Snowdrops and a Vintage Bag...

 

The Humble Bungalow Garden is coming alive 

bursting forth with beautiful blooms for Spring!

This Hellebore was purchased from Van Dusen Gardens in Vancouver.

At the time it was quite a rare plant...now Hellebores are available in many varieties.

I am absolutely smitten with Snowdrops...

it's becoming a wee bit of an addiction.

Gardeners can be fickle when it comes to plants.

We love so many things in our gardens...

Roses, Hostas, Daffodils, Tulips, Hellebores, Lady's Mantle and Black Mondo Grass.

We grow a wide range of plants...

our garden is so full it's really bursting at the edges.

However that doesn't seem to persuade me to stop acquiring more plants!

These new snowdrops are very pretty in their form, we bought several new varieties.

In The UK, where many of these snowdrops originate 

there are gardeners who are busy hybridizing unique new species of these plants.

I see many exciting snowdrops in the UK publications 

but unfortunately they are not yet available here.

The comments are working!

Thank you for testing them out...I am keen to welcome more dialogue from you.

Please know that I am unable to respond to each "individual" comment 

which would normally generate an alert 

so now will respond when I am able.

You'll have to check back.

I apologize for these glitches...

will continue to investigate.

Now that I have shared the "Blogger housekeeping issues"

let's move on to something more interesting shall we?

That BAG could be me :-))

Vintage Ann Taylor wicker bag with red leather details.

Vintage Coach Court Bag

Paired with my Josef Seibel ballet flats...

I want to buy another pair of flats.

Perhaps in that classic Chanel two tone style!

Vintage Coach Regina bag

Quilted leather vintage Canadian Due Fratelli bag.

(BTW~ The Mick Herron series of spy novels are fabulous!)

Do you ever get a "Bee In Your Bonnet?"

a shopping Bee?

An idea...

It hums along in the back of your mind percolating 

until it urges you to seriously look for that particular item.

So powerful that you start searching online and at thrift shops.

That urge to buy that imagined something that you cannot resist.

It happens to me quite a lot and I don't always act on the idea.

BUT

I have been quietly on the lookout for another vintage bag.

~ Not a NEED but a WANT ~

I see gorgeous iconic bags online...

most are designer bags with big ticket price tags

Chanel and Hermes.

Not exactly in sync with my budget or my lifestyle.

My handbag collection is rather small by comparison to some.

I love vintage leather bags...

2 Coach bags ~ Black Regina mini, Brown Court bag.

A wicker bag with red leather trim ~ Ann Taylor

Black leather Croc embossed "doctor" style ~ Banana Republic 

Wine quilted leather bag ~ Due Fratelli 

I saw this listing on Ebay.

Vintage Brown Croc bag by Canadian maker Due Fratelli

The price was higher than I really wanted to pay so I made an offer

which to my surprise, was accepted...

it arrived quickly but it smelled of smoke.

So disappointing...

I considered sending it back, even contacted the seller.

I really like the bag so instead did some research, 

for the past two weeks have been airing it out 

with a bag of baking soda in an open "Zip Loc" bag inside the bag.

The smell is definitely gone...

I will use a leather cleaner on the exterior this weekend.

Have you ever bought or inherited a vintage bag that has had a musty or smokey smell?

What did you do to "fix" it?

Many of the designer bag makers offer a service to restore their classic iconic bags.

No idea on the cost but thats peace of mind if you inherit a Chanel or Hermes bag.

Let's enjoy some more blooms shall we?

The Star Magnolia is in bloom out front in The Humble Bungalow Garden.

We have three magnolia trees all different varieties

they all bloom at different times of the year.

How is the weather where you live?

Our weather is slowly warming up 

I am keen to swap out my heavy coats for lighter jackets.

I will wash and store them away for next season.

Let's get serious bring on the warmth.

I would LOVE to start wearing my summer linen skirt and dresses!

Will have to pop into the shops, maybe this week, take a peek

see what they are showing for Spring and Summer.

Not that I will buy anything new but it is fun to browse...

besides it gives me ideas of what to do with my basic minimalist wardrobe.

Mix up the possibilities...add a scarf.

Well that's about all the news I have to share right now...

stay tuned for more blog posts.

I usually post on Sundays and often mention my blog posts on Instagram.

Thank you for stopping by...

I appreciate you taking the time to join me.

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

Hostess Gift ~ It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas in The Humble Bungalow

 

Festive Season is upon us and I am keeping things very simple.

Am wearing some sparkly vintage pins.

(Sherman pin ~ close up)

 Sherman brooches are a favourite of mine.

The newest one seen here is from our darling daughter. 

I popped it on a black boiled wool Eileen Fisher tunic sweater.

Some women avoid black but I gravitate to it for several reasons...

it is easy to wear,

it can be casual, or dressy.

It transitions well to evening...

My basic minimalist wardrobe relies heavily on black basics.

Accessories are the stars in a basic black ensemble.

I prefer pieces with a history...

Vintage jewellery is found in thrift shops, antique malls and online.

The thrill of the hunt excites me.

I found a new Finnish modernist votive holder at the thrift shop...

now I have a pair!

The silver baubles are from my childhood home.

Mom used to put them in a tall vase, I popped them in this silver trophy.

We don't have a lot of decorations...

a simple tree with white fairy lights

I found a pair of Josef Seibel boots 

to replace my tired "almost 8 year old" Chelsea Boots.

I will wear these with tights and skirts as well as my jeans.

A classic vintage handmade wreath made by a friend of my MIL.

Made with baubles, pine cones, rhinestone brooches.

I consider us custodians of this wreath...

it is a family "heirloom!"

Mixed Nuts are one of my go to Hostess Gifts.

Here's the recipe...

Mixed Nuts 

2 egg whites (at room temperature)

4 cups mixed unsalted nuts:

cashews, almonds, pecans, hazelnuts

1/2 cup sugar

1 tsp cinnamon

1 tsp cayenne pepper or hot paprika

1/2 tsp salt

Preheat oven to 325 degrees

Place egg whites in a large bowl and whisk until frothy.

Stir in nuts ~ mix to coat.

Combine in a small bowl: sugar, and spices

Pour over nut mixture.

Mix well.

Place on a parchment lined sheet pan spread out so they are in a single layer.

Bake 20-25 minutes 

stir halfway during the cooking time.

Cool then store in sealed jars.

Wrap in tissue paper add ribbon and a tag.

Ready for gift giving

BTW

They are delicious!!

Thank you for stopping by The Humble Bungalow Blog.

It's a busy time of year, so remember to take some time to stop and breathe, 

sip a cuppa and rest.

Wishing you a Very Merry Christmas.

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

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 ~

OOTD ~ SNOW DAY and Baby it's cold outside!

~ Snow Day Selfie ~

I am getting ready to head out in the snow...

Snow does not usually make an appearance until after Christmas

so I was caught scrambling for my woolen accessories.

I popped on my boiled wool Eileen Fisher sweater overtop of a black camisole.

Layering is the warmest way to dress in this chilly weather.

~ OOTD ~

The cashmere Burberry scarf is ages old...maybe 10 years or more.

My hat is one I wore in Paris in 2015...Andre Diffusion with a feather pin.

The bag is vintage Due Fratelli.

My down Puffer coat is by Columbia and has a thermal foil-like lining in the body.

Super warm but bulky!

My dear departed Mom used to say...

"Darling Why don't you just wrap yourself in a Down Duvet?"

(I wear them simply because they are warm.)

Early morning routines...

candles, coffee, and my book.

I enjoyed this book...

set in Ontario Canada, in an Italian community.

I read Anne Giardini's The Sad Truth About Happiness and enjoyed it.

 When I spied this novel at the bookstore on Pender Island I grabbed it.

Chester and Pepper are snuggling...

a rare sight!

Perhaps it is the cold weather that encouraged them to sleep side by side?

Staying indoors has inspired me to bake.

I found this recipe online.

Cream Cheese Pound Cake

a heavy cake but oh so delicious!

Blackberries and whipped cream elevated it to a divine dessert.

You can see that the snow is melting on the porch.

The sun is warming us up...

I added a vintage Sherman Pin.

The rhinestones sparkle brightly set on a black background.

I love adding Vintage accessories...

they are unique, 

often found at thrift shops and can add a personal touch.

Do you wear Vintage pieces?

I'd love to know more about your vintage pieces.

I must close for now as I am heading out to the knitting group

we meet in a friends home, knit, chat and sip tea.

It's a fabulous way to be social and share our projects.

CHEERIO

~ 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 ~ 

OOTD ~ vintage classics

~ OOTD ~

Burberry quilted jacket

Dex lace top

Eileen Fisher rayon pants

Ferragamo flats

Vintage eel skin bag

a mix of textures...

shiny, quilted, lacy, smooth

neutral shades

I shopped my closet...

for a celebratory birthday dinner out with our daughter and her husband.

I haven't forgotten "how" to dress up 

I am just "out of the habit!"

Gosh it felt wonderful going out for a delicious meal prepared by someone else 

and 

I didn't have to do the washing up!

Our garden is looking quite lovely.

Flowers are blooming, the grass is green and the roses are in bud.

There is so much to be grateful for in my daily round...

Chester our cat had surgery last week to remove a stone from his bladder.

He was very wobbly the first day and has continued to improve.

His appetite has come back and he has already gained weight.

I had been so very stressed with his failing health and am so relieved that we finally got a diagnosis and that surgery would fix the problem.

His early renal failure is going to be monitored closely,

we will continue to feed him the special food.

Hopefully he will be with us for a few more years.

He's such an affectionate little guy and has a very "big" personality.

In other news, 

I had my third IPL treatment for rosacea,

 my skin is looking much better.

The treatments are not too painful but they are expensive.

I purchased a skin repair cream by Skin Medica.

It is a rich thick cream that I apply before bedtime.

It soaks in and I have noticed my skin is much softer and hydrated.

Herbs are planted in pots by the basement door for easy picking.

I ordered a new Pasta cookbook and plan to try some new recipes.

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

The book is an older publication, I found it at Thrift Books.

Healthy Pasta: The Sexy, Skinny, and Smart Way To Eat Your Favourite Food

It is written by Joseph Bastianich and Tanya Bastianich Manuali

Going to try a bunch of new recipes when it arrives.

How are things going with you?

Thank you for stopping by The Humble Bungalow Blog.

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

My new Vintage bag...

 

Vintage Gently Used Coach Regina bag.

Compact size, supple soft leather

with a zippered small inner compartment 

 an open space for my wallet and keys

&

featuring an exterior pouch for my phone.

Several years ago I had a frozen shoulder.

 which was incredibly painful.

It came on suddenly and scared me with the intensity of the pain.

The specialist that I saw told me to get rid of my big heavy handbags as they may have contributed to the problem.

I immediately bought a smaller bag.

Once my shoulder recovered, the other one froze!

I now carry a minimal amount of things

 just what I need.

Wallet, keys, nail file, lipstick and a mask.

My IPhone is stored in the outer pouch.

Darling daughter happens to have been the influencer on this Coach Bag.

She dropped off that lovely pearl pin that I purchased from her

at my front porch and I spied the bag...

well what can I say.

Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery!

Jennifer was wearing an embroidered mask when she stopped by...

After several disposable masks fell apart after one wearing last week

I decided it was time to get serious and purchase a few decent non disposable masks.

These are from a dressmaker in Halifax Nova Scotia.

Her ETSY shop is Janice's Tailoring

her site has quite a few lovely patterns to choose from 

 hop on over and check them out!

Hope that you are doing well, staying safe and wearing your masks.

Have you had your vaccination yet?

Our supply of vaccines arriving here in Canada has slowed down...

we hope to get the shots as soon as they are available for our age group.

Maybe by Late Spring or Early Summer?

How is your area doing regarding Covid?

Have you seen a recent spike with the new strains?

 Are your numbers of active cases relatively low?

We are all in this together.

Thank you for popping by The Humble Bungalow Blog.

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

OOTD ~ It's all about pearls...

Cashmere V neck sweater by Black Goat overtop a simple denim shirt and jeans.

My "go to" OOTD for cooler winter days.

It has been given a wee bit more "oomph" 

with the acquisition of a vintage baroque pearl pin.

Darling daughter @thingfinder on Instagram 

had this pin ready to list in her ETSY shop 

when I spied it and saw just how exquisite it is

I knew that I wanted it!

The pearl looks like a juicy pear...

The jeweller must have seen it too 

an opportunity to create leaves and accentuate the pear shape.

A work of art.

Lovely nachre...

just a tip to those of you who may not be familiar with genuine pearls

do not spray them with perfume or scent as it destroys the natural lustre.

OOTD

black camisole fringed with lacy edges

Lands' End new cashmere cardigan

Gisel B pearl necklace from a previous My Stylish French Box delivery from France.

Layers in my hair thanks to my recent visit to my hairdresser...

my last visit was in September.

It felt wonderful seeing her and I enjoyed the "pampering."

Camellias are in bloom!

January bud on our Gertrude Jekyll rose 

out in the front garden of The Humble Bungalow.

Have you purchased any new clothes to wear during Covid?

Are you wearing athletic wear and casual cozy clothes?

I mix it up.

Some days I will wear my Yoga pants and go for longer walks.

The problem for me is that they are so forgiving...

so I think they have given me a sense of comfort despite gaining a few pounds...

my jeans tell me to stop eating so much, move more and get in shape!

So jeans are my guide to wellness.

Current Goals:

Walking more, counting my WW points and drinking less alcohol.

Have you embraced new healthy habits?

Wishing you good luck on your fitness journey.

As a small "non food reward" for my efforts...

I've ordered a vintage classic handbag and when it arrives I will share it with you all.

Thank you for stopping by The Humble Bungalow Blog.

Have some fun in your weekend whatever you do.

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~