Selling stuff, rainy days and sending flowers to those who need cheer...

Over the years I've been a tad greedy and a wee bit manic buying and amassing collectibles...
since retiring I have re-evaluated my focus.
It's gone from "more is better" to "less is more better!"

Please excuse the bad grammar.
I phrased it this way because I overheard a young man ask his father....
"Dad did you know that Spiderman is more stronger than Superman?"

It is very therapeutic cleaning out the clutter, washing and tidying up cupboards and drawers...
rearranging the storage space and rediscovering what treasures we own are not currently being used in our home.
The question is do we keep it or get rid of it?

Lovely daughter and I have rented a shelf in a case at the local antique mall on Fort Street.

Vanity Fair

We are selling jewelry, silverware, mid century modern teak, and art glass.

I have a few gorgeous china cups and saucers that I am going to take in soon.

Someone commented recently that silver was on it's way out...

I love silver and keep ours polished...many prefer it tarnished for the Shabby Chic look.

If it is on the way out it is a great time to invest in a few pieces as the prices will be low...

This clay raven plaque has a First Nations feel to it...

it is rather naive and simple but that's what drew me to it.

It is an unusal piece and most probably unique.

Our local village shop Surroundings stocks a mix of old and new.

I cannot pass by without stopping in to see the owner.

She carries such wonderful things...

I try not to "get carried away" when I peruse her shop.

It was a blustery wet and rainy day...

one for gumboots and a brolly.

I popped into visit Kristiane after I walked through the muddy puddles of Beacon Hill Park.

I've known K for years and have bought quite a few things from her shop.

We always chat and exchange pleasantries when we see each other...

she's a lovely woman.

Spring is coming early to the Pacific Northwest...

we've had a very mild winter and unless we get a dump of snow the gardens will be a riot of colour very soon.

As an antidote to the gloomy grey skies I bought a cheap and cheerful primula...

I could have bought a carload but I am trying to be sensible and save money for Euros.

I browsed the flower market...

and thought that the cats would love to munch on these tulips!

Mr. HB and I have sent several beautiful bouquets and a lovely orchid from Thorn and Thistle to friends and family who have been ill or hospitalized after major surgery.

In times like these my way of helping is to send cards, flowers and take food.

I hope that you are enjoying better weather and that you are in the best of health.

"If you have health, you probably will be happy, and if you have health and happiness, you have all the wealth you need, even if it is not all you want."

  

~ Elbert Hubbard ~

Prints Charming...

Prints and patterns do not factor into my core wardrobe in a very big way...
stripes yes,
but prints are rare.

Hermes scarves are where the prints come into play.

Did you know that Hermes recommend that you refrain from wearing their silk scarves in the rain?
These Hermes scarves are just a few from my collection of scarves...
I love scarves for their ability to add colour and flair to the plain and simple garments that I own.

Seeing as how we are talking about charming prints I'd like to show you my most recent purchase...
fasten your seatbelts...they are kind of wild!

I found a pair of what I can only describe as "party pants" with soft orange roses on a black background.
You might be laughing...as they are rather a departure from my usual restrained and conservative clothes.
They have an elastic band at the waist and at the bottom of the pants they are gathered in, rather like harem pants!
They are made of a very light polyester and will roll easily in the carry on and the big bonus is that they will not crease...I bought them at Target at their closing out sale for $15.00.

I plan to take these to Paris and will wear them as PJ bottoms when I am in the city of light and when I travel south I will have the option of wearing them as pants.

I've planned to get a spa pedicure before I leave and will opt for an orange or coral polish.

 Lands' End coral cashmere cardigan and simple pearls...

A basic black tank top and the cardigan will make great partners.

The colours are such a tonic right now...our weather has been so gloomy and wet.

I took this picture a year or so ago...

Heart shaped puddle.

Summer Humble Bungalow rose...Jacob's Coat.

Chihuly Gardens in Seattle Washington

love the punch of orange!

I've been busy in the kitchen making pots of soups. 

I love having a big pot of something hot and nutritious simmering on the stove.

Dinner is easy when it's a hearty soup and then there are leftovers for lunches 

and you can pop some in the freezer for future use.

They are wonderful to share...

I have taken some to the home of a friend who is going through a tough time.

Soups are comforting...

like a warm hug.

I enjoy the simple act of chopping the vegetables.

The repetition feels very therapeutic....

rather meditative and a perfect rainy day activity.

Rainy walks are much nicer when one has a cheerful umbrella.

I love this shade of green.

Beware! Death Cap mushrooms.

 Patterns on the grey concrete stairs that go down to the beach...

When I get home there will be a soup simmering on the stove

Lemon Chicken with Orzo.

Humble Bungalow greetings to you all from the very wet west coast...

Hope that you have a lovely weekend!

The Great Cover Up...

Today I'm sharing some things I have learned...and think are worth sharing...
skincare maintenance is way up on my list of personal priorities.
I want to put my "best face forward."
Mother told me early on when I was in my teens..."make the best of what you've been given."

Establishing a daily routine of cleansing, moisturizing and never going to bed with make up on should go a long way to help your skin look and feel great. 

I learned this lesson in charm school at The Hudson's Bay when I was 13 years old. Our instructor Irene Warren, took it very seriously and passed on her knowledge to a room full of impressionable young women.

(we also learned how to walk, sit properly, and get in and out of a car wearing a mini skirt!)

It felt like we were "ladies-in-training" ....my BFF and I went for several sessions and we did have fun!

Establishing a daily routine of cleansing, moisturizing and never going to bed with make up on should go a long way to help your skin look and feel great.
Gentle weekly exfoliation and the occasional facial mask will help keep your skin look healthy.
(don't forget to eat fresh fruits and vegetables and drink plenty of water...nature's moisturizer)
Keep it simple...
it's my mantra, keep it simple.

If you have been reading my blog for awhile you may remember that I have a skin condition called rosacea...
facial flushing with red patches on the cheeks indicate a flare up.
Many factors can affect the skin and cause a reaction.

I avoid the sun whenever possible by wearing sunglasses and a hat.
Rosacea can affect the eyes and they become quite irritated and bloodshot.

Red wine and spicy foods may also exacerbate the skin..
products with harsh chemicals like alcohol are too strong.
I use gentle products from the Avene line and wear sunscreen everyday.

Let me introduce you to a fabulous mineral make up by La Bella Donna which offers great coverage.
I've been using this daily and it has an SPF of 20, it offers great coverage without looking too powdery.
I use the shade Crema as I am quite fair...it comes in a variety of shades so you should find one that suits your colouring.

You don't need a lot of powder as it blends effortlessly and it can be layered on several times if you need extra coverage. You will need to invest in a good quality brush and wash the brush every so often to keep it clean.

I love this pur mineral eye make up.

It goes on smoothly and stays on from morning until I take it off at night.

This shade is Lavender Mourite.

I use an eyelash curler and Maybelline mascara and if I go out in the evening I'll line my eyes with kohl.

Lipstick for daytime is a quick sweep with Revlon's Lip Butter in Pink Truffle 

and for evening Red Velvet.

L'Occitane's Almond Milk is a light emollient body lotion.

Soft scent and super moisturizing after my morning shower.

I love to wear scent and wear a slightly musky fragrance in the winter...

Mitsouko.

In the spring and summer I wear Voyage d' Hermes.

Speaking of Spring...

"Springtime in Paris"

three little words.

Wishing, Hoping, Dreaming...

Spring feels like it is just around the corner...

Are you loyal to a product?

Care to share or rave about it's performance?

Do you have any skincare tips to share?

I'm off to meet with the travel agent tomorrow...

!!!!!

Keep it Simple...Watching my Weight.

I like to keep things simple...
Staying fit should not be complicated or costly...I know if it is I won't do it!
If it is simple and convenient I know that if I keep at it, success will surely follow.

I didn't always feel this way...I thought I could keep fit without much effort...
I was lazy and I admit it was short sighted of me not to put much effort into exercise.

I now choose to walk...it's that simple.

walking...is free
it keeps my bones strong
it burns calories and helps to keep my weight in check
when I walk with a friend...we chat and stop for tea before returning home
when I walk alone I look at the scenery and listen to the sounds of nature
I often stop to take a picture of something that I think beautiful
greeting other walkers along the route imparts a sense of belonging...a community of walkers
many are the same faces that pass
and some are new
most are smiling
even when the winds blow and the raindrops fall

I am so much happier when I walk.

Walking as not something that I did regularly when I worked...
and I now know I could have avoided so much anxiety and stress if I had adopted a regular walking regime...
the weight gain every year which sent my self esteem plummeting
And then there was the sky rocketing blood pressure and prescription medication that I was on for a year...
tick tock it's time to get serious!

My physician read me the riot act and said I needed to lose at least 10% of my body weight or I would be jeopardizing my health...so I joined Weight Watchers.

I purchased a pair of good walking shoes, a pair of black Lands' End performance pants and a bright coloured hooded jacket.

I started slow and revved up my pace, starting with a 20 minute jaunt and then a brisk 60 minutes.

I've written this post in hopes to inspire

and to remind myself that I need to remain committed to fitness.

I have slacked off a bit and the scale has reflected the recent slip...

I'm feeling rather sheepish, guilty is a better word...

and it will become very evident when I weigh in at WW this week.

I know that I need to get back on track

 I'm going to make walking a renewed focus in my daily routine.

I'll capture some of the beauty 

that I see along the way and share it with you here on the blog.

Renewed focus...directed energy...a commitment to health.

I think we are worth it don't you?

What do you do to stay fit and healthy?

Cooking Class...

My friend Ruth received a wonderful gift for Christmas from her daughter...
a cooking class for 2 at The London Chef.
When she opened it she knew immediately who she wanted to invite to go with her to class.
Me!
I am so grateful that she chose to take me along...
(thank you Laura and Ruth)

Participants were encouraged to take notes as we observed each step

no recipes were handed out.

The chef cooked without measuring and used terms like "a dollop" of this or a "handful" of that!

The kitchen space is open with a U shaped configuration

with a long harvest table and chairs off to the side.

The chef cooked from this island which was at the front of the room.

All the food has been prepped ahead..

all the measuring, if there was any, was done before we arrived

 making it quick and easy to put the dishes together.

I took note of his set up...

the towel under the chopping board, 

the various prep bowls and containers

the food in a basket off to one side

the utensils sat atop a towel to the right of the pots

The theme was Moroccan and the food was prepared in front of about 20 people who were given step by step instructions on how to make Tagine Chicken, Hummus, Rice Salad, and Baba Ganoush.

The large pot became the "tagine" 

according to the chef, tagines are frighfully expensive and not necessary to get the full flavour of Moroccon dishes.

After sauteing the ingredients he put a round piece of parchment paper on top of the food, cut a small X in the top

 then covered the pot with foil to allow all the flavours to mingle together and cook over low heat.

The chef Dan, was English as one might expect from the school's name...The London Chef.

He was a handsome young fellow with a booming voice and an energy not unlike that of Jamie Oliver.

The session was held at lunchtime and after all the dishes were finished we were all served the meal...

the flavours were amazing!

The dishes were so rich in dimension ~ nuts, dried fruits, spices and herbs together working a little bit of magic.

You could close your eyes and imagine dining in an exotic Moroccan location...

One can buy soups, condiments, chocolates, coffee, tea and spices 

I looked for saffron because it is not easy to find...but they did not have any in stock.

They are open for lunch and the chef also caters events.

Locally made pickles and mustard's...

Soups...

Spices, oils, vinegars, chocolates and tea.

Our delicious lunch!

It was so much fun...and I love to cook and try new recipes so

I'm hoping to take some other classes at The London Chef.

BTW

I have signed up for a cooking class when I am in Paris.

I'm relieved and thankful that the cats are up to their "usual tricks" in The Humble Bungalow.

Chester is enjoying playing with Pepper now that Pepper has recovered from her recent illness.

I am very happy to have our "furry family" well again.

Thank you too for all your kind words.

Hostess