September routines...

September in The Humble Bungalow Garden
loudly and clearly signals the end of summer...

the days are shorter
the flowers fade

Cooler temperatures
salty ocean breezes
foggy mists shroud the garden
petals fall
plants change colour
leaves begin to fall from the trees

Jude The Obscure has put on such an amazing show this summer!

I cannot remember a year when our roses have performed so well.

There have been many hours invested in dead heading 

which encourages repeat flushes of flowers 

the effort has definitely paid off...

We may even enjoy blooms well into the fall.

I've noticed many spider webs in the garden 

which also signal that Fall is coming soon.

My energy and enthusiasm in the garden is waning...

the

new

season 

changes our focus 

moving hobbies indoors 

instead of outside.

A general tidy up is happening...

in the garden and soon the closet!

The wardrobe swap out was accomplished this weekend.

It didn't take long

(there are not many clothes)

the bed gets covered with spring and summer clothes

 waiting to go downstairs to the guest room closet.

Many garments are worn all year long...

denim, jeans, dresses

 quite a few tops span the seasons 

with the addition of a vest or cardigan. 

The fall and winter wear is brought upstairs 

then I scrutinize the condition of the items 

donating the pieces are tired or lack lustre.

(I filled a bag!)

Noting items that I need to replace...

I've already purchased Eileen Fisher black pants

a pair of Ralph Lauren tweedy skinny pants.

Last month new lingerie was purchased.

I like to put my sandals away 

bring out my boots and loafers.

I always give them a polish before wearing them

and 

clean and polish the summer shoes 

ready for storage until another season.

The handbags get a treatment too...

This neutral polish works with all of my leather accessories.

The strap on my watch is looking quite worn so I may have to replace it soon.

It is going on 4 or 5 years old so that is not a surprise.

This ESQ watch is so old I cannot remember what year I purchased it...

I do know that my parents gave me some money one Christmas when the children were small.

 I shopped the sales after the holidays and bought it for half price.

It has kept good time all these years...

the style is classic 

which makes it so versatile.

The limelight hydrangeas are the current stars of the Humble Bungalow Garden.

They have been so happy in the warm summer sunshine...

I must remember to pick some to bring inside to dry.

Soon they will crisp up, fade and dry to the colour of straw.

Their shape will hold up through most of the fall and winter 

giving the garden some interest

until they will be cut down in the early Spring.

How is your garden shaping up?

Have you swapped out your clothes for a new season yet?

Have you perused the September issues of Vogue,  Elle or Bazaar?

Do you want to buy some new pieces for Fall?

Have you seen anything in the shops that might tempt you?

I'd love to hear from you!

Well I must close for now and get some chores done around here.

Thank you for stopping by The Humble Bungalow Garden.

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

Hydrangeas and hair...the view from here.

Hooray the limelights are blooming!

The hydrangeas are taller this year 

which is good news 

as the deer love to munch on the tasty leaves.

Sadly the deer have eaten most of the hosta leaves 

out front in The Humble Bungalow Garden.

Frothy creamy blooms act as a backdrop to the side patio

providing privacy

 a place to sit and sip a cup of tea while reading a book.

I loved this book and read it in two sittings!

They are making it into a movie.

Suzanne Rindell is a screenwriter...

she has two other books and I plan to read them.

In other news

the "growing pains" continue...

My hair is growing...

slowly 

the wavy curls are coming back.

I have been on Pinterest looking at hair styles...

there are so many lovely women with salt and pepper and grey hair.

just wondering how long I should let it grow

what style will work with my hair type and face shape.

A conundrum 

 I have weeks or possibly a few more months to wait.

Patience has never been my strength...

I'd like to be able to grow hair as fast as that Tressy doll!

She was the doll that had a long pony tail with emerged from a hole in her head...

a screw attached to her back controlled the length of her hair!

Do you remember the doll?

The TV ad...

"Short or long or in between

Tressy's hair makes her a Queen!"

Happy Weekend!

Do you have any special plans?

We will be celebrating the 3rd birthday of our darling granddaughter Mira.

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

Summer roses...and the goings on here in The Humble Bungalow

Summer is my favourite time of year...
the weather is usually sunny and warm and the garden is looking its' best.
I find my days slip away quite quickly at this time of year.
Busy with the garden chores,
keeping up with the domestics, walking, and cooking.

There is a feeling of weariness after a long hot day and so I am content to sit and read or watch some TV.

The roses are at their peak of perfection...

Days are busy spent dead heading the spent blooms to encourage repeat blooming.

Black spotted leaves are removed and discarded.

So important that they do not come in contact with the soil and spread to other roses.

One of the luxuries of growing roses is that you can pick a bouquet for the home or to give to others...

The fragrant arrangements that I share are always well received and appreciated.

Jude the Obscure and William Shakespeare mingle together and make for a frothy marriage of petals and scents.

Our garden helper has moved to Sooke 

(which is about a 45 minute drive out of town)

she is not longer able to help me once a month 

and I have come to rely on her...

I am in the process of searching for someone to come once a month 

 help with the heavy work, weeding and generally tidying up.

The hydrangeas are making a big statement this month.

These are by our north patio and there are many more limelight hydrangeas 

out front of the Humble Bungalow.

Last weekend our son took us to Sidney Spit in his new speedboat.

We arrived one day after our prime minister Justin Trudeau was there kayaking.

Cuddled up with two of our grandchildren...

we are ready to scoot across the Salish Sea to Sidney Spit.

And we did scoot...40 mph!

Fortunately my hat has a strap under the chin or it would have blown away!

We found a lovely little pool of water near the beach 

Our beach umbrella stuck in the sand, beach towels laid out and the cooler at the ready.

Beach combing, wading, a few games of Frisbee and horse shoes followed before we tucked into our picnic lunch.

Isla and I are chatting and taking in all the scenery while waiting on the bench. Henry, Grampa and our son will bring the car and trailer back to the boat launch.

The bungalow is super dusty right now as we have a stone mason on site.

Our chimney was in dire need of some repair and he is installing a new liner to make it safe for us to light fires in the fireplace.

He is almost finished...

while I have had to stay home more

 I have been busy 

washing the slipcovers and sorting through our linen drawers

rearranging some bits and bobs

gathering up a bunch of things to take to the charity shop.

Oh and I started a new book!

When I was donating at the thrift shop I took a few moments to cruise through the aisles...

I found something that I could not pass up.

a silver tray

love the intricate details

I must close for now and get dinner started...

thank you for stopping by The Humble Bungalow.

How is your summer going?

Have you found any treasures at the shops?

What are you reading?

Thanksgiving...

Thanksgiving...

The roses are just about finished blooming in The Humble Bungalow Garden.

This summer has been a splendid year for the roses here in our garden.

They have loved the heat and the sunshine and we have managed to keep them hydrated and happy.

Jude The Obscure 

My favourite David Austin Rose

has a few blooms clinging to the bush.

McCartney Rose

a fragrance Hybrid Tea Rose

a few sprays of flowers left but are slowly fading into Fall.

The Hydrangeas are a mix of fresh blooms and dead heads.

I picked a few to bring inside and hope that they will dry slowly so I can keep a bunch in a vase for a few months.

I think I may have already shared this photo with you.

I know I posted it on my Instagram page.

The blue and mauve hydrangeas are cut from the same plant.

Unfortunately these blooms wilted quite quickly after bringing them in the house.

I love this vintage blue and white jug.

It is made by Woods and Sons.

Peppers Market in Cadboro Bay Village 

is hosting a contest.

 $100 gift voucher for guessing the weight of this huge pumpkin.

I have no idea... so I have not entered yet.

Any Thoughts?

These hairy "things" are on hanging on a clematis near our bungalow.

I think they look like Thing One and Thing Two...

perhaps from a Dr. Seuss book.

Speaking of books, I am reading a great little one right now.

Halfway through it and am keen to read more.

 I have a busy day here in The Humble Bungalow as we have all the family coming for the Thanksgiving feast and I need to focus on the menu.

Earlier this week I took my favourite recent thrift shop find, 

a pristine vintage Canadian made leather bag

 out to tea.

I am loving this new bag!

I will try to take a few pictures of our table and dinner if I get a chance later today...

Happy Thanksgiving!

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~