Hydrangeas and hair...the view from here.

Hooray the limelights are blooming!

The hydrangeas are taller this year 

which is good news 

as the deer love to munch on the tasty leaves.

Sadly the deer have eaten most of the hosta leaves 

out front in The Humble Bungalow Garden.

Frothy creamy blooms act as a backdrop to the side patio

providing privacy

 a place to sit and sip a cup of tea while reading a book.

I loved this book and read it in two sittings!

They are making it into a movie.

Suzanne Rindell is a screenwriter...

she has two other books and I plan to read them.

In other news

the "growing pains" continue...

My hair is growing...

slowly 

the wavy curls are coming back.

I have been on Pinterest looking at hair styles...

there are so many lovely women with salt and pepper and grey hair.

just wondering how long I should let it grow

what style will work with my hair type and face shape.

A conundrum 

 I have weeks or possibly a few more months to wait.

Patience has never been my strength...

I'd like to be able to grow hair as fast as that Tressy doll!

She was the doll that had a long pony tail with emerged from a hole in her head...

a screw attached to her back controlled the length of her hair!

Do you remember the doll?

The TV ad...

"Short or long or in between

Tressy's hair makes her a Queen!"

Happy Weekend!

Do you have any special plans?

We will be celebrating the 3rd birthday of our darling granddaughter Mira.

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

The Humble Bungalow ~ keeping cool in a heat wave...

We have just returned from our holidays to our beloved home and garden...
the greenhouse is full of fresh home grown tomatoes
ready to be harvested and eaten.

a bounty of tasty tomatoes

I will be making tomato salads, perhaps indulge in some tomato sandwiches,

will also plan to roast some for a pasta dish and may freeze some.

BC is immersed in a heat wave...
the temperatures are rising
and with that, my plans to work outside in the garden are shelved for a cooler day.

The blinds are closed and the windows have been opened a crack
(otherwise the cats escape!)
The overhanging eaves, a typical feature of an arts and crafts bungalow,
help to keep the sunshine out.

So I am staying inside attacking my long "to do list"...
it's only 10:30 and I have done 3 loads of laundry,
the last load of slip covers are spinning in the LG as I type.

The farmhouse sink has been bleached,
the mail opened, bills paid ready to be posted.

I plan a quick manicure
a beach walk
need to return something to the store
stop by a friends' home
start a new book.

My summertime favourites...

Eau Thermale mist by Avene to help refresh the skin

I also keep a cool bottle of water on the counter by the sink 

 take one outside with me when I garden...hydrating from the inside out!

Sunscreen

SPF 50 for my face and exposed arms and legs.

I try to wear a light Tencel long sleeved shirt for extra sun coverage.

Spritz of Roger and Gallet light rose scent to refresh throughout the day.

The new favourite Sally Hansen diamond tough polish which lasted an entire week before showing signs of wear...

the shade is called Love Bug.

I'd better get back to work...

my break is over! 

Thank you for stopping by the Humble Bungalow Blog.

What are you reading and how is your summer going?

Is it hot where you are right now?

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

Pender Island Snippets...

We have been relaxing here at Quarter Deck Cottage and our days are moving very slow...
We have a simple routine, slow walking, swimming in the pools, beach combing reading and we try to eat healthy meals.

We spend a lot of our day and early evenings on the deck 

 the weather has been marvelous

even HOT!

I posted a picture of these pretty periwinkle blue flowers on my Instagram page

and a reader mentioned that they were called wild chicory.

They grow tall and line the roadsides here on Pender Island.

So delicate and I love the colour...

they remind me of the South of France 

where the doors and shutters are painted a similar shade of blue-y mauve.

Queen Anne's Lace grows wild

 it is frequently growing right next to the wild chicory.

Another plant that thrives here is Yarrow.

I love the mustard shade and the bees like it too.

This bush is found dotting the landscape...

I must find out its name...

if you know its name please leave me a comment.

I have been enjoying fresh fruit and yogurt for breakfast.

It is so quick to prepare and the juicy nectarines are full of flavour.

Dahlias and fresh strawberries from the Farmers Market

I read both of these books and I highly recommend The Lost Vintage...

if you enjoyed The Nightingale I think you will love Ann Mah's book.

The Three Things about Elsie is about the elderly...

  it delves into dementia but it is actually a fun read.

The characters are interesting 

plus a mystery is woven into the text with an unexpected outcome.

I really liked Joanna Cannon's first novel The Trouble With Goats and Sheep 

which I also recommend.

I have started reading Kristin Hannah's Home Front...

will share more on that when I have finished it.

We discovered a sandy beach at the bottom of a steep trail...

I found more sea glass here than on any other beach so far!

I love the aqua glass chunks as they are not as common as the brown and whites.

I am test driving a new nail polish...

this one claims to be chip free and I am tough on my nails as I garden so much and my hands are rarely idle.

I indulged in a wee bit of pampering yesterday afternoon.

A lovely pedicure by a delightful young woman who lives on the island and runs a small business.

 The shade that I chose is a vibrant pinky OPI polish called California Raspberry.

It's a breezy day here...

the laundry is whizzing around in the machine.

I've tidied up, watered the outdoor garden by hand and am about to put my nose back in my book.

Hope that you are enjoying some restorative lazy days of summer.

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

I heart summer holidays...

Isla was given the opportunity to choose three marbles when we went to the Antique Store on Pender Island.

This large blue one, another in green and a smaller blue one which she gave to her brother Henry.

Milada Huk from Renaissance Studios on Pender Island designs and makes jewellery using Swarovsky crystals.

This necklace caught Isla's eye...

it is called Fairy Garden.

Grammy was delighted when she saw how Isla swooned when she spied this piece so we bought it!

Grampa found this stone heart on Hamilton Beach near Port Browning.

Isla took it home.

Beach treasures!

In dire need of a pedicure after a week at the cottage.

Days filled with swimming, hop scotch, beach combing, games, boating,

and other fun activities.

I posted this picture on my Instagram page...

"when your breakfast matches the book cover" 

it makes for an easy photo opportunity!

A parting gift from the family...

Two thrift shop finds from the Nu-To -You shop.

Tennesmed desigend Swedish pewter pendant 

Danish bird pin.

This Summer the weather has been fabulous...

sunny and warm

actually 

HOT!

Thank you for popping by The Humble Bungalow Blog.

We are on holidays so my blog posts may be sporadic!

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

Summer sunshine in the Humble Bungalow Garden

Sunny yellow California poppies peeking out from under the Hostas.

These wee flowers pop up around the garden as they self sow like many poppies.

Their cheerful flowers add extra oomph to the greenery.

Romneya Coulteri

a poppy also know as the fried egg plant!

I think of the art of Georgia O'Keefe when this plant blooms...

crisp and crepe like white petals 

adorned 

with the bold pop of yellow

are a brilliant contrast

that make for a wonderful showy bloom.

The petals are delicate almost like a tissue...

Daisies are so cheerful...

not growing in our garden 

they always look pretty in the summertime

they look very "at home" popped into a simple mason jar and set upon a table.

Pendulous flowers of the Himalayan Honeysuckle

The hummingbirds love this flowering plant!

Yellow roses

Jude the Obscure and William Shakespeare Rose bouquet.

Two hard working products that I love...

the gelee is especially good for gardener's hands

I use the Baume on my heels which keeps them soft and supple.

Abraham Darby a gorgeous David Austin rose

a lovely fragrance and frothy blooms.

How is your summer shaping up?

Thank you for popping by The Humble Bungalow Blog.

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

"Getting my Happy On"

There are times when life tests us...
particularly when unexpected things occur
those things that are beyond our control...

I remind myself that "control is an illusion"...
the only things in life that one can control
are the reactions to the events themselves.

When these life events threaten to derail my day and drag me down
I need to dig deeper to cultivate and embrace the beauty that surrounds,
which in turn,
infuses positivity
encourages grace
which improves my outlook and ultimately is a mood changer.

Consciously choosing to focus on kindness, love, empathy, compassion
are the attitudes that I opt for when things go sideways.
I tend to focus on these things...

First and foremost....embracing the attitude of gratitude
followed by, but not necessarily in order...

arranging flowers
working in the garden
reading an inspiring book
chatting with a good friend
painting or a similar creative pursuit
going for a walk along the seafront
knitting
taking tea...using a lovely bone china teacup and loose tea
cooking a new recipe
yoga
soaking in the tub in some scented bath salts
watching a classic "chick flick"
tidying up an area of our home
tidying up a drawer or closet
doing something for someone who needs help
writing ( a blog post) or writing in a journal
cooking a pot of soup
beach combing
browsing in a book shop
thrift shopping
donating to charity
volunteering

There are many positive nurturing habits to cultivate...
what are your favourites?

"Three grand essentials to happiness in this life are something to do, 
something to love, and something to hope for. "

~ Joseph Addison ~

Summertime BBQ's with best friends and family

sharing a simple meal

fresh produce and food of the season

sipping a crisp cool glass of Rose

dining outdoors in the hot sunshine

listening to the laughter 

of

the children playing in the garden

filling up my heart

with

JOY.

Hope that your week is full of bright moments.

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

Some summer reads...

Summer Reads...

Loved this murder mystery by Jessica Fellowes.

She's the niece of Julian Fellowes from Downton Abbey and Gosford Park.

I've also read Julian's novels

Past Imperfect, Snobs and Belgravia  

Ami McKay writes wonderful books

I read her previous two novels

The Virgin Cure and The Birth House

This novel was very rich in atmosphere and painted a wonderful picture of what it might be like to be a "witch" in an era when witchcraft

 the unknown and unseen world were being explored.

 Ami transported me into the fascinating world of Gilded Age in New York 

set in the late 1800's...

I've promised this book to mabon moon a reader who lives in Victoria.

I hope she will enjoy it as much as I did.

My current book The Seagull by Ann Cleeves

fresh from the local library...

suggested by the well read Madame La-Bas 

writer of the blog New Year New Dreams.

It's a well crafted mystery and a real page turner!

The most recent book from our local library 

This novel is set in a lovely little village in Provence

the characters are rich and the story evolves slowly over the years.

I've just started reading 

Etta and Otto and Russell and James

by Canadian born author Emma Hooper

What are you currently reading?

Have you a favourite book that you care to share?

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~