Happy Frye-day

Lovely daughter has some new boots and my gosh they are gorgeous....
(I have serious boot envy)

leather lovelies

foot friendly

she says they are so comfy

I tried one on and yes they are!

they've been making boots for a very long time

sneakers for the Hostess

patent leather

European "comfort shoe"

It's been a hectic week

and this is the first time that I have put my feet up

don't even want to rehash what's been going on

let's just say it was not one for the memory books

and I am glad it's Friday.

 The weekend will be spent honoring Mother.

Celebrations are in order and they will be fun and we will be dressing up for the occasion.

A theatre matinee

and

a luncheon

and yes there will be flowers.

Happy Mother's Day!

To all Moms

for all that you do

and have done for your offspring

 enjoy your special day.

French Vanilla Home

There's a lovely shop near to my home which I visit regularly.
French Vanilla Home carries a wide range of French inspired old and new things for the home.
It's a treasure trove.
French soaps and lotions, crockery, wire baskets, linens, candles, glasses and plates, totes and French market baskets. The furniture is vintage, distressed and worn, "shabby chic" which I happen to love.

                   Sheila arranges her stock with such flair that it's a rare day when I leave empty handed.

my last visit happened to be on a rainy day

we've been getting lots of rain

so it makes watering the garden quite effortless!

Sheila has introduced me to this lovely publication from Denmark.

Jeanne d'Arc Living

no advertisements 

fabulous features

gorgeous photographs

if you can find this magazine 

you will probably agree that it's worth keeping after reading.

In the reflection you can see the building across the street

this is where a fabulous consignment shop resides.

Good Things is another wonderful shop.

I have had great success consigning my household items with them 

and it's fun to walk in and peruse their wares.

You never know what you'll see

and the jewelry is always tempting!

Good Things is where I was recognized by the blog author Pondside.

It's fun shopping in places like these two gems.

I can't imagine how I would be able to restrain myself if I worked in either of these shops.

I'd probably be the number one shopper.

Do you have a favourite shop?

Tell me about it I'd love to know more.

Hostess

Scarf tying tutorial #2 and pearl love.

If you have been around for awhile you know that I am crazy about scarves.
I stumbled upon a lacy one that has a vintage quality and is so pretty and feminine that it could be worn to a wedding and I couldn't wait to show you.
I found it at French Vanilla Home, a shop that I regularly frequent and it was surprisingly affordable.
(I will write a post on this shop later)

Many random lacy features and details make tying this one as effortless as can be.
This scarf practically ties itself!

Simply

place scarf in front of neck

take the two long ends

put them over your shoulders to the back cross them and bring them over opposite shoulders

then forward and tie loosely

what could be easier?

move and arrange those features that you want to see most

play with your scarf

have fun

be confident

never let doubts about your ability to wear a scarf stop you 

once you wear one a few times you'll be a pro!

this soft piece of cloth reminds me of a cloud

here the ornate bead like details are in front 

while the long lacy edges are in the back

can you imagine how this scarf could dress up a simple dress?

I won't need to wear pearls with this scarf but I will 

because I love how they look together

if you look at the photo you can see I have "big hair"

that photo was taken on one of our anniversaries

many years ago

in the '80's

we are on our way out for dinner.

I am wearing pearls 

as I have done for years

the pearls on the scarf were a Valentine's Day gift from Mr. HB several years ago

the pearls on my neck in the photo are a baroque opera length strand I picked up at the Antique Mall.

Mother and Father gave me pearl studs early on and I still have them and wear them often.

I'd love a pair of gum ball sized studs 

lovely daughter has some and they are her signature look so I hesitate because I feel that might just be wrong.

I really do not "need" any more pearls

I have plenty

as I do scarves...

but that doesn't stop me from looking

Duchesse has a firm grasp on pearls

visit her here.

She loves pearls and has done her research.

I love her pearl posts!

My question is...

what accessory do you most enjoy wearing?

(Perhaps you are a scarf and pearl girl like me.)

Gardener's cottage inspiration and The Humble Bungalow Garden.

Janet from The Gardener's Cottage
inspires me
to make my life more healthy and beautiful
to redecorate and to have fun in the garden.

Her style, her thrift adventures, the way she decorates her cottage, the food that she chooses to eat
it's what makes me visit her as often as she posts.
I wish that she lived closer so that I could meet her in person.
Maybe someday...

Healthy yes and tasty too.

Take an avocado, mash it up

pop in on top of a skinny slice of bread

top it with tomato slices

a wee bit of pepper and salt

fast and easy

lunch is served!

(I used half an avocado)

Janet over at The Gardener's Cottage is excited about 

The Alkaline Sisters

their site is very interesting, inspiring and informative.

The weekend had it's ups and downs

the sunshine was around for most of the weekend hooray!

Mr. HB and I pottered about outside in The Humble Bungalow garden.

Mr. HB's mom had a fall and she broke her hip

 many hours were spent in the emergency ward while they took x-rays

she'll be on bed rest for weeks while it heals

she lives in a facility that offers 24 hour care

so she will be well looked after.

Such a stressful day waiting, wondering, and worrying...

 it's difficult seeing someone you love in pain

and however well informed we are there is always the chance that this might not turn out well.

For now we can breathe a little easier...

On the menu tonight:

 organic free range chicken

carrots

squash

peas

mashed potatoes

I harvested some rhubarb this afternoon and made a crisp for dessert

which I'll serve with a dollop of coconut yogurt.

We discovered a fabulous red wine through our catering friend Julie

it's a Shiraz from Australia

 Skulls

not a very inspiring name but a great flavour.

the grass is green 

with all our rain we haven't needed to water it

the garlic is growing taller

the rhubarb thicker

a bit of whimsy

 bowling balls peek out from the plantings

the raised vegetable beds

sweet peas are planted at the back with lattice to climb up on

the clematis is glorious

everything looks so lovely in the sunshine

it was great to be out and not need a sweater or a jacket

We are both weary after a day of gardening but it's a healthy feeling

knowing that we worked hard and accomplished a lot.

I am going to sleep like a baby tonight!

How was your weekend?

Tulips two ways....

Lovely daughter came over and cooked Mr. HB and I
Thai prawns and coconut curry the other evening.
As usual it was splendiferous, tasty and such a pleasure not to have to cook on a weeknight.
(thank you lovely J!)

She wandered in after pausing at the porch
capturing a tulip moment...

She took this stunning image with her IPhone

 crisp

beautiful

soft

organic

I am thinking

this image would be so lovely

printed and framed and hung in our bungalow.

many petals make a great tulip

 IPhone version

taken today by the Hostess

frilly frothy

simple 

but not quite as exquisite

as lovely daughter's

two IPhones

two tulips

two ways

just

two days

apart...

 Native BC Dogwood in bloom.

Nature and beauty bring out the poetic

as they conspire to inspire 

me

 to put pen to paper 

and write...

thoughts

and

musings

of

life

plodding along

weaving

bouncing

hovering on the edge

brushing up against the sides of reality

negotiating a highway

steering a true course

forward

as it should be...

Lovely daughter and I are watching Real Housewives of Vancouver

far from our reality

it's a guilty pleasure

and we are fascinated by these women and their lifestyles

I can't keep wondering if the show is scripted or not

as they are not very kind to each other

I know very few women that behave in this way...

Are you watching and if so 

what do you think?

The weekend is nudging near

fingers crossed it will be a good one.

Tell me what you fabulous followers will be doing to amuse yourselves...

Hostess

XO