September ~ Mid month musings...

 

Sunny Yellow Dahlias are putting on a bright and bold showing.

We've planted these in a vintage garden wheelbarrow and parked it out front.

The flowers are continuously blooming...

 I suspect they will be around for another month.

I've picked a few on occasion, 

I like to leave most of them on the plant for maximum effect!

There are so many beautiful and different varieties of Dahlias.

 I think I need to find a few more varieties for the Humble Bungalow Garden.

Mom used to grow Dahlias.

Some she called "dinner plate dahlias"

they were the size of a dinner plate...

with spiky petals.

Mom had a bed dedicated just for growing Dahlias...about 6 foot X 20 feet.

A rainbow of colours and a variety of forms...

She would pick bunches and bring them inside our home, 

scattering them in most every room...including the bathroom.

I think she used ALL her vases for these displays.

Recently I had a very lucky day at the thrift shops...

I drove out to Brentwood Bay and Sidney and had a good look.

Circe is a book that I have been meaning to read for many years.

Vintage Linen napkins X 4

Glass Flower Frog

Silver Sugar Bowl that matches my Harrods Teapot and Creamer!

The sugar bowl has been on my radar for several years...

this one has a monogram, unfortunately not our initials.

(I figure it just adds to the charm.)

Do you like to go thrifting?

What is your favourite thrift shop find?

The simple silver tea set...

2 thrifted tea strainers...one is sterling, the other is silver plate.

~ Vintage Royal Albert Canterbury China ~

This pattern is for afternoon Teas...

I have some side plates and a couple of cake plates.

Fortunately I found most of these pieces locally in thrift and consignment shops.

This is one of the Birks gold earrings that my husband gave me 45 years ago...

they were a grand gesture gift for Christmas when I was a stay at home mom.

Two babies and we were scraping by 

with not a lot of cash leftover from our expenses...

when to my surprise and delight my husband gave them to me.

A few days ago one fell into the toilet 

as it was flushing and I couldn't grab it in time.

The sadness that followed was profound...there were tears.

I have worn these throughout the years and I felt they were priceless.

Sentimentally I felt like I had lost something really BIG.

After a couple of days, and encouragement from our daughter and my husband...

I went to a local shop Old N Gold and found another pair.

Slightly bigger and the gold on these is twisted...

(Italian earrings)

I traded in the solo earring and walked out of the shop wearing this new pair.

As someone on Instagram said...it's a new chapter.

Have you ever lost a piece of jewellry that meant a lot?

Did you replace the item?

After Yoga I popped into Adventure Clothing on Oak Bay Avenue...

I saw a cute pair of jeans that are wider and cropped.

They were on display with a shirt from the Cornish brand Seasalt.

I tried them on and really liked the fit...

they are by the company French Dressing.

The printed Seasalt Shirt was really pretty but I don't usually wear prints.

Stripes yes, but prints...not so much.

Do they look like Sailor pants?

Pedal Pushers?

Well I LOVE them whatever they are called...

I've been having fun styling them with items that I already have in my wardrobe...

for example:

white linen top and jacket

white Tee and blue and white striped Ralph Lauren oversized shirt

Long sleeve white top with a hand knit Miriam sweater in a teal blue shade.

I am thinking I need some red cowboy boots to wear with these this Fall!

Our dwarf apple trees are full this year and we have a grand harvest...

Chehalis apples (above) are green and slightly tart.

Liberty are a bit sweeter...

Both are great eating apples.

 I also use them for pies and crisps.

Do you have fruit trees?

I picked some hydrangeas in hopes to dry them...

these are different from the Limelight and Annabelle hydrangeas.

We have two plants and one is rose coloured, the other is blue.

They grow side by side and I wonder if the soils PH is different?

My mom used to say that hydrangeas can change their colour

 simply by adding copper pennies...

I am not sure if this is true or an "old wives tale?"

Do you know if it works? 

Have you tried to change the colour of your hydrangeas?

Well that's about all the chit chat news I can think of sharing right now...

hope that your September is off to a great start.

Autumn will be here before we know it in our part of the world.

(Some of you are just heading into Spring!)

Take care and thank you for taking the time to stop by and read my blog..

~ Boscobel Roses ~

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

Mid Month...a MISH MASH of Musings

 

~ Green Moss Growing on a Rock ~

I stumbled upon this pretty lush green sight and thought how beautiful it is...

How many people would stop and take notice?

Would they have TIME to stop?

Would they even care?

I think simple things of beauty in our world are worth noting.

When I was young

I would lie on the grass in our backyard and imagine fairies living in the grass.

Buttercups would be their yellow bonnets and clover would be their parasols.

Bees would be buzzing 

making the music that the fairies would dance to...

These wee worlds would whirl around in my imagination...

obviously I have not forgotten 

the power of their magic.

I still look for the MAGIC on my walks.

If only to regain those innocent and naive ideas and thoughts from my youth.

~ Baking Sourdough Bread ~

The simple process of mixing, folding, and baking bread has many rewards.

There is a sense of purpose and a genuine feel of true comfort.

The finished fresh Boule is so much more than just a loaf of bread...

it is a vehicle that transports us back to a simpler time.

The day of bread mixing is a Joyful experience.

The basic routine offers up a schedule that one wholly participates in...

mind and body.

(It might sound a wee bit "airy fairy" but that is how I feel)

I look for opportunities to relax the mind and body...

bread baking is an escape from reality.

So much in our world is in chaos and I seek solace.

I deliberately choose solace...

Yoga, knitting, walking, reading, and baking bread.

Things that are soothing and force to take me "out of my head."

~ Healthy Lunch with My Besties ~

Lunching with long time Friends as we celebrate and honour our birthdays.

We meet up for an annual Christmas lunch too...

we are good friends from primary school.

In a few months ALL of us will be in our 70's

so many stories intertwine and connect us.

In order to entertain more efficiently we purchased an antique table.

Our tiny living room has no coffee table so we used an oak card table

or 

set up the food in the dining room where people had to wander in and help themselves.

Now we can move the table into the living room and put the food on the table!

SO much better! 

It must be time to invite some people over to gather together. 

~ I snapped a selfie while waiting for the ferry ~

Yes the pearls came out to play!

OOTD is very casual.

Jeans ~ Mango Mom Jeans

White Tee ~ Mododoc

Knit vest ~ Churchmouse Library Vest pattern

Puffer coat ~ Lands' End

~ Here's the ferry ~

We are off to the Cottage

Grabbed two books that were on HOLD from the library.

Started with Elizabeth Strout's newest...

in LARGE PRINT !

I almost don't need to wear my glasses :-))

~ Ran a few errands this morning ~

Got a few groceries and bought some body balm at the pharmacy.

I forgot that I had run out when we left last month...

Alas

there was hardly any beach for walking...

 so I went to the Thrift Shop and the shops and galleries at Hope Bay.

With only a scant amount of scent left in my perfume bottle 

I found myself sniffing the samples.

Well this certainly sounds inviting...

Choosing the Rose Quartz option AURA

made locally on Pender Island by Fiadh Alchemy.

Sunshine and Blue skies are keeping us company today and feeling grateful.

Going to make French Onion Soup for our dinner...

chopping and slicing are such a tonic.

Hope that your New Year is off to a good start...

Take and Make time to nurture yourself, employ self care when necessary.

You will need to use that stored positive energy.

Thank you for stopping by The Humble Bungalow Blog.

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

Mid May Musings...from Gardening to My "minimalist" approach to Style...

 

May is a very busy month here in The Humble Bungalow Garden.

We have all kinds of plants blooming and various plans for new beds and borders.

Mr. HB is digging up the wee front lawn which has been struggling to grow 

ever since the neighbour's Arbutus Tree grew tall and shaded our front garden.

We will build a small patio using old bricks.

I hope to relocate the black birdbath to the centre of the new patio

buy a black pot and plant a large Boxwood Globe.

I am so looking forward to sharing the new area and will do so in a future post! 

With my broken ankle I have been sitting more...

Tea, a good book on the porch in the sunshine listening to the birdsong

 is not a hardship!

In the wee library across the street I discovered a book by author Susie Steiner.

I really enjoyed her first book Missing, Presumed.

Quickly put the next 2 books in the series on Hold at my local library.

DSI Manon is an interesting and complex character, as are the rest of her team.

One feels that they are REAL people.

UK Crime Dramas fascinate me...

Was surprised to learn that Susie Steiner passed away at the age of 51 

 a glioblastoma brain tumour.

Unfortunately

I know of a few people who have passed away recently from a glioblastoma

~ Pavement Series Rose ~

This reliable, vigorous, hardy, drought tolerant rose is VERY thorny.

It can be grown as a hedge.

The blooms are frilly, frothy and fragrant.

Mr. HB managed to grow a new one for our neighbour from a shoot.

Soon all of our roses will be in bloom...we have over 30 roses in our small garden.

It might sound excessive...but I am a passionate rose grower.

When our Olive Tree died in the cold snap this past winter I was sad.

Was so hopeful that we might have a wee bit of Italy in our backyard.

Alas it is not to be...

Mr. HB suggested I buy a new rose to fill the space :-))

It took me NO Time at all to find a new candidate...

Bathsheba, a David Austin Rose, is now growing in that space!

Made a Cheese Sourdough loaf of bread and it was surprisingly easy.

Recipe found online at Pantry Mama.

The sourdough exploratory journey continues!

Who knew that baking bread would ever be such a big part of my week?

Some thoughts and musings about clothes, style and fashion...

shoes are not shown

 Comprising of several pairs of loafers, sandals as well as white sneakers.

I have various pieces of outer wear which I have not included in this closet.

Eileen Fisher blue swing coat, Eileen Fisher Khaki jacket, 

distressed Old Navy denim jacket, 

black moto,

Ralph Lauren black quilted barn coat.

The Minimalist Wardrobe continues to be working...

I am constantly editing.

(Summer Wardrobe)

Black, white, grey neutrals and shades of denim blues

with a few POPS of Colour.

I much prefer a smaller wardrobe as it makes getting dressed so easy.

No more standing in front of the closet humming and hawing about what to wear!

In order for a small wardrobe to work, and be versatile,

I have found that I need to pay extra attention to texture and accessories.

This blouse is a great example...

Tiers of cool textured fabric ~ flow.

I have worn this with black pants and jeans.

 

Accessories are Key components in any outfit.

Big Baroque Pearls make an appearance frequently.

I consider these a "Statement Piece."

My smaller Akoya Pearls are much more subtle.

Both get equal wear.

Basic Players for Summer are :

Two Old Navy denim shirts, 

one a medium blue the other very soft and faded.

Gap sleeveless denim top with pin tucks.

A couple of white shirts, a few white Tees, a sleeveless linen tank.

Several pairs of black pants...2 are dressy.

A black pair of ankle length cuffed pants which have white flecks.

Tan and white striped pair of wider profile ankle pants (NEW) from Talbots

2 pairs of denim blue Jeans

one light the other dark

pair of white jeans

Black tunic top crinkled by Cut Loose wear with black capri tights.

Black sleeveless crinkled dress, black with white polka dots shift dress.

Denim dress, 

white and blue striped maxi length linen dress

bold yellow Italian linen maxi dress.

White and Black skirt with asymmetrical flounce.

White shift dress with pockets in cotton.

I no longer wear shorts...

Lacy socks add a bit of fun worn with my white sneakers and loafers.

The juxtaposition of the lace and the nacre of the pearls works.

Clothes are more than just coverings...

they are an expression of one's personal style.

Creativity definitely comes into PLAY :-))

This thrifted sequin top is a Wild Card in my wardrobe...

whimsical and totally surprising.

Think of wearing it with my white denim jeans...or polished black ponte knit pants.

Maybe even the San Tropez silk skirt I found at The House Of Savoy?

I have kitten heels with some sparkle on them that will be fun to wear...

these sandals are about 15 years old and they need to get some time out of their box!

~ Behind the Scenes ~

Not everything needs to be classic and conservative...

Prima Donna make such beautiful lingerie that I cannot resist

 A Pop of Colour

What really started me on the minimalist wardrobe edit 

was flying off to France in 2015 for 3 weeks with ALL my clothes in a carry on...

I am having FUN with fashion and am really enjoying a fresh new focus.

Clothes that work well with my retired lifestyle

and 

are often found in consignment and thrift shops.

~ WIN WIN ~

Are you a minimalist or a maximalist?

Do you have a wee closet like me 

or a walk in closet with built in drawers and shoe racks?

Well I must get off the computer and start some lunch for my husband who is toiling outside in the Humble Bungalow Garden!

Cheerio for Now...

Look forward to your comments on the subject.

Thank you for stopping by The Humble Bungalow Blog.

 

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

OOTD ~ Fashion Police "look away" and some thoughts on hair...

 

It's Sunday again...

I am trying to continue with my weekly posts and it seems like Sunday is THE day.

You might be surprised if you saw me today :-))

Honestly...

The Fashion Police would definitely be citing me with an infraction.

most certainly it would be an enormous fine.

After showering I put on my body lotion, washed and moisturized my face...

added some mascara and tinted lip balm.

I am not going out.

OOTD

A pair of indigo sweatpants

black camisole

 dove grey hand knit Miriam wool sweater

 slippers

&

Akoya pearls

This morning I am baking bread, doing laundry and tonight I am making a roast beef.

There will be some reading and knitting...

I am giving myself permission to stay home and cocoon.

In other news...

I found a cute top at the Win Thrift Shop

I used to see a lot of garments made by Joseph Ribkoff.

I think this will come in handy for the summertime.

I can pair it with pants and that blue linen skirt that I purchased last year.

The neckline is perfect for the pearls :-))

The sun was shining a few days ago...

today there are moody clouds blanketing the sky.

Must be craving summer with my shopping habits...

purchased a new straw tote.

a great size for our Pender trips.

It can be loaded up with my laptop, books, and a few other bits.

It will come in handy at The Farmer's Market as well.

Hubby and I went to the Tapas on Oak for dinner.

Our son and the grands gave us a gift card so we wanted to try it out.

The food was good and the tapas portions were perfect for two.

It was busy and the wait staff were super friendly and efficient.

I wore a casual outfit...

tweed Hudson pants

this black crinkle top and my Chelsea boots.

I have no idea who made this top?

it has been in  my wardrobe for ages, it must have been a thrift shop find.

I took it travelling to France and Italy as when washed it dries overnight.

Great for layering !

I post on Instagram daily and several readers mentioned my hair style...

"straight and flat ironed"

the texture of the salt and pepper grey has changed and my hair is much thinner.

This would appear to be an aging issue...

many women complain of thinning hair 

my 69th birthday is a few weeks away
so I guess it is my turn...

but no complaints :-))

Do you colour your grey hair or have you gone au natural?

Was it a gradual process going grey or did you just stop dying it?

Has the texture changed like mine?

Have you changed your hairstyle?

I know many women keep their signature style over decades...

rather like a signature fragrance, many never ever stray.

I am not unhappy with my hair,  but I regularly change things up.

Covid happened and I grew my hair long.

Two years later I had it cropped in a short layered bob.

Now it appears that I am growing out the layers and wearing it straight.

I haven't been to my hairdresser for a few months.

Shall we chat about our hair?

Leave a comment to chime in...

Well I guess I better get on with my day...

lunch will not make itself

plus I want some tea...

then there is bread to bake and laundry to fold!

Hope that you are all well...there seems to be a lot of illness about.

Be Well and Be Kind 

November vibes...

The autumnal light is fading slightly this month...

I've noticed more rainy days, breezy winds and fog.

Wearing layers to chase the chill...

a camisole underneath my cashmere sweater with warm wool socks and scarves.

The down puffer coat has made several appearances and I purchased a wool beret for my walks.

Made by The Canadian Hat Company.

I had my hairdresser chop off about 3 inches of my Covid Coiffure!

It feels so much healthier and the lightness has freed up some of the curls.

What a difference! 

A little pampering goes a LONG way to make one feel better.

There are a few geraniums still blooming on the front porch.

I crave a pop of colour in the Fall and Winter.

Calicarpia aka Beauty Berry

So delicate...

A fall flowering bush brightens up a corner of the Humble Bungalow Garden.

This weekend Mr. HB and I ventured out to the garden centre...

We were looking for a wreath for the front door.

We didn't find a wreath but we did find some Noble Fir boughs and Ilex red berries

A little festive cheer at the foot of the stairs.

A cheerful pop of colour!

I popped the cuttings in the tool box on the front porch table.

(waste not want not!)

We also purchased an Olive tree...

this purchase was inspired by our friend Julie who used some olive leaves to decorate her dining table when she hosted us for dinner.

Julie is a fabulous cook and she has a flair for home decor...

her home is an oasis of calm and she has recently redone it with soft greys and French style furnishings.

A feast for the eyes...

We brought some wine from The Pender Island Sea Star Winery.

Dungeness Crab Cake with Remoulade sauce...

succulent and so flavourful.

Goat cheese deep fried atop cherry tomatoes with pine nuts 

then drizzled with a balsamic reduction.

Salmon served with rice, asparagus and carrots

and a delicious

Beurre butter sauce

Dessert was from the Italian bakery...

fig and apple tarts.

Dinner was incredible...one for the memory book.

Thank you Julie!

We've got a busy couple of weeks planned with all kinds of events.

Looking forward to reclaiming our social life and activities in a safe way.

My knitting group is going to reconvene...

we are going out for dinner with our darling daughter and her husband.

Heading to the Art Gallery for an exhibit, meeting friends for a Happy Hour, coffee with the gals and a tea planned for next month at Butchart Gardens.

Thank you for stopping by The Humble Bungalow Blog.

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~