Waxing poetic...

I awoke very early this morning.
The cats were restless, the birds were chirping and I had thankfully enjoyed a decent night of sleep.

Good Morning from The Humble Bungalow!

 The 100 Year Old House by Rebecca Makkai...
she wrote The Borrower (which I now want to read!)

This book has hooked me from the minute I picked it up yesterday afternoon.
The chapters are short, the characters are strange and eccentric...there's something hiding in this old house...a ghost perhaps, or secrets from the past.

I am already halfway through it...and I don't want to put it down!

Life is ticking along...my hornet stings are not bothering me much now thanks to some quality aloe vera gel but there is an angry red patch which I refer to as the "venom path" which criss crosses my hand and wrist and I hope, in time, it will fade.

I've been really focusing on the garden and reading and have not devoted much time to blog.
It's curious how one's habits can change...you get out of the habit and new habits arise.

Life is like a journey and it is never dull...

opportunities 

challenges

adventures 

pop up

along the way.

We plough ahead...

maintaining a sense of order when at all possible.

Resting when we need to...

but not long enough to rust.

hoping 

for the fruits of our labours 

to be real

tangible

worthy

ripe

red

tasty and sweet

simple

yet glorious

from the first sniff of a ripe red tomato

until you bite into the flesh that gives a little resistance before allowing you to savour the incredible burst of flavour and then inevitably the juice drips down your chin....

(if you are wearing a white tee  you'll be spot treating the stain before it hits the laundry!)

I'm storing up thoughts and ideas and hoping that they will turn into something type-able...

a post or posts that might delight and entertain.

I've noticed many bloggers have taken blogging breaks

and I wonder if we are tired of hearing our own voices?

Are those bloggers voices going to remain silenced forever ?

Or are they soaking up life and about to burst forth like flowers?

I await the sounds and am patient...

nothing to do but wait.

It's quiet here as the neighbourhood starts to come to life.

I can hear my heart beat

the clocks chime

the gentle hum of the bees outside as they flit from flower to flower

a few cars go by

a neighbours dog barks

someone is singing

an unfamiliar song 

as they walk by our bungalow

 on their way 

good morning!

the day has begun.

Summer reading is one of my little luxuries...

as are farm ripe fresh vegetables

I'm off to visit the farm stand today

before I recommence reading

and in between 

I'll do some weeding and watering

and make some dinner

before 

retiring to a comfy bed for another night of slumber.

What are your favourite summer treats?

Are you reading a fabulous book that you'd care to share?

Sea Ray Adventures...and wildfires.

We went out on our SeaRay this past weekend and left the cats at home with a friend.
 The forecast was for record high temperatures...and records were broken, we were glad that we didn't take them along as they would have been miserable in the heat.

OPI : "This colour is making waves."

Polka dot PJ's and our new nautical mat.

A trio of blues...

Breakfast is blue too.

Our wee Galley.

Ah...

it's Dusk at the Maple Bay Marina...

and we are finally cool.

Keeping hydrated was tough and we had to seek out shade from the mid day sun.

Taconite is the lovely Fantail Cruiser from the 1920's that you can see in the middle of this image
and to the right a tug that has been converted into a live aboard vessel.

Metal wall art on a house boat at the Marina.

In the afternoon...

the water was calm so we went out in our dingy for a ride to explore the cove.

Pretty orange Nasturtiums

I love the variegated leaves.

A wee bit of whimsy...

some one has been busy carving.

We had asparagus with our BBQ steaks, mushrooms and salad.

We went to bed early and had a sound sleep.

When we woke up there was a fire red sun, smoke in the air and ashes all over our boat.

There are quite a few wildfires burning out of control in our province and the wind has carried the ash and spread it all over the lower mainland and the south of Vancouver Island.

It feels very eerie...

there is a red glow in the sky and you can smell the smoke.

We stopped on the way home at Mill Bay Marina and had a bite of lunch.

This family of Canada Geese and a lone seagull greeted us...

you can see the strange colour of the sky.

Ferocious Forest fires have displaced many people who have had to flee from their homes...

it's very alarming and I can imagine how upset they must feel.

Many brave fire fighters are risking their lives to help get these wildfires under control.

Alaska and the Yukon have dispatched experienced firemen to help our Province.

Hope that you are safe and sound where ever you are...

Post #1189...garden snapshots on a sunny Canada Day

Greetings from The Humble Bungalow.

Before you read much more be warned that The Hostess is feeling a wee bit GRUMPY

you may even want to click away and go read another blog and I don't blame you at all...

Look away from the computer screen...

Last Sunday two hornets stung me on my right hand...

Mr. HB drove me to the clinic as the swelling was immediate and then the redness starting going up my arm almost to my elbow.

Three days later I am still  puffed up like a balloon.

Itchy, hot and the worst thing is that I need to take antihistamines to try to control the reaction.

I've iced it and put a soothing salve to help calm the itch 

but I don't feel much like doing anything else...

So instead of gardening today I took some pictures to share with you.

Our birdbath has seen better days

the concrete is falling apart so we popped a flat pottery dish on top to keep the water in

the birds are very thirsty and I am trying to do my bit so I have a few spots where they can drink.

Some annuals for instant colour to perk up the patio extension...

The Garden Shed

we have left the grass to go brown as we are very aware of the water situation

 and with this drought we all need to do our best to conserve.

"Grampa's Peas" are ready.

We'll have to pick a bag and deliver them to Isla and Henry so they can taste garden fresh peas.

fragrant sweet peas 

Abraham Darby, a David Austin Rose

Onions

Hosta ~ White Astilbe ~ Bleeding Heart

the name of this plant escapes me...

I have a foggy brain with these antihistamines...

I'm so grateful 

that the exterminator was able to stop by and take care of the hornets nest 

 he had to gear up in a white suit, mask and a hat with mesh netting.

He needed to cut away some of the clematis as the nest was secured to the fence behind many many branches.

He sprayed the nest and then knocked it down before sealing it in a bag and taking it away.

I hope they don't decide to rebuild...

my little vintage French chair and table are right beside the fence just a few meters away...

we want to feel safe when we are outside in the garden and I certainly don't want the grand children getting stung.

Here's my new weapon for wasps and hornets...

and now that the pity party is over 

I'd like to share with you a blogger who will confirm that the attitude of gratitude is alive and well...

meet Ellie who lives in Paris and has serious health issues (ALS) but it does not prevent her from living life to the fullest.

Go and visit her blog and say hi...

you'll be amazed by her strength and creativity.

I challenge you to share random acts of kindness...

I'd love it if you could report back on the things that you did....

I think we can all benefit and be inspired to make our communities a better place to live one random act at a time.

Happy Canada Day!

Busy as Bees and a nasty Stinger!

It was a really hot weekend and Mr. HB and I spent most of it in our Humble Bungalow Garden.
We have some projects on the go and Mr. HB finished installing the railings on the front stairs...a project that he started while I was away in Paris. Besides weeding and deadheading the roses I have been wielding a paintbrush!

He will be painting the porch and treads one day this coming week as it was far too hot to do it today.

He has done a fine job and I am so grateful to be married to such a clever and handy man.

Thank you sweetheart!

I painted the planter on the porch black and bought some flowers to fill it.

They are bright and cheerful.

I made this fresh tomato and mint salad with balsamic cream...

Summertime and salads ~ so tasty and WW Friendly!

I know I have shown you Jude the Obscure  in our Humble Bungalow Garden many many times 

but for me this rose never gets old...

The Calla Lilies are amazing this year.

We have three big Callas in the front garden and one in the back.

Dusty Miller is in flower and I only grow it because I like to put it into flower arrangements.

The grey/silver foliage is a fabulous filler and looks wonderful with roses!

The Romneya Coulteri

aka the fried egg plant is looking so pretty.

The petals are very paper like and dainty.

It's a stunner.

and it thrives in poor soil...even gravel and sand.

Once you get it established it will be a star performer.

It's been a real scorcher of a weekend and we are all tried to stay cool...

some of us have fur coats which makes it much harder 

Mr. HB has been guzzling Gatorade while working outside and I have sipped several bottles of Perrier.

I phoned and checked on Mother 

just to make sure that she was keeping hydrated 

seniors are at high risk for heat issues

and she walks most afternoons

fortunately she was home with the fans on, sipping a cool beverage and reading a book

she postponed her walk due to the high heat.

I did not go for my walk either as I was in the garden all day.

Lots of weeding and dead heading was done...

and I painted the French vintage metal table and chair black!

Here's a sneak peek of our patio extension with the freshly painted table and chair.

I'm going to get some black pots and fill them with pretty annuals and place them at the edge of the space...

I can see myself sitting here with my book and a cup of tea or a glass of Perrier.

I got stung twice by a  hornet...

I don't remember having such a nasty bite and I had an allergic reaction.

My wrist got really red and swollen in no time flat

Mr. HB zipped off to our local pharmacy to buy some antihistamine.

It made me very drowsy...

Our Birthday dinner went ahead as normal...

On the menu:

maple syrup ~ ginger ~ soy glazed salmon

tabbouleh salad

spinach strawberry salad

roasted veggies

garlic bread

chocolate cake

I over cooked the roasted veggies and spilled half the salad dressing...

I blame it on the effects of the drugs!

We had a lovely evening and the grandchildren were a delight.

It's my favourite thing...getting together as a family.

Hope your week is off to a great start.

Watching my Weight...the UPS and downs.

Maintaining the Weight Watchers goal weight has proved to be a challenge...
my weight is on an upswing and I am not happy about it at all.

My weight fluctuates a bit each time I step on the scale...it might be the time of day or what I'm wearing or if I have just eaten a big meal or skipped a walk.
I weigh myself regularly and I try to be mindful about what I drink and eat.
I need to be accountable to ensure that my weight does not get out of control.
Weight Watchers helps to keep me motivated...and it's discipline that helps me stay on track.

Since returning from Paris I have neglected to go to a meeting or to weigh in....

Life is full of tasty temptations!
I don't like to be too obsessive and avoid everything that is offered to me.

I need to remind myself of the rules.

There are many strategies that come in handy when dining out.
~ choosing low point foods during the day so a splurge at dinner time is within the WW range
~ eating a small snack to ward off hunger pangs when you know that dinner out will be late
 it's difficult avoiding the bread baskets when you are ravenous!
~ you may even amp up your exercise in anticipation of a colossal caloric encounter
~ order dessert and share it...take a few bites and savour the flavour
~ my husband often orders fries which I LOVE so I'll sample a few of his instead of ordering my own
~ develop a love for colourful salads and add some lean protein on the side
~ ask to have the dressing served on the side
~ if you know where you are going to be dining go online and check to see if their menu has          nutritional information on their website so that you can determine which options would be best
~ opt for baked, broiled or grilled over battered and deep fried foods
~ put your knife and fork down often and chat over dinner
~ avoid over eating...take home leftovers for lunch the next day
~ if you really want to indulge, do so and then get right back on track the next day!

I try to eat simple and healthy meals.

Island grown strawberries and plain yogurt.

To start my day I often opt for fresh fruit and yogurt.
Danone make a low point count one with Stevia as the sweetener...
Weight Watchers logo and point count is stamped on the tub.

Silver Hills Little Big Bread makes a great WW friendly base for a sandwich.

I have loaded this bread with grainy Dijon mustard, a slice of cheese, lettuce and pickle slices.

Some days I opt for tomatoes, cucumbers, sprouts and slices of lean chicken or turkey.

I find these sandwiches satisfy and I rarely feel hungry before dinner time.

On days when I do experience hunger pangs I will snack on an apple with two wedges of Laughing Cow low fat cheese or a few carrots and celery sticks with a couple of tablespoons of hummus.

Dinner usually consists of lean meat, vegetables and a salad.

I rarely eat potato chips or other salty snacks.

Cookies and cakes are a rare treat.

Chocolate, however, is eaten in moderation and enjoyed immensely!

One thing that keeps me on track are my walks.

Walking = exercise.

We live so close to the ocean and the scenery is beautiful 

so it makes my job of getting out the door and "just doing it" much easier.

Walking with a friend or my spouse is enjoyable as we chat while we walk.

When I am on my own I seek out the beautiful details along the way.

Losing weight and keeping it off is not easy.

The rewards ARE worth the effort.

Less hip and joint pain have been an unexpected bonus.

I feel more confident in my appearance and my doctor and I are both happy that I no longer require high blood pressure medication.

I could not have lost the 30 + pounds if I had not taken a leap and joined Weight Watchers.

I went alone because no one I knew was interested in going...

most of my friends are slim and trim and keep active and are fit.

I met a wonderful and supportive group of women leaders and "losers" and we all attended the meetings with the same goals in mind.

If you are struggling while trying to lose weight on your own and need some help

 I'd suggest you attend one of the WW meetings...

you'll find out how easy the program is and the only thing you need to do is follow the rules...

and in time you'll succeed.

It took me the better part of a year to get to my weight goal.

It's time for me to get on track again and go back!

"Anything worth doing is worth doing well."

~ Hunter S Thompson ~

Hope you have a great weekend!