When a bad "SAD" patch seems endless...overheard in a cafe.

If you live in the Pacific Northwest you will know first hand about the frequent grey and rainy days we experience during Fall and Winter.
While the weather is not all "gloom and doom" mood can be affected by the grey days.

Many are affected by what is known as SAD.
Seasonal Affective Disorder ~ depression associated with late autumn and winter and thought to be caused by a lack of light.
Try to "boost your mood" so that you can retain a positive outlook.
"Fake it until you can make it."

Being proactive, keeping active and adopting some strategies can help...

wear a well put together outfit ~ if you are down in the dumps try to dress upbeat
(something that is cozy and warm)
add a bright coloured pair of shoes
tie on a pretty scarf

put on some pretty jewelry (possibly something with sparkle)
go for a walk with a brolly and boots and perhaps stop at a cafe for a coffee

wash your make up brushes in shampoo and let them air dry
make a big pot of soup or bake cookies
brew a pot of your favourite tea and serve it in a beautiful bone china cup and saucer
peruse home decor books and magazines
chat with a friend
read a good book
work on a craft project
do the crossword
enjoy an in home Spa Day...manicure, pedicure, facial and a soak in the tub

slather on hand cream
buy some flowers and arrange them in a pretty vase
clean out the clutter ~ junk drawers are a good place to start
mend clothes, polish boots, handbags and shoes
catch up on the ironing while watching TV
plan a dinner party and look through your cookbooks to find some new recipes
go and visit an elderly person or a relative
explore a gallery or museum ~ visit their gift shop and look for treasures you need not buy anything
do some "deep" cleaning (perhaps the oven!)

polish the silver
go off to a thrift shop and browse...keep an open mind and treat yourself to an inexpensive small gift
buy a few really good chocolates...eat them slowly and mindfully
venture into an area of shops that you do not usually frequent...wander and keep your eyes open
light a scented candle and close your eyes and meditate...
sit quietly, count your blessings or write them down in a journal.

 If you suffer from SAD try to get out and about and meet people.

Volunteer somewhere, become more active and social.

If things still look bleak...seek professional help.

I've been moved to write this post after watching and listening to a woman who was speaking to a friend while weeping.

Forgive me 

 I was eavesdropping.

Please reach out to others in need of help.

If this post helps one person it will be worth it.

More snapshots...OOTD

We are going for a walk along Hollywood Crescent.
It is the street that snakes and curves along the waterfront past Dallas Road.

Ross Bay Beach just across the street from the Ross Bay Cemetery.

This beach is open to the Straits and fierce storms are common in the winter.

The beach is vulnerable to the gale force winds and the crashing waves.

Large rocks were brought in and placed on the beach to help alleviate future storm damage.

There was a serious threat that the road and the graves would be eroded and washed away.

You would never know that this idyllic scene could be whipped up into a boiling frenzy of white caps and rolling waves...the water crashes over the seawall and onto the road.

When there is a storm of this magnitude the road is blocked off.

Logs are thrown high up into the air like match sticks and land "willy-nilly" on the sidewalk.

Driftwood is washed ashore along the beach.

An artist carved this on the roots of a huge log.

Art for all of the beachcombers to enjoy! 

Beach combing on a calm day is very meditative.

The sound of the waves as they greet the shore

the call of the gulls

the gentle salty sea breeze

many interesting stones and logs intertwine in muted shades

stones feature prominently in this garage

look at the "green" roof

this structure has been here as long as I can remember

A fence of flowers...all dahlia blooms.

the stone wall along the boulevard

inside is a large vegetable garden

This enchanting home and garden just oozes charm.

I like to think of it as "Dahlia Cottage."

The couple who live here are often seen tending their garden and flowers.

Geraniums run riot in the Spring and Summer and come Fall the Dahlias are the stars.

I stepped on the scale after the weekend and my heart nearly skipped a beat...

I have to get back on track and count my WW points!

OOTD

Saint James Top

Eileen Fisher Ponte knit pants

two strands of Opera length pearls

Coach loafers

Hope that your week is off to a great start!

Jennifer L. Scott's giveaway...

I have been slow in posting who won Jennifer L. Scott's book.

The reader who commented and was randomly picked is Rosie.

Congratulations!

Thank you to all who left comments and I hope that you will get the opportunity to read Jennifer's newest book.

I will send Jennifer an email when I have your mailing address Rosie.

Please send it to me at bungalowhostess@gmail.com and we will send you an autographed copy of her book.

I'll be back next week with a new post so please come back soon.

Hope that you are enjoying the weekend.

Blogging can be a tonic to what ails you...

There have been so many interesting and beautiful scenes along my walks these past few days.

I think of these images when sitting in the chair at the dentist.
I am not very calm when I am at the dentist, especially when having my teeth drilled and prepped for new crowns...for an hour and a half!
I tense up.

My dentist is a kind and gentle practitioner...he works efficiently and talks me through any procedure.
Thankfully today my visit was short as the permanent crowns were put on and I hope that this will be the last major work that I will need...at least for a long while!

My jaw is sore and the crowns are feeling rather sensitive right now,
so writing a blog post should be a tonic and help take my mind off the discomfort.

An absolutely stunning view looking across Juan De Fuca Strait towards Washington State.

I could sit and stare at this vista for hours

 watching the light on the ocean and the changes in the tide.

Deep blood red Hollyhock blooming in a garden nearby our Humble Bungalow.

I would love to have a few of these tall plants in our garden 

they don't seem to thrive where I have tried planting them...

or maybe our soil is not to their liking.

This pretty pink flower caught my eye...

I am not too sure what type of plant this is so I will settle on "beautiful!"

Ross Bay Cemetery

a great place to wander

heritage trees

busy squirrels

song birds

deer

Emily Carr is buried here and people come by to adorn her grave with flowers and natural offerings.

She was a very prolific artist and quite the eccentric character...

she led a very interesting life and has written books as well as her paintings and pottery.

You can read more about Emily Carr here.

She was an amazing woman and one who was quite independent at a time when women were expected to lead traditional lives that consisted of marriage, motherhood and domesticity.

In my bridge group there are several amazing "older" women...

one woman in particular stands out

I am going to call her M.

M is head and shoulders above most women her age that I have met.

 M is 94 years old. 

(maybe I should say 94 years young!)

M plays an excellent hand of bridge, 

she counts and keeps track of ALL the cards that are laid and played.

M will critique a bid or a response if she knows it was not the best choice.

M freely compliments when a great play is made or a contract is bid and made and especially when making over tricks! 

M dresses in classic clothes and wears beautiful vintage gold jewelry.

M wears several diamond rings on her left hand...

they glitter as she plays.

M sits tall in her chair, has great posture and walks gracefully.

M's eyes sparkle and twinkle and when she smiles her wrinkles all crinkle together!

M shares funny and cute jokes and tells us about her past.

I have a lot of time for M and am eager to learn more about her.

 M is a wonderful and gracious example of how women of a certain age can be

 vibrant, energetic and intelligent.

Do you know any amazing older women?

Please enter the giveaway from the previous post before October 30th.

Good luck!

Polish Your Poise with Madame Chic...a new book giveaway by Jennifer L. Scott.

Jennifer Scott kindly sent me an advanced reading copy of her new book "Polish Your Poise."
I enjoyed reading her other two books "Lessons from Madame Chic "and "At Home with Madame Chic."
If you don't already know Jennifer, she writes the blog The Daily Connoisseur and has You Tube videos online. You can pop over and read her posts on her classic 10 item wardrobe...and she's recently been speaking about the tendency that some people have towards dressing too casually for events like weddings, the theatre and when dining out.

Jennifer is a very wise and talented young woman, married, with two young daughters.
She's busy taking care of her home and family, yet makes time to write for several hours each day...

I brewed a big pot of Lapsang Souchong tea and devoted a couple of relaxing afternoons to her book.
Her thoughts on poise reminded me of my upbringing...
I can recall the same advice being taught by my Mother, and similar thoughts echoed by the elegant and poised woman who led the Saturday afternoon Charm School that I attended!

I think our society has moved away from teaching these lessons...being polite and poised is never out of fashion.
The book would make a nice gift for a young woman just starting out in the workforce...
I can envision a mother giving a copy to her teenage daughter.

Manners, cultivating and developing personal style, being a good neighbour, dressing appropriately, how to handle social media, maintaining an air of mystery, and more topics are discussed in the book.

One thing that I took away from this book is that we have strayed away from the etiquette and manners that were an integral part of my 1950's and 1960's upbringing and that it's never too late to teach these values to the next generation.

Jennifer has graciously offered to send one of my readers a signed copy of her book.

If you are interested in this giveaway please leave a comment.

Please enter by October 30th at midnight PST.

Good luck and I hope that you have a very pleasant week!