Humble Bungalow Garden...and a Humble Bungalow Pie

Gardener's are never truly satisfied with how their patch is looking
we always feel it is never quite finished...
when compliments flow on a walkabout with a guest
we bend over to pinch a weed or deadhead a bloom that has faded
and make apologies.

Many of us change and rearrange our beds on a seasonal basis.
There are perennials to be divided and new exciting plants that have garnered our attention that we absolutely must purchase, even though we have not one square inch of space left...
not to worry we dig up some more turf and widen the border until there's more bed than grass!

This is the new project I embarked on...
the front bed beside the gravel drive.

Slate pieces littered haphazardly throughout the bed

they allow me to kneel on a foam gardener's pad 

and weed without getting too dirty.

Euphorbia

Potted plants add height

and can be moved around

and easily changed with the seasons

the clump of darker green beside the potted plant is a giant rudbeckia 

which grows to about 7 feet and has sunny yellow blooms

Boxwood plants

which will grow slowly and form a hedge which I shall keep neatly trimmed

a little bit of formality has been invited into an otherwise rambling cottage garden.

Much of the garden will remain the same as last year

our season has been stalled by the cold and rainy weather

the past few days we have enjoyed some long desired for sunshine 

and happily the thermometer has been on the rise.

The bulk of the veggies will be planted this coming weekend...

Elephant garlic and Yukon Gold spuds were planted last weekend by Mr. HB

Look at this huge Rhubarb!

It is ripe for the picking

and there's a pie recipe that I would love to share...

I have collected recipes over the past 37 years...

some of them have had to be written over many times as they have been used so much

this is one such recipe...

from Joyce, a former bridge partner.

You can substitute Greek style plain yogurt 

for the whipped cream...

so delicious served warm from the oven!

I hope that you enjoy this pie if you decide to bake it.

As the garden changes

so does my repertoire of recipes...

this tested tried and true reliable winner is my favourite.

French 75 and Date night...Humble Bungalow Style

Mr. HB and I went out for dinner at one of our favourite restaurants
and this is the floral arrangement  that greeted us...

Italian Fare

pastas

 fine local food is offered

It is a large space

and

because of the number of people who frequent the premises

it tends to be noisy

plus 

the wine list is so large

it takes up an entire binder !

We enjoyed a Tanqueray 10 martini 

with the regulation 3 olives to start

we perused the menu

and 

shared a salad

before our mains

I chose the grilled salmon with Yukon Gold potatoes and root veggies

Mr. HB had the rack of Lamb served atop white beans and olives

and after our dinner we went to a club

and danced for several hours to the beat of the music of our friend's band

they call themselves 

MID LIFE CRISIS!

I wore my new Josef Ribkoff dress

black fish net stockings, kitten heels

 a black vintage 

Bakelilte bangle

it was a night of fun

I had a French 75

at the club

here is my recipe....

Lovely daughter wrote this recipe out for me

she loves this cocktail and introduced it to me

it is a sweet concoction

sip it slowly

and smack your lips!

I find it interesting that we can learn so much from our children

I never can get enough "learning" in my days

there's always something new to discover

and

working in a school I am surrounded by bright young minds

with thoughts that are rich and they love to share their knowledge

they are especially chatty when they come to the Library

to do research and find new books

Are you open to new ideas and change?

Have you recently enrolled in a course

or read a thought provoking book?

What do you do to keep your mind stimulated?

(I have recently started doing the Sudoku puzzles in the newspaper)

Lily whites...

White and waxy

delicate and dainty

these are wee bonnets of bliss

The Humble Bungalow Garden

is bursting with a prolific Lily of the Valley bed

White blooms are perfection...

they radiate beauty

peace 

and 

serenity

a vintage amethyst vase

in the Bungalow Bathroom 

which is filled with an exotic 

and

 intoxicating scent...

I have no luck bringing in our lilacs

they wilt within a few days

their scent is divine.

I have tried scorching the stems

and slicing up into the stems

 I fear that they are not happy inside the Bungalow

so I leave them to bloom where they are planted.

Speaking of white...

Winter snowdrop images

these could be 

The Flying Nun's Hat!

I watched this show as a young woman...

so for me this is a trip down memory lane.

Flowers and scent are deeply rooted

and they speak to me 

do they speak to you?

Do you love white blossoms?

Wearing black...channelling light

It's Springtime here in BC...

I am importing some brightness 

by choosing these recently purchased sterling earrings 

and 

my thoughts are light...

I love the way I feel when wearing these dangles

they make me feel feminine

 I have no idea why

 they just do.

The garden is getting a major weeding... sweet peas are planted.

In the back garden of the Humble Bungalow 

planting veggies in the raised beds

is scheduled for last week of May

Red rhodo

in the front garden

Look at the ragged lawn edges 

OK look away now!

They wait to be trimmed with my newly sharpened edgers

Clever Mr. HB installed a vice grip on his workbench and worked a miracle!

using a file

he honed the steel to a fine and sharp edge

they have been tested and work like a dream!

There will be some changes in the front of The Humble Bungalow Garden

I am researching plants and roses...

there may even be some large pots invited to join in the patch.

I am visiting many garden blogs and magazines 

and an imagination 

as well as a superior

artsy visionary

Mr. HB!

For lunch this week at a local bistro I wore:

long knit sweater jacket

black tank top

black knit pants

OPI toes

Houston We Have a Purple

and yes 

there will be shoes...

ballet flats

and 

bangles of sterling

a scarf

and a smile!

I saw this video on You Tube and thought I'd share it.

Hope that your weekend offers up some great joys.

Blog break...Blogger was broken!

Wow what a shock it was to go online and read the message that Blogger was down!
How could that happen?

The comments on my Wednesday post have disappeared and they were wordy and wonderful...
I suppose that gives "Wordless Wednesday" a whole new meaning!

I had faith in the experts and decided to get on with other things...
what choice did I have?

I savored a cup of tea in a comfy chair and let my mind wander while listening to birdsong.

(this image is from a garden that I visited)

(another view of the garden that I visited)

I missed reading my favourite blogs

and felt a little disconnected

but it passed.

this short break from blogging 

felt like a tea party 

where no one came

A Hostess doesn't like to host a party and have no one attend

that is cause for distress

especially when one plans the menu

prepares the food

arranges the table with the best china 

fluffs the cushions

arranges the flowers

all

for a chance to honour 

and 

cater to friends

whom she cares deeply about.

No use in biting the hand that feeds you

(that's Pepper sinking her sharp teeth into my glove and she pierced right through it!)

My humblest Thanks

to the Blogger Crew 

for fixing the problem 

We're Back!

Now

Please could you restore the missing Wednesday comments?

I wonder where they have gone?

Hope that your Friday the 13th was a safe and happy one...

(not that I am superstitious)

Wishing you a wonderful weekend!

Hugs from the Hostess

Skin care report...I am cautiously optimistic.

I am happy to be reporting my observations on the new product so soon.
It will be a very quick report as you might be getting bored and starting to nod off....
You may recall that I posted about introducing some new elements to my ongoing skin care regime.
It's a bit of a leap of faith for me...

I am very careful when it comes to my face as the rosacea can be triggered by so many things...
I try to use the purest products with the least amount of chemicals possible in order to avoid flare ups.

Janet from the gardener's cottage is an Aveda esthetician and cautioned me about using the vitamin C after my post and so I quickly emailed her to find out more.
She was gracious enough to answer some queries and concerns that I had.
Thank you Janet!

I have been using the Avalon C twice a day and find my skin is visibly smoother, the texture has improved and my pores are less noticeable.

My skin looks a bit pinker in the cheek area which might be the effects from the Vitamin C
so I am going to reduce the treatment to once a day and see if that helps...

it also could be that I am out of sunscreen and have been in the garden
under cloud cover for a few hours this week
and have yet to purchase a new tube...

I have been using this twice daily on the lowest setting

it is very gentle almost like having a facial massage.

(which I love!)

I'll keep you posted 

and 

in the meantime... I am cautiously optimistic.

Janet uses Aveda Sunscreen

she lives in sunny California where sun protection is the order of the day.

I went to the Aveda Salon where I have my hair tended to and they did not have the sunscreen

I was told is has been discontinued...

 in Canada.

What sunscreen are you using

or

have I put you to sleep yet?

ZZZZZZZ

Enjoy your Beauty Rest!

A Bouquet...Bistro lunch...Joseph Ribkoff and Cole Haan's

Behold the fabulous flowers!
The Mother's Day bouquet that I  received from my thoughtful son...
I wanted to share these images of yellow and blue...

he chose individual flowers

creating the bouquet himself

aren't they lovely?

the iris were tight buds when he presented them to me 

and after one day they are open and smiling !

I have no idea what these yellow flowers are called

they remind me of alliums

I am the one smiling now,

Thank you S!

I spent a delightful afternoon with my lovely daughter J

who took me to lunch at a new and very hip Bistro not far from the Humble Bungalow

the chef formerly worked at the Wickaninnish Inn in Tofino.

food is plated as art

and the taste is beyond amazing

fresh, local and succulent.

Thank you 

lovely daughter J!

After lunch we enjoyed an afternoon of shopping

mother daughter style.

I bought a dress

by

Joseph Ribkoff

and if you can hazard a guess 

the colours are...

well they are none other than...

Black and White!!!

a flirty hem detail

V-neck 

I will wear this to work

to a lunch

a gallery

a play

and 

I will pair this dress with my

Swarovski encrusted kitten heels

just because they are fun to wear with painted toes!

I purchased these to wear at my son's wedding...

yes that does say NIKE !

(Just Do It)

why are all shoes not crafted this way?

to be able to run and dance and comport oneself with poise and dignity

no fear of toppling off or breaking an ankle

I think perhaps one might be able to play a round of golf or action some tennis in these!

comfort

bling

and 

walk-ability

I danced all night in these at the wedding

I had the occasion to run a few times during the course of that memorable evening!

(duty called)

Lisa from a midlife of privilege

 was recently at the wedding of her brother, who at 50, tied the knot for the first time

 and I believe that there was dancing involved

go and see for yourself

I adore weddings...

I cry at every one I attend

and can never get enough ceremonious love pledges

what about you?

What's new pussycat?

What's new Pussycat?
Whenever I hear that phrase I am reminded of Tom Jones...

Mirror mirror on the wall 

whose the fairest of them all?

Pepper is peering into the looking glass...

and I wonder what she is thinking when she spies her reflection

I think it is the magnification mirror 

so she might feel larger than life!

After many months of hesitation

a new skin care tool has made it's way into the Bungalow.

I have been resisting change..;

I am currently test driving this face brush 

and will report back in a few weeks...

Many bloggers love the Clairisonic 

and have raved about the amazing results they see after using it for a short time...

I have sensitive skin 

so tentatively,  and with a modicum of trepidation 

I purchased this less expensive tool to try it out

it has 2 speeds, is battery operated, and replacement heads are readily available

the circular motion gently works with my cleanser to exfoliate 

and the motion stimulates the blood flow 

to the complexion...

my face takes on a pink glow after using it

rosacea 

reacts to all kinds of stimuli

wine, spicy foods, the sun and heat

so I was not alarmed

and the flushing went away within a few minutes

Avalon Organics Vitamin C therapy

I am amping up my regime as my skin has taken on a dullness

increasing my water consumption does not seem to improve this lack lustre look

and my diet is rich in vegetables 

and healthy omegas

Hormones and aging must be the the culprits.

I have heard great things about vitamin C for the face

so I will be testing this as well

I do not expect a miracle but if some radiance is restored by using this product

I'll be very content.

How about you...

Are you happy with your skin care line?

Do you need to change it every once in a while

or 

are you like my grandmother who used the same cream all her life?

She was a Noxema gal...

whenever I smell that scent I am instantly reminded of her,

scent has that power

to take us back in a heartbeat.

I thought of her with love on Mother's Day...

hope your week is off to a great start.

Happy Mother's Day!

Time is full to bursting with precious memories...
of Mother.

My mother's life is far from perfect.
She has met many challenges and juggled many responsibilities.

I admire the way that she has handled adversity and the way that she sacrificed and put on hold her personal needs in order to spend time ministering to the needs of my ailing father before he died.

Flowers are how I like to celebrate this special day...

I am fortunate to live close to my Mother we see each other often, and spend time together doing things we enjoy.

Here she is on one of our walks along the Esplanade

wearing the Maui Jim sunglasses that we bought for her to wear in her convertible!

Did I ever mention that she drives a BMW?

It's her dream car...

she's way ahead of me!

Cheers to all you Moms out there...

whether you are taking care of your baby,
raising young children,
or remembering your own Mother.

Enjoy and savour your day...

I am celebrating here with a cup of freshly brewed tea...

and looking back in the vast vault of memories from my childhood.

Thanks MOM

Hostess

XO

Garden Day in May

Today was a day for the garden...
I wore comfy faded jeans, a black tee and a hoodie...in pale pink.
Sunscreen and sunglasses
and it was so sunny in the Humble Bungalow Garden.

There is nothing like a warm sunny day to raise spirits

 neighbours were outside pottering about in their gardens

there was music coming through open windows...

some time was spent chatting over the fence

and catching up

let there be many more days like this please!

we have had a few wine and cheeses

over the years

and I think it's high time for another...

weeping pussy willow

with pansies

cheery yellow makes me smile

 delicate anenomes in mauve

such a sweet bloom

 tulips in yellow and orange

not quite fully opened

or I would have taken a picture of the interior with those dark fuzzy stamens

euphorbia fireglow

I spent the better part of the day weeding

 and 

trimming the edges until my dull edgers refused to snip another blade of grass

so half of the edges are shaggy

I'll need to buy some new ones or find a shop that sharpens tools.

I like to have the edges neat and tidy.

The cottage garden look is generally rather messy and chaotic 

so order with the edges are my one attempt to tame nature!

I dug up some overgrown twiggy bushes

and 

turned the soil in the back garden.

The raised beds are ready for seeds

which will be planted in a couple of weeks when the danger of frost has passed.

I am weary a wee bit sore but feel a sense of accomplishment.

I had the BEST surprise later this afternoon...

The lovely Miss Isla came over to visit!

Her parents were here too!

My son has just returned from a business trip in Chicago.

I made a cup of tea

put a blanket down on the floor in the living room 

and brought up all the toys

and the Tupperware

and a spoon.

I sat on the floor and played too.

Besides toys, 

she also enjoys playing with my silver bangles.

She is so adorable

her eyes are bright blue

her hair is red

and she has a smile that could melt any heart!

I am in Grammy Heaven right now basking in the after glow!