The Power of Colour....

With so much turmoil in our world one doesn't like to add to the load by being a "cranky" so I gave myself a talking to...

Mother would be the first to point this out
her "voice" a gentle reminder which I have taken to heart...

Thanks Mom.

Attitude of Gratitude.

Jude the Obscure is STILL BLOOMING!

Love the tinges of red on the petals...

they are usually all yellow so this is new and I wonder why?

Is it morphing into its former root stock?

Amazing that there are so many buds and blooms and in December!

Another thing to be grateful for...roses.

Can you see the silver Christmas balls hanging from the pergola?

Mr. HB strung up our Christmas lights and hung the baubles.

In the next image you can see the lights on the back deck strung with the climbing Royal Sunset rose.

Jamie sent me her new book...it is an advanced reading copy.

Her books are such fun to read...she is a lovely person too.

I went on her Ooh La La Paris tour a few years ago.

Jamie has that "joie de vive" and she is an inspiration...

I love her positive energy.

Will be posting on this book after reading the book.

I may decide to post an interview with Jamie on the blog.

I think that would be fun!

The weather has been moody and grey this past week.

Dallas Road looks across Juan de Fuca Strait

where we are able observe lots of interesting cloud patterns.

This view is from The Esplanade where Mom and I walked regularly...

SO

 my resolve for not buying anything new was tested

 when I spied these RED 

Josef Seibel flats at 50% off

BUT

a great way to add some much needed energy and cheer into these gloomy days.

An icy modernist Tapio Wirkkala vase from the second hand shop

smaller than the vintage Wirkkala Tree of Life vase

that I received for Christmas

a gift from Mr. HB at 17

meant for long stemmed red roses...

Mom did not have a vase tall enough to place the dozen long stemmed roses 

that he gave me on Valentines Day

so

 we had to cut them down!!

Can you imagine his shock when he saw them cut in half?

Wise move that he gifted a taller vase which I have kept and cherish and am reminded of that snippet from the past whenever I use it!

 This shorter vase will be perfect for tulips.

Perhaps even some red flowers?

Adding some festive touches to our front porch.

Simple green boughs and red Ilex berries make a cheery display.

Red seems to be the colour of the moment here in The Humble Bungalow.

It has certainly perked me up and been a much needed mood shifter.

Thank you for stopping by...

A dear reader sent me an email asking about the sugar cookies that I baked, 

she wanted the recipe.

Here is my friend Bryce's recipe...

I use butter instead of the margarine 

 I dip the cookies into red or green sugar sprinkles gently flattening them just a wee bit before pacing them on the cookie sheet.

My oven is not as hot so I bake the cookies for about 13-15 minutes

but keep an eye on them as they are not meant to brown.

This recipe doubles well too.

Enjoy!

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

Beach walks...scenery snippets

The vibrant blue native camas is in full bloom.

This plant grows in and around the Gary Oak Meadows here in Victoria.

The First Nations Peoples used the root for food.

My walking partner and I went out for lunch at Lure

then we sauntered along the ocean front near Victoria's Inner Harbour.

It was a beautiful sunny afternoon and there were lots of people out and about enjoying the fine weather.

The scenery is aways changing on the waterfront...

boats, sea planes, kayaks, the Coho Ferry,

seals, otters, gulls, blue herons

Along the wide walks

we jostle for position

 baby carriages, joggers, walkers, and runners all share the space.

People sit on park benches and admire the view.

Picnic blankets are spread with snacks.

Tourists take photos.

The snow covered peaks of the Olympic Mountain range look so close

their stunning beauty frames the vista.

We chatter as we walk and gather speed...

I made the mistake of wearing my new periwinkle blue shoes without socks and today I have blisters on my heels.

(I should have worn my Merrell walking shoes with socks.)

I wore the same shoes to the beach on the previous day outing with the grandchildren.

They were fine on the sand and easy to transition back to the gravel lined playground where we played on the swings.

Mount Baker, which usually is in full view, was shrouded by low lying clouds.

The afternoon was chilly and the sky was grey.

The Willows Tea Room reopened for the season on April 29th.

This was where I would take mom.

Often we would sit with a pot of tea 

watch the passers by and sail and power boats on the sea...

Mom would smile

she was happy here.

Mom always loved an outing to Willows Beach.

 The Esplanade was a picturesque and gentle walk...

on a windy day she'd laugh at us braving the walk

in the rain with our brollies

she'd say how silly of us to try and walk 

in this beastly weather

Yet we would finish the walk and somehow feel energized.

When I revisit places that Mom and I regularly frequented

I feel a sadness creep in...

it is

not anything too overwhelming 

but my throat gets tight

and then I breathe as I picture her there beside me.

Our summertime picnics at Willows were always an adventure.

My basket with silverware and fine bone china

made passers by stop and comment.

My sister and I will be spreading Mom's ashes this coming week.

We have finished most of what we need to do for her estate and are ready to toast to Mom and dine in her favourite spot.

First we will swim in the pool

followed by a massage

and relax...

perhaps we'll even hop in the hot tub after dinner.

Mom and Dad in the early 1950's.

Dad died in 2007 and Mom in 2017

I'd like to think that they have been reunited and are watching over us as we remember, honour and celebrate their lives.

~ Love and Family ~

 the greatest gifts that I will cherish forever.

Hope that you have a lovely weekend.

Thank you for stopping by The Humble Bungalow Blog.

XO

Grieving ~ slowly putting one foot in front of the other...

Taking things slow...
from minute to minute
as the clock ticks and they turn into hours

Losing Mom, has so far, been the most painful thing I have ever experienced.
It has only a few days since she passed,
but I can already tell that this is a major life altering event,
so significant,
that it is difficult to put into words.

Tears fall freely
there's a lump in my throat that does not seem to go away...

I've been eating comfort food, drinking gin and tonics

and have stopped counting WW points.

I have considered not getting dressed and staying my pj's all day...

But instead, I get up have a cafe creme

hop in the shower

put on my make up

and

head over to Mom's condo to sort through her things.

there is some comfort in action and busyness

to be in Mom's condo 

surrounded by her things 

feels like home

but when I look toward her chair 

she is not there...

my heart aches

deeply

I notice that the garden is awakening from its winter slumber

right on cue as it does every year at this time.

The snowdrops are blooming.

Sunny yellow daffodils

Moistened by the rain

Nature reminds me of the cycles of life

beginnings

endings

Life goes on...

as surely as the spring bulbs open

the 

flowers appear

taking each day

each minute

to pause

reflect

thinking of Mom

and all she has done

to make our lives so special

her strength, wisdom, kindness and grace

will help guide me

as I walk along this painful path of grief

in her honour

I will put one foot in front of the other

move forward

slowly

one step at a time.

I found this card in mothers desk drawer...

She kept this card

 there were no others...

I wept when I opened the card

with tears rolling down my cheeks

 a moment in the silence

grieving

alone

this card is one of the treasures that I will keep 

the message so close to my heart 

in memory 

of my wonderful mom

Thank you for all your comments on the previous post.

I am overwhelmed by your kind and supportive thoughts

they mean a lot 

especially at a time like this...

Mom's Peanut Butter Cookies

Mother gave me a recipe for peanut butter cookies awhile ago,
I filed it in my recipe box for a rainy day.

That rainy day happened and it turned into 3 days of rain...

On those three days I tiptoed outside for the briefest of walks,
the rest of the days I read, did laundry, made soup, a tasty shepherds pie and when my eyes were fatigued from my reading
I found Mothers' speedy peanut butter cookie recipe in my recipe box.

When I read her recipe I was in doubt...
had she forgotten something?
Can one make cookies using only 3 ingredients?

So I thought hmm maybe I would try...
what have I got to lose?

Speedy Peanut Butter Cookies

2 cups light Peanut Butter
1 cup granulated sugar
2 eggs

Mix together, roll into balls, flatten with a fork on an un-greased sheet pan.
Bake at 325 degrees for 15-20 minutes.
Transfer to a rack to cool

Using a scoop for cookie dough is quite possibly my favourite trick that Martha Stewart shared with her viewers from her TV show.

Cookie dough balls on an un-greased sheet pan.

Flatten with a fork.

After baking cookies place on a rack to cool.

Invite someone over to share

a pot of tea or a coffee 

maybe even a glass of milk with the grandchildren

put the cookies on a plate and see how long they last!

I should have never doubted MOM.

I have learned so much from her over the years.

She will always will be a special person in my life.

Thank you again for popping by my humble blog.

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~