Cocooning...keeping cozy during the raging storms.

Hellebore

The gale force winds have been fierce 

the ferries have been cancelled

 the stormy weather 

is rainy, grey and generally dismal.

These kinds of days are perfect for cocooning with a pot of tea 

curling up with a good book and my knitting.

The Boneyard shawl free from the Ravelry website.

Looks a wee bit like chainmail!

I am embarking on a new knitting project...

socks!

I am using a pattern from Ravelry called super simple socks

the DPN's are a wee bit hard to get used to using

so far have ripped the socks out 3 times!

I will definitely need to get some expert help if I am to be successful with this project!

A kind and thoughtful reader from Vancouver sent me these earrings 

 I think they go perfectly with my black and grey wardrobe!

Thank you Rosemarie!

 I sent you off a wee token of my appreciation...

hopefully it has already arrived on your doorstep.

 I managed to find some sunny patches in between the storms and have ventured out to seek out some of Nature's beauty.

Hope that your week has some bright spots in it and that you are healthy and able to avoid the colds and flu that have been making the rounds.

Remember to wash your hands!

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

Focusing on Calm

Are you aware and take note of the beauty that crosses your path every day?

Focusing on a bright spot of colour or something beautiful from Nature...
can elevate a flagging spirit and change the way we see our world.

Each morning I sit quietly sipping my cafe creme and consciously count my blessings.
I embrace the "attitude of gratitude" and it helps me set the tone for my day...

A bouquet that I gave to a special someone!

This wee yellow flower was blooming on the side of the Esplanade

at Willows Beach where I have been taking my daily walks.

The day was grey, cold and gloomy but this wee pop of yellow 

acted like a lightbulb

 radiating cheer and warmth.

The sun has been trying to come out...

three cheers for trying!

I've noticed that people who walk this route smile a lot when they pass...

generally 

much more friendly than the serious joggers and runners on my local route.

Sending you some sunny yellow cheer...

Chicken piccata

a comforting dinner on a cold blustery night.

Here is a link to a similar recipe on Epicurious.

A hot cup of tea...

Thank you for stopping by The Humble Bungalow Blog.

Take care

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

Renewal: refreshed, recharged, re-energized and "retail-ed!"

The past weekend was full to the brim with simple joys and bright moments which have left me feeling energized.
I have come out of a dark mood and into the light...

My morning cafe creme routine starts with counting my blessings,
I sit quietly reflecting on all the good things in life embracing and adopting the attitude of gratitude to set the tone for the day. I have found this to be very powerful and it changes the way that I see and interpret life events.

Mr HB and I walked in Chinatown...through Fan Tan Alley.

Victoria's Fan Tan Alley

My husband took me out for lunch at The Fan Tan Cafe, a popular Chinese food restaurant in our city's historic chinatown. It was busy, the service was great and we sipped our tea and chatted while we waited for our food. The food was not "totally WW friendly" (noodles were involved!) but the seafood chow mien was chock full of veggies which were so lightly cooked that they were still rich in colour, crisp and delicious.

Here's my fortune cookie and the fortune inside...

I did a wee bit of shopping at the Fan Tan Home Decor and Style shop.

A black dress by Angela Mara made in Italy.

Soft, cozy and the fabric is heavy enough that it does not cling but skims the body which is just the way I like a dress to fit.

It feels like a warm hug.

It was 50% off so I pounced on it and I said YES to the dress!

I plan to keep my eye on this shop as they have quite a few styles that I like.

I wore it out to dinner on Saturday evening when we dined with friends.

This lovely bouquet was a thoughtful gift from my nearest and dearest friend.

She bought it from those darling gals who run Thorn and Thistle Flowers.

They carry such pretty flowers and their plants are amazing...

our Christmas Amaryllis is an indication of their high quality plants.

They sell other things too and now offer coffee and treats

and they now located are in my old neighbourhood.

Sunday I cleaned house and went for my walk.

I opened a new bar of fragrant Verbena soap 

 it is currently scenting our main bathroom.

This soap was from my Mom's condo...

she loved the Verbena scent but she never used it as she loved her Pears soap.

While on the topic of fragrance and scents...

It was time to open a new scented candle.

This one was in the box from 

My Stylish French Box.

I am busy trying to finish my latest knitting project so that I can start my new one!

Have you got a project on the go?

Hope that your week ahead is positive

and filled with 

 lightness and cheer.

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

Easy peasy dressing...
it's not a salad dressing!

It 's a simple minimal curated wardrobe
that has evolved since retiring.

This boiled wool skirt gets worn at least twice each week.

The Chelsea boots are my go to for Fall and Winter.

Opaque Hue tights offer warmth and help to create a longer silhouette.

I have a pair in grey and another in black.

The cashmere V neck sweater by Black Goat was a Christmas gift from my husband.

I prefer a cozy longer sweater for extra warmth 

 the length is versatile 

allowing it to be worn with leggings 

or 

the skinny ponte knit pants that I wear frequently.

I've been wearing my Masaii print dress weekly since I found it in a local consignment shop.

 Newer Eileen Fisher striped dress 

priced quite reasonably so another workhorse joins the group.

 Knit pants and a Cut Loose top...

so simple.

This cut loose top pairs well with the boiled wool skirt.

Having separates that mix and match helps to stretch the budget and makes it easy to put together many versatile outfits.

Previously jeans and a tee top with a cardigan were my "uniform."

Recently I have felt a shift...

in how and what I wanted to wear.

Black Goat cashmere have a lovely soft grey cardigan that I have my eye on...  

it may be a wise purchase sometime soon as the grey shade fits into my wardrobe effortlessly.

Blogging from the kitchen table 

while Jane Green's Mom's rib recipe bakes in the oven...

(copyright laws do not allow me to post her recipe)

easy peasy dinner tonight

potatoes

coleslaw

Must close now and work on my knitting project.

Hope you have some fun things planned for the  weekend.

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

Wednesday thoughts January. 2018....

I finally purchased a new IPhone case...

my other one was chipped and the coating was peeling off

 every time I looked at it it made me cringe so why it took me so long to find a new one is beyond me.

I'm experiencing disrupted sleep

it is most likely stress

but

like many women of my age 

who frequently find that our sleep wake rhythms change

the nights feel rather long when one lies awake 

listening to the ticking of the clock

I am trying to come to terms with these new sleep patterns

but it is not easy.

In the morning when I wake up and look in the mirror 

I see that my eyes are puffy 

and my skin has creases on the side of my face

from lying on my pillowcase.

I  googled "wrinkles on the face from sleeping" and to my surprise discovered that if one uses a satin or silk pillowcase that these wrinkles will be reduced.

I was really skeptical 

but with several leading dermatologists endorsing the product 

I thought that I better give it a try...

 after one night of sleep

I am thrilled to tell you they really do WORK!

I did not wake up "Feeling Glamorous like the box indicates 

but I woke up and was happy to see that the deep creases were not imprinted on my cheek!

I also have introduced a healthy product into my skincare regime

At bedtime after cleansing my skin

I apply a small amount of coconut oil on my face.

It is super emollient and feels so soft in the morning.

This large jar was under $10 and it will last a long time...

and you can use it all over the body.

I am taking life one day at a time...

seeking small comforts and snippets of beauty

where I can find it in my daily round...

it is a lot harder to find than it used to be

and 

if I had a magic wand I would wave it and erase all the bad stuff in our world.

I will continue...

to do my best.

Home keeping

cooking

taking care of my husband

offering support to our family

tending to our cats 

and 

walking.

sharing random acts of kindness

Cocooning and recharging....

behind closed doors.

Its also the time of year when I like to replace some of my lingerie

so this is on the top of my list of things to do 

perhaps I'll get around to it this week.

Have you got a long list of things to do this month?

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~