Blog break...Blogger was broken!

Wow what a shock it was to go online and read the message that Blogger was down!
How could that happen?

The comments on my Wednesday post have disappeared and they were wordy and wonderful...
I suppose that gives "Wordless Wednesday" a whole new meaning!

I had faith in the experts and decided to get on with other things...
what choice did I have?

I savored a cup of tea in a comfy chair and let my mind wander while listening to birdsong.

(this image is from a garden that I visited)

(another view of the garden that I visited)

I missed reading my favourite blogs

and felt a little disconnected

but it passed.

this short break from blogging 

felt like a tea party 

where no one came

A Hostess doesn't like to host a party and have no one attend

that is cause for distress

especially when one plans the menu

prepares the food

arranges the table with the best china 

fluffs the cushions

arranges the flowers

all

for a chance to honour 

and 

cater to friends

whom she cares deeply about.

No use in biting the hand that feeds you

(that's Pepper sinking her sharp teeth into my glove and she pierced right through it!)

My humblest Thanks

to the Blogger Crew 

for fixing the problem 

We're Back!

Now

Please could you restore the missing Wednesday comments?

I wonder where they have gone?

Hope that your Friday the 13th was a safe and happy one...

(not that I am superstitious)

Wishing you a wonderful weekend!

Hugs from the Hostess

Skin care report...I am cautiously optimistic.

I am happy to be reporting my observations on the new product so soon.
It will be a very quick report as you might be getting bored and starting to nod off....
You may recall that I posted about introducing some new elements to my ongoing skin care regime.
It's a bit of a leap of faith for me...

I am very careful when it comes to my face as the rosacea can be triggered by so many things...
I try to use the purest products with the least amount of chemicals possible in order to avoid flare ups.

Janet from the gardener's cottage is an Aveda esthetician and cautioned me about using the vitamin C after my post and so I quickly emailed her to find out more.
She was gracious enough to answer some queries and concerns that I had.
Thank you Janet!

I have been using the Avalon C twice a day and find my skin is visibly smoother, the texture has improved and my pores are less noticeable.

My skin looks a bit pinker in the cheek area which might be the effects from the Vitamin C
so I am going to reduce the treatment to once a day and see if that helps...

it also could be that I am out of sunscreen and have been in the garden
under cloud cover for a few hours this week
and have yet to purchase a new tube...

I have been using this twice daily on the lowest setting

it is very gentle almost like having a facial massage.

(which I love!)

I'll keep you posted 

and 

in the meantime... I am cautiously optimistic.

Janet uses Aveda Sunscreen

she lives in sunny California where sun protection is the order of the day.

I went to the Aveda Salon where I have my hair tended to and they did not have the sunscreen

I was told is has been discontinued...

 in Canada.

What sunscreen are you using

or

have I put you to sleep yet?

ZZZZZZZ

Enjoy your Beauty Rest!

A Bouquet...Bistro lunch...Joseph Ribkoff and Cole Haan's

Behold the fabulous flowers!
The Mother's Day bouquet that I  received from my thoughtful son...
I wanted to share these images of yellow and blue...

he chose individual flowers

creating the bouquet himself

aren't they lovely?

the iris were tight buds when he presented them to me 

and after one day they are open and smiling !

I have no idea what these yellow flowers are called

they remind me of alliums

I am the one smiling now,

Thank you S!

I spent a delightful afternoon with my lovely daughter J

who took me to lunch at a new and very hip Bistro not far from the Humble Bungalow

the chef formerly worked at the Wickaninnish Inn in Tofino.

food is plated as art

and the taste is beyond amazing

fresh, local and succulent.

Thank you 

lovely daughter J!

After lunch we enjoyed an afternoon of shopping

mother daughter style.

I bought a dress

by

Joseph Ribkoff

and if you can hazard a guess 

the colours are...

well they are none other than...

Black and White!!!

a flirty hem detail

V-neck 

I will wear this to work

to a lunch

a gallery

a play

and 

I will pair this dress with my

Swarovski encrusted kitten heels

just because they are fun to wear with painted toes!

I purchased these to wear at my son's wedding...

yes that does say NIKE !

(Just Do It)

why are all shoes not crafted this way?

to be able to run and dance and comport oneself with poise and dignity

no fear of toppling off or breaking an ankle

I think perhaps one might be able to play a round of golf or action some tennis in these!

comfort

bling

and 

walk-ability

I danced all night in these at the wedding

I had the occasion to run a few times during the course of that memorable evening!

(duty called)

Lisa from a midlife of privilege

 was recently at the wedding of her brother, who at 50, tied the knot for the first time

 and I believe that there was dancing involved

go and see for yourself

I adore weddings...

I cry at every one I attend

and can never get enough ceremonious love pledges

what about you?

What's new pussycat?

What's new Pussycat?
Whenever I hear that phrase I am reminded of Tom Jones...

Mirror mirror on the wall 

whose the fairest of them all?

Pepper is peering into the looking glass...

and I wonder what she is thinking when she spies her reflection

I think it is the magnification mirror 

so she might feel larger than life!

After many months of hesitation

a new skin care tool has made it's way into the Bungalow.

I have been resisting change..;

I am currently test driving this face brush 

and will report back in a few weeks...

Many bloggers love the Clairisonic 

and have raved about the amazing results they see after using it for a short time...

I have sensitive skin 

so tentatively,  and with a modicum of trepidation 

I purchased this less expensive tool to try it out

it has 2 speeds, is battery operated, and replacement heads are readily available

the circular motion gently works with my cleanser to exfoliate 

and the motion stimulates the blood flow 

to the complexion...

my face takes on a pink glow after using it

rosacea 

reacts to all kinds of stimuli

wine, spicy foods, the sun and heat

so I was not alarmed

and the flushing went away within a few minutes

Avalon Organics Vitamin C therapy

I am amping up my regime as my skin has taken on a dullness

increasing my water consumption does not seem to improve this lack lustre look

and my diet is rich in vegetables 

and healthy omegas

Hormones and aging must be the the culprits.

I have heard great things about vitamin C for the face

so I will be testing this as well

I do not expect a miracle but if some radiance is restored by using this product

I'll be very content.

How about you...

Are you happy with your skin care line?

Do you need to change it every once in a while

or 

are you like my grandmother who used the same cream all her life?

She was a Noxema gal...

whenever I smell that scent I am instantly reminded of her,

scent has that power

to take us back in a heartbeat.

I thought of her with love on Mother's Day...

hope your week is off to a great start.

Happy Mother's Day!

Time is full to bursting with precious memories...
of Mother.

My mother's life is far from perfect.
She has met many challenges and juggled many responsibilities.

I admire the way that she has handled adversity and the way that she sacrificed and put on hold her personal needs in order to spend time ministering to the needs of my ailing father before he died.

Flowers are how I like to celebrate this special day...

I am fortunate to live close to my Mother we see each other often, and spend time together doing things we enjoy.

Here she is on one of our walks along the Esplanade

wearing the Maui Jim sunglasses that we bought for her to wear in her convertible!

Did I ever mention that she drives a BMW?

It's her dream car...

she's way ahead of me!

Cheers to all you Moms out there...

whether you are taking care of your baby,
raising young children,
or remembering your own Mother.

Enjoy and savour your day...

I am celebrating here with a cup of freshly brewed tea...

and looking back in the vast vault of memories from my childhood.

Thanks MOM

Hostess

XO