50...something?

I just checked and I am nearing 50...followers!
I cannot believe it.

I guess it might be time for another gift-away....

Some things in life are so simple...

others are so much more complex...

I will think of a gift away...any suggestions...send them to me...

not my bronze cat!

or the Guy Vidal....

 sheepish as I am....

I will find something to celebrate if we get more followers!

I think we need to invite more...

60...

I will work on a gift-away for 60

that's my goal...

 It's very late I am sneaking reading blogs and the guests are sleeping...I need to go to bed!

Sweet dreams

Hugs from the Hostess!

I am busy Hostessing in the Bungalow....so it's a brief post!

I have been very busy being a hostess and enjoying the events.

I like to focus on guests when they are here in the Bungalow...I have standards to maintain!

There has been a lot of errand running and shopping involved as my friend lives on an island and comes to town occasionally.

Last night Mrs. M and I went and met another friend for some Thai food at a local restaurant. I did not take my camera as I feel rather shy snapping shots in a small eatery.

I need to practice my spy skills and use a tiny camera which is hidden up my sleeve!

Today we are off for our pedicures. 

I usually go to a large hotel spa and have a regular esthetician but my friend Mrs. M, who is retired, goes to the Institute. I have not been to the Aveda Institute where they teach esthetics but my friend has and enjoys the service and pampering.

I will report back.

I hope that all is well in your patch...will be back in the saddle soon.

See you later!

Hugs from the Hostess!

May Showers....

Today is a very much anticipated day of joy for Grammy!

There will be a gathering of friends and family 

I am bringing cheese and crackers

There will be frosted cupcakes and tea

Time approximately 5 weeks

not long now!

Shopping has been done, presents are wrapped and ready to go!

The knitted blanket has been completed.

A bundle of joy will be coming into our lives

I think it will forever change me

and enrich life here in the Humble Bungalow.

Grammy's Pedigree Pram has been polished and a new mattress and blankets are ready, waiting.

Our guests arrive this afternoon so I may be absent for awhile and will pop in to visit when time allows.

Hugs from the Hostess.

Dinners on the back burner in the Bungalow....the Hostess has her nose in a book...

I am reading this delightful book, a sequel to Chocolat, 

the story revolves around making chocolates, and I am salivating!

Mouth watering, totally suggestive, it had me running off to the store to appease my cravings!

Yum.

...and for later

Italian bubbly

I was planning on my leftover easy peasy pot roast, smashed potatoes, and peas as a shepherds pie...

Simple fare so I can indulge in reading...I am hooked on this book!

One of our resident Flickers

they love the suet and hang upside down on the feeder... 

(the wee house to the top right)

The Downy Woodpecker frequents the same suet feeder but I have not captured that on film yet.

We have resident Anna's hummingbirds and now the transient Rufous ones have flown north so we are entertained by the territorial postulations at the feeder!

This hangs beside our family room window which is very close to the kitchen.

I have a yard full of birds...and am always serenaded by birdsong...

robins, house sparrows, bush tits, kinglets, wrens, chickadees, thrushes, crows, towhees.

The Coopers Hawk comes by for a meal every once in awhile and he is very large.

The Smaller Merlins fly in swiftly and 

 catch an unsuspecting bird for dinner.

I am off back to the cobblestone streets of Montmartre to check in on what is happening to Vianne and Anouk.

I am hoping to finish this before our guests arrive!

Late News Flash...

Surprise!

son called...

he wants to come over and watch the Hockey game

 and hopes that we can chill and order in

YES!

Daughter, her man and lovely DIL....

all's good.

  even better than good...how great is that?

My family wants to come and spend time with us tonight...any plans I had have flown, my family are IT!

My planned dinner is in the freezer ready for another day.

I can read anytime....

I cherish our times together.

DIL looks amazing...

I feel so grateful!

FYI it's 5 weeks until Baby is due!

Sunny daze, a diversion and...domestics.

I am on my 4th load of laundry and my second cup of coffee and have to get the house ready for our guests. Our friends are going to be in town and staying here for 5 days as Mr. M is on course and Mrs. M is accompanying him. She will be visiting friends, shopping and joining me on a trip to the spa for a pedicure so we will be toe worthy when we lunch and dine around the town.

It's a lovely sunny day out there in the Bungalow Garden! I felt compelled to go out and capture some of the cheerfullness that awaits discovery. (I did need a diversion)

I love these yellow blooms!

Lewisia

Yellow David Austin rose whose name escapes me at the moment!

Montana reubens clematis
the most prolific and vigorous clematis that I know.

California poppy

Solomon's Seal

Smilicena racemosa a fruity fragrant shade tolerant perennial

love the leaf formation

Dwarf iris, imported from San Francisco, via a superior plantswoman, a former teacher who travelled extensively to acquire the new and exotic!

Euphorbia, new to the garden, I love the varigated foliage

White shower curtain

White towels, a Bungalow staple.

Why does soap crack... anyone know?
I guess I'll be swapping this out for a fresh bar...no self respecting hostess wants her guests to see this!

A scented candle a birthday gift from a dear friend...who is currently in the South of France.

For friends near and far I wish you all a fabulous weekend!

Hugs from the Hostess.