April Showers ~ Bring May Flowers

 

There is a smattering of rain outside today.

The gardens need the moisture.

The weather is mild and there is a symphony of birdsong.

Hummingbirds are flitting about...

I've been following the advice of the physiotherapist and kinesiologist.

Exercising and walking daily.

My new hip is getting a workout...

actually I think it is the muscles

that are getting the exercise and feel much more stronger.

I'm feeling less dependant on my cane and am now able to sleep better.

Thank goodness I can sleep on my side now.

The surgeon suggested that I buy some silicone cream, 

apply and gently massage the scar.

He told me that plastic surgeons tell their patients to do this...

This is my routine now after my morning shower and before I go to bed at night.

I went to the mall to buy some white pants...

Bagatelle wide legged pants in my size came home with me.

I took a picture but it is such a bad photo...

the outfit looks terrible but you get the idea of the pants.

Pants that fit are scarce (rare as hen's teeth) in my closet 

since losing almost 25 pounds.

I've had a couple of emails about my weight loss and how I achieved it...

 it started last October after meeting the surgeon.

It was gently suggested that if I lost some weight that I would not be in as much pain.

WOW!

That's what I needed to hear.

The pain was BAD.

So I cut out all alcohol.

(my daily wine was just a habit)

I started eating more protein and removing most breads and starchy carbs.

My lunches are Greek high protein plain yogurt, fresh fruit, and some chopped walnuts.

 ~ OR ~

Simple green salad with 2 hard boiled eggs and a homemade vinaigrette.

(I add a few nuts and sliced French pickles)

Dinners are lean chicken or fish, a couple servings of seasonal steamed veggies.

Every so often I add a baked potato or small portion 3/4 cup of rice.

For the first 6 months NO SWEETS.

Now I have a few pieces of chocolate or a couple of digestive biscuits with my afternoon tea.

I've had a few muffins when I have gone out for coffee, some biscotti and cookies.

These treats mean I compensate by walking more or cutting back on my main meals.

I'm wearing KUR Veil #8 by Londontown.

I need to paint several coats to get this darker coverage.

The shade is pretty and I like how easy the Kur polishes are to apply.

I found the cutest top by Cut Loose at Adventure Clothing on Oak Bay Avenue.

It has a crinkly texture and I adore the stripes.

The pockets are a cute detail too...

 

This will work with my black pants, jeans and the new white pants.

~ Anemone ~

Ground cover in The Humble Bungalow Garden.

Love the "almost periwinkle" blue shade.

We have a white one out front and this one is on the side near the slate patio.

We hung this vintage mirror last year before the Teeny Tiny Garden Tour.

The Hospice fundraiser had us perking up the garden for several weeks and we saw this idea in another garden and a friend gave us this mirror so we painted it black.

I quite like the effect...

All our garden furniture is black...

several iron tables and chairs 

the 2 new

Adirondack chairs are black.

Lots of our pots are black too...black seems to be a good background for colours.

New black cushions for the front porch.

My usual red geraniums...

after planting, sweeping and fluffing the cushions

I brewed a pot of tea and sat on the front porch and enjoyed the peace and quiet.

~ Flowers are wonderful ~

So many varieties, colours and forms.

I love seeing flowers on my walks and when I wander around our garden.

I think I have "aged" since my surgery...

my skin feels drier and I am now using a facial moisturizing oil from Merit.

Drinking more water as I think I need to add moisture from the inside out :-))

My body has been working overtime to heal too so it might be tired.

Losing weight has shown on my face...

more wrinkles have appeared.

Well I am 71 so that's what should I expect.

I do feel like I am getting stronger and my sleep has improved.

Getting outside in the fresh air and sunshine does give me a boost.

My energy seems to be improving too...

(will work on getting stronger and report back soon with an update)

Well that's enough about me...How are YOU?

Hope that you are doing well.

Leave a comment and let me know what's new.

Thank you for stopping by The Humble Bungalow Blog.

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

September ~ Mid month musings...

 

Sunny Yellow Dahlias are putting on a bright and bold showing.

We've planted these in a vintage garden wheelbarrow and parked it out front.

The flowers are continuously blooming...

 I suspect they will be around for another month.

I've picked a few on occasion, 

I like to leave most of them on the plant for maximum effect!

There are so many beautiful and different varieties of Dahlias.

 I think I need to find a few more varieties for the Humble Bungalow Garden.

Mom used to grow Dahlias.

Some she called "dinner plate dahlias"

they were the size of a dinner plate...

with spiky petals.

Mom had a bed dedicated just for growing Dahlias...about 6 foot X 20 feet.

A rainbow of colours and a variety of forms...

She would pick bunches and bring them inside our home, 

scattering them in most every room...including the bathroom.

I think she used ALL her vases for these displays.

Recently I had a very lucky day at the thrift shops...

I drove out to Brentwood Bay and Sidney and had a good look.

Circe is a book that I have been meaning to read for many years.

Vintage Linen napkins X 4

Glass Flower Frog

Silver Sugar Bowl that matches my Harrods Teapot and Creamer!

The sugar bowl has been on my radar for several years...

this one has a monogram, unfortunately not our initials.

(I figure it just adds to the charm.)

Do you like to go thrifting?

What is your favourite thrift shop find?

The simple silver tea set...

2 thrifted tea strainers...one is sterling, the other is silver plate.

~ Vintage Royal Albert Canterbury China ~

This pattern is for afternoon Teas...

I have some side plates and a couple of cake plates.

Fortunately I found most of these pieces locally in thrift and consignment shops.

This is one of the Birks gold earrings that my husband gave me 45 years ago...

they were a grand gesture gift for Christmas when I was a stay at home mom.

Two babies and we were scraping by 

with not a lot of cash leftover from our expenses...

when to my surprise and delight my husband gave them to me.

A few days ago one fell into the toilet 

as it was flushing and I couldn't grab it in time.

The sadness that followed was profound...there were tears.

I have worn these throughout the years and I felt they were priceless.

Sentimentally I felt like I had lost something really BIG.

After a couple of days, and encouragement from our daughter and my husband...

I went to a local shop Old N Gold and found another pair.

Slightly bigger and the gold on these is twisted...

(Italian earrings)

I traded in the solo earring and walked out of the shop wearing this new pair.

As someone on Instagram said...it's a new chapter.

Have you ever lost a piece of jewellry that meant a lot?

Did you replace the item?

After Yoga I popped into Adventure Clothing on Oak Bay Avenue...

I saw a cute pair of jeans that are wider and cropped.

They were on display with a shirt from the Cornish brand Seasalt.

I tried them on and really liked the fit...

they are by the company French Dressing.

The printed Seasalt Shirt was really pretty but I don't usually wear prints.

Stripes yes, but prints...not so much.

Do they look like Sailor pants?

Pedal Pushers?

Well I LOVE them whatever they are called...

I've been having fun styling them with items that I already have in my wardrobe...

for example:

white linen top and jacket

white Tee and blue and white striped Ralph Lauren oversized shirt

Long sleeve white top with a hand knit Miriam sweater in a teal blue shade.

I am thinking I need some red cowboy boots to wear with these this Fall!

Our dwarf apple trees are full this year and we have a grand harvest...

Chehalis apples (above) are green and slightly tart.

Liberty are a bit sweeter...

Both are great eating apples.

 I also use them for pies and crisps.

Do you have fruit trees?

I picked some hydrangeas in hopes to dry them...

these are different from the Limelight and Annabelle hydrangeas.

We have two plants and one is rose coloured, the other is blue.

They grow side by side and I wonder if the soils PH is different?

My mom used to say that hydrangeas can change their colour

 simply by adding copper pennies...

I am not sure if this is true or an "old wives tale?"

Do you know if it works? 

Have you tried to change the colour of your hydrangeas?

Well that's about all the chit chat news I can think of sharing right now...

hope that your September is off to a great start.

Autumn will be here before we know it in our part of the world.

(Some of you are just heading into Spring!)

Take care and thank you for taking the time to stop by and read my blog..

~ Boscobel Roses ~

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

What's in my make-up bag? September starts...

 

My washable make-up bag from the local Pharmasave.

It holds all the tools that I need for my 5 minute face routine...

Do you recognize any of these products?

Jane Iredale face powder foundation ~ "Satin"

Marcelle eye shadow palette ~ Plum Perfect

Marcelle Kohl eye pencil ~ Black

Marcelle Fortifying and Lengthening Mascara ~ Black

Marcelle lipsticks ~ Loving Red and Living Rose

L'Oreal lipstick ~ #251 Wisteria Rose

I like a light hand and a simple approach to make up...

like a French Woman.

What are your "go to" products?

Do you like a certain brand or are you tempted to try new products?

Our lovely neighbours next door dropped off a bouquet of flowers,

to welcome us back from our holiday at the cottage.

Chester seems to be drawn to the flowers!

He is in fine form...

full of snuggles and enjoying his cat toys.

He was cared for by our wonderful cat and house sitter Tina.

XO

He tried to sleep in our bed when we got back...

it did not go well, I hardly slept a wink that first night!

He kept waking me up licking my face and "kneading" my hair!

He must have missed me?

So he's snoozing outside the door on the rug at night which seems fine...

he must be missing Pepper as they used to sleep very close together.

Often on the same small fuzzy cat blanket.

Thank you for all your kind messages and condolences

 on the passing of our beloved Pepper.

The Hollyhocks are still in bloom.

Some of the roses have had another flush of flowers.

The garden is a riot of hydrangea blooms too...

am going to try and pick some to dry for inside the Humble Bungalow.

I am on the hunt for "alum" which is supposed to help the blooms stay fresh.

I've had a few days at home to get back into the swing of things here...

the sourdough starter has been refreshed and a boule was baked this morning.

I've made a batch of fresh pasta and we plan to make a lemon and prawn sauce

with grated parmigiana reggiano.

The recipe is simple...

September is here and the weather is already cooler...

such a quick change.

I'll be back in the Yoga Studio this week, I've missed my sessions.

and

I have an appointment to get my hair cut which always perks me up!

What have you got planned for your week?

Thank you for popping by The Humble Bungalow Blog.

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

On the cusp of the Hospice Teeny Tiny Garden Tour....

 Dear Readers....

I have been totally immersed in preparing our Humble Bungalow Garden for the Annual Hospice Teeny Tiny Garden Tour...that is why I have not been posting.

It is for a good cause...

My husband and I have been devoting most of our waking hours to get ready for this upcoming garden tour. This is our first experience with a Garden Tour and we are doing it in memory of my beloved mom. She spent her last days in our local Hospice and the staff were amazing...kind and considerate and so supportive of all of us.

We heard that 650 tickets were sold!!!

I plan to give away one of my "mud pie" paintings...no need to donate but if you are on the tour please feel free to pop in a toonie...and enter the draw.

Good Luck !

I am feeling rather knackered tonight so will just add some photos...

Constance Spry Rose

Climbing Rose Graham Thomas

A struggling Limelight Hydrangea planted in a pot...

fingers crossed it gets better!

Green grass and a huge Hosta!!

Candlestick Primulas...

In the "new bed" last year we dug up and planted a new bed...

10 feet by 4 feet...

I dug it up when I had my broken ankle.

Dedicated gardeners might be able to relate..

NEEDS MUST :-))

Two chairs to sit in which I think we need to sit in soon...

I'd like a cold icy Gin and Tonic...

maybe on Monday

(after the tour?)

Back patio near the basement door...lots happening here...

so much more than meets the eye!

Lewissia

Red Geraniums

the hummingbirds love these.

They have been buzzing by us each day that we have been working in the garden.

Perhaps they are cheering us on?

So many roses here in The Humble Bungalow!

We counted 30 at one time but we recently lost a few so perhaps we have 25 now?

Sunday is the day...

Big green glass Italian bottle...hidden among the plants.

Do you think people will see it?

The potting table...

my "work" area.

Roses growing above the raised beds...

Don't poke your eye out when gardening...

pop a pot on top of the bamboo stake.

Clematis atop of the pride of London ground cover...

coral bells and to the left a day lily.

If you purchased tickets for this worthy event

and are coming to The Humble Bungalow Garden

PLEASE say hello...

I would like to meet you ALL!

My MOM would be so excited if she were still here...

Thank you to all the dedicated nurses and doctors who help us everyday.

Best to all of you and thank you for stopping by to read my post.

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~