September...and it Feels like Fall

Photo of The Hostess by my friend Laurette.

We had a wee dinner party last weekend at Quarterdeck Cottage.

Two couples joined us...

one couple sailed over in their boat and the other couple bunked in with us at the cottage.

On the menu:

Wontons stuffed with crab (Julie's creation)

Fresh grown heirloom tomatoes with balsamic crema.

Ina Gartens Parmesan Chicken served over a bed of arugula.

Baby new potatoes roasted 

Chocolate Mousse with fresh raspberries.

We had a sad thing happen in our family.

My SIL passed away quite suddenly.

I heard that she was not doing well and that my husband's nephew was driving up from Oregon.

I kept in touch via text and he told me they were getting her to the hospital asap.

As soon as she had a bed I picked a bunch of roses and took them out and had a visit.

We had a great chat, I held her hand and we were laughing...

I thought that she would get the help she needed and be back home soon.

That was Thursday afternoon.

We got a call Saturday night and she had passed away from

Congestive Heart Failure.

We have wonderful friends...

Found a pottery shard on the beach...

it goes with the blue and white ironstone that I have at the cottage.

~ Beach Vibes ~

We had some foggy and rainy days but the rest of the week was sunny.

The air felt cooler and there was a Feel of Fall.

A pair of "new to me" mugs from Good Things in Oak Bay.

I knit a bunch this week...

I found it very therapeutic as I was still trying to process the death.

The shawl is called Easy Goes It...I made it in pink last winter.

To lose a loved one is hard...even when they have lived a good long life.

Thank goodness I got to see her before she passed away...

I will hold that visit close to my heart.

A precious memory and a true life gift.

My Sea Glass necklace designed and made by Charlene Hall is getting lots of wear!

I never tire of searching for Sea Glass...

The sunsets were so beautiful.

The mauve shades were quite spectacular...

I enlarged this photo to see what boat this might be...

I thought at first it might be Holland America.

Turns out it is a different cruise line altogether...

I must be waiting to get some repairs or maintenance at a local shipyard.

Pender has freighters that anchor in the bays but this is a rather unusual sight.

Home today and am tackling the laundry and made Pasta Carbonara for dinner.

Very comforting...

We have a few things to tend to this week.

The painters will be here refreshing the front porch and fascia boards.

I'm going to be making soup for a friend who has cancer and is starting chemotherapy.

Hope that I will be back at the pool.

Aqua Fit classes are up and running and the pool has been refurbished.

Other than that,

 I have some dead heading to do on the roses and the apples look ready to pick. 

My husband will be bringing in a harvest of tomatoes for me to freeze.

What are you up to?

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

Victoria ~ September Tidbits and Snippets

I walked past the church today and observed a crowd of people 

talking animatedly poised with clipboards.

There will be a commemorative service held here in Victoria 

at Christ Church Cathedral to honour Queen Elizabeth.

Many of us are saddened by her passing...

I have known no other Queen in my lifetime.

She visited Victoria BC many times.

She stayed at Government House in Rockland a few blocks from our bungalow.

I remember once that we were able to go down to the Inner Harbour 

to watch her disembark from her royal yacht The Britannia

She stepped gracefully into a launch to come ashore 

making her way to the excited throng of onlookers.

Girl Guides gave her fresh bouquets of flowers.

She had a lovely smile and wore a colourful outfit and matching hat.

She was a hard working monarch with a strong sense of duty...

steadfast in her determination to do a good job

she was kind and compassionate.

She will be missed by many.

Her funeral will take place in Westminster Abbey on Monday September 19th 

The Federal Government has just announced that the day will be a holiday.

The Queen loved Sweet Peas...

Our local Pharmasave in Oak Bay offers many wonderful skin care products.

They carry some exclusive make up items like Pupa from Milan.

I enjoy shopping there as the clerks are so knowledgeable and helpful,

plus they have a wonderful exchange policy.

The Andalou CC cream is easy to apply,

rich and creamy which offers nice coverage without being cakey.

I am test driving a new serum from Derma E.

Ther Andalou Brightening Renewal Cream is a new product.

I recently had a facial at the Boathouse Spa at The Oak Bay Beach Hotel.

After the 60 minute treatment my skin felt wonderful...

I want to continue to take care of my skin and keep it supple.

Hydration and sunscreen are my two top priorities...

I also try to buy "natural" products.

I look a lot like my mom...

the older I get, the more that the resemblance is evident!

Mom loved her pearls and I love wearing mine too...

I snapped this selfie while waiting in a long line up at the car wash today.

was getting a wee bit bored as I forgot my book.

I picked up this book by Maggie O'Farrell

The Hand That First Held Mine won the Costa Award in 2010

Want to read all her books as I so enjoy her writing...

I loved her novel Hamnet and Judith.

The Marriage Portrait that was published in 2020 is on my list.

What are you reading?

Are you planning to watch the funeral of Queen Elizabeth on the telly?

It will be broadcast here at 3am...

Well I must close for now...

Mr HB has been harvesting the Jalapeno and Anaheim Peppers

SO

 I am making a big batch of Salsa.

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

December ~ love, loss and memories.

Are you ready for the Festive Season?

No matter how hard we try to make Christmas special 

we cannot be prepared or predict what might happen.

Christmas has always been one of my favourite holidays.

Family, friends, giving to others, baking, bright lights and song.

It's never been a picture postcard storybook Christmas 

but that is what makes it special

we try 

but

because we are human things can go sideways...

This past weekend we went over to the cottage and rode on the Salish Orca.

(our regular ferry is out for annual maintenance)

While we were driving onto the ferry my husband's cellphone rang

it was the nurse from the care home.

 Mr. HB's mom, who is 100, took a turn. 

The next morning

my husband boarded an early ferry and returned to town...

his mother passed away within a few minutes after he arrived.

We have lost our beloved matriarch

the last of the long lived Scottish family.

It is the end of an era...

Elaine lead a long and rich life 

she was a spunky woman, 

"a force to be reckoned with"

her gifts and talents were many

she will be missed by all of us.

I feel blessed to have met her when I was fifteen 

 she taught me so much...

she was generous with her time, fiercely loyal to her family,

 she shared so many wonderful things with all of us

her tried and true recipes

boat skills, crocheting, card games,

how to live within a budget

everything from hostessing tips to the full on turkey feast.

She will be missed...

Fortunately we all have many years of great memories to recall.

I am confident that they will help comfort and sustain us 

in the days and weeks ahead.

I made a pasta dinner for my husbands' return to the island.

I knew that he would need a warm hug and a hot meal.

We rely on comfort food to help soothe us in times of distress.

We hunkered down in the cottage as the skies grew dark and ominous...

The weekend weather was very stormy...

rain pelting sideways with powerful gusty winds

the seas churned up with choppy waves covered in white caps.

I started reading this new book by Beatrice Colin...

it is set in Paris around the time that the Eiffel Tower was under construction.

We spent most days quietly thinking of her

 reminding each other of our favourite memories.

Laughing and weeping.

We were cozy and warmed by the fire

while outside the storms raged on...

We ventured out when there was a break in the rain...

for a welcome breath of fresh salty air.

We went to the Chocolate Shop where Mr. HB enjoyed a rich hot chocolate 

I opted for a salted caramel mocha...

I've never tasted one before today!

(it was so tasty!)

I purchsed some of their delicious chocolates for a few people on our Christmas list.

Dessert in a mug.

Looking to the light...

Holding fast to the memories of Christmases past

when all our loved ones were gathered...

several generations at the tables

wearing our paper hats from the Xmas crackers

an older family member saying grace

before

 we dined on turkey and all the trimmings.

This year there are many empty chairs...

we will gather around

in their memory

and 

toast to them.

Wishing you a Very Happy Holiday Season.

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

OOTD...

I've been wearing white jeans and white linen pants these past few weeks and mixing them with denim shirts, chambray tops and here with a thrifted denim jean jacket.

NYDJ white jeans

Marks Work Warehouse white top

Guess silver sneakers

No Name denim jacket

(the tag was cut out)

I am at Marshall's looking for a new top to wear with my dressy white UP pants.

You can see my messy hair...

it's growing 

but not as fast as I would like it to!

I have to persevere and be patient until the short layers are longer.

I found a top and some birthday gifts for our darling granddaughter Isla 

who is turning 8 in June!

Where does the time go?

She is growing up just so fast!

The top is striped in blue and white

the silhouette is flattering as it camouflages some of my wobbly bits!

The garden is keeping me quite busy these days...

watering all the potted plants

 dead heading the roses

weeding.

I just get "caught up" in one section and then I have to start all over again!

I love being able to pop outside and pick our roses 

 bring them inside and arrange a bouquet

or as in this case give them to a friend

who hosted a celebration of life for a former colleague 

who died unexpectedly

at the age of 70.

Which reminds us all that we need to live each day to the fullest.

Carpe Diem ~ seize the day!

We paid tribute to our dear friend and colleague Ray 

in a beautiful garden 

where we used to have our year end staff parties.

His wife attended and there were lots of hugs, tears, a toast and many stories were told.

She was very fragile 

but was so glad that she was there 

as she realized how much he meant to all of us 

 we were able to tell her about the kind things that he did for so many 

 students and the staff.

Here are two David Austin Graham Thomas roses.

They are heavily scented large sunny yellow blooms.

If you grow many roses as I do you'll come to realize

That they require attention and TLC

like offspring

if they are to thrive and grow.

I only choose varieties that are fragrant, hardy and are repeat bloomers.

Thank you for stopping by The Humble Bungalow Blog.

Hope your weekend has some fun packed into it.

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

Springtime ~ In the Pink

Pink Spring blossoms are found along many streets and boulevards in Victoria.

They lift the spirits even on the greyest of days.

Moms' robe now hangs in the guest room.

She wore this frequently...and it is silky satin.

One might want a pair of pink marabou slippers to go with it!

Did you notice that the hanger is in the same pattern and fabric as the robe?

I've been keeping the flowers fresh at Mom's condo for the showings...

we think it has sold and are just waiting for the buyers to secure their financing.

There were multiple offers all well above our asking price...

the real estate market here is brisk!

Mr. HB and I went to Fan Tan on Fisgard Street

in the heart of Victoria's Chinatown
 for a date night dinner this week.

Our meal was delicious and my tea arrived in a sweet little cast iron teapot.

It was really heavy especially when you consider the size.

 Pouring tea and a bit of "weight training!"

Spring cleaning, decluttering and rearranging things have been in the works.

Two bags of donations are waiting to be dropped off at the charity shops.

I culled quite a few books from this cupboard before I rearranged the shelves.

The French Market Basket was purchased years ago.

I planned to walk to the shops and wheel my groceries home...

that has happened exactly once!

I must fix that stat by going shopping in the Cook Street Village more often  pulling it behind me!

The wire heart was meant for postcards and photos.

I like it just the way it is...unadorned.

I'm going to pull these pieces together and add a few more.

My plan is to make a candle vignette of sorts...

I love how mirrors and candles can be best friends!

I took this wee painting from Mom's condo yesterday when I rearranged the flowers...

I am not sure that I will keep it forever 

but I could not part with it...

not just yet

and I did not want to regret giving it away...

it is a small street scene in Paris.

I also plan to take one of her French style chairs to add to the one that I have slip covered in linen beside the table in the hobby room.

It could be for one of the grandchildren to sit on as we read stories

or play with the toys...

another thing that is "speaking to me" 

one that I never thought would tug at my heart strings 

but one that is saying loudly...

don't let me go!

The journey is far from over...

saying goodbye

dealing with the details

is totally keeping us busy.

This emotional process is not easy

I have my ups and downs and find myself crying while standing at the kitchen sink.

I have had vivid dreams of Mom, so vivid, that when I wake I think she is still here...

My friends have been so amazing and strangers have been kind.

Every phone call that I make to advise them of moms demise 

is met with gentle soft spoken condolences...

the agency representatives in person are more than sweet

understanding 

patient

death of a loved one is obviously something that we all share in 

 it feels like it brings out the most empathetic responses 

the "best" from most...

Thank you all again for your lovely emails...

they keep coming

and 

I must say they are a delight.

XO