Flowers and the occasional treats...

The beautiful colours of this exquisite fuchsia stand out against the grey gloom of a February day.

After a delightful trip away in Seattle I am trying to get back on track and eat more modestly.
Focusing on lean protein, fruits, vegetables and salads.

Recently my daily dose of Thyroid medication has been reduced substantially.
It is interesting to me that our thyroid glands can fluctuate so much and I am curious as to why it has changed so radically in the past 6 months, I have done some research but have not discovered any answers.
The Thyroid affects many systems in the body and losing and gaining weight can be affected by an malfunctioning Thyroid gland.
If you have not had yours checked in awhile it might be a good idea,
all that is involved is a simple blood test.

While staying the course I have been rewarding myself with non edible treats...

floral bouquets.

Cafe au lait's 

which have helped keep me satisfied...

the skim milk foams up far lighter than regular milk and it is easy opting for skim over full fat cream.

One needs a few treats now and then so a bowl of coffee with frothy milk is something I enjoy.

I have paid extra attention to my hands and have started painting my nails

 it is fun trying out new and different shades.

I am getting better with the application of the polish.

Practise makes perfect!

Paying attention to details 

Wearing a variety of accessories with my basic classic outfits

scarves, jewelry, shoes, boots and interesting tights and socks.

The bangle collection has recently grown thanks to darling daughter...

she found me the new one 

(on the far right)

Thank you @thingfinder.

I've been walking and getting plenty of fresh air and exercise.

Chronic pain is fairly new to me...

my right arm and shoulder are giving me grief.

The doctor has diagnosed me with Supraspinatus tendonitis and has suggested physiotherapy.

There will be exercises and a course of treatments and if they fail to provide relief there is talk of a cortisone shot.

No more heavy handbags for me!

Mr. HB and I have been savouring the last season of Downton Abbey.

Julien Fellowes has been writing such wonderful episodes for the past few years that we have come to expect that the Sunday evening PBS series will always be there...

sadly 

we are a few episodes away from the finale.

We finished watching the English murder mystery River 

we started watching Lie To Me.

(both on Netflix)

Grand Designs is a BBC production that we are loving...

 behind the scenes stories and details during the construction of the architecturally designed homes.

We have enjoyed each episode and highly recommend the series.

What are you watching these days?

Have you tried these candies?

The "bad news" is that they are very tasty

the "good news" is...

They are just 1 Weight Watcher Point.

Guilt free pleasure that I am happy to indulge.

in moderation of course!

Lisa from A Mid Life of Privilege blog has posted on an interesting topic this morning.

Pop over and read her post and the comments left by readers.

Lisa is happy with her 5 pound gain which still has her in a healthy normal BMI range.

I am working to shed 5 pounds as I am in the overweight category at 25.4 

My goal is to be at a BMI of 25 which is considered at the higher end of the"normal " range.

The Weight Watcher goal of 132 pounds for a 5'1 woman

 is not an unreasonable goal 

nor am I in any way going to look "skinny!"

I feel better at that weight...

less stress on my hips and knees

my clothes fit better

and

 in the end feeling good on your own skin is what it is all about

"bien dans sa peau"

Perhaps you will care to share your thoughts on weight gain and weight loss.

Does it matter to you?

Do you put your health as a priority?

Has weight gain or loss affected your confidence?

Has your doctor ever suggested that you make changes in your lifestyle to protect your heart health?

If you have been reading my blog awhile you might remember when my blood pressure went through the roof and I was on medication...my doctor mentioned that IF I could lose 10% of my weight that I would substantially reduce my blood pressure.

I lost 20% of my weight...and fortunately I no longer require the medication.

February is HEART month...

Thank you for stopping by The Humble Bungalow Blog.

"Life is a series of natural and spontaneous changes. Don't resist them - that only creates sorrow. Let reality be reality. Let things flow naturally forward in whatever way they like."

~ Lao Tzu ~

Christmas count down....

Christmas in 5 days...
time to wrap presents, write out and plan the menus, shop for the groceries, and deliver gifts.
There have been parties and open houses all great excuses to get dressed up and be social.

Today I took some time to savour a cafe au lait...

and catch up on my blog reading.

Lisa at a mid life of privilege wrote a thought provoking post yesterday 

you might like to pop over and read it .

The grand children and I made a sleigh for "Santa"...

the porcupine on top of the sleigh is Santa.

(I point this out just in case you did not recognize him)

These two weary workers are "the elves"

I suspect that there are a lot of weary folks out and about these days.

It is difficult juggling work, family with the added responsibility of  Christmas

preparations.

Even Santa has his helpers.

These wee felted animals were a small gift to the grandchildren on our "play date" last week.

I popped over and had an afternoon of fun and games while our lovely DIL ran some errands and did some shopping.

The wee ones are so excited!

I can remember back to my childhood when my sister and I would lie under the Xmas tree with the Sears and Eaton's catalogues and dream about what Santa Claus might bring.

We were oblivious to the extra work that Mother was going through to make sure that Christmas would be memorable.

Every year she sewed us matching dresses...one for her and then one for each of us.

Velvet was the fabric of choice 

 ours had lace trim at the neck and sleeves and sometimes on the hem.

Bright colours were her passion and I recall dresses in fuchsia, teal, cobalt blue and red.

The cookie tins were filled with her traditional cookies, bars and squares.

Heavy fruitcakes with almond paste were baked and regularly doused with sherry...

kept in our cool sunroom until guests arrived for various parties.

Mother never seemed to be stressed or tired...

as kids we were oblivious on what was required to "make Christmas happen"...

We were rather distracted 

dreaming about our Christmas morning stockings 

filled with an orange in the toe

 a Cadbury Flake Bar 

a few small toys.

Such great memories...

Our Christmas will look slightly different this year

as we will be celebrating over two days instead of just the one with the family.

Our children are carving out some new traditions of their own 

making memories for their wee ones and partners.

Thank you for stopping by The Humble Bungalow.

Wishing you a very Merry Christmas!

OOTD ~ Sailor Style

I cobbled together a crazy sailor style outfit this morning...
it's a busy day of domestics here in The Humble Bungalow.

I've been doing laundry since about 8:30 am.
Eradicating dirt should appear on the top of my CV!

It's a Blue OOTD all the way down to the toes.

The Tommy Hilfiger watch is waterproof so good for actioning domestics or wearing on the boat.

This might be what Lisa calls "Tomboy Style."

Do you read Lisa's blog?

I do and did you know that I started blogging because of her?

She was super helpful and supportive and she really knows her way around the technical area of computing.

She knows a lot about the WASP way of life which I personally find fascinating...

These comfy GAP capri length sailor pants are so soft.

They must be as old as the hills...

or they've been laundered dozens if not hundreds of times...

well I am given to exaggerate a bit!

The striped top is the one I purchased at COS in The Marais district in Paris this May...

Paris, France I was there just over a month ago.

Here are some images captured from my trip...all themed Blues.

It's Father's Day on Sunday and I'll be remembering my Dad,

honouring my husband, the Father of my children 

and son who is the father of two and soon to be 3.

Hope that you have a lovely weekend.

XO

Today's bathing suit post by Lisa inspires this Hostess...

Lisa from Amid Life of Privilege posted this morning about swimsuit options for women of a certain age...
she got me thinking about my attitude towards my body and the swimsuit dilemma.

You can read her post here.

As a curvy gal with some wobbly bits I shy away from anything too scant.
Give me coverage and some support and I am happy to join in on the fun in the pool or the ocean.
My days of strutting around attention seeking were limited to my very early teen years.
Nowadays I am happy to cool off and swim before laying down and relaxing on a comfy chaise lounge...
no fuss, no fanfare, and I'd prefer if I blended in rather than sticking out!

I love Lands' End for their variety of styles and the accurate sizing makes for a happy encounter.

The good news is that you can buy a new swimsuit on sale now at Lands' End.

They have a swimsuit guide which will help you choose a style that fits and flatters.

There are many styles, shapes and colours...a suit for every shape and size.

This shape is flattering for a curvy gal and offers lots of support where needed...

looks great with a pareo wrapped at the waist too if you are modest.

These two bathing suits are comfortable to wear...
not that you'd find me parading up and down along The Esplanade at noon on a hot summer weekend.
Besides, securing a spot in the sand is like buying high end real estate in The Hamptons...
expensive and hard to come by!

A cute two piece suit and in a stunning shade of red but not enough fabric for this Hostess !

Beach, pool and boating attire all require some serious forethought.

If one is planning to swim a suit is required...

(unless under the cover of darkness!)

Shopping for a suit needn't be unpleasant and as Lisa suggests you might consider ordering a bunch 

trying them on in the privacy of your own home and returning those that are not flattering...

Lycra and Spandex fabrics offer stretch and ease of movement and I like the way they help control my mid zone.

Washing and rinsing chlorine and salt water after use help to keep the fabrics strong and the colours bright.

I launder mine by hand and use Aveda Shampure Shampoo and hang to dry.

Two suits mean that I have a fresh one to wear while the other is drying.

Have you got a swim suit that fits and flatters?

One that makes you feel good or at the very least one that feels comfortable when you put it on?

Beach Bliss continued...

Point No Point Resort is nestled in the trees on a point of land along a rugged rocky shoreline.

The paths that weave their way throughout the property are well marked.

Bird song and the crashing of the waves are all one can hear for miles.

Wandering silently along the path 

with the warmth of the sun to keep us company

we are deep in thought

taking stock of the beauty and bounty of nature.

Despite the fact that we are off line I took the opportunity to create some blogging images.

The Humble Bungalow Blog is very close to my heart...

it is a personal expression

a creative outlet

a hobby if you will...

I put my heart out there and have faith that someone will read my words.

Many readers drop by and I'd like to reach out to more people.

Lisa from A Mid Life of Privilege has been instrumental in my presence here in the blogosphere.

She encouraged me to get started and I consider her a friend...

she generously linked my blog on one of her more recent posts

and she kindly emailed me with a few pointers as I would like to expand my audience.

I got a "bee in my bonnet" about collecting rocks in the shape of hearts

and proceeded to spend the next hour searching...

the time was not spent in vain

slowly scanning the rocks beneath my feet

I looked closely at the details and shapes.

three hearts...

and a new collection is born!

time spent relaxing is an investment in good health

quality of life is a delicate balance of work and play

These snow leopard printed Polar Feet sox are keeping my feet warm...

if you have not discovered the joys of cozy fleece you might want to head on over and treat yourself to a pair.

I have several pairs of these sox and they are great to wear on the boat or when hiking.

Speaking of cozy...

you might like to spend a few days in the peace and quiet of Point No Point Resort.

We like the Hummingbird cabin...

It's got everything one needs to put together s few simple meals...

though we dined at the restaurant twice during our stay.

The duck confit at dinner was beyond belief 

and I would be remiss if I didn't mention the grilled salmon served with salad that I ate for lunch.

My heart collection came home with me...

I'll be looking out for more as I meander along the beaches.

You might see me on the shoreline with my head bowed...

I'll be happy to chat with you if our paths cross.

I'm so grateful for your comments and emails...

I savour the connections that I continue to make here in cyberspace.

Until next time...

Be Well.

XO

OOTD on laundry day....and bloggers.

Our house guests have left and I am spending the morning doing laundry and generally tidying up.
It is a slow mo kind of day here in The Humble Bungalow.

I've had the kettle on several times to make tea.
Played with the cats as they got into the act of "helping" me change the bedding in the guest room.
I have a scratch on my ankle from Chester when he pounced out from under the bed to attack me.
It required antiseptic and a bandaid so as not to bleed all over the carpet.

The downstairs storage area is a catch all for donations and out of season items so I gave it a lick and a promise...
packed up 2 bags for the charity shops in the Volvo ready for the next time I am close to their donation bins.

Adrienne inspired me to pick some hydrangeas today after reading her blog post.

limelights 

whites

dabs of blue

looks like a flower within a flower

"The Secret Life of Flowers" 

sounds like a book title...

I'm wearing the white Talbots shirt that I saved from the donation bag at the last minute

I think it was a good decision because when Mr. HB came home he said

"you look nice."

these are fun freshwater pearls

 perfect for a home day when one wants to feel great 

while tending to the daily

"domestics"

 Keeping house is hard work and I think it's worth taking pride in...

materfamilias had some thoughts on "women of a certain age" showing what they wear 

and it got me thinking...

why do I do it when I have hardly any clothes that fit me now...

at WW today I weighed in and the scale showed I was down another 1.2 pounds

less than 4 pounds to go to reach my goal.

~ ~ ~

Pinched myself when I saw the recent post wedding image on Privilege

So delighted to see Lisa's wedding dress...

if it were not for her I would not be blogging.

Thank you again...

Congratulations!

 Best wishes for a lifetime of happiness.

~ ~ ~

Back to reality here in The Humble Bungalow.

Floors need to be swept, dishes need to be washed and life ticks on as the Westminster clock chimes.

"I make no secret of the fact that I would rather lie on a sofa than sweep beneath it. 

But you have to be efficient if you're going to be lazy."

 ~ Shirley Conran ~

Keep calm and carry on and The Humble Bungalow roses

Mother's illness has brought stress into the forefront and try as I might I cannot shake this feeling.
With no time for Yoga I am trying to concentrate on my breathing.
Short shallow breaths have made me feel anxious...
closing my eyes and focusing on my breath offers some relief.

Fortunately we live close to each other so I can be at Mom's in minutes
it's a pleasant walk and one that allows me to clear my head a bit.
I've been waking earlier than usual and feeling like I haven't really had a restorative sleep.
Spending more time talking on the phone with my sister keeping her in the loop.

I'll be spending most of my day with Mother keeping watch.
She has colour in her face and has been able to keep food down
so I am guardedly optimistic that she is on the mend.

 I made lunch at 2 o'clock after I had tended to Mother and walked back home.

Part of me wanted to have something comforting like a grilled cheese sandwich

but my inner voice said don't go down that road...

bread has not passed these lips in many weeks.

The little fry pan is one of the newer additions to The Humble Bungalow kitchen.

Chartreuse green in sturdy cast iron.

I think of this dish as a hot salad...

I think it was Lisa from a mid life of privilege who suggested hot salads

thanks Lisa.

Add a free range egg for the protein portion of the meal.

Protein has been instrumental in my improved eating regime.

Colourful vegetables elevate my mood and excite my taste buds.

Aren't these cheery cherry tomatoes?

Roses can take me to a happy place...

I am nothing if not passionate about growing roses.

the glorious fragrant climbing Royal Sunset

Joseph's Coat

Abraham Darby

heavily scented

the name of this rose escapes me at the moment

Constance Spry

a hardy climber and a reliable repeat bloomer

Graham Thomas

 There are many more roses growing in our soil

tended lovingly by The Hostess.

"Hostess Rose Tips"

If you want to grow roses you must be willing to put in the time.

Dead head spent blooms

when you cut a rose make certain that you cut above the 5 leaves on the stem

feed them a handful of epsom salts once a month during flowering and water well

water during the day to avoid getting black spot

prune hard in March

buy roses that are fragrant and preferably from a reputable grower like David Austin 

opt for repeat bloomers

choose an array of colours

don't be afraid of cutting some and bringing them indoors to enjoy

and always bring a bouquet with you when visiting friends

sharing your passion with others just feels right.

Kenneth Cole Reaction

cheap sandals from Macy's

superior comfort

for easy walking

and I will close and be off to see Mother.

Hope you enjoyed the brief foray on The Humble Bungalow roses...

Thank you wonderful readers for your kind, thoughtful and supportive comments 

they have really been helping me put on my brave face and go forward with what I need to do.

~ ~ ~ 

Keep Calm and Carry On

is the mantra of the moment.