OOTD and some things BLUE.

There are more blue garments creeping into my basic black and grey wardrobe.
I seem to be drawn to this colour...
With the grey hair multiplying the blues seem to be a flattering shade.

Stripes and patterned tops.

These will be worn with white UP pants and NYDJ jeans.

I recently discovered UP pants and they are super stretchy and very comfortable.

I found mine in a shop in the Cook Street Village area of Victoria.

OOTD 

Yoga class attire

Mom's cashmere cardigan Jones of NY

white tee Joe Fresh

yoga pants Reflex

shoes Jungla

These are not instruments of torture

they are props for my Yoga practice.

Since joining the Yoga studio I have had far less hip and knee pain.

It is noticeable...and I welcome the relief.

There is an Osteo class several times a week at the studio 

I think it might be my favourite class. 

Having been diagnosed with osteopenia years ago

I know how important it is to be mindful of the risks of breakage.

Building and maintaining bone mass and bone density is a priority.

Walking and weigh bearing exercise can help with bone building...

and now the Yoga moves using the spiky ball and the belt.

Here is an article from Harvard that you might find interesting.

Women with osteo issues are prone to fractures of the ribs and hips 

so by working on igniting the osteoblasts and building bone density we can avoid some of the pitfalls of the condition.

Have you invited some brighter colours into your wardrobe lately?

"For happiness one needs security, but joy can spring like a flower 

even from the cliffs of despair. "

~ Anne Morrow Lindbergh ~

Thank you for stopping by 

The Humble Bungalow Blog today...

Flea Market Finds...

I've been spending quite a bit of time "fluffing" the house.

Getting rid of extra stuff that clutters up the tiny space

and rearranging a few pieces.

Our bungalow decor is simple which lends itself towards natural items.

 Opting for colours that look pleasant in a woody arts and crafts heritage home...

almost organic.

"A tisket a tasket"

I spy a vintage basket...

and

some old silver.

An old oar

(before)

painted and cleaned up a wee bit 

then slightly distressed

(after)

Something for the cottage.

Old ironstone compote

Enamel ware

A large vintage Tea tin...

Roses in the small silver jug.

I purchased this Imari jug awhile back

I use it for pens and pencils in the kitchen near the phone.

It's fun to peruse home decor magazines for inspiration.

 Our clever daughter reminded me that I could find many lovely home decor things to "pin" off of the boards on Pinterest.

I started one for the cottage and am having fun getting ideas online.

I sit with my tea and before you know it an hour has evaporated!

It's also fun looking through the shelves of a vintage shop...

I like to think of it as an adventure because you never know what you are going to find.

~ Take care as you go about your day 

and 

Please Be Kind ~

Three months...and the journey continues...

Last March 3rd, on my 62nd birthday, Mother passed away.
It has been 3 months and I still miss her so much.

Everywhere I go...I am "with her" and she is "with me."

Mom was so much a part of my life,
and in retirement...a weekly friend who would join me for teas, lunches, shopping and coffee. We shared books, laughter and love.

My daily walks, which were curtailed upon her demise.
Load of work to do on the estate, but mostly because
I passed by her condo on my walking route
and I felt so sad walking by...

Most days, before Mom died, I would stop in for tea and a chat after my walk.
so naturally,
walking past was just too emotional for me.

Many times I would start to walk only to turn around and return home.
Then I took to driving to other areas of town for my walk but this felt too weird and why drive the car and use the gas?

Three months in...
the bulk of the estate has been seen to...
mom's condo has sold and her personal things have been dispersed among the family and those not wanted, were donated.

It has been a big challenge and I have dug deep for strength.
With support from my husband and friends... I am grateful.

I returned to Yoga
to increase my flexibility and for stress relief...
The deep breathing and calming poses help.

I have gained a few pounds.

Recently a call came in from Hospice offering me some counselling...

I cried while I was on the phone and said 

"Thank you,  I am OK"

I have been eating "comfort food"

too many salty crunchy chips!

(my weakness)

They call it comfort food for a reason!

I gave myself a stern lecture.

It is time to get back on track.

The roses are blooming, the sun is shining and my walking route awaits...

Mom would not want me to be sad.

So I have been walking along my favourite route and am looking at the building where she lived and remembering...

with a few tears mixed in with the salt air and sunshine.

Behind my sunglasses no one can see them.

 My week is ticking along...

watching the scale slowly reflecting the results of my efforts.

Pepper is looking longingly out at the birds.

She would leap out the window and try and catch one of the birds if she only could...

Lunch after my walk.

Tea with a 2 egg omelette and a small salad.

The daily 5km walks are not quite happening yet

4kms each day is my current goal...

The roses blooming in The Humble Bungalow Garden 

are helping to brighten up my days. 

It is going to take me some time to get totally "back on track"

to my desired weight.

In the meantime we plod along and try to make the best of things.

Grief is not predictable.

Frankly it frequently startles and surprises me.

Thank you for stopping by...

Hostess

The bathing suit...

I recognized a lovely young woman pushing her child in a stroller at our local Marshall's store in the mall.
Smiling, vibrant and gorgeous...her name is Leah.

We see each other frequently on Oak Bay Avenue...
she is a fabulous teacher that I worked with at a local Middle School and I think that I can safely say that she is "adorable"...the daughter of an acquaintance.

Leah is one of those energetic and enthusiastic teachers that can inspire and engage students...these are the teachers that we love for so many reasons.
Young and impressionable students' minds need more teachers like Leah.

We exchanged news...
I told her that we were investing in a quarter share of a waterfront cottage on Pender Island. The resort has two pools, a children's play area and there is a marina for our boat.

We are hoping to get the children and grand children over to the cottage for the 2 week summer holidays and we will use it in the off season on our week each month.
Leah mentioned how much she appreciated having a cottage for their family holidays when she was growing up and now that she has two children of her own they are spending time with her parents at the cottage...
making many happy memories.

Leah asked if I had any luck finding anything in the store.
I did!
and I proceeded to swing a garment in my hands high over my head and said with a smile on my face that I had found a swimsuit!

Swimsuit shopping is quite an event...and when it is successful its a win win!

In my experience swimsuit shopping has never been easy...
one needs to try on quite a few to find the best option.

This is the first suit in more than a decade that has not been black. 

I have 2 suits in patterns of black and white...both have seen "better days."

~ Maxine of Hollywood ~

(sounds rather glamorous)

I have never seen this brand of swimwear.

Understandable as there has been a drought of swimwear shopping...

do not even bother to ask why!

How telling...

Obviously other shoppers have similar thoughts

otherwise why would they print a label that speaks to so many of us?

It must be a challenge for the designers of swim wear.

The suits need to fit, cover the "wobbly bits" and make us feel comfortable while wearing them.

I'll be dipping my toes in this pool soon.

I love swimming laps and I find it very relaxing.

It feels so good to tick a big item off the "to do list"

The swimsuit was my least favourite on my list, 

but fortunately it was not that daunting after all.

Summer is just around the corner and I am gathering up some summer reads.

I am almost finished The Madwoman Upstairs and it is an interesting story.

What is on your summer reading list?

Thank you for stopping by The Humble Bungalow Blog.

XO

Content (at last) with my grey hair...

My hair...has been an ongoing battle issue over the years.
It is thick, wavy...
many would say it is curly,
and it most certainly has a mind of its own.

I value my hairdresser as much as I do our family physician.
They both are very important people in my life, and both give me great advice.

Mother used to say that a woman's crowning glory was her hair. When we were children she cut our hair and we wore it in a short bobbed style that was popular with straight short bangs or "fringes" as they are called today.

Mother once gave me a Twiggy hair cut after I begged to go to the hairdresser for a professional one...just for the record I HAD to go to the hairdresser to have Mom's snippy mess "fixed"...
the hairdresser said "I can do little with this now but it will grow"...
(it took ages and I avoided looking in mirrors for months!)

Mom would collect rainwater to rinse her hair and once a month would give herself an oil treatment...
this involved olive oil, a plastic bag and a towel.
She spent an entire day "at home" during this procedure.

Mom's hairstyles metamorphosed over the years...
my sister and I observed many changes.

Mom had perms for a few years,
she also gave my sister and I "Tonette perms"
usually around Easter for the Sunday service at church.

Mom dyed her hair blonde for a year and we referred to this as her "Doris Day" phase...
later she sprayed a silver streak in the front...this was her "Virginia Graham" phase.

Mom loved fashion, style and was never one to be stuck in a rut...
she moved with the times and had fun...plus she had a great sense of humour.

The "signature hairstyle" that so many women adopt has always eluded me.

Hair has been a source of frustration over the years
flipping and flopping and changing my mind...
cutting it,
growing it,
colouring it.

Now that I have salt and pepper hair, it feels simple and easy ~ to just be natural.

My hair is cropped quite short, it is almost a pixie cut.
I wash it in the shower and towel dry it before I spritz it with curl enhancing spray and then let it air dry.

It feels good to accept things and be content.

Wishing for something illusive is really frustrating
 a complete waste of time and energy.

The style of my hair does not define me, nor take up too much  angst  space in my mind.
I have finally just let it go...

Salt and Pepper

like the highlights I formerly paid for and now they are free!

Mother had lovely silver hair and I expect it may be several years before I get to that all over shade but in the meantime I am embracing this "new natural phase."

I am curious...

Are you happy with your hair?

Have you found your signature style?

Do you colour your hair or have you let it go natural?

Summer reading has commenced... 

I've a long list of books and plan to buy a few more in the coming weeks.

I finished this book recently and wept at the end...

it is worth reading and I would ask you to please read the author's personals note at the end of the book.

What is on your summer reading list?

Thank you for popping by The Humble Bungalow.

XO