Waking in Sunshine...but not for long!

I awoke surprised to see the sunshine pouring in through the blinds last weekend.

The other surprise was the time...
9AM!

Sleeping in is so rare these days that when I realize that I have slept in
it comes as a SHOCK!

My morning luxury is to brew an espresso and serve it in a bowl with foamed milk.

This habit started in Paris and I have never looked back.

For me this starts my day off on a positive note.

I take a few minutes to check out Instagram, Facebook and read blogs.

After my shower I dress in my walking clothes...

this helps me stay motivated to go for my walk.

If I dress up in "going out" clothes right away 

I can find a million excuses NOT to go for a walk!

black yoga pants

a long top

puffy vest or puffy jacket 

(choice is dependent on the forecast)

sock and athletic shoes

 I took an alternate route

and ventured into the Ross Bay Cemetery.

It is very beautiful, peaceful, and full of all kinds of wildlife...

birds, squirrels, deer.

Heritage Trees form a canopy over the lanes.

The seafront is just beyond the edge of the grass...

you can see the seawall and ocean if you look closely.

Spectacular Autumn colours

Inside a crevice in a tree 

I spy fungi...

Not sure what kind of toadstools or mushrooms these might be but they look quite happy here...if fungi can actually be happy in its environment.

I would like to think that happiness on some level can be felt by all living things.

Speaking of happiness...

I must confess that I had my knickers in a twist...

not my usual comfortable happy place and I had to snap out of it.

I started going for my walk...

on the regular route.

Dozens maybe Hundreds

 of people running towards me.

Dear reader I had encountered a marathon!

A loud rock band was playing under a tent at the corner

there was a water station set up where runners were grabbing cups 

guzzling down the water and then tossing the cups willy nilly on the street.

I feared that I would be knocked over so I grumbled a bit under my breath and took off in another direction...the direction of the cemetery.

All in all it was a lovely walk and I felt totally refreshed when I came home.

~ Crunch crunch crunch crackle ~

the sounds under my feet as the dried leaves collapse.

~ water droplets on a leaf ~

~ the veins in these leaves are so pretty ~

There is so much beauty in the ordinary 

it is worth looking closely at every day things that we encounter.

What surprise might we see?

Orange and yellow dinner plate sized Dahlia 

still blooming in mid October in a garden on Hollywood Crescent.

This is Chester 

the little rascal will not stay off the table.

This is where I have my lap top and where I write my blog posts.

Perhaps this pose is his way of saying I am cute, really I am, 

and you know that you love me despite my hi jinx.

There are 3 storms forecast to hit our coast in the next few days and the weather experts are advising us to charge up all our devices, buy extra food and batteries and brace ourselves for power outages and possible flooding.

So if you don't hear from me for a few days 

you'll know why!

Thank you for stopping by The Humble Bungalow Blog.

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

Getting My Happy On...

If you follow me on Instagram you are probably already familiar with my frequent use of the "hashtag"....  #gettingmyhappyon

In a nutshell, they are the small things in life that make or keep me in a happy frame of mind.

So with that thought I wondered if you would participate in a wee exercise?

Are there any particular things that you do to keep yourself feeling upbeat and positive?

I could make a list, as I have done many times on The Humble Bungalow Blog but why not throw it open to you and see what ideas you have? Let's brainstorm and see what fun we might have sharing our individual hints.

Are your favourite "getting your happy on" habits free ?

Are they luxurious and expensive?

Or vintage, minimal, classic and timeless ?

Are they creative pursuits?

Do you prefer to be alone or in the company of others?

Does the beauty of nature play a big role in "getting your happy on?"

"Love is energy of life. "

~ Robert Browning ~

I look forward to reading your comments 

and I hope that we can inspire each other by sharing our thoughts and ideas.

Thank you for stopping by The Humble Bungalow Blog today.

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

Paris books...garden delights.

Memories of my trip last Spring to Paris have been flittering about in my mind...
by cultivating a few French habits this helps keep the feelings fresh and alive.

French Market Basket from Madison and Muse in the Cadboro Bay Village

Some things that help me recall my trip and french focus:

my morning ritual of a cafe creme served in a wide bowl...
the application of perfume
wearing pretty lingerie
nibbling a decadent croissant from time to time
walking in my neighbourhood and beyond
taking myself out for coffee and sitting outside watching the people walk by
reading about Paris in books and on blogs
perusing the produce and eating local fresh food that is "in season"
popping into a french charcuterie for lunch basics
harvesting our fresh home grown vegetables...our asparagus crop is amazing!
making a simple French vinaigrette
browsing in my French cookbooks

shopping in a French inspired store
I treated myself to a new French Market basket
a new linen apron
and a scarf!

a wee french inspired lunch

savoured at the table

with a large glass of sparkling Perrier

(if I was in France it probably would have been a glass of vin rose)

Heavy linen apron with large pockets...

great for cooking, cleaning and wearing in the garden.

(also from Madison and Muse)

I was on a roll and so why not buy a new linen scarf too?

Soft grey from Madison and Muse.

If you live in Victoria or come for a visit do yourself a favour and pop into the shop.

Margo, the owner, is very knowledgeable, has lived in France and her stock is sumptuous.

If I have a windfall I am heading straight to her shop to buy linen sheets...

happy shopping!

My Paris reading list has been getting larger 

especially after going to the library and Ivy's books on The Avenue

I have a few more on my book shelf waiting...

Our garden has a dedicated asparagus bed which is providing us with fresh picked asparagus.

We usually have this as an appetizer before our main course.

I pop it in a shallow pan with boiling water 

 let it sit in there bubbling for 5 minutes

drain and serve 

with a dollop of mayonnaise and a bit of salt and pepper.

Voila!

Strange things are happening to the rhubarb plants.

flowers are emerging

We have harvested several pickings 

 stewed the stalks to enjoy with a dollop of fresh yogurt.

oh and there is another strange thing growing in the garden...

looks like The Jack in The Pulpit plant.

I do not remember planting this!

Could it have come into the garden as a hitch hiker with another plant?

My goodness I am keeping my eye on this one.

Life is never dull when one has a garden to potter about in...nature is full of surprises!

Hope your weekend is full to the brim with lovely things.

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~