Basking in the afterglow....

It's been a heady and dizzy few days of birthday celebrations...
delicious dinners, tasty lunches, flutes of Prosecco and glasses of wine.
Surrounded by family and friends...I've felt honoured and loved.
Thankful and grateful...
for so many lovely comments on my last blog post...

Love this public art...along Dallas Road.

Lunch in Oak Bay on Estevan Avenue at The Village Bistro.

My BFF took me out for lunch on my birthday and we sat outside in the sunshine and it was so warm that we took our coats off!

I opted for the quinoa and roasted vegetable salad on a bed of spinach garnished with roasted kale 

served with a light lemony vinaigrette.

Healthy, tasty and delicious!

Too many meals out with too much wine has tipped the scales...

so I am getting back on track.

Lapsang Souchon Tea 

served in a Paragon fine bone china tea cup that I found at the Oak Bay United Church Rummage Sale.

The $4.00 price tag was too good to pass up,

  the ladies that volunteer their time have such a great time and are chatty and animated

besides they are keen to show and sell their wares.

All the proceeds go to help those in need in our community.

My breakfast today...

toast, peanut butter and half a banana.

That will hold me until lunch time 

then I plan to have a salad with some salmon lightly dressed with some balsamic vinegar.

The weather is lovely so getting outdoors for a walk is a treat.

The Clover Point Boat ramp...

I wonder if this is used very often anymore?

Looking much taller in the shadows...

and if you look closely it looks like I have some wild spiky hair!

This morning I have been busy in the Humble Bungalow.

It's a rather "normal" day for chores...

the bedding has been changed

the sheets and coverlet have been washed and dried

the kitchen has been tidied

the dishwasher has been put through it's cycle

the fridge washed out

the compost emptied

After my walk I plan to read a chapter or two...

I'll be visiting a cave in the Midi-Pyrennes this May.

 John and Cheryl gave me this book so I could read up on the history.

I've read the first two chapters and I am hooked!

What's new in your part of the world?

Have you read a great book that you'd like to recommend?

Be Well and Be Kind

Hostess

XO

This is how we celebrate...60...OOTD

Mr. HB and I discussed my 60th birthday...
how we would like to celebrate and we decided on a catered dinner, a gathering of family and friends.

We were originally going to go to a local restaurant with a private room.

 and just before we booked the venue our friends offered to host it in their gorgeous heritage home.

This table was set up in their living room!

 Thorn and Thistle is my go to for flowers and my friend artfully arranged them in her vintage vases and planters.

~ Delicious appetizers ~ 

crab cakes followed by lamb popsicles based on Vikram Vi'j's recipe

started the evening off as they were served while we mingled sipping flutes of Prosecco.

All the catering was done by our good friend Julie who is a superb cook and has an eye for every last detail.

She owns and runs Jules catering here in Victoria.

If you have a special event and need some help please give her a call.

We set up a bar...

Caesar Salad to start...

Home made pasta with Gorgonzola sauce with a garnish of crunchy walnuts

Lemon Chicken "Piccata" so tender that it practically melted in my mouth!

Rice pilaf

and trays of roasted vegetables.

Dessert was a chocolate quinoa cake served with whipped coconut milk and fresh raspberries.

Oh and there were cards, gifts, Euro's and tears of joy.

My children totally surprised me with a beautiful pearl pendant and bracelet from Birks.

A pretty silver star and a handy jewelry pouch for travel...

cookbook

I dressed up for the party...

I wore my favourite LBD with an artisan necklace by Debra Kay...

which was swapped for the gorgeous pearl pendant as soon as I opened the box!

Banana Republic Robson handbag and Stuart Weitzman shoes complete the outfit.

I am so grateful for this special party and thank you my wonderful husband, family and friends.

It was a memorable evening and I loved having everyone around helping me usher in the next decade.

We have frequently marked my birthdays on the sandy beaches at Point No Point.

Writing messages in the soft wet sand...

only to watch the waves wash my words away.

"Time and tide wait for no man."

~ Geoffrey Chaucer ~

“The world is a looking-glass, and gives back to every man the reflection of his own face. Frown at it, and it will in turn look sourly upon you; laugh at it and with it, and it is a jolly kind companion.”

  ~ William Makepeace Thackeray ~

Plan to keep looking for the magic in each day...

and savouring the beautiful.

In my early 20's in the Magic Kingdom...

where does the time go?

Inside I feel very much like that young woman...

 a few exterior changes...

My hair is grey, with laugh lines, my jaw is softening...

No longer 110 pounds ~ no longer able to fit into that size 6 leather jacket.

Still like to laugh and smile as often as possible.

Have fun and experience Joy.

Love spending time with our friends and family.

Grateful for our grandchildren ~ the greatest gifts.

Thank you for stopping by...

Hostess

XO

Brunch, Boots, and a Beret...the Paris Planning continues.

Last Sunday Mr. HB and I were up early and the weather was sunny and warm so we decided to go for a long walk. We left our bungalow early in the morning and wandered downtown and before too long we had worked up appetite and we needed to eat...

The interior of The Atrium building on Yates and Blanshard Streets 

this picture was taken from our table inside the restaurant.

We decided to brunch at Zambri's, as it is one of our favourite spots to dine.

Poached free range farm fresh eggs on a bed of spinach atop a sliver of in house made bread lightly toasted

 served with a creamy bechamel sauce....

Oh my this was so delicious.

Looking at these daffodils blooming sunny yellow, they cannot help but cheer one's spirit.

The flowering trees that line Meares Street are a riot of blossoms...

their petals are falling like snowflakes...a westcoast version of snow!

Mother was under the weather and phoned me bright and early to cancel our weekly 

Mother and Two Daughters Shopping and Dining Date...

Mom thankfully is feeling better now, 

I checked on her... (so did my sister!)

It turns out she had a sleepless night.

Didn't I just write a post on this very subject?

 I took advantage of the time and got some domestics done around here...

laundry, sorting, cooking and a wee bit of Paris Planning.

 At Vanity Fair Antiques last week I mentioned that I was going to Paris...

I was thrilled to find out that one of the women who works there is going too.

She and her husband are renting an apartment for 6 weeks and it is conveniently located quite near my hotel. 

 We are planning a few outings and I hope one will be to go to the Antique Markets in Paris.

Uber comfy boots ~ Clarks Artisan line

for walking many kilometers along the cobblestone rues, avenues and boulevards of Paris...

a wooly beret just in case the days are chilly or damp

a feather in my cap..."ahem beret"...just because

The French lessons are helping but I have a LONG way to go...

it is a much steeper learning curve than I could have imagined...

Alors! I continue to press on.

I decided that I would take two cashmere cardigans...

the orange one and this one in a soft grey...they are light and offer cozy warmth.

Will need to decide which strand of pearls to take...

Want to take my perfume but this bottle exceeds Air France's limit for my carry on...

So much planning

details ~ details

it's hard to imagine how I will feel when I am in Paris.

Friends who have been to Paris say that the streets in Paris are alive with people.

The architecture, culture, and fashion are fabulous.

 They have been advising me to wander the avenues and soak in all the beauty.

Then stop for a bit and sit watching the people stroll by from an outdoor cafe.

"Paris is a place where, for me, just walking down a street that I've never been down before is like going to a movie or something. Just wandering the city is entertainment."

~ Wes Anderson ~

It's still weeks away so I have lots of time to dream.

The Paris obsession is becoming a daily routine on Pinterest.

What is your most memorable moment in Paris?

Checking in to say....

My week is shaping up to be another busy one...
we are in the midst of planning a catered celebration this weekend.
I'm not giving too much away, it's not a surprise...
it's a milestone birthday.

Walks with friends, French lessons, a Grammy play date, the regularly scheduled weekly Mother/ daughters get together, domestics, grocery shopping and that's just the start.

The trees are bursting forth with buds...

my energy has been ebbing on the low side so I have been trying to go to bed earlier.

My sleep patterns are changing and sleep is interrupted several times through the night.

It frustrates me no end because I used to be able to sleep most of the night.

Most of my friends have mentioned that this too is their "new normal."

The bright and shocking colours of Spring

fresh air and sunshine coupled with a good strong cup of coffee are helping me stay awake and alert.

I've been toying with the idea of making some art cards from my photographs.

I've purchased some cards and envelopes and ordered some prints...

just need to carve out some time to glue the photos onto the card stock

then muster up the courage to take them to a few of the card shops and see if they are at all interested...

if not, I will have some for my personal use.

French "homework" reading Paris Vogue!

Ines de la Fressange is the focus of this issue...

J'adore Ines.

I must close for now as I am off to meet a friend and French class follows.

Photographs from my walks have featured prominently in this post and I hope that they have elevated your spirits.
Enjoy your week!