Peeking Inside the Humble Bungalow...Summer 2014.

I was inspired this Monday by Dani BP Mop Philosopher's post...
Dani purchased a chevet after a 2 year search and it is the perfect piece for her bathroom.

We have been collecting arts and crafts quarter sawn oak furniture for the past 32 years and it took quite some time to find. We had to consider the size and scale of each piece as our Humble Bungalow is small and we were mindful  of our limited budget as we were undertaking restoration projects from the very beginning of our ownership.

We still need to do our master bedroom and there are new front stairs and an exterior paint job on the do list...
it is a labour of love being stewards of a heritage designated home.

With the glorious and bright summer sunshine and riotous blooms in the garden it has been easy to forget that we live in a dark and cozy heritage home.

You can plainly see our front stairs are in dire need of repair and the paint on the exterior is peeling.

Having said that, heritage homes are always in need of maintenance.

Thank goodness ours is not as vast as Chatsworth or Highclere Castle!

Our Humble Bungalow is filled with dark arts and crafts oak furnishings...

many have been reupholstered at a local shop which is considerably more expensive than buying new reproduction pieces.

Wendy has blogged about this recently too...

We like to add a few bits and bobs to perk up the space.

You can see that we have kept our Christmas fairy lights strung up along the beams near the ceiling...

nothing like plugging them in when we entertain for a twinkle effect and more lighting!

Rugs underfoot are a must as our 1912 bungalow can be frightfully cold and draughty in winter.

Runner rugs and area rugs add a punch of colour...

we purchased these new at Chintz and Co.

Original art hung on Bradbury and Bradbury hand made period wallpaper.

We have art in our bathroom too..

Our dear friend Cheryl Fortier gave us this one that she painted when she was in France.

Arts and crafts book shelf re purposed for towels.

Our bathroom renovation was done by a contractor friend and designed by Mr. HB

It has in floor heating and I love the results...

The standing lamps in the living room were purchased new through Sager's Furniture and they are from California. They are oak and of a scale that suits the rest of the furniture.

The lights in the rest of our bungalow were made at Waterglass Studio in town.

Mr. HB designed the kitchen and many people think it is the original one which we take as quite the compliment!

(please overlook the tea towel left casually on top of the granite countertop...)

I hope you've enjoyed the tour today...

It's such fun when other bloggers fuel and inspire a response...

 to one that they have posted.

Be Well and Be Kind.

Hostess

I've got the Blues...

I love a fresh pedicure and all the pampering that one receives from a fabuluos spa....
I love Bliss in the Cadboro Bay Village.

"The Skies the Limit"

 is the newest shade of polish that I opted for when I had my pedicure.

It is a lovely shade of turquoise blue as I have been in a blue mood.

Not blue as in sad blue but blissed out on blue...

I'm over the moon about blues, which is refreshing and new.

I was crazy for orange awhile back but blue is the new kid on the block!

The Climbing Royal Sunset is in it's second flush of flowering.

Such a stalwart and hardy rose it's like the "energizer bunny" of roses!

But I digress...

I was meant to be focusing on blues...

The Rosie Project is my favourite book so far this summer.

It is a light read and totally entertaining...

run out and get your hands on a copy and let me know if you agree that it is a winner.

Darling daughter and I had lunch at a local French bakery...

Fol Epi

they sell the most wonderful baguettes in town and serve up tasty sandwiches and pizza.

In case you were wondering Fol Epi translates as "wild wheat stalk."

Pizza Margherita

I opted for the coffee tonic as it was a very hot day and darling daughter had the caffe shakerato.

The atmosphere at Fol Epi is casual, the food delicious, and the views over the harbour are quite lovely.

It's a super popular spot for a quick bite.

The outdoor seating was full...

 so we sat inside which was a good idea because we needed shelter from the scorching sun.

Sated and rested we then toddled off to the thrift shops...

I picked up this pretty paperweight in the Sally Ann for a toonie.

I pulled out this Hermes scarf to wear with my Gap denim jacket as the weather was cloudy. 

I love the pop of red.

How wonderful this kite looks flying against the blue sky.

On a sad note these beautiful hydrangeas are almost done...

Do you remember the Blue Man ?

It was a collaboration with a student from school.

Play doh was a wonderful learning tool that I used with an autistic student.

We talked about the science of the human body while the rest of the class were studying at a much higher level.

Adapted programs are key to our special needs children in the school system.

In our province the teachers are negotiating a new contract with the province who are under funding our educational system. Teachers are on the front line and they justifiably want to have more control over class size and composition...education is very near and dear to my heart.

I hope that the mediator rules in favour of the teachers.

“Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” 

~ Nelson Mandela ~

We have been "Empressed"

The Fairmont Empress is a grand hotel with many "Empressive" amenities...
We walked from our home not too far from the hotel on a sunny warm summer's eve.
Our 40th wedding anniversary was last month and we were given a gift voucher for The Bengal Room.
Thank you to our son and daughter in law for our lovely evening and classic Bengal Room Curry Buffet.

Looking out the window towards the legislature...

a celebratory cocktail

Edwardian decor...

very much a hunting vibe going on here!

The Bengal Room is famous for their curry.

It was delicious!

Dessert rice pudding and a chai creme brulee...

After our dinner we walked through the lobby to hail a cab.

Lovely shops...with high end clobber!

I'll be wearing my scarf tied over my coat this way when the weather cools...

Oh and those blue bags so tempting...

How about a ruby ring?

40th after all is "ruby celebration."

How about a sapphire necklace?

The tea shop beckons...

Pretty plates for an afternoon tea party.

How about a classic afternoon tea at The Empress...

when one is in Victoria this is a must.

A high calorie indulgence...

worth it once in awhile.

Hope you have a lovely weekend!

and then the rain came...

It's raining today and it has was coming down steadily throughout the night.
Our forests and gardens are parched so it has come at a good time...
perhaps some of the forest fires will be extinguished and give the overworked fire fighters a well earned break.

These are onion blooms.

I planted them a few years ago and they reward me every year with a lovely show.

They have a slight onion-y scent but it is not so overpowering that you are brought to tears.

I  bring them indoors and pop them in a vase.

The fuchsia shade is vibrant and looks so pretty with the soft white buds.

Colour has a big impact on how I feel.

  I notice when the skies are grey and the rains come that my outlook and mood is affected. 

When the gloomy days arrive that I need to be proactive and focus on things that cheer my spirit.

I've been thinking about debilitating depression since hearing of the tragic death of Robin Williams.

He was such an extremely funny and gifted actor who gave so much to us over his career.

Just how low and distraught he must have been is difficult for me to imagine.

I hope that his family will come to understand and accept his demise.

I wonder how depression starts...

Is it a series of events that pile up to overwhelm one's spirit or is it a chemical imbalance in the body?

Is it too much "living in one's head" or lack of exercise or isolation?

Or is it a combination of all of the above?

If we are aware of our tendency to go to the dark side 

I wonder if we can use strategies to keep that Black Dog away...

~ Into each life a little rain must fall. ~

We all need tools and strategies to cope with the bumps on the road of life.

Given that I am not clinically depressed nor have I ever experienced a serious bout with depression 

I really have no idea how a severly depressed individual struggles to maintain a balanced equilibrium.

I know friends and a few close family members who are on medication for depression.

Finding the right medication can be tricky and it takes several weeks for the drugs to take effect.

It is a rocky road to wellness.

On a cold grey day I like to brew a pot of tea...

It is not a cure all but the delicate aroma of a good blend does have a soothing power.

If I need a cheering up I use a particularly lovely china cup and saucer.

Comfort is important so I opt for a warm cozy cashmere sweater and some woolly socks and slippers.

If the room is chilled I climb under a warm blanket or duvet.

Lighting a scented candle helps elevate my mood.

If I have a good book on the go I might pick it up and read a few chapters...

 thumbing through a stack of magazines

or watching a favourite movie.

I might pick up the phone and call a friend to chat.

Going out for a walk or trying out a new recipe work wonders.

Tackling a messy cupboard ~ reorganizing and tidying. 

Volunteering to help others less fortunate is a tonic.

What do you do when you feel sad?

Why is Joy so hard for some to find?

Is there something that we as a society can do to prevent future suicides or help alleviate depression?

Accepting that mental illness is an illness on it's own, not unlike the flu or diabetes might be a start.

In the meantime my thoughts and condolences go out to Robin William's family...

"That's the thing about depression: A human being can survive almost anything, as long as she sees the end in sight. But depression is so insidious, and it compounds daily, that it's impossible to ever see the end. The fog is like a cage without a key."

~ Elizabeth Wurtzel ~

If you need help seek it, if you notice someone else needs help offer it, 

let's never give up on ourselves or those we hold dear to our hearts.

Hostess