Showing posts with label china. Show all posts
Showing posts with label china. Show all posts

Sunday, August 10, 2025

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 ~

Saturday, April 22, 2023

Hoping for a Sun day...while waiting, I shop.


Greetings...
our weather has been really rather beastly.

This weather is for the birds!!!


Rain with high winds and all manner of things blowing away.
We are hanging onto our hats in hope
as we read the forecast for the start to the week 
which is promising (teasing) us warmer temperatures and some sunshine.


If you are reading this post you know that I have decided to continue to blog
using the free Blogger platform.
My research revealed that it would cost me about $2,000 to transfer all my posts
and migrate to a new host. The host would then be charging me an annual fee for the posts and GB that I would be using to keep my blog live.
I am retired and this is a hobby so that was not going to be reasonable.

Thank you again for following.
It is great to read all your comments, I really appreciate them.

I have been forced indoors during the inclement weather
so I have had a few shopping trips to 
 the local shops and malls.

I found a comfy and fun pair of Converse sneakers.


I chose the blue ones but they were also available in red 
which was SO tempting...I really didn't NEED two pairs.


I think they will look great with all my denim pieces and my white jeans.
I have a faded blue linen skirt that I purchased last year which might be fun to
wear white ankle socks and these together.

Oh and I also found a new backpack...
to replace the thrifted one that I repaired .


Hands free for hiking, walking, shopping and beach combing.


Soft leather, attractive details and wonderfully made.


Big enough to pop in a book and my usual wallet, keys, sunglasses and lipstick.
It looks smart too...
I am pleasantly surprised by the quality for the price.


I've been having an espresso on these cold windy afternoons.
I made coffee this way when I was in Roccatederighi, Italy

The Lavazza brand Crema coffee is smooth and needs no cream.

The new to me espresso /demitasse cups are vintage by Susie Cooper.
Made in England.
I found them at Kay's Korner in the Cook Street Village.
I love Karin's shop...
I regularly walk in our Fairfield neighbourhood and will pop in on my route.
If you haven't been to Kay's Korner yet...you have a treat in store.

 Spook Street is a book in the popular British spy series by Mick Herron...
my husband has read the entire series and purchased all the books so I am reading them now.
Interestingly, he has picked up the Louise Penny series which I love and is reading the first one now!

I have a few more things to share with you but will leave those for the next post.

For those of you who were enquiring about my back...

I had some X Rays of my back and hands, 
both have been very surprisingly stiff, uncomfortable and very painful.
 The doctor also ordered blood work.
I haven't seen my doctor since before Covid.
He is very busy and it takes a long time to get an appointment to see him.

He's thinking it may be arthritis 
 I won't know more until my follow up appointment in early May.

In the meantime I am taking Tylenol at night which is helping me sleep a bit better.
We'll see...

Hope that your week has some sunshine and fun packed into it.

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

Thursday, January 7, 2021

Tea time, a french chic book and a drug store purchase...


Afternoon Tea in The Humble Bungalow

Canterbury pattern cup and saucer 
one of several patterns of tea cups that I use for my afternoon tea ritual.
I am on the lookout for a spectacular ornately decorated floral cup and saucer.


Reading an inspirational French themed book by Tish Jett
I read and enjoyed her first book Forever Chic.


A lovely tea from our local Tea Merchant Murchies
Paris Afternoon is sweet and tastes like a decadent dessert.


My last mascara was gloppy and had not performed that well.
Frustrated, 
but on a mission
 off I went to the local pharmacy to buy a new mascara.
Always one to seek advice from the knowledgeable gals in the cosmetics department 
I asked the clerk what she uses and could recommend.

Marcelle was her hands down winning performer.


 She handed me the gift pack that included a Kohl eye pencil.
This pencil is SO soft and easily lines the eye without tugging or pulling.
It is rather like Velvet Gel.

So now I am regularly defining my eyes with Kohl 
and they are the focus when wearing my mask.

New Year Goal

walk a minimum of 4 km each and every day

I've downloaded the Walk Meter App which is free and helps me track my distance.
The IPhone tracking is not that accurate but it does record the individual steps.
So I am using both to keep tabs on my progress.


Do you have any New Year resolutions or goals?


My winter accessories
consist of 
a cashmere scarf and a vintage Coach bag.

Do you switch out your handbag often?
I am a creature of habit and frequently use one for years...

I  have other bags.

A straw bag for summer
a vintage wine coloured quilted bag
a travel bag
a small vintage black Coach bag for evening.


Hope that you are staying safe.

Our provincial doctor has just extended our Covid restrictions until February.
Our numbers of new cases continue to go up...
hundreds are in hospital with many in critical care.

I'm going to have to get creative to help pass the time.
Another month of not seeing my grandchildren and family is going to be difficult.

I walk with a friend each week but we stay a safe distance from each other.

How are you coping?

Thank you for popping by The Humble Bungalow Blog.

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~ 

Tuesday, April 10, 2018

Tea from Paris....and a new book which sounds so exciting!


Red flowering currant in our neighbours garden...
the hummingbirds love it!


Versailles Rose Tea
with
rose petals, grapefruit and sunflowers



The label is in French but I can provide you with a "rough" translation...

It is with a lot of love that I made this tea
the passion to do what I love 
and the love of a woman 
who is still waiting...

I am happy.



English Royal Chelsea cup and saucer
probably my favourite of the bunch.


A new mystery written by Jessica Fellowes...
she wrote all the companion books to the Downton Abbey series.

She is also the niece of Lord Julian Fellowes who wrote the Downton Abbey series.

I just finished reading Six, the book about the Mitford sisters
 and lo and behold this new book pops up on the shelf at the book sellers...
I grabbed the last copy!


 Also a new "can" to help me keep all the container plants well watered.
I like to have one on the front porch and one in the back so that I don't need to lug a heavy can throughout the garden and strain my back or arms.

My frozen shoulder has been slowly improving...
I am optimistic that it is in the thawing stage.


Tea time is over 
the flowers are in bloom and I am embracing the possibility of change.

Perhaps a trip?

Or maybe a new class or a course?

Feeling like I need to kick things up a notch...

What plans are you making?

Hope that your week is ticking along nicely...

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

Friday, May 5, 2017

Beach walks...scenery snippets


The vibrant blue native camas is in full bloom.
This plant grows in and around the Gary Oak Meadows here in Victoria.


The First Nations Peoples used the root for food.


My walking partner and I went out for lunch at Lure
then we sauntered along the ocean front near Victoria's Inner Harbour.
It was a beautiful sunny afternoon and there were lots of people out and about enjoying the fine weather.

The scenery is aways changing on the waterfront...
boats, sea planes, kayaks, the Coho Ferry,
seals, otters, gulls, blue herons

Along the wide walks
we jostle for position
 baby carriages, joggers, walkers, and runners all share the space.
People sit on park benches and admire the view.
Picnic blankets are spread with snacks.
Tourists take photos.

The snow covered peaks of the Olympic Mountain range look so close
their stunning beauty frames the vista.

We chatter as we walk and gather speed...

I made the mistake of wearing my new periwinkle blue shoes without socks and today I have blisters on my heels.

(I should have worn my Merrell walking shoes with socks.)



I wore the same shoes to the beach on the previous day outing with the grandchildren.
They were fine on the sand and easy to transition back to the gravel lined playground where we played on the swings.
Mount Baker, which usually is in full view, was shrouded by low lying clouds.
The afternoon was chilly and the sky was grey.


The Willows Tea Room reopened for the season on April 29th.
This was where I would take mom.
Often we would sit with a pot of tea 
watch the passers by and sail and power boats on the sea...

Mom would smile
she was happy here.

Mom always loved an outing to Willows Beach.
 The Esplanade was a picturesque and gentle walk...

on a windy day she'd laugh at us braving the walk

in the rain with our brollies
she'd say how silly of us to try and walk 
in this beastly weather

Yet we would finish the walk and somehow feel energized.

When I revisit places that Mom and I regularly frequented
I feel a sadness creep in...
it is
not anything too overwhelming 
but my throat gets tight
and then I breathe as I picture her there beside me.


Our summertime picnics at Willows were always an adventure.
My basket with silverware and fine bone china
made passers by stop and comment.


My sister and I will be spreading Mom's ashes this coming week.
We have finished most of what we need to do for her estate and are ready to toast to Mom and dine in her favourite spot.


First we will swim in the pool
followed by a massage
and relax...


perhaps we'll even hop in the hot tub after dinner.


Mom and Dad in the early 1950's.

Dad died in 2007 and Mom in 2017
I'd like to think that they have been reunited and are watching over us as we remember, honour and celebrate their lives.

~ Love and Family ~
 the greatest gifts that I will cherish forever.


Hope that you have a lovely weekend.
Thank you for stopping by The Humble Bungalow Blog.
XO

Monday, May 1, 2017

OOTD, flowers, "serviettes vs. napkins"...


Surprise delivery of flowers from a friend...
a lovely and thoughtful gesture of kindness.



beautiful blooming buds 
such beauty 


soft delicate blush pink roses


sunlight on the floor
reflections
of the blinds


OOTD:
Northern Reflections crisp white shirt
NYDJ skinny jeans
Ferragamo flats

 Mr. HB took the photo...
it's a silly one

Delete?

Publish?

I am not a professional model and do not take myself too seriously...
so the pictures stay.



What is so funny you may ask?

Mr. HB was snapping photos so fast I could not keep up with him.
Stop now, please...


Crisp Fresh linen from Belgium
an extra large tea towel
that may be used as a tablecloth 
on our small arts and crafts 
kitchen table.


I noticed the pretty native lilies are blooming in the park.


Today I've been busy washing the bedding and catching up on the ironing. 
It is pouring rain outside and there is a chill in the air.


In the previous post 
several comments were made about the inappropriate use of the words 
"serviettes" and "napkins."

I use both...

We use paper "serviettes" as well as linen "napkins."
What about you?

ser·vi·ette
ˌsərvēˈet/Submit
nounBRITISHCANADIAN
plural noun: serviettes
a table napkin


nap·kin
ˈnapkən/
noun
1.
a square piece of cloth or paper used at a meal to wipe the fingers or lips and to protect garments, or to serve food on.
synonyms: table napkin, dinner napkin, cocktail napkin, serviette; More
2.
NORTH AMERICAN
another term for sanitary napkin.



What are your thoughts?


Tea is served in a variety of vessels here in The Humble Bungalow...


Emma Bridgewater mugs...


Fine bone china cups and saucers...

this one is my favourite as it is a wide deep bowl with a bright bold pattern. 

Speaking of favourite things...
My "go to casual fave" outfit.


Jeans, a white shirt or Tee
sterling bangles and pearls.


Chester found the one sunny spot for his nap.

Must close for now as I am making a new recipe for a comforting soup.
It is a curried sweet potato carrot and red lentil soup.
Vegetarian and perfect for a cold day like today.

Thank you for stopping by The Humble Bungalow.
XO