Showing posts with label gratitude. Show all posts
Showing posts with label gratitude. Show all posts

Tuesday, May 3, 2022

OOTD ~ vintage classics


~ OOTD ~

Burberry quilted jacket
Dex lace top
Eileen Fisher rayon pants
Ferragamo flats


Vintage eel skin bag
a mix of textures...
shiny, quilted, lacy, smooth
neutral shades


I shopped my closet...
for a celebratory birthday dinner out with our daughter and her husband.

I haven't forgotten "how" to dress up 
I am just "out of the habit!"

Gosh it felt wonderful going out for a delicious meal prepared by someone else 
and 
I didn't have to do the washing up!


Our garden is looking quite lovely.
Flowers are blooming, the grass is green and the roses are in bud.

There is so much to be grateful for in my daily round...

Chester our cat had surgery last week to remove a stone from his bladder.
He was very wobbly the first day and has continued to improve.
His appetite has come back and he has already gained weight.

I had been so very stressed with his failing health and am so relieved that we finally got a diagnosis and that surgery would fix the problem.

His early renal failure is going to be monitored closely,
we will continue to feed him the special food.
Hopefully he will be with us for a few more years.

He's such an affectionate little guy and has a very "big" personality.

In other news, 
I had my third IPL treatment for rosacea,
 my skin is looking much better.
The treatments are not too painful but they are expensive.

I purchased a skin repair cream by Skin Medica.
It is a rich thick cream that I apply before bedtime.
It soaks in and I have noticed my skin is much softer and hydrated.


Herbs are planted in pots by the basement door for easy picking.

I ordered a new Pasta cookbook and plan to try some new recipes.
My husband loves pasta and I make it once a week.

The book is an older publication, I found it at Thrift Books.

Healthy Pasta: The Sexy, Skinny, and Smart Way To Eat Your Favourite Food
It is written by Joseph Bastianich and Tanya Bastianich Manuali

Going to try a bunch of new recipes when it arrives.

How are things going with you?

Thank you for stopping by The Humble Bungalow Blog.

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

Monday, August 30, 2021

Quarterdeck Cottage ~ an oasis of peace.


We are at Quarterdeck Cottage this week...
we arrived with a bucket of fresh cut flowers from The Humble Bungalow Garden.

I couldn't resist bringing some of our roses.
Jude the Obscure, Julia Child and The McCartney rose fill the vase. 


Sunshine and the expansive views of the Salish Sea are such a tonic.

We went for a drive and walked along two different beaches 
beachcombing...collecting feathers and pieces of sea glass.

An artist has been busy creating some interesting carvings...





Building 
Driftwood structures are popular with many at the beach.





Our cottage time is so peaceful.

We sat out on the deck last night and gazed up at the stars... 
watched the brightly lit ferries as they passed by the cottage.

Feeling immense contentment here at the cottage.

Nature continues to amaze...

it renews our energies
inspires us
refreshes and invigorates.

The sound of the waves as they hit the rocky shore

the various bird songs
my favourite of which is the song of the purple martins

the breeze as it swishes the branches of the trees

all things that I have come to love and appreciate.

I've got a post to share with you soon...
we were fortunate to be able to host a dinner on the deck here with a fashion blogger and her husband and her lovely daughter.

We didn't take pictures of us all but I can share the menu.
If you want to get a sneak peak check out my Instagram post.

In closing, here's a picture of the other flowers that we brought to the cottage.


Sweet Peas
this summer we have enjoyed a bumper crop of these fragrant beauties.
The more we picked the blooms the faster they grew.
I cannot remember a summer when we had so many sweet peas.
They are cheap and cheerful and so worth the effort of growing them.

Hope that you are doing well and staying safe.

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

Monday, May 11, 2020

Love...

Feeling love...
possibly more intense in these precarious times that we are living in.


a brightly painted heart rock on my beach walk last week


Intense Blue Skies at McNeill Bay in Oak Bay.

This is the beach where I spent my childhood..
we lived 2 blocks from the beach and we loved exploring the seashore.


I found some pretty sea glass on my walk.


Feeling so grateful for the smallest of things each day...


 European Wall Lizard
one of many living in The Humble Bungalow Garden.


 ~ Muguet des Bois ~

Intoxicating...
a heavy heady fragrance
pure white elegance.

Mother's Day

Remembering my dear Mom today  
I think of her everyday
but miss her more on these "special" days.


Mother's Day garden visit
with gifts from darling daughter and her sweet husband.
Tokens of love.




Garden visit with our son.

Flowers...a handmade card made with love.


Warm weather over the weekend...
we broke two weather records for high temperatures!

Cats are content snoozing on our bed.


Yummy dinner of chicken baked potatoes 
with
freshly harvested asparagus which is growing in our garden.


Mount Baker as seen from Island View Beach.
A wee bit blurry...
 a magnificent sight to see.

So many things to see
to appreciate 
to love.

Hope that you are finding some bright spots in your daily round.


Our eyes can embrace the beauty that surrounds us all...

take a few moments breathe in the fresh air
in awe of Mother Nature and all her glory
stay calm
be well.


~ Be Well and Be Kind ~ 

Wednesday, April 29, 2020

Tulip Mania...and a surprise!

The Spring tulips are magnificent in colour and form...
tulip mania is very real here in The Humble Bungalow!



Intricate patterns and vibrant details.


I've been gardening in these pretty grey pearls...
a gift from our darling daughter.

Love this soft worn in chambray shirt from the Gap.
Its years old and a favourite of mine.

It is so very cozy and in these troubling times I am wearing only comfy clothes.
Cashmere, chambray and yes! Yoga pants.
Keeping it real here.

My days are slow paced and provide a variety of activities...
gardening, dusting, cooking, reading, knitting and walking.

I never know exactly how my days will shape up.

Coffee and checking in with social media and the news are the first things...
Sitting still and looking out the window
while quietly reflecting
on things that I am grateful for and that practise sets the tone for the day.


I don't usually gravitate toward suspense thrillers...
 this one by Shari Lapena caught my eye and WOW!

I read it in two days and was riveted to my seat!

The ending has a real twist!

Reading is such a fabulous distraction.

I am "escaping" every day through books during this pandemic.

How are you doing?

What are you reading?


Chester napping...he makes it look effortless to fall asleep!
I envy him...


Rosemarie who resides in Vancouver sent me these sweet socks.
Cheerful and soft, perfect for these cozy comfort clothing days...

Thank you Rosemarie.
XO


I am going to start reading this book later today.

In the meantime I am going to water the garden and do some laundry.
Routines help fill the time while we are staying home so much.

Are you keeping busy?

Stay safe

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

Saturday, April 25, 2020

April Showers bring May flowers...


Tulips are blooming in the glorious Sunshine.

With so much uncertainty in our world 
we are clinging to the comforting rituals and safety of our homes.


Feeling grateful for so much right now...

Food in the fridge and cupboards
hot water for baths and showers
scented soaps
candles
flowers
books
the cats
family
friends
our small cozy bungalow
fresh air
sunshine
walks outdoors


I loved this new book by Santa Montefiore.
This is the 4th book in The Deverill series and it did not disappoint!


Healthy dinner 
steamed assorted vegetables with a Tasty Bite package of Ancient Grain Mixture.

My digestive system has been really acting up...
major heartburn!
maybe it is caused by stress or just plain old age
it would appear that I have all the signs of a hiatus hernia.

I had a telephone call to my GP and I am on some new medication.
Hope that we have nipped it in the bud as there are not many other options right now with all the closures in place.


I've tidied up the pots on the patio.


Primula



Not sure why Chester was hanging out in the clawfoot tub?
He's so entertaining!


Am looking forward to reading this new book.
I placed an order with my favourite independent local book seller 
Ivy's Bookshop on Oak Bay Avenue.

 I am reading so many books during this pandemic...
it is a wonderful "escape" during these quiet weeks.


We have been washing our hands so many times each day that we are getting low on our favourite lemongrass liquid soap.

So I went online and purchased more soap from Nezza Naturals 
another local small business, we were able to pick up our order just outside their front door.

I do hope that we can help small business owners "stay afloat" until more "normal" business can resume.


What are you reading?

Have you been sewing masks?

How are you occupying your time at home?

Love to hear from you...
(use Google as Safari is not working if you want to leave a comment)

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

Tuesday, June 18, 2019

Embracing Joy...

Do you feel Joyful?


Joy definition...

a feeling of great pleasure and happiness.
"tears of joy"
synonyms: delight, great pleasure, joyfulness, jubilation, triumph, exultation, rejoicing, happiness, gladness, glee, exhilaration, ebullience, exuberance, elation, euphoria, bliss, ecstasy, transports of delight, rapture, radiance


What do you enjoy in your daily round?


I've thought about what brings me pleasure on a daily basis.
After due consideration,
I discovered its really the simple things that bring me Joy.


Starting each morning with a mug of hot coffee...
with some quiet time to check my email, social media, and perhaps read a chapter in my current book.

A shower with fragrant soap or body wash, drying off with a pure linen towel and then applying some emollient lotion.

Washing my face and gently applying a rich serum followed by moisturizer.


Domestic routines are followed...

simple chores like making the bed
tidying up the kitchen
emptying the dishwasher
starting the laundry

these jobs are important home keeping rituals.

An organized home is less stressful for me personally
so staying on top of the mess and clutter is imperative.


Getting out for a walk every day.

Looking at the homes and gardens as I pass by
listening to the songs of the birds...
gazing across the ocean to the snow capped mountains
as I walk along the seafront.



Other things that bring Joy;

family
friends
gardening
roses roses roses!!!!
flowers
tasty healthy food
(cooking)
afternoon tea sipped from a beautiful china cup and saucer
thrift shopping
good books
scented candles
sunshine
a cozy cashmere sweater
comfy jeans
pearls
decluttering
donating to charity
a bouquet of David Austin roses picked fresh from the garden



                 ~ giving simple gifts ~

food...homemade soup, a frittata, or a casserole
delivering a posy of flowers
sharing a good book
a jar of jam and some fresh baked scones
soap with a handknit dishcloth
beeswax candles wrapped in a linen tea towel

"Giving" is rewarding and it is something I really enjoy...


There are so many things that bring Joy into our lives...
what are the things that you find bring you Joy?


I almost forgot to mention how much I love collecting sea glass!


and heart shaped rocks!!

So now its your turn to share what brings you joy...
please leave a comment if you have time.


Thank you for stopping by The Humble Bungalow Blog today.

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~