There are memories stirring inside these walls.

 My childhood friend Diane lives back east in Toronto and has done so for many years.
We are still in touch, as we are "friends" on Facebook.

Her Mother passed away this summer...she was well into her 90's.

Many memories resurfaced after hearing of her demise...

So many wonderful memories from our formative years...
of times spent playing in their home.

Diane's home was the sort that fueled my imagination.
It had all sorts of nooks and crannies,
there were deep closets under the eaves...where their clothes hung.
These also made a great spot to make forts and play Barbies.

We were avid Nancy Drew readers and we would lie for hours on her twin beds reading side by side while munching on 5 cent candies.

We went to the Library Reading Program "Circus McGircus"...our Mothers allowed us to take the bus together as the stop was by their doorstep at the top of our streets. The bus stopped right at the Library stairs and Victoria was a small town back then, much safer in many ways.

We loved The Beatles...she liked John and I liked Paul.
One of her aunts used to send her the fan magazines from the UK so we would drool over the pictures of all the pop stars.
Her home was without a television set so she came over to our house to watch The Beatles perform on The Ed Sullivan Show. I can still hear my parents telling us to stop screaming!

Diane's home seemed a tad more refined than ours...it was architecturally different and interesting and only had a radio and a piano....yet it felt steeped in culture....romantic.

Her Mother was a former ballerina from The Royal London Ballet Company and she wore her hair in a tight bun everyday. She would practice doing the splits up a wall in the enrty hall...I remember trying to emulate this to no avail!
Both Diane and her sister took ballet and they also took piano lessons from the lady across the street from our house. They were very accomplished like their Mother.

I could share many more memories but I think I'll keep some close to my heart.

Mother, sister and I popped by to see the house after we saw the SOLD sign.
It is enclosed in a wonderful greenspace, very private and we are a tad curious if it will be restored or demolished.

Fearing the latter I took some photos...
I hope you will see the magic in the bones of this home.

It holds so much of my youth wrapped up inside its walls.

the front porch where we shucked peas and licked ice cream cones

Not much has changed...

I love this front door...

the same carpet runner on the stairs

fabulous pillars

If these walls could talk...

you'd hear the sound of laughter and maybe a secret whispered between a couple of girlfriends so many years ago.

Years have passed by...

about 50 give or take since I set foot inside.

It still has charm.

 I am a die hard romantic when it comes right down to it.

I think I fell hard for this house when I was 6 and it still has the magic to move me today at 58.

Thank you for taking the time to stop by and share these memories with me.

Hostess

XO

Thanksgiving and my OOTD.

Happy Thanksgiving Weekend!

I quickly snapped this photo when I was cleaning the downstairs powder room.

Love the autumnal colours of the seasonal leaves.

The yellow green shade is one of my favourites and over the years I have purchased several pieces of clothing in that shade.

Obviously not a colour that many seem to appreciate as these items are usually discounted or "on sale!"

Take for example my vest.

Light weight quilted vest made by Cut Loose.

Worn here over the Banana Republic Breton striped Tee 

g 21 skinny jeans

Franco Sarto loafers

A repeat performance here with all but the vest.

Talking a self portrait and laughing at the same time means that I need to do some retakes.

Look at that grey hair!

Seriously I really am embracing it.

Now you can see that there is quite a bit...

as Duchesse pointed out it is not just tinsel!

We have a very busy weekend which revolves around family.

 A celebration of life event for Mr. HB's recently deceased 98 year old uncle which will mean getting together with lots of cousins from near and far.

Wishing you a wonderful Thanksgiving.

When I pause and reflect on things that I have to be thankful for I am humbled by the bounty of blessings I have in my life.

Wishing you JOY in your daily round.

~ ~ ~

"As we express our gratitude, 

we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, 

but to live by them."

  ~ John Fitzgerald Kennedy ~

Thursday today and it's a green post...

Oh dear me I seem to be stuck in a domestic zone these days.
This preoccupation is bound to pass as I enrich my days with more exciting yet less expensive pursuits.
Mother has spent her days since Father passed by regular trips to the Mall and shopping for beautiful clothes that she seldom wears. Bear in mind this is not a judgement call on Mom just an observation...

I am home more than I have ever been in the last 25 years so I am noticing small details like dust that never really showed their furry heads on my radar before...so now I take prompt action.
Funny thing happenend the other night when Mr. HB and our son got together to watch the movie Jobs...
I went to Winners to see what they had, I had not set foot in the store for months and I used to be a regular!
The handbags are my first stop and there was a very slim and disappointing array of faux leather bags and not one that I would consider bringing home...next was the clothing. The styles were "Way too Out There" for me.
Rack upon rack of tops with bold slogans and sayings, then add a mixture of lace and peepholes and cotton and studs! I kid you not!
I saw a few cashmere sweaters that I would consider but I didn't feel they were worth the trouble as they were so thin and not a 3 ply to be found.

So after I wove my way through the aisles I found myself staring at the cleaning products.
This surprised me as I picked up many and read the labels...most were full of chemicals whose names I cannot pronounce and know that they are not particularly healthy ingredients.

I did swoon a bit when I sniffed the Caldrea line...I opened them and decided on the Citron Ginger.

First coffee of the morning shot...I forgot my mug is on the counter in the background.

I like products that have a clean scent.

One of our oldest tea towels in The Humble Bungalow still on the job.

Linen laundered many times and now a soft whisper of it's former self!

Ulster Weavers of Ireland.

Oaktree pattern which is still available and you can purchase them from the Irish Linen Shop.

I think I am as passionate about linen tea towels as I am about Hermes scarves.

Though one thing I am certain about is that there will be more tea towels in my future than Hermes scarves!

Hope that you are enjoying your week.

Mother is getting quite confused these days and my sister and I are on high alert.

We understand and know that this is all part of aging...

a natural progression,

yet it is very upsetting all the same.

I actioned a roasty veggie feast.

I find this recipe so soothing.

Comfort food come to mama!

Use any vegetables that you have on hand.

Lightly toss them in olive oil and spread on a roasting pan.

Crank up your oven to 425 degrees.

Roast turning once for 30 minutes.

Turn on the broiler for 5 minutes until the edges get a bit brown.

Remove and sprinkle with rosemary, sea salt and freshly ground pepper.

 Add a bit of feta cheese and toss in a serving bowl

Enjoy!

Thank you to Gail, my friend from Australia for this recipe.

I have made it for years after she brought it to one of our staff parties.

She was kind enough to share her recipe with me.

So you can thank Gail too if you decide to make it.

Trust me this one is a keeper.

It goes really well with roast beef and chicken or on it's own as a main course!

It feels very autumnal with the variety of colours.

Thank you for stopping by...

White Wednesday ~ October OOTD.

It feel like a long time since I've done a White Wednesday post .
I haven't seen too many of these lately and when I first started blogging they were a very popular theme.
It's interesting to me too, that many of the original stalwart bloggers have stopped writing.

I suppose like anything the novelty wears off, and one's taste changes.
So without further adieu...

Welcome to White Wednesday!
The Humble Bungalow Crockery is featured...

While the focus is on white...

I wore my black and white basics today.

Hermes scarf

Barbour vest

Banana Republic Tee

Franco Sarto loafers

g21 skinny jeans

We might need to re-name Wednesday ~ Black and White Wednesday!

I got my hair cut quite short on my last visit to my hairdresser.

The reason behind this decision was to cut off the last of the coloured strands.

It is all natural now...

there is a lot of tinsel showing through.

~ ~ ~

Tell me what have you been up to?

Eco chic...food for thought!

I love the two words eco chic...

Embracing "a greener way of living" is fashionable.
There is  pressure to think and act responsibly to help reduce our personal carbon footprint.
Purchasing goods from companies whose business practice is to be mindful of their impact on our planet is the ethical way to shop. Everybody wins.

I have purchased clothing from the Canadian Company Joe Fresh in the past...
and more recently Walmart.
I have found the clothing to be economically priced and well made.

The Weston family company employed workers in India where a terrible accident occured.
Sadly many workers perished. I wonder if the company knew of the conditions where these workers were employed and if they did, why would they allow people to work in such deplorable conditions?
Ultimately the standards for construction and engineers were most likely responsible for the building's collapse.
You can find more detailed information on the internet if you are interested.

The company spoke to the press after this tragedy and said that they would stand by the workers and their families and offer compensation to those children who suffered the loss of a parent in the factory collapse.
One can remain cautiously optimistic that improvements will be made and that safe conditions and standards will be maintained.
How are we to know if the workers who make our garments are treated fairly or paid a living wage?
Should that influence our spending habits?
If we do not know do we care?
"out of sight out of mind."
I am just putting it out there as I am curious how you feel about this topic.

This great garden tote is made form recycled rubber tires

it is durable and very attractive.

I can't bring myself to get it dirty just yet!

That and the cats like to jump inside it and curl up for a nap.

Pacific Rim Brackets

is a company based in Vancouver

Do you know where the clothes you are wearing were made?

Do you care if they were produced in unsafe factories or made by children?

I'm not very confident that I am as informed as I should be nor do I feel that I am an ethically savvy shopper...

do you have any thoughts on the issue?

~ ~ ~

We've enjoyed a mild sunny Saturday here in Victoria.

One that allowed us to walk along the waterfront and out on the breakwater and back.

I've got homemade clam chowder simmering on the stove for dinner tonight...

I am planning our first of the season prime rib of beef dinner tomorrow evening.

Hoping that our lovely daughter and her man will share the feast with us.

Ina Garten's Apple Crostada will be dessert and I plan to have a long walk to compensate for eating a slice!

I am currently reading Barbara Kingsolver's Flight Behaviour and am halfway through...

she is a seriously gifted writer.

The people in the novel are dirt poor and you really feel that poverty.

I feel such empathy and respect for those who struggle to provide for their families.

I am humbled and counting my blessings for so many things.

Basic things

 like a warm home, clean water and food.

I wish you Joy in your daily round.

Hostess