What a difference a day makes!

First Snow Day of the New Year

2020

Humble Bungalow

Day 2 

Very heavy snowfall overnight in the garden.

Hydrangeas weighted down by the snow.

The Ilex berries look very pretty in the snow

the red shade just pops against the white.

You can see how deep it is on the deck.

I found this book in the wee little library on our street.

My walks were curtailed due to the icy conditions

so I busied myself in the house

attending to some chores then mixing it up with reading and my knitting project.

Many cups of tea were sipped.

A Doocot Scottish design available on Ravelry.

Are you familiar with Ravelry?

It's an amazing site for knit and crochet patterns and tips a very helpful community of crafters are able to network and share their projects.

Wool sweater in the making...

learning some new techniques and loving this yarn.

This wooden maul is coming in handy as a yarn holder.

Many women in the knitting group that I belong to 

use crafted wooden bowls 

which have a hole in the side for their yarn to slip through...

it helps the skein from getting all tangled up.

Have you started any new projects?

The weather has improved and we are back to our usual rain days.

So I am able to get outdoors again for my walks.

Very grateful to be able to get some fresh air and exercise.

"Give yourself a gift of five minutes of contemplation 

in awe of everything you see around you. 

Go outside and turn your attention to the many miracles around you. 

This five-minute-a-day regimen of appreciation and gratitude will help you to focus your life in awe."

~ Wayne Dyer ~

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

New Year

It's the Eve of the New Year today and I am pondering...

thinking on things that I can do to improve my health.

Walking more 

perhaps going back to the Yoga studio 

or branching out 

by taking a Zumba class.

I've got a stack of books to read...

a knitting project on the needles

busy with the Strata Council as a new board member

plus the regular bridge games at the club.

My current book is a heart breaking story...

well written and very sad.

I recommend it very highly.

“New year—a new chapter, new verse, or just the same old story? 

Ultimately we write it. The choice is ours.”

~ Alex Morritt ~

On this Eve I am saying farewell to 2019.

Taking with me into the New Year 

 lessons learned

places I have visited

experiences and memories

that 

will enable me to welcome the days and weeks ahead 

with an open mind and heart.

“The new year stands before us, like a chapter in a book, 

waiting to be written.” 

~ Melody Beattie ~

Happy New Year to You!

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

Seasons greetings!

As I am whittling down my to do list 

getting ready for the holidays 

 finding myself extra busy

fatigue will surface.

If I am not careful I can feel the stress of trying to do it ALL.

Inner pressure to be the "perfect hostess"

 serve elaborate and tasty meals

keep up appearances

wanting

 a "picture perfect" home.

I need to remind myself not to set the bar too high.

Readjust my thought patterns...

Keep it simple

slow down

breathe

relax.

Candles are one of the things that help set a relaxed mood...

I light these festive reindeer votives in the morning when I sit and sip my coffee and 

again later in the afternoon with my tea.

Music is also a powerful mood shifter...

if I need energy I play some lively tunes from my teen years

if I am looking for calm I usually play a classical piece.

One of my favourites is Barber's Adagio for Strings

you can hear it performed by the Detroit Symphony

here.

I feel like I could just float away when I listen to the music.

The gifts are purchased and wrapped.

The tree is up...

Soon

festive tins will be filled 

with shortbread, dried fruit dipped in chocolate, and cookies.

Our dinner menu is in the planning stage.

Leisurely mulling over cookbooks

slowly turning the pages

 looking at the pictures 

 what to cook?

The Humble Bungalow is dressed up very simply...

Grapevine wreath wound with fairy lights in our family room.

Hope that you are savouring the wee moments

that make up your days.

We can start by

inviting

Peace and Quiet 

into our hearts and our homes.

I like this quote it sums up  what I am thinking.

“No person, no place, and no thing has any power over us, 

for 'we' are the only thinkers in our mind. 

When we create peace and harmony and balance in our minds, 

we will find it in our lives.”

~ Louise L. Hay ~

Wishing you a calm and meaningful holiday.

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

Dreams and Women...

Have you travelled to France?

If not, are you dreaming of a trip?

Can you visualize yourself walking along the Seine,
or sitting outside a cafe sipping a cafe creme?

Wandering along the cobblestones streets...
lighting a candle in a church
perusing the shops.

Travelling was personal dream of mine for years.

I read numerous books on Paris and France...
they whet my appetite and I thought it may be possible
"where there is a will there is a way"
so I took French language classes,
saved money
then the year I turned 60 I went...
It was the trip of a lifetime.

Keeping the feeling of France alive...
I continue reading books set in France,
saving money and am dreaming again of French countryside and Paris.

Today on International Women's Day...we honour women.

Sharon Santoni is a great example of an industrious, creative, and energetic woman.
Sharon continues to reinvent and challenge herself,
she is an inspiration for those of us who have yet to fulfill all their dreams.

My Stylish French Box was created by Sharon...
You may be familiar with her beautiful books or the lovely blog she writes
about her life in the countryside surrounding her gorgeous home in Normandy.

Recently she also launched her online magazine...

The February box theme was The Parisian woman...

The velvet pouchette features a photo taken in Paris by Sharon.

The beret is made of soft thick wool...

the red lip gloss is ultra moisturizing and perfect for everyday wear.

I love the wee pop of red atop the beret.

Some quotes to ponder and inspire on International Women's Day. 

“The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.”

~ Eleanor Roosevelt ~

        "The education and empowerment of women throughout the world 
                      cannot fail to result in a more caring, tolerant, 
                                    just and peaceful life for all."    

                                             ~ Aung San Suu Kyi ~

              "There is no limit to what we, as women, can accomplish."

                                              ~ Michelle Obama ~

"I think the best role models for women are people who are fruitfully and                 confidently themselves, who bring light into the world."

                                                  ~ Meryl Streep ~

             “No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.” 
                                         ~ Eleanor Roosevelt ~

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

Christmas Eve

                         Seasons Greetings from The Humble Bungalow.

Our Island and many of the southern Gulf Islands are recovering from a devastating storm last week that blew down trees and power lines.
Many people are still without power. We never lost our power and I am so grateful that we are warm and cozy snug in our home.

We are ready for the festivities...
time to enjoy our family and friends.

Our faux Christmas tree is lit with plain white lights
"cat proof" 

with no baubles.

Chester climbs it most days 

he has not knocked it over (yet) 

he got stuck once 

with the wire of the lights stretched tight across his belly

fortunately I was able to extricate him.

                    Like many of you, I have been busy these past few weeks.

"It's true, Christmas can feel like a lot of work, particularly for mothers. 
But when you look back on all the Christmases in your life, 
you'll find you've created family traditions and lasting memories. 
Those memories, good and bad, are really what help to keep a family together over the long haul. "

                                       ~ Caroline Kennedy ~

I love the message on this Emma Bridgewater tote!

It's not quite time for me to hang up my gloves...

the cooking is not finished.

The baking is done

The rum balls, citrus shortbread and butter tarts are ready for the tins.

The deliveries are in process...

Stuffed devilled eggs are ready for the party.

Christmas Day 

we will serve a simple brunch 

followed later by a small turkey dinner.

Thank you for your comments 

on the recent passing of my husband's mom.

"The spirit of Christmas is the spirit of love and of generosity and of goodness. It illuminates the picture window of the soul, and we look out upon the world's busy life and become more interested in people than in things."

~ Thomas S. Monson ~

Best wishes for a Peaceful and Happy Holiday.

Autumn splendour...last cottage visit.

Autumn is such a glorious time of year 

the vibrant colours elevate my energy 

making the time outdoors richer

with

walks that have become saturated in beauty.

a few raindrops do not dampen my spirits

they look like tiny jewels

embellishing the fallen leaves

 Isla and I were exploring at the cottage when we were last there...

we spied some interesting seed pods on this tree.

 Natural "treasures" from our nature walk

perfect "souvenirs" to take home.

Have you read The Country Diary of an Edwardian Lady?

It is an illustrated journal and quite lovely.

This vignette reminds me of that book.

I love seeing life through the eyes of an energetic and enthusiastic child.

Those moments of excited spontaniety...

sharing many magical moments at school 

during the course of my career

 in the classroom and the library

with our own children 

and now our delightful grandchildren.

The moss on these rocks proved to be VERY slippery

Grammy had to say that it was "an unsafe place to play."

I didn't want to have an injury "on my watch!"

Peeking outside 

we spied raindrops on the leaves

"liquid sunshine"

inside we were cozy and content.

We were engaged in creative pursuits...

 felts, crayons, paper, 

colouring and activity books

Lego, games and toys.

"Pursue some path, however narrow and crooked, in which you can walk with love and reverence."

~ Henry David Thoreau ~

"Just as treasures are uncovered from the earth, so virtue appears from good deeds, and wisdom appears from a pure and peaceful mind. To walk safely through the maze of human life, one needs the light of wisdom and the guidance of virtue." 

~ Buddha ~

Wishing all American readers a very Happy Thanksgiving.

Hope that your week is off to a grand start!

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

Humble Bungalow ~ October Views

The Humble Bungalow Garden is starting to fade...

the hydrangea blooms are drying up

Jude The Obscure Rose

October has arrived with a new flush of roses...

petals fall littering the ground like confetti.

The Hostas are wilting

their leaves turning gold

The temperatures are chilly 

not conducive to sitting on the front porch.

Lovely Limelight Hydrangeas

I cannot remember the name of this climbing rose...

anyone know? 

Another peek at Jude The Obscure...

I never tire of this rose

the heady fragrance and full cups of frothy petals.

Reading has taken a front seat of late...

I absolutely LOVED this book...

the subject matter is rather serious but my goodness its a good read.

I could not put it down.

The wind is blowing the leaves around the garden today.

It will be time to get the rake out soon...

"Autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower."

~ Albert Camus ~

I went to the garden centre and bought some pretty red cyclamens for the planter

and 

while I was there I purchased a green pumpkin or squash!

I have started a new book...

We will be celebrating Thanksgiving this weekend...

Taking time to ponder the joys in life

feeling immense gratitude

and

 giving thanks 

for the abundance of life

our family

with thoughts of those who have passed on

and 

last but not least

our wonderful friends.

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~