Summer Snippets...

Apricot blooms of Jude the Obscure

the fragrance is citrus.

This rose is a repeat bloomer and has had its first flush and we expect more flowers.

Most of our roses have had their first flush of blooms.

Dead heading is a daily job and very worthwhile as it encourages more flowers.

Did you know that sweet peas need to be picked regularly or they set seed and stop making flowers?

I love their unique fresh fragrance.

Mr. HB has been bringing in sweet peas almost daily.

I pop them into vases and place them in the kitchen by the farmhouse sink 

and in the main bathroom atop the sink.

They last a few days and then they drop their petals,

by that time we have another couple of bunches at the ready!

~ OOTD ~

White Lands' End tee ~ Italian Linen dress

White capri tights

White Bueno Sandals

Hong Kong Pearls

Garden Shows are so much fun!

Lots of tables, many entries, ribbons galore.

The plant sale table is SO POPULAR...

plants are reasonably priced and some are VERY EXOTIC!

I had a fun day volunteering at the Summer Scentsation Garden Show.

After perusing the displays and looking at the award winning entries 

I donned my apron and served tea to the masses!!

We had 4 large tea tables set with lovely china cups, saucers and plates.

  Tea, coffee, scones, jam and clotted cream were served...

Plates of assorted home baking were circulated after the scones.

No one left hungry!

There was a silent auction and I bid on many items but only won one of them...

a large black pot which I am looking forward to potting up.

I am considering a fancy Hosta or an assortment of flowers.

Geraniums, lobelia, and dusty miller.

Our north patio area resembles a jungle right now!

The Lady's Mantle has gone wild...

we will be cutting it down soon.

I love black accents in the garden...like these vintage tables and chairs.

I found this metal rooster in a thrift shop and my husband spray painted it.

Garden accent pieces are hard to find locally...

if I wanted to spend a LOT the possibilities might be better but I love a bargain.

I usually finish my second coffee in the bathroom as I put on my makeup...

the thrifted English China mug looks like it matches the sweet peas

so I had to snap an image to share.

In other news...

my infection is now classified as "complicated."

I have had 3 or 4 rounds of antibiotics and they haven't worked.

So I am now receiving IV antibiotics at the hospital outpatient clinic.

They were selected to specifically target the different bacteria strains that I have...

Who knows how long this will take?

I had my second CT scan, this one with dye.

Haven't got the report yet.

I cannot believe how High Tech all these machines are...

The staff have been amazing and the departments are regularly short staffed.

I am drinking lots of fluids...many many cups of tea.

Knitting and reading...

taking life easy.

I've been meaning to read this book for years!

When I spied it in the local Book Nook I grabbed it.

I hope that you are enjoying your summer so far...

or the winter if you are in NZ or Australia.

Thank you for stopping by The Humble Bungalow Blog.

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

October 31st ~ Snippets and tidbits

Spider webs adorn the Humble Bungalow Garden.

They are woven throughout and one needs to be mindful when walking :-((

Our zinc planter has some new plants...

the geraniums had faded and were getting leggy 

so I zipped off to the garden centre and grabbed these foliage plants.

Black Mondo Grass and Dusty Miller.

~ Jude the Obscure ~

These may quite possibly be the last roses of the season that we bring inside.

The garden is settling into a long winter slumber...

I have candles at the ready...

they add fragrance and much needed warmth and a cozy ambiance.

I have looked at many many shops for boots...

thought that I was destined to have wet feet

until 

I spied these serious rain boots at Mouats on Salt Spring Island.

~ Tretorn ~

I bought some thick socks to wear with them and they are so comfy!

I have been wearing them this past weekend on Pender.

The thrifted (repaired) backpack made its first voyage on the ferry to the cottage!

This is an excellent book...

it centres around an interesting character and flashes back to the Japanese internment.

Set in BC and Ontario

written by a very talented author.

I read her book Deafening years ago and enjoyed it,

 so when I saw this title and read the jacket cover I knew I needed to read it.

I also went to the bookstore and found several books!

I am amassing another small book stack 

after "almost" catching up on all my reading :-))

There was an atmospheric river weather warning for the weekend...

I was prepared for a power outage but I think we must have been spared.

The views from the cottage this morning.

The activities here this week are centred around relaxation, 

punctuated with scenic walks, reading and knitting.

When we arrived on Friday I popped into the Thrift Shop.

It is only open on Fridays now...

I bought this wee sugar bowl (missing the lid) for $1

I decided to pick some rosemary and add it to our tablescape.

Blue and White are a classic pairing and seem to mingle nicely with the cottage decor.

We walked along the Home Farm Trail and saw the Halloween Display...

lots of scary scenes

goblins, ghouls, ghosts, skeletons, witches...

will put together a wee post for my Instagram.

Have a safe and Fun Halloween.

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

Diversions ~ under smokey skies...

 Feeling restless while stuck inside under a poor air quality advisory...so much smoke and particulate in the air...ash falling from the sky.

The fires to the south of us continue to burn...devastation to homes, businesses and wildlife. It is difficult imagining losing eveything one owns. People have had to evacuate and leave behind many treasures and family heirlooms. It is heart breaking to see this in the news.

In the meantime, I am needing a diversion...there is only so much news that i can absorb without going down that rabbit hole! Let's start off with some roses, books, cooking and later some retail therapy!

Jude the Obscure on a sunnier smoke free day in The Humble Bungalow Garden.

HOORAY!

The local library has re-opened.

We are encouraged to put holds on the books that we want to read.

Several stands are placed near the self check out with assorted random books.

I returned a book and grabbed these 3 as I was leaving...

Everybody Rise was a fun read and I have started reading Montauk.

Dinner prepared and served to our son and the 3 grandchildren.

Heirloom Tomatoes

Salmon, heirloom tomatoes, red cabbage slaw, twice baked potatoes.

Rosemarie a long time reader from Vancouver sent me the seeds.

(Thank you!)

 Here is one of the sunflowers.

Standing about 12 feet tall.

Under sunnier skies...

Rudbeckia 

a giant variety 

 from the plant sale at Government House many years ago.

My neighbour is painting rocks during Covid.

She has a "take one leave one" area in her front garden.

I left a plain unpainted rock...

(what a trade)

I think I got the better deal though...

You never know what you might find on the boulevard in our neighbourhood.

Painted it black 

that is the colour of all our outdoor wicker and metal French bistro tables.

The garden is fading as the summer season comes to a close.

There is always something to see on the street.

The deer seem to be very comfortable here.

They saunter along the sidewalk

dine in our gardens.

They sometimes even sleep in our front yard! 

My husband is building a fence...he started with the front gate.

He still needs to install the latch.

Hubby had to reinforce the pergola and straighten it with beams...

he has temporary bracing on the sides as he needs to install two more hefty beams.

While hubby was busy sawing and building 

I took the grandchildren back~to~school shopping.

Grammy got a couple of tops too...

a white shirt to wear with my pearls, black pants and red ballet flats.

Red lippy of course, 

 just not when I am wearing my mask!

The striped top will pair well with my black Yoga pants.

So this short diversion has helped me get out of my afternoon funk.

Not being able to get out and walk in the "fresh" air

has been a frustration, which leads to grumpiness.

(and baking!)

I cannot wait until the smoke dissipates...

hope those wildfires are contained and extinguished.

I'll close with another image of Jude the Obscure.

How are you doing?

What are you reading?

Have you been shopping at all during Covid?

What new purchases have you bought or are considering for Fall?

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

Summertime Snippets....from Quarter Deck Cottage

Jude the Obscure 

a David Austin Rose 

my favourite rose.

summertime beach reads

both set in Paris

Perfect for the week at the cottage

I read them both in a couple of days 

so I needed to get to the bookstore asap!

Fortunately I found a fabulous book.

I am halfway through this novel and do not want to put it down!

Friends came by for drinks on the deck...

fresh strawberries from the Farmer's Market

assorted cheeses and crackers, 

grapes

pepperoni

I like to keep it simple here at the cottage...

I give myself permission to relax by not making any meals 

that are too labour intensive.

Making more time to read, walk, swim and knit...

or just gaze out at the sea.

The pretty flower baskets hanging by the pool 

are frequented by numerous swallowtail butterflies.

The weather has been hot so the pool has been a great spot to cool off.

Jude is wilting in the heat!

It is cool on the deck after the sun sets.

A great day at the beach...

we found all this sea glass to add to our collection.

The jar is already half full!

Award winning rose from the local Sea Star winery

perfect with a summertime dinner.

grilled lamb chops

fresh carrots from Raven Rock Farms

sweet nugget potatoes with butter and mint leaves

Views of the Salish Sea and the setting sun...

I found a broken oar on the beach...

I plan to distress it a bit more and will keep it at the cottage.

You never know what you'll find on the beach.

I love to explore and keep my eyes open for things washed up on the shore.

I've got some things that I need to tend to here in the Humble Bungalow

deadheading the roses for a start!

so I will close for now.

How is your summer going?

Are you planning a holiday somewhere exotic or do prefer to spend time at a cabin or cottage? 

Perhaps camping or glamping is on your radar...

or a staycation.

Whatever you choose I hope that you will have fun.

Thank you for stopping by The Humble Bungalow Blog!

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~