Welcoming the New Year...thoughts

A bright and shiny New Year is on the horizon.

Feeling very encouraged that we will see some significant improvements...

 the vaccines are here and are being doled out to the health care workers and the residents of long term care first and then they make their way down the ladder to those of us who wish to get the vaccine. 

Our Covid cases in BC are moving slowly downward.

I cannot help but feel optimistic...

Every year, for decades, I write in a day timer.

The Moleskine day timer for 2021 has been updated with birthdays.

I chose a new gel pen with a pretty peacock blue shade of ink.

The little things that can be mood shifters and change they way we see life

are so worth embracing...

Ideas for small Joys:

a new shade of lipstick

wearing a vintage piece of jewelry

mixing up your outfits, pairing different items

wearing a bright coloured pair of socks or tights

fresh flowers and foliage in a jug

a new blend of tea

experimenting with a new hairstyle

sampling a new fragrance

painting your nails

rearranging an area of your home

hanging your clothes in a different order, by colour or grouped by item

polish your leather shoes, boots and purses

buy a vintage accessory or piece of clothing that makes you smile

get rid of any clothes that are "ho-hum" ~ keep only what makes you feel great

invest in a new teacup and saucer or mug

read a new magazine, perhaps one from another country

sample an exotic variety of fruit

make a vinaigrette with a different type of oil and vinegar than you usually use

walk in a different area and explore

take a thermos of coffee or tea and sip it in a park or on a beach

The list of ideas could go on and on...

Maybe it is time to start a new collection?

I know people who collect smooth rocks from the beach...

some only collect pure white and others opt for dark black.

Put them in a bowl or a jar and enjoy looking at them.

“Always keep your eyes open. 

Keep watching. 

Because whatever you see can inspire you.”

~ Grace Coddington ~

 

How are you approaching 2021?

Are you feeling positive or negative?

Have you got goals or are you making New Year resolutions?

I'd love to hear your ideas of things that you do to lift your spirits.

Thank you for stopping by The Humble Bungalow Blog.

Wishing you peace and joy in the New Year.

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

Well Being...

Do you ever feel frazzled?

After last week with chaos of the plumbing problems
I was edgy and feeling overwhelmed.
So I decided to take some "down time" on the weekend for my well being.

Time to slow down,
to stop multi tasking,
take a day or two and have a change of pace and a rest from the regular routine.

Instead of hopping in the shower,  getting dressed and putting on my make up first thing in the morning I sat quietly with my coffee creme
and lazed about wearing my PJ's and robe.

~ Be Well ~

Time to sleep in and indulge in a little downtime
it feels so luxurious...
Giving oneself the permission to take a day off of the domestics is so simple and restorative, yet it is not in my nature, and it could and should be!

My daily walks offer time for peace, quiet and reflection.

Fresh air and exercise are free.

I opt to walk on a scenic route that provides opportunities for me to capture beauty on my IPhone and then I share them on Instagram and here on the blog.

For that I am grateful...

Re-energizing strategies...

"Stop and smell the roses"

 pick a bouquet and arrange them in a vase and enjoy them indoors.

Mariage Freres Paris Tea, 

in a pretty china cup

is the classic elixir that soothes...

an inspiring book that fuels the desire to feather one's surroundings.

Using simple pieces, editing, rearranging collections for a fresh new look.

Finding things in Nature...

using them in the home

pure white feathers

pine and fir cones

beach stones

fern fronds

leaves

shells

I'm embarking on a new project

"fluffing" and "feathering" my hobby room.

I took down my easel and put away my paints as I have not been using them and they take up so much space that I was not taking advantage of the space.

I am collecting a few bits and bobs that I love...

objects that bring me Joy

items that exude

a sense of calm and serenity.

It is a slow process and one not to force or rush.

Listening and looking...

experiencing the feelings a piece can evoke.

This never happens when I am busy or in a hurry.

Slowing down seems to help engage the creative side of my brain.

David Austin's Ballerina rose 

 soft shades of pink and cream 

looks like it could be featured in an issue of Victoria magazine.

I used to buy every issue of Victoria magazine...

Very few magazines have been purchased since I retired...

with the exception of Town and Country and Country Living UK

When I worked in the school I bought oodles of mags and would pour over them while savouring a chocolate bar and sipping tea.

Magazines were an escape from the stresses of work and trying to "do it all."

Home keeping, domestics, parenting, gardening, cooking, shopping etc...

Since retiring I have a looser schedule with fewer demands...

so it should be easy to take a day off here and there,

perhaps by setting unreasonable standards 

or

expecting a lot from myself and others is setting me up for failure.

Is striving for perfection the root of the problem?

See what happens when one has a few days to reflect on things!

I binge watched the newest season of Grace and Frankie On Netflix.

Love that series...

Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin

Sam Waterston and Martin Sheen

and a crazy story line come together to make for a very entertaining show.

I had not considered TV viewing as down time 

but if it makes me laugh and I love the characters

and it feels like an indulgence

I consider it 

 "mental snack food!" 

This blog often masquerades as an online journal...

but by now you've probably already figured that out! 

Hope that your week is off to a great start...

thank you for stopping by the Humble Bungalow.

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

Tick Tock...Life in the moments.

Most afternoons I take a break from whatever I am doing and sit in one of our Morris chairs in our living room and sip a cup of tea.
This is a restorative time to sit in peace and ponder...

The ticking of the clock, the beating of my heart, a few cars passing by...
children's excited voices a they skip home from school are the usual sounds.

I find quiet times are very important to my well being.

One yellow lone Daisy sits in a vase in our Humble Bungalow bathroom.

One bloom spreads as much cheer as an entire bouquet.

(and it's cheaper!)

The frosty mornings have seen me bundle up in layers.

Warmth is essential to my comfort.

The windscreen on our Volvo has a thick crust of ice...

the automatic heat defrosting fan takes about 5 minutes 

so I usually speed up the process by using the scraper.

Autumn shadows grow long...

the last summer geranium is blooming.

Red Green and Silver

my favourite colours to use in Christmas Bouquets.

I must get something organized for our front porch soon and buy a wreath for the front door.

I've discovered some lovely French products...

wee glass jars of yogurt

Bonne Maman Dulce de Leche Caramel sauce.

I reuse jars...do you?

the Bonne Maman jars are sturdy

used for everything 

from homemade vinaigrette to storing small bits and bobs.

~ Waste not Want Not ~

Last week I cooked a small prime rib of beef for the two of us.

The ultimate comfort food on a cold day.

Mr. HB uses horseradish with his roast and I love Coleman's Hot mustard.

There is room enough in our home for both our tastes.

I volunteered to work at the Craft Fair last weekend

it was a busy morning selling jams, home baking and the crafts. 

These sold out in the first hour!

I had to buy one even though I cannot even think of who I could give it to...

Just so creative and kitschy.

Beautiful bright sunshine

twinkling on the ocean at McNeil Bay.

Trial Island Light House is in the distance.

We are so fortunate to live here...

Nudge Nudge

Wink Wink

I think this seal was "flirting" with me!

I posted this lovely David Austin Rose on my Instagram page this morning.

I was surprised to see it blooming in our garden as the weather is freezing outside.

Thank you for stopping by...I hope that you are enjoying your week.

Waxing poetic...

I awoke very early this morning.
The cats were restless, the birds were chirping and I had thankfully enjoyed a decent night of sleep.

Good Morning from The Humble Bungalow!

 The 100 Year Old House by Rebecca Makkai...
she wrote The Borrower (which I now want to read!)

This book has hooked me from the minute I picked it up yesterday afternoon.
The chapters are short, the characters are strange and eccentric...there's something hiding in this old house...a ghost perhaps, or secrets from the past.

I am already halfway through it...and I don't want to put it down!

Life is ticking along...my hornet stings are not bothering me much now thanks to some quality aloe vera gel but there is an angry red patch which I refer to as the "venom path" which criss crosses my hand and wrist and I hope, in time, it will fade.

I've been really focusing on the garden and reading and have not devoted much time to blog.
It's curious how one's habits can change...you get out of the habit and new habits arise.

Life is like a journey and it is never dull...

opportunities 

challenges

adventures 

pop up

along the way.

We plough ahead...

maintaining a sense of order when at all possible.

Resting when we need to...

but not long enough to rust.

hoping 

for the fruits of our labours 

to be real

tangible

worthy

ripe

red

tasty and sweet

simple

yet glorious

from the first sniff of a ripe red tomato

until you bite into the flesh that gives a little resistance before allowing you to savour the incredible burst of flavour and then inevitably the juice drips down your chin....

(if you are wearing a white tee  you'll be spot treating the stain before it hits the laundry!)

I'm storing up thoughts and ideas and hoping that they will turn into something type-able...

a post or posts that might delight and entertain.

I've noticed many bloggers have taken blogging breaks

and I wonder if we are tired of hearing our own voices?

Are those bloggers voices going to remain silenced forever ?

Or are they soaking up life and about to burst forth like flowers?

I await the sounds and am patient...

nothing to do but wait.

It's quiet here as the neighbourhood starts to come to life.

I can hear my heart beat

the clocks chime

the gentle hum of the bees outside as they flit from flower to flower

a few cars go by

a neighbours dog barks

someone is singing

an unfamiliar song 

as they walk by our bungalow

 on their way 

good morning!

the day has begun.

Summer reading is one of my little luxuries...

as are farm ripe fresh vegetables

I'm off to visit the farm stand today

before I recommence reading

and in between 

I'll do some weeding and watering

and make some dinner

before 

retiring to a comfy bed for another night of slumber.

What are your favourite summer treats?

Are you reading a fabulous book that you'd care to share?

Snapshots ~ Highlights from the past week.

It's a rainy Spring day and I am feeling quite lazy...
so I'm writing a blog post instead of going for my usual walk.
I've got a pot of chili simmering on the stove and a pot of Lapsang Souchon tea brewing...

There have been so many opportunities to capture beauty this past week...
maybe my eyes have been "more open" or possibly I have been "tuned into my surroundings."

Walking with eyes open wide...scanning the scenery looking for something worthy of a picture...

I took quite a few pictures this past week of things I have seen on my walks.

If you follow me on Instagram you will have seen a few of these pictures.

There's a lot of varied textures coming together in this image...

the ornate shell, the gritty concrete wall, the calm sea.

All of the photos taken on my walks are captured with my IPhone.

 Driftwood structures are fun to make as a shelter from the sun and the wind.

I like to think of them as "Log Homes." 

Hardy mosses growing in the crevices of the rocks along the seafront...

they thrive despite the salt air and brisk winds.

Nature is so resilient and adaptive.

We enjoyed a delicious brunch at Zambri's earlier...

The food at Zambri's is always fabulous...

Our son and DIL arrived at the restaurant in a newer BMW, which they recently purchased in preparation for the birth of their third child which is due in August.

 It was fun getting together and I just want to say we got some big hugs and cuddles from the two wee ones...

who by the way made our day extra special and who were on their very best behaviour.

Brunch frittata and salad...

The Paris Architect was a great book...

written by an architect it is set during the second world war in Paris.

It was so well written that I didn't want it to end.

A pretty pink rhododendron from the Garden Centre.

Russell Nursery 

Mr. HB wants a green house for our Humble Bungalow Garden.

He was checking out the various models that they sell...

and I do not mean these "models!"

I should have taken note of the artist of this wonderful sculpture.

It's quite beautiful...

Chester decided to take a nap in the sink...

 we had a dinner party and I had cleaned up the dishes

 popped the linens into the washer 

 it was very late and

all I wanted to do was to wash my face and get to bed!

I did a bit of shopping this week...

Dressing room shot of a pretty coral blouse which I didn't buy...

Tahari blouse which I thought was silk, but turned out to be polyester...

the price was too high for a polyester blouse even though the style was nice.

I bought socks which I did need.

I made and delivered David Lebovitz's Coq au Vin recipe for my friend L and her family.

The recipe is from his Paris Kitchen cookbook and wow it was tasty!

It's been a busy week!

How about you what have you been doing?