Shopping ~ a mix of items....some surprisingly good quality and much more economical than expected.

 

Crisp George brand Cotton Shirt 

White Athletic Works Tee

(Walmart)

Baroque Pearls from Hong Kong

(a mix of high and low)

Athletic Works Black Shorts

(Walmart)

First pair of shorts in at least a decade.

Will be worn on hot days at the cottage...

Comfy Vessi Sneakers

waterproof

(Nicholas Randall)

~ Casual Chic ~

Shirt is longer so will be a good pairing with the shorts and the Tee.

Canadian Marcelle Mascara

My favourite kind of mascara wand...

basic black and the formula is free of clumps.

~ Little Black Dress ~

I spied this dress on the sale rack at our local Marshall's Shop.

It looked loose fitting, easy to wear and cool for this heat wave that we are having...

I wore it twice this past week and it was a winner!

The Debra K handmade necklace has been in my jewellry collection for about 17 or 18 years...it is a black plastic "FIMO" type base with vintage clear crystals.

Very versatile and a fun piece that makes a statement.

It was an "investment" piece at the time of purchase but if you factor in the CPW

(Cost per wearing) 

it has been a real bargain.

Cupid's Dart 

happily blooming on the patio

growing and thriving in a big terra cotta pot.

I love the colour.

More lavender sachets...

these ones are smaller as the Dollar Store had sold all the larger gauzy bags.

Great for gifts and perfect to pop into a lingerie or sweater drawer.

Our lavender is having a fabulous year!

The bees are abuzz and so busy collecting pollen.

At any given time there are about 3 different types of bees hard at work.

I tried to get pictures of all the different bees but they were too fast!!

New backpack bag...

great for picnics, beach combing, walks, shopping and holiday time at the cottage.

Lots of compartments, zippered sections.

 Ample room for all my basics, a book, water, snack, and some treasures...

hands free shopping!

As I was leaving to go to my Yoga Class....

I spied some hungry visitors.

Twins that were busy munching the Alstromeria and some Hostas!

Too cute to scare away...

as soon as they get bigger they won't fit through the openings in the front gate.

Went to my hairdresser today for a CHOP!

I haven't seen her for several months and my hair was a MESS!

She cut the back up shorter in a wedge (as per my request)

then left the sides a bit shorter 

but long enough for the hair to fall in waves and curls.

I look so much like MOM.

( I miss her so much)

Would love to walk along the Esplanade, then go to the Willows Tea Room with her.

We used to do that so often on a sunny afternoon.

XO

Hope that your summer is ticking along nicely...

what are you up to?

Travel, picnics, garden parties, teas, lunches out with friends and family?

Cottage time, boating, camping, day trips, adventures, staycations?

Take care and thank you for stopping by The Humble Bungalow Blog.

Until next time...

~ BE WELL AND BE KIND ~

~ Sweet Peas ~

Matucana Heritage Sweet Peas 

(1680's UK variety)

from Westcoast Seeds.

Mr. HB is so clever...he keeps me supplied with these fragrant flowers.

Thank you darling..

XO

Wee luxuries...and remembering MOM

Willows Beach in Oak Bay

(a favourite spot of my late mom's and mine)

I took my coffee in a thermos and sat in the stillness

watched the sea, the sun and the clouds

listened to the waves as they met the shore

embraced

the sound of the gulls as they soared overhead.

A few precious moments of peace outdoors in nature to start the day

sets the tone for the hours ahead.

Unwrapped a lovely soap from Fragonard in Paris.

The porcelain soap dish accompanied the soap which was in a recent 

My French Country Home Box.

The scent is soft, subtle and sweet.

Hand washing happens many many times a day here in The Humble Bungalow.

I can still hear my mom's voice

her mantra was

"Soap and Water are Cheap."

Mom always kept a few bars of triple milled soap unwrapped in her lingerie drawer.

I think her favourite was Yardley's English Lavender Soap.

Mom was an avid gardener and worked for many hours outside 

before coming in and soaking in the tub...

a cup of restorative tea on the edge of the bath.

Lavender scents wafted throughout the house.

She'd dress up for my father's arrival home from work.

A dainty apron worn atop of her dress...

mom was a much tidier cook than I.

I remember so many lovely snippets of mom and learned so much from her.

Not a day goes by that I don't think of her.

Mom sipped her tea in a pretty cup and saucer.

She had a fondness for those decorated with flowers.

While I don't ALWAYS choose one of mine for tea.

(several inherited from mom)

I do more often than not.

My face is getting some serious TLC

the recent and ongoing IPL treatments are reducing the rosacea redness 

the broken capillaries are slowly disappearing...

My skin however is dry 

so I purchased a hardworking moisturizer to use in tandem 

with the IS Clinical Pro Health Serum.

Fingers crossed it will perform as was suggested at the clinic.

Healthy lunch at Brown's Social House

Tuna Poke Bowl

loaded with fresh veggies

delicious!

Eating mindfully 

adding lots of veggies with lean protein

 high on my radar.

Choosing healthier alternatives is becoming much easier...

although

the lure of french fries is still very strong.

If my husband orders them I ask to sample a few :-))

The interesting thing about eating tons of veggies and a small amount of protein is that I don't feel "stuffed" after I eat.

It is such a different feeling than when I order a burger and fries.

I actually prefer it and I am not hungry afterwards.

Sale item from Joe Fresh.

A simple basic which will get worn on my walks

and

paired with jeans perhaps layered overtop of a denim shirt.

Love the warm cozy feel..

great texture.

So many thoughts are swimming around in my head today 

as I sit here in The Humble Bungalow kitchen and type.

I am not sure how to wrap up this post...

writing about and remembering mom 

often skews my thought process

with

emotions tugging at my heartstrings...

Auriculas are starting to put on a show!

Perhaps it is time to find or build a theatre to display them?

They are all the rage in the UK.

How are things with you?

Hope that you are enjoying the start to the week.

Thank you for popping by The Humble Bungalow Blog.

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

Love...

Feeling love...
possibly more intense in these precarious times that we are living in.

a brightly painted heart rock on my beach walk last week

Intense Blue Skies at McNeill Bay in Oak Bay.

This is the beach where I spent my childhood..

we lived 2 blocks from the beach and we loved exploring the seashore.

I found some pretty sea glass on my walk.

Feeling so grateful for the smallest of things each day...

 European Wall Lizard

one of many living in The Humble Bungalow Garden.

 ~ Muguet des Bois ~

Intoxicating...

a heavy heady fragrance

pure white elegance.

Mother's Day

Remembering my dear Mom today  

I think of her everyday

but miss her more on these "special" days.

Mother's Day garden visit

with gifts from darling daughter and her sweet husband.

Tokens of love.

Garden visit with our son.

Flowers...a handmade card made with love.

Warm weather over the weekend...

we broke two weather records for high temperatures!

Cats are content snoozing on our bed.

Yummy dinner of chicken baked potatoes 

with

freshly harvested asparagus which is growing in our garden.

Mount Baker as seen from Island View Beach.

A wee bit blurry...

 a magnificent sight to see.

So many things to see

to appreciate 

to love.

Hope that you are finding some bright spots in your daily round.

Our eyes can embrace the beauty that surrounds us all...

take a few moments breathe in the fresh air

in awe of Mother Nature and all her glory

stay calm

be well.

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~ 

Something new, a milestone birthday...and cheerful pops of colour.

Good news!

 We have daffodils blooming in The Humble Bungalow Garden.

These cheerful yellow flowers elevate our flagging spirits 

as we crave colour on these dreary rainy days.

It may come as a surprise to you but until recently I did not own 

a totally waterproof coat...

I relied on water resistant coats and jackets and always carried an umbrella.

Perhaps a little bit strange

 as we live on the WET coast!

Years ago, 

when the children were young,

I wore a waterproof Gortex coat 

it was bright red and I loved the bright colour on the rainy days.

I discovered a wonderful wee shop on Government Street

and

found a 100% waterproof coat perfect for our rainy days.

A

Simple

Waterproof

 Breathable 

Coat

I plan to wear some of my bright coloured scarves with this coat.

This wee orchid was a gift from dear friends when mom passed away...

Tomorrow March 3rd will be the anniversary of my mom's demise.

(it will also be my 65th birthday)

For these past few years I find my emotions are mixed on March 3rd...

I don't feel like I am 65, although I know that I am no longer a "Spring Chicken"

I am Grateful to be alive.

I am 3/4 the way through this book and am really enjoying it.

Have you read it?

Did you read her previous book The Post Mistress?

Yellow Hellebore

Sunshine filtering through the door in our front hall...

love the warmth and sunlight so much.

Simple Joys.

Hope that your week is off to a great start and that you are finding pops of cheerful colour in your daily round.

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

Todays tidbits...right here in black and white!

Later I will share a few new things here in The Humble Bungalow...

first things first...

my creative juices have been waning for awhile

writing has taken a back seat for now

my energy is otherwise engaged in reading and knitting

There have been some moody moments, thinking about and remembering mom.

Yesterday I bought a latte and sat on the beach
where my sister and I spread mom's ashes.

It was a beautiful afternoon,
the seas gently rippled
and
glistening in the bright sunshine.

Waters ebb and flow...
moods alter

a white lab comes by for a pat
its owner follows ~ apolgizes for the intrusion
not bothered at all by the dog
I continue to sit and savour the latte
thinking how close I feel to mom

calmed by the lapping of the waves
restored
peace follows
a positive energy has returned.

A pretty pink

 pop of colour 

 lewisia blooms.

I have been indulging in a wee bit of retail therapy...
nothing outrageous
but a few things that caught my eye.

Emma Bridgewater Black Toast pattern is a favourite of mine...

I found these wee picnic pieces at The Bungalow on Estevan Avenue.

Too cute to pass up on and fit perfectly in my small insulated picnic tote.

Lands' End packable down jacket 

it will keep the chill away on my winter walks.

New black napkins

white mini pumpkins 

for the table

We are hosting a dinner party

I'll post on the menu and the table settings in a future post.

Our neighbours' cat napping in our garden in a patch of sunshine.

There are two cats, each look identical, so I can never tell them apart.

I didn't mean to disturb its slumber

the ragdoll cats that live across the street are so friendly.

Time for a stretch on the gravel drive...

Time for me to get back to my dinner party prep...

Thank you for taking the time to stop by and read The Humble Bungalow Blog.

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~