Blooms, books and sprinkles...

One of the many sunflowers that have bloomed...

A thoughtful reader sent me some seeds in memory of my mom.

I sprinkled the seed packet on a walk last spring

 on a street adjacent to where my moms condo was located.

It was a daring guerrilla gardener moment!

Don't think anyone saw me...

a whale tail

created from pieces of driftwood

on the beach where I walk

These books are waiting to be read...

I have been busy 

volunteering, cooking, walking, shopping, polishing the tarnished silver...

A few stalwart roses are still blooming in The Humble Bungalow Garden.

When you forget to buy caramel sauce for the ice cream dessert you are serving after the Sunday family roast beef dinner ...

you need to be creative.

Cookie sprinkles

 in festive Christmas colours 

are hastily used to amp up the plain vanilla ice cream!

NEEDS MUST!

A cheery yellow rose in The Humble Bungalow Garden.

If I had to choose just one colour that I associated with cheer, positivity and joy

it would be yellow.

Hands down it is my favourite colour for a rain slicker or boots...

we get so much precipitation here in the PNW that it can become tedious 

 people (myself included) often feel gloomy.

I do not own a yellow rain slicker or boots...

my Saint James rain coat is beige

and

my boots are rather pedestrian 

as they are black!

The winner of the coveted Scotiabank Giller Prize was recently announced 

 it went to a talented writer who lives here in Victoria!

She won in 2011 for her book Half Blood Blues.

You can read more here.

This book is now on my must read list and I have not read her previous book either so I will look forward to both of those novels.

One of the many perks of retirement 

is being able to make and take time to read.

Hope you are having a great week.

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

Autumn splendour...last cottage visit.

Autumn is such a glorious time of year 

the vibrant colours elevate my energy 

making the time outdoors richer

with

walks that have become saturated in beauty.

a few raindrops do not dampen my spirits

they look like tiny jewels

embellishing the fallen leaves

 Isla and I were exploring at the cottage when we were last there...

we spied some interesting seed pods on this tree.

 Natural "treasures" from our nature walk

perfect "souvenirs" to take home.

Have you read The Country Diary of an Edwardian Lady?

It is an illustrated journal and quite lovely.

This vignette reminds me of that book.

I love seeing life through the eyes of an energetic and enthusiastic child.

Those moments of excited spontaniety...

sharing many magical moments at school 

during the course of my career

 in the classroom and the library

with our own children 

and now our delightful grandchildren.

The moss on these rocks proved to be VERY slippery

Grammy had to say that it was "an unsafe place to play."

I didn't want to have an injury "on my watch!"

Peeking outside 

we spied raindrops on the leaves

"liquid sunshine"

inside we were cozy and content.

We were engaged in creative pursuits...

 felts, crayons, paper, 

colouring and activity books

Lego, games and toys.

"Pursue some path, however narrow and crooked, in which you can walk with love and reverence."

~ Henry David Thoreau ~

"Just as treasures are uncovered from the earth, so virtue appears from good deeds, and wisdom appears from a pure and peaceful mind. To walk safely through the maze of human life, one needs the light of wisdom and the guidance of virtue." 

~ Buddha ~

Wishing all American readers a very Happy Thanksgiving.

Hope that your week is off to a grand start!

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

OOTD....flowers, friends and a fabulous book!

OOTD 

Ralph Lauren skinny knit tweedy pants

Black Symplii tunic top

Red Joesph Seibel ballet flats

(vintage carpet)

I like having a few colourful accessories 

they elevate the basic black and grey garments that I regularly wear.

Juicy red rose hips...

I have heard that when the hips form early in the season 

 it means we will have a cold harsh winter...

The sun is shining today and there are blue skies.

Yesterday I helped a new friend move into her new condo.

She is a lovely woman, a recent widow who is relocating from Vancouver to Victoria where she has family.

I admire her in so many ways...

she has left behind many friends but is embracing this move.

Her energy and enthusiasm is contagious!

This past month she has been discovering the amenities that Victoria offers

exploring new groups

cycling club, bridge, yoga, french lessons and a french conversational group.

We have met up for walks and coffee and there will be future lunches 

bridge games and perhaps we will go to the theatre.

I also discovered that she is a painter and has sold many paintings...

she is very modest about her work.

She plans to take a class or two this winter and I am considering joining her.

She will be unpacking for the next week or two 

fluffing and arranging her furniture and hanging her art in her light filled condo.

This pretty tea cup and saucer was a gift...

I love the gold polka dots.

This book is quite the page turner...

I am almost finished it and can recommend it

it is very intense and so well written.

I will finish it this afternoon while the white Ektorp slipcovers are in the wash!

Hope your week is off to a great start.

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

Purple pops of colour...

Look at this luscious artichoke flower!

It's growing beside the sidewalk in the garden of one of our neighbours...

We spend time looking for pops of colour as we walk.

Walking is such a great way to explore our city.

It was one of the highlights from my Paris trip...

walking and taking in the sights...

Women who walk and explore have been given the term "Flaneuse."

The feminine form of flaneur...

which means 

"a man who saunters around observing society."

This book caught my attention when I was at the local library...

I had read Eleanor's first book Weird Sisters 

the title sealed the deal!

I am halfway through it and am enjoying it...

I am trying not to rush the chapters so that I can savour the story.

How is your week going?

What are you reading right now?

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

Colourful tidbits...flowers, a book and a recipe for a comforting meal.

The rain and fog have set in and there is a definite chill in the air...
a perfect time to cozy up in a chair and read a wonderful book.

Frances Mayes latest novel "Women in Sunlight" is set in Tuscany

it revolves around a group of women who are renting a Villa 

 exploring new possibilities...

I am enjoying the descriptions of the food, wines and the countryside

if you liked Frances Mayes previous books this one will not disappoint!

The dahlias are providing us with some bright colour on this misty morning.

When the weather changes and the skies turn to grey 

I opt for pops of colour to infuse energy and positivity.

I do not grow dahlias in our garden.

The road side stands and local farmers markets 

are a great place to find these colourful gems...

many varieties all so different and some the size of a dinner plate!

We went beach combing on Pender Island last weekend 

look what we found!

A HUGE amount of beach glass

a few pieces of porcelain

The aqua vintage Mason jar on the left

was empty

waiting 

for a few pieces and now its almost half full!

We invited dear friends to share the cottage with us this past weekend...

we had oodles of fun 

both my husband and I remarked that we had not laughed so much in a very long time.

"A good laugh heals a lot of hurts."

~ Madeleine L’Engle ~

Last night I roasted a chicken in the oven

it was so tasty that I want to share the recipe...

Roast chicken

 Wash a roasting chicken inside and out then dry with paper towel.

Cut a whole lemon in half and stick inside the cavity add a few cloves of garlic

lightly baste the outside of the chicken with olive oil

sprinkle with a generous amount of fresh pepper

then lay a few sprigs of fresh rosemary on top

Roast in a moderate oven (325) for about and hour and a half.

Make a simple gravy with the drippings 

whisk in some flour and stock.

I served our chicken with roasty potatoes and fresh green beans.

It was a wonderfully comforting meal...

I am planning on making some soup with the leftovers.

Hope that your week is off to a great start.

Thank you for popping by The Humble Bungalow Blog.

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~ 

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 ~