A quiet week in February ~ Walks, snow, books, and home decor finds.

 

Creamy white Ribes 

with a smattering of chartreuse

Blooming in The Humble Bungalow Garden.

It has been pretty quiet this past week here in The Humble Bungalow.

Lots of walks, reading, mindful eating ~ counting my WW points.

I read this gripping crime drama book by Jane Harper.

She is an accomplished author and wow can she weave a murder mystery!

The snow has melted in our neighbourhood...

Blue skies, crisp cold temperatures and a lonely snowman on the beach.

We walked at Butchart Gardens on Sunday.

I cannot remember ever visiting the gardens in the snow.

I know that there was an icy Christmas when we visited to see the Festive lights.

Yes those ponds are frozen!

BRRRR

A wee snowman in The Japanese Garden.

I posted a picture of this vintage bureau on Instagram.

I purchased it from Karin at Kay's Korner in The Cook Street Village.

It fits well in our laundry area and is so much neater than the open shelf unit.

I have stored my knitting "stash"

needles and patterns 

in the two lower drawers

 my garden apron, secateurs and gloves in the top drawer.

A wonderful purchase that has given me a lift!

Speaking of changes

while tidying and de-cluttering in The Humble Bungalow...

I have repurposed two silver champagne buckets.

Feeling restless, and as a result, the need to refresh and fluff our surroundings.

Spending so much time at home has definitely made me look closely at what we have and what is lacking.

New bedding linen, a hall runner and the bureau are examples of change.

Laura Ashley coverlet and pillow shams.

Pepper our older cat approves!

I had a strange dream last night...

(my dreams are frequently weird)

I was in the make up department and was trying on dozens and dozens of lipsticks.

The clerk running to all the cosmetic counters in search of the perfect shade.

When it came time to choose I told the clerk to wrap them all up!

Think I know what might have fueled the dream...

Yesterday when I removed the mask that I wore at the grocery store 

I discovered that it was smeared with red lipstick.

Thank goodness that they are washable.

What is new with you?

Just finished...

Lisa Jewell has done it again...

a thrilling page turner.

Now I need to find a new book.

What do you recommend?

Thank you for stopping by The Humble Bungalow Blog.

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~ 

Skin care products that I rely on to help keep my rosacea under control.

Are you on 

De-cluttering your spaces?

Feathering the Nest?

Editing your closet?

Working my way through The Humble Bungalow 

culling stuff from cupboards and drawers

Ridding ourselves of things that are no longer wanted

are out of date

&

 dusty and dull.

The bag of donations grows each day!

I tackled the skincare products and only kept the top performers.

You may not know that I have rosacea or that my skin is VERY sensitive.

I must be careful to use only the gentlest products.

No HOT water

no excessive rubbing

GENTLE but EFFECTIVE medical grade serums are worth the expense.

Here are my reliable trusted stalwarts in skincare.

Gentle cleanser and Micellar Lotion

by Avene

Rose Mask and Exfoliator

by Andalou

Pro Health Advance and Hydra Cool Serums

from IS Clinical

I use 3 drops of Pro Health Serum in the morning dabbing gently on cleansed skin

followed by Sukin Enriching Night Cream 

(it is super hydrating as my skin tends to be dry)

After cleansing at night I use 3 drops of the Hydra Cool Serum 

followed by the Sukin Enriching Night Cream

I use the Andalou CC cream every morning 

followed by La Bella Donna Mineral powder with additional sunscreen.

I use the Moroccan oil once a week as an intensive treatment.

It would be lovely to go to the spa for a facial 

but with Covid still active I am not planning a visit anytime soon.

Any skin care pampering will have to be done by me!

“Beauty is not in the face; 

beauty is a light in the heart.” 

~ Khalil Gibran ~

A January Rose bud that was blooming in The Humble Bungalow Garden.

The rosebuds have all faded after the recent snowfall!

Thank you for popping by The Humble Bungalow Blog.

I hope that you are staying safe.

and

Taking good care of yourself.

We are living in a precarious time... self care is important

being proactive and soothing one's spirit is not being selfish.

XO

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

Frances Sprout's Dal recipe....it's a winner!

Thank you to Frances for posting this delicious recipe.

Winter Warming Dal

Cook the lentils with water, ginger, bay leaves and a cinnamon stick.

10-12 minutes on simmer.

Jasmine Rice cooking on the back burner according to the directions on the package.

Saute a diced onion in butter for 3 minutes.

Add the spice mixture cook 3 minutes.

Topped with a tablespoon of Major Grey's Chutney

This dish is loaded in flavour and nutrients and is delicious.

Here is a link to an online site that has information on the benefits of eating lentils.

I have been eating this dish for my lunches.

 1/2 cup of rice and 1/2 cup of the dal with a tablespoon of chutney

5.5 Weight Watcher Points

It keeps me satisfied and mid afternoon I have a cup of tea and a piece of fresh fruit.

Hope you'll enjoy this recipe and many thanks to Frances.

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

My new Vintage bag...

 

Vintage Gently Used Coach Regina bag.

Compact size, supple soft leather

with a zippered small inner compartment 

 an open space for my wallet and keys

&

featuring an exterior pouch for my phone.

Several years ago I had a frozen shoulder.

 which was incredibly painful.

It came on suddenly and scared me with the intensity of the pain.

The specialist that I saw told me to get rid of my big heavy handbags as they may have contributed to the problem.

I immediately bought a smaller bag.

Once my shoulder recovered, the other one froze!

I now carry a minimal amount of things

 just what I need.

Wallet, keys, nail file, lipstick and a mask.

My IPhone is stored in the outer pouch.

Darling daughter happens to have been the influencer on this Coach Bag.

She dropped off that lovely pearl pin that I purchased from her

at my front porch and I spied the bag...

well what can I say.

Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery!

Jennifer was wearing an embroidered mask when she stopped by...

After several disposable masks fell apart after one wearing last week

I decided it was time to get serious and purchase a few decent non disposable masks.

These are from a dressmaker in Halifax Nova Scotia.

Her ETSY shop is Janice's Tailoring

her site has quite a few lovely patterns to choose from 

 hop on over and check them out!

Hope that you are doing well, staying safe and wearing your masks.

Have you had your vaccination yet?

Our supply of vaccines arriving here in Canada has slowed down...

we hope to get the shots as soon as they are available for our age group.

Maybe by Late Spring or Early Summer?

How is your area doing regarding Covid?

Have you seen a recent spike with the new strains?

 Are your numbers of active cases relatively low?

We are all in this together.

Thank you for popping by The Humble Bungalow Blog.

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

OOTD ~ It's all about pearls...

Cashmere V neck sweater by Black Goat overtop a simple denim shirt and jeans.

My "go to" OOTD for cooler winter days.

It has been given a wee bit more "oomph" 

with the acquisition of a vintage baroque pearl pin.

Darling daughter @thingfinder on Instagram 

had this pin ready to list in her ETSY shop 

when I spied it and saw just how exquisite it is

I knew that I wanted it!

The pearl looks like a juicy pear...

The jeweller must have seen it too 

an opportunity to create leaves and accentuate the pear shape.

A work of art.

Lovely nachre...

just a tip to those of you who may not be familiar with genuine pearls

do not spray them with perfume or scent as it destroys the natural lustre.

OOTD

black camisole fringed with lacy edges

Lands' End new cashmere cardigan

Gisel B pearl necklace from a previous My Stylish French Box delivery from France.

Layers in my hair thanks to my recent visit to my hairdresser...

my last visit was in September.

It felt wonderful seeing her and I enjoyed the "pampering."

Camellias are in bloom!

January bud on our Gertrude Jekyll rose 

out in the front garden of The Humble Bungalow.

Have you purchased any new clothes to wear during Covid?

Are you wearing athletic wear and casual cozy clothes?

I mix it up.

Some days I will wear my Yoga pants and go for longer walks.

The problem for me is that they are so forgiving...

so I think they have given me a sense of comfort despite gaining a few pounds...

my jeans tell me to stop eating so much, move more and get in shape!

So jeans are my guide to wellness.

Current Goals:

Walking more, counting my WW points and drinking less alcohol.

Have you embraced new healthy habits?

Wishing you good luck on your fitness journey.

As a small "non food reward" for my efforts...

I've ordered a vintage classic handbag and when it arrives I will share it with you all.

Thank you for stopping by The Humble Bungalow Blog.

Have some fun in your weekend whatever you do.

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~