Hunter boots and Bensimons the "French Girl's Converse"

I had a wonderful time at the park with my DIL and grand daughter Isla!
We played on the swings and the slides for about an hour before going to the Village for a bite of lunch.
Afterwards we stopped in at Rainbird to peruse their rainy weather gear.
Fortunately we have been enjoying the sunny skies and warm days but we do know and fully expect  that rain will be in the forecast sometime soon...

Don't you think that red is about as cheerful a colour that one can wear?

 Aren't these just the bee's knee's?

These wee Hunters are modeled by our darling Miss Isla.

She will need some thick socks to keep her sweet toes warm in the winter but her feet will be dry!

"Grammy" got herself some colourful shoes.

I've heard a lot about this brand of shoe but never tried them on before...

as Joanna Goddard from A Cup of Jo says 

they are a French girl's Converse.

Introducing the Bensimon sneakers

Tennis Lacet Femme Basique

I'm going to wear these with my white capri's

a white tank and my Hermes scarf

the very first one that Mr. HB purchased for me in San Francisco.

I like to think of it as the best souvenir this girl could ever receive while on holiday.

Colour has been creeping into my comfort zone

I still love black and white clothing

I've been embracing bright pops of colour 

they bring with them an energy that is uplifting and fresh.

I particularly appreciate this when I have had a night with broken sleep...

choosing uplifting shades is a kick start to my morning.

I need a good night's sleep

8 hours is my preference

I am currently sleep deprived 

Chester our kitten is an early riser!

His wee tummy must be grumbling and he wants his food.

He jumps up on the bed and gently nuzzles me and starts his"motor boat purring" which is impossible to ignore.

So it's food for him and coffee for me

he can then curl up and go back to sleep 

but not me...

I am up for the day.

Chester is a lovely kitten

so affectionate and a great companion for Pepper.

BTW 

I have been wearing the arty bangle with the usual suspects...

at first I thought it was too much and now I feel they are very friendly...

what do you think?

Love it or Hate it?

Speak up and be heard!

(this post is causing quite a stir!)

P.S. Here is Angelica Huston and her bangles...

from The French Style 

 book

Roses on canvas...

I dabble in acrylics and enjoy the freedom of expression at the easel.
By no means do I consider myself an artist, I feel it's rather like making mud pies.
The mud pies that I made when I was a young girl imagining that I was really cooking.
Here now I feel like I am "an artist in training."
Art is so subjective and personal
really it's all over the map when it comes to form, style and expression.

I let the brush flow and keep it loose trying not to control or analyze it too much.
As you can see the forms are representations of roses...
Mr. HB says that roses are my muse.

I've been on a bit of a painting jag.
Staying up late at night painting at the easel in The Humble Bungalow kitchen.
The light is so much better in the kitchen than in my hobby room downstairs
 and with aging eyes I can see the details better.

I like these shades as they work in The Humble Bungalow interior with the dark wood walls and beams.

inspired by Jude the Obscure roses

I rarely use blues but a friend asked me to try some and see if they would work for her.

I have sold a few paintings

and had one commission to do a poppy painting for a friend.

if you squint your eyes you might "see" the poppies

I gave this to a lovely woman Lynn who runs a clothing consignment shop in the plaza

I think it's still hanging in her store.

This one is perched on the plate rail in The Humble Bungalow kitchen.

This one is in The Humble Bungalow living room.

I have a dozen or so more kicking around

gathering dust 

waiting to be overpainted if they fail to amuse.

this canvas has been over painted many times and has a build up of old acrylics 

which give it texture

I'm happy with the way this one turned out.

The petals feel frilly and frothy just the way I like my roses to be in a bouquet.

~ ~ ~

 A friend of mine has asked for one to donate to their annual island fundraiser

I'm very happy to oblige.

I'll be meeting her for lunch next week

and she has chosen a painting for her home and one for the event.

Jude The Obscure

“There is nothing more difficult for a truly creative painter than to paint a rose, 

because before he can do so he has first to forget all the roses that were ever painted.”

~ ~ ~

 Henri Matisse 

Thank you for stopping by

I hope that you will come by again...

I do appreciate your comments so please feel free to share your thoughts.

~ ~ ~

Hostess

Slow Mo days....

Summer time means time to read, shop, relax, socialize, dabble in acrylics, and garden.
I have had my nose firmly planted in The American Heiress and am completely wrapped up in the plot.
Life is pretty much in the slow lane here right now and there's not a lot happening.

I have been getting up and sipping a mug of good coffee while reading my favourite blogs.

I've noticed how the light changes the colours emanating from the garden as the sun moves slowly overhead.
Time to relax and restore.
Time to ponder all that gifts that daily life can bring.
Time for gratitude.
Simple life,
with a pace that brings with it peace and freedom to choose what to do each day.

Time to stop and smell the flowers.

It's funny really when I think about it, 

I don't really need to go away to have a great holiday.

I am ever so happy in our wee Humble Bungalow Home and Garden.

With ample time to tend to the domestics without the crazy schedule of working

working seems to complicate my life...

stress just ebbs away when summer holidays arrive.

As I age I feel more like listening to my inner voice 

which seems happiest here at home

going about my daily round slowly

methodically with measured breaks

time just to sit and be still

and ponder....

Gosh this post rather got away from me 

it's not quite what i had intended but them sometimes that happens...

I'll close for now

find some calm place to sit and reflect on all that is good today.

Be Well.

Flowers for the wedding and my OOTD.

A group of friends got together to arrange flowers for the wedding of my best friend's niece.
It was a well organized assembly line for the table arrangements and corsages.
M who has done quite a few weddings showed her crew which flowers to use and how to build the bouquets.
Once created, the posies were tied and popped into vintage sealer jars of water.
I stood a little ways away getting the promised interior flowers done and was happy listening to the friendly banter and talk of weddings and grand children with a great group of friends.

I busied myself with the two vintage wicker urns and flowers for inside the house.

we worked under the Marquis tent as it was sprinkling rain

one of the corsages

Front hallway with Jude the Obscure in a Weller vase

guest room

Dining room table 

limelight hydrangeas and Lady's Mantle

guest room

new upper bathroom

(see previous post for the sneak peek)

inside the heritage designated tea house

looking out to the tent space

and lawns beyond

Weddings are such an exciting event especially when they involve people that we adore and dearly love

we're "almost family" 

and consider ourselves fortunate to be included in this celebration of love.

The sun shone for the wedding and we had a fabulous time.

It was such a memorable day

and the happy couple are spending their honeymoon in Hawaii.

I wish them many years of health and happiness.

My BFF's renovation ~ a sneak peek.

One day I plan to do a very large post on my BFF's heritage home and garden...
she has given me permission and believe me when you see her home you will love it.

Today I have decided to show you a sneak peek of the upstairs bathroom which is located off their vast bedroom and sitting area that overlooks Haro Strait.
I'll show you that when they have it decorated and finished.

picture taken by my BFF

the light fixtures, mirrors, cabinets and pictures are still to come

(that's why it's a sneak peek)

Look at all the marble

and the floors are heated!

I can just imagine soaking in the tub

windows wide

watching the boats go by...

I brought over the small float as a bathroom gift.

The shades of green look like they were meant to be together.

Restoration Hardware towels

on an arts and crafts shelf

garden roses

of course!

I love the vintage vase she chose to use

it reminds me of sea glass.

Two sinks are on opposite walls

(if the sink looks familiar we have the same one!)

The glass doors will be up soon...

and we mustn't forget the WC

They have been working hard and co-ordinating the trades exceptionally well.

I hope that you enjoyed the sneak peek.

Thank you to my BFF for allowing me to show off her great space before it was complete.

On the reno front downstairs in The Humble Bungalow

we have the tile lady on the scene this week working in our bathroom.

The woodwork is finished and Mr. HB needs to paint prime and paint it...

I hope to show you some progress before you've completely forgotten that we are having a reno!