Current Topics ~ What is on my radar and mindful walking.

Greetings from The Humble Bungalow Garden.

The Muguet des Bois are blooming...

SO FRAGRANT!!!!

I invited a couple of friends over to dig up some lily of the valley plants.

We have so many :-))

Gardeners like to share their plants with other like minded enthusiasts.

The Auriculas are blooming and they are so charming...

I have several plants and could repot some of them as they have multiplied over these past couple of years.

I see many new varieties in the UK which are so tempting...

not that many are here in the garden centres 

unless they are already in private gardens!

Haven't actually seen many of these auriculars locally at all this year.

I am not moaning here on the blog about my health but I am being proactive...

I've been online researching arthritis...

there is a lot of information to sift through.

Basically I know now that I need to keep moving...

take pain medication and get some physiotherapy.

I've got my appointment lined up and will see the specialist in June.

My walks are around 3 km and am getting 5,000-6,000 steps in during the day.

That number may not be totally accurate because the step total is from my IPhone

I don't have it on me the entire day.

I suppose I could buy a watch that counts the steps...

but does it really matter?

Two 3km walks might be the way to walk now...

a rest in between seems sensible and will help with the pain.

I'm taking Advil and it helps.

In other news I have switched up my skincare routine a wee bit...

I don't tend to spend a LOT on products.

Skin care basics need not break the budget.

Andalou make a sensitive line which works well for my everyday skin regime.

These lotions and potions are very affordable and free of nasty ingredients.

I love using the CC cream as it goes on easily and has SPF

it evens out skin tone and adds a dewy healthy glow.

The Great Lash is an iconic mascara and is often on sale...

The Burts Bees glow stick is a creamy blusher that I use on my cheeks and lips.

It takes me about 5 minutes to do my daytime make-up.

I tried an organic glow stick

 which developed a rough grainy texture

which I did not like at ALL :-((

(I returned it)

Burt's Bees All Aglow is lovely...

it is creamy and very easy to apply.

The shade gives me a soft natural looking blush.

~ Simple make up ~

My favourite red lippy from Miss Pupa of Milan.

Fresh haircut...

(in a bob style)

My thinning hair needed a makeover so my hairdresser gave it a blunt cut.

I can wear it wavy or flat iron it...I like the versatility of the style.

It will be easy to maintain.

Saw this gorgeous iris at Government House on one of my walks this week.

I love to wander about in the local gardens here...

so many great flowers and plantings that inspire.

The weather forecast is for hotter temperatures...

unseasonably hot, or so we are told.

I have swapped out my winter clothes for the spring and summer cottons and linens.

I found a few things that were no longer useful.

Dropped a bag off to the local charity shop, 

had a good browse and came home empty handed.

I replaced a white linen top that I donated with a fresh new one from Marshalls.

It is a simple basic...

Under $30...

will wear it a LOT.

I DO love a bargain.

Well I must close for now and get some stuff done here...

hope that you are enjoying your weekend so far.

Happy Mother's Day!

I will think of my dear MOM...she was one of a kind.

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

Hostess OOTD ~ "Edgy Biker Style"

 

Butchart Gardens was one of the highlights that I enjoyed last week.

Walking slowly taking note of the gorgeous flowers on a sunny day was such a tonic.

We munched on a healthy salad sitting in the shade in the main courtyard.

Watching people come and go and listening to their delighted comments.

Butchart Gardens is a JOY to behold.

Moving on to an edgier OOTD...

~ Dressing Room Selfie ~

I went shopping for a new denim dress.

I love the denim jumper that I bought so much, I decided a dress would be handy.

It was a petite and on sale so what's not to love?

~ OOTD ~ 

The faux leather biker "Moto" style jacket is getting lots of wear.

I paired it with a simple white tee ~ Lands' End

Jeans  ~ MNG 

Chelsea boots ~ Josef Seibel

Faux Leather

Moto Style 

oodles of "edgy biker" details

great fit and very comfy to wear.

~ Reitman's ~  

a Canadian brand that hearkens back many decades.

I have just rediscovered the store...

reasonable prices

a wide range of sizes

(petites ~ plus size)

cute styles

My test results are in and I have been diagnosed with osteoarthritis.

My hands, back and hips are affected.

 I won't be moaning about my health, I am taking the news in my stride.

After all, I am 68, so some aches and pains are to be expected.

An appointment is booked to see a physiotherapist who specializes in osteoarthritis.

She will give me advice on exercises and administer IMS treatments.

I've been reading up on the condition and will be going to the pool for aquafit

there will be shorter walks, 

perhaps twice a day instead of one longer walk.

My Doctor has ordered a new bone density test as I have osteopenia.

He's asked me to take a higher dose of Vitamin D

and

take anti inflammatory pain medication as needed.

I've baked the sourdough, have a load of laundry in the wash.

This weekend The King was crowned...

Did you watch the ceremony?

The highlights I saw looked incredible.

It's the dawn of a new era for the Royals.

I do miss Her Majesty the Queen.

So what are your plans for the coming week?

Anything exciting?

Things might be kind of quiet here after such a busy week...

Will try out the pool and see what the Aquafit classes are like.

My responses to your comments are at the end of the comment section...

I am unable to respond to each comment automatically through Blogger

so if you comment as anonymous 

please put your name somewhere so I can respond at the end.

Thank you for stopping by The Humble Bungalow Blog.

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

OOTD ~ Fashion Police "look away" and some thoughts on hair...

 

It's Sunday again...

I am trying to continue with my weekly posts and it seems like Sunday is THE day.

You might be surprised if you saw me today :-))

Honestly...

The Fashion Police would definitely be citing me with an infraction.

most certainly it would be an enormous fine.

After showering I put on my body lotion, washed and moisturized my face...

added some mascara and tinted lip balm.

I am not going out.

OOTD

A pair of indigo sweatpants

black camisole

 dove grey hand knit Miriam wool sweater

 slippers

&

Akoya pearls

This morning I am baking bread, doing laundry and tonight I am making a roast beef.

There will be some reading and knitting...

I am giving myself permission to stay home and cocoon.

In other news...

I found a cute top at the Win Thrift Shop

I used to see a lot of garments made by Joseph Ribkoff.

I think this will come in handy for the summertime.

I can pair it with pants and that blue linen skirt that I purchased last year.

The neckline is perfect for the pearls :-))

The sun was shining a few days ago...

today there are moody clouds blanketing the sky.

Must be craving summer with my shopping habits...

purchased a new straw tote.

a great size for our Pender trips.

It can be loaded up with my laptop, books, and a few other bits.

It will come in handy at The Farmer's Market as well.

Hubby and I went to the Tapas on Oak for dinner.

Our son and the grands gave us a gift card so we wanted to try it out.

The food was good and the tapas portions were perfect for two.

It was busy and the wait staff were super friendly and efficient.

I wore a casual outfit...

tweed Hudson pants

this black crinkle top and my Chelsea boots.

I have no idea who made this top?

it has been in  my wardrobe for ages, it must have been a thrift shop find.

I took it travelling to France and Italy as when washed it dries overnight.

Great for layering !

I post on Instagram daily and several readers mentioned my hair style...

"straight and flat ironed"

the texture of the salt and pepper grey has changed and my hair is much thinner.

This would appear to be an aging issue...

many women complain of thinning hair 

my 69th birthday is a few weeks away
so I guess it is my turn...

but no complaints :-))

Do you colour your grey hair or have you gone au natural?

Was it a gradual process going grey or did you just stop dying it?

Has the texture changed like mine?

Have you changed your hairstyle?

I know many women keep their signature style over decades...

rather like a signature fragrance, many never ever stray.

I am not unhappy with my hair,  but I regularly change things up.

Covid happened and I grew my hair long.

Two years later I had it cropped in a short layered bob.

Now it appears that I am growing out the layers and wearing it straight.

I haven't been to my hairdresser for a few months.

Shall we chat about our hair?

Leave a comment to chime in...

Well I guess I better get on with my day...

lunch will not make itself

plus I want some tea...

then there is bread to bake and laundry to fold!

Hope that you are all well...there seems to be a lot of illness about.

Be Well and Be Kind 

Seeking Snowdrops ~ Shopping ~ and other things happening in The Humble Bungalow this week.

Snowdrops are poking up through the soil here in The Humble Bungalow Garden!

I am in search of some new varieties...

Those that I particularly seek are the Double Snowdrops and Everest.

My husband and I are planning a trip soon to Salt Spring Island 

where we will visit a nursery that sells rare and unusual plants.

I have heard that they may have some snowdrops in pots.

Tencel has been the softest way to add a denim look to my wardrobe.

I love the feel of it next to my skin and the way it drapes is so effortless.

This top has a "BoHo" vibe

the pintucks and woven accents remind me of tops that I wore in the 1970's

we called them peasant tops...

Love the elastic detail at the wrists...

very easy to push up the sleeves when cooking!

Really like the frayed hem on the bottom...

many of you wear ripped jeans but I cannot bring myself to buy or wear them.

(Mom's fashion advice and voice is still loud and clear in my head!)

this ragged edging is a vibe that I can abide.

I found this top at Marshalls for $40

I also bought a pair of black capri Yoga pants as my older ones were faded.

My exercise regime includes Yoga and now some Pilates and weights.

The weights were at the thrift shop on Pender.

I will be working up to heavier ones as I get stronger.

I am going to keep my eyes open for heavier ones at the local thrift shops.

One of the reasons that I decided to add weights is that Mom had osteoporosis...

when she passed away at almost 90, she had 4 fractured vertebrae in her back.

They were very very painful and she suffered quite a bit.

I have osteopenia, which usually progresses to osteoporosis.

Weights can build bone mass as well as toning arms.

I have been working out watching weight training pilates videos on You Tube.

There are so many free sites which makes it easy to add them to my routine.

Do you use weights?

These dark mornings will be replaced by lighter ones very soon.

Spring is not that far off...

snowdrops, hellebores, crocus are blooming in The Humble Bungalow Garden.

Daffodils are not far off!

Well I must close for now and get some dinner started...

am making a new recipe that I saw on Instagram

 ~ Mezzeta ~

One Pan Spaghetti and Meatballs

I have never tried to make a one pan dish like this so I am hoping it works out!

until next time...

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

Blues ~ Tea, clothes, books and knitting

~ Tea ~

The Elixir of the Gods

I partake in afternoon tea each day.

It might be served with a silver service or poured over a bag in a humble mug.

Tea is good accompanied with a small snack...

a cookie, an apple, or a few bites of chocolate.

Decaf tea is my go to brew after 4pm and later in the evening, after dinner.

Tea goes well with my knitting :-))

The Miriam pattern sweater (available on Ravelry)

Rowan Felted Tweed yarn.

Italian wool and alpaca blend, so soft.

You may remember that I knit one of these casual cardigans in soft grey and love it!

I chose this turquoise shade as I think it will pair well 

with my classic denim and black wardrobe.

My chunky pearls and the new shirt...

Caught my eye while shopping... versatile soft Tencel shirt

 inexpensive and will fit in well with my minimalist wardrobe.

I don't buy a lot of clothes,

 but when I see something that meets all the criteria that I have for garments I pounce!

Life continues to be busy...

lots of social opportunities and meet ups are on the calendar.

Being a social being I quite like the flurry of activity.

I do enjoy quiet time and spend part of each day here in The Humble Bungalow 

tidying, cooking, doing laundry, knitting and reading.

Am immersed in this story set in Tuscany...

loving the characters and the setting.

It spans several decades and follows the lives of a group of friends

and acquaintances on their adventures.

Apparently it was named number one of the "best books" for 2023. 

I've got quite a few books on my TBR list...

have some Holds at the library and a few on my bookshelf.

Reading continues to be one of the luxuries that I really enjoy since retiring.

I used to be too busy when I worked full time to really get into a novel.

Holidays were the only time that I could devote a chunk of my days to books.

I was such an avid reader as a young girl growing up...

I always had my nose in a book!

I was a regular at the local Carnegie library downtown.

It all started with Nancy Drew mystery books, 

then L. M. Montgomery's Anne of Green Gables series.

I graduated to more serious fiction in High School 

reading various authors among them: 

Aldous Huxley, 

Fyodor Dostoevsky, Leon Uris, Ayn Rand, Leo Tolstoy

Walt Whitman

I have read and continue to enjoy many genres.

Reading is definitely a passion of mine and I always have a book on the go.

Are you an avid reader?

Who are your favourite writers?

What are you reading now?

It is time for me to close this post and get busy with dinner.

Hope that you are well and enjoying the start to the New Year.

~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 ~

OOTD ~ Butterfly World

 

Pop of colour 

while wearing a cool grey sweater.

I use a gentle touch when it comes to cosmetics...

tinted CC cream, mascara and lipstick or lip gloss for daytime.

The lipstick is by Miss Pupa from Milan

Rossetto #503

New tweed knit pants in ankle length...

Hudson North

available at The Bay.

Versatile with my basic wardrobe in a grey black check.

The reason I went shopping for pants is because I recently culled my clothes.

Leaving only 3 pairs of pants...

Two pairs of jeans 

(Eileen Fisher and Nicole Miller)

and a dressy pair of black pants.

(Eileen Fisher)

Just happened upon a dreamy soft wool and cashmere blend Italian made sweater.

It fits like a Tee top 

perfect for layering under my black Eileen Fisher vest

or my Old Navy distressed denim jacket.

I added a felted woven grey and black scarf...

found at a thrift shop for an unbelievable price :-))

Warm and cozy and adds an interesting textural detail.

Adding interest with accessories when wearing basic neutral coloured garments 

is a good habit to get into.

I like adding accessories so I don't look "mumsy"

being mindful that I exercise a modicum of restraint.

I daren't invite a citation from those sneaky Fashion Police.

Dressing over 65 can be full of pitfalls!!!

Friday Field Trip with the granddaughters...

~ Beautiful Butterfly ~

We took our granddaughters to the attraction 

Butterfly World near Butchart Gardens.

There are some really interesting insect displays in cases...

ants, stick insects, spiders.

Through the double doors there is lush tropical open area 

with

exotic birds, colourful butterflies, carp, flamingoes, frogs, and tortoises. 

There was an open feeding tray with sliced citrus and banana skins.

We saw a few of these butterflies nibbling on the fruits when we entered

 when we were leaving 

each piece of fruits had one of these gorgeous butterflies feeding.

After our visit we drove to The White Spot for lunch...

it was quite busy and by the time our food arrived we were famished!

It doesn't feel like our usual October weather here in Victoria.

The weather has been dry and warmer than usual.

On the News tonight they mentioned that

this warm dry spell is about to change...

Cooler wetter weather is definitely on the horizon

the roses are still blooming but the rest of the garden is fading.

We need some serious rainfall and only a smattering of moisture has fallen so far.

I've been busy knitting the Rowan Toasty Slipover Vest...

a group of us met at a friends' home for a cuppa, chat and to knit.

Our hostess served a delicious Victoria Sponge Cake...

with a pot of incredibly tasty Mariage Freres Rose Royal Tea.

I am craving Rose Tea for my afternoon cuppa here in The Humble Bungalow!

All I need to do now is fly off to Paris and buy some...

A gal can dream...

Laundry needs to be done.

Dust bunnies need to be mopped.

Dinner needs to be prepped...

Until next time...

Thank you for stopping by The Humble Bungalow Blog.

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~