Thrift shopping and frugal finds.

The current economic crisis is making people nervous and the stock market is experiencing a major dip with many investors selling in a panicked frenzy.
The uncertainty has people running scared.

While I do not spend willy nilly, I do balance big ticket purchases with frugal ones.

I am more than happy that we have thrift shops in our town. I patronize them on a regular basis and have fun looking at the wares. You might be familiar with that saying "one man's junk is another man's treasure".

Shopping in thrift shops offers opportunities to acquire things at reasonable prices. It is an adventure and one must shop with an open mind, keeping your eyes open. Go slowly and peruse carefully, move things around, and you might be surprised what you'll find. Thrift shops are not just for the needy and impoverished. Well shod, bejeweled, ladies - who - lunch have been spied gathering goods and conversations are shared in the aisles over themed table settings for their upcoming dinner parties!

I have seen more Mercedes parked outside and think that thrifting has been elevated to include the upper middle classes.

I would encourage you to venture forth and seek out your local charity shops...

Here are my latest finds...

Leather wallet

Very similar to the Hobo wallet

I paid $100 for the Hobo

and $10 for this one... 

the lining is bright and cheery

in perfect condition.

A book for Grammy's Home Library

$2.00

Isla loves books!

A new release which I nearly bought at the book shop for $30.00

I found this mint one for $4.00

He who does not economize will have to agonize.  ~Confucius

Has the current economic news changed the way that you think about money 

or have you decided to stop shopping for anything that is a non essential?

Advanced Age...and eyeing up some alone time.

I think it was Duchesse that steered me to a blog which I am now following with great enthusiasm.

Advanced Style is a fashion blog with older women as the focus.
It is a peek at chic older women who have amazing and I do mean amazing, style.
The women that are focused here are extremely well turned out confident women who have not "given up"
or resigned to spend their elder years in polyester pull on pants, baggy tops and sensible "old lady footwear".
They are putting themselves "out there" and getting noticed.

I applaud their energy and enthusiasm and admire the joy that they bring to their everyday round.
Go and check it out and see what you think...you might be inspired to add a flash of colour or some big chunky jewelry to your ensemble.

Things are ticking along slowly here in The Humble Bungalow.
Life does have a wee bit of routine...
home keeping, shopping, cooking, gardening, and blogging.

Many of my friends are away on holiday right now so I am feeling more alone than usual.
It's good to be alone once in awhile...a lot of reflection and deep thought can be had.

At work, coworker friendships are comfortable, easy and fall into a happy rhythm.
Rather like a work family.
I do miss that daily contact when school is out over the summer.

Lucky for me that Pepper thrives on attention!
(and the fact that I have many great books just waiting to be read.)

The garden roses have been dead headed and the foxgloves desperately need pulling.

There are no blooms left, just straw coloured stalks waving in the breeze...

saying goodbye for now...

see you in a couple of years.

Same time same place

another great display of their unfailing beauty.

Those reliable and stalwart performers never let me down.

Looking blurry

(sans specs!)

I desperately need glasses to read

am blind as a bat these days!

and 

 scared silly of Laser surgery

so I must get some hip and trendy specs.

I am leaning to tortoise shell or black

possibly larger frames

perhaps a chic pair 

like Ines de la Fressange wears 

on Little Diaries 

at the Roger Vivier website.

I am currently reading Kate Morton's House at Riverton.

The lovely commenter Gretchen, suggested that I try her books

 and I am happy to say that I have bought all 3 of her novels!

Thank you Gretchen!

What books are you reading these days?

Any recommendations?

If you join in on your "Views from the Sink" from last Wednesday's post

please send me a link so that I can put them on my blog.

Family Images from the past...

My mother, sister and I recently went through some old photos.
We sat on the sun filled deck here in the Humble Bungalow garden and sipped freshly made iced tea and noshed on some antipasto, crackers, and a round of brie cheese.
My sister and I wanted to have copies of many of these images as Mother is the keeper of the albums.
I am planning to have these copied and will go hunting for some frames and plan to set up a photo gallery somewhere in the Bungalow, a shrine for want of a better word, paying homage to my family and my roots.

Father atop a sandstone rock in the BC Gulf Islands

Mother sitting on a rocky seashore

and I see my love of scarves has been inherited!

I think they make a fine pair.

No fish tales needed here

a picture is worth a thousand words!

Dad and his dog in the front yard of his family home.

Black and white images

are so evocative and rich in detail.

I love vintage family photos

they show us a bit of what we have forgotten

a time long past that can be revisited

remembered 

and 

shared.

Some of the photos are forced and staged

(say cheese!)

while others are taken quite spontaneously

capturing the reality and honesty of that moment so many years ago.

I got quite emotional looking through all the images...

so many of the people in the pictures have passed away

not to be forgotten

but to be remembered with love.

Mother and my cousin.

If you have a family member that you have been neglecting

try and make contact with them this weekend

phone, visit, or write them a letter.

You'll be happy that you took the time and made the effort

and it might just make their day a little brighter knowing that they are thought about by you.

Spread a little joy wherever you go this weekend.

Hostess

XO

Roman Holiday....

I do so love the romantic movie Roman Holiday.
Dashing Gregory Peck and the exquisite Audrey Hepburn in her American debut performance.
The movie was made in 1953 two years before I was born and stands the test of time.
I love to watch it, and usually see it once every year.
If you have not seen it you might enjoy looking and listening here.

It's hot and sunny here and the shopping needs to be done.
I have my market basket, sunglasses and a new silk scarf...
feeling very much like I'd love to be on holiday in Roma....

I found this vintage silk hand rolled scarf in a thrift shop

and after touching the fabric

eyeing the stitching

and opening it up to reveal the intricate design

I knew it would need to come home with me.

Hermes you have some serious competition!

This colour palette will work well with denim and greys

and none of my Hermes scarves are in this colour range.

Plus an added bonus was that it was under $10!

not the $400 that I usually spend at the Hermes Boutique.

I have no idea who the designer is...

if you recognize it perhaps you would be kind enough to advise me.

Is the signature Constantino?

I am not too sure...

All this talk of Italy has made me think of pasta!

For dinner I am preparing a simple sauce made with San Marzano DOC tomatoes,
Only grown in and around Mount Vesuvius,
(sweeter and tastier than most tomatoes because they are grown in that volcanic ashy soil)

spicy Italian sausage sauteed with garlic and onions,
oregano
salt and pepper

simmered for an hour.

Yum! 

The Humble Bungalow is scented highly with this tasty goodness.

All I need to do is cook the pasta and dinner's done.
Easy Peasy.

                                                            
                                                                           Ciao for now!

Views from the sink..."White Wednesday"

Do you spend hours in your kitchen prepping dinner, washing dishes?
I know I do.
I find these simple tasks very soothing.

The radio is always on and I am alone with my thoughts.
A great song has me swaying to the beat and often I sing,
sometimes very loudly and out of tune but only Pepper can hear it so it matters little.

What I see when I look up from my sink is a high wide wooden shelf, a 98 year old window sill.
I have chosen to place things on it that speak to me...

Objects that inspire calm and reflection...
here are the kitchen sill shots.

Standing here washing veggies

I thought that it might be fun to ask other bloggers to post their kitchen views.

Matte white = Peace and Serenity

Vintage pots

I am inviting you all to post some images of your kitchen sink scene.

Please leave me a comment and a link to your blog 

so that we can all hop right over 

and 

see what you gaze at from your kitchen sink!

Come on

don't be shy

the more the merrier!

Hope that you have fun and enjoy White Wednesday.

Welcome Home with Roses...thanks Mom!

Home is where the heart is, and I feel that this is so true for me.
I love the feeling of belonging and I find it here within these four walls of this rather old Bungalow.
The smell of old wood and beeswax as they filled my nostrils upon entering and yet there was a subtle fragrance that I had not expected...
the floors shine with an age old patina brought to life with wood polish
the air is still and the scent is authentically olde.

I opened windows and let in some fresh air...
soaking in the familiar surroundings.
I have not forgotten, I've just been away for awhile.

While we were away mummy was here.
She brought in the post,
watered the beds,
and left us some welcoming posies.

She picked a few roses to welcome us back!

It took several trips to empty the Volvo wagon of all our gear.
A mountain of laundry sorted into piles sit on the floor by the washer and dryer await...
they are in full swing as I type...

Tonight we had chinese takeaway for dinner and watched the final episode of The Batchelorette.

Pepper meowed as she went room to room and has slept for a very long time on a bed that is not bobbing about in a sea of tidal action.

Jude the Obscure

in a wee glass

(mother didn't know where I kept the vases)

"The home should be the treasure chest of living." 

Le Corbusier 

I am weary and ready to slip into my nightie for a night of slumber...

I hope that you had a great weekend!

Luxury is in the simple things...

Luxury for me is in the simple things.
Triple milled soap, beeswax candles, body lotion, high thread count cotton sheets, a down duvet, linen tea towels, fresh herbs, flowers inside the bungalow, fluffy white towels and hot water for bathing everyday.

Pure linen tea towels

a Bungalow staple.

My tastes are really very simple.
I do have a passion for fashion and the price of so many luxe lines are really beyond my reach.
After all one can only carry one bag at a time!

The desire to acquire is waning...
I feel that this is because I am feeling more at ease with the choice of lifestyle that I live.
I do not need to compete with anyone.
It is very freeing for me coming to this conclusion and it has taken me many years to get to this place.

Getting off the spending treadmill and consuming less feels appropriate for me right now.

My minimalist wardrobe is working for me.
Getting dressed is much simpler as there are fewer items to choose from and the pieces that remain are the ones that fit well and make me feel comfortable and confident.

Food is an area where I need to be more mindful...
I have a tendency to over eat as I love to cook and love the tastes!

If I approach eating with that same philosophy that I applied to my clothing
"less is more"
I might be able to embrace the concept more readily!
I read constantly about Chic French femmes staying slim by eating mindfully and walking daily.

Fresh homemade Batard

oil and balsamic vinegar

I am working on improving my eating habits....
Eating slowly and savouring each morsel, putting the utensils down between bites.
New habits take a few weeks to enact,
so I will persevere and see.

Rome wasn't built in a Day!

I have been very inspired by Adrienne at Rich Life on a Budget
I think that you might be too...go over and say hi, please tell her I sent you!

Breaking bad habits is done one step at a time
baby steps, that's where I am at.
Putting one foot in front of the other
a work in process....

Fresh Heirloom tomatoes and basil are a match made in heaven!

I love a bit of salt, pepper, and balsamic drizzled over top.

A simple salad that is pure luxury.

What says luxury to you?

Wildlife...

One of the things we enjoy living close to the ocean here in the pacific Northwest is the wildlife.
Birds, porpoise, seals and whales are sighted frequently.
Often though our cameras are not in hand...but when they are it's an opportunity to capture the image and share.
It is always a delight when wildlife is sighted and somehow feels like a gift,
as if Mother Nature herself was saying "surprise"!

This little seal popped his head up and looked at me before diving down to feed on some fish.

Two swans swam by...

They seemed quite eager and friendly

I think they were hoping for food.

When I was a child 

I was at the edge of a pond in a park and one rushed up to me and bit me.

I still feel a sense of unease when I see them and keep a safe distance away.

we fed them some bread

and then they swam off into the sunset.

There is not much going on here...

as you can see by my post.

there is

plenty of reading 

relaxing and good food.

al fresco lunch

my girlfriend calls this a "picky plate"

little bits of this n' that

easy peasy

Pepper's actioning some serious napping!

 What are you doing these days?

Shoe buddies...

Summer is a time for walking barefoot in the sand
or wearing sandals
showing off pretty polished toes.

putting our best feet forward

here 3 generations of our family

are all wearing sandals

and baring our toes.

Do you have a favourite pair?

I know I do!

Our darling grand daughter Isla is almost walking!

She has been teetering and taking a few tentative steps 

before she realizes that she is accomplishing this feat all by herself

and then she promptly sits down.

Speaking of toes, she likes to stand on her toes

like a wee ballerina

it is so cute to watch her arching her feet

wee little pink toes that are kissably perfect.

Conversation slows when she is around

we all watch and marvel 

with her every move

it is enough 

just to be in her presence 

she brings such joy 

to our family

in our Humble Bungalow.

 I discovered a great shoe assortment at the children's shop on the Avenue.

It was quite an adventure

there's so much to choose from

everything from

Bolch ballet flats

soft leather Mary Janes

 Keds

Nikes 

even Hunter Boots !

all manner of styles, colours, and designs...

When my children were young there were only a few standard styles

Buster Brown made a sturdy and reliable leather shoe for girls

 Mary Jane's

and 

they also made a shoe that was considered a boot

 for boys.

We bought new shoes every six months back then as their little feet grew so fast

my MIL took us shoe shopping

she didn't have many shoes herself but took great pleasure in buying shoes for her grand kids.

bronzed baby shoes

these were their first shoes

son's on top

daughter's below 

a cute bell on hers

As I perused the selections 

I found myself picking up various pairs and studying their construction

touching the soft leather

and

getting excited at the thought of Isla wearing them.

I am hoping that one day I will be shoe shopping

with Isla

maybe she'll love shoes as much as I do.

I like the idea of being known as 

The Shoe Grammy.

It sounds better than being 

The Bag Grammy!

although 

having said that

I'll be whatever she wants me to be.

Grammys aim to please!

Crabbing...hunting and gathering food and flowers.

Queen Anne's Lace...

I love this frothy bloom

and to some it might be regarded as a weed.

I have captured it's beauty for you to see with my camera.

ship board flowers

and a lovely vintage tray 

a thoughtful gift from my BFF

With that Black Bear on the loose 

I am walking around in circles!

I am reminded of a quote that was something like... 

everywhere I go there I am!

Which is so true...

you can walk away from many a situation but the thoughts and memories will stay with you

there is no escaping that fact

(unless you develop amnesia or dementia)

Gosh what a thought.

I am writing without direction, just typing away madly in the heat of the day.

There is a lot to see right here on the ocean

and plenty of distractions...

I stop to look outside the window and see gulls flying

flags flapping

the water shimmering

and I feel gratitude

contentment

and 

serenity.

Can you see Mr. HB sitting aft reading?

I hope that he won't mind seeing himself here when he turns on his laptop!

He devours historical fiction

and 

happily sits in the sunshine on a warm summer afternoon

doing what he loves best.

In front of one of the houseboats 

there is an elaborate garden

 a maze of coloured pots in various sizes 

driftwood

shells

buddhas

ropes

floats

flowers

haphazardly arranged with an artistic flair....

(depending on your taste it might be a nightmare)

Succulents

are such hardy drought tolerant garden plants...

they grow fast in all manner of conditions 

caring very little if they are in pots or in the soil

and are the most amazing acrobats in their growth patterns.

Fresh caught cooked crab

our simple lunch on the weekend

and

some rather wilted dahlias

(which have been tossed out and replaced with Queen Anne's Lace)

Pink Himalayan Salt in a self grinder

(which is fun to use)

Mr. HB is  great at catching crab!

He catches it

I cook and clean it...

(I am a happy galley slave)

Did I mention that the galley is small?

It has a converted ice box

two propane burners

a small sink and a minimal countertop.

Two crabs cooked and cleaned

Pearl Island Crab Cakes

Formed and ready to be chilled for a few hours

then sauteed carefully

We had a cob of fresh corn for a starter

before devouring these tasty cakes...

served with freshly grated ginger and soya infused mayonnaise

I could only eat three

so there's one for the breakfast omelette tomorrow!

Pepper hunkered down in the heat of the day.

Adrienne asked how she is doing...

she naps a lot when it's hot and sleeps on my bunk beside me at night

wakes very early for food and plays with her toy mice while waiting for us to get up!

I hope this sunshine sticks around for awhile

I am enjoying the warmth and it finally feels like summer has arrived.

Oh Oh!

the weather forecast is calling for thunder and lightning...

we better batten down the hatches.

Star gazing...

In an effort to put the recent world events in perspective I must have a heart to heart with myself.
I can so easily get overwrought with worry about the state of affairs over which I have no control.
I read Dr. Andrew Weil's book many years ago and he suggests having a no news week.
We are so connected by radio, newspapers and the internet.
Facebook, Twitter and Blogger all link us in the social media.

In an effort to relax I am putting negative events out of my mind for awhile and focusing on the NOW.
The reality that is here at this moment in time...
not thinking ahead,
nor looking back,
just being,
feeling,
savoring,
 and
focusing on what is before me.

Cowichan Bay Sweater 

hand knit by Arlene

a First Nations woman 

who spins and dies her yarns 

before knitting tribal patterns 

that have been passed down through the generations.

Cuddling with Pepper

pets help us with stress

unconditional love is what they offer.

No make up on

a

bare faced

greeting

honestly

a

humble hostess

not putting on airs

just 

sharing a simple moment in time

and 

encouraging you to be who you really are 

thank you for stopping by as I 

share my innermost thoughts and insights

here

Hostess

XO