My latest "mud pie"...

It's been quite awhile since I have had the urge to play with my paints...
one cannot create unless the mood is right.

How does one know when the time is ripe?

Not sure but there were some things going on and maybe they had something to do with it...
4 loads of laundry needed washing
it was windy and rainy outside
a steaming mug of hot tea was in my hand
Pepper was chasing her catnip mouse
the house was quiet
I was alone
the music on the radio tuned to CBC 2 was upbeat

I needed to be downstairs in reno-ville to access the washer and dryer
and my hobby room is downstairs next to the guest room...
which both are full of things that had to be removed from the areas that are "under construction"

I will not bore you with all the details but it is a mess down here!

Patience, patience....
it will be lovely when it's done.

Mud pie painting is done for fun.
It's that simple.
Like those early kindergarten days
standing at the easel staring at the blank paper
wearing one of my father's old shirts worn backwards with the sleeves rolled up
all students brought painting smocks and their father's cast off shirts were the usual choices...

the teacher bending close to my ear and whispering
"you can do it Leslie, just wet your brush and dip it in the paint"
I was cautious and afraid of making a mess...
well no more
I love to let the brush ebb and flow over the canvas

I've cut off the right side a wee bit but you get the idea.

Gosh I look serious

actually not the most flattering of photos 

trying to take ones own photo is a challenge

hitting delete might have been the best course of action

but hey I aim for honesty so here it is...

My hair now has a few layers

the new hairdresser thought I needed some to take advantage of the natural wave and I am in her capable hands until Chris gets better.

She has had the surgery,

and is undergoing chemotherapy...

I took Mother to the hospital for a test 

as we were walking in the crosswalk to the parking lot

I saw Chris in her car and I ran over and gave her a hug and a kiss...

oops!

I left Mother standing on her own in the crosswalk

sorry Mom!

She was in no danger 

as Chris's car was the one that was stopped at the intersection.

I completely forgot myself in the excitement of seeing Chris.

Gotta love spontaneity! 

The weekend awaits...

It's funny how some weeks seem to fly by and others feel like they are dragging along at a snail's pace.
This week literally flew by...

I can hardly believe it's Friday and what do I have to show for it you may well ask?
The usual stuff that seems to take up a lot of time...stuff that I can do fairly easily because I have been doing it most of my adult life.
The domestic chores, dishes, cooking, grocery shopping, walking, working, laundry....

I find that if I put things away the minute that I finish them I can reduce the amount of clutter and chaos.
Keeping things tidy on the home front keeps me in a zen zone.

My cleaning gal does a fabulous and efficient job on her shift so I am freed up to play with Pepper, chat with friends, visit my Mom, browse in shops, see my family, or explore galleries.
 (which I have not done for a long time)

I have had coffee out with friends, an in home visit with my lovely DIL and her adorable daughter Isla, walked every day rain or shine, started reading Alone in The Classroom by Elizabeth Hay, blogged, took photographs, played with Pepper, and weighed myself only to find that the scale remained the same as last week...
and I ate one brownie!
Pretty tame and slow, a simple life, a life I am happy to be living, a life that suits me just fine.

Look at that sky.

I just love that shade of blue.

I am wearing blues today...

a fringed woven scarf

Worn with black denim jeans, 

white tank top layered under a black sweater.

The Humble Bungalow Garden has gone to the dogs.

I have hung up my garden gloves for the season and will rest until Spring.

Hints of former beauty wilt and wither...

The Black Mondo Grass has produced some berries and seems happy.

A bright red rose hip adds a punch of colour.

In the snow birds are able to snack on these plump and juicy treats.

Two late bloomers 

this hydrangea bush was hit hard by the last winter's weather and I thought it had died but it has rallied

and although it bore very few flowers I think it's on the mend.

This was a surprise!

Romneya coulterii 

not usually putting on a display in November.

On the agenda for the weekend

I will be voting in a civic election

meeting up with a blogger for some thrift shopping

making a dinner that I will double to serve later in the week

and pushing the broom in the dusty bowels of the bungalow basement!

What are you planning to do?

I hope you'll find some time to be thankful and count your blessings.

Perhaps you'll enjoy a nap...

Pepper is an expert in the field...

now if only she could give me a lesson!

Shopping local and thinking ahead...

I was at the local deli stocking up on Mr. HB's marmalade when...
perusing the shelves which were heavily laden with food and wares for the upcoming festive season...
and I paused for a moment and realized that it's only a few weeks away.

I used to make homemade marmalade 

from a Martha Stewart recipe which calls for a cup of scotch in the ingredients!

I would make a batch every season...

until we just happened upon this one in the deli

Busha Browne's 

from Jamaica

now the Bungalow Gold standard.

I spied some pretty serving dishes...
and I have only platters in white so I was thinking that these would come in handy
for antipasto, dips, tapenaude, olives...you name it!

The wee spoon came with them.

a wee depression in each side 

to accommodate the spoon when at rest

I bought two.

I have started some Christmas shopping.

I purchased the Christmas cards

and several small gifts.

I like to patronize the small specialty shops as we are a small town.

 Keeping the money local helps our economy and benefits our community.

I'd love to go to a Williams Sonoma or a Pottery Barn

but that requires travel and at this time of year I prefer to stay close to home.

We do not have many on our gift list 

so stress is kept to a minimum

and I prefer it that way.

Soon I'll be baking a few fruit cakes 

a batch or two of scottish shortbread 

and my Mother's rum ball recipe.

But like the shops I am getting too far ahead...

I am a big kid at heart!

Have you started thinking about your plans for the festive season?

OOTD and flowers!

The wind was wild and the temperature cold...
under my down puffer coat I wore some warm Hue tights
(not fish nets today warmer thicker ones in charcoal.)

My walk was a blustery one and I test drove the new hood that's attached to my coat...
it kept me cozy.

A tunic top, which on my short frame is a dress length,
pearls and my "wanna be" cowboy boots.

I layered on a cashmere Burberry scarf...

to keep my neck warm.

this fringed scarf 

which has been a loyal servant for the past 3 years

has some tan pink and cream with a soft smattering of blue

I'd love one in black and white!

This image makes it hard to discern what is boot and what are tights

maybe when we get the basement reno done 

I'll install a full length mirror in the laundry room 

or inside a closet on the back of a door 

and I'll be better at snapping shots!

zippered pockets

which I'll keep zipped up for a flat line

Short arms mean longer sleeves!

I pushed these up a bit and they looked better.

Very special visitors brought me an unexpected and cheery bouquet.

I was told that they were picked out by none other than the lovely Miss Isla!

Isn't she clever?

We had a fun visit 

with tea for her mom and me

and toys and snacks

for Isla.

Snug inside listening to the howling wind outside and the furnace chugging along at full tilt.

There's supposed to be snow by the end of the week....

BRRR!

I am behind in my emails and blog reading so I am off to see what I have missed...

BTW the Fashion Police were on duty on my last post.

I hope that if that particular Lt. B.S.A. is still on duty that he or she pay me another visit...

if there is a blog attached to The 5th  Precinct I'd love a link to it!

Keep Warm!

“I still get wildly enthusiastic about little things... I play with leaves. 

I skip down the street and run against the wind.”

 Leo F. Buscaglia 

I wore some fish net stockings...a term more commonly used circa 1967

Fish nets, window panes, mesh nets...
we wore them in the mid 60's and boy did we think we were the bee's knees.
(do bees even have knees? they are so full of pollen one does wonder)
Well they're BACK...
but are they meant only for the young?

I think quite possibly I am too old to get away with wearing them nowadays
but age has rarely factored into my decisions before...perhaps I am on the cusp of tarty.

I'd rather be slightly tarty than totally frumpy.

I've chosen my old leather boots from several seasons ago to pair with these...
not so much mesh is visible...

My skirt is just a tinge below the knee.

Black ponte knit

forgiving when stretching and bending

and the knit keeps it's shape so there are no pouchy baggy bits like those knits of olde.

(do you remember crimpolene?)

Where are the fashion police and what would they say?

I am taking a stand on my right to wear fish nets.

A splash of colour

not so rebellious 

just because.

my favourite colour is

green

What are you wearing that might be pushing the fashion envelope?

Do you yearn to be younger and express it in your fashion choices?

What would you definitely not be caught dead in?

(fish nets perhaps?)