Getting My Happy On...

If you follow me on Instagram you are probably already familiar with my frequent use of the "hashtag"....  #gettingmyhappyon

In a nutshell, they are the small things in life that make or keep me in a happy frame of mind.

So with that thought I wondered if you would participate in a wee exercise?

Are there any particular things that you do to keep yourself feeling upbeat and positive?

I could make a list, as I have done many times on The Humble Bungalow Blog but why not throw it open to you and see what ideas you have? Let's brainstorm and see what fun we might have sharing our individual hints.

Are your favourite "getting your happy on" habits free ?

Are they luxurious and expensive?

Or vintage, minimal, classic and timeless ?

Are they creative pursuits?

Do you prefer to be alone or in the company of others?

Does the beauty of nature play a big role in "getting your happy on?"

"Love is energy of life. "

~ Robert Browning ~

I look forward to reading your comments 

and I hope that we can inspire each other by sharing our thoughts and ideas.

Thank you for stopping by The Humble Bungalow Blog today.

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

Au revoir....

Relaxing because
it is so difficult

I crave quiet and calm

it has been an emotional few days

I brewed a pot of tea and took a mug outside in the sunshine

and sat in one of the new red chairs

I needed to listen to the birdsong

look at the flowers

soak in all the beauty that I could

to refuel my spirit

soft greens and whites mingle together

the red chairs are comfy

I think they will be one of my favourite spots when I need to take a break in the garden

our Iceberg rose is in bloom

love the purity that white flowers exude

the new pot of geraniums will last all summer

 sunshine and water

and a little TLC

a lovely and gracious woman has left us...

she lived a full life

inspired and nurtured a family

  great grandmother

she was an important woman in my life

she was gracious

loving

giving

always put her family first

she leaves behind

family

friends

years of memories and events that can be recalled 

whenever we choose to do so

She will hold a special place in my heart forever

and I am honoured to have known her

I have wept...

my goodness we are all weeping

we cannot stem the tide...

“Everyone must leave something behind when he dies, my grandfather said. A child or a book or a painting or a house or a wall built or a pair of shoes made. Or a garden planted. Something your hand touched some way so your soul has somewhere to go when you die, and when people look at that tree or that flower you planted, you're there." 

~ Ray Bradbury ~

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

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

Wisteria I want you!

On one of my recent walks I decided to explore Rockland.
It is a well established area that was developed early on in Victoria's history.
Many of the lovely heritage homes occupied large tracts of land, which have, in more recent times been subdivided and infill houses have been built.
There is a magnificent canopy of mature oak trees, streets have wide boulevards and you need not look too far to see gorgeous gardens.
It is lovely to meander up and down the streets and lanes...you never know what you'll see or who you will meet.
Be aware as there are a few very large bucks and families of deer living in this part of town.

This lush wisteria with it's delicate drooping clusters of flowers is stunning!

such a delicate flower

how pretty it looks against the blue sky

even more lovely as it drapes over the wrought iron railing onto the granite wall.

I am having a "greedy gardener" moment

"I want one!"

Lusting after plants is something that I do often.

Wisteria's require something sturdy to climb on and they can such vigorous climbers that can pull down a trellis...

I am considering where could I find room for one of these.

If I did find a spot 

then I would need to install 

(have someone install!)

something super strong for the wisteria to grab onto and grow up.

In the meantime, I can dream...

 I am imagining the scene will be set in soft mauves and vivid purple.

 Oh and that fragrance is exotic...sweet, almost a tropical scent.

Gardens evolve...

and change at the whim of the gardeners who work in them.

Some gardeners, myself included, are never quite satisfied with how their gardens grow.

We can always do better.

Find more beautiful plants and arrange them in a pleasing design.

Like a work in process 

a garden is always in flux.

We are plotting our next moves

our next acquisitions

how to make our little patch sparkle with beauty.

Books, lectures, garden tours, TV shows, 

all play a role in fuelling the creative process

that is felt deeply by gardeners alike across the globe.

"The most noteworthy thing about gardeners is that they are always optimistic, 

always enterprising, and never satisfied.  They always look forward to doing 

something better than they have ever done before."

~ Vita Sackville-West ~

So with those thoughts on a sunny Sunday afternoon I will take my leave.

Until the next post from this Hostess of  The Humble Bungalow Blog

Please

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

Seeing Red...

Red is a "high intensity colour"...
it grabs our attention and arouses the senses.

Wearing red lipstick or red polish always makes a bold statement.

Juicy ripe red tomatoes...tasty right out of the bowl.

One of my favourites...Red Shoes.

Saint James striped top with white pants

I think a pair of red shoes would complete this outfit.

Perhaps you prefer a red frock?

Paris vintage fashions in Didier Ludot  at Le Palais Royale.

Red door in Paris

Street sign Auvillar, France

Red is high up on my radar these days...yes I am seeing lots and lots of RED!

Finished reading a red covered novel...

Stop lights, post boxes,
alarms, telephone boxes,
fire trucks, brake lights,
lipsticks, shoes,
radishes, roses...

Tea tins...

luscious red frothy petals of a David Austin Rose

freshly picked radishes from The Humble Bungalow Garden

A few of my French books...which incidentally, all have red accents on the covers.

We chose red chairs for our new patio area...

now I am on the hunt for a large red pot to fill with red geraniums.

I am dreaming of full bright red accents

everywhere I go...

Are you partial to a certain colour?

Thank you for stopping by My Humble Bungalow Blog today.

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

The raptures of Spring...

Our Humble Bungalow Garden comes alive every Spring.
So exciting to see after cool wet Fall and Winter seasons...

Dewdrops and raindrops look so pretty resting on these leaves.

Pots of pansies and tulips make for a happy marriage.

Tulips are a favourite meal with our local deer population do they have been relegated to the area of the garden that is protected by the fence!

I have not bothered to dig up the tulip bulbs in the front garden 

so the deer just happily munch on them as they stroll by...

our garden must be on "their feeding route" 

as other gardens on our street have masses of tulips and they have not been nibbled.

Spring has come early...

Muguet des Bois

we started with a small clump and these have spread like mad in the garden.

I love their scent and love to pick a handful as gifts.

Their fragrance dissipates shortly after picking 

but for a few days a wee vase filled with them can fill the bathroom with the most amazing scent.

Looks like a wonderland of white bobbing bonnets...

Ah and the lilacs...

such beauty and another intoxicating fragrant flower.

The bees are back and busy pollinating the flowers...

one does need to be mindful and rest.

I am enjoying

slow mornings sipping my cafe creme

a good book in hand

often stopping mid sentence and staring out the window.

Pondering

appreciating the beauty of the garden

the blooms of Spring

and the sounds of the birdsong and of the bees buzzing.

I had my cortisone injection last week and it was not a very pleasant experience.

I must confess to being rather nervous.

I read up on the procedure at the Mayo Clinic website, 

the only one that I trust to give honest information 

so I had a vague idea what to expect 

but I had not really prepared myself for the sensations involved...

after three wee pricks for the freezing

a larger needle filled up the shoulder joint with what felt like goop...

thick play-dough like goop.

My shoulder is sore but I am told it should be better as time passes...

I am such a wimp when it comes to medical procedures.

How do people manage to find the strength and courage to deal with long term medical issues?

My utmost respect goes out to people who deal with disease with grace and dignity.

And there are many people out there who face these challenges everyday.

But for now I am giving myself permission to just be in the moment.

Allowing myself some moments to quietly contemplate the beauty of Spring.

Nodding as I embrace gratitude 

and

wait for the rest of the garden to burst forth with the raptures of Spring.

Take care and thank you for stopping by and visiting my humble blog.

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~