Rome Italy...part 3

The Villa Borghese Gardens are situated high up above the squares of Rome.
The gardens cover about 80 hectares and are situated above Piazza Del Popolo.

The gardens were developed in 1606 by Cardinal Scipione Borghese, who wanted to turn his former vineyard into the most extensive gardens built in Rome.

You can best see the gardens by renting a scooter, bike or by riding the tram.

We opted to ride the tram which was about 4 Euros and took about 30 minutes.

Next stop is Vatican City.

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

Weekend snippets...

I meant to post this earlier in the week but I have been preoccupied with other things...

Last weekend we had oodles of fun.
The highlights featured a garden wedding, lunch out with friends, pottering about in the garden tending to the roses, some leisure reading, and we went to see a matinee ~ Yesterday by Richard Curtis.

 It is a delightful story with the music of The Beatles playing throughout the film
Starring...
Himesh Patel, Lily James, Ed Sheeran, Kate MacKinnin, James Corden.

We thoroughly enjoyed it from start to finish.

a bucket full of roses from our garden for the wedding

Definitely deer food

half a hosta munched

Pink carpet of rose petals...

The wedding was set in the glorious garden of our dear friends.

You can see the Salish Sea just beyond the wedding arbour.

This arbour has been used several times for weddings.

It was reinforced with rope and new driftwood logs for this weekends' nuptials.

Beautiful bee balm co-mingling with yellow roses.

A gorgeous Monarda bloom

(aka Bee Balm)

A Family Affair...

Salmon caught by one of the cousins, 

smoked by the groom and served by my BFF

The theme for the wedding was birds as the couple are "birders"

The groom made these stunning bird sculptures.

I'd like to commission him to make us some too!

I wore a polka dot dress by a Vancouver company called Gilmour.

Flip Flops with some sparkle by Amanda Bleu.

My current read Windfallen by the exceptional author JoJo Moyes.

Marigold The Mouse is making an appearance on the blog.

She's been hiding snug in her mouse hole

as the ongoing noise from the construction has made her a wee bit jumpy.

The bedroom is getting a much needed makeover...

it is unbelievable that it has taken us so many years to have this done.

I am looking forward to purchasing new sheets and a dust ruffle.

Pillows are on my wish list too.

I must close for now and attend to some of the domestic chores that are waiting.

Thank you for stopping by The Humble Bungalow Blog.

Feel free to leave a comment

 tell us what you have been doing this week

or

what you are reading.

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

Beauty in Gardens and My Stylish French Box...a treat from France

I walked in one of my favourite spots last week...

Abkhazi Gardens.

The temperatures were mild, the skies blue, and the sun was shining.

It felt like a gift after a few days of rain.

A lovely display of naturalized Crocus flowers popping up from the soil...

or is it croci ?

Love the way that the light illuminated their petals.

Gnarly trunk and twisted branches above a bed of snowdrops and cyclamen.

This is such a sweet structure on the site...

it was a place where the original owners would take tea and eat their picnic lunches when they were first designing the gardens.

I've been dreaming a lot about garden design

  the beautiful spaces that people have been able over the years to cultivate.

A well designed garden, once established, is a living legacy.

I try to visit many of the local gardens and join in on the various garden tours.

Some of my favourite things to do are to peruse the garden centres

 leaf through gardening books

and

watch TV shows on gardens.

Are you familiar with Sharon Santoni?

Her garden in France is stunning.

She is the founder of My Stylish French Box...

I have subscribed to these boxes and they are a real treat to receive...

the current box theme is focused on a Parisianne woman.

One of the partners is the renowned perfume company of Annick Goutal!

The February Box is almost sold out 

you might be able to order one if you are quick!

Go here to get more information and good luck!

I am excited as Sharon has just launched a new digital magazine.

She has a giveaway on her Instagram page.

As I sit here at the table in my Humble Bungalow Kitchen 

I can hear birds outside singing

the clock chiming

the fridge humming

the keys on my lap top 

tap tapping

a rumbling motorcycle speeds by

the neighbours dog barks

taking time to stop and notice the little things

those moments each day that can easily slip by if one is not present

Hope that your week is ticking along nicely!

Thank you for stopping by The Humble Bungalow.

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

New Year thoughts and shiny bright lights...

Happy New Year!

The bright and shiny day dawns and it feels like a fresh start...
turning the page on my day timer offers an opportunity to put the past year behind, but not forgetting the events, experiences and adventures but taking note and learning from them, while moving forward with a spirit of renewed energy, optimism and positivity.
As this new year unfolds, my plan is to live simply, honestly, compassionately, while embracing beauty and slowing down to consciously look for the bright spots in my daily round.
Making small changes that will help contribute to a healthier, happier year ahead for myself and our family.
I am grateful for so many things in life and will continue to give thanks...

We spent some time on New Years Day at Butchart Gardens.

The gardens are lit up for the festive season with lights and their popular

 "12 days of Christmas" displays.

I don't make many resolutions...

I will try to walk more and moderate the amount and type of food that I eat.

The New Year will include a couple of trips.

I have not felt inclined to travel much since Mom passed away 

until 

these past few months. 

I am in the process of planning a cruise to Alaska this summer

followed by a 3 week adventure 

to Rome, Tuscany, Provence, SW France and Paris.

I will be packing for three weeks in a carry on!

Italian lessons for travellers are on the agenda for the next few months.

What plans do you have for the New Year?

Do you make resolutions?

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

Hydrangeas and hair...the view from here.

Hooray the limelights are blooming!

The hydrangeas are taller this year 

which is good news 

as the deer love to munch on the tasty leaves.

Sadly the deer have eaten most of the hosta leaves 

out front in The Humble Bungalow Garden.

Frothy creamy blooms act as a backdrop to the side patio

providing privacy

 a place to sit and sip a cup of tea while reading a book.

I loved this book and read it in two sittings!

They are making it into a movie.

Suzanne Rindell is a screenwriter...

she has two other books and I plan to read them.

In other news

the "growing pains" continue...

My hair is growing...

slowly 

the wavy curls are coming back.

I have been on Pinterest looking at hair styles...

there are so many lovely women with salt and pepper and grey hair.

just wondering how long I should let it grow

what style will work with my hair type and face shape.

A conundrum 

 I have weeks or possibly a few more months to wait.

Patience has never been my strength...

I'd like to be able to grow hair as fast as that Tressy doll!

She was the doll that had a long pony tail with emerged from a hole in her head...

a screw attached to her back controlled the length of her hair!

Do you remember the doll?

The TV ad...

"Short or long or in between

Tressy's hair makes her a Queen!"

Happy Weekend!

Do you have any special plans?

We will be celebrating the 3rd birthday of our darling granddaughter Mira.

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

Magnificent Obsession...

Our roses are in their glory this summer.

Such a wonderful display and so many blooms.

I am obsessed with roses...

it is a passion with such power that surprises me even to this day.

It started out so innocently with a couple of rose bushes

which has, over the years, become an obsession.

I suppose there could be worse things to be so crazy about...

Look at some of the roses that are putting on a show this month in our garden.

Summertime in The Humble Bungalow Garden 

Constance Spry roses....

Foxgloves

Such a pretty flower

the bees like to fly right up inside 

Here's a bee gathering pollen from the Pink Pavement Series rose.

Gertrude Jekyll

a really fragrant rose in The Humble Bungalow Garden.

William Shakespeare a David Austin red rose.

Our most recent David Austin rose Jubilee Celebration.

Rose Petals litter the garden

like pink snow.

Climbing Royal Sunset

this rose continues to amaze me

its a lush climber with an apricot rose 

whose fragrance smells heady and intoxicating.

I have not shared the Iceberg climber, Graham Thomas, Jude the Obscure, Abraham Darby, Joesph's Coat or the 4 Claire Austins in this post...

I am trying to figure out where in the garden that I can plant a few more roses!

Hope you have enjoyed these snippets of roses from our garden. 

Thank you for popping by The Humble Bungalow Blog.

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~