What a lovely way to spend a weekend!

A lovely weekend away was just what we needed...just the right amount of travel with lots of walking, a little imbibing, food that was cooked and served by someone else and a wee bit of shopping.
Mr. HB does not adore shopping but he indulged me for awhile!

I went to Hermes!

and purchased my new scent

Voyage d'Hermes

very light 

with a touch of citrus

I saw a lovely scarf worn by the shopgirl

but for some reason I wasn't tempted

now there's a surprise!

We made the obligatory rounds of the bags and shoes

and went down to look for a jacket for Mr. HB

I fell madly for the Armani jacket that he tried on

he looked so handsome in it 

Mr. HB was not as enchanted

I believe it was the $$$$$ factor.

We did find a well made cashmere jacket in charcoal grey that looked every bit as nice

which Mr. HB happily purchased.

Are these not divine?

no shoes for me though...

I have another purchase in mind

Lovely granddaughter Isla

is growing up so fast and needs a chair of her own

and Grammy wants Isla to have what she needs

we drove to a large baby store

and picked up this modern chair

if you ever watched a cartoon show called

The Jetson's

 on TV 

this would be the chair that they would have in their home in space!

I had one martini with 3 olives...I ate one before capturing this image.

the next few images are not in order

and show some of what we dined on over the past few days...

Mushroom Bisque

Bruschetta and salad

Strongbow cider for me and a beer for Mr. HB

Spicy Thai chicken drumettes for Mr. HB

Pasta and meatballs for Mr. HB

Clams and pasta for me

The diet starts tomorrow!

Our hotel 

The bridge we crossed to get to the baby store

a room with a view

ocean glimpse

the sun was out

looking east

looking west

Voyage d'Hermes

a litte something pour moi

Gap wool vest meet Debbie Kay

I am back in the Bungalow sipping my tea

content to be home

rested

relaxed

I hope that your weekend was fun.

Escape from reality....and what I am taking...

My minimal weekender bag contains
my skincare and make up products,
a lint roller,
lingerie
night gown,
2 artsy necklaces, statement pieces from Debbie Kay Designs
and...

these pieces

black bathing suit for lap pool and hot tub

black leggings, 

black dark denim jeans

camel tunic top

ecru loose weave scarf

black bag

black flats

gold low heeled shoes

black Tee

white Tee

print top in shades of heather and grey

beige V neck knit jacket

with ruffled fabric detail

it's a casual getaway

walking

shopping

browsing

hand holding 

time to relax 

with Mr. HB

add my black trench

an animal print scarf

and I am ready

it all fits into a "carry on" size suitcase

our hotel has robes and hair dryers so no need to pack those

Hermes is on the horizon

will be posting

more

later...

stay tuned

recipe for recovery...a tasty diversion and a family field trip

To cheer me up my Mom and sister arranged to have an outing

we drove out of town to a lovely hotel on the water

sat on the outdoor patio on a warm and sunny afternoon

dined on a delicious and healthy salad

I shared my recent troubling eldercare issues

they listened

gave me air time

and support.

We stopped in and browsed at a thrift shop

we seldom visit.

I wandered the aisles

feeling rather foggy

 my thoughts were elsewhere.

The sun was streaming in the windows and this was in a ray of sunshine.

in the light I glimpsed the details

it tickled my fancy

a

leather handbag

butter soft

and

embossed 

with chains and tags

and

long straps

in basic black

the workhorse colour 

that takes me anywhere anytime

Canadian made 

side zippers expand the bag

transforming the capacity

what a great idea.

I liked the "look"

a little more dressy

cross body

for hands free shopping

and the best part

it was

$10.00

I feel propped up

by comments left here

I am 

giving thanks in gratitude for family,

friends,

and blog buddies.

You guys rock my world.

the times they are a changing......as seen by me.

Turmoil and transition Bungalow Style....
Family responsibilities...
and eldercare, bestowed upon by a legal document that was drawn up years ago...in a time when thoughts were as far from here as could ever be imagined.

Once upon a time, long ago and far away...Young spirited parents early retired, not "stinking rich" but comfortable, and happy, embarked on many adventures hard earned by years of hard work, toil and sacrifice.
Life was good...there were local spring and summer boating trips and holidays seeking warm winters, snowbirding to a sunny California desert where a home was purchased.
Great grandchildren were born...photos were taken, albums created...family moments were sealed in the memory box for all time.
(I seek these out for comfort now)

Time passes and the little grey cottage by the sea becomes home base...the boat tethered to the dock in front, cruises are few and far between...and now beside, another boat is tied...a Classic Chris Craft.

The grey shingles pale and weather, the days grow dim...and the inhabitants grow old and frail...they press on with a stiff upper lip they go through the motions and resist any help or intervention.
Friends start to ask questions...a bit too nosy...my comfort is shaken, my eyes open wide.
I do not do worry well, so I take action when the family is stuck.
I am not a blood relation...I married their son.
I go in and take charge, I hire, I fire and I get flack.
(I will live with this guilt but it doesn't weigh me down because I have their best interests at heart)

There is a  death and we are at the helm...health and minds deteriorate...
and you must act...
and act you will
as hard an act as ever could be...you put one foot in front of the other and press on.

Act with a sound mind but with a shattered heart, a heart that has loved and remembers all the good times...a heart that wants more than can be possible...a heart that aches and breaks.

Details are not necessary...
I am clinging to the positive....
there is nothing else to be done...
accentuate the positive and minimize the negative.

We will survive...we must.
I am getting up tomorrow morning and placing one foot in front of the other and pressing on...with a stiff upper lip...life goes on...
I hope it does.....

Toadstools, mushrooms, funghi alert!

If you go out in the woods today

you're sure of a big surprise...

I couldn't resist this!

Yikes!

look at these toadstools

bright orange

these mushrooms are poisonous...

I was able to determine their name by googling images

these are amanita muscaria

flat topped and spotty

looks

like a space station 

beneath the shrubbery!

these images were captured a few blocks from the Bungalow

not in the woods or the forest

Never eat mushrooms from the wild unless you know for a fact that they are not toxic

every year people die from eating poisonous mushrooms.

Hydrangeas...

My neighbour Diana has an orchid house

and she grows a wide variety of orchids year round.

A recently retired university professor,

 she has embraced orchid growing with an academic and scientific perspective.

Gauges, thermostats, heaters, fans, fertilizers

potting mediums, shade cloth, and on it goes.

She possesses a firm grasp on the Latin nomenclature

 of all things orchid.

The rest of her postage stamp garden is comprised of a few woody shrubs

and 

some climbing clematis

and 

her prolific and robust hydrangea bush

She lopped off numerous blooms as they were large and heavy

 bending the branches to the ground

 I just happened to be about

and gratefully accepted this bounty of blooms.

We are very fortunate to know our neighbours

we socialize on occasion

and keep watch when someone is away.

I have passed quite a few zucchinis over the fence between us this summer

it's so comfortable

sharing natures' bounty

with each other.

What's in the box?

 What's in the Box?

 open the latch...

read  the directions...

shells in a jar

a reed diffuser

a bit of a splurge

discounted slightly

what an interesting bit of background India!

Crabtree and Evelyn

India Hicks

has a variety of scented candles

perfumes, lotions

and soaps

The Bungalow Bathroom 

is delicately scented with a light tropical air

floral and fruity

as for the box...

what should I use this for?

it's too nice to discard..

(I don't have a pistol!)

I could use some ideas.

yellow blooms, a hasty planting...

a little burry image of my pudding bowl 

I planted these in a hurry

lots of things happening here

we have

a house guest

family obligations

and

we are dealing with a dysfunctional relative

there's one in every family!

         I thought that these were pansies

I do know

     they are sunny yellow

    and they add light to the grey rainy days

and I love blooming things

cheap and cheerful

they'll have a spot on the porch

on the black wicker table

I have taken all the cushions off and stored them for the winter

Fall is upon us...

summer is over

I feel like

pulling the covers up 

sipping hot tea

look what my houseguest brought for me!

from England

reading a good book

and 

cocooning in my nightgown

I'm off to the serenity of my bedroom

sweet dreams to all...

Hugs

Closet clean out and Recipe cards!

My closet is now ready for Fall and my work wardrobe is easily visible.

I have hung things in basic colour groupings...black, white, grey, navy...

with a few prints and coloured garments to the side.

I had some items to donate to charity and a few that I felt might be candidates for the consignment shop.

The consignment shop is on a busy street and parking can be difficult but I found a spot with ease and while they looked over my garments I perused their stock. 

The staff are very well turned out and fashionably accessorized...the stock is neat, clean and attractively displayed. 

Most items are name brand designers and are in current styles...some are new with tags still attached...

I did not find anything to purchase and was not really engaged in looking, having just pared down and added a few new recently purchased pieces.

Nextdoor to the consignment shop is a vintage decor shop which has great stock.
I browse here often and need to steel myself from making purchases as there is ALWAYS at least one thing that calls my name...

It might be the artfully arranged groupings of items which are so sumptuous that I swoon!
The owner has a keen eye and she finds unique time worn pieces...some very country, others very fine.

I saw weathered oars, concrete garden urns, antique inlaid wood dressers, country jelly cupboards, painted French trays, silver bowls, ironstone crocks, biscuit tins, costume jewlery, hat stands, crystal chandeliers, floral printed china, rugs, mirrors of all shapes and sizes, oil paintings, and a large collection of garden gnomes!

I found these...and they spoke to me!

circa 1969

French Recipe Cards!

 a complete deck...

recipes in the French style of eating

circa 1969

not low fat

high flavour

French women don't get fat!

there is a book available

with that title...

after reading these cards

I would like to believe that

but

I have my doubts!

Duchesse at Passage des perles

recently commented on my blogpost 

referencing a book "French Women" by Marguerite 

where a 3 bite rule

is suggested

thank you

great advice Duchesse!

one dessert and forks for all diners at the table

equals French chic!

and now...

Bridge anyone?