Black and white, pure and simple.

I have been loving the colour black lately.
I am in a black phase...I have recently painted all my wicker  porch furniture black...
I love white too...crisp white shirts, pearls, and white tees...

Chanel camellia

I have purchased all white Egyptian cotton sheets to replace the threadbare set I have had for over 5 years...these new ones are super wrinkled when they come out of the dryer...they have a high thread count and soft sateen finish ( I briefly wondered if I should iron them!)...they feel silky, soft and cool....love to lay longer in my bed now!

I found a wicker table free for the taking on the boulevard last week...it was in need to some TLC...I promptly painted it black!

My BFF has been on a cream kick, she's painted all her wicker porch furniture cream.

I am hoping that she will allow me to come over and take some photos of her divine porch and post them here.

She came over the other day and gave me this...

A vintage wire birdcage!

She has a larger one that looks more like a house and she painted hers cream and put an ivy in it.

I will be painting it black, and 

I aready have an ivy!

I have wrapped the giftaway parcel...just waiting until the June 17th draw date to find out who will be receiving it.

This quote is one of many from the book that I borrowed from the Library.
 "CHANEL."
...the book is a glimpse into the life of a famous Coco Chanel...she apparently had the very first tube of lipstick designed for her personal use. She needed it when she was driving in her car... mindful that her red lips might need touching up! It is chock full of interesting facts and beautiful images.

My friend Janet over at the Gardeners' Cottage loves black and white and I have been reading her blog for months now and I think she's onto something very Zen and elegant.

I really do not run a B&B just have friends who like to stay...
I do leave the "Welcome" mat out all the time...that's the kind of Hostess I am.
 I mentioned in a very early post that we had to replace our mat once as the "Welcome" was worn out!
(see sidebar image at right)

Simplicity

Elegance

Purity

After the rain garden walkabout...

It was raining...I had planned to spend the day gardening but alas it is too wet.

Sum and Substance a very grand Hosta

Lady's mantle

The sun is playing hide and seek in the clouds.

Lilac

 I managed to grab my camera and pop out for a few snaps before it hid again.

Flowering thyme on the slate patio

These white tulips bloom quite late.

Wigelia at the entrance to the backyard.

Azalea Rothschild variety...so sweetly scented.

After the rainfall it's scent is released and is divinely intoxicating!

Pavement series hardy rose.

Very heavily perfumed!

Our industious and hard working local Mason bee.

Purple allium

The humble Poppy

There is a lot happening in the Bungalow Garden...and there's a lot more to follow!

Speaking of following, I have a gift away going until June 18th...see my former post if you want to enter!

50 followers?...pinch me I think I am dreaming!

I am pleased and honoured that I have reached the 50 milestone...of followers.

I asked in an earlier post for some ideas for a gift-away...and the first blog I discovered was LPC @ privilege and she suggested something Canadian...spa related and foodstuffs....so I have taken note.
If perchance you have not yet visited her blog...GO NOW!
Do Not Pass Go or Collect $200 dollars!
She is a HIGH WASP and has a firm grasp on the monied side of society....and she lets us glimpse through the crack in the door what her Artsy Cousin,  Grande Dame and Sturdy Gal are wearing and how they are comporting themselves through their daily round.

Here's what I've come up with...

Chocolates from Terry's of Denman Island, B.C.
Gardeners Products by Upper Canada Soap from Ontario-
Protective Day Cream with Natural Mineral Defense  in Sunkissed Citrus and Intensive Therapy Hand Cream in Herbal Mint...
and something personal...a gently worn artist designed sterling silver bangle.

Terry's chocolate bars...Gardener's creams...and a sterling bangle.

 ($80 Canadian)

I'll ship anywhere...

Simply Dark, Razzle Dazzle, and Toasted Hazelnut.

Canadian all the way!

Sterling bangle...etched inside and out...gently worn by the Hostess!

I am hoping that you will become a follower and take a few minutes and leave a comment for 1 chance... 

post it on your blog or sidebar...for another....

and a third...

I'd like to know from your personal experience what you appreciate in a Hostess.

What teeny tiny details are paramount in your opinion?

I would like to be the Hostess with the Mostest!

Gift away ends...June 17th 2010

Good Luck!

If you have a minute watch this...it was sent by my BFF.

A palindrome reads the same backwards as forward. 

This video reads the exact opposite backwards as forward.  Not only does it read the opposite, the meaning 

is the exact opposite.

This is only a 1 minute, 44 second video and it is brilliant.   Make sure you read as well as listen...

forward and backward.

This is a video that was submitted in a contest by a 

20-year old.   The contest was titled "u @ 50" by AARP. This video won second place. When they showed it, everyone in the room was awe-struck and broke into spontaneous applause.  So simple and yet so 

brilliant. Take a minute and watch it. Click link below.

Lost Generation  here

Happy Mother's Weekend...celebrate and be celebrated.

My mother is a gem.

She is a gracious woman who has taught me well.

I have learned from what she has shared and what I have observed.

Her life has not been without it's challenges and she has risen above and claimed a life of her own.

She has always managed to look her best, even when ill.

She passed on to me her love of gardening, her joy of music and her passion for fashion!

I am forever in her debt.

She will always have a special place in my heart and I will love and honour her for eternity.

 It's Mother's Day this weekend...

my wish is for all the Moms out there to celebrate and be celebrated for all the wonderful and unselfish deeds that they do and have done through the years.

I am taking my mom out to the theatre to see a live production, flowers and a card are a given.

  I will be arranging a date for tea at a private club with a waterview sometime next week when it is not so busy...mom is getting hard of hearing so I like to go when it's quieter.

Happy Mother's Day

and thanks MOM!