White ware and awareness...

Collecting things does not excite me the way it used to...
Over the past 30 years I  have been almost manic about obtaining decorative items for The Humble Bungalow.
It bordered on the ridiculous and I am now aware of how I was driven, in hindsight, it is an eye opener.
I'd seek out that perfect piece, buy in duplicate or triplicates spending money that could have been better used in other areas, never going into debt but using the grocery funds to feed my habit.
(can you say mac n' cheese?)

I feel so much calmer not "needing" to go out and find something...
not even knowing ahead of time what I was seeking....
perhaps instant gratification?

I have disposed of many of my collections and have kept a few.
The Ojibwa tamarack duck decoys are here to stay, they reside on the top of the Humble Bungalow mantle, and they are arranged and rearranged to suit my mood and the season.

One of my favourite collections is vintage matte white pottery.
I am wooed by the odd piece here and there if it crosses my path, but I do not go out intentionally looking.

What is white?

 beauty pure and simple...

and it feels honest.

doves

fluffy white towels 

snow

cotton balls

soft ice cream

paper

"Chicklets gum"

rice

marshmallows

milk

polar bears

"White Out"

porcelain

tissue paper

teeth

"Ivory Snow"

bridal gowns

cold cream

"Iceberg roses"

pearls

sweet peas

and 

subway tiles.

It's good to be free of the desire for more, more, more.

content to live simply with less.

Mette has inspired  this post...

go and see what she has to say...

Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication. 

 ~Leonardo DaVinci

The Bungalow....

The Bungalow is one of my favourite places to shop.
Offering an amazing selection of quality cards and a wide assortment of wares.
When I need to find a gift I am confident that I will find something suitable.
It's got that small shop charm that begs one to come back again and again.
Often I go just to browse and chat with the owner.

It is located in a tony area of town on a strip dotted with cafes 

a wool shop, pharmacy, and toy store.

Parking on the wide street is of the angle type, 

a style that was quite popular when I was younger.

I know the owners,

they have shared dinner and wine at our table

and we have had the honour of being invited to their lush garden and home 

overlooking the bay.

The garden is a work of art, a true labour of love 

a hobby that rewards

 and 

balances a busy life in the retail business.

When GS bought his cottage a few years ago

 it was situated in a Garry Oak Meadow.

Naturalized with rocky outcroppings and filled with brambles and weeds.

He recognized that the property had "good bones."

He has painstakingly remodeled the space

and created an oasis of beauty.

I do not have any photos of my last foray in the garden.

One does need to look long and soak in all the details

which when viewed through the lens does somewhat diminish the experience.

There are so many areas where he has cultivated the unusual and eccentric plantings.

He is a master plantsman with an artists eye for creating beauty.

He weaves and mixes variegated foliage with attention to colour and texture

and is not afraid of "pushing the growing zones" as his garden has a Mediterranean zone.

We walk about snaking through sections 

along a gravel path as it winds it's way 

from one "room" to another as we climb higher up to the top of the land.

Surprises reveal themselves...

large planters spill forth with foamy flowers

rusted iron sculptures 

bowling balls 

pergolas

bench seats

a studio / guest cottage

and 

wicker chairs

await

where we can sit and gaze over the garden 

to the boats bobbing on the ocean below and beyond.

There's not a breath of wind and all is quiet,

it's a magnificent place

and I feel so lucky to be here

stopped dead in my tracks

humbled

witnessing beauty above and beyond.

Gardens Illustrated and The Canadian Gardener have come through and done photo shoots this past July.

The Korean Olympic Group came through too.

He's not too sure what his garden might have to do with the upcoming Olympics 

because not one of the group spoke any English!

Their film crew snapped photos and took videos for several hours 

I hope they make the cut when the Olympics air.

Keep your eyes peeled for his Garden in these publications 

I am confident that you'll be inspired!

You never know what is around the corner...

 imagine for a second how great life is

when you least expect it!

The winner is......

What's in the bag?

The name of one follower who will be receiving a copy of Shoe String Chic.

 I wrote the names of those who were participating in the giveaway on strips of paper...

with a little help from Pepper

I popped them into the bag.

I hope that you can read sideways as I forgot to rotate the image before uploading it!

Congratulations Lorrie please email your mailing address and I'll send you the book.

Thank you to all who participated.

Pepper could have picked the winning name 

she seemed very keen on this event but now that it's over she seems a bit blase.

Monday has brought with it gale force winds and rain...

  Hunkered down here in The Humble Bungalow

dressed casually in grey yoga pants and a hoodie

domestics are on the agenda

and not a chic thought to be found.

  Real life can't be all glamour now can it?

A lesson in scarf tying courtesy of the Hermes clerk...

Mr. HB and I were in the  Hermes shop browsing the scarf selection when a delightful young gentlemen came over and politely asked if he could show us a particular scarf.
I explained how lovely they all were and that I would never be able to chose just one!

He stood by patiently as we discussed the colours of my wardrobe and what my colour preferences might be.
As we hummed and hawed he pulled out a silky one in shades of light and dark blue not unlike this scarf, which is Italian and not Hermes but I am going to show you how he folded the scarf before draping it about my shoulders.

point to point

right side down

fold again and meet at the middle

fold over once more

this is where he left it

draped casually on my shoulders

I prefer to slip it through once

and let it simply hang

it can be arranged to one side if you prefer.

I find this works best if you are wearing a coat or jacket

as it adds a dash of interest and depending on the scarf

possibly a punch of colour.

To read more about the Hostess's first Hermes scarf

go here.

Blogland is abuzz with the colour orange

it seems to have taken us by storm

and captured our imagination

I feel it has something to do with the fall shades the leaves are turning.

Orange is not a colour that I own unless you count the Hermes boxes!

Do you have something orange in your fall wardrobe?

Annie has some lovely orange things over a her blog 

after you have checked out the oranges 

go see her most recent post

she's having a giveaway!

Tonic for a tired soul....

Life has been rather fraught with challenges and work has been busy
so last night I gave in to fatigue and retired early with two of my favourite things...

I have not indulged in Chocolate for months

but I have not forgotten it's healing properties.

I love to pop a square on my tongue and let it gently melt...

I am just eating up this delicious read.

It's about Ernest Hemingway and his first wife Hadley 

and the days that they lived in Paris

hobnobbing with Gertude Stein, F. Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald,

 and assorted other characters of note.

If you are like me you'll want to read this while you are cooking supper!

I slept rather late so I apologize that this post is a bit short on words

but considering the high calorie content I hope that you will not mind.

I hope that your weekend is of to a great start.

T.G.I.F.

I am taking my lovely daughter for lunch

to be followed by an afternoon of pampering at the Spa.

What's on your agenda?

Don't forget the giveaway from two posts back...I am drawing a name next Monday!