Many hands....

(my parade float with horses)

We had the great pleasure of entertaining the 3 darling grands 

on Saturday this past weekend.

As the rain would not abate we spent the day indoors.

We dumped the bin full of Lego on the dining room table and began to use our imagination and get busy creating...

Mira and I collaborated on a castle with a small but very tall flower "garden"

Isla made a mansion with a rooftop garden.

Henry made a police car with a very secure looking jail.

After we cleaned up 

Grammy made dinner and set the table.

While dinner was cooking in the oven the grands played with play doh at the kitchen table.

Today I am spending time cleaning up the kitchen and bathroom.

I can easily procrastinate but the earlier I commit to getting a job done 

the better chance that I will be successful...

Playtime for Grammy will come after I finish!

My kitchen "work station"

Playtex gloves and a lavender scented cleaner by Method.

Great for grime and dirty jobs.

I use this in the bathroom on the sink, toilet and claw foot tub.

It is great on counter tops and walls...

a great laundry stain remover 

I spray it on the spot and gentle use a small brush to remove the stain.

Method doesn't know that I am a fan of their products or that I am writing about their cleaner on the blog.

Simply sharing a very helpful product with you in case you are interested...

it makes my job here a lot easier and it may help you too!

With all that is happening right now in our world 

I cling to routines and rituals for comfort.

Do you?

How are you coping in light of the recent events?

“When tea becomes ritual, 

it takes its place at the heart 

of our ability to see greatness 

in small things. 

Where is beauty to be found? 

In great things that, 

like everything else, 

are doomed to die, 

or in small things 

that aspire to nothing, 

yet know how to set a jewel of infinity in a single moment?”

~ Muriel Barbery ~

 The Elegance of the Hedgehog

I read recently

 "Knitting is the new Yoga."

That's how I feel when I am knitting...

peace, comfort and serenity 

in the simple act of moving my hands

making something out of yarn.

Let's light a candle, pop the kettle on for tea and pick up our knitting.

Take care

until next time...

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

OOTD

Bridge is one of my favourite card games.
It helps keep me on my toes.

I love that it challenges my brain by utilizing those "grey cells."
Scientists keep reminding us to use it or lose it...

Our club hosted a fund raising bridge luncheon last weekend and I got a wee bit dressed up for the event. It puts the fun into fundraising.

Many of the ladies who attend are much older and they take such care to dress in smart outfits, beautiful pearl necklaces, silk scarves and pretty rings.

On a regular weekday bridge game I wear..."casual clothes."
Like this black top and dark denim skinny NYDJ rolled up at the cuff
with short boots.

JCrew tassel necklace with a simple black top adds a little bit of oomph.

Clark boots  NYDJ

For the luncheon and the afternoon I wore...

Amalfi shoes with Nygaard velvet dress pants.

Burberry print scarf

Wilfred top

We had a fun afternoon and raised money for the club.

~ Win Win ~

Our darling grand daughter Isla came over on the weekend.

We had fun "playing school" made some banana bread and walked to the park.

She jumped in the leaves, swung on the swings, slid down the slide, climbed on the monkey bars and rode on the merry go round.

We collected some of the leaves...

Isla picked this "special leaf" for me...

I placed some of the leaves under the white pumpkins on the table 

on the front porch of our Humble Bungalow.

As I sit here tying on my lap top  I am wearing a new ring...

Darling daughter who is gifted at finding gems and jewels found an eternity ring in my size and we met up for coffee so that I could try it on...

It fits and was such a great price that I could not resist...

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

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

Enchanted April....Dare I dream?

A few weeks ago I posted a pork tenderloin roast recipe and I have another one in my repertoire...
This one has an asian tangy taste and while I LOVE it Mr. HB is not as enamoured with the flavours...not sure why, but we all have our favourites.

So here it is if you would like to try it...

cook and baste the tenderloin about an hour at 350 degrees.

If you try it and like it please leave me a  comment.

My favourite bridge player Meg at the club has had a serious fall...

she is 94 and she broke both her hip and her arm

her mind is a sharp as a tack and we are missing her so much.

She is in rehab and we are planning to go to the hospital

and play some cards as soon as she is able.

I am hoping that she will recover from her injuries.

Her bidding and advice on bridge is so valuable...

she has been playing bridge since she was a teenager 

she encourages us when we are bidding our hands and nudges us to bid game.

I always wear my wedding rings...

one notices hands when seated at the bridge table.

My hands have been dry of late and so I have made a point to keep the hand lotion by the sink to remind myself to use it.

This vintage art deco diamond does not get as much wear as it should.

I don't own a lot of jewelry...

unlike darling daughter, 

who has oodles and oodles of the stuff!

She works hard to find the most amazing pieces...

AND 

she has a full time job!

I have very few pieces of "costume" jewelry and opt for real gemstones.

Sterling silver bangles, pearls, vintage, ethnic, and modern artisan jewelry.

One need not break the budget when choosing a new piece,

 there are so many gorgeous jewels on Etsy and Ebay and in antique shops.

At my age I wonder if I should acquire more gems or save for holidays abroad?

Recently I met up with a friend for lunch.

 We both LOVE France and have fond memories of our trips to Paris 

we got to talking in between bites of our salads

and mentioned that we should arrange to have our own 

"Enchanted April" 

 perhaps Provence would be our destination...

Can you imagine a group of women sharing a home in Provence?

Savouring the countryside for a month?

I can!

 I am dreaming about this possibility.

So with that in mind I am off to find more local French language classes...

BTW

if you know of anyone who has a home to rent in Provence or has rented one that they enjoyed please email me bungalowhostess@gmail.com

merci beaucoup!

 ~ Be Well and Be Kind ~