August 10, 2025 ~ Tidbits

 

Thank you all for the lovely and kind comments 

about our cat Pepper's 

recent passing...

Chester has been keeping us amused with his antics...

he is a chunky boy and surprised us by jumping up 3 feet from the ledge to the top of the cupboards.

(Pepper used to do this too.)

I am so grateful to have pictures of Pepper and wonderful memories.

Our Humble Bungalow Garden is full of limelight hydrangeas in full bloom.

They are like trees!!

The garden is slowly winding down for a rest...

outside today while hand watering I noticed some of the fading flowers and plants.

There are tomatoes coming along, and a handful of green beans and cukes to harvest.

Inside the greenhouse a watermelon and a cantaloupe.

I've been keeping fairly quiet,

 choosing a few activities that provide peace and solace.

I love daily rituals...

my morning coffee is sacred.

My BFF loves this body serum so naturally I had to try it...

it is made in Alberta and it is very emollient and smells lovely.

I've got crepey skin on my 70 year old arms...

the lotion seems to diminish the scaly look and softens the dryness.

I am using it after my morning showers and I feel like it lasts all day long.

The fragrance is not overpowering...

apparently it comes in a variety of scents.

I met up with my sister...

if you have been following me for awhile then you might remember that she is an accomplished equestrian who teaches riding.

I've heard her called "the horse whisperer"

She's had quite a few horses over the years...

as she started riding when she was about 12 years old.

As luck would have it she helped me to tick off one of the things on my bucket list...

(drive a vintage tractor)

We harrowed a paddock...

this tractor pulled a harrowing attachment which basically rakes and levels out the sand 

in the riding ring.

When I drove it I went slow (1st gear)

she was more experienced and went faster...it still took awhile to get the job done.

My recent tractor ride coincides with a thrift shop find...

pristine LEVI'S

Jeans are very stiff...

I need to wash them a few times and wear them in...

perhaps beat them on some rocks?

(isn't that what they do when they stonewash jeans?)

I'll never make a farmer or even a farmhand :-))

(I am much more suited as a gardener)

Met up with friends for a coffee and a chat...

so relaxing sitting in the sun sipping coffee and nibbling a cookie.

It was a lovely meet up!

The Miriam sweater is progressing well...

knitting the yoke now and then will bind off and pick up stitches along the front.

There is garter stitch edging that matches the hem of the sleeves and body.

 

Using the vintage Baycrest Aran yarn that our daughter found at the thrift shop.

($10.00)

I found two new pieces for my vintage 1930's tea set last week...

a cup and saucer and a large plate.

~ Royal Albert Canterbury pattern ~

Pieces are hard to find locally so I felt like I had won the lottery!!

I have ordered some online but they are much more expensive due to shipping and the rarity and availability of this pattern.

NEXT

I need to have some friends pop over for a cup of tea and a piece of cake.

Well I didn't think I would be posting a new blogpost

quite so soon but I guess I am ready...

Thank you for popping by The Humble Bungalow Blog.

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

Mother Nature's paintbrush...

Frosty morning at Quarter Deck Cottage.

The peace and quiet is restorative and so soothing.

Time to slow down, reflect and take stock of all our blessings.

Rainy morning

time to take a moment and be grateful.

Savouring the stillness and listening to what is in our heart...

taking notes and planning

perhaps trying something new.

Perfect time for hunkering down with a great book.

I was sad when I finished this book as I did not want my session at Parisian Charm School to end!

Jamie and I will be collaborating on a blog post about her newest book 

which BTW I totally LOVE!

Clouds lifting and the sun is starting to make an appearance...

hope to get out for a walk in the crisp air.

Time to go for a walk...

a gentle breeze

sunshine

the gulls are swooping and diving into the Salish Sea.

Serene and pristine Peter Cove.

A snug little bay with mooring buoys for the boats of the summer residents.

Kelp and driftwood wash up on the beaches after the storms.

The glorious beauty of Mother Nature at every turn...

so grateful to be alive and in this magical place.

Watching the ferries come and go...

the gentle ebb and flow of the tides

the rhythm that is humming just outside our door.

Our tray on the coffee table with a simple sea inspired collection

shells from the beaches

a few feathers gathered on our walks

the piece of coral a gift from a dear friend

a lavender soy candle made on the island.

The dining room table dressed in a similar fashion.

A book found in the used section of the Island Book Shop...

a new day dawns

there will be ferries to watch

ravens will be cawing

with a mug of hot coffee in hand

my thoughts stray 

as I watch the waves on The Salish Sea beyond our deck.

Views from the sofa...

change as the morning light moves across the Salish Sea

illuminating the trees and valleys 

of Vancouver Island...

Hope that you are safe and snug in your part of the world.

Thank you for popping by The Humble Bungalow Blog today.

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

Excavating the dirt and the pursuit of peace.

The Humble Bungalow is usually a quiet place.
We are fortunate to live in a quiet area not far from the city centre...
buffered by Beacon Hill Park and the seafront is a couple of blocks away.

Birdsong, wind, and some local traffic sounds are what we usually hear.

Our peace and quiet has been disrupted by the heavy equipment that is on site next door excavating the lot for the construction of two homes.

You can see our bungalow and the close proximity to the digger.

A steady stream of trucks come by to transport the dirt...

It is rather like a truck parade.

The streets are streaked with mud 

it has been raining so there are many muddy puddles.

I have been leaving home seeking peace and solace elsewhere.

Healthy lunch post Yoga today...

kale salad

2 egg omelette

Eaten in peace while the operator was on his lunch break.

Thank goodness for this timely gift.

The Yoga Studio

 where 

I am able to breathe deeply

sit on the mat 

close my eyes

perform restorative poses

follow through the fluid sun salutation movements

which

restore inner peace and help achieve a sense of calm.

For this I am grateful...

There is an abundance of beauty in our neighbourhood.

Despite the rain I am getting out for my walks.

The noise and chaos next door is a great motivator!

Sipping tea

Lapsang Souchong

a smokey liquid that has an intensity that awakens the taste buds.

This large Emma Bridgewater mug in the Black Toast pattern makes me smile.

You can see my Spring and Summer shade of Lipstick 

 L'Oreal Everbloom

Next time I go to the pharmacy I am going to try to find a pink shade.

I'll ask the gals on staff as they are super helpful

  it would be nice to have another colour on hand.

Hellebores are putting on a great display in The Humble Bungalow Garden.

So that's about all the news from The Humble Bungalow...

what's new with you?

I'll be back soon.

XO

Well Being...

Do you ever feel frazzled?

After last week with chaos of the plumbing problems
I was edgy and feeling overwhelmed.
So I decided to take some "down time" on the weekend for my well being.

Time to slow down,
to stop multi tasking,
take a day or two and have a change of pace and a rest from the regular routine.

Instead of hopping in the shower,  getting dressed and putting on my make up first thing in the morning I sat quietly with my coffee creme
and lazed about wearing my PJ's and robe.

~ Be Well ~

Time to sleep in and indulge in a little downtime
it feels so luxurious...
Giving oneself the permission to take a day off of the domestics is so simple and restorative, yet it is not in my nature, and it could and should be!

My daily walks offer time for peace, quiet and reflection.

Fresh air and exercise are free.

I opt to walk on a scenic route that provides opportunities for me to capture beauty on my IPhone and then I share them on Instagram and here on the blog.

For that I am grateful...

Re-energizing strategies...

"Stop and smell the roses"

 pick a bouquet and arrange them in a vase and enjoy them indoors.

Mariage Freres Paris Tea, 

in a pretty china cup

is the classic elixir that soothes...

an inspiring book that fuels the desire to feather one's surroundings.

Using simple pieces, editing, rearranging collections for a fresh new look.

Finding things in Nature...

using them in the home

pure white feathers

pine and fir cones

beach stones

fern fronds

leaves

shells

I'm embarking on a new project

"fluffing" and "feathering" my hobby room.

I took down my easel and put away my paints as I have not been using them and they take up so much space that I was not taking advantage of the space.

I am collecting a few bits and bobs that I love...

objects that bring me Joy

items that exude

a sense of calm and serenity.

It is a slow process and one not to force or rush.

Listening and looking...

experiencing the feelings a piece can evoke.

This never happens when I am busy or in a hurry.

Slowing down seems to help engage the creative side of my brain.

David Austin's Ballerina rose 

 soft shades of pink and cream 

looks like it could be featured in an issue of Victoria magazine.

I used to buy every issue of Victoria magazine...

Very few magazines have been purchased since I retired...

with the exception of Town and Country and Country Living UK

When I worked in the school I bought oodles of mags and would pour over them while savouring a chocolate bar and sipping tea.

Magazines were an escape from the stresses of work and trying to "do it all."

Home keeping, domestics, parenting, gardening, cooking, shopping etc...

Since retiring I have a looser schedule with fewer demands...

so it should be easy to take a day off here and there,

perhaps by setting unreasonable standards 

or

expecting a lot from myself and others is setting me up for failure.

Is striving for perfection the root of the problem?

See what happens when one has a few days to reflect on things!

I binge watched the newest season of Grace and Frankie On Netflix.

Love that series...

Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin

Sam Waterston and Martin Sheen

and a crazy story line come together to make for a very entertaining show.

I had not considered TV viewing as down time 

but if it makes me laugh and I love the characters

and it feels like an indulgence

I consider it 

 "mental snack food!" 

This blog often masquerades as an online journal...

but by now you've probably already figured that out! 

Hope that your week is off to a great start...

thank you for stopping by the Humble Bungalow.

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~