Self care...rituals and comfort during the Pandemic.

 

Taking time for self care is not "selfish."

It is important for our mental well being.

My hands work hard

and

with all the hand washing and hand sanitizing my hands take a beating!

I recently discovered Derma E Rosehip and Almond Hand and Cuticle Cream.

The cream absorbs well into the skin and is not overly greasy.

It really helps my cuticles which have become quite dry.

Nothing ruins the look of a manicure like ragged or torn cuticles.

Pacifica

Crimson Kimono

Cruelty Free Formula

Long lasing polish.

Brew a pot of tea...

Enjoy

a relaxing soak in warm water mixed with a few spoonfuls of bath salts.

File nails with an emery board, push back cuticles and they are ready for polish.

Manicure done...

Pop on my red ballet flats and I feel a lightness of spirit.

Energized and hopeful...

I don't know about you but I find I NEED (crave) more TLC these days.

The pandemic has changed the way I look at my days.

My attitude often needs a gentle nudge...

Routines and Rituals are key players for me.

Each morning after my shower I put on my make up.

Dab on Perfume

Dressing in jeans and a Tee

 simple comfy basics

I add an accessory like my pearls, or a colourful scarf

to elevate my spirit.

I seem to have more time to "fill."

Do you feel that way too?

Frustrated that 

I am unable to resume the activities that I enjoyed before Covid.

Bridge games and weekly lessons, Mah Jong, French class, and Yoga.

Many of my friends are playing bridge online.

While others are doing Yoga and language lessons with ZOOM.

I've been keeping pretty busy here at home and in the garden.

Cooking most meals in The Humble Bungalow Kitchen since mid March.

Seeing our grandchildren always makes me feel happy.

We took them out for lunch at Fisherman"s Wharf.

We were able to eat at a picnic table outside which felt very "safe"

A totally wonderful tonic and a fun filled "outing."

Reading with a pot of tea in the afternoon has become a daily ritual.

Beware!

This book is quite provacative and deals with many sensitive subjects.

It doesn't take much effort to arrange afternoon tea on a tray.

It tastes so much better in a china cup.

I would like to open up a dialogue about self care and hear from you.

Are you finding time to elevate your daily routines?

How are you beautifying your day?

Do you practise self care?

I'm going to pop the kettle on now and brew a pot of hot tea...

I'll come back soon and read any comments that you have shared.

Thank you for taking the time to read my Humble Bungalow Blog.

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

OOTD ~ I met up with the fashion savvy blogger Jennifer, who writes A Well Styled Life

OOTD 

Jeans ~ Eileen Fisher

Top ~ Saint James

Ballet Flats ~ Josef Seibel

A messy updo

diamond studs and necklace

pearl earrings

a fresh manicure

Kimono Crimson by Pacifica

Meet

Jennifer Connolly

We had tea and a chat at Murchies.

She is on vacation and was in Victoria for a few days.

You probably already know

Jennifer who writes the blog A Well Styled Life.

We have known each other since 2007.

 This is the first time that we have met in person.

Jennifer is a gracious and fashion savvy woman with a winning smile.

We had a lovely time sipping our tea and chatting.

It felt fabulous to finally meet her in person.

Her series "Dressing room Diaries" is one of my favourites on her blog.

I told her how she has influenced me over the years.

For example...

 I recently purchased a new crisp white shirt 

after reading her post on classic white shirts!

Meeting Jennifer was truly wonderful.

I hope to meet up with her again...

Making connections with other like minded women 

unites, empowers and inspires us.

Thank you for popping by The Humble Bungalow Blog.

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

Falling...for Fall

Sitting on the front porch of The Humble Bungalow

gazing at the garden with a mug of freshly brewed coffee on a cool morning.

Noticing the changes...

Spiders in webs hanging 

woven in between the plants

 flowers  fading

sea salty cool air

birdsong.

Gently gently moving toward Fall.

Hydrangeas will fade to a sepia shade 

will not be dead headed as they will be homes to pollinators

until next Spring.

Dewdrops decorate and cling to Jude the Obscure.

This stalwart David Austin Rose will continue to bloom well into winter.

Petals falling like snowflakes...

Fall cooking has commenced...

English Style 

Roasted Potatoes

Peel and quarter potatoes

Boil for 5-6 minutes 

drain in a colander and shake to roughen up the edges.

Cool

Heat oil to coat the bottom of a roasting pan at 400 degrees.

Add potatoes and coat in oil

Bake for an hour turning halfway.

Enjoy!

Dinner 

breaded pork cutlets, roasty spuds and carrots, garden fresh yellow beans.

Bouillion based "faux" gravy.

Nom Nom Nom

Fall food.

Fall Porch Decor

White pumpkins, hydrangeas and pine cones.

Are you embracing the change of season?

Do you add autumnal touches inside or outside your home?

Have you bought any cozy clothes to cocoon in this Fall and Winter?

Thank you for stopping by The Humble Bungalow Blog.

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

Changing Seasons...

Fall is in the Air

A close up of a bloom from Joesph's Coat Rose.

I love the curled petals and the vibrant colours.

Peeking out from deep inside are the frilly stamens.

Such a beauty.

The Arbutus Tree 

illuminated by the early morning sunshine.

You can see the heavy dew on the glass of the deck.

Fall is in the air.

Cooler mornings and early sunsets.

Time to stay in and read...

Louise Penny has done it again!

A fabulous mystery for Armand Gamache to solve.

Set in Paris 

it starts out in the Musee Rodin Garden

(I was there this past October)

Familiar shops, cafes and avenues in Paris.

The Marais and the 6th and 7th arrondissements are featured in the story.

I love the Gamache series mysteries.

I highly recommend this one.

Foggy morning at the Cottage.

Sunny afternoons.

Sitting on the deck in the fresh air watching the boats go by...

the seas twinkling in the warm sunshine.

This feels "normal" even though we are in the midst of a pandemic.

Being outdoors is such a tonic...

  I am rather concerned about the change in season.

We will be inside more often.

 I know that I will need to get outside regularly to feel healthy.

My well being and positivity depends on fresh air and nature.

It will take more effort to stay motivated and get out and about in the inclement weather.

Bundling up in a soft scarf to help keep the chill away will help.

This beautiful scarf is by the French Company Letol.

I'll be swapping out my summer clothes for fall and winter soon.

Long sleeves and cozy cashmere sweaters...

woolly socks and layers.

Gorgeous 

Dahlias in brilliant shades from the Pender Island Farmer's Market.

Flowers and foliage in autumnal colours are harbingers of Fall.

I spied a wee tree frog in the planter by the grocery store.

They have a deep croak ( ribbet ribbet) which sounds like it would come from a huge toad.

This wee little fellow was making quite the cacaphony of sound!

It entertained many of us as we waited patiently in line up outside the store.

Masked up and ready to shop in the safety of fewer numbers.

Our "new normal" continues...

It is not as if we rise each day expecting it to change.

We CAN hope and dream...

"Hope is being able to see that there is light despite all of the darkness."

~ Desmond Tutu ~

I will close for now and embrace the message of this quote.

Reflecting on all that is posititve and for the many things that I have been blessed with in gratitude.

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

Diversions ~ under smokey skies...

 Feeling restless while stuck inside under a poor air quality advisory...so much smoke and particulate in the air...ash falling from the sky.

The fires to the south of us continue to burn...devastation to homes, businesses and wildlife. It is difficult imagining losing eveything one owns. People have had to evacuate and leave behind many treasures and family heirlooms. It is heart breaking to see this in the news.

In the meantime, I am needing a diversion...there is only so much news that i can absorb without going down that rabbit hole! Let's start off with some roses, books, cooking and later some retail therapy!

Jude the Obscure on a sunnier smoke free day in The Humble Bungalow Garden.

HOORAY!

The local library has re-opened.

We are encouraged to put holds on the books that we want to read.

Several stands are placed near the self check out with assorted random books.

I returned a book and grabbed these 3 as I was leaving...

Everybody Rise was a fun read and I have started reading Montauk.

Dinner prepared and served to our son and the 3 grandchildren.

Heirloom Tomatoes

Salmon, heirloom tomatoes, red cabbage slaw, twice baked potatoes.

Rosemarie a long time reader from Vancouver sent me the seeds.

(Thank you!)

 Here is one of the sunflowers.

Standing about 12 feet tall.

Under sunnier skies...

Rudbeckia 

a giant variety 

 from the plant sale at Government House many years ago.

My neighbour is painting rocks during Covid.

She has a "take one leave one" area in her front garden.

I left a plain unpainted rock...

(what a trade)

I think I got the better deal though...

You never know what you might find on the boulevard in our neighbourhood.

Painted it black 

that is the colour of all our outdoor wicker and metal French bistro tables.

The garden is fading as the summer season comes to a close.

There is always something to see on the street.

The deer seem to be very comfortable here.

They saunter along the sidewalk

dine in our gardens.

They sometimes even sleep in our front yard! 

My husband is building a fence...he started with the front gate.

He still needs to install the latch.

Hubby had to reinforce the pergola and straighten it with beams...

he has temporary bracing on the sides as he needs to install two more hefty beams.

While hubby was busy sawing and building 

I took the grandchildren back~to~school shopping.

Grammy got a couple of tops too...

a white shirt to wear with my pearls, black pants and red ballet flats.

Red lippy of course, 

 just not when I am wearing my mask!

The striped top will pair well with my black Yoga pants.

So this short diversion has helped me get out of my afternoon funk.

Not being able to get out and walk in the "fresh" air

has been a frustration, which leads to grumpiness.

(and baking!)

I cannot wait until the smoke dissipates...

hope those wildfires are contained and extinguished.

I'll close with another image of Jude the Obscure.

How are you doing?

What are you reading?

Have you been shopping at all during Covid?

What new purchases have you bought or are considering for Fall?

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~