Hostess OOTD ~ "Edgy Biker Style"

 

Butchart Gardens was one of the highlights that I enjoyed last week.

Walking slowly taking note of the gorgeous flowers on a sunny day was such a tonic.

We munched on a healthy salad sitting in the shade in the main courtyard.

Watching people come and go and listening to their delighted comments.

Butchart Gardens is a JOY to behold.

Moving on to an edgier OOTD...

~ Dressing Room Selfie ~

I went shopping for a new denim dress.

I love the denim jumper that I bought so much, I decided a dress would be handy.

It was a petite and on sale so what's not to love?

~ OOTD ~ 

The faux leather biker "Moto" style jacket is getting lots of wear.

I paired it with a simple white tee ~ Lands' End

Jeans  ~ MNG 

Chelsea boots ~ Josef Seibel

Faux Leather

Moto Style 

oodles of "edgy biker" details

great fit and very comfy to wear.

~ Reitman's ~  

a Canadian brand that hearkens back many decades.

I have just rediscovered the store...

reasonable prices

a wide range of sizes

(petites ~ plus size)

cute styles

My test results are in and I have been diagnosed with osteoarthritis.

My hands, back and hips are affected.

 I won't be moaning about my health, I am taking the news in my stride.

After all, I am 68, so some aches and pains are to be expected.

An appointment is booked to see a physiotherapist who specializes in osteoarthritis.

She will give me advice on exercises and administer IMS treatments.

I've been reading up on the condition and will be going to the pool for aquafit

there will be shorter walks, 

perhaps twice a day instead of one longer walk.

My Doctor has ordered a new bone density test as I have osteopenia.

He's asked me to take a higher dose of Vitamin D

and

take anti inflammatory pain medication as needed.

I've baked the sourdough, have a load of laundry in the wash.

This weekend The King was crowned...

Did you watch the ceremony?

The highlights I saw looked incredible.

It's the dawn of a new era for the Royals.

I do miss Her Majesty the Queen.

So what are your plans for the coming week?

Anything exciting?

Things might be kind of quiet here after such a busy week...

Will try out the pool and see what the Aquafit classes are like.

My responses to your comments are at the end of the comment section...

I am unable to respond to each comment automatically through Blogger

so if you comment as anonymous 

please put your name somewhere so I can respond at the end.

Thank you for stopping by The Humble Bungalow Blog.

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

Last Week ~ in a wink of an eye...

 

Gorgeous flowers

a surprise cottage welcome bouquet from a friend.

Springtime seems to have finally arrived at the Cottage...

warmer days and sunny skies.

Such a tonic after all the grey gloom and rain.

~ Thrift Shop Finds ~

Adams English ironstone jug and a well used wood board

A soft wool sweater...

it is lovely but is a wee bit too small.

I have a friend who stretched a lovely wool sweater by washing it in conditioner and manually stretching it back into a larger size!

I hope the conditioner trick works!

Read this book and loved it...

set in a charming picturesque area of Cornwall

involves a woman who has a daughter

is recently separated

and

with her mother buys a rambling old house on a cove by the sea.

This book appealed to me on so many levels...

I would LOVE to buy an old rambling home by the sea and redecorate!!

If one cannot have a rambling old home by the sea...

how about a week at the cottage once a month?

(I cannot nor dare not complain, I am immensely grateful)

My husband brought a few lettuce plants with us so we could harvest it fresh.

He really has discovered his "green thumb" upon his retirement.

The expansive sea views feed my soul.

They never "get old" and there is always something to see.

Boats, otters, whales, birds...

I baked a sourdough boule and two kinds of cookies.

Found a "flat oyster" shell on the beach...

they are a European variety.

I walk the local beaches daily in search of sea glass and the occasional shell.

I am surprised by the amount of glass I find.

There must be 8 or 9 jars full downstairs here in The Humble Bungalow.

What to do with it?

I suppose if I felt creative I could make mosaics...

for now I just keep it on the window ledge in the vintage sealer jars.

Have you read Anne Morrow Lindbergh's book Gift From The Sea?

I love the gentle story that she weaves of her time spent alone in a small rustic cabin on the beach.

She went there to rest, restore and recharge...

we all need a place to find solace and peace.

Years ago when life was really busy and hectic I went to the Spa for relaxation.

It was not a frugal option, but I was working and could justify the expense.

As a retiree, now living on a pension, I chose to find relaxation in Nature.

~ Things I find soothing ~

puttering in the garden

 reading a good book

knitting

sipping a cup of tea from a pretty vintage cup

baking bread

walking

beach combing

soaking in the tub

looking in thrift shops

ironing linens 

What do you find soothing?

Our week at the cottage passed so fast...

in the blink of an eye and here we are back home in The Humble Bungalow.

Well I have a busy week ahead...

lots of social things planned and will be catching up with friends.

How about You?

What does your week ahead have in store?

Hope its a good one.

Until next time...

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

Hoping for a Sun day...while waiting, I shop.

Greetings...

our weather has been really rather beastly.

This weather is for the birds!!!

Rain with high winds and all manner of things blowing away.

We are hanging onto our hats in hope

as we read the forecast for the start to the week 

which is promising (teasing) us warmer temperatures and some sunshine.

If you are reading this post you know that I have decided to continue to blog

using the free Blogger platform.

My research revealed that it would cost me about $2,000 to transfer all my posts

and migrate to a new host. The host would then be charging me an annual fee for the posts and GB that I would be using to keep my blog live.

I am retired and this is a hobby so that was not going to be reasonable.

Thank you again for following.

It is great to read all your comments, I really appreciate them.

I have been forced indoors during the inclement weather

so I have had a few shopping trips to 

 the local shops and malls.

I found a comfy and fun pair of Converse sneakers.

I chose the blue ones but they were also available in red 

which was SO tempting...I really didn't NEED two pairs.

I think they will look great with all my denim pieces and my white jeans.

I have a faded blue linen skirt that I purchased last year which might be fun to

wear white ankle socks and these together.

Oh and I also found a new backpack...

to replace the thrifted one that I repaired .

Hands free for hiking, walking, shopping and beach combing.

Soft leather, attractive details and wonderfully made.

Big enough to pop in a book and my usual wallet, keys, sunglasses and lipstick.

It looks smart too...

I am pleasantly surprised by the quality for the price.

I've been having an espresso on these cold windy afternoons.

I made coffee this way when I was in Roccatederighi, Italy

The Lavazza brand Crema coffee is smooth and needs no cream.

The new to me espresso /demitasse cups are vintage by Susie Cooper.

Made in England.

I found them at Kay's Korner in the Cook Street Village.

I love Karin's shop...

I regularly walk in our Fairfield neighbourhood and will pop in on my route.

If you haven't been to Kay's Korner yet...you have a treat in store.

 Spook Street is a book in the popular British spy series by Mick Herron...

my husband has read the entire series and purchased all the books so I am reading them now.

Interestingly, he has picked up the Louise Penny series which I love and is reading the first one now!

I have a few more things to share with you but will leave those for the next post.

For those of you who were enquiring about my back...

I had some X Rays of my back and hands, 

both have been very surprisingly stiff, uncomfortable and very painful.

 The doctor also ordered blood work.

I haven't seen my doctor since before Covid.

He is very busy and it takes a long time to get an appointment to see him.

He's thinking it may be arthritis 

 I won't know more until my follow up appointment in early May.

In the meantime I am taking Tylenol at night which is helping me sleep a bit better.

We'll see...

Hope that your week has some sunshine and fun packed into it.

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

Thank you so much!

 

I am overwhelmed by the comments and emails that I have recently received since publishing my last post on blogging.

The information that I discovered to switch to a new platform and bring all my posts with me was quite beyond my tech ability and to hire an expert to help with the migration was more expensive than I ever imagined.

This wee blog is and has been a fun outlet and a hobby not a business or a job.

So I am going to stay with Blogger as it continues to be free...

there are limitations and tech issues but I suppose I will have to live with them if I want to have a blog and an audience without cost.

Researching style with this fun book by two authors from Refinery 29...

I am heading to the shops to scout out some edgy fashion options.

 At 68, I am no spring chicken but I am not giving up on having fun with fashion.

Recalling former conversations with girlfriends over coffee...

the crux of the dialogue revolved around what we might be wearing when we got OLD.

Well we are OLD now and I remember a particular friend saying

 "Shoot me if I ever wear pull on pants and old lady tops."

Pull on pants are very comfy...

Yoga pants and some dressy pants with smooth waistbands.

I have returned to regular denim jeans 

the spandex stretchy fabric loses shape "stretches and pouches out" at the tummy.

Makes me look bigger than I am...

not a good look and I feel bad about my tummy.

No one wants to feel bad about their body...

it supports and carries us around.

The only one we have,

 so we better appreciate, honour, and accept it.

 Making peace with the reality of our forms at an advanced age takes time.

At least it has taken me awhile...

looking at younger fitter women on social media sets up unrealistic expectations.

Dress the body that you have been given...

 fitness is a great goal at our age

Walking Yoga, swimming, aqua fit classes

and a healthy eating regime should be a focus.

Fad diets and exhausting exercise can be hard on our systems and our joints.

Moderation is my preferred method.

Have you heard of MNG?

Love "MOM" jeans...

but hey did you notice they are "NEW MOM" jeans :-))

Gosh the last time I was a new mom was in 1981.

I love the fit of these jeans...size 12 

These are ankle length which I love because I am 5'1

no hemming required.

I bought them at our local Bay store for $70

Now I am thinking I need a fun pair of sneakers...

Converse perhaps?

Something comfy and a wee bit edgy...

Women in Paris are wearing sneakers.

That's it for now...

I thought I would just check in and say thank you for your lovely messages.

Stay tuned for more posts...

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

Yummy Carrot Recipe, Sourdough Saga continues...and thoughts on blogging

 

Taking a break 

 a quiet moment with my cup of tea

recalling travel memories...

mulling over the blogs' future.

Think it might be time to close it down...

technical issues and readership engagement 

are prodding me to re-evaluate my hobby.

Vintage Susie Cooper Demitasse Espresso Cups

purchased from Kay's Korner in the Cook Street Village.

Espresso break with a delightful magazine.

This is where I make the bread...

vintage bread tin which is perfect for the sourdough boules.

Freshly baked sourdough loaf...

I prep the dough the day before I bake it.

So much fun and success with the recipes from Alexandra's Kitchen.

Quick and easy sourdough biscuits.

Made these in about 40 minutes including cooking time.

Found the recipe online...

I googled Sourdough biscuits without yeast and found a recipe on

King Arthur Baking

Served these with a stew.

Speaking of recipes...

Roasted carrots

healthy and delicious.

~ Roasted Carrots ~

Slice carrots on the diagonal

place in bowl and toss in balsamic vinegar, honey, thyme, salt and pepper.

Place on a parchment lined sheet pan.

Roast in oven at 450 degrees for 20-25

Top with crumbled feta cheese.

 (easy and yummy)

Great for a buffet or dinner party.

Star Magnolias are in full bloom...

so fragrant and delicate.

Loving my new Iphone camera!

The crispness and focus are so much better than my older phone.

Well as I mentioned this might be my last post.

I will still post on Instagram

It's been a lot of fun and I have met so many amazing people.

Some are here in Victoria and we regularly meet

others are far away.

I have had the pleasure of meeting a few in person...

Jennifer from A Well Styled Life

Dani who wrote Mop Philosopher

Jamie Cat Callan

Joanne Long ~ Madame La Bas

We have met before and last time she was in Victoria 

which was a couple of weeks ago 

we went for a walk and had a coffee together.

She sent these thoughtful gifts to me in the mail.

Merci Beaucoup Joanne.

Today (Saturday) we met up with Adrienne and Bill Shubin.

Adrienne wrote a blog A Rich Life On a Budget from her home in Sonoma County.

Adrienne and her husband have recently embarked on a major lifestyle change.

Bill retired from his job as fire chief and they started a grand adventure!

They sold their home and have been travelling across the USA in their 5th wheel trailer.

They are visiting Canada for several months and stopped here in Victoria.

So we arranged to get together and met for lunch at the Cactus Club.

Such a lovely couple!

Sunday they'll be here in The Humble Bungalow for coffee.

Making friends through blogging has been such a delight.

Thank you for stopping by The Humble Bungalow Blog.

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~