A rabbit hole...and a 5 year blog anniversay giveaway.

On a grey day while walking I almost fell into a "rabbit hole" that appeared on the path right in front of me.
Looking around I noticed the grey gloom, the cold and heavy mist hanging like curtains almost hiding the trees.

On a day like this we could use some sunshine and light,
a bright punch of colour would be a great mood lifter...

Mushrooms 

Leaves

Autumn Trees on a sunny day so much lovelier and distinctly more beautiful.

Colour is Mother Nature's best accessory...

which got me thinking

about some of my choices 

which at the time seemed sensible and prudent 

but now feel "boring and plain."

A prime example here is "the clutch."

I own several clutches and most are black except

 for this vintage gun metal grey bag...

This one is hands down the most useful due to it's size but it could be in a brighter shade...

Hmmm....

Looks like there's a bit of a copy cat thing happening here with the ridges in bedding and the bag.

Vintage Nordstrom

Paired with the Lisa Campione skirt

Chanel inspired tweed jacket Jeremy Spenser

I'd opt for one of the black bags with this jacket.

It works with the black Velvet Jones of NY fancy pants.

not so much with the wrap top by Laura Petites...

I'd use one of the black bags with this top.

Sherman brooch

Aurora Borealis Sherman brooch

Boucher pin

unknown maker

I like to think of it as my St.Tropez brooch

Gumball Freshwater Pearls...

anniversary gift from my husband several years ago

Vintage coin necklace

Salt Spring Island silversmith artisan designed silver bangle

Venus flytrap necklace J Crew

I'm going to keep my eyes open for a classic clutch in a brighter shade.

If you have been reading my blog for awhile you'll know how much I love drinking tea.

I find teatime a wonderful opportunity to sit in peace and quiet. 

I count my blessings

and reflect on all that is good in my life.

If I am having a gloomy day I always reach for a cheerful bone china cup and saucer.

Sipping tea out of a pretty cup is so soothing to the soul.

 I try lots of different teas...

I have developed a fondness for Lapsang Souchong Tea.

It is a smokey tea and quite different from others that I have tried and I highly recommend it.

Abraham Darby Rose

You might also know that I am a passionate rose grower and I love David Austin roses.

Climbing Iceberg with Lady's Mantle on the table and in the background atop the cabinet Abraham Darby.

It's been quite a journey...

since I started blogging back in November of 2009.

I've learned a lot about myself in these 5 years.

I lost 30 pounds through Weight Watchers

took up walking for fitness

discovered my personal style

 honed my wardrobe 

I retired

I decided to follow my dream and plan a trip to Paris

I've started taking French lessons

and am trying to figure out how to pack for 3 weeks in France in a carry on!

I hope you come back frequently and read my humble blog

In celebration of the blog's 5 year anniversary I have decided to give a gift to one of my readers.

Please leave a comment telling me what you like best about my blog.

A Bone China mug with roses, of course, and a tea towel.

All the entries will go into a bowl and I'll draw one name.

The giveaway closes on November 29th, 2014 at midnight PST.

If you are the winner you'll need to email me at bungalowhostess@gmail.com with your mailing address.

Good luck!

A Plethora of Pink...and the winner of the giveaway!

I am taking you along with me on my walk today.
The sun is shining and warmth is in the air...
we are meandering slowly through the neighbourhood with no destination in mind.
There is no need to hurry so we are going to stop frequently and look up at the trees and the blue sky.

Pink is the colour lining our local streets...plums and cherry trees are dressed in their lacy finery.

When the wind blows their wee pink petals rain down like confetti.

I've been playing around with IPhoto and am thinking that the black and white images would be fun to enlarge print and frame for wall art.

Moss Street runs from Fort Street to Dallas Road.

The boulevards are home to pink plums and cherry blossom trees...

two different types of trees are planted and every other one blooms a few weeks apart.

Blooming in succession for a fabulous display.

Frothy and fluffy

pretty even

in black and white.

The trees have a very soft scent that wafts in the air when we stand underneath.

Sepia looks interesting too...

and the blooming has just started!

there are lots of buds yet to pop.

These make lovely indoor floral displays...

We have finished our walk.

 It is time to draw the name of the commenter who will receive the book, tea and bath salts.

I said I would draw the name at midnight tonight but I am too tired to stay up that late so I changed the rules.

I guess since I made the rules I have the authority to change them.

 The new time is 9 o'clock.

Drum roll please...

The giveaway goes to...Jeannine from Wisconsin

please email me your mailing address information so that I can send the package in the post.

Thank you to all the readers who left comments.

I love to hear from you, your comments and emails are important to me.

Hostess

Life is not perfect.

Do I paint a picture that my life is "perfect" here on The Humble Bungalow Blog?
It might seem so because I opt not to air the dirty laundry in public...

I don't believe that anyone lives without challenges or bumps in the road... that they do not suffer.
Some of us suffer in silence, telling only a very few, those near and dear.
We choose to press on in spite of these challenges and make the most of everyday.
I make a point of not complaining...

I am grateful to be alive and count my blessings and lucky stars every day.

Waking up to a fresh new day is a gift...

the fresh new day is waiting to unfold.

What is perfection?

One online dictionary had the following...

per·fec·tion  [per-fek-shuhn]
noun
1.
the state or quality of being or becoming perfect.
2.
the highest degree of proficiency, skill, or excellence, as in some art.
3.
a perfect embodiment or example of something.
4.
a quality, trait, or feature of the highest degree of excellence.
5.
the highest or most nearly perfect degree of a quality or trait.

Perfection is hard to measure...
What score would you choose to rate your life?
Would you give it a letter grade?
A pass or fail?
...or perhaps an incomplete?

If I were to write a report card it may say
"The Hostess's life is a work in progress....she needs to pay more attention to the beauty in the ordinary and not get herself so wrapped up with the things that she cannot control. She needs to let go of those things that are giving her grief and move on.

With that report card in mind I am making it my mission to seek out beauty.
Those small every day things that enrich our lives.
I plan to think and look closer starting today, and every day for the forthcoming weeks.
I'll be taking you along with me as I plan to post some of them here on the blog.

I noticed that one of the baristas at our local Starbucks brought in a little posy.

This small bundle of joy was appreciated by all who were waiting in line.

It didn't take that much effort to stop and pick a few blossoms and pop them in a jug.

Small indulgences such as these flowers make a huge difference in how we view our days.

Lone camellia bloom petals sprinkled by the rain drops.

A lovely flush of pink flowers on a rhododendron.

Pretty pink plum and cherry trees are blooming throughout our fair city.

Just stopping and looking is enough to lift the spirit.

Here's our favourite little Miss.

Pretty darn perfect in Grammy's eyes.

She picked a dandelion for her mummy and she gave me a rock from the garden!

The best things in life really are free!

A gift from the heart is a joy to receive.

"To see a world in a grain of sand and heaven in a wild flower 

Hold infinity in the palms of your hand and eternity in an hour."

~ William Blake ~

I've had a newsy email about what to see and do in Paris from a reader from Calgary.

 She has also shared some very valuable tips...

thank you CM!

You are kind and thoughtful to have taken the time to write such a detailed account of your experiences in Paris.

Don't forget to enter the giveaway.

It closes at midnight on Monday.

Have a great weekend!

Post 1000 ~ GOLD and a GIVEAWAY!

Well I think we might be in for a wee celebration...on two counts.
This happens to be post number 1000 and I am a bit taken aback that it seems just so impossible.
I still remember the trepidation I felt when I finished my first blog post and pressed "publish."
Here's the other cause for celebration....it's a key and it's GOLD!

The Golden Key which signifies that I am a Lifetime Member of Weight Watchers.

The key chain and the awards I have collected on this weight loss journey.

It's been quite the ride!

I was a little uncertain about my weigh in this week because we were out for a birthday celebration at a local Italian establishment that caters dinners.

13 people were gathered at the table for the multiple course meal and the wine flowed.

We started with a tomato herb and garlic bruschetta.

Prawns in white wine, butter and garlic.

Pasta with a sprinkle of Parmesan and basil leaves.

I only ate about a third of this as it is loaded in WW  points!

Sauteed peppers, zucchini, butter browned chicken breasts with a wine reduction.

I ate all the veggies and about half of the chicken breast.

Followed by a palate cleanser of simple salad with a vinaigrette dressing.

Dessert was a delicious chocolate mousse cake.

I had a small piece and ate every morsel!

"Desire is the key to motivation, but it's determination and commitment to an unrelenting pursuit of your goal - a commitment to excellence - that will enable you to attain the success you seek."

~ Mario Andretti ~

With all this celebrating going on here in The Humble Bungalow...I think a giveaway is in order.

 I'd like to take this opportunity to honour the people who follow my blog.

To enter you must be a follower and you need to leave me a comment.

I am specifically looking for feedback on which post topics you most enjoy and if there is anything that you'd like me to write about, something perhaps that I have not covered in these 1000 posts.

I am not making any promises I am merely posing the question!

The giveaway consists of...

A wonderful novel...

Silk Road bath salts in Bliss....my personal favourite blend!

 Silk Road Velvet Potion chocolate tea which I sampled around Valentine's Day and think is quite lovely.

Please enter before midnight PST on Monday March 24th, 2014.

I'll choose one entry based on the comment and will post the name of the recipient sometime the following week.

Please keep reading The Humble Bungalow Blog and check back to see if you are the winner.

 You'll need to email me your mailing address so I can send the parcel on it's way!

Bonne Chance!