Hostess OOTD ~ "Edgy Biker Style"

 

Butchart Gardens was one of the highlights that I enjoyed last week.

Walking slowly taking note of the gorgeous flowers on a sunny day was such a tonic.

We munched on a healthy salad sitting in the shade in the main courtyard.

Watching people come and go and listening to their delighted comments.

Butchart Gardens is a JOY to behold.

Moving on to an edgier OOTD...

~ Dressing Room Selfie ~

I went shopping for a new denim dress.

I love the denim jumper that I bought so much, I decided a dress would be handy.

It was a petite and on sale so what's not to love?

~ OOTD ~ 

The faux leather biker "Moto" style jacket is getting lots of wear.

I paired it with a simple white tee ~ Lands' End

Jeans  ~ MNG 

Chelsea boots ~ Josef Seibel

Faux Leather

Moto Style 

oodles of "edgy biker" details

great fit and very comfy to wear.

~ Reitman's ~  

a Canadian brand that hearkens back many decades.

I have just rediscovered the store...

reasonable prices

a wide range of sizes

(petites ~ plus size)

cute styles

My test results are in and I have been diagnosed with osteoarthritis.

My hands, back and hips are affected.

 I won't be moaning about my health, I am taking the news in my stride.

After all, I am 68, so some aches and pains are to be expected.

An appointment is booked to see a physiotherapist who specializes in osteoarthritis.

She will give me advice on exercises and administer IMS treatments.

I've been reading up on the condition and will be going to the pool for aquafit

there will be shorter walks, 

perhaps twice a day instead of one longer walk.

My Doctor has ordered a new bone density test as I have osteopenia.

He's asked me to take a higher dose of Vitamin D

and

take anti inflammatory pain medication as needed.

I've baked the sourdough, have a load of laundry in the wash.

This weekend The King was crowned...

Did you watch the ceremony?

The highlights I saw looked incredible.

It's the dawn of a new era for the Royals.

I do miss Her Majesty the Queen.

So what are your plans for the coming week?

Anything exciting?

Things might be kind of quiet here after such a busy week...

Will try out the pool and see what the Aquafit classes are like.

My responses to your comments are at the end of the comment section...

I am unable to respond to each comment automatically through Blogger

so if you comment as anonymous 

please put your name somewhere so I can respond at the end.

Thank you for stopping by The Humble Bungalow Blog.

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

Beautiful Blooms ~ The Humble Bungalow ~ Butchart Gardens and a Seafood Chowder

These lovely blooms are Lewisia Cotyledon

we grow them in pots and pop them in the perennial border

where there may be a gap in the plantings.

They are available in a variety of colours and are very sturdy plants.

Alliums are wonderful

 they are tall and narrow and can be planted in between other plants 

they offer an interesting pop of colour.

The bees LOVE these blooms.

Madame Gregoire Staechelin

a climbing rose 

in The Humble Bungalow Garden.

Our roses are behind this year due to the cooler unseasonable weather.

May usually is a riot of roses on the garden.

Alas, we will need to be patient,

and

 wait for warm sunshine to encourage the blooms.

Last week a friend and I walked at Butchart Gardens.

The azaleas are out in a full flush of flower

this apricot shade was so fragrant!

The Himalayan Blue Poppies are exquisite.

I have grown these from seed but they are very difficult to keep year after year.

These are blooming in the Japanese section of the gardens.

Their petals look so delicate and thin

like crepe paper.

This yellow azalea was fragrant and sweet

their bright colours look quite stunning

a much needed pop of colour on a cloudy day.

It's a cloudy day here this morning and it feels cool.

I've made a fish chowder for our lunch today.

Fish Chowder

Saute: 1 diced onion, two chopped carrots and 2 stalks of diced celery

cook until soft.

Add to the pot 1 piece of whitefish chopped into bite sized pieces

I also added some clam juice (1/2 cup)

two chopped up crab cakes that I had in the freezer.

I simmered the ingredients until they were cooked through 

added 1/2 cup of cream

salt and pepper to taste and a tsp of dill 

Serve with cracker, toast, or a soft bun.

Enjoy!

Hope that your week is off to a great start.

Thank you for popping by The Humble Bungalow Blog.

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

April Showers ~ flowers and an OOTD

 

Star Magnolia Blooming in The Humble Bungalow Garden.

Sprinkled with raindrops

The daffodils are nodding their heads weighed down by the raindrops.

We ventured out to Butchart Gardens on a sunny morning...

the flowers were exquisite...

Masses of daffodils, tulips and hyacinths.

The grandchildren rode the carousel which was a highlight!

Summer Snowflake Snowdrops

these are much taller than the usual varieties and they bloom later.

I want to buy a bunch more of these as they are so precious.

I am definitely a greedy gardener.

Yesterday I walked to the Cook Street Village on a mission 

to buy some veggies at the Root Cellar.

These daffs caught my eye and I just had to stop and take a picture.

When I walk, I look around...and the gardens always offer up something beautiful.

I make it a priority to stop and smell the flowers!

My current book...

just started this one yesterday and already I am eager to read more.

Love it when a book hooks you and holds your interest right from the start!

Readers have emailed me to say that my book suggestions are inspiring you to read.

It is a pleasure to share the love of reading, when I worked in the school libraries I tried very hard to get students matched up with great books.

What are you reading?

Today

My OOTD is a very casual one today...

~ OOTD ~ 

Rough Linen black linen apron 

Old Navy Denim shirt 

(an oldie but a goodie ~ it is a workhorse in my minimal wardrobe)

pearls

what you cannot see are my black Yoga pants.

I told you it was casual :-))

I am cooking a big roast beef Sunday dinner...

Yorkshire Puddings

Roast Beef

Mashed turnips

Roasted parsnips and sweet potatoes with cherry tomatoes

a potato casserole 

from "The Best of The Best of Bridge" cookbook

(page 176)

~ Schwarties Hash Browns ~

carrots

peas

Dessert 

strawberries and ice cream

I've had two IPL laser treatments in the past few months to help with my rosacea.

Another is scheduled for the end of the month.

The broken capillaries were quite noticeable and my cheeks red.

 I had not been for a treatment since early 2019

Covid kept me away from the clinic.

The only red I like on my face is this Italian lipstick!

Do you wear red lipstick?

Since I keep my make-up very subtle I like the pop of colour it provides.

Windowsill Orchids are in bloom.

Phalaenopsis

We have several orchids on the sill above the farmhouse sink...

they love the humidity and the north exposure.

These gems bloom several times a year and their flowers last for months.

Great value for the price...

this one was purchased at Home Depot.

Well I must get back to my cooking...

take care and thank you for popping by The Humble Bungalow Blog.

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

Summertime Blues...

Himalayan Blue Poppy 

snapshot from my latest visit to Butchart Gardens.

These poppies are so pretty but are not all that easy to grow.

I had some about 10 years ago and they lasted for a few seasons and then they disappeared.

I have toyed with the idea of buying the seed packet from Butcharts and trying my hand at growing them again.

Old Navy Boyfriend Jean Jacket.

Very soft

distressed

and super comfy to wear.

Purchased in the store at 30% off the regular price.

It is very versatile and I love it with my white Tees and jeans.

(with pearls)

I added this scarf from France.

This scarf was in a subscription box from My Stylish French Country Home.

I think they sell them in their online store. 

There are a few rips which gives the denim character...

I wear this with my blue and white striped Talbots linen skirt.

My black UPP capris. and black lace top...

I popped it over a black dress

and can imagine that this will become a workhorse in my wardrobe.

We received our second vaccinations this morning and I am very pleased that we were able to get the second shot.

There is a sense of calm now as we move toward opening up things here in Victoria.

Dining inside is permitted, as are movie theatres and plays.

Looking forward to being more social.

Seeing our family and more friends.

How are things going where you live?

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

Tulip mania courtesy of Butchart Gardens...

I've been busy here in The Humble Bungalow with little time spent on the computer.

So posting here on the blog has been rather spartan. 

Today 

I am sharing a lush group of tulips 

seen on my recent walk at Butchart Gardens.

I hope you will enjoy seeing the pictures.

Tulips are in full bloom at Butchart Gardens.

Pretty in pink...

Pink on Pink

Tulips and masses of pink forget-me-nots.

A striking combination of colour.

Frilly feathery fringed tulips.

Close up

A painterly mixture of tulips.

We wandered through the gardens and enjoyed the bold colourful planted beds.

Many others, like us, masked up and delighted in the beauty of the gardens.

We sat outside after our walk and had a cold drink and a wee bite of lunch.

It felt like we were on holiday.

Hope that you are enjoying your weekend.

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

A quiet week in February ~ Walks, snow, books, and home decor finds.

 

Creamy white Ribes 

with a smattering of chartreuse

Blooming in The Humble Bungalow Garden.

It has been pretty quiet this past week here in The Humble Bungalow.

Lots of walks, reading, mindful eating ~ counting my WW points.

I read this gripping crime drama book by Jane Harper.

She is an accomplished author and wow can she weave a murder mystery!

The snow has melted in our neighbourhood...

Blue skies, crisp cold temperatures and a lonely snowman on the beach.

We walked at Butchart Gardens on Sunday.

I cannot remember ever visiting the gardens in the snow.

I know that there was an icy Christmas when we visited to see the Festive lights.

Yes those ponds are frozen!

BRRRR

A wee snowman in The Japanese Garden.

I posted a picture of this vintage bureau on Instagram.

I purchased it from Karin at Kay's Korner in The Cook Street Village.

It fits well in our laundry area and is so much neater than the open shelf unit.

I have stored my knitting "stash"

needles and patterns 

in the two lower drawers

 my garden apron, secateurs and gloves in the top drawer.

A wonderful purchase that has given me a lift!

Speaking of changes

while tidying and de-cluttering in The Humble Bungalow...

I have repurposed two silver champagne buckets.

Feeling restless, and as a result, the need to refresh and fluff our surroundings.

Spending so much time at home has definitely made me look closely at what we have and what is lacking.

New bedding linen, a hall runner and the bureau are examples of change.

Laura Ashley coverlet and pillow shams.

Pepper our older cat approves!

I had a strange dream last night...

(my dreams are frequently weird)

I was in the make up department and was trying on dozens and dozens of lipsticks.

The clerk running to all the cosmetic counters in search of the perfect shade.

When it came time to choose I told the clerk to wrap them all up!

Think I know what might have fueled the dream...

Yesterday when I removed the mask that I wore at the grocery store 

I discovered that it was smeared with red lipstick.

Thank goodness that they are washable.

What is new with you?

Just finished...

Lisa Jewell has done it again...

a thrilling page turner.

Now I need to find a new book.

What do you recommend?

Thank you for stopping by The Humble Bungalow Blog.

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~ 

Poppy plants...pondering during the pandemic

Our first Poppy of the season!

Yesterday afternoon we sat in the back garden with our long time friends

sipping a cider and nibbling some fresh cooked asparagus with mayonnaise dip.

They brought their own beverages and chairs and we sat safely apart.

I pointed out this tall poppy plant that had grown in an unusual spot

right beside the shed door...

This morning one of the seed pods opened up to this fabulous flower!

I plan to save the seeds when the poppy dries and sprinkle them in the garden for more plants next year.

Japanese themed Garden at Butchart Gardens.

Four friends met up and we walked along the paths of the gardens 

 absolutely beautiful

so quiet this Friday.

Love the lush green mossy patches in this shady spot.

Blue Poppies are very challenging to grow.

They are so delicate almost as light as a whisper of crepe paper.

Blue Poppy seeds are sold at the Gift Shop.

 I grew blue poppies for several years before they vanished from the garden.

This formal garden area looks perfect for an Edwardian Film...

can you envision ladies and gents in period style clothing sauntering around on the grass?

Engaged in a game of croquet?

Sipping champagne from crystal flutes 

or perhaps an afternoon tea 

with vintage wicker chairs and tables

 fine bone china 

 tasty tea sandwiches and cakes...

 A gal can dream...

I am dreaming of these pleasures rather more often in these days of confinement.

Lusting after a more "normal" way of life.

Freedom and safety that we accepted and honestly, I think we took for granted.

Who could have predicted this world pandemic?

I suppose scientists knew it would happen sometime but I had not thought it would be in my lifetime.

Did you? 

What are you missing most?

Have you expanded your "bubble" to include family and friends?

What are the first things that you want to do 

when we get the "all clear" to open up some of the shops and services?

Enjoy your week and stay safe.

 ~Be Well and Be Kind ~