February ~ Cocooning in The Humble Bungalow

 

Thank you for all your comments and emails from my last post.

I took time off to be quiet, stay at home and just relax.

In preparation for Surgery. 

I've been feeling calm and cocooning...

One of the projects I tackled was a messy cupboard...

it's been a disaster for years and I just "lived" with it.

One day I opened the cupboard stuff fell out...

that was the signal to me to get serious and act.

I removed all the items and placed them on top of the dining room table.

I discarded things that were no longer needed

things that were out of date and expired.

Organized the rest of the items and popped them into baskets.

Think that I will be able to maintain order 

after I took the time to tidy up.

Looking at the before and after images makes me wonder why it took so long :-))

Do you have cupboards, drawers or entire rooms that are in disarray?

Perhaps catch all areas where you close a door and look away?

Candles, books and lots of tea kept me company during these quiet days.

Tried some new teas...

my current favourite is an Irish imported tea by Barry's

very strong and rich and is decaf.

I found it at The Irish Linen Shop here in Victoria.

While I was there I bought a couple of new linen tea towels and looked at their gorgeous Irish Wool Sweaters.

Spring feels like it is going to be early...

so many flowers are blooming.

We've had rain, and gusty winds but no snow.

I've got a dozen books in my to be read pile...

am currently reading A Traitor in Whitehall by Julia Kelly.

So good...she wrote The Last Garden in England.

New to us...

Vintage Arts and Crafts Weller vase

Imagining our David Austin Roses in this pretty little vessel.

Wrote in my journal...

not daily as I had originally expected, but when I felt like it.

So many random thoughts are swirling around in my mind.

Health seems to be at the forefront.

Surgery is getting a lot of air time.

Reading up on the preparations, sorting out the medical equipment required.

Researching post op hip replacement weeks that other people have experienced...

want to have some realistic expectations.

Enjoying the Thrifted Shetland Wool Hand Knit Sweater.

It's the warmest sweater that I own...

When winter started I owned 3 maybe 4 sweaters 

but since recent thrifting finds

I now have 3 more.

The blog may be quiet for another few weeks...

~ Post Op ~

when I stay home and recover and get my new hip ready for action.

Hope all is well with you and that you are enjoying life.

 Are you noticing Pops Of Colour?

Savouring moments of Joy

Living Simply?

Take care

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

August My Stylish French Box delivery...

A beautifully curated box of French items recently arrived on my doorstep.

My Stylish French Box is always a luxurious treat.

A wee bit of French chic to add to our home.

Beeswax candles ~ Apis - Cera

Salad servers ~ Sabre

Pottery oil jug ~ Digoin 

Dijon mustard ~ Pommery

Vintage brooch ~ French Brocantes

Pretty tray ~ Au Bain Marie

Table runner ~ Charvet

I've opened the mustard it is yummy.

Lovely flavour in a homemade salad dressing.

Decanted some quality olive oil into the Digoin jug

placed the cork stopper inside...

it works well and is much nicer to use that the plastic olive oil bottle.

We eat a lot of salads here in The Humble Bungalow.

The servers will get used daily and they are so very pretty.

I look forward to using the candles.

 I absolutely LOVE the fragrance of beeswax as it burns.

The wee tray is now in our guest room on the table,

The colours work exquisitely with our red 

 Toile du Jouy bed linen.

Sharon and her team at My Stylish French Box are planning a festive holiday box for November.

If you are interested in a lovely gift 

(or one for yourself )

please click the link here and it will direct you to the site.

Hope that you are staying well.

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

Thank you for popping by The Humble Bungalow Blog.

I've got the blues....

Blue porcelain pottery

Tumbling bunnies

lilting lyrics

Artist and porcelain maker Harumi Ota gave local artist Robert Amos lessons.

 Robert has created a whimsical line of vessels.

This one was a gift from our darling daughter Jennifer.

The two bowls shown here are by Harumi Ota.

I have had them several years.

For those of you reading this post who may be local 

they were purchased from a local gallery in Oak Bay called Eclectic.

 Harumi Ota frequently sells his work at The Moss Street Market on Saturdays.

Here's my new swimsuit...

also blue and white.

Finding a "flattering" suit was quite a challenge.

First off there was a limited selection in my price range

and 

coming to grips with my ample figure "weighed heavily"

I wanted decent support and good coverage...

needing to camouflage the "wobbly bits" as much as possible.

I ended up at a bathing suit specialty shop...

where they have many sizes and styles and expert fitters.

While in the change rooms I overheard many women's conversations 

 ALL of which were lamenting that they were FAT!

They were mostly young women and teenagers...

I was the eldest by far!

We are sensitive and critical of our bodies...

not everyone can be the same size or shape

we all have "problem areas"

no one is perfect.

 I am overweight

I know that I should slim down and get back to my WW goal weight.

 I have a serious conversation with myself about this regularly...

and its not really working.

I eat healthy

I try not to indulge in chocolates or sweets.

I walk every day and swim once a week.

I look around at the pool and there are women of all shapes and sizes.

There are some who would be considered morbidly obese 

in swimsuits much bigger than mine 

participating in the Aqua Fit classes...

How do they feel in their own skin?

Do we all have negative thoughts about our body image?

Is this a healthy way of thinking?

Here's my healthy lunch.

I AM going to try harder, starting right now, 

TODAY!

How about you?

Are you struggling to lose weight?

How do you feel about your body image?

Have you been swimsuit shopping lately?

Are you shocked by the swimsuit prices?

(many that I looked at were over $200)

Its a lovely sunny day and I am heading out for my second walk.

Thank you for reading my humble blog and I'd love to hear your thoughts on this issue.

Hope you have a fabulous weekend!

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~