Wednesday ~ Pictures and a few Words

5am ~ the mournful droning of a freighter's fog horn in the nearby Strait wakes me.
I toss and turn
the cat stirs
licks my face...

I am wide awake!

5:30 ~ Sleep eludes me so I tip toe out of our bedroom
close the door
go into the kitchen and make an espresso.

the jolt of caffeine is welcome

Am I too groggy to compose a post this early?

Oh but then I remember it is Wordless Wednesday 

maybe all I need to do is find a few images

post them pronto.

the sparkly Christmas bauble 

left lying in a tangle of twiggy branches

forgotten

the pretty fuchsia blooms

clinging on for dear life 

in the winter chills of January on The Avenue

the novel that has threatened to shut down the domestic team of one

in The Humble Bungalow

L'Occitane Shea Butter

Hostess endorsed "star" performer

keeping my skin supple

(here's the silver star ~ my good housekeeping icon of approval)

Aveda helps keep my curls clean and soft...

I had my hair cut last Saturday.

It was driving me crazy.

Too long and limp and the weight pulled the hair down

so a few layers were added to allow the curls to spring back to life!

My hairdresser gave me some samples of Bumble and Bumble 

their newest products for curly hair.

I am excited about the new Primer...

it helps define the curl and refreshes curls without having to shampoo the next day.

(My hairdresser recommends shampooing every other day.)

On the same topic 

~ Advice from the experts ~

I booked an appointment for a Jane Iredale natural make up session at the Spa.

I am keen to see what products and colours they recommend for my skin tone.

Since I opt for the no make up look, it will be interesting to see the results.

Coffee consumed

cats fed

still dark outside

post finished

ready to publish

~ 7:00am ~

Good Morning from The Hostess of The Humble Bungalow!

Snapshots and tidbits...from Paris to Victoria.

Snapshots are such a great way to capture everyday life...
with an Iphone in my pocket I am at liberty to snap away to my hearts content, which I do.

The Seine River at dusk...

This image of Paris looks reminds me of an impressionist painting from The Musee D'Orsay.

At Versailles we wandered along the path under a canopy of trees.

In Marie Antoinette's "small home" on the grounds of Versailles.

I loved her quaint "farmhouse" and the working farm.

The Place des Vosges in The Marais area of Paris.

It is the oldest planned square and features a fountain, park and lots of shops.

A wee plant growing in a crack of pavement...

Mr. Peacock in Beacon Hill Park ~ Victoria, B.C.

Chester relaxing in the dappled sunshine of our Humble Bungalow.

My latest book...Kate Atkinson weaves a great tale.

Jacob's Coat Rose floating in our birdbath...

I love how the leaves are reflected in the water, they almost look surreal.

Foxgloves thrive in our clay soil.

Bees love to fly up inside these flowers and buzzing is heard loud and clear.

The wee Vintage French jug I purchased at the Market in Vallence D'Agen.

A reader requested that I share the jug as well as the flowers.

White Iceberg roses and Lady's Mantle.

Which make a striking combination...would you agree?

So delicate...

I wore my Jones of NY wrap summer dress to The Bengal Room at The Empress Hotel 

for Mother's 88th birthday celebration.

I dragged out the sapphire and diamond ring because of the blue in the dress...

I'm hoping that I will not get a citation from the Fashion Police for being too "matchy matchy!"

A decorative door knocker ~ Moissac France.

Our red geraniums are putting on a spectacular show.

I love geraniums for planters and pots as they are relatively inexpensive and bloom all summer long.

Cheap and cheerful.

The weather is perfect for gardening and walking.

This weekend I plan to do both...

and I'll be taking more photos.

Hope that you all have a great weekend!

XO

Dressing authentically...thoughts on personal style...starring YOU!

Jennifer at A Well Styled Life is writing a series about the "Invisible" or rather "The Vanishing Older Woman"
you can read her second installment in the series right here.
Her eloquent posts have started me thinking deeper about what I choose to wear and why I make the choices that I do...it is not an easy thing for me to explain, but bear with me please as I attempt to muddle through...

What we wear says a lot about who we are...
it gives hints as to what economic and social classes that we fall into and how we feel about ourselves...
are we shy, bold, confident, artistic, conservative, are we in touch with our authentic self or
do we even care what others think of us?

 Are you a star when it comes to putting together your wardrobe?

Is it easy or do you find it a challenge?

 Are you sending the right messages with your choice of garments?

Or perhaps you are confused about the image that you want to present to the world.

Money, work, age and lifestyle factor in when deciding what to choose.

Do you opt for designer clothes from head to toe?

Has the clerk in your favourite boutique sold you complete ensembles with accessories to go with them?

Do the clothes that you wear reflect your personal taste?

Are you bold with your colours and accessories or do you play it safe?

With so many possibilities and questions it is a challenge...

maybe a consultation with a professional is in order!

Mother has taught me a lot over the years.

 Observing her fashion sense has helped me to absorb a lot about fashion and style.

Reading magazines, books and blogs have rounded out my education in this area.

~ ~ ~

Mother and I were driving in the car the other day 

and we passed by a woman "of a certain age" with bright day glo pink hair.

Mother said "My goodness she's asking for attention wearing her hair like that!"

I said something to the effect of well anyone who makes a bold statement like that with their hair is not shy!

Mother would NEVER consider making an overture as bold as that statement 

with her hair or her clothing.

(although in the 1960's she went through what I like to think of as a  "Doris Day" phase when she was a blond!)

She would not suggest that we HIDE from our authentic selves

 but rather that we would choose to dress appropriately for each and EVERY social situation.

"Fitting in within our peer groups and blending" have been her words on fashion for as long as I can remember.

Mother is a conservative dresser and she encouraged us to dress well and take care to maintain our clothes.

 Mending, making sure buttons were sewn on right and shoes were kept polished and heels replaced regularly were high on her priority list.

Your Personal Image speaks volumes...

it says a lot about you...more than you might think.

It takes a lot of time to put together an entire wardrobe, not to mention the money that you need to invest.

It also takes a lot of thought...

What is the message that you want to project to the world?

Are you happy wearing the same thing over and over or do you want to put on a different outfit every day?

Do you like a lot of variety in accessories or do you prefer to wear the same few statement and signature pieces?

(I have owned this Burberry quilted jacket for about 8 years and the scarf, which was a gift from my husband is worn daily during the Fall and Winter.

Who are you dressing for? 

Do you represent a large corporation or a small company?

Are you a young mom, a professional in the business world or are you retired?

When dressing for your work life you may choose one style of clothing than for your personal life.

Which undoubtedly would be much more casual.

It took me many years to understand the image that I wanted to project.

It still is evolving but I figured out the basics.

I like to fit in as Mother would say...blending is more important to me than standing out in a crowd.

I do not like to draw unnecessary attention to myself.

Having a wardrobe with options for most events 

(other than a red carpet event or a gala)

 are already in my closet.

AND

they are all black!

A basic black jersey tank top is paired here with a vintage Susan Bristol sweater jacket.

Basic black Eileen Fisher trousers and my "very old" black patent leather Stuart Weitzman bow toed flats.

There are several pairs of black pants one in velvet as well as a casual pair of skinny black jeans...

various black tops and tanks

 sweaters

a black Barbour vest

 a tweedy Chanel-esque jacket

3 or 4 LBD's

a black shawl

a black dressy coat

black casual walking coat

black handbags

black kittens heels and pumps

these what I call the workhorses or the core pieces

~ ALL BLACK ~

A few colourful options have found their way into the closet, but not many.

Several bright silk twill Hermes scarves help to elevate and add some colour and interest.

Now this might not suit you at all but it works for me.

I am a no nonsense kind of gal who likes to keep things simple.

It might seem boring to you to wear the same clothes in different combinations 

only varying the looks by using different accessories.

We have to listen to our "inner voice", be true to ourselves, and project honestly our taste and style.

I do not like to waste money buying fads or trends.

Also shopping my closet just makes more sense.

 To me rushing out in a panic at the eleventh hour before an event is far too stressful...

I'd rather spend the time having a leisurely bath or doing my nails than speeding off on the mall.

Mother would encourage and suggest that we dress in an understated fashion.

(I went through a period of rebellion in my teenage years and opted for "hippie style clothing!")

Naturally she disapproved...

I grew out of it.

She counselled that good manners were as important as what we wore.

(I write and send thank you notes as she taught us.)

Comportment is the ultimate accessory and our demeanor speaks volumes.

So with that in mind...

I will continue to dress in basic black with an occasional pop of colour

opt for the ultimate in polite conversation

practise kindness and let The Golden Rule be my guide.

This post has rambled on and I apologize as it is very discombobulated...

My newest accessory is a rhinestone Panther pin in the Cartier style...

I love the beady red eyes.

I'll be wearing this...

you might have guessed...

on a black background!

It might be on an LBD, a sweater, top or coat.

~ ~ ~

."One is never over-dressed or under dressed with a Little Black Dress."

~  Karl Lagerfeld ~

"Don’t be into trends. 

Don’t make fashion own you, but you decide what you are, what you want to express by the way you dress and the way you live."

~ Gianni Versace ~

My OOTD

NYDJ jeans...flared

Symplii black tank top

Lord and Taylor dove grey cashmere cardigan

Clark black leather short boots

opera length pearls wrapped twice around my neck

Oh and there is some great news...the Gardener's Cottage is back!

 Janet's blog

check out what she's up to in her cottage.

Have a great week!

Hostess

Keep it Simple...Watching my Weight.

I like to keep things simple...
Staying fit should not be complicated or costly...I know if it is I won't do it!
If it is simple and convenient I know that if I keep at it, success will surely follow.

I didn't always feel this way...I thought I could keep fit without much effort...
I was lazy and I admit it was short sighted of me not to put much effort into exercise.

I now choose to walk...it's that simple.

walking...is free
it keeps my bones strong
it burns calories and helps to keep my weight in check
when I walk with a friend...we chat and stop for tea before returning home
when I walk alone I look at the scenery and listen to the sounds of nature
I often stop to take a picture of something that I think beautiful
greeting other walkers along the route imparts a sense of belonging...a community of walkers
many are the same faces that pass
and some are new
most are smiling
even when the winds blow and the raindrops fall

I am so much happier when I walk.

Walking as not something that I did regularly when I worked...
and I now know I could have avoided so much anxiety and stress if I had adopted a regular walking regime...
the weight gain every year which sent my self esteem plummeting
And then there was the sky rocketing blood pressure and prescription medication that I was on for a year...
tick tock it's time to get serious!

My physician read me the riot act and said I needed to lose at least 10% of my body weight or I would be jeopardizing my health...so I joined Weight Watchers.

I purchased a pair of good walking shoes, a pair of black Lands' End performance pants and a bright coloured hooded jacket.

I started slow and revved up my pace, starting with a 20 minute jaunt and then a brisk 60 minutes.

I've written this post in hopes to inspire

and to remind myself that I need to remain committed to fitness.

I have slacked off a bit and the scale has reflected the recent slip...

I'm feeling rather sheepish, guilty is a better word...

and it will become very evident when I weigh in at WW this week.

I know that I need to get back on track

 I'm going to make walking a renewed focus in my daily routine.

I'll capture some of the beauty 

that I see along the way and share it with you here on the blog.

Renewed focus...directed energy...a commitment to health.

I think we are worth it don't you?

What do you do to stay fit and healthy?

Sweeping Beauty....and men in kilts!

Cleaning is an ongoing job that never seems to get finished.
As soon as I complete a task there is another one that needs tending to.
My standards have relaxed somewhat and the dust bunnies are having a convention here in The Humble Bungalow!
It's not for lack of vacuuming, dusting or sweeping...I think there is a dust bunny baby boom afoot...make that underfoot!

The rays of sunshine are drawing attention to my lack of due diligence, and pointing their fingers at me as if to say "tisk tisk" Hostess. All I can say is that it is very difficult keeping a house of this vintage dust free. The forced air furnace seems to whip up the dust in whirls of frenzied spirals and they land willy nilly settling on the plate rails and dark wood fir panels.
Life is much too short to obsess about this but I recoil a bit when I spy this mayhem.
It's bad enough that I judge the dust in disgust ~ imagine what guests must think!

Meet Sweeping Beauty.

One might as well have beautiful tools when doing a rather thankless job.

They elevate my mood when I am darting about trying to capture the dirt.

Did I mention that I now wear my walking or Yoga gear so that I feel like I am getting some exercize?

The psychology of wearing stretchy fabrics and my hoodie are making me more active.

Who knew that this would happen?

I think perhaps I have turned over a new leaf.

I've often thought about trying to use a leaf blower to eradicate the dust by using brute force.

Has it ever crossed your mind?

Bring in the big Guns?

Spring is a time for renewal...

Spring Cleaning is currently Number 1 on my do list.

Windows are done by a friendly fellow who loves leaping up on ladders ad squeegeeing his way 

around the many panes. I've had him do the inside and the outside and I do admit it's a bit of a luxury but he does a far superior job than I can do!

I've heard about a new service in town that might be worth a call

but I am loyal to my fellow who has been taking care of our windows for the last 20 years...

when he retires I think I'll hire these blokes!

Deeper cleaning happens in the Spring. 

Every day I wipe and disinfect the kitchen counters

(our cats are the reason I need to be so fastidious as they jump up and drink out of the kitchen faucet!)

I keep on top of the clutter

a small home looks smaller if it's littered with stuff

besides feeling way too chaotic...

I wash dishes 24/7

 keep the stainless appliances shining

wipe off the cooktop and keep on top of the fridge and it's contents.

Laundry is probably my favourite domestic chore...

and I LOVE my new LG steam machines.

We "domestics" have an important job and one that I think offers job security!

~ ~ ~

Mr. HB is busy too...

We have quite a few major projects planned...

a new roof, 

a sun deck repair and rebuild 

and a green house at some point.

~ ~ ~

I am so disturbed by the recent events in Boston at the marathon.

I'll never really understand the use of violence...

I admit to being naive and I do live my life by the Golden Rule.

"Do unto others as you would have them do unto you."

Spread Peace in your daily round this week

the world needs balance and I feel we can all do our little bit to help.

Namaste

~ ~ ~

French Breton shirt...OOTD and thoughts for the day.

Seems like every magazine I pick up and leaf through is showing off French Breton shirts.
Stripes and prints are the current buzz.

Don't they look crisp and easy?
I like this French style, it's rather timeless and somewhat iconic.

Banana Republic had one that I purchased and it is a bit snug around my tummy and derriere but I bought it anyway. I thought to myself here's the motivation I need to amp up my pace and increase my walking.
In the meantime I will pair it with a jacket.

Banana Republic ~ Hermes

An anonymous commenter recently mentioned that I should go to the dermatologist and have my mole removed.

It has been with me forever and should it change significantly in size or look like it was cancer I would go asap.

In the meantime you will see me here full figured flaws and all.

Blogging and posting pictures of myself is a dodgy business!

I've had emails from people criticizing all manner of things.

I do know "these things" as I live in this body everyday.

I am not perfect nor do I pretend to be

I am not an expert 

nor am I a fashionista

I am simply a woman nudging 60 with a voice and a desire to write.

I am having fun with this blog or I would not bother to post as often as I do.

I hope that you get something out of it in return.

Red flats

black leggings

Breton top

You can see just how plump I am

it's difficult to hide in these OOTD shots.

I am not really trying to hide 

just trying to make the best of what I have been given 

until such time that I totally dedicate myself to slimming down.

I am on a journey and one that is a challenging.

One that I have struggled with for as long as I can remember.

This blog has helped me face up and confront my personal issues.

Following in the footsteps of other bloggers 

who have been successful in transforming their lives has been such an inspiration and so unexpected.

The network of online friends has been rather over whelming

the support that is out there

the emails

the comments...

Thank you for reading my Humble Blog.

Hostess

XO

Roses, Hermes and a negligee...

I do love a surprise and that is exactly what I found when I came home from my walk.
On the table by the front door was a lovely wrapped bouquet of flowers and a card from the staff at work.

pretty in pink

a lovely combination of Roses and Gerbera daisies

creating cheer and bringing with them a feeling of complete and utter joy

flowers are always a welcome gift

I think they are a perfect way to say all kinds of things

~ ~ ~

congratulations

in sympathy

romance

festive occasions

weddings

thank you

get well soon

cheer you up posies

you name it there is a flower to mark the event

~ ~ ~

always a welcome Hostess gift !

I wore my newest Hermes scarf tied simply with a white tank and a grey cashmere sweater.

I feel very feminine when I take the time to wear a scarf

it's just like wearing a light spritz of my signature scent

or knowing that I have on some pretty lingerie.

Not everyone will notice but they make a difference to me and how I feel about myself.

Just a wee message that says you're worth it.

I love the weight of the Hermes silk twill

it has body and can be draped and tied in so many wonderful ways.

Did you know that Hermes does not recommend that you wear your scarf in the rain?

So be careful.

something a little silky to wear to bed...

a hint of lace

soft shades of aqua and grey

What makes you feel feminine?

Do you have daily rituals that contribute to your well being?

Are they things that were passed down from your Mother

learned from your girlfriends or discovered all by yourself?

I'd love to hear from you...

 Dr. Andrew Weil's Book 

8 Weeks to Optimum Health

has some interesting tips on living a balanced life

there is great advice on healthy eating

 habits that can reduce your weight

lower your stress and blood pressure

and generally improve the quality of life.

SO...

with that in mind

I am taking a few days off from blogging

going to unplug my tech toys for a bit...

I plan to read, knit, walk, sleep, eat healthy, recharge, refocus and relax.

Have a wonderful weekend!