OOTD getting my happy on.

The gloomy sky looms above
sipping coffee without cream...
seem to have contributed and clouded my usual cheery morning.

I am sitting at the table, in front of the laptop, still wearing my bath robe...
thinking about today...
my attitude...
how it can make or break the moments
that together link up
to set the tone
as the morning
slowly unfolds...

Agreed, my appearance is rather sloth like, and one that I would be most assuredly be ticketed
by the Fashion Police should they venture this far off the beaten track!

Cheers!

Here's a cocktail sitting on the counter.

Well it is not really a cocktail, it's a trap...

for fruit flies that have descended on the Humble Bungalow Kitchen.

Recipe for fruit fly cocktail

take one tall glass

(preferably encrusted with bees made in France!)

banana peel and lemon lime Gatorade

plastic film

elastic band

poke a few holes in the top and wait...

Reason for the fruit flies...

we recycle all our food scraps

as per the municipality's recycling program.

Standard issue recycling bucket lined with biodegradable liners.

(Hostess approved green top)

What light through yonder window breaks...

Christmas cactus.

White orchids blooming in the living room on the mantle.

a pretty lime tinged center...

Le Creuset pots and pans live here...all lime green.

A wok, two fry pans, a dutch oven and this sweet pot.

I love how pretty they are to look at when I cook with them.

I've decided that I need an infusion of colour today...

My first Hermes scarf purchased while on holiday in San Fransisco.

A reader mentioned recently I should wear more of the lime green shade.

I know it is a serious pop of colour 

but sometimes one just craves the energy one gets when standing out like a peacock.

BTW Lands' End sent me an email this morning...

"trending now the long sweater"

well I am well on my way and who knew it was a trend?

Cheap and cheerful Mossimo long knit cotton sweater drastically discounted from Target.

Hermes scarf

skinny jeans and ballet flats.

I'm off to get dressed now and get on with my day.

Hope you've got your HAPPY on today!

Cheers

On the menu...a melange!

Baby it's hot outside!
French Homework, gardening, reading and keeping tabs on Mother have kept me busy.
Time to sit, with the shades down, quietly sip some tea and plan a post.
My thoughts are all over the place so this is a bit of a scramble.

You've arrived at The Humble Bungalow Blog.
Today the Hostess is serving up a melange...
(sounds like a dessert doesn't it?)
I'll blame it on the heat...

I am smitten with this brooch...

vintage 1960's perhaps worn with gold sandals, big Jackie O sunnies, white pants and white top 

perhaps Saint Tropez in the summer time?

Can you smell the Bain de Soleil?

Scents can transport you...a gal can dream...

Sophie Conran Heart dish...

I love her simple design and the china can go into the oven so it is very versatile.

Our regular everyday Maxwell Williams is getting ugly grey marks where the knives have sliced into the glaze...

the porcelain must be inferior quality as the set is not more than 4 or 5 years old.

I am really disappointed and am thinking of buying Sophie Conran's set of plates and bowls.

Do any of you own and use her dishes?

Are they better quality than Maxwell Williams?

I hate wasting money so I'd like to be sure before I buy them.

The idea that we live in a throw away society just makes me mad.

(fear not I will donate the scratched plates when I replace them)

I am referring to the lack of quality that has infiltrated our marketplace.

Toasters, kettles, appliances in general wear out,

 and instead of repairing them the companies offer replacements.

Just think of all those bits and pieces filling up our landfill...

  Mother still uses many of the appliances that she received as wedding gifts when she was married in the 1950's.

But let's not get all bent out of shape, 

it's way too hot to be getting our knickers in a twist.

 Let's embrace a little beauty shall we?

May means that one of my favourite flowers is blooming and scenting the garden.

Behold the beautiful Muguet de Bois.

I can pick a handful in a matter of minutes.

Delicate blossoms remind me of baby's bonnets.

Their fragrance is intoxicating...

I love to put a vase of these in our Humble Bungalow bathroom and let the scent waft throughout the house.

I read this novel super fast...

I liked it but I found it not quite as riveting as Louise Penny's books.

This one is next...

I've recently discovered a strong brew that has been tickling my taste buds...

it seems the Scots like their tea to pack a punch (like their single malt Scotch!) 

so I am using less loose tea when I brew a pot.

It's bold and delicious and calorie free.

If you are a vegan or vegetarian look away now...

just for the next two images and skip right to the Asian Slaw!

Julie our friend and caterer, told us about Chef John and I really like going to his site for recipes...

these ribs are wonderfully moist and delicious.

I made them first for Mr. HB before serving them to guests.

They are easy and are baked in the oven.

Janet blog writer at The Gardener's Cottage posted her Asian salad on her blog a few days ago

 I love a pea-nutty dressing so I whipped up a batch of the coleslaw to serve with the ribs.

Oh boy...this one is a winner and a good one to have on hand for summer picnics and barbeque's.

I used red and green cabbage, grated carrots, some onion and almonds as I did not have any peanuts in the house.

Next time I will try adding the dried cranberries as Janet suggests as they would really add to this dish.

Janet has a background as a professional cook/caterer so when she posts a recipe you know it is going to be good!

It has been HOT this week and tea with my friend at Abkhazi Gardens was wonderful.

The weather could not have been better.

(I will work on that post.)

The garden is thirsty and the edges of the lawns need trimming so I must not dawdle any longer...

there are radishes to harvest and flowers to pick.

The birds are chirping and a new day is unfolding...

BTW I really have been enjoying your comments.

They are a breath of fresh air here on the blog...

Hostess

The Humble Bungalow Garden....Mother's Day blooms.

Our Humble Bungalow Garden is doing it's best to keep us content and focused on everyday beauty.

This recent planting was a thrifty addition to the deck.

Variegated grass, geraniums and lobelia all relatively inexpensive at the local garden centre.

Hardy geraniums...

I like these reliable plants as they last all season and if you dead head the spent blooms you get a repeat flush of flowers throughout the summer.

These pink geraniums are a surprise because I bought them thinking that they were white!

A fancy variety of primula whose names escapes me at this time...in a vivid shade of cobalt.

A Rothschild variety of azalea....almost ready to open up.

The scent is magnificent!

We purchased it many years ago after visiting Veronica Milner's Garden up island.

She was a master gardener and meeting her was a thrill.

My most vivid memory of our visit was that she was randomly picking weeds as we walked through her gorgeous garden....that and her very English gardening outfit...

a wide brimmed hat worn with a wool skirt, a cashmere twinset and a simple strand of pearls!

Montana reubens a reliable and vigorous clematis.

It has taken over the fence out front and sweetly the scent wafts softly when standing in close proximity.

Fragrant white lilac 

hanging gracefully over the fence from our neighbour's garden.

I love these but find that they are short lived when cut and brought indoors.

I'll post more garden images soon...

I've got to tackle some domestic chores and get a move on.

Loving this euphorbia

 even though it is an invasive plant I am totally won over by the chartreuse tone.

Green still has a hold on my heart...

plants, seedlings hostas anything that grows green seems to get my attention.

Hope that you've planned to have some fun this week...

I'm looking forward to a walkabout and tea at The Abkhazi Gardens this week with a friend.

I will take lots of pictures to share them with you in a future post.

Thanks for stopping by...

Hostess

Mother's Day Luncheon ~ Flip Flops and Orange Toes!

Mundane maintenance....
goes along with boats, homes, gardens, cars and so much more.

When we own "things" we have a responsibility to keep then in fine working order.
Regular maintenance is vital...it is boring, often costly but it must be done.

I schedule routine appointments with the dentist, hygienist, optometrist, hairdresser, mechanic and more.
If you let these things lapse you are going to run into trouble at some point.

Do you put off scheduling these things?

Our Humble Bungalow was re-roofed last Spring and is in dire need of paint but that is not going to happen for another couple of years so in the mean time I must avert my eyes and try not to cringe when I see the flaking paint on the porch and eaves.

Some things just cannot be put off...

We've had the boat hauled out for the annual mechanical servicing and bottom paint.

BOAT

have you heard what BOAT stands for?

"Bring On Another Thousand."

We own a small boat...

some might consider it more of a dingy and if you own a large yacht you might agree!

Here she is before the haul out...

she needs a wash, wax and a coat of bottom paint.

While she is getting some TLC I took time out to do the same.

Have you noticed that Orange is a really popular colour this Spring?

I know Radiant Orchid has been dubbed THE colour of the season but for me I keep seeing Orange at every turn.

The orange shade especially pops in the garden...

it seems like a happy tone.

For example this cheery euphorbia in the dappled sun blooming in the The Humble Bungalow Garden.

Or this fragrant and stunning Climbing Royal Sunset rose, our first rose to bloom this Spring.

I went with orange polish which is quite a departure for me...

Animalistic by OPI.

I could have opted for a soft pearly white.

Smilacena Racemosa looks quite frothy wearing this shade.

A fuchsia would have been fun...

an allium about to burst forth in flower.

Mauve might be a good choice as the Pacific Hybrid dwarf Iris shows us beautifully with her delicate petals.

~ ~ ~

We took Mother out for lunch to our favourite lunch spot Pure Vanilla to celebrate an early Mother's Day.

She ate a good lunch and had a cup of tea but she just seems to lack her usual lustre.

She seems tired...

I gave her a book which I think she will enjoy and perhaps she'll escape for a bit while she immerses herself in the story of the author's making.

A great book can be such a good tonic to what ails you...

She expressed her desire to have spaghetti and meatballs several times this past week and my sweet husband said that I make the best spaghetti and meatballs...I use Lydia Bastianich's recipe found online.

I took over a plate to her after lunch and she was so excited!

I am so happy and grateful to be able to spend time with Mother.

I expect that we will see more slowing down and deterioration in her as the days pass.

I hope that she perks up and feels better soon...

she'll be 87 this coming June.

It is Mother's Day this Sunday and many will be honouring their Mother's...

I'd like to think that I love and honour my Mother every single day.

It does not take a special day to remind me of her many gifts and I do not take her for granted.

"Life is a series of natural and spontaneous changes. 

Don't resist them - that only creates sorrow. 

Let reality be reality. 

Let things flow naturally forward in whatever way they like."

~ Lao Tzu ~

Wishing you a wonderful weekend.

Hostess

Indulging...OOTD

Almond Joy!
I'd like to think of this as a WW point friendly way to enjoy almonds.

I love the scent of almond as well as the taste.
Having a weakness for the nut I try to keep my almond eating habit in check...

Enjoying the scent is one way to satisfy the craving...

L'Occitane makes a great almond products and the jar of almond milk concentrate is a Humble Bungalow staple.

The shower gel is heavenly and they have just launched a body oil which I recently purchased.

The wee package of travel sized almond products were added to my order for a fraction of the cost,

an indulgence if you will.

"Orange is the New Black"

 was hot a few seasons ago...

then Panetone Green was on center stage and now it's Radiant Orchid!

Have you seen designer and blogger Tamera Beardsley in her radiant orchid kimono?

 She is featured in the fashion section of this month's Skimbaco Lifestyle magazine!

I discovered Skimbaco Lifestyle magazine when Adrienne Shubin started writing for them...

you might know her from her blog The Rich Life on a Budget.

These gals are having so much fun with fashion that I was energized by their enthusiasm...

Dressing in colour has never been so exciting!

A soft infinity scarf with a smattering of radiant orchid...

a birthday gift from my BFF.

I wore this scarf with a black tunic top with black leggings and black ballet flats.

The colour made the entire outfit pop!

I chose Revlon 070 Cherry Tart to wear with the scarf...the richer colour looked better than 001 pink truffle

 which I thought was a wee bit pale.

I wear these rich shea butter glosses often and alternate it with the Chanel Orchidee.

I do love a great stripe as patterns never feel like they suit me.

I have tried and tried but they always hang in my closet sad and lonely...

scarves are my go to accessory for pattern.

Colour won't take center stage in the same way black does in my basic wardrobe

but it will pop up this summer on the boat paired with my white jeans.

I may look for a fun orange coral necklace to wear with this shirt.

I plan to use this as a"jacket" layering it over a plain white tank top.

Ralph Lauren shirt

It has a nautical edge so it will be a fun summer boat basic.

The 3/4 sleeve length won't get tangled up in the ropes...

I found my first pair of what I might call high end or luxury jeans.

Seven For All Mankind slim fit boot cut Kaylie's.

When I tried them on I wondered what exactly makes a luxury jean worth the money.

I'd have to say it is in the fit and the details.

The weight of the denim feels good and it has more body that the less expensive jeans that I regularly wear.

The shape seems to stay true after several wearings so I am not tempted to wash them as often.

Jeans play an important part of my wardrobe and since retiring I wear them much more often than dress pants.

I currently own two pairs of black ponte knit dress pants and now I have 4 pairs of jeans!

So where do you stand on luxury goods?

What would you indulge in if money were no object?

Are you on Pinterest?

I'm finding it is a bit like eating almonds...

 once I start I cannot stop!

Until next time,

Be Well and Be Kind.