BEST (recent) thrift shop find!!...(roses, sunscreen, walking post op hip surgery)

 

~ Lady Angela ~

Fragrant and Frothy 

Growing up the lattice next to the front porch.

I picked a large bloom for the bathroom.

I'm enjoying the thrifted antique platter that I found at Ross Bay Villa's Sale.

My skin is very sensitive to the sun and I have rosacea so I need to use sunscreen.

Eminence have great sunscreen options...

My current favourite is their radiant mineral lotion with Bakuchiol and Niacinamide.

This straw hat is a keeper...

Eddie Bauer and it must be 30 or more years old!

Funny thing happened when I was sitting on the deck at the cottage...

a swallow landed on my hat which was on my head

I was so surprised and the bird flew off pretty quick after I moved.

So every so often I find a great item at the thrift store...

In the winter

I found some great Burberry and Barbour plaid wool and cashmere scarves.

Once I found an Hermes silk scarf which I sold at a local consignment shop.

There are oodles of items that I've picked up for the house.

Mid century Moderne pieces as gifts for our adult kids.

The most exciting and recent find was a pair of leather loafers...

Loafers have been on my wish list for about 18 months.

Well was I ever surprised to find these...

Bling wasn't on my radar...

BUT

they are my size, very comfy and they are leather.

Have you ever heard of Sandro?

When I was in Paris in 2019 I discovered Sandro.

It's definitely a LUXE brand.

They are in immaculate condition.

At a bargain price and under $20.

It was a lucky find.

I am so excited about these shoes...

will be wearing them on repeat.

(doing a happy dance too)

Perhaps I need to "Moon Walk" like Michael Jackson?

~ Mount Baker seen from the shore ~

~ Old Truck on a Pender Island Farm ~

Walking continues to improve post op hip replacement.

My recent fall in the garden has set me back a few weeks.

The cane slipped on the gravel path when I was picking lily of the valley.

Hubby had to help me up and I must say it scared me.

And wouldn't you know...the side I fell on was the operative hip side.

I was in pain for a full week and am only now slowly getting back to my walks.

We've been watching Silent Witness on BBC

and Storied Spaces on Magnolia Network.

Am reading a book about the British Upper Class 

called Hunting Unicorns by Bella Pollen.

It's very entertaining.

So that's about it for today...

the sun is shining and I've been outside.

Hubby planted a new yellow rose where an old red rose was struggling.

We've had a few roses fail lately.

Not sure why but there's no need to be upset...

just zip out to the garden centre and grab a new one...

so many great varieties.

June is almost here and more roses will soon be blooming.

Bouquet from Mother's Day...

purchased from our local Pepper's Grocery Store.

Took the bouquet to our cottage on Pender and enjoyed a quiet week.

The Purple Martins are back and have babies in the nesting boxes at the Marina.

Saw two grey whales swim by the cottage, no orcas this time.

Met up with friends...had a pub meal out.

Found an arts and crafts pewter British candlestick at the thrift shop.

I've never had any pewter before this find.

I've got to put the kettle on and make a cup of tea and sit on the front porch with my book for a bit until it's time for me to make dinner.

Thank you for stopping by...

hope that you enjoyed this wee post.

Until next time...

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

Almost Easter...

The Erythronium Lilies are in bloom...

Easter is almost here.

Are you celebrating with an Easter dinner with friends or family?

The lily plants have been multiplying since we planted them 

over a decade or so ago...

I love their delicate form and nodding heads.

We have some Native white Fawn lilies but they are slow to multiply.

Dried Annabelle hydrangeas are still hanging out in the dining room.

Picked them last year when they were in full bloom.

They've faded but they still perk up the dark corner here in The Humble Bungalow.

The hallway was bathed in morning sunlight and I had to capture the moment.

A different view of the Hall and Dining Room 

to the right is the small living room.

I've been washing the inside windows...

we hired a local company do the outside a week ago.

I cannot reach the high small panes as my step stool is too low 

 I do not like working on step ladders!

It feels too wobbly and risky to be 5 feet off the ground.

Not sure if we will just live with them slightly hazy?

Perhaps hire that same company to come inside next time, 

in the fall perhaps?

Do you wash all your windows?

Spring cleaning is rewarding once the tasks have been done...

I find now at 70, that I procrastinate.

I do keep the house "tidy" and try to keep "clutter" under control.

How do you feel about housework?

Dust and cat hair are always with us...

with 2 cats and an old home we seem to be constantly vacuuming and dusting.

When we were at the Cottage I treated myself to a bunch of yellow roses...

too bad that greenhouse roses from the florist are not fragrant.

They lasted the entire week...glowed bright and bold such a sunny shade.

I changed the water daily and recut them twice,

 first when I got to the cottage

then again halfway through the week.

On the yellow theme I purchase a new cookbook!

I follow Julius Roberts on Instagram...he is a farmer and a chef.

The picture from his book spoke to me!!!

I knew that this simple recipe would be amazing...

So flavourful...

I learned how to spatchcock a chicken too.

The fragrance from the pan was unbelievably rich.

Served it with mashed potatoes and some steamed fresh asparagus.

We had enough for two meals and then I used the carcass for soup.

Keeping things fresh and interesting is very much on my radar.

A new Ikebana presentation was advertised...

Happily my friend and I attended.

Such a simple idea to find things in nature and make them into beautiful art.

The black container is so interesting...

a curly twiggy branch

 reeds, a pink rhododendron and some feathery foliage.

Leafy branches, red rhododendron blooms and a twiggy branch on the table.

Gerbera daisies, flowing curvy branches and some Pieris in a shallow dish.

The presenter has taken 120 lessons.

 She has learned all the rules and principles of the practise and has graduated to the "freeform" stage of Ikebana.

She suggested that we look for interesting vases and bowls at the local thrift shops.

The Kenzens are available online.

 We are fortunate to have a local shop here in town that sells them...

Gardener's Kit.

I bought 4 small ones and a large round one.

It's fun to learn new things and explore creative pursuits and hobbies.

What are you learning?

A new skill, or a foreign language?

Pottery, Sewing, A Craft?

The weather has been sunny and warm these past few days.

My skin is sensitive and I have rosacea 

so I ordered some Eminence sunscreen from a Canadian website.

They have reformulated their powdered sunscreen...

I like how easy it is to use and it is buildable.

There is a built in brush.

We've got a Federal election here in Canada and we vote soon...

it is a very important election what with new trade war and the tariffs.

I hope we can build a stronger Canada, one that will not result in a recession.

We've got many issues that need fixing...

our medical system needs more doctors and nurses

there are too many people that are homeless

 lots of families are struggling financially.

~ PLEASE VOTE ~

Well I have to get some dinner ready now.

On the menu tonight...

Tossed green salad, gnocchi with cheese and bacon, Maple BBQ chicken thighs.

Thank you for taking time to pop in and read my blog.

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~