Showing posts with label styleafter70. Show all posts
Showing posts with label styleafter70. Show all posts

Friday, September 12, 2025

September ~ Mid month musings...

 


Sunny Yellow Dahlias are putting on a bright and bold showing.
We've planted these in a vintage garden wheelbarrow and parked it out front.
The flowers are continuously blooming...
 I suspect they will be around for another month.

I've picked a few on occasion, 
I like to leave most of them on the plant for maximum effect!

There are so many beautiful and different varieties of Dahlias.
 I think I need to find a few more varieties for the Humble Bungalow Garden.

Mom used to grow Dahlias.
Some she called "dinner plate dahlias"
they were the size of a dinner plate...
with spiky petals.

Mom had a bed dedicated just for growing Dahlias...about 6 foot X 20 feet.
A rainbow of colours and a variety of forms...
She would pick bunches and bring them inside our home, 
scattering them in most every room...including the bathroom.
I think she used ALL her vases for these displays.


Recently I had a very lucky day at the thrift shops...
I drove out to Brentwood Bay and Sidney and had a good look.

Circe is a book that I have been meaning to read for many years.
Vintage Linen napkins X 4
Glass Flower Frog
Silver Sugar Bowl that matches my Harrods Teapot and Creamer!
The sugar bowl has been on my radar for several years...
this one has a monogram, unfortunately not our initials.
(I figure it just adds to the charm.)


Do you like to go thrifting?
What is your favourite thrift shop find?



The simple silver tea set...
2 thrifted tea strainers...one is sterling, the other is silver plate.


~ Vintage Royal Albert Canterbury China ~

This pattern is for afternoon Teas...
I have some side plates and a couple of cake plates.
Fortunately I found most of these pieces locally in thrift and consignment shops.


This is one of the Birks gold earrings that my husband gave me 45 years ago...
they were a grand gesture gift for Christmas when I was a stay at home mom.
Two babies and we were scraping by 
with not a lot of cash leftover from our expenses...
when to my surprise and delight my husband gave them to me.

A few days ago one fell into the toilet 
as it was flushing and I couldn't grab it in time.
The sadness that followed was profound...there were tears.
I have worn these throughout the years and I felt they were priceless.
Sentimentally I felt like I had lost something really BIG.

After a couple of days, and encouragement from our daughter and my husband...
I went to a local shop Old N Gold and found another pair.


Slightly bigger and the gold on these is twisted...
(Italian earrings)
I traded in the solo earring and walked out of the shop wearing this new pair.
As someone on Instagram said...it's a new chapter.

Have you ever lost a piece of jewellry that meant a lot?
Did you replace the item?


After Yoga I popped into Adventure Clothing on Oak Bay Avenue...
I saw a cute pair of jeans that are wider and cropped.
They were on display with a shirt from the Cornish brand Seasalt.


I tried them on and really liked the fit...
they are by the company French Dressing.

The printed Seasalt Shirt was really pretty but I don't usually wear prints.
Stripes yes, but prints...not so much.


Do they look like Sailor pants?
Pedal Pushers?

Well I LOVE them whatever they are called...


I've been having fun styling them with items that I already have in my wardrobe...
for example:
white linen top and jacket
white Tee and blue and white striped Ralph Lauren oversized shirt
Long sleeve white top with a hand knit Miriam sweater in a teal blue shade.

I am thinking I need some red cowboy boots to wear with these this Fall!


Our dwarf apple trees are full this year and we have a grand harvest...
Chehalis apples (above) are green and slightly tart.


Liberty are a bit sweeter...
Both are great eating apples.
 I also use them for pies and crisps.

Do you have fruit trees?


I picked some hydrangeas in hopes to dry them...
these are different from the Limelight and Annabelle hydrangeas.
We have two plants and one is rose coloured, the other is blue.
They grow side by side and I wonder if the soils PH is different?

My mom used to say that hydrangeas can change their colour
 simply by adding copper pennies...
I am not sure if this is true or an "old wives tale?"

Do you know if it works? 
Have you tried to change the colour of your hydrangeas?

Well that's about all the chit chat news I can think of sharing right now...
hope that your September is off to a great start.
Autumn will be here before we know it in our part of the world.

(Some of you are just heading into Spring!)

Take care and thank you for taking the time to stop by and read my blog..



~ Boscobel Roses ~

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

Thursday, July 17, 2025

Shopping ~ a mix of items....some surprisingly good quality and much more economical than expected.

 


Crisp George brand Cotton Shirt 
White Athletic Works Tee
(Walmart)

Baroque Pearls from Hong Kong

(a mix of high and low)


Athletic Works Black Shorts
(Walmart)
First pair of shorts in at least a decade.
Will be worn on hot days at the cottage...


Comfy Vessi Sneakers
waterproof
(Nicholas Randall)


~ Casual Chic ~

Shirt is longer so will be a good pairing with the shorts and the Tee.


Canadian Marcelle Mascara


My favourite kind of mascara wand...
basic black and the formula is free of clumps.


~ Little Black Dress ~
I spied this dress on the sale rack at our local Marshall's Shop.
It looked loose fitting, easy to wear and cool for this heat wave that we are having...
I wore it twice this past week and it was a winner!


The Debra K handmade necklace has been in my jewellry collection for about 17 or 18 years...it is a black plastic "FIMO" type base with vintage clear crystals.
Very versatile and a fun piece that makes a statement.
It was an "investment" piece at the time of purchase but if you factor in the CPW
(Cost per wearing) 
it has been a real bargain.


Cupid's Dart 
happily blooming on the patio
growing and thriving in a big terra cotta pot.
I love the colour.


More lavender sachets...
these ones are smaller as the Dollar Store had sold all the larger gauzy bags.
Great for gifts and perfect to pop into a lingerie or sweater drawer.

Our lavender is having a fabulous year!
The bees are abuzz and so busy collecting pollen.
At any given time there are about 3 different types of bees hard at work.
I tried to get pictures of all the different bees but they were too fast!!


New backpack bag...
great for picnics, beach combing, walks, shopping and holiday time at the cottage.

Lots of compartments, zippered sections.
 Ample room for all my basics, a book, water, snack, and some treasures...
hands free shopping!


As I was leaving to go to my Yoga Class....
I spied some hungry visitors.


Twins that were busy munching the Alstromeria and some Hostas!
Too cute to scare away...
as soon as they get bigger they won't fit through the openings in the front gate.



Went to my hairdresser today for a CHOP!
I haven't seen her for several months and my hair was a MESS!
She cut the back up shorter in a wedge (as per my request)
then left the sides a bit shorter 
but long enough for the hair to fall in waves and curls.

I look so much like MOM.
( I miss her so much)
Would love to walk along the Esplanade, then go to the Willows Tea Room with her.
We used to do that so often on a sunny afternoon.
XO

Hope that your summer is ticking along nicely...
what are you up to?

Travel, picnics, garden parties, teas, lunches out with friends and family?
Cottage time, boating, camping, day trips, adventures, staycations?

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

Until next time...

~ BE WELL AND BE KIND ~



~ Sweet Peas ~
Matucana Heritage Sweet Peas 
(1680's UK variety)
from Westcoast Seeds.

Mr. HB is so clever...he keeps me supplied with these fragrant flowers.
Thank you darling..
XO