And the beet goes on...

Beets are best served fresh and we have enjoyed our garden's bounty this summer.
Sweet and delicious served simply with butter, a grind of pepper and a few crystals of sea salt.

With the weather finally slinking into fall
the fog, the damp and the rain...
It seemed like a good time to pull out the rest of our beets and do something with them.

red beets

yellow beets

Pickled beets

a real treat

which we'll enjoy over the winter.

Do you remember Sonny and Cher?

The beat goes on.

They look so young and in love in this video clip.

Can you see the massive spider's web that has been woven outside our living room window?

It's so intricate.

No sign of the spider though...

I've noticed many webs strung and woven in the garden recently.

Which makes me wonder where these spiders have been all summer long.

When I looked at this web I thought I'd recently seen this design up close.

Then I remembered that I have a pottery bowl by potter Terry Ryals.

celadon green

look closer

The pattern looks rather weblike

perhaps he was inspired by a spider's handiwork.

I don't know how he has achieved this effect

perhaps it's in the firing or a very specific kind of glaze.

All I know is that I do like the finished product.

You can find his works locally in galleries and on Salt Spring Island.

I love to browse galleries for unique gifts for friends and family.

And on a rare occasion I find a treasure that comes home with me!

~ ~ ~

Hope you are having fun and enjoying your day.

Feathering the nest and the quest for red ballet flats...

For those of you who have been following for awhile we are in the home stretch on the renovation front...
soon there will be guests in our Humble Bungalow and I cannot wait to share our fresh new space with them.
Personally I am excited to spend some time with our friends, it is long overdue.
They have been abroad in France, the UK and exotic ports ~ there are many wonderful stories to share.

My job is to make sure they are comfortable here in our Humble Bungalow...
we have fluffed up the towels and are ready to entertain...

I asked Mr. HB if this might pass muster and be hung on the wall.

He gave it the thumbs up and hung it for me.

It's the only nod to colour in the wee bathroom.

Thanks honey!

The weekend is here...

I'm taking Mother out for lunch and some shopping

I'm searching for those illusive red flats

I fear that I may need to shop online as I have not seen hide nor hair of a pair in our city

and I have been looking for far too long!

what have you got planned?

~ ~ ~

Brooches are back...OOTD

Brooches had fallen off the radar for awhile and now I see they are making a comeback.

Six years ago I would not leave the house without a brooch on my coat, sweater or shirt.
They fell out of favour,
at least in the eyes of the fashion authorities and I think I grew tired of them myself...
coincidence perhaps, as I do not really "follow fashion."

My wee collection has been gathering dust in the jewelry chest.
It would appear that the fashion writers have declared them "back in style."

Today I pinned one on just to see if it would "feel right."
Comments and compliments were numerous...
even my students liked it.

A fellow Canadian, Carole Tanenbaum collects and sells vintage pieces.
She's written a book Fabulous Fakes about her passion for all these sparkly gems.
You can see them online and while you are there stop by her blog.

OOTD

black tank top by Symplii

dark denim jeans Gloria Vanderbilt

Black patent leather shoes Josef Siebel

acrylic sweater Devoted

say what you will

some of you will find this extremely tacky

others may think it is fun

one thing I discovered today was that it's a great conversation starter!

Brooch by Sherman

aurora borealis crescent moon

I am including this link to Nat King Cole...Paper Moon

my MIL's all time favourite singer.

She is back in her facility

happy

and the residents missed her...

we have a huge debt of gratitude to our healthcare system and providers.

If you are in the US please give Obama's vision for healthcare the nod

it's everyone's right to have health care...

and please VOTE!

I for one am thanking my lucky stars...

how about you?

~ ~ ~ 

Hostess

Cashmere come to mama...

I knew the warm sunny weather would have to come to an end.
Today we have a grey day with masses of fog draping and weaving their thick blankets in and around our bungalow. You can hardly see outside the windows.
It's frightfully damp and the furnace has come on...

I've gone shopping, from my bed.
Swiftly to Land's End for a warm cashmere sweater in a foggy shade of grey.
"Alpaca Heather."
Perhaps influenced by the weather and the need to be comfortable and cozy, cashmere to the rescue.

You can see my new cardigan details here
 if you are quick you may be able to get that 40% discount like I did!

I highly recommend Land's Ends for their cashmere. My black cardigan is so cozy and is performing well with minimal pilling and washes like a dream retaining it's shape when laundered in a warm water bath of sudsy Aveda Shampure Shampoo and laying it flat to dry.

I hope you are warm and cozy today...

if you are chilly there is always cashmere to the rescue!

Thanks for popping by...

Hostess

Thanksgiving thoughts and Flowers...

Thanksgiving was a blur of cooking and company.
Family, food and flowers...

There are leftovers in the fridge, the silverware and china has been washed and put back for another gathering.
So much preparation is required, new recipes tested and then served with love and care.
It always amazes me how fast it's over...
laughter and hugs,
an adorable red headed grand daughter,
an 84 year old Mother who is now also known as Nana
our grown kids
a husband who generously rolls up his shirt sleeves and gets busy in the kitchen after the guests have all left...
we sip wine in between washing and drying
chatting and sharing the joy that family brings to our lives.

Family mean so much.
They are at the very core of my being.
I am sitting here with my mug of coffee, a tear in my eye and a heart full of JOY.
The Bungalow is quiet but I can still hear the sounds of the family if I listen really carefully
it's as if the walls have ears...

Lovely daughter brought these.

These roses are the last flush of Climbing Royal Sunset.

I hope very much that you have much love in your heart.

It's a great day to go out and have yourself some serious fun today.

In gratitude,

your Humble Hostess

XO