"Geek Chic" Goggles and a Bungalow Style Weekend

Weekends see me getting up later and lazing about in my robe longer
savouring the slow pace
listening to the sounds of the clocks chiming in the bungalow
as life ticks along...

Breakfast usually turns into brunch
with a light snack to follow later in the afternoon
before a hearty dinner of roast chicken or roast beef.

One skillet

brunch for two.

I had a play day and went thrift shopping with my daughter and BFF.

I found a butter dish in our everyday Maxwell Williams pattern

 a large vintage English Johnson ironstone bowl

which will be fabulous for pasta, salad or fruit.

I picked up my new glasses

  "Geek Chic goggles"

(can you say investment glasses?)

I don't know if they are chic

  they definitely are GEEK!

I love them especially with my bright red Chanel lipgloss.

At my age I feel that I have earned the right to push the envelope...

I can see so much better now...

gosh 

it's been 3 years since my last prescription 

words were getting blurry, very distorted and wobbly.

If things get much worse I might need to get a seeing eye dog...

a Golden of course!

These Eyes by The Guess Who

A Canadian band

who played at my high school...

there's a bit of a story...

I played the flute

and backstage my BFF and I met the band

we got autographs

the flute of Burton Cummings jumped into my hand 

and he indulged me

and listened

a very nervous girl

who was somewhat awestruck

played a few notes 

before their concert 

 my BFF and I were in the front row!

I have been cruising the internet for their songs...

check this out...

Nils Lofgren 

Bruce Springsteen

ROCKS!

He's going to be touring soon

I hope I can be there!

Have a fabulous weekend

The view from here...OOTD, music and more

I have been temporarily sidelined...

My bed has been unmade for several days

as I have spent the better part of the past week hunkered down.

Pepper has been my companion and she seems to like napping with me.

I cannot decide if I have a bug or am over tired or have something else unknown going on...

I've made an appointment with my doctor just to be on the safe side

but he's a busy GP so I will not see him for another few days.

Many of my co workers have been sick too 

so I know something is worming it's way through the ranks.

I make a very bad patient on all fronts.

I get frustrated laying about

and feel so unproductive.

I'd never be the kind of woman who likes to eat bon bon's in bed!

I have finished The Distant Hours and it was a great read.

I read her other book The House at Riverton

and I also have The Forgotten Garden on my book stack waiting.

I did get myself up and dressed to attend the memorial service for my BFF's husband's father.

I found it challenging trying to decide on my OOTD

with a foggy brain...

Black ponte knit skirt, Joe

nightshade hose, Secret

black leather boots, Naturalizer

grey V neck jersey top, Talbots

grey vest, Orange

a light spritz of eau de toilette

The service was held at the Yacht Club

and many familiar boaters were in attendance.

It felt good to connect with all the family 

and to take a few moments to look at the board of photos taken throughout the years

and see his deck chair, burgee and boaters cap on display.

Driving home I felt a melancholy rise up in my chest...

Michael Buble's Crazy Love CD was playing in the car and I cranked it up on Whatever it Takes My Love

and had a good weep.

Music moves me

it always has and continues to do so...

I hope you'll take a few minutes and have a listen 

to Michael and Ron Sexsmith 

as they weave their melodic magic on this early Saturday morning...

What are your weekend plans?

I'll bet they are much more exciting than mine!

I plan to sink my teeth into a new novel

and keep hydrated 

while keeping warm in bed.

You'll find me wearing LuLulemon Yoga pants in grey

and an oversized grey sweatshirt (eons old) by Tommy Bahamas

warm cashmere socks

my hair will be piled atop my head 

and crudely fastened with a black plastic claw clip

no make up, 

but plenty of Avene deep conditioning moisturizer

and a swash of Burt's Bee's lip gloss in pink

It's me at my least glamourous...

but it's the real me.

Your Humble Hostess

reporting from the Bungalow Bed.

Chanel and shopping...

Lovely daughter in law and I tripped the light fantastic and went to the shopping mall to buy some Christmas clothes and toys for the adorable Miss Isla, grand baby extraordinaire.

Our expedition started out at Starbucks for some yuletide lattes...

We found many cute things for her at The Gap
and then we traipsed into the big toy store...
Toys R Us and found a couple of board books and an educational toy.

We also checked out some boots, shoes and lingerie at The Bay...
our very own Canadian store which has been sold to an American conglomerate!

I found some new lip gloss from Chanel...

Rouge Allure Extrait De Gloss

#517  Triomphal

which is

A Limited Edition Christmas Colour.

Rouge Allure Laque

#74 Dynastie

I sat on a tall chair which I had to jump up onto

(I am height challenged so lovely DIL asked if I needed a boost!)

I managed on my own however it was a very ungracious looking move

as I was

laden down with parcels and bundled up in my Burberry quilted coat.

Perched on the chair I was there for all to see as the cosmetician tried several shades

( I think several passers by were very amused!)

after testing, swapping and swiping

we decided on two new colours...

Dynastie is for daytime

the Triomphal is bolder and richer 

perfect for nighttime.

The super glossy one is a bit of a change for me

but it catches the light and will look good in the evening.

Lily was the name of the gal at the counter...

 she added some samples of Chanel No.19 

which is a grassy lighter green scent.

Quite a departure from Mother's signature scent Chanel No. 5.

We were home in time for me to wrap the presents.

This year I have vowed to wrap as I buy...

don't really know why I just feel like it.

Last week I bought Michael Buble's Christmas CD and he does have me in the spirit already!

It's the eve of the weekend here and I hope that your weekend is a dreamy one...

If you are shopping Black Friday Sales

be careful of those bargain hunters

I read in the paper that they can be dangerous.

I'll be posting my Christmas fruitcake soon so stay tuned!

Music for my mood...

I feel low today...
I slept fitfully and really it feels like not much more than a wink.

I have called in sick...

as I sit here in a stupor staring at my coffee
waiting for the caffeine to kick in
I am trying to shake this feeling that has settled in and permeated my usual cheerful disposition.

I so rarely have days like this it feels strange...

Abraham Darby cannot cheer me...

nor the lovely white Lilacs that so sweetly scent the bathroom

I am planning on a quiet day

and a nap is on the agenda

an

antidote

for

a sleep deprived Hostess.

I want to share a lovely, haunting, and soulful musical selection...
Adagio for Strings by Samuel Barber....

Perhaps you will play it in the background while you do something else...
(for it is 10 minutes)

Do you feel the powerful emotions captured and released by the violins?
What do you do when you have a day of low energy or a night with little sleep?

Mellow Yellow and an Award...

I was nominated for the Versatile Blogger Award by Rebekah from Cupcake Caramel
Thank you for the nod I appreciate it!

A few things that you might not already know about me...
after 400+ posts I think my life is pretty much an open book!

Yellow is the colour of happiness here in the Humble Bungalow.

Sweet Pansy

colour me Happy!

In my opinion just about the best bloomin bargain in the plant shop.

Fragrantly scented Azalea

Rothschild variety

my favourite

Delicate petals

an infusion of sunny sweetness

I love the contrast of the bloom and the foliage

nature has got so many things right.

I took a mosaic course a few years ago 

and made many pots

for friends and family.

(the centers of these black pansies are yellow!)

 I love to start the day with a sunny breakfast

protein 

packed with organic free range goodness.

A piece of whole wheat toast 

and a glass of water

To cut calories I used to skip breakfast 

until I read that the metabolism slows down

if food is not eaten.

I must have mentioned a bazillion times that I am not happy with my weight.

I try not to obsess about it

life's too short.

I also detest sweating 

or perspiring as Mother calls it!

I think it was because I have had more than my share of Hot Flashes!

I guess that's enough about me...

Mellow Yellow

 by Donovan Leitch 

a song that I listened to in the mid sixties

I thought he was a super cute bloke back in the day

and 

here he is in 2010!

you can read more about Donovan on his website

 Wow! 

he's performing at Royal Albert Hall June 3rd!

Hugs

from the Hostess

Thanks Rebekah!

Radio Days...

I have been without a radio for many years.
My first radio was a rocket radio gizmo that was more of a toy...
can you believe this?
A few years later I received a Crosley radio that my clever father managed to paint pink to match my bedroom!
When I turned 13 I had a battery powered transistor by Motorola which I took out to local parks and beaches... I thought I was pretty cool...

I remember listening to the sounds of the late 60's... the San Francisco scene, The Beatles and The Stones....while chewing Double Bubble and sipping Coca Cola.

An early favourite band of mine was Buffalo Springfield...oodles of talent, amazing harmony, singing songs with political messages...

I still listen to CSNY...the concert here in town a few years back still makes me smile!

Springsteen's music speaks to me on many levels and Mr. HB and I attend his concerts whenever he comes to the Pacific Northwest...it's been a few years...where are you Bruce?

 Dad...

I bought a Crosley...

wish you could see it

retro looking like the one you gave me 

way back in the day!

and the best part

it has a superior sound

they call it "Sound Around"

I've had to bring in my Aeonium arborium Valour 

zone Z10

the weather is positively beastly

chilly windy and wild

with

snow flurries

Who are your favourite musicians and bands?