mette...

Mette from Finland wrote an interesting blog called metscan.
She was a refreshing unique voice on Blogger and her savvy decor and fashion posts were always a thrill to read.
She showed us a glimpse of what life was like on her horse farm just outside of Helsinki.
I followed her and read every post that she wrote and commented frequently.
I miss her.

When our 18 year old cat Stickley died, we got a new kitten, Pepper.
Mette was so thoughtful and she graciously sent a card and a pottery bowl.

In the past few months mette stopped writing and has made her blog available for invited readers only.
I have been unable to contact her since she has gone private.

I understand why some people stop blogging and writers cite various reasons...
everything from a new job to the birth of a child or to the death of a loved one or even worse, a personal illness.

If memory serves me mette mentioned that she was not sure that she had much left to say or perhaps she was bored with it all. I sensed a very intelligent accomplished woman behind the scene.
Recently she became a grand mother and has a beautiful grand daughter M and her world has changed immensely.
Perhaps she has become much more active in her role of nurturing her family.

Did you read mette's blog?
Do you miss her posts and comments as much as I do?

Tabitha of Bourbon and Pearls was going to pack it in and then her blog was inundated with traffic in the thousands and she realized how many people were going to miss her and now happily she is back in action.

I just want you to know mette, if you are reading this post just how very much I miss your voice.
Thank you for all your posts and comments over the years they meant a great deal to me.

Here are some archival photos and I chose Red as the theme as it is the language of love and Valentine's Day is only a few weeks away.

This is how we used to communicate...a payphone or a landline.

We still have a landline in our Humble Bungalow.

It's a vintage phone and it works.

I love the clicking sound as one dials the numbers.

Solitary rose hip.

Julie's delicious dessert!

The Valentine's dinner from a few years ago.

Jelly beans for a sweet treat.

"An apple a day keeps the doctor away"

Come and sit awhile...

Primula's perking up a grey winter's day.

A wee grand daughter's toes and a grandmother's bangles.

(a recipe for some fun)

Mette commented on "what's in my handbag" on November 12, 2012

a post that is getting a lot of visitors on my blog.

I attribute the increased interest in that post by the fact that readers are searching far and wide to find mette and the metscan blog.

Hope that you are having a great week.

Our hot water tank is on it's last legs and the plumber will be here today.

Outside it is still dark and there is a torrential downpour so I am going to cocoon with my cup of tea and stay cozy

under the duvet for just a few more minutes. I think I need the warmth of a second cup to help me face the day.

"Keep Calm and Carry On"

XO

Styling my new shirt...

The recent purchase of the Tencel Cloth and Stone shirt is a bit of a splurge and was not on my "need list."
I didn't know that I'd buy it, but I knew I liked how it looked on the hanger.
It was not until I tried it on...the soft worn in feel of the fabric and the fit totally won me over.

I can already see a variety of ways to wear and style it.

Shown here as a layering piece over the Linen Eileen Fisher top.

Imagine this paired with skinny white jeans or Linen capri's for summer.

I can see it buttoned up and tucked into jeans.

I'd also wear it as a swimsuit cover up.

I like it with pearls and labradorite beads.

The JCrew Venus fly trap necklace kicks it up a notch.

I could layer it over a jersey dress...

and this is just the beginning!

 I plan to have fun styling this newbie.

It's kind of funny how we can be so energized and enthusiastic about something new and unexpected.

It feels as if my creative juices were lying dormant just waiting.

Similar to the feeling I get when I am in front of a blank canvas and the brush is in my hand.

What have you bought to wear that has felt like a game changer?

"Fashion is not something that exists in dresses only. Fashion is in the sky, in the street, fashion has to do with ideas, the way we live, what is happening."

~ Coco Chanel ~

Two gals on the loose in South Granville, shopping and ethnic cuisine.

Cheryl met me at Cafe Artigiano on Robson Street for coffee bright and early Saturday morning.
The skies were blue and the sun was shining. We sipped a couple of coffees...an espresso for her, a decaf Americano pour moi. Their coffee is delicious and we snagged a table in the window a great place to people watch and a fun start our adventure.
Banana Republic across the street was having a big sale and Cheryl scored a few great pieces...black pants embossed with an aubergine floral pattern in what I think was cut velvet and a cozy black V neck angora and wool sweater.
Nothing for me although I did try a few things on...I really don't NEED anything.

We boarded a bus at Granville and crossed the bridge to the fabulous area of serious hostess style shopping...
Have you ever been to South Granville? It's a mecca of small boutiques punctuated with a few chain stores...Williams Sonoma, Restoration Hardware, L'Occitane, Chapters, Pottery Barn...well you get the idea.
Lots of variety and shops that we do not have here in sleepy old Victoria.

Lord's shoes!

It is a shop that has a huge array of fancy and different shoes.

If you ever are looking for shoes encrusted with crystals this is THE place!

Shoes for the girly girl in you.

Clothes, handbags, shoes, boots and accessories.

I looked but I did not find.

Hi there I'm having a bad hair day

(The blow dryer in the hotel was not up to snuff)

but who really cares?

Gosh I hope that I am not THAT self absorbed.

Snapping a "selfie" in the dressing room at Anthropologie.

Love their distressed walls.

Love the store and this could be trouble.

Where is my resolve?

I think the merchandising, displays and floor plan design are so very sexy and sumptuous.

How can they fail to sell us their wares?

I am smitten and wooed by it all ~"pure putty."

The bad news is there are two floors to browse!

Wish I was a better navigator!

I went willy nilly through the store...

So very tactile and with those scented candles and books juxtaposed with the clothes...well Hello Hostess!

 I am definitely in trouble!

Oh I almost forgot...

before we walked into Anthropologie we went into Eileen Fisher.

We do not have one in Victoria.

 I found a crisp white organic linen tank top.

I love it!

It fits so well and looks good.

The price point was a bit of a shock but I knew if I did not buy it I would regret it.

It's a desert island top.

One that I will wear until it is in tatters!

I am able to balance a splurge with those recent thrifty finds.

Mixing luxe with thrift makes total sense to me.

Am I justifying this purchase?

You bet!

Besides une femme recommends Eileen Fisher's clothing regularly and she always looks chic.

Cheryl and I perused the sales racks and tried on many garments.

we kept coming out to show each other how they looked and would give each other feedback and honest opinions.

This Tencel shirt came home with me.

I used to have a denim version of this shirt that I layered over white tank tops.

Wore it out and if memory serves me I had it for about 7 years.

This shirt can be dressed up or down.

I can wear it with pearls or my JCrew Venus Fly Trap necklace.

Shopping like we did until mid afternoon meant that we worked up an appetite.

Vij's restaurant is on my list of favourite spots to dine.

We go there as often as we can but they are not open for lunch so Cheryl and I did the next best thing...

Rangoli is their other restaurant conveniently located right next door.

It has a much more casual vibe and the food is exceptional!

Mosaic wall in Rangoli

Hostess's lunch

Cheryl's lunch

The pond outside with floating candles and apricot roses.

Lovely and unexpected...

thank you Vij!

In the afternoon we went for a refreshing walk along Spanish Banks.

The fog rolled in and blanketed the city in a cool mist that chilled us to the core.

Mr. HB and I went back to our hotel to get changed for dinner.

La Cigale French Bistro

Wonderful authentic French fare.

John and Cheryl go to France for several months each year so they are in the know!

Cheryl and I opted for French 75's as our aperitif, the men had martini's.

I chose beet salad with shaved Parmesan to start followed by grilled salmon on a bed of white beans.

I shared dessert with Mr. HB...rice pudding with caramel sauce.

(I usually do not like sweets but I loved this and the sauce elevated the simple pudding to gourmet status)

Sancerre wine from Chateau Sancerre rounded out the meal quite nicely.

That about wraps up our excitement and now I need to get serious about cleaning The Humble Bungalow.

There is also some laundry in the hamper and I doubt it will get washed by itself.

Take care and thanks for popping by...

Hostess

Weekend in the fog...OOTD

Southern Vancouver Island and Vancouver were blanketed in a thick cold fog for most of the weekend.
We sailed across the strait of Georgia aboard a BC Ferry to spend the weekend with our friends John and Cheryl. Cheryl was celebrating her birthday and the Boat Show was on at BC Place so we decided it was a perfect excuse for a getaway.
Fortunately there were some snippets of sunshine but it really didn't matter all that much as Cheryl and I set out to shop while the fellows perused the boats and all the related marine paraphernalia.

The ferry we were on passed a sister ship in Active Pass.

Here's the first indication that there would be fog...

after we left Active Pass it was as it someone turned the lights out!

Nothing could be seen out the windows until after we docked at the Tsawwassen terminal.

We arrived in downtown Vancouver to glorious sunshine!

The "views" or glimpses of the North shore from the 11th floor of The Blue Horizon Hotel.

Mitsouko's first weekend away from The Humble Bungalow.

The displays for Holt Renfrew...Chinese New Year.

Love those Ferragamo's.

Here's a bright handbag that would perk up a rainy day.

I'd never be able to navigate the streets with these killer heels.

Yes they are gorgeous.

I wore skinny jeans, polka dot socks, my Timberland booties and this French inspired Evan Picone top.

I dug the Georg Jensen pendant out of the recesses of my jewel box 

and decided to wear it as it seemed like a simpler accessory than pearls.

I wore my new men's wear scarf and brown Nygaard jacket.

Ralph Lauren gloves came in so handy with the chilly wet fog.

Robson Street is so pretty with all the white lights at night.

The Blue Horizon Hotel has affordable clean corner rooms with balconies and great views.

(If it is not shrouded in fog!)

I've got to close for now and prepare some dinner for Mr. HB and myself.

In case you were curious the cats were glad to see us return,

 but fear not, they were well taken care of (spoiled) by our house and cat sitter.

I'll write a follow up post in the next day or two and share some of the shopping and dining highlights.

Hi Ho Silver! Or goodness me I'm GREY!

Do you remember the theme song from the TV show The Lone Ranger?
I might be dating myself (but never mind) I watched it when I was a LOT younger!
Those were the good old days, the carefree days,  (the summer of my youth)
The memory of these ordinary details become more and more of a blur!
Which is surprising considering how instrumental they were in forming me into the person that I am today.

When I peered in the mirror I realized that there was a old lady's face staring back at me!
This woman has wrinkles (laugh lines) and grey hair...

Inside I don't feel like I am an older woman but I must be because I am a few years short of 60.
I am filled with questions...
Am I deluding myself and is my perception skewed?
Is it important that I come to terms with my mortality?
Do I need a reality check?
Does it keep me feeling younger by not accepting the label old woman?
When is a woman considered old?
Is it a number or is it attitude?
What do you think?

I think I'll stay "young at heart" and become an old woman when I am 80!
(maybe when I am 80 I'll move that number up to 90!)

Look at those greys...it's more than tinsel now...

50 shades of grey!

(in case you were curious I have not nor do I plan on reading the book)

"There is only one cure for gray hair. It was invented by a Frenchman. It is called the guillotine."

~ P. G. Wodehouse ~

Guess what?

I really love the greys.

Who knew that it would grow on me?

There is so much more freedom not having to cover it up.

(time and money saved)

I feel like I have reinvented myself.

I got to thinking about silver and foil and the tarnished patina of age.

It took me only a few seconds to find some shiny things around The Humble Bungalow.

Foil covering The Rich Life on a Budget Adrienne's mom's chicken casserole.

The recipe appears at the end of her post but don't rush to get there as she has some great weight loss tips.

There is some tarnish on the teapot and the tray.

Time for Twinkle!

I put fruit up on a pedestal.

Do you?

Wee vintage silver drinks tray.

It would be lovely on a bureau with scent bottles and pearls...

Tools of the trade for this domestic cook.

Cheap and cheerful glass beads.

I do not usually buy faux jewels but this strand glittered in the sunshine and I was sold.

Since my hair has gone silver I have been wearing more blacks and greys.

The addition of an icy crystal or silvery rhinestone necklace makes the hair pop a bit more.

Lipstick is essential when you have grey hair as it helps to light up the face.

I wear red more now than I did before I let my hair go grey.

Rather than hiding my age I am drawing attention to it.

I figure that I have earned the right to project that "older woman persona."

Perhaps I am projecting a new and honest self.

How do you feel about aging?

Are you joyfully embracing your golden years?

 Or are you hanging on tooth and nail to your youth?

"For beautiful eyes, look for the good in others; for beautiful lips, speak only words of kindness; and for poise, walk with the knowledge that you are never alone."

~ Audrey Hepburn ~