Turnabout Dressing room ~ The quest for a dress...in black.

 

Here I am 

not dressed for a try on

was not expecting to go to the shops.

Wearing my Bermuda shorts, white Tee and oversized Ralph Lauren shirt.

Turnabout is an upscale shop

lots of designer items

posh bags

and

there were a group of tourists

women

who were trying on all the LV bags.

There must have been a dozen LV bags in different style and sizes.

Quite the excited vibe when I entered the store.

I think there were several sales and some very happy customers.

I made the rounds of all the racks on the main floor set aside some clothes by the fitting room then went upstairs to see the markdowns and dedicated style racks.

7 items...

mostly black dresses

Silk loose style with interesting trim and the neck and cuffs.

Didn't feel like a good choice...too boxy.

Price was good but I couldn't see it as a "workhorse" dress.

Fitted too close to the Body...

too snug...not flattering.

Now this one felt better...

a bit longer than I had originally imagined 

but still...

it has side pockets.

Nice jersey knit, good weight, drapes well.

Swing skirt...

very packable.

Got to go out to the bigger mirror to get a better look.

Two women commented right away...

positive feedback

one was a staff member the other was a customer.

The dress set aside while finishing trying on the other garments.

Super soft "sweatshirt" top for cooler shore days.

So cozy, great neutral colour, layering piece.

Under the puffy vest or the jean jacket.

I purchased the top...

and the dress.

Both items were very reasonably priced...

I found a crinkle linen scarf/wrap in the thrift shop on Salt Spring

 when we were there a few weeks ago...

it is black, grey and white wide swatches of colour.

Is very large so I think it will be a warm wrap for evening meals in the dining room.

Have pretty much got my cruise wardrobe ready now.

Not packing a ton of clothes but everything will be versatile enough to mix and match with all the items.

I'll take a few scarves as they add colour, interest and texture.

I bought a pair of New Balance walking shoes, have my Taos black sandals

and the black casual Remonte shoes and I need to decide which dressy pair to pack.

The Ferragamos or the Amalfi's both black with low heels and classic.

Will pack: Lord and Taylor cashmere black turtleneck sweater, 

casual pair and dressy Eileen Fisher black pants.

Blue and white Tommy Bahamas dress

white linen short jacket

Uniqlo tees ~ black and white

white linen Sigrid Olsen shirt

white tank

grey Eileen Fisher linen vest

denim shirt

Betty Barclay navy puffer vest

new sweatshirt

new black dress

Columbia raincoat

denim Angels jean jacket

DKNY bathing suit

nightgown and lingerie

sox

warm hat, scarf and gloves for Glacier Day.

I've been under the weather with a summer cold and cough.

The cough is hanging on much longer than one might expect...

the nurse that listened to my lungs 

said she had the same virus in May and it lasted 3 weeks.

Hopefully it eases soon as I have some plans to visit Salt Spring Island for a few days and I would be very disappointed if I have to cancel my plans.

So I'm taking Zinc and vitamin C

hydrating like crazy and taking life easy.

Looks like Chester is taking life easy :-))

Chester loves to come outside on the deck.

He's an indoor cat so we only permit him out there when we are both out there.

I suppose he is getting his dose of vitamin D

Have you had a summer cold?

Hope you are enjoying a fun summer...

Thank you for stopping by The Humble Bungalow Blog.

Until next time 

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

May Daze...snapshots and snippets

 

Greetings from The Humble Bungalow.

There's not too much news here...

Still in recovery from my hip replacement and have not been away.

Life is moving quite slowly

but I'm feeling positive and content to be a homebody.

There are always things to do here...

mostly home keeping jobs.

The kettle is often boiling and there's fresh tea in the pot.

Good books at the ready and a cat that loves attention.

I've been enjoying watching You Tube Videos.

So many great people out there that are sharing their homes, gardens and hobbies.

Do you have any favourite You Tube Accounts?

~ Japanese Peony ~

Seen on one of my walks...

At Government House in The Rockland area of Victoria.

Gorgeous details and a pristine white bowl of petals.

Government House Gardens are open to the public most of the year.

The gardens are a mix of Garry Oak meadows, large areas of lawn, rocky outcroppings and perennial borders.

Several ponds with ducks, a rose garden and a fountain. 

Quite a few benches are available to sit and enjoy the peace and quiet.

 Spectacular views of The Olympic Mountains 

across the Strait to Washington, USA.

Native plants and rock and alpine plants have there place here too...

A small museum of vintage clothing is located in the Mews where

there is a charming tea room.

Volunteers help take care of the grounds and there are plant sales during the year.

I like to visit several times each year to see what is blooming.

If you visit Victoria or live closeby this is a great spot for a walk or a picnic.

I snapped a picture of this peony just as I was leaving...

I found this antique platter at Ross Bay Villa's Saturday sale.

I was drawn to the black and white colours and the mottled age of the piece.

I popped this on our arts and crafts wooden shelf in the bathroom.

The sun has been out for a few days and we have been enjoying the warmer weather.

Warm enough for a soft ice cream cone treat!

Chester is loving this warm sunny spot.

He's been finding sunny patches to have a nap in most days...

I'd love to be able to nap like a cat.

I've been bringing out some of my summer clothes...

I love the details on the sleeves of this white linen shirt.

It's a versatile piece...can be worn as a jacket or a simple shirt.

My new denim jacket..by Angels from Marshall's.

I looked at thrift and consignment shops for several weeks but had no luck so I decided to go look at Marshall's and found one for under $40.

The silk scarf is by local artist and crafter Lise Lotte Design.

She has the scarves for sale on her website in 2 sizes...I opted for the smaller one.

It's light and lovely and has a beautiful pattern on it 

she made this using a technique called cyanotype

that harnesses the power of the sun!

Do you watch the Miss Fisher mysteries on TV?

I've seen a few and was delighted when I found a new book.

I love the details, the era that the stories are set in and the opulent fashions.

Am halfway through the book and enjoying the story...

I now can see why the books are so popular.

Have you ever tried to monitor your portions by using a smaller plate or bowl?

This is one of the tricks that I am using to help me from overeating.

My lunch 5 out of 7 days 

is high protein Greek Yogurt, fresh fruit and chopped walnuts.

I vary the fruit so that I am not bored.

I actually feel like I am eating dessert when I eat this lunch...

and it keeps me satisfied until dinner time.

~ Pasta ~

my husbands' favourite food.

To make it satisfying I usually serve it with a salad.

I have 1 cup of noodles and 1 cup of sauce.

The sauce recipe is pretty basic...

1 diced onion

1-2 cloves of garlic minced

2 stalks celery diced

several sliced mushrooms

saute in olive oil on medium heat until soft

stirring often.

Add sliced Italian sausages

(they look like meat balls)

saute until cooked.

Add 1 large large can of minced or chopped tomatoes.

(San Marzano are very flavourful)

salt, pepper, red pepper flakes and dried oregano

(all to your taste)

Simmer for an hour and serve over top of any pasta.

Native Camas is in bloom.

Many Local Victoria Parks have these plants growing...

Beacon Hill, Playfair and Uplands Parks

Lovely spots to walk and enjoy nature at its best.

Wee auricula from the plant sale table at Ross Bay Villa.

Love love love these darling flowers :-))

I am trying to get in as many steps as I can to build my muscles up.

 It is taking a longer time to get my speed back.

As a result I'm feeling stiff and have just purchased a big bag of epsom salts!!

A soak in the tub is on my radar...

Hope that things are going well for you.

Well it's your turn now...

perhaps you can share what you are up to, what you are reading 

or watching on You Tube?

Until next time.

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

August 10, 2025 ~ Tidbits

 

Thank you all for the lovely and kind comments 

about our cat Pepper's 

recent passing...

Chester has been keeping us amused with his antics...

he is a chunky boy and surprised us by jumping up 3 feet from the ledge to the top of the cupboards.

(Pepper used to do this too.)

I am so grateful to have pictures of Pepper and wonderful memories.

Our Humble Bungalow Garden is full of limelight hydrangeas in full bloom.

They are like trees!!

The garden is slowly winding down for a rest...

outside today while hand watering I noticed some of the fading flowers and plants.

There are tomatoes coming along, and a handful of green beans and cukes to harvest.

Inside the greenhouse a watermelon and a cantaloupe.

I've been keeping fairly quiet,

 choosing a few activities that provide peace and solace.

I love daily rituals...

my morning coffee is sacred.

My BFF loves this body serum so naturally I had to try it...

it is made in Alberta and it is very emollient and smells lovely.

I've got crepey skin on my 70 year old arms...

the lotion seems to diminish the scaly look and softens the dryness.

I am using it after my morning showers and I feel like it lasts all day long.

The fragrance is not overpowering...

apparently it comes in a variety of scents.

I met up with my sister...

if you have been following me for awhile then you might remember that she is an accomplished equestrian who teaches riding.

I've heard her called "the horse whisperer"

She's had quite a few horses over the years...

as she started riding when she was about 12 years old.

As luck would have it she helped me to tick off one of the things on my bucket list...

(drive a vintage tractor)

We harrowed a paddock...

this tractor pulled a harrowing attachment which basically rakes and levels out the sand 

in the riding ring.

When I drove it I went slow (1st gear)

she was more experienced and went faster...it still took awhile to get the job done.

My recent tractor ride coincides with a thrift shop find...

pristine LEVI'S

Jeans are very stiff...

I need to wash them a few times and wear them in...

perhaps beat them on some rocks?

(isn't that what they do when they stonewash jeans?)

I'll never make a farmer or even a farmhand :-))

(I am much more suited as a gardener)

Met up with friends for a coffee and a chat...

so relaxing sitting in the sun sipping coffee and nibbling a cookie.

It was a lovely meet up!

The Miriam sweater is progressing well...

knitting the yoke now and then will bind off and pick up stitches along the front.

There is garter stitch edging that matches the hem of the sleeves and body.

 

Using the vintage Baycrest Aran yarn that our daughter found at the thrift shop.

($10.00)

I found two new pieces for my vintage 1930's tea set last week...

a cup and saucer and a large plate.

~ Royal Albert Canterbury pattern ~

Pieces are hard to find locally so I felt like I had won the lottery!!

I have ordered some online but they are much more expensive due to shipping and the rarity and availability of this pattern.

NEXT

I need to have some friends pop over for a cup of tea and a piece of cake.

Well I didn't think I would be posting a new blogpost

quite so soon but I guess I am ready...

Thank you for popping by The Humble Bungalow Blog.

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

Pepper has passed....

~ Darling Pepper ~

The past few days have been very emotional and unbelievably seriously sad days... 

I've been living as if I was in a walking Coma.

Our darling and beloved Pepper was losing weight for the past few months. We had a full work up at the vets but nothing showed up so we put her on medication in case it was arthritis...

We have been catering to her every need, but on Tuesday she decided she was not going to eat anything more which was heartbreaking.

We have been down this road before with other pets so we knew it was time...

She was such a sweet girl....

So soft but she had her quirks...

she chirruped, drank water from the faucet and was a keener when it came to food.

Pepper LOVED butter!!!

If we had a dish on the counter she'd jump up and lick it.

She could smell it and was able to leap up onto the counter...

we had many a fiasco when we had guests for dinner!!!

She was the BOSS...

Chester was the "Pester"

She groomed him and kept him in line...

They spent many hours cat napping on our bed.

Pepper was curious, she was loving and she was a great cat.

I am so sad that she has passed on and I will miss her everyday.

We will keep her memory close to our hearts and cheer up Chester...

He's a wee bit out of sorts.

As we all are.

I hope that Pepper is resting comfortably....

She was a great cat.

I've been feeling much more grief these past few days...

and I knew that she was ill but it has sidelined me.

SO

I may be silent for a bit.

In the meantime...

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

Mid March Musings...

 

Thank you all for the Birthday wishes...

The goal I have set for myself is welcoming with gratitude

wholeheartedly

embracing the 70's with a focus on exploring new and different experiences.

Life is full of surprises, simple JOYS

 but there is always a hint of the unknown...

Things that can derail or challenge us...

we are living in a very surreal time.

Having said that, 

there are many lovely pops of beauty in the day

one needs to be mindful and stop to look.

Yoga is teaching me many good habits...

take time to stop 

notice

slow down 

be mindful

aware

and

breathe

The house smells so good on bread baking days...

Look at that eyebrow...

I use the sourdough recipe on the Alexandra Cooks website.

I love the routine of making this bread.

A wonderful meditative habit that offers rewards.

Do you make sourdough bread?

I attended a workshop on Ikebana when we were on Pender at the cottage.

It is such an interesting discipline...

there is so much beauty in these spartan carefully arranged designs.

These Kenzan frogs are necessary to hold the twigs, branches and flowers in place.

I bought mine from Susanne Osmond's shop "Gardener's Kit" here in Victoria.

My first attempt at Ikebana...

lots of room for improvement but the process is fun!

Learning something new and fresh, feels very energizing...

have you taken a course or started a new hobby?

We have oodles of tete a tetes blooming in The Humble Bungalow Garden.

Just love these bright wee blooms...they are hard to resist.

My husband planted a few dozen in the boulevard 

where we have a wildflower "meadow" growing.

Some came inside...

popped them in the thrifted vintage elephant vase.

Bold yellow pops of colour...

It's almost like the elephant has something to trumpet about :-))

My late SIL collected elephants...

She told me to always buy an elephant with its' trunk in the upward position...

apparently it means good luck!

Chester seeks out the sunshine...

he loves to sit and snooze in the warmth of the sun.

(I can relate)

When I was making the bed I put the coverlet on the dining room table 

he jumped up and got cozy.

Both cats sleep on our bed during the day.

We had a casual dinner here on Sunday and I served some tortilla chips and hummus with our cocktails.

This delicious hummus is sold at The Root Cellar in the Cook Street Village...

dill pickle flavour and YUM it's darn good.

Beans are handy to have on hand...they are so versatile and high in fibre.

Good in soups, homemade hummus and chili and a star in healthy "bowls."

I might try making my own dill pickle hummus...

The sunshine has been so welcome...

the downside is that it shows how dirty the windows are after the storms of winter.

It also draws my attention to the dust bunnies and floors that need washing!

There is never a shortage of jobs to do here in this old house!!

Once these jobs are done, standing back and admiring the results always feels good.

Taking a break with a cup of green tea between these tasks makes it less onerous.

Lately I've been drinking a lot of green tea...

I read about the health benefits and thought I needed to get on that bandwagon.

Spring Cleaning is happening...

soon it will be time to swap out the winter clothes for the summer ones...

am looking forward to wearing linen and cotton.

Putting on a straw sunhat and sunglasses...

perhaps I am rushing things and should be living in the moment :-))

How are you keeping?

What is new?

Am feeling hungry so will close and make a salad and some avocado toast for lunch.

Until next time...

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~