Travel carry on list making...roasted tomatoes and a new book!

Travel planning is part of the fun when embarking on a getaway.

A friend and I will be flying off to Italy and France in the next few weeks...

so

I want to be prepared for a variety of events and weather.

 I am relying heavily on layers to do the job.

This is the list of things that I am mulling over.

Colour theme of basic black, grey and white.

All will fit into my Air France carry on.

I did not add all the scarves to my list 

as I am trying to decide if I can be happy with one or two 

which ones they may be are still to be decided.

This navy cashmere cardigan will go with all my clothes.

The silk scarf is a triangular shape and adds a bit of oomph to the basic items.

The coat I am packing is from Eileen Fisher 

 an olive green khaki shade...

there is some olive green in this scarf 

as well as mustard yellow, blue, white, black and many more shades.

I can tie it to focus on the colours that I want to emphasize.

This long charcoal grey jacket is in a sturdy knit fabric 

which can be also be worn as a coat.

It's from Bryn Walker 

I am leaning to taking it as its very versatile and has two large pockets.

I've been busy roasting the tomatoes that my husband grew in his greenhouse.

The sweet and richness of roasted tomatoes is such a treat.

Very versatile over fish or pasta.

Can be served as a side dish...or on top of a sliced baguette.

I added these to a jar of quality Italian pomodoro sauce

simmered for about an hour before I

served it over pasta.

An absolute gastronomic delight!

Autumnal colourful flowers for the cottage...

I've discovered a new author 

Kate Eberlen.

Am immersed in this lovely story...

it's a romantic story of two young people 

who have a chance meeting in Florence while on holiday 

and it moves back to London where their lives cross paths...

I am starting Part Two and am enjoying the story and writing immensely.

It's so refreshing when you discover a new author and I found out her next book "If Only" is due to come out in April of 2020.

What are you reading?

Have you discovered any new authors?

Do any of you seasoned travellers have advice you care to share when it comes to packing light for 3 weeks using only a carry on?

Thank you for stopping by The Humble Bungalow Blog.

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

Sleep Quality ~ a quick report.

In an earlier post I pondered if the double bed in the guest room, although very comfy, was responsible for the lack of restful sleep.

I found myself yawning in the mid afternoon and craving a strong cup of coffee.

Caffeine is a sleep disruptor so I didn't want to try a cup and opted for decaf tea instead but I still felt weary...

We had been sleeping in a double bed while renovations were being made in our master bedroom so I considered that it may have been the size of the bed but now I am not sure that's true.

I have been quite busy researching sleep, what constitutes a good night sleep, the amount of sleep we need, things that contribute to a poor nights sleep, over the counter sleep aids and their effectiveness and side effects.

What started out as a simple question in my mind turned into hours of online study...it was as if I had fallen down a rabbit hole!

Several readers commented on the use of magnesium supplements to help with sleep, so I looked into that on The Mayo Clinic site. It turns out that I may have a magnesium deficiency...many of the issues associated with a deficiency are things that I have been recently experiencing...
numbness, dizziness, poor sleep, heartburn, irregular heartbeats, muscle spasms, and fatigue.

Magnesium is found in avocados, leafy greens, beans and legumes, whole grains, bananas, almonds, cashew, hazelnuts, popcorn, peanuts, oats, cocoa, dark chocolate seeds - pumpkin, chia, sunflower.

I do not regularly eat nuts, avocados, or chocolate...as they are high in WW points.
Leafy greens of all sorts in salads, various beans, and bananas are consumed frequently.

I have oats in the fall and winter for breakfast but not every morning...
this is a habit I may need to change!

According to one site I checked out approximately 75% of people are deficient in magnesium!

Will follow up with my doctor and have an appointment booked.

I have started taking a pill with my dinner and my FitBit has already registered the imrpovements.
REM is twice what it has been previously and the DEEP sleep is much longer.

I woke up fewer times and feel much better when I wake up in the mornings.

The pharmacist mentioned that many people are experiencing better sleep when they take this supplement. She handed me a pamphlet with a lot of information about magnesium which she encouraged me to read.

After I finished reading about the benefits of the supplement,

I decided to give it a try

she suggested this gentle 200mg dose.

The cost was under $30 for a 4 month supply.

My husband is trying it out too.

I found a new body lotion at the pharmacy...

it absorbs into my skin quickly after my shower.

I have shared this information as it is helping me sleep better...

 I suggest that you check with your physician before trying this supplement.

If you are deficient, a simple blood test can test for the level.

Wishing you a lovely week.

Thank you for stopping by The Humble Bungalow Blog.

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

Bedroom renovations are done!

The renovation took several months 

due to our summer holidays 

and 

the schedules and work load of the construction crew.

Here's what the bedroom looks like today.

Built in drawers and doors replaced a very small closet space.

We have so much more room for our clothes and its much better organized.

I purchased:

new pillows

memory foam mattress protector

cotton sheets

bed skirt

throw

Chester seems to approve!

We are leaving the distressed floor as it is...

I am not planning on buying antique rugs which originally thought I would.

Not sure about art work on the white walls...

they look so peaceful and serene.

All white bedding is my favourite.

Claire Austin Rose

I am working on my list

"3 weeks in a carry on" 

 for my upcoming trip to Italy and France.

More about that next time!

Thank you for stopping by The Humble Bungalow Blog.

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

Sleep Patterns...

I've been wearing several loose tunic tops with black capri length leggings

to keep cool these past few weeks.

The leggings provide a wee bit of coverage for my legs.

My legs are muscular and strong from walking.

I feel self conscious about the various scars

veins 

and

blotchy marks

that I have accumulated over 64 years of being on this Earth.

Living in an aging body

 is

something that I have not accepted...

I think of myself as a much younger person

with ample energy to perform many tasks each day.

So when I do feel tired...

I am kind of surprised and taken aback.

Limiting my "To do list" might be of some help.

Lowering my expectations of what I am reasonably capable of accomplishing on any given day might be something to work on.

Perhaps my level of energy has waned 

because my sleep has not been that restful since we moved into the guest room double bed?

I've started going to bed before 10 usually around 9:30

and I wake around 6 something in the morning.

I wear my FITBIT to bed so I can check on my sleep patterns.

 I wake several times each night.

My sleep is mostly "light" with limited REM and Deep sleep.

We will soon be back in our Queen bed as the renovations are almost finished...

This is something I am so looking forward to!

It's taken quite a while to get this project completed...

due to our holidays and a long delay getting started.

The trades here in Victoria are so busy!

There is a building boom on and there are not enough people to do all the jobs.

We are so fortunate to have a reliable contractor and skilled trades people.

I will be posting a few photos as soon as the furniture is back in place.

What are your sleep patterns like?

Do you feel that your sleep could be improved?

Have you any sleep tricks up your sleeve that you care to share?

Thank you for stopping by The Humble Bungalow Blog.

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

September snippets...

Jude the Obscure 

still putting on a marvelous show ~ blooming non-stop since May.

Gosh I so love a hardy and reliable rose that encourages me to keep dead heading long after my early spring enthusiasm and energy has waned.

Hand watering is a daily job here in The Humble Bungalow Garden.

We don't have an automatic system so we use old fashioned watering cans, nozzles and sprinklers.

People walk by when I am gardening out front and they always stop to comment on the roses.

Some I invite in for an impromptu garden tour 

 they occasionally leave with a wee bouquet.

The Climbing Royal Sunset Rose is a challenge to dead head 

as it grows up the side of the deck so ladders are required.

I am not a fan of climbing up high on ladders 

so I dead head what I can reach from the ground below and from the deck itself.

Gertrude Jekyll

Prickly thorns can be a hazard when dead heading this rose.

Such a beautiful shade of pink with a seriously heady fragrance.

She blooms all summer long.

School starts this week which traditionally has signalled the end of summer.

I love the warm sunshine and hope it continues through towards Autumn.

The bedroom renovations are almost complete.

I have purchased a bed skirt, new sheets, and velvet slim hangers.

Am excited to get the closet organized and the rest of our bungalow 

"back to normal."

I am tired of sleeping in the double bed in our guest room.

It's a comfy mattress and very quiet downstairs 

but its too small a bed for the two of us to get a restful night of sleep.

Last night I actually fell out of bed.

I was sound asleep and it woke me up with a start!

Today 

Feeling achy and stiff, glad I didn't break any bones.

So I am slowly moving about my day...

doing only what really needs doing.

Am totally immersed in Louise Penny's newest book 

A Better Man.

I try not to read her books too fast.

It is difficult slowing down once you are gripped by the plot

they are such wonderful mysteries.

Must go pop the kettle on and make a cuppa

then open my book for an hour or so...

Hope your September is off to a great start.

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~