Cottage week...Retail and water therapy

I have been thinking about a lot of things this week.

Spending quiet time here at Quarterdeck Cottage is conducive to reflection.

The beautiful scenery fills me with immense gratitude.

Gratitude to be alive and be a witness to this natural majestic beauty.

Beach walks and Sea Glass Collecting go hand~in~hand.

My first marble found in a gorgeous turquoise blue!

I felt quite excited by this discovery...

 a small snippet of Joy.

It's the little things in my daily round that make the most difference.

I wonder if I appreciate these so much more now that I am older?

Years ago I never would have dreamed about the feeling of Joy 

that finding a marble would bring to me.

The pool has been a godsend this week.

I've been "taking to the waters."

My achy and painful joints are responding positively to water therapy.

Moving without stress on my joints while getting exercise is wonderful!

I know now that I need to find a pool at home.

I will probably return to the Athletic Club in the hotel

where I swam when I worked in James Bay.

They have a lovely pool and a hot tub...

offer daytime Aqua Fit Classes

which I can easily add to my schedule.

My 68 year old body is far from a svelte youthful form!

The bathing suit is called a Miracle Suit...

it is comfy and keeps the jiggly bits from flapping too much!

Did you see Martha Stewart on the cover of the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition?

She's 81 and looks so amazing!

I bet she had lots of fun on the photo shoot.

She's looking better and better these days.

Her skin is radiant and she looks very vibrant and healthy.

Sunshine in the morning makes me feel so happy.

Mornings would not be the same for me without a couple of tasty cups of coffee.

I do love my coffee.

Funny thing is, years ago, I drank tea in the morning...

I make time to savour the mornings.

Starting slowly

Check my socials online, play a few words games, 

perhaps read a chapter or two in my current book.

Think a bit as I gaze around the room...

When I feel ready I

do a quick tidy up in the kitchen

maybe pop a load of laundry in the wash

then I shower and get dressed for the day.

Maybe that's boring for you to read but it was an interesting exercise for me to think about what it is that I do in the morning that takes so long!!

I've been wearing my bangles more...

I took them out and gave them a good old polish.

Most of these are gifts...

from

mom, my husband, and my darling daughter.

A couple I found at thrift shops.

I popped into the local boutique here on the island.

I usually check out their new stock when they are open.

Well dear reader, it proved fruitful when I was there this week!

Not only did I have a pedicure but I found some comfy sandals.

I do love bows...

I have another pair of shoes by Bueno

they are unbelievably comfortable to wear.

These new "slides" are soft and cozy on my feet.

I haven't had a pair of white shoes in any form for many many years!

I always think white shoes are for car salesmen...

why I think that I haven't the foggiest?

So this casual top caught my eye 

and it wasn't until I tried it on that I knew it had to come home with me!

I have a soft linen skirt in a blue shade that I can pair this with as well as my jeans.

The white jeans have not made their debut yet this season...

they hang waiting in the closet...

now that there are white sandals and this cute top I think it's time.

What are you wearing this season?

Have you found anything new and exciting?

Fashion is fun and I am enjoying shopping more these days.

I think that Covid curtailed a lot of my creativity

especially with views of expanding my basic wardrobe.

As a minimalist, I don't tend to go crazy at the shops

if money and space were no issue who knows what I might be like in a shop?

Would I be rather keen and amass a huge pile at the checkout?

( Have you ever done that?)

I watched movies as a young teen where women need a helper to carry all the boxes and bags after shopping.

Those stores would be situated on an elegant avenue in Paris or New York.

I cannot recall the names of those films but they were rather fun to watch!

Well I have rambled on a bit long

more tidbits and thoughts than I had originally planned...

Oh and just before I close 

Have you been watching the coverage of  The Chelsea Garden Show?

I am totally smitten with the plants and show gardens.

It would be fun to attend in person and wander in The Grand Hall.

Have you ever attended the show?

Thank for popping by The Humble Bungalow Blog.

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

Swimsuit shopping...

My need for a new swimsuit came as a wee bit of a shock to me...

I was in the change room at the local pool and was putting on my old swimsuit and working up a sweat trying to pull it up! I had to wriggle and ease the spandex up inch by inch and when I was finished I realized that I could hardly breathe!

What happened?

It must have shrunk!
(Wrong)

So I HAD to go swimsuit shopping...
not my favourite thing to do, but we are off to the cottage,
and they have two lovely pools and I like to swim laps,
so needs must!

Do you believe in miracles?

This is what a size 14 swimsuit looks like on the hanger...

I am not proud of the fact that I have gone up a size.

The weight gain is all in my midsection where I once had a waist!

Simon Chang swimsuit.

This one is also a size 14 but it looks smaller because it is black.

I like the mesh detail at the top and at the leg holes.

I purchased two swimsuits because I don't like putting a wet bathing suit on and I may be swimming a couple of times each day.

I walk everyday and some days I walk farther than others...

I do watch what I eat but I could always cut down on the carbs.

My husband loves pasta so I make it once a week and I adore potatoes.

My thyroid is sluggish 

(but that's no excuse)

 I have taken medication for hypothyroidism since I gave birth 

to our daughter 40 years ago.

Loving life and feeling gratitude is part of my daily routine.

Every day is a gift and it never fails to offer up something of beauty. 

So in the whole scheme of things 

is a size larger worth getting all bent out of shape over?

I am doing what I can to stay active and healthy.

Thank you for popping by and reading The Humble Bungalow Blog today.

It's sunny here at the cottage and we plan to go swimming today.

With two suits to choose from I have to make a decision which one to wear...

I hope you are having a great weekend.

Until next time

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

I've got the blues....

Blue porcelain pottery

Tumbling bunnies

lilting lyrics

Artist and porcelain maker Harumi Ota gave local artist Robert Amos lessons.

 Robert has created a whimsical line of vessels.

This one was a gift from our darling daughter Jennifer.

The two bowls shown here are by Harumi Ota.

I have had them several years.

For those of you reading this post who may be local 

they were purchased from a local gallery in Oak Bay called Eclectic.

 Harumi Ota frequently sells his work at The Moss Street Market on Saturdays.

Here's my new swimsuit...

also blue and white.

Finding a "flattering" suit was quite a challenge.

First off there was a limited selection in my price range

and 

coming to grips with my ample figure "weighed heavily"

I wanted decent support and good coverage...

needing to camouflage the "wobbly bits" as much as possible.

I ended up at a bathing suit specialty shop...

where they have many sizes and styles and expert fitters.

While in the change rooms I overheard many women's conversations 

 ALL of which were lamenting that they were FAT!

They were mostly young women and teenagers...

I was the eldest by far!

We are sensitive and critical of our bodies...

not everyone can be the same size or shape

we all have "problem areas"

no one is perfect.

 I am overweight

I know that I should slim down and get back to my WW goal weight.

 I have a serious conversation with myself about this regularly...

and its not really working.

I eat healthy

I try not to indulge in chocolates or sweets.

I walk every day and swim once a week.

I look around at the pool and there are women of all shapes and sizes.

There are some who would be considered morbidly obese 

in swimsuits much bigger than mine 

participating in the Aqua Fit classes...

How do they feel in their own skin?

Do we all have negative thoughts about our body image?

Is this a healthy way of thinking?

Here's my healthy lunch.

I AM going to try harder, starting right now, 

TODAY!

How about you?

Are you struggling to lose weight?

How do you feel about your body image?

Have you been swimsuit shopping lately?

Are you shocked by the swimsuit prices?

(many that I looked at were over $200)

Its a lovely sunny day and I am heading out for my second walk.

Thank you for reading my humble blog and I'd love to hear your thoughts on this issue.

Hope you have a fabulous weekend!

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

The bathing suit...

I recognized a lovely young woman pushing her child in a stroller at our local Marshall's store in the mall.
Smiling, vibrant and gorgeous...her name is Leah.

We see each other frequently on Oak Bay Avenue...
she is a fabulous teacher that I worked with at a local Middle School and I think that I can safely say that she is "adorable"...the daughter of an acquaintance.

Leah is one of those energetic and enthusiastic teachers that can inspire and engage students...these are the teachers that we love for so many reasons.
Young and impressionable students' minds need more teachers like Leah.

We exchanged news...
I told her that we were investing in a quarter share of a waterfront cottage on Pender Island. The resort has two pools, a children's play area and there is a marina for our boat.

We are hoping to get the children and grand children over to the cottage for the 2 week summer holidays and we will use it in the off season on our week each month.
Leah mentioned how much she appreciated having a cottage for their family holidays when she was growing up and now that she has two children of her own they are spending time with her parents at the cottage...
making many happy memories.

Leah asked if I had any luck finding anything in the store.
I did!
and I proceeded to swing a garment in my hands high over my head and said with a smile on my face that I had found a swimsuit!

Swimsuit shopping is quite an event...and when it is successful its a win win!

In my experience swimsuit shopping has never been easy...
one needs to try on quite a few to find the best option.

This is the first suit in more than a decade that has not been black. 

I have 2 suits in patterns of black and white...both have seen "better days."

~ Maxine of Hollywood ~

(sounds rather glamorous)

I have never seen this brand of swimwear.

Understandable as there has been a drought of swimwear shopping...

do not even bother to ask why!

How telling...

Obviously other shoppers have similar thoughts

otherwise why would they print a label that speaks to so many of us?

It must be a challenge for the designers of swim wear.

The suits need to fit, cover the "wobbly bits" and make us feel comfortable while wearing them.

I'll be dipping my toes in this pool soon.

I love swimming laps and I find it very relaxing.

It feels so good to tick a big item off the "to do list"

The swimsuit was my least favourite on my list, 

but fortunately it was not that daunting after all.

Summer is just around the corner and I am gathering up some summer reads.

I am almost finished The Madwoman Upstairs and it is an interesting story.

What is on your summer reading list?

Thank you for stopping by The Humble Bungalow Blog.

XO