also mom's day of demise.

Thankfully I have a supportive family and friends who cheered me up.

I am so grateful to have had mom in my life for so many years.

I have many special memories and a few of her things 

that continue to remind me of her everyday.

A surprise package arrived in the mail.

From a dear reader of my blog 

Rosemarie

She knows me well and sent me these cute socks.

I am going to wear these a lot.

They are fun and will add some oomph to my basic wardrobe.

Thank you Rosemarie!

XO

The sun is shining and there are signs of Spring 

flowers are coming to life and popping up in the garden.

I feel more energy and enthusiasm when the sun shines.

Do you?

"I enjoy the spring more than the autumn now. 

One does, I think, as one gets older."

~ Virginia Woolf ~

Thank you for stopping by The Humble Bungalow Blog.

If you would like to leave a comment and I hope that you will

you'll need to use a Google search engine as Safari will not work 

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

Something new, a milestone birthday...and cheerful pops of colour.

Good news!

 We have daffodils blooming in The Humble Bungalow Garden.

These cheerful yellow flowers elevate our flagging spirits 

as we crave colour on these dreary rainy days.

It may come as a surprise to you but until recently I did not own 

a totally waterproof coat...

I relied on water resistant coats and jackets and always carried an umbrella.

Perhaps a little bit strange

 as we live on the WET coast!

Years ago, 

when the children were young,

I wore a waterproof Gortex coat 

it was bright red and I loved the bright colour on the rainy days.

I discovered a wonderful wee shop on Government Street

and

found a 100% waterproof coat perfect for our rainy days.

A

Simple

Waterproof

 Breathable 

Coat

I plan to wear some of my bright coloured scarves with this coat.

This wee orchid was a gift from dear friends when mom passed away...

Tomorrow March 3rd will be the anniversary of my mom's demise.

(it will also be my 65th birthday)

For these past few years I find my emotions are mixed on March 3rd...

I don't feel like I am 65, although I know that I am no longer a "Spring Chicken"

I am Grateful to be alive.

I am 3/4 the way through this book and am really enjoying it.

Have you read it?

Did you read her previous book The Post Mistress?

Yellow Hellebore

Sunshine filtering through the door in our front hall...

love the warmth and sunlight so much.

Simple Joys.

Hope that your week is off to a great start and that you are finding pops of cheerful colour in your daily round.

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

Birthday #63, the anniversary of Mother's demise...same day as it happens...

I had a rocky start to my birthday on March the 3rd...

coffee and cats were involved.

One of the cats knocked over the cactus in the bathroom and ripped all the leaves off of the plant...

it was Mom's cactus.

It is now in the compost.

The other cat "messed" 

on the carpet downstairs 

so I had to haul out the cleaner and wash the rug.

By that time I was REALLY ready for my morning coffee...

the espresso machine had other ideas!

It was not working.

My husband kindly offered to go out and buy me a latte...

bless his heart.

But after three tries, and a few cuss words

(I do not usually swear)

 I was able to make a cup.

I sat in my chair in the living room and thought about Mom.

I recalled the events of her last day with great detail...

I relived the feelings that I felt on that day.

A few salty tears rolled down my cheeks

 I spoke with friends on the telephone.

I wasn't sure 

if I would be able to go out of the house...

But I managed to pull myself together.

 leisurely showered 

got dressed.

On the agenda

shopping and lunch with my husband.

After lunch 

we went to Black Goat Cashmere on Government Street 

where I tried on a few sweaters...

In the dressing room...stripes are the theme.

OOTD

Saint James Top

Black Calvin Klein skinny ponte knit pants.

(see the black goats on the curtain)

My husband bought me the most luxurious cashmere sweater

it is really a jacket...

the cost of which,

 was, well, a wee bit more than I thought

let's just say that it is an investment piece and will be a workhorse in my wardrobe...

like so many other classics it will never date.

I am so happy with it and I know I will wear it often.

Flowers wired from our dear friends in France.

Here's the sweater...

thick cashmere and oh SO SO SOFT!

The silhouette is loose and the coat has a "swing style."

I wore it to the grocery store when the temperature was 6 degrees and was so very cozy and warm!

You can button up the collar or leave it open...its like a built in scarf!

This is going to be my "go to" sweater for the foreseeable future...

I have mom's grey cashmere waterfall sweater and the black V neck cashmere that I received from my husband for Christmas...

I do not own any other sweaters.

Chester likes playing in the bag.

Fast forward...

Besides writing this post 

I managed to wash the love seat slipcovers

 the bathroom towels

iron the linen

meet a friend for lunch

take mom's income tax stuff to the accountant 

(for the last time)

buy a roller ball of lavender essential oil for better sleep

(I swear by this stuff now...)

buy a big ball of Bernat cotton yarn that I will knit into dishcloths

run and empty the dishwasher

make a salad to go with our dinner

read a few chapters in my current book.

So enough about my day...

how are you doing and what is new?

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~