What is old is new again...

The house on the corner has been empty for awhile.

The woman, a recent widow, has moved into an extended care facility.
We thought the family might be putting the home on the market for sale but they have decided to rent it to the granddaughter and her boyfriend. The young couple has been outside in the garden tidying things up, pruning and weeding ever since they moved in.

They have had the windows open wide and inside we have seen step ladders and pots of paint.
The old house is getting a much needed make over.

The tiny home was constructed in the early 1920's.
Mr. and Mrs. Prescott raised 3 sons here and by todays standards it's hard to imagine where would these 3 strapping boys sleep, let alone play.
Perhaps they all shared one room and had bunk beds or a make shift room in the basement or the wee attic room.

I imagine that they would have played outdoors like I did when I was younger. All kids played outside back in the 1950's, our Mothers knew that fresh air and exercise was what young children needed to grow up healthy.

Mr. and Mrs. Prescott were avid and energetic gardeners who spent many hours outside.
They had a thriving vegetable patch, raspberry bushes and fruit trees.
Mrs. P spent many hours tending her garden and making jams and preserving fruit.
We spoke over the fence often, shared snippets of plants, and often a basket of raspberries would come our way.
I learned a lot by watching them in the garden.

Mrs. Prescott spent Mondays washing clothes in her wringer washer
and she hung the clothes out to dry, rain or shine.

                             I am delighted to see that her grand daughter has followed in her footsteps...

The house would probably be a tear down if it was to make it to the market as the current price of lots in our area are $500,000 and up. So naturally we are rather happy that it is currently occupied and being well looked after and appreciated by the family.
I think Mrs. Prescott would be happy knowing that someone is tending her garden and using her clothes line.

I love that they are using the old wooden wheel barrow and all the vintage garden tools too.
I think it's all lovely and quite romantic...
what is old is new again.

Monday is still laundry day on our street...
Hope that your week is off to a fabulous start.

OOTD X two.....

OOTD...
It's been ages since I have posted an OOTD.
I must confess that I have been out of the fashion loop.

It took a men's shirt to get my game back on.
I feel so naughty wearing a man's shirt.

I wore this around the house 

this morning

and it's all I wore

well I don't count the pearls!

I cannot wear a men's shirt without pearls

I know it might sound silly 

but it's true.

This huge shirt leapt off the hanger

and landed smack dab in my arms at the thrift shop

I thought of Annette Benning in The American President

I love that film!

check out this scene here

Annette and Michael are fabulous

I think this is classic.

it looks unassuming here

 it has the power to transport...

you'll have to trust me !

I did get dressed for the theatre matinee

Mother would not want me to show up in a shirt and pearls.

Black and white was on the menu.

Pants by Talbots

tank by Symplii

shoes Roberto Vianni

I know it's not rocket science

formula

black equals 

pearls squared...

invite Eileen Fisher

to tag along and we are good to go

I've placed an order for a new frock at Land's End 

Dani showed us some new dresses and I need one for a summer wedding...

I hope it's OK to wear black to a summer garden wedding.

What do you say on the subject?

Black frock yes

Black frock no....

Please vote.

THe Humble Bungalow Hostess would love to know!

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.)