Renewal: refreshed, recharged, re-energized and "retail-ed!"

The past weekend was full to the brim with simple joys and bright moments which have left me feeling energized.
I have come out of a dark mood and into the light...

My morning cafe creme routine starts with counting my blessings,
I sit quietly reflecting on all the good things in life embracing and adopting the attitude of gratitude to set the tone for the day. I have found this to be very powerful and it changes the way that I see and interpret life events.

Mr HB and I walked in Chinatown...through Fan Tan Alley.

Victoria's Fan Tan Alley

My husband took me out for lunch at The Fan Tan Cafe, a popular Chinese food restaurant in our city's historic chinatown. It was busy, the service was great and we sipped our tea and chatted while we waited for our food. The food was not "totally WW friendly" (noodles were involved!) but the seafood chow mien was chock full of veggies which were so lightly cooked that they were still rich in colour, crisp and delicious.

Here's my fortune cookie and the fortune inside...

I did a wee bit of shopping at the Fan Tan Home Decor and Style shop.

A black dress by Angela Mara made in Italy.

Soft, cozy and the fabric is heavy enough that it does not cling but skims the body which is just the way I like a dress to fit.

It feels like a warm hug.

It was 50% off so I pounced on it and I said YES to the dress!

I plan to keep my eye on this shop as they have quite a few styles that I like.

I wore it out to dinner on Saturday evening when we dined with friends.

This lovely bouquet was a thoughtful gift from my nearest and dearest friend.

She bought it from those darling gals who run Thorn and Thistle Flowers.

They carry such pretty flowers and their plants are amazing...

our Christmas Amaryllis is an indication of their high quality plants.

They sell other things too and now offer coffee and treats

and they now located are in my old neighbourhood.

Sunday I cleaned house and went for my walk.

I opened a new bar of fragrant Verbena soap 

 it is currently scenting our main bathroom.

This soap was from my Mom's condo...

she loved the Verbena scent but she never used it as she loved her Pears soap.

While on the topic of fragrance and scents...

It was time to open a new scented candle.

This one was in the box from 

My Stylish French Box.

I am busy trying to finish my latest knitting project so that I can start my new one!

Have you got a project on the go?

Hope that your week ahead is positive

and filled with 

 lightness and cheer.

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

Mother Nature's paintbrush...

Frosty morning at Quarter Deck Cottage.

The peace and quiet is restorative and so soothing.

Time to slow down, reflect and take stock of all our blessings.

Rainy morning

time to take a moment and be grateful.

Savouring the stillness and listening to what is in our heart...

taking notes and planning

perhaps trying something new.

Perfect time for hunkering down with a great book.

I was sad when I finished this book as I did not want my session at Parisian Charm School to end!

Jamie and I will be collaborating on a blog post about her newest book 

which BTW I totally LOVE!

Clouds lifting and the sun is starting to make an appearance...

hope to get out for a walk in the crisp air.

Time to go for a walk...

a gentle breeze

sunshine

the gulls are swooping and diving into the Salish Sea.

Serene and pristine Peter Cove.

A snug little bay with mooring buoys for the boats of the summer residents.

Kelp and driftwood wash up on the beaches after the storms.

The glorious beauty of Mother Nature at every turn...

so grateful to be alive and in this magical place.

Watching the ferries come and go...

the gentle ebb and flow of the tides

the rhythm that is humming just outside our door.

Our tray on the coffee table with a simple sea inspired collection

shells from the beaches

a few feathers gathered on our walks

the piece of coral a gift from a dear friend

a lavender soy candle made on the island.

The dining room table dressed in a similar fashion.

A book found in the used section of the Island Book Shop...

a new day dawns

there will be ferries to watch

ravens will be cawing

with a mug of hot coffee in hand

my thoughts stray 

as I watch the waves on The Salish Sea beyond our deck.

Views from the sofa...

change as the morning light moves across the Salish Sea

illuminating the trees and valleys 

of Vancouver Island...

Hope that you are safe and snug in your part of the world.

Thank you for popping by The Humble Bungalow Blog today.

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

The Power of Colour....

With so much turmoil in our world one doesn't like to add to the load by being a "cranky" so I gave myself a talking to...

Mother would be the first to point this out
her "voice" a gentle reminder which I have taken to heart...

Thanks Mom.

Attitude of Gratitude.

Jude the Obscure is STILL BLOOMING!

Love the tinges of red on the petals...

they are usually all yellow so this is new and I wonder why?

Is it morphing into its former root stock?

Amazing that there are so many buds and blooms and in December!

Another thing to be grateful for...roses.

Can you see the silver Christmas balls hanging from the pergola?

Mr. HB strung up our Christmas lights and hung the baubles.

In the next image you can see the lights on the back deck strung with the climbing Royal Sunset rose.

Jamie sent me her new book...it is an advanced reading copy.

Her books are such fun to read...she is a lovely person too.

I went on her Ooh La La Paris tour a few years ago.

Jamie has that "joie de vive" and she is an inspiration...

I love her positive energy.

Will be posting on this book after reading the book.

I may decide to post an interview with Jamie on the blog.

I think that would be fun!

The weather has been moody and grey this past week.

Dallas Road looks across Juan de Fuca Strait

where we are able observe lots of interesting cloud patterns.

This view is from The Esplanade where Mom and I walked regularly...

SO

 my resolve for not buying anything new was tested

 when I spied these RED 

Josef Seibel flats at 50% off

BUT

a great way to add some much needed energy and cheer into these gloomy days.

An icy modernist Tapio Wirkkala vase from the second hand shop

smaller than the vintage Wirkkala Tree of Life vase

that I received for Christmas

a gift from Mr. HB at 17

meant for long stemmed red roses...

Mom did not have a vase tall enough to place the dozen long stemmed roses 

that he gave me on Valentines Day

so

 we had to cut them down!!

Can you imagine his shock when he saw them cut in half?

Wise move that he gifted a taller vase which I have kept and cherish and am reminded of that snippet from the past whenever I use it!

 This shorter vase will be perfect for tulips.

Perhaps even some red flowers?

Adding some festive touches to our front porch.

Simple green boughs and red Ilex berries make a cheery display.

Red seems to be the colour of the moment here in The Humble Bungalow.

It has certainly perked me up and been a much needed mood shifter.

Thank you for stopping by...

A dear reader sent me an email asking about the sugar cookies that I baked, 

she wanted the recipe.

Here is my friend Bryce's recipe...

I use butter instead of the margarine 

 I dip the cookies into red or green sugar sprinkles gently flattening them just a wee bit before pacing them on the cookie sheet.

My oven is not as hot so I bake the cookies for about 13-15 minutes

but keep an eye on them as they are not meant to brown.

This recipe doubles well too.

Enjoy!

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

Thrift shopping...OOTD

The Thrift Shops have been so good to me lately...

This freshly purchased vintage leather bag is coming home.

I have posted about how I have been lusting after the Mulberry Amberley bag.

 The Oxblood leather is sumptuous

the details are simple 

classic and stylish.

I have been slow...

hesitating to make a move 

for several reasons...

there is no store here in Victoria or Vancouver 

where I can see and try on it on

the price point is higher than what I usually spend

so I have been re-evaluating

so when I saw this vintage bag 

which is made with embossed leather

about the same size

with a flap and similar interior compartments

I decided to give it a try.

OOTD

The new Ralph Lauren denim shirt 

with my skinny NYDJ jeans

Clark flats

Casual dressing making the rounds at the thrift shops 

paired with a silk scarf tied at the neck.

This shirt will get plenty of outings...

I am considering wearing it with:

 a boiled wool grey skirt and pearls

black skinny Calvin Klein knit pants

white denim NYDJ jeans

Ralph Lauren pull on denim pants

black leggings and a black Barbour quilted vest

Not sure why I have not had a denim or chambray shirt in my wardrobe for so many years...

I feel like I have been missing out on a major workhorse in ones repertoire!

I also found a lighter blue Tencel shirt with similar features...

am wearing it today with black leggings.

Feeling such gratitude for so many reasons...

friends, family, grandchildren, a roof over our head, our cozy home, the cats, flowers in our garden, the veggies that Mr. HB so lovingly cultivates and grows,

I vow NEVER EVER to take life for granted.

It's a beautiful rainy morning

one of the first Fall days.

Hope you have a fabulous week!

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

Cruising recap...The Long Weekend in May

The long weekend weather was given a favourable forecast so we took to the sea.

Snug and Cozy tied up at a little marina at Genoa Bay.

Mother's Day flowers made the trip.

Tasty Lime Margaritas on the deck of the cafe.

Floral lined lanes nearby made for some spectacular walks.

The bees were busy working in the hot sunshine.

Dinner plate sized tree peonies were in full bloom.

It was lovely to get away and relax in the peace and quiet.

Healthy meals, a comfy bunk, friends nearby, a good book.

Simple luxuries while aboard our small boat.

Feeling grateful and thankful as I write this post...

reflecting on all the good things in life.

I have some garden photos to share with you soon.

Until next time...

XO

Gratitude...

Thank you for your kind thoughts,
supportive comments
all of the lovely emails behind the scenes...
they have meant so much to me, they cheer me up and really make a difference.

Some of you are sharing pictures of your beautiful roses,
your gardens full of flowers
green verdant pastures
and beaches from continents far away.

There is so much beauty in our world...
not a day goes by that I do not find something beautiful to lift my spirits.

It could be the darling faces of our grandchildren,
the cheerful daffodils blooming in the garden,
or blue skies overhead dotted with puffy white clouds.

Thankfully these simple joys are not too hard to find in my daily round...
and for that I am very grateful.

These cheerful yellow Gerbera daisies were given to our lovely DIL when we took the "littles" out for lunch this week.

I planted up the urn at the bottom of the stairs of The Humble Bungalow

 New Zealand Flax and primulas.

They look good even sprinkled with raindrops...

I got soaked on my walk today.

The skies opened up and the rain pelted down and soaked right though my coat.

When I left home the skies were blue and the sun was out and in the matter of an hour the skies darkened and the clouds let go...

Friends from France sent me a birthday gift several weeks ago and I have been remiss in not sharing the lovely contents of the parcel.

Fragonard soaps and dotted French socks.

Do you love getting parcels in the mail?

I do, especially when they are filled with such beautiful surprises!

Yesterday I made pasta with spicy tomato and Italian sausage.

I cooked diced onions and red peppers in oil 

then I added slices of the hot Italian sausages and cooked them until they were no longer pink

popped in a jar of Italian passata sauce 

and added sliced black olives, some anchovies and spices.

The sauce tastes better if you leave it simmering on low for at least an hour.

Cook the pasta and when it is al dente

ladle the sauce over top and grate a bit of parmesan cheese on top.

Enjoy!

Retail therapy today...

This spotted dress is called a swing dress for a reason...

it has a lovely weight to it and actually swings when you wear it!

I had thought I needed some colour and I still may...

but when I put this dress on I just KNEW it was a great choice for me.

I own a few other pieces by Gilmour and they are fabulous, 

made in Vancouver and reasonably priced.

Thank you for stopping by The Humble Bungalow.

The attitude of gratitude is my mantra...

whats yours?

Hope you have a great week.

XO

Earthquake!

We awoke this morning to hear the news of a severe earthquake in New Zealand. Darling daughter and her husband are honeymooning in NZ...
currently they are staying in Wellington
we have heard that the magnitude was 7. 5 and that there were tsunamis predicted...

Thankfully they are safe...

Their hotel is located very close to the waterfront and they were evacuated from their hotel after the quake in the middle of the night.

They have been allowed back inside to their suite.

Plaster has fallen down inside the hotel and there are cracks in the ceilings...

some apartments nearby on Market Lane have sustained significant damage.

The live streaming NZ news coverage is actually quite good...

(I admit that I am not a news junkie)

 It is so different when ones family is in the middle of an event.

We have been able to chat with them on What's App.

They are planning to travel to Blenheim in the Marlborough area on the South Island where family live.

The ferries, railways, buses are not running today.

Some roads are cracked, there are land slides, buildings are damaged and some homes have collapsed.

We know the risks of earthquakes as we are in a zone where two underground plates are merging... the "Big One" is predicted but we do not know when it will happen.

Our earthquake kit is much better stocked than before...

we have added warm blankets, tarps, tools, gloves, canned food, a cook stove,

and many more small items that may come in handy

I hope we will never need to use it but at least we have a few things put by.

I hope to calm down now that we know they are safe...

I am planning to pick up my knitting needles and start another project.

The baby bonnet for Mira is finished...

it knit up quite quickly and I am excited to see if it fits!

My knitted poncho is finished...

I wore it two days in a row!

Burberry scarf and the poncho with my NYDJ.

Lovely baroque pearl brooch, a gift several years ago from darling daughter.

Feeling so thankful and grateful...

Must close for now...

Take care and thank you for stopping by my Humble Bungalow Blog.

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~