Fall Friday in The Humble Bungalow...

Meow!

Isn't this a bodacious looking feline?

The sculpture sits in front of the wool shop Boutique de Laine in Oak Bay.

(I am remiss in not making note of the artist)

I am close to finishing the Church Mouse poncho that I started early in the year.

My knitting project was stalled when I developed a frozen shoulder 

which after months is in the thawing stage.

 I am so grateful as I have not been very stoic with the chronic pain.

As I am able to knit again...

and the cooler weather inspires knitters.

I have joined a local knitting club.

We meet once a month at a local cafe and drink tea, chat and knit.

A wonderful group of women who gather to share their projects, 

help each other with knitting techniques and show off our finished items.

My next project...

which looks like a simple pattern by Church Mouse.

One that can be worn as a scarf or a shoulder warmer.

It is time to get out the sweaters and woolly scarves and socks.

Fall is bringing with it some cool and foggy days.

The light is changing...

foliage is taking on a new patina...

the leaves are rusting...

roses are wilting...

Spiders are coming out to play...

eek!

it is time to cocoon inside.

Our Humble Bungalow interior is dark with all the wood beams and wainscotting 

 we need to turn on many lights during the daytime.

Task lights are crucial to illuminate areas in which we read or knit.

~ Pepper ~

sits on the arm of the Morris Chair and blocks the light!

Both cats like to sit close when I read or knit, they are great companions.

I need to hide my yarn and knitting bag as they think it is a toy!

Hope that you have a great weekend.

Thank you for popping by the Humble Bungalow Blog.

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

Mom's Peanut Butter Cookies

Mother gave me a recipe for peanut butter cookies awhile ago,
I filed it in my recipe box for a rainy day.

That rainy day happened and it turned into 3 days of rain...

On those three days I tiptoed outside for the briefest of walks,
the rest of the days I read, did laundry, made soup, a tasty shepherds pie and when my eyes were fatigued from my reading
I found Mothers' speedy peanut butter cookie recipe in my recipe box.

When I read her recipe I was in doubt...
had she forgotten something?
Can one make cookies using only 3 ingredients?

So I thought hmm maybe I would try...
what have I got to lose?

Speedy Peanut Butter Cookies

2 cups light Peanut Butter
1 cup granulated sugar
2 eggs

Mix together, roll into balls, flatten with a fork on an un-greased sheet pan.
Bake at 325 degrees for 15-20 minutes.
Transfer to a rack to cool

Using a scoop for cookie dough is quite possibly my favourite trick that Martha Stewart shared with her viewers from her TV show.

Cookie dough balls on an un-greased sheet pan.

Flatten with a fork.

After baking cookies place on a rack to cool.

Invite someone over to share

a pot of tea or a coffee 

maybe even a glass of milk with the grandchildren

put the cookies on a plate and see how long they last!

I should have never doubted MOM.

I have learned so much from her over the years.

She will always will be a special person in my life.

Thank you again for popping by my humble blog.

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

OOTD and some budget friendly ideas

My "new to me" thrifted cognac coloured vintage Due Fratelli bag inspired me to take out my old Burberry jacket which I have not worn for ages.

This jacket was an "investment" piece.

I purchased it when I was working.

It was worn almost every chance I got when it was new 

but of late it has languished in the closet.

I have a weakness when it comes to coats and jackets...

Quite a few are in hanging my wardrobe, a mix of casual and dressy.

Some new and others thrifted.

Walking jackets make up a good portion of these and there are a few cold weather down options in the closet too.

A priority for me "being prepared for all kinds of weather."

~ OOTD ~

Burberry jacket, NYDJ, Jessica Simpson flats, Due Fratelli bag

what you cannot see is the 

thrifted crisp white shirt by Northern Reflections and my baroque pearl necklace.

"Retirement dressing"

Mixing high and low priced pieces help me stay within a budget.

I have a book where I record all the garments that I purchase so I can keep track of my expenditures.

It is surprising how it adds up!

My retirement budget also requires me to mix high and low priced cosmetics and skincare products.

The newest items in my arsenal of products...

Jane Iredale Dream Tint with an SPF of 15

100% natural Brilliant Lip Shimmer by Burts' Bees in Cherry

I love a pop of red in the Fall and Winter.

this is not a sponsored post

 opinions are mine, and are posted for the convenience of my readers

I switched from the powdered Jane Iredale foundation to the tinted moisturizer 

it adds a soft glow and boosts moisture levels

works with my dry skin.

The Brow Drama is like mascara for the eyebrows...

I have found that a spa eyebrow tint lasts only a few weeks 

then the coarse white hairs are visible again...

This product is under $10 and lasts for months.

Spa visits are few and far between...

pedicures in sandal season and possibly one or two facials each year.

While I love the pampering I cannot afford to indulge as often as I would like.

I have fun doing my own facials.

Often I will dedicate a morning to some self care

using products similar to those available at the spa.

This red rose looks so pretty against the soft yellow siding of our neighbours' home.

Thankfully the wild storm that was predicted did not hit us as hard as we expected.

The book that I have been waiting for at the library arrived!

In the spirit of thrift I have been reserving books at the library instead of purchasing every book that I want to read...

Hope you are having a fun weekend.

Are you saving for something special?

Do you try to live within your budget?

Thank you for stopping by my humble blog.

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

Rainy daze....

 "Money Plant"

Also known as Lunaria or Honesty, the silver dollar plant is rather like a weed.

It self seeds and thrives on neglect here in The Humble Bungalow Garden.

The Pilgrims brought this plant over with them on the Mayflower.

Thomas Jefferson grew it in his garden at Monticello.

What a difference a day makes...

these rose blooms were looking lovely until this stormy weather blip hit us.

Jude The Obscure wearing raindrops

The soft sand at Willows Beach as seen earlier this week when the sun was shining...makes me want to take off my shoes and walk barefoot in the sand!

There is an eagles nest in this massive oak tree.

Mount Baker is seen off in the distance.

Loads of kelp has washed ashore.

Snow capped Mount Baker is seen across Haro Strait.

Few people were out walking on this sunny afternoon so I had most of the beach to myself.

This toddler was exploring the beach structure

I can just imagine what fun he is having...

This beach scene looks completely different today...

torrents of rain are falling and the waves are crashing along the shore.

I am escaping this positively beastly weather by dreaming...

Enjoying making notes from this beautiful book on Provence.

Janelle McCulloch has written an informative book on the area and the photographs of the enchanting villages are so lovely.

There is a pot of soup simmering on the stove

the cats are snoozing in their respective spots

it is cozy inside our Humble Bungalow.

Pelting rain and the winds are howling just outside the door...

I will don my boots and raincoat and venture out into the storm.

I have a cheque to pop in the post and I could use some fresh air...

Thank you for stopping by...

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

Waking in Sunshine...but not for long!

I awoke surprised to see the sunshine pouring in through the blinds last weekend.

The other surprise was the time...
9AM!

Sleeping in is so rare these days that when I realize that I have slept in
it comes as a SHOCK!

My morning luxury is to brew an espresso and serve it in a bowl with foamed milk.

This habit started in Paris and I have never looked back.

For me this starts my day off on a positive note.

I take a few minutes to check out Instagram, Facebook and read blogs.

After my shower I dress in my walking clothes...

this helps me stay motivated to go for my walk.

If I dress up in "going out" clothes right away 

I can find a million excuses NOT to go for a walk!

black yoga pants

a long top

puffy vest or puffy jacket 

(choice is dependent on the forecast)

sock and athletic shoes

 I took an alternate route

and ventured into the Ross Bay Cemetery.

It is very beautiful, peaceful, and full of all kinds of wildlife...

birds, squirrels, deer.

Heritage Trees form a canopy over the lanes.

The seafront is just beyond the edge of the grass...

you can see the seawall and ocean if you look closely.

Spectacular Autumn colours

Inside a crevice in a tree 

I spy fungi...

Not sure what kind of toadstools or mushrooms these might be but they look quite happy here...if fungi can actually be happy in its environment.

I would like to think that happiness on some level can be felt by all living things.

Speaking of happiness...

I must confess that I had my knickers in a twist...

not my usual comfortable happy place and I had to snap out of it.

I started going for my walk...

on the regular route.

Dozens maybe Hundreds

 of people running towards me.

Dear reader I had encountered a marathon!

A loud rock band was playing under a tent at the corner

there was a water station set up where runners were grabbing cups 

guzzling down the water and then tossing the cups willy nilly on the street.

I feared that I would be knocked over so I grumbled a bit under my breath and took off in another direction...the direction of the cemetery.

All in all it was a lovely walk and I felt totally refreshed when I came home.

~ Crunch crunch crunch crackle ~

the sounds under my feet as the dried leaves collapse.

~ water droplets on a leaf ~

~ the veins in these leaves are so pretty ~

There is so much beauty in the ordinary 

it is worth looking closely at every day things that we encounter.

What surprise might we see?

Orange and yellow dinner plate sized Dahlia 

still blooming in mid October in a garden on Hollywood Crescent.

This is Chester 

the little rascal will not stay off the table.

This is where I have my lap top and where I write my blog posts.

Perhaps this pose is his way of saying I am cute, really I am, 

and you know that you love me despite my hi jinx.

There are 3 storms forecast to hit our coast in the next few days and the weather experts are advising us to charge up all our devices, buy extra food and batteries and brace ourselves for power outages and possible flooding.

So if you don't hear from me for a few days 

you'll know why!

Thank you for stopping by The Humble Bungalow Blog.

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~