Summer sunshine in the Humble Bungalow Garden

Sunny yellow California poppies peeking out from under the Hostas.

These wee flowers pop up around the garden as they self sow like many poppies.

Their cheerful flowers add extra oomph to the greenery.

Romneya Coulteri

a poppy also know as the fried egg plant!

I think of the art of Georgia O'Keefe when this plant blooms...

crisp and crepe like white petals 

adorned 

with the bold pop of yellow

are a brilliant contrast

that make for a wonderful showy bloom.

The petals are delicate almost like a tissue...

Daisies are so cheerful...

not growing in our garden 

they always look pretty in the summertime

they look very "at home" popped into a simple mason jar and set upon a table.

Pendulous flowers of the Himalayan Honeysuckle

The hummingbirds love this flowering plant!

Yellow roses

Jude the Obscure and William Shakespeare Rose bouquet.

Two hard working products that I love...

the gelee is especially good for gardener's hands

I use the Baume on my heels which keeps them soft and supple.

Abraham Darby a gorgeous David Austin rose

a lovely fragrance and frothy blooms.

How is your summer shaping up?

Thank you for popping by The Humble Bungalow Blog.

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

The blues...

I've been quietly collecting more blue items in my wardrobe...
it all started so innocently.

Blue jeans have always been a star performer in my wardrobe...
they are what I consider to be a serious workhorse and they have been in my closet since I was a teenager.

I have three pairs of blue jeans...all by NYDJ.

Slowly, over the past year, I have added these blue items:

a denim shirt - Ralph Lauren
a blue chambray shirt ~ Cailey 22
a pale blue tencel shirt - Lord and Taylor
a navy and white top -Saint James
a thrifted denim jacket - no name tag inside ?
two blue and white striped tops - Cupio and Antibes Blanc
two pairs of blue shoes - Jungla and Ecco

prescription glasses - Face a Face Paris

You can see the blues in the 

centre of my wardrobe.

This is what the circa 1913 era closet looks like

its very small and not at all organized

currently on our list of future projects...

perhaps this fall or winter

it is part of the bedroom remodel that has been on our list for many years.

Our remodel list is getting smaller as the years buzz by...

Busy buzzing bees hard at work in the beautiful blue Agapanthus.

The Ralph Lauren denim shirt

Antibes Blanc linen top

No name denim jacket

white NYDJ jeans

I almost forgot about the blue patterned swimsuit!

The NYDJ boyfriend style jeans

are super comfy and great for the summer weather...

casual style dressing with a pop of red.

The blue and beige linen duvet cover will figure prominenlty in our remodelled bedroom as we plan to install white panelling and use blue accents.

Maybe we will get busy and organize something this Fall.

What have you introduced into your basic wardobe over the past year?

Are you playing it safe with colour or kicking it up a notch?

Blue

Grape hyacinths an image from the archives.

Hope that your week is off to a great start.

Thank you for stopping by The Humble Bungalow Blog.

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

Colour me Coral for Spring...

Coral seems to be "the shade" for Spring.
It keeps popping up on my radar...

Coral, coral and more coral!
Shops showcasing the new season Spring fashion collections and at the cosmetics counters.

Fortunately I can wear coral...
if you cannot there are lots of other ways to add a smidgeon of coral.
Think of all the coral accessories you could wear.

Belts, necklaces, bangles, shoes, hand bags, scarves, and nail polish.

My "colours" are those of Cool Winter. 

"Bittersweet" is the shade of coral suggested for my colouring.

My new London Fog Trench coat in navy with white polka dots.

New Lipstick by L'Oreal in the shade called "Everbloom."

The Dior coral polish is lovely.

The shade is Adventure #551.

The formula is easy to apply and my nails shine with a bright pop of colour.

The young receptionist at my RMT's office complimented on how pretty my nails looked,

 as did the middle aged sales clerk at the pharmacy, 

the lovely woman who owns the consignment shop

and 

the cute teenage clerk at the grocery store Peppers in the Cadboro Bay Village!

It seems to appeal to women of all ages.

Our lovely DIL chose this shade for me 

she packaged up a thoughtful gift pack of nail products for my birthday

which I am enjoying immensely!

There is something so uplifting about buying a new shade of lipstick.

My grandmother said she would do without hose, or new clothes in favour of a new red lipstick.

I now understand what she meant when she told me that many years ago.

~ Cheap and cheerful ~

I wore this to the bridge luncheon and fundraiser at my club.

It was an interesting group of players.

80 keen players mostly women gathered together for a tasty lunch and an afternoon of cards.

I looked around the room and noticed that there were many well turned out ladies.

Most had grey hair, were dressed very smartly and wore statement jewelry.

Bold ethnic and artisan earrings and necklaces that were on the larger scale.

Many women opted for silk scarves tied casually around their necks.

OOTD
Calvin Klein ponte knit pants and a black and white tunic top 

new Pegabo flats

white scarf 

arm full of my silver bangles

dangly quartz earrings that my daughter made for my birthday

London Fog trench coat

Hellebore

Hope that your weekend is full of fun and laughter.

Don't forget to stop and smell the flowers!

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

Inviting colour in small doses...

The dark days of January here in the Pacific Northwest are making me crave colour...

My minimal wardrobe could use a dose of energy... as could I!

The basic clothes that hang in my closet are functional and everything works together.
Planning and shopping with the basic shades makes it simple but with the dark days of January here in the Pacific Northwest I find that I crave an injection of colour.

Eileen Fisher would be the designer whose clothes I could exclusively wear and own...
and she works mostly in shades of grey, black and navy in winter.

I saw a sweater from her new spring and summer line made out of a loose linen weave in a soft grey and I absolutely loved it...but the price tag was almost $400. Yikes!

Oh but it would look fabulous with my white jeans...
perhaps...time will tell...I have a birthday coming up in March.

After shopping I came home I brewed a cup of hot tea and painted my nails...in living colour!
I am getting better at this.
The health and look of my cuticles are improving with the use of gloves and hand cream.

Here is that punch of colour that I am craving and at a price that I can afford!

I met darling daughter for a healthy lunch earlier in the week and tried on her newest cocktail ring.

If you are on Instagram please check out her site.

@thingfinder

She has the most stunning collection of jewels and she has an etsy shop where she sells some of her gems.

(etsy shop link on her IG page)

I am going to a celebration of life which is coming up soon 

and I have been trying to decide what to wear.

I will be volunteering at this function.

I went to school with the woman who passed away at 61.

She was a successful lawyer, a court judge, wife and mother.

The volunteers are planning on wearing mostly black.

Vintage Leather vest Pamela McCoy which can be layered over any number of tops

paired with the versatile Lisa Campione skirt.

Lord and Taylor waffle knit sweater.

Pair this with tights and short boots.

Jeanne Beker poly sleeveless top adds some sheen.

Susan Bristol (ages old) knit sweater jacket.

(Ladylike)

Tweedy jacket

(Mother approved)

Assorted Pearl necklaces...to layer or wear alone.

Vintage bakelite clamper bracelet.

I may wear a LBD as I have several contenders in the closet.

What do you wear to funerals or celebrations of life?

New brighter lipstick by L'Oreal number 590 Blushing Berry.

The colour is actually darker and richer than it looks in this light.

I bought a new address book to replace the one that I had that was falling apart.

It took me over an hour this past weekend but I managed to update and  transfer all the addresses.

New fitness/workout wear from Costco.

Inexpensive and the fabrics are super cozy.

I just heard that Alan Rickman died...I loved his acting and enjoyed his films.

His passing came right on the heels of David Bowie's death, 

both 69 and both died of cancer.

So sad.

I must get out of my colourful Ralph Lauren PJ's...

I've been at the computer far too long but oh my

the coffee tastes good this morning...

Time to seize the day!

Hostess

Lovely things...

Have you discovered the functionality and loveliness of linen?
If not, please consider the benefits of this hardy fabric and textile.

It holds a place of honour, that seriously borders on royalty, here in The Humble Bungalow.

Linen tea towels and dish cloths are pretty.

The dish cloths stay fresh and don't carry odors, they are slightly abrasive so they make quick work of washing up.

Love the way that they look and perform.

Call me a snob if you like, even the Mister is not convinced, but they do pass muster...

I "luff them 24/7"

(as per Faux Fuchsia)

Wooden Ships cowl necked sweater...

in a wool blend

found in a thrift shop

perhaps a great piece to take on the plane?

An antidote to "life's tough stuff" 

I'm loving a shot of colour in my daily round.

It's been foggy and damp these past few mornings.

I was walking down town...

when I stopped in my tracks

to capture this image.

Blues can be so bold and beautiful.

A Punch of Pink on a grey day look even brighter against the gloom.

These last rose blooms herald Fall,

as it settles in to shroud us with colder weather.

Lovely mossy mounds in a garden a block from The Humble Bungalow.

I'd like to know more about these as I'd quite like to have some in my front garden.

Anyone have any thoughts as to what type of moss this might be?

We have moss growing on the patio...

I love the five pin bowling balls as they offer up a wee bit of whimsy in the garden.

My sister and I took Mom out to Brentwood Bay for some shopping earlier in the week.

We had dinner on the outdoor patio at the Brentwood Bay Resort and Spa

such a lovely setting!

The food was beautifully presented and delicious.

I opted for the crab cakes and they were huge!

My sister loves quinoa salad and this one looked amazing.

Mother decided on the charcuterie...

it was a wonderful outing for all of us and I am so happy that Mother enjoys these shared mother daughter dates.

I have been on a bit of a buying binge.

It started so innocently with a bar of soap...

which seemed to prime the pump 

 I've got some new things to show off in an upcoming post.

But for now I've got to go...

laundry is waiting, the dishwasher needs emptying and wouldn't you know it's the maid's day off!