Shiny Things....OOTD

 

Today I am wearing an all black OOTD.

Eileen Fisher Boiled Wool Tunic Sweater

(an investment piece that I wear a lot)

Black leggings 

Black leather Clark Chelsea Boots

I added a Canadian vintage Sherman sparkly rhinestone brooch.

(Outfits that are plain look so much more interesting with  accessories.)

I digress...

Mom had several parure Sherman sets which were gifts from my father.

He bought them from Birks a Canadian shop that rivalled Tiffany's.

My sister has a beautiful Aurora Borealis set of Mom's.

 She wears the long drop earrings and wide cuff bracelet on special occasions...

I don't need a special occasion to wear a sparkly brooch.

I worked at Birks one Christmas and had so much fun selling jewelry!

The store offered free wrapping and I loved adding bows and tags 

making the gifts look special.

That year I gave Mom a Sherman red bracelet and earring set.

(I got a store discount)

Our darling daughter has the set.

Continuing on with the black theme I photoshopped this image of Poppies.

The details look like they really "pop."

Vintage silver champagne buckets are used in the kitchen as utensil holders.

We don't use the buckets for bubbly as we haven't had a fancy party for ages.

Silver requires polishing and not everyone likes the upkeep...

in fact you can find silver in thrift shops for next to nothing prices.

I have quite a few silver trays, silver tea service, and other silverware

in The Humble Bungalow.

Several trays, candlesticks and dishes were wedding gifts.

Silver was a classic wedding gift when we were married in 1974.

Close up on the vintage silver trophy...

local North Saanich Garden Club 

Flower and Garden Show

aggregate trophy

awarded to 

A.J.Nunn in 1929

(I found this trophy in a local consignment shop.)

I am definitely drawn to silver and shiny sparkly things!

Do you like to wear shiny or sparkly jewelry?

Do you collect silverware?

It's a sunny day here and the birds are singing.

Looking forward to a quiet afternoon...

I plan to brew a pot of loose tea this afternoon and read my book.

Perhaps knit a few rows on the vest I currently have on the needles

before 

I prepare our dinner.

I honestly love quiet afternoons

they feel like a gift!

I try to get all my chores and laundry done early in the morning.

Since retiring, the luxury of time and slowing down is priceless.

Take care and thank you for stopping by The Humble Bungalow Blog.

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

Remembering...snippets from the archives.

I recently bought a new computer and our son and grandson 

helped to transfer 

over all my programs and photos. 

It's great having smart computer savvy helpers in the family!

I've been looking at all the photos and remembering...

Life is not always full of sparkly things 

 we have the option of adding some of our own.

I do love a sparkly brooch or necklace for some whimsy...

I currently have a pink rhinestone butterfly pin on my distressed denim jacket.

Scented candles are one of my favourite ways to add elegance and ambiance 

in The Humble Bungalow.

There are so many wonderful candles on the market it is really quite wonderful

that we have so many choices.

Meet Jude the Obscure, a David Austin Rose.

Growing Roses is a very rewarding hobby.

I didn't grow roses when we first bought the bungalow.

Those early days we spent weeding and planning the garden.

It took an inspirational woman, Vi Heslop, an award winning rosarian 

in the Victoria Horticultural Society to get me started.

She generously gave me a Peace Rose and I entered a bloom 

in the Society show and won for best rose!

That did it, I was hooked!

We now have over 35 roses in our garden, most are fragrant David Austin varieties.

Jude the Obscure

my all time favourite rose.

I have a minimalist wardrobe.

We don't have a lot of storage space here in The Humble Bungalow

I keep it simple and wear my clothes for many years.

I buy classic pieces in a neutral palette.

Accessories are the "icing on the cake."

Sterling silver bangles and pearls get a lot of wear.

I have been collecting bangles for quite a few years and many of these were gifts.

Darling daughter gave me this luxurious bag...

sadly it has been lost.

I cannot for the life of me think where it went?

I have searched in all the closets cupboards and drawers but it is not here.

It remains an unsolved mystery.

Every once in awhile I will change things up...

get out of my comfort zone

like this peacock blue toe polish!

I didn't always embrace imperfection...

patina

like this rusty piece, adds character.

Perhaps it is my coming into an age where I willingly accept that things change.

Dried up and withered...

seriously old

oh so very beautiful.

Rather like laugh lines on an older woman's face...

In Japan they have "Wabi Sabi" which is a wonderful and freeing idea.

The Japanese embrace ~ the imperfect, impermanent, and incomplete.

I love natural beauty

like this collection of Mother of Pearl cutlery...

I find them in antique malls, thrift and local consignment shops.

I love how they add elegance and as Marie Kondo advocates "They Spark Joy!

Walking in Nature always pleases...

and eases away troubles

so soothing.

Seafront views along Dallas Road in our neighbourhood.

~ beach treasures ~ 

collecting shells and sea glass make me happy.

~ Simple Joys ~

a bar of scented soap and a bath or shower 

help to refresh and wash away stress.

Domestic chores feature prominently here in The Humble Bungalow.

I couldn't resist these tins at Marshalls

Polka dots are just so cheerful!

This is my everyday "uniform" pearls and a linen apron!

Life is not all glamour...

It is time to get busy and do a few jobs that are calling my name!

Thank you for stopping by The Humble Bungalow Blog.

I hope you have enjoyed seeing some of these archival images...

Will be back soon to share more.

 ~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

Continuing with more Vintage vibes...

Did you have a wall phone when you were growing up?

We had a very heavy bakelite phone that actually gave the arm muscles a workout 

if we chatted for too long.

My father was quite strict about the telephone

 we had an egg timer with sand in it to let us know when our chat time was up.

I used to flip the timer over before all the sand ran out to extend my calls...

the main reason for limiting conversations were because we had a "party line."

A party line was a shared connection with someone else in our neighbourhood...

if they picked up their phone they could listen into our conversation and visa versa! 

Can you imagine?

There were no secrets unless we spoke in code!

~ Recently sourced ~

Vintage black patent leather Pourchet Paris handbag.

Quality leather and classic details.

Cross body bag

The company Maison Pourchet, has been in business in Paris since the early 1900's.

It is still in business today and you can find many of their classic vintage bags online.

Black and white skirt picked up at the thrift shop.

I have a small basic wardrobe that has a lot of black and white pieces 

so this will be a very versatile skirt.

White or black tops

casual or dressy.

Paired it with my distressed denim jacket 

or 

black vintage Susan Bristol dressy knit sweater...

I have numerous options.

Sparkly Vintage Canadian designed Sherman rhinestone brooch.

I have several of these brooches and add them when I feel I need a dash of bling.

Mom received several Sherman sets for Christmas from Dad.

They would usually be earrings, a bracelet and necklace...

set in a velvet box from Birks.

The sparkle was perfect with her bright and festive velvet dresses.

Vintage pieces add an extra zing to my classic neutral wardrobe.

When I am in a thrift shop I gravitate to the vintage section...

I keep an open mind

you never know what you'll find!

Good Luck and Happy Shopping.

Thank you for popping by The Humble Bungalow Blog.

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~ 

Wee luxuries...and remembering MOM

Willows Beach in Oak Bay

(a favourite spot of my late mom's and mine)

I took my coffee in a thermos and sat in the stillness

watched the sea, the sun and the clouds

listened to the waves as they met the shore

embraced

the sound of the gulls as they soared overhead.

A few precious moments of peace outdoors in nature to start the day

sets the tone for the hours ahead.

Unwrapped a lovely soap from Fragonard in Paris.

The porcelain soap dish accompanied the soap which was in a recent 

My French Country Home Box.

The scent is soft, subtle and sweet.

Hand washing happens many many times a day here in The Humble Bungalow.

I can still hear my mom's voice

her mantra was

"Soap and Water are Cheap."

Mom always kept a few bars of triple milled soap unwrapped in her lingerie drawer.

I think her favourite was Yardley's English Lavender Soap.

Mom was an avid gardener and worked for many hours outside 

before coming in and soaking in the tub...

a cup of restorative tea on the edge of the bath.

Lavender scents wafted throughout the house.

She'd dress up for my father's arrival home from work.

A dainty apron worn atop of her dress...

mom was a much tidier cook than I.

I remember so many lovely snippets of mom and learned so much from her.

Not a day goes by that I don't think of her.

Mom sipped her tea in a pretty cup and saucer.

She had a fondness for those decorated with flowers.

While I don't ALWAYS choose one of mine for tea.

(several inherited from mom)

I do more often than not.

My face is getting some serious TLC

the recent and ongoing IPL treatments are reducing the rosacea redness 

the broken capillaries are slowly disappearing...

My skin however is dry 

so I purchased a hardworking moisturizer to use in tandem 

with the IS Clinical Pro Health Serum.

Fingers crossed it will perform as was suggested at the clinic.

Healthy lunch at Brown's Social House

Tuna Poke Bowl

loaded with fresh veggies

delicious!

Eating mindfully 

adding lots of veggies with lean protein

 high on my radar.

Choosing healthier alternatives is becoming much easier...

although

the lure of french fries is still very strong.

If my husband orders them I ask to sample a few :-))

The interesting thing about eating tons of veggies and a small amount of protein is that I don't feel "stuffed" after I eat.

It is such a different feeling than when I order a burger and fries.

I actually prefer it and I am not hungry afterwards.

Sale item from Joe Fresh.

A simple basic which will get worn on my walks

and

paired with jeans perhaps layered overtop of a denim shirt.

Love the warm cozy feel..

great texture.

So many thoughts are swimming around in my head today 

as I sit here in The Humble Bungalow kitchen and type.

I am not sure how to wrap up this post...

writing about and remembering mom 

often skews my thought process

with

emotions tugging at my heartstrings...

Auriculas are starting to put on a show!

Perhaps it is time to find or build a theatre to display them?

They are all the rage in the UK.

How are things with you?

Hope that you are enjoying the start to the week.

Thank you for popping by The Humble Bungalow Blog.

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

Love...

Feeling love...
possibly more intense in these precarious times that we are living in.

a brightly painted heart rock on my beach walk last week

Intense Blue Skies at McNeill Bay in Oak Bay.

This is the beach where I spent my childhood..

we lived 2 blocks from the beach and we loved exploring the seashore.

I found some pretty sea glass on my walk.

Feeling so grateful for the smallest of things each day...

 European Wall Lizard

one of many living in The Humble Bungalow Garden.

 ~ Muguet des Bois ~

Intoxicating...

a heavy heady fragrance

pure white elegance.

Mother's Day

Remembering my dear Mom today  

I think of her everyday

but miss her more on these "special" days.

Mother's Day garden visit

with gifts from darling daughter and her sweet husband.

Tokens of love.

Garden visit with our son.

Flowers...a handmade card made with love.

Warm weather over the weekend...

we broke two weather records for high temperatures!

Cats are content snoozing on our bed.

Yummy dinner of chicken baked potatoes 

with

freshly harvested asparagus which is growing in our garden.

Mount Baker as seen from Island View Beach.

A wee bit blurry...

 a magnificent sight to see.

So many things to see

to appreciate 

to love.

Hope that you are finding some bright spots in your daily round.

Our eyes can embrace the beauty that surrounds us all...

take a few moments breathe in the fresh air

in awe of Mother Nature and all her glory

stay calm

be well.

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~