Roses in The Humble Bungalow Garden are in the spotlight...these are just a few of the 30 + roses that we grow.

 

~ The Humble Bungalow Kitchen ~

The window ledge above the farmhouse sink

featuring the elegant vintage Japanese porcelain vase.

Darling Daughter found this and thought it would be perfect for our garden blooms.

The rose is Abraham Darby, a fragrant David Austin rose, grown in our garden.

It is one of my favourites!

Stay tuned.

More pictures of this gorgeous rose are coming up.

May and June are the best months for our garden roses.

~ Showy Pavement Rugosa Rose ~

Bright Fuschia Pink

hardy

fragrant

very thorny

repeat blooming habit.

A close up...

while waiting for my husband to back the car out of the driveway 

I went in for a "sniff"

was I surprised

 when as I got closer, there was a bee working, inside all the petals!

Fortunately I did not get stung, the bee was preoccupied.

~ Reine des Violettes ~

David Austin

Old Rose

Strong Fragrance

repeat blooming

almost thornless

~ Abraham Darby ~

David Austin Rose

fragrant

pinky apricot

thorny

repeat blooming

One of my favourite roses.

A beautiful cut rose, great in bouquets or floating in a shallow dish.

~ Climbing Royal Sunset ~

Orange 

rich deep fragrance

repeat blooming

vigorous growth habit

hardy and reliable

I researched the local Recreation Centres for Aqua Fit Classes...

it all looks great on paper but one must actually attend and participate in person

to decide if it is a "good fit."

So I took the plunge, and I am happy to report that the class went very well.

My arthritic joints were not sore or painful during the class.

I was able to keep up 

although I was often doing the movements opposite to the instructor!

(I looked around and I was relieved to see that I was not the only one.)

There was a large group of about 30 women in attendance 

they obviously have been doing the class for quite awhile 

as they were chatting before class started 

signing a card in the change room for the instructor.

One particular woman went out of her way to say hi 

she mentioned that foam dumbbells were used in class 

so I put a pair on the edge of the pool where other women had set them down.

The instructor made the class FUN.

She had oodles of energy and was encouraging us to smile and laugh.

The hour passed quite quickly.

The next morning I didn't have much discomfort but was "aware" that I had used muscles not normally used when I walk.

The water is much more gentle on my joints than my regular walking.

I walked today, 

only 3.2 km but my hips and low back hurt.

So I will be returning to Aqua Fit and aim to attend 2-3 times a week.

I am very pleased with the pool and the class.

Feeling very optimistic, excited, and hopeful after only one class.

~ Grateful ~

My first Beach Read of the season ticked all the boxes...

While reading this book

my afternoon teatime and reading became longer and longer

(extending well into my dinner prep time) 

as I made my way through the chapters.

I enjoyed Erin's colourful characters and interesting story

set in Nantucket.

Nantucket sounds idyllic...

If you are looking for a Beach read this is a good one!

We've got lots going on here socially...

so I thought that I had better get this written and published before I forgot.

Do you love to garden?

What do you grow?

We watched the last season of Ted Lasso...

Loved the series so much.

The writing was rich and deep

the characters were spot on

very funny, yet poignant

 quality entertainment.

Will now need to find another great series...

any suggestions perhaps?

"Still" the newly released documentary film with Michael J Fox 

was brilliant.

It raised my awareness of Parkinson's disease...

I have a whole new respect for the disease Michael has,

how he is dealing with it, and the many challenges that he is facing.

He's a very brave fellow...

I wonder how he manages to be so stoic?

Obviously

a good support system and ample funds help with

the numerous medications, doctors and therapy.

Very little is known about what causes the disease.

There is a genetic connection in some cases...

Michael J Fox has set up a foundation and to date 

the foundation has raised more than 2 billion dollars.

Speaking about raising money...

My husband and I are thinking about offering our garden for next year's tour.

The Hospice Fundraiser ~  Teeny Tiny Garden Tour

Mom was in Hospice the last few days of her life.

The staff were incredible and the facility, although old, was very cozy.

There was a family area, a small kitchen, and a beautiful rooftop garden oasis.

It would be a very worthwhile cause...

Well that's about it for now...

I appreciate all your comments.

You may have noticed that I respond with your name 

but cannot link directly to your account.

It is a glitch with Blogger.

Thank you for stopping by The Humble Bungalow Blog.

Hope you have a FUN weekend!

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

Blue and white...My Stylish French Box

When I read a few months ago that the theme of the May delivery of My Stylish French Box was going to be blue and white I did a little happy dance!

I posted pictures of our collection of blue and white porcelain before on the blog.
Our collection is small and carefully curated...will share them later in this post.

Look at how beautifully the contents are packed!

A feast for the eyes and the fragrance from the Fragonard candle is divine.

Letol scarf

Gien porcelain mug

La Pompon linen bags

Fragonard candle in a decorative reusable porcelain lidded container.

Notebooks and a lovely blue Swarovski crystal pendant.

I love receiving this elegant treat every few months.

If you are interested in ordering the August box or an annual subscription 

please click the link here 

You can also read the reviews from recipients.

Porcelain Bowls by Harumi Ota

Wee Vessel with bunnies by Robert Amos

both are local Victoria artists.

My newest dress is also in blue and white.

a cool loose linen frock

Have you read this book?

Its a classic!

one that I re-read every so often 

especially when I want some French Chic style inspiration.

What are you reading?

Where do you find inspiration for fashion and home decor?

Pinterest? Instagram? Magazines? Blogs? HGTV? You Tube?

I've just made a pot of Mariage Freres Earl Grey Tea.

 I am heading out to the front porch with my book .

Until next time...

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

A symphony in blue and white and the May box from My Stylish French Country Box!

Do you love the classic combination of blue and white?

I particularly love blue and white porcelain and dishes...

The bowls are made by a local potter by the name of Harumi Ota.

The wee whimsical footed vessel is by local artist Robert Amos.

Sweet tumbling bunnies 

The writing on the pot says...

"Flick as flowflakes, litters from aloft."

I have a few other pieces with blue and white...

a transfer ware patterned tray and a vase.

Sharon Santoni's Intsagram post popped up 

and

 My Stylish French Country Box

telling followers that the May delivery box theme is blue and white!

It should be a very elegant box...

now I am dreaming of a symphony of blue and white! 

To order a box click this link...

you'll be glad that you did!

Cheerio for now...

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

Yummy Gomae Salad

Have you eaten the Japanese spinach salad called Gomae?

Last month I met up with a few friends for lunch at a local sushi restaurant
and my friend ordered it, mentioning that it was fabulous
so I tried it too...

WOW!

My taste buds were doing a happy dance, it is SO delicious!

After tasting it I knew that I wanted to be able to make it at home.

I needed to buy a special Japanese bowl called a suribachi

(almost like a mortar and pestle)

I found one at the local Japanese market.

I decided to use the porcelain bowl designed and made by a local artist

Japanese potter Harumi Ota

Spinach is so good for us.

It's loaded in nutrients and is available all year long.

The salad also keeps for a few days covered in the refrigerator...

but beware

it may not last that long!

It is a tasty snack in between meals.

Here is the link to the recipe that I used.

I hope that you like it!

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

Week three...being proactive by getting back into healthy routines.

What I kept...

Going through Mom's things took time as we did not want to rush the process...
there were a few surprises, but for the most part, it was what we might have expected from an organized woman
whose attention to detail was evident in everything she touched.

My sister and I donated most of her clothes...
I saved a grey cashmere sweater and have been wearing it most days.
It feels like a cozy warm hug...
it is as if mom has her arms firmly wrapped around me.

I also brought home some small red spatulas...the kind that one uses when scraping out the last of the mayonnaise or mustard out of a small jar. I don't know what moved me to keep them but they are a practical tool that I will use regularly and take up very little room in our small bungalow.

I kept her recipes in the vintage recipe box.

One afternoon in the coming week I will make a pot of tea and peruse her collection.

It could be like a trip back in time...

she had a large repertoire 

that ran the gamut 

from jello whips to apple pie and meat loaf.

                             Mom had oodles and oodles of knick knacks!
     She wrote a note that specified she was leaving me her antique Maling bowl...

                a blue and white porcelain plant pot finds a new home here
                                   

Mom's condo is listed on the market.

I'll miss sitting on the deck with mom sharing a chat and a cup of tea.

There will be so many things that I will miss...

our telephone calls

walks

shopping trips

laughter

these memories will help to comfort me

 The Humble Bungalow is scented with the heady fragrance of lilies.

(I remove the stamens as they stain everything)

On the horizon...

I plan to return to the practise of Yoga

 am looking at local studios and their schedules.

It really helps with relaxation and I feel energized after the sessions.

Walking is back in my daily routine but having been away from it for almost a month my muscles were reminding me of that saying...

"use it or lose it!"

Thankfully bath salts and soaking in the tub have been helping.

I've got the urge to buy something bright and colourful.

My wardrobe of greys and black feels like it could use a punch of colour.

I haven't felt like shopping in quite some time and this might just well be what they call "retail therapy!"

The days are getting lighter

there is birdsong outside the window

spring flowers are emerging

 simple joys

one delights in

that can temper the sadness

 enfold one in a firm embrace

almost as cozy 

as Mom's cashmere sweater...

There is a sense of relief after these busy few weeks.

The pace has slowed and I was able to indulge in a few quiet days

that were spent at home

getting domestics under control

teas and cafe cremes were sipped 

while gazing out the windows

and

flipping through several French magazines

Cote Sud and Campagne Decoration.

Speaking of France...

I have been wearing the samples that I ordered from the new musc collection

by 

 Sylvaine Delacoutre

The Dovana scent is lovely and may be the fragrance that I order

it has notes of iris, neroli, vanilla, and ambrette.

You might like them too.

I am not affiliated with Sylvaine and have received no remuneration for this mention.

Her website is here.

Hope that your weekend is ticking along nicely.

Thank you for stopping by...

XO