April in Victoria...

This past week the sun shone and the weather was warm and so mild.
It felt a wee bit like summer.
So I walked to town to meet a friend for lunch at Milestones on the Inner Harbour.

 Beacon Hill Park has many native lilies growing in the grassy sections naturalized under the mighty oak trees.

They are putting on a spectacular show.

a closer look...

I had to get down low to capture this view

they are so delicate

stunning in their simple form and beauty.

The walk was invigorating but I wore fashionable shoes and by the time I had walked around all afternoon and then walked back home I had a blister on my heel and now I am limping around, grimacing with every step.
The silly thing is that I thought I "should" wear my walking shoes, but opted for fashion over function...a mistake I will not make again!

I sat in the sunshine waiting for my friend to arrive and "played tourist" in my own town.

Observing the scenery and people watching.

clear blue skies prevailed

and you can see how crisp they were against the clock tower above the Victoria Visitor's Information Centre

people were out enjoying the sunshine

whale watching boats were loaded with passengers

the little harbour ferries were busy

the street vendors had their kiosks loaded up with wares

buskers were performing

the bag piper was playing and the sound carried across the harbour

the clip clop of the horse drawn carriages as they made their way along the causeway

this pretty combination caught my eye

I might steal this idea and use it here in our garden

We shared a meal...both of us watch our weight and so we opted to split a burger and a salad.

We did indulge in a glass of wine which we normally do not do but it felt like we were on holiday so we thought it would not hurt.

She is planning a trip to San Francisco so we chatted about what to see and do and where they might want to stay. It has been over 10 years since Mr. HB and I enjoyed a week in that lovely city.

SF is a walker friendly city with charming vintage cable cars that you can hop on and hop off on several downtown lines.

I remember that we walked for hours and hours every day exploring the sights and we ate really delicious meals and I did not gain any weight!

I spied this sign on my walk while going to visit Mother.

Mom is on a Spring cleaning and de-cluttering kick.

Helping her sort, pack and donate what my sister and I do not want.

I think she is grappling with her own mortality 

her 89th birthday is coming up this June

and several of the elders in her condo have recently passed away.

Here in Victoria we are having a real estate boom.

The prices have sky rocketed and there are bidding wars.

It is not uncommon for a home to sell for over 150,000 over the asking price.

On our street VERY close to The Humble Bungalow 

a wee 1912 home that straddles two lots is listed at 1.2 million dollars!

We saw on the news that a 1950's bungalow facing the Fairfield Plaza parking lot sold for a cool million!

I cannot help but think that with these prices there will be many young people who will never be able to afford a home and many will have to move away.

Spring sunshine 

 has persuaded the blooms of this lilac to open up and flower.

This week should yield some answers on my shoulder issue...

part of me wants to stay in the dark and not know 

because IF the diagnosis is surgery

or something more sinister

ignorance might be bliss.

One thing that has come out of this experience 

is that I have SO much more empathy for those who live with chronic pain.

Our health is something we should never take for granted

for many many years I have been guilty of this...

Mother has very few aches and pains

she had a bout with breast cancer and has arthritis in her hands but she has a great attitude.

I wonder if it is her nursing career that helped her put things in perspective or if she is just very accepting of her circumstances and presses on...

she rarely whinges or complains about her health.

Get her started on how much tax she pays or politics 

and fasten your seat belt as she will be on a tirade and her rant can go on for a LONG time!

Well this post just went sideways...

it started out with one thing in mind and now has gone off on a tangent.

Thank you for stopping by...

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

OOTD domestic style and some good news.

Is there Glamour in the way that you dress to attend to the everyday domestics?

I do not run around in high heeled pink Marabou mules and a kimono over top of a silk chemise...
while that does sound quite luxe it is far from my reality!

OOTD

Domestics Style

The most important piece is my linen apron

Bon Appetit by Now Designs

(it keeps what I am wearing clean)

White Eddie Bauer shirt

Skinny NYDJ

JCREW Venus Flytrap necklace

slippers

I have been washing windows, clearing the clutter and sorting out some junky drawers.

The laundry is swishing away in the LG machines.

Have I ever mentioned that I LOVE doing laundry?

Ironing used to be a chore until I started ironing by the window

gazing out to the garden beyond 

where I can see the birds and admire the green grass and the flowers.

Some people iron in front of the TV but I never turn the TV on in the daytime.

I do like a great BBC or PBS series 

or something like Last Tango in Halifax or Happy Valley on Netflix 

but that is about all I watch.

The gorgeous Easter bouquet has been front and centre.

I kept it away from the cats when I was not at home as a reader kindly mentioned that the lilies were toxic to cats.

The stamens in the flowers stain anything that they come in contact with so do use caution.

I found this out many years ago and sadly my tablecloth was a goner.

Quite by accident I happened upon these vibrant autumnal leaves 

still clinging to a vine in the blazing afternoon sunshine.

Walking has taken me out of my neighbourhood

finding myself sauntering along the streets of Oak Bay 

gazing at the well tended yards 

looking for some real life garden inspiration.

We have a few beds that need some interesting plants and pots.

The tulips are putting on quite a show this Spring.

Mass planting of bulbs really do have an impact.

The deer have not eaten these...

and this patch is a block from our Humble Bungalow 

where the deer have munched ours down to the soil!

We were informed at the Garden Centre that Deer do not like Hellebores.

We popped this one in a pot out front and we will see if that is true.

There is some encouraging news...

actually it is really really GOOD NEWS!

The predicted 4-5 month long wait for that ultrasound was been reduced to a 3 month wait...

then I thought about it and wondered

why not ask to be put on the list for a priority appointment and take a cancellation.

I am retired and have a flexible schedule 

plus we live close to the office where they do the tests...

and wonders never cease

they called me!

By the end of the week I will have my test and next week I meet with the specialist.

So we are in the queue and will see what is next.

In the book front I finally finished reading The Luminaries.

It took me ages as it was 822 pages and very detailed and had a convoluted storyline.

And now for something completely different!

The Love Market from our wee library box across the street looked interesting...

It is written by an English born author, Carol Mason who now resides in BC.

The book jacket suggests it is chick lit...

will give it a whirl.

Thank you for stopping by, now I must get back to work.

There are some dishes to wash and the laundry needs to go into the dryer.

Cheerio,

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

Walks, the kindness of neighbours and more....

The weather has been unsettled this Easter weekend...
we have had sunshine
rains
high winds.

Mr. HB and I were out in the garden doing some light weeding and he mowed the lawn.
I picked some flowers.

Grape hyacinths

We visited the nursery and checked out the new plants.

Have you ever seen a Jack in the Pulpit plant?

The flower is SO unusual!

I love the vibrant shade of this rhododendron.

On Saturday the sun was shining and it was warm so we went for a long walk.

Oodles of people had the very same idea and there were lots of people strolling along the seafront.

Smiles and greetings were the order of the day.

Sunshine has that effect on us after the "rainy daze."

Fairfield still sports a few streets lined with their names in blue tiles. 

This pretty little blue flower caught my eye.

I had to stop and take a picture.

We cut through the Park on the way to our destination....

Beacon Hill Park is a large park in Victoria.

It is located not too far from Our Humble Bungalow.

The petting zoo is very popular with families and was crowded on this sunny afternoon.

There are goats, pigs, donkeys, bunnies, ponies, birds, and many other farm animals.

Gobble Gobble

Turkeys wander freely.

Mr. HB treated me to a soft ice cream cone at The Beacon Drive In.

The line up was long but it moved quite quickly...

we walked back home licking our cones before they melted.

Nom Nom they are SO rich and creamy.

The BEST in Victoria!

One of our elderly neighbours down the street has been in the hospital.

Sadly he has no family.

 While he was hospitalized a young couple who live close by

 have gone in and cleaned and painted his home.

Other neighbours have been involved.

We all have been aware that his situation has deteriorated and we have been concerned.

He has some health issues and suffers from dementia 

the young couple have taken him "under their wing" 

How lovely that this couple is helping him out in a time of need.

I applaud their Kindness and Generosity.

We do not know what kind of care he will need in the future 

but he has been assessed and there will be some changes and supports put in place.

He is certainly happy to be back in his own home.

It was more than obvious as 

he was smiling and laughing when we walked by his house on our way home.

I must get my apron on and cook something to take to him.

Thank you for stopping by The Humble Bungalow Blog.

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

Snippets from The Humble Bungalow...

This week has flown by...
we were very busy and it feels like a bit of a blur.

Monday started out with a visit from our darling grand daughter Isla.

We decorated an apron for her to wear.

It fits perfectly!

We ate comforting macaroni and cheese and nibbled on some grapes.

We needed to recharge as there were cupcakes baking in the oven.

Isla was definitely up to the job of decorating...

She got so good at it that she used both her hands at the same time!

Yummy 

We read some books and made some fairy wands.

Our daughter, Isla's mom, brother, and baby sister arrived for a late lunch and a visit.

I went to see my RMT 

she provided me some pain relief and more mobility to my "frozen shoulder." 

We are still not totally sure what the final diagnosis might be...
 I am on a wait list for an ultra sound.

There is a backlog, which I am told is 4-5 months!

 I continue to be proactive and positive while I wait.

Mom, my sister and I walked the Esplanade and had a casual dinner at Mom's condo.

Walks have been sporadic due to winds and pouring rain.

This blue door reminded me of the blue doors and shutters that I saw in France.

It has almost been a year since I ventured off to Paris and Auvillar...

I have so many great memories of a fabulous trip.

Good friends came and stayed with us and we had a great visit.

They brought us a gorgeous bouquet of lilies.

I will take another picture when the buds all are in bloom and share it with you on Instagram.

The sun is shining and we are planning a day of pottering in the garden.

The lawn needs to be mowed, the edges trimmed and a few weeds need to be pulled.

After that I hope we can go to the nursery and peruse the new plants.

The weekend is going to be relatively quiet after such a busy week.

We have a few Easter treats to deliver to the grand children 

darling daughter and I are going to a collectibles show

 some easy meals are planned 

 I hope to find some time to read my book and walk with my husband along the seafront.

Best Wishes for a lovely Easter Weekend.

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

Seeking sunny thoughts...

The terrible news from Belgium has cast a dark shadow on our world...
more lives have been lost in these attacks.

As horrifying as the news is...
I feel powerless and sad.

My sister called me to tell me a friend of hers has passed away today.
She had been battling cancer, the fight was fast and furious, but very brief.
Several types of cancer had spread and metastasized before her initial diagnosis.
She knew it would eventually take her life...
she leaves behind a husband and adult children and many friends from the local garden community.

I visited her garden at Deep Cove on the water...she and her husband had created a special oasis on the edge of the sea.
Her garden was a place of tranquil beauty.

So lovely to wander along the paths, stopping to smell the flowers, or touch an unusual plant, make notes of the interesting foliage planted together so that each plant took centre stage and stood out.
Martha Stewart once sent a crew to take photographs of their home and garden...I don't think they were ever published in the magazine.

An overblown Parrot tulip sits in a vase in Our Humble Bungalow bathroom...

the tulips are very beautiful and remind me of paintings from the Old World Dutch Masters.

Each tulip is different...just as an artist might paint them.

Mother Nature and her handiwork helps ease the spirit.

Droopy tulips 

can you see the leaves have a few cat bites?

Bowing their heads...

I forgot to pierce the stems just under the tip of each bud to help them keep hydrated and stand up straight.

Their colour is so cheerful...

(leaves with the cat bites!)

The culprit is Chester...

he is the cat that we lovingly refer to as "the troublemaker."

Keeping busy helps helps to soothe the soul...

I made a cheesy frittata for dinner and will serve it with a simple green salad.

Easy Peasy Frittata

6 large eggs whisked

1 chopped red pepper

2 green onions sliced thinly

1 cup of leftover veggies cut into small bite sized pieces

( I used squash)

leftover beef, chicken, salmon or crab cut into small pieces

2 cups grated cheese

salt, pepper, parsley and any other spice you like

(I used 1 tsp. of Italian seasoning)

Pour into an ovenproof casserole or quiche pan.

Bake at 350 for about 45 minutes until set.

Serve with a simple green salad tossed with a vinaigrette.

Bon appetit!

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~