Beauty is in the small things...Sunsets, flowers, bark, a book and then some...

"Beauty is in the eye of the beholder"
there is an abundance of beauty...
surprisingly at every turn, if one has the time and inclination to stop and look.

It might be the simple bloom of a mauve colchium popping up in the most unexpected place, the sandy shoreline at Willows Beach on a foggy morning walk with my BFF and her terrier, Cooper.
It could be the bark of the Arbutus tree as it sheds the outer layer exposing the lime toned new layer beneath...

There seems to be plenty of beauty in nature.
None of it seems overly contrived.
Mother Nature seems to get it right every time.

I am so impressed by the gorgeous play of light on the clouds and the ocean at sunset.

Pender Island 

on a calm evening in September.

This was the scene just hours before we left our marina.

I thought that we would be staying onboard snug and safe in the slip.

 I don't like navigating in the fog...

it's rather like driving with ones eyes closed!

The fog lifted a few hours later and we scooted across the water.

There was a celebratory cocktail after we tied up and awaited our dinner in the pub at Poets Cove.

Bark can be beautiful...

This deer was munching on the foliage near the outdoor hot tub of the Poets Cove Spa.

It did not mind me in the least.

 Michelle from The Bungalow on Estevan leant me this delicious book.

I read it in two days...

she sells this book and many others in the shop that she and Graham run in Oak Bay.

It's my favourite spot to shop for cards and gifts.

Do pop by and if you are not shy mention that "The Hostess" sent me...

and while you are there check out Michelle's sale table out front.

She has some great bargains!

Azure blue skies...

soft puffy white clouds

calm seas

What's in a name you may ask...

I may never get to Paris

 because I am so happy on the ocean.

I am delighted to read about Paris

it sounds like a dreamy city

 I do not feel the need to travel far to foreign ports.

~ ~ ~

A good book

someone to love

family

friends

something rewarding to do

a creative outlet 

~ knitting ~ gardening ~ painting ~ cooking ~

connections with people 

something of beauty to admire

a roof over head

nourishing food

simple things

and yet we may tend to overlook the obvious.

Are you embracing gratitude every day?

Thank you for taking the time to visit me here where I share my thoughts

why not share your thoughts too?

If you have a blog please tell me about it.

Be Well

XO

The Humble Bungalow Garden ~ The September issue....

It's been ages since I've done a garden post.
It's not like I have been ignoring the garden,
I feel that I have written so many posts on it that you might be bored to tears.

You might be yawning as I have been writing about my simple life in this wee house for quite sometime...

Why do I blog?

I like writing.
This Humble Blog has become a habit and an online diary.
Some of you are commenting and a lot more of you are reading.
I check the stats periodically just to reaffirm that I have an audience.
but I digress...

I was outside for hours yesterday and in my zeal to dead head the roses I gave myself a nasty cut with the secateurs.
It might have needed a stitch but I cleaned it well with hydrogen peroxide and slathered some antibiotic cream on it and plastered a bandage on it pronto. It throbbed for about an hour and so I took myself off for a walk in the neighbourhood to take my mind off it....
I am such a sissy when it comes right down to it.

When I returned I got right back in garden mode, I put on my gloves this time and trimmed the edges and mowed the lawn.
Did I mention that Mr. HB bought us a new lawn mower this season?
a cute chartreuse green rechargeable battery type that is so much lighter than our old gas guzzling Toro.
This one is quieter and does a great job and I can use it without being pulled off my feet!

I am achy and tired after my stint in the garden and needed to sit for a bit and rest up before making dinner...
so I thought why not sip tea and do a garden post.
Be mindful not to type with the bandaged finger.
(Can you tell that I am having a bit of a pity party?)

Peeking through the pillars

is a sturdy Arbutus tree

I love how the bark peels

Look at that earthy olive green shade underneath the rusty red bark

This tree drops lots of leaves on our garden

I use a childs rake when tidying up the beds

it certainly comes in handy.

Limelight hydrangea

floppy heads that droop a bit after the rain,

they are stunning in a bouquet.

colchiums

roses are still blooming

coreopsis and a yellow rose

fried egg plant as some like to call it...

Romneya coulteri

The Humble Bungalow

You can see how tall the grass was before I cut it!

Hope that your week is going well...

OOTD for a day with Mother.

Mother and I are heading out for some retail therapy...
she has chosen where we are going and I am happy to chauffeur her to our destination. It's a pleasant 30 minute drive along a scenic ocean route.

I'm looking for a great pair of black pants, Mother is looking for a black skirt. Both basic classics that are very much in demand and the sizes get picked over quite fast so we are shopping early rather than later to avoid disappointment.

I have ample room in my Burberry jacket.

Which is great 

I can add a cashmere sweater underneath for warmth this season.

It was rather tight the past few years and I had trouble doing it up

and I do love this jacket.

Franco Sarto loafers

purchased on sale at Nordstroms last spring.

I bought these a few years ago

when I was lusting after Hunter boots.

These are going to get some serious wear this Fall and Winter...

after all we live in the Pacific Northwest and get buckets of rain.

They are not too tall for my short legs!

Hunter now make several heights and they come in such delicious colours...

but do I really NEED a pair?

No!

Shopping with a list of what one NEEDS helps to keep focused.

I find it is so easly to get distracted with all the new clothes that are filling up the shops.

Sumptuous soft wool coats caught my eye and I was tempted to buy a new coat today.

Love the simple styles that we saw in camel, navy and black....

however they were "investment prices!" 

($600)

The black pants eluded me...

I really want to get a petite line as hemming the regular ones means you lose some of the features of the silhouette.

I saw a fun faux fur vest and tried it on...Mother loved it on me.

Then it occured to me that I have a perfectly good vest in my winter wardrobe storage at home.

 I should have perused what I own that fits me from last season before even leaving the house.

I put on my two cashmere cardigans to find that they look quite acceptable.

The two cashmere 'tees" from Lands' End look good too.

I'm trying to hold onto summer by wearing lighter clothes but the weather is dictating change

which will require some action on my part soon!

I plan to switch over my summer clothes to winter in the next few weeks.

Do you go shopping with a list?

Are you swayed and tempted by garments that you have no real need for?

I did buy something and I will tell you more about that purchase in an upcoming post...

until then...

Be Well.

Hostess

Rainy day post...

Yikes we are having a storm!
Thunder and lightning are not that common in these parts...
the cats were freaked out by the noise and the forked white lighting quite unhinged me.

Now the skies have opened up and we are getting buckets of rain.

It's a great day to stay inside our Humble Bungalow
hunker down and cocoon,
just keep warm and dry.

The LG machines are swishing through their cycles as I conquer the laundry.
Not that I am a domestic warrior but I do feel powerful when it comes to getting the job done...
especially with these sturdy and reliable workhorses.

My new morning routine seems to be falling into place...
I tidy up as I move from room to room.

Last night I washed the Le Creuset frying pan and left it to dry with a few other utensils on the mat beside the sink, this is a new habit for me leaving dishes to air dry overnight. It used to really annoy me when I was working to wake up and see things that I needed to do before I left for work...
as a retiree spending more time in our Humble Bungalow as this is my domain.
I work here!

Making lists of things that I need to do helps to keep me organized. My lists are short as I try to get them done in a timely fashion.
Do you use lists to keep you on top of things?

Achieving a rhytmn and balance on my daily round is a work in process.
One that I am figuring out as I go along.

Yesterday I spent the morning playing with our lovely grand-daughter Isla and I held wee Henry while his mom did some laundry. He is a very calm and content baby. I loved looking at his small fingers as they curled around mine.
He is such a gift...and I cannot tell you how beautiful and sweet he is! I can try but words seem to fail me.
I promised not to show pictures of my grandchildren here on the blog so you'll have to trust me!

It is so heartwarming holding a newborn child,
it is rather overwhelming gazing down at the wee man in my arms knowing that he is our grandson.

Do you remember this felted bag?

I made it several years ago when I was on a knitting/felting binge!

I'm knitting a baby hat.

I love this yarn as it is so bright and cheerful.

KNITCOL ART.KN

Adriafil superwash Italian virgin wool

(~ virgin wool ~ ?)

You can find great patterns at Churchmouse Yarns.

This one is easy peasy

a perfect little project to have on hand for a rainy day.

Thanks to my friend Claire at Boutique de Laine in the Estevan Village,

she is super friendly and very knowledgeable when it comes to knitting.

Do you knit?

Where do you like to shop for yarns and patterns?

Online or in person?

Must close for now and put the kettle on for some tea...

and pick up my knitting.

Cheerio,

Hostess

OOTD ~ Double Denim and cheap jeans!

Double denim...
still not too sure about this trend.

I tried it my way this morning.
Opting for a new pair of dark wash skinny jeans that I found at Walmart.
Red ballet flats by Nine West.

I am not too sure how you readers will feel when you read that I have started shopping at Walmart.
It's true! Let me explain...

I drink gallons of Perrier and they have cases for under $20 and I have been paying $6.99 for 6 at Thrifty Foods so it's a no brainer for me now that I am on a pension. Mr. HB's Gatorade that he sips when working outside on the home and garden projects is also a substantial saving...$4.97 vs. $7.99 at Thrifty Foods.
The cat food is currently on sale at $.57 each vs. $.99 and their fruit and produce is lovely and much less expensive so I think it's worth the drive.
Meat and dairy is purchased at another market as I prefer free range organics.

Lands End navy and white Polka dot top

(so old we might call it vintage!)

Blue Willis denim jacket

years old and still going strong.

vintage pin ~ a gift from darling daughter

I love this pin

a big baroque pearl in the centre surrounded by channel set crystals

I think the black detail is ebony....

I weighed in at WW and have lost another 1.3 pounds this week for a grand total of 23 pounds.

Still have to lose a few more pounds before I hit the re-adjusted goal that I have set for myself.

If I lose just a couple more than my original 25 I can be a lifetime WW member and attend the meetings and weigh in for free...that is good incentive for me so I am trying to get there in the next few weeks.

When I hit that goal I plan to go out and buy a pair of black dress pants,

(I have no black pants and I find that they are such a versatile classic)

  a nice quilted vest to keep me warm when I pop out to run errands,

maybe a black and white plaid Burberry wool scarf.

 (because I've earned it!)

That's it, 

that's all I have on my wish list...

(well maybe a cashmere sweater as my others are all very large but I can belt them or just wear them a bit big!)

Hope that you are having a great week!

What's on your fall wardrobe wish/shopping list?

Be Well

Hostess