Wednesday...

The morning is grey and overcast
the sounds of birdsong are coming through the single paned window beside my kitchen nook
where I sit to blog...
a mug of steaming hot coffee is fueling my morning routine

Pepper is perched upon the window sill and she is chirping at the birds
the washer and dryer are in full swing
and it would appear that all is as it should be
for a Wednesday

Wednesday 

as often as not 

is wash day here in the Bungalow

Whites are washed frequently

almost after every wearing

I love whites for summer

a crinkled shirt worn over a white tank top is a look that I embrace

I replace my white tanks every summer 

I look for cotton that is not sheer 

and buy in multiples

this year I found a very inexpensive tank at Superstore

the line is called Joe

the crinkle cotton shirt is also Joe

I feel fresh as a daisy!

Joe cargo pants

Bandolino sandals

Thanks so Muchness OPI

Anne Klein 

soft nightgown in Black and White

I suppose you are not surprised to see more black and white!

I know! I know!

is it boring yet?

Fasten your seatbelt...

there's more where that came from!

my passion for pearls

is

evident in my choice of buttons

an Opus is a creative work

often a composition

loosely constructed and somewhat deconstructed

boxy

Bohemian jacket in linen

a gamine option

which instantly energizes me when I put it on

(and it's perfectly packable)

a bit of Bling

shine

Hi Ho Silver

a strand of pearls

and 

I'm happy

Lily of the Valley is putting on a show 

and 

scenting the bungalow bathroom

I love scented soaps and seek out lovely bars when shopping

it's a clean conscience purchase

and I have amassed quite the collection.

Mother instilled in me at a very young age how important it was to wash with soap and water.

I can still hear her saying soap is cheap and there's no excuse for being dirty!

(I think that was her nursing background coming out!)

Yardley's English Lavender Soap was her favourite

she used to keep it in her lingerie drawer to scent her delicates

 whenever I smell it 

I am transported back to my childhood 

memories and scents

go hand in hand.

What is the scent that takes you back to your childhood?

Hope that you are having a Happy Wednesday!

Thank you so Muchness!

This past weekend I went to visit a friend who has retired to a wonderful idyllic island.
She and her husband have built a lovely home perched high above the waterfront with large windows capturing the expansive views beyond. If one is ambitious and energetic there is a steep staircase that goes down to the rocky beach which is great for beach combing or watching the eagles and wildlife frolic.
Rock walls, raised beds, large pots with plants and an orchard grace the landscape and more beds are being designed and planned.

I snapped this image before I commenced the road trip...

The interior of the car was infused 

with the intoxicating scent of lily of the valley.

I had popped this wee bundle of blooms in water for the journey in the morning

worked my usual day at school and when I opened the car to get in

I was met with a warm and heady atmosphere!

Traffic was surprisingly light

and 

I employed the Cruise Control 

and listened to music

and the next thing I knew

I was at the ferry terminal.

A short ferry ride later

I arrived

on the island

here life moves slowly

a state of balance and ease is embraced

people have time to stop and smell the flowers

no rushing about

 friendly moments to chat with friends and neighbours

even strangers

(as I found out)

lush gardens 

superior birdsong

 warm sunshine

a comfortable bed

great friends

and fun

wisteria canopy

it's sweet scent wafting

Slumber was long and deep in the still and quiet night

I awoke each morning early and refreshed

I lay in bed waiting to hear that my hostess was up and about

I took the book I am currently reading

(which is well written and utterly fascinating!)

 I would read a few chapters 

until 

I felt that my hostess was ready and expecting me to join her for morning coffee.

We went off island for some sightseeing...

 a vineyard,

a country bakery / coffee spot

and we indulged in

a pedicure at an Aveda salon

BLISS!

I chose Thank you so Muchness!

We also did some shopping...

there were many interesting boutiques and home decor shops

dotting the small streets.

My hostess knew all the "hot spots" and directed me accordingly!

I found much to tempt me...

but I did not succumb until I saw these..

Canadian Company

 Sympli

I was very pleasantly surprised by the comfort and fit of this garment

it does flatter a size 12 woman's curves!

There is some flaring at the bottom and the hem is uneven

jersey knit

3/4 sleeves

 fitted through the bodice

so it doesn't look enormous and baggy

I will pair this with...

The Sympli waterfall jacket in a jersey knit

and skinny black knit pants.

Such great basics

and they are reasonably priced.

I will have fun accessorizing these

as they can be worn casual or for dressier occasions.

We enjoyed sharing meals

sipped cool cider on the deck overlooking the ocean

played a few games of Cribbage

went for long hikes on the island trails

watched a DVD

visited the Sunday Market

and drove to the nursery 

where we loaded up my car with plants for both our gardens!

It was a weekend of laughter

and 

relaxation...

which all too soon 

found me sitting in the car at the Ferry Dock

 As I sat alone

I realized how happy the past few days had been

and how sad I felt that it was at an end.

I suppose that is how one measures a great getaway.

Thank you so Muchness

to my Hostess

I am forever in your debt...

Phalaenopsis Orchid....A Perfect "Hostess" Gift

Orchids make great hostess gifts.
They last for months before the flowers drop and can be cared for easily with a weekly watering
and will re-bloom in 6 months on a windowsill with bright indirect light.
I like to opt for white as they fit into any decor.

The Phalaenopsis are a very easy care variety of orchid and are readily available at most florists and supermarkets.
Prices vary widely and the more blooming stems the plant has usually affects the price.
They are more expensive than the single stemmed orchids.

There have been a few sales of orchids lately and I have been tempted but resisted.
Today I could not walk away from this one as the price was unbelievable!
 ($20)

White Orchid

Weller arts and crafts jardinere

North exposure

bright light from the dining room window.

Pepper was extremely curious when I unwrapped this orchid

she has a distinct "taste" for greenery 

I put it up high 

well out of harms way!

This orchid is actually for the Bungalow...

For my Hostess

I purchased a brightly dyed scarf for my hostess

with her colours in mind

and I will be bringing wine...

Plans for the weekend include a visit to an Aveda Spa

destination shopping 

and 

I am going to be a guest for the weekend on a Gulf Island 

in a waterfront home of a dear friend

so I'll catch up with you early next week...

there will be laughter

and a comfortable familiarity

that allows us to share

without judgement

confident and safe

and just be

in the moment

I'll be watching the shoreline

and 

listening to the sound of the waves...

what will you be doing?

Hope that you all have a great weekend!

Hugs from The Hostess

XO

Humble Bungalow Garden Images...

A garden stroll with my camera....
we have been spending more time outdoors getting the garden spruced up for the season.
It's very tiring but so rewarding.

For those of you who do not garden think of it as very deep spring cleaning!

Epsom salt soaks in the tub are a great treatment for sore muscles!

Lewisia

several years old

planted in a pot growing on the northern side of our Humble Bungalow.

Solomon's Seal

thrives on the north side

in a moist and shady area.

Dwarf Pacific Iris

a gift years ago from a gardener who travelled to San Francisco 

on a plant expedition.

I have divided and replanted and gifted these to more places and people than I can remember.

Wallflower

 a varigated Bowles Mauve

Allium

the bees love these

Many apologies but the name of this plant escapes me at the moment

that seems to be happening more and more.

A colleague of mine says that as we age we get too many bits of data stored in our brains 

and we need to purge some to free up space to allow for more

so nature deletes randomly!

Thankfully most memories are still vivid and intact.

At one point we were going to excavate and put in a pond

it never happened but the frog remains

he is tucked into the foliage

and he sits very still

 waiting....

speaking of waiting...

Our beloved Pepper

lies down on the carpet and shows us her belly when she is hungry

we think she looks so cute

and isn't she clever?

she is so purr-suasive

and we have given into these cute tactics too often

so the vet has instructed us to cut back on the amount that we are feeding her...

So now it's tough love

and it hurts...

Avocado Green Goddess of Goodness

I love avocados...
they are gorgeous green yumminess.

Each bite packs healthy heart nutrition and the taste is amazing.

I like to:
mash them on whole grain bread that has been toasted
slice them and add to salads
eat them directly from their skin with a sprinkling of sea salt and a drizzle of Worcherstershire sauce
I've halved them and stuffed fresh shrimp in the cavity with a squeeze of lemon for an appetizing lunch.

Guacamole Dip
recipe makes about 3/4 cup

Cut 1 large avocado in half and discard pit
scoop the ripe avocado flesh from the skin into a mixing bowl
Mash the avocado with the tines of a fork
Add:
1 tablespoon finely diced onion
1 tablespoon cilantro
1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
1 small fresh red tomato diced
sea salt and fresh ground pepper to taste

Place in the fridge for 1 hour
Serve

Recipe can be expanded easily if you have a crowd to feed!

While I am in a Green Space I wanted to share a great website for Green Living....
we can all benefit from the latest scientific research and it's never too late to take action and make small changes to modify what we choose to eat and the skin care products that we use.

I read an article in our local newspaper that stated that lead and arsenic were found in many cosmetics...the researchers stated that they thought these levels were safe enough as they were so low that they would not be hazardous to our health.

Why chance it when there are greener choices?

Skin is our body's biggest organ and it absorbs like a sponge so why would you want it to be absorbing toxic products if you could opt for the cleanest greenest products available?

The Environmental Working Group is an informative site
Skin Deep is the area where they focus on rating skin care products...
it's an eye opener.

Whatever you decide the choice is yours...
please consider making an informed choice.

I am now stepping down from the soapbox!

Goodness gracious!
I just noticed that I have blogged 400 posts.