Someone is sending me a message....

Oh dear....
someone is sending me a message.

I remember that when I got on the phone when the children were young that they would go to great lengths to get my attention...
those were the days before cordless phones.
I had a 20 foot cord and a box of "telephone toys" these toys were only used when Mommy was chatting on the phone.
I can still hear " Mommy I have to pee"
"Mommy Stewart is drawing on the wall"
"Mommy I 'm hungry"
or worse a loud crash and a scream.

Well my children have grown and moved out of the nest...
but
we do have a cat who will do anything to get our attention...

if you don't hear from me for awhile

it's Pepper's fault!

Hope that your weekend has some time for relaxation.

maybe you'll chat on the phone to a friend

go shopping or enjoy lunch out

That's what I have planned for tomorrow

then later in the weekend

plant some vegetable seeds and work in the garden.

Weather permitting.

The Humble Bungalow May 2012

It's a sunny warm morning and I took my camera and walked about in the garden.
Preserving images of the garden in all it's glory keeps me motivated to maintain the weeding and pruning.
We watered for the first time last evening as there has been no rain and things were looking rather parched.

The peach coloured Rothschild variety azalea 

is putting on quite the show 

it's sweet, almost tropical, fragrance is heady.

The wee chartreuse euphorbia has filled in the front bed

(it's invasive so beware!)

The box wood has grown since I put it in last year and is looking rather sharp.

The azalea was purchased many years ago

we were inspired by Veronica Milner's estate and garden near Qualicum Beach.

Prince Charles and Princess Diana stayed there when they visited many moons ago.

The garden is now open to the public and I must get back up there sometime soon.

Perhaps this summer for a tour and some tea

you might like to visit...

Chairs at the ready 

tea on the porch 

sitting and watching

listening to birdsong

chatting with the passers by...

Gardening requires stamina and I find now that I can only toil for a few hours before resting.

When I was in my 40's I could work for 8 hours in a day

now that I am nearing 60 I am more comfortable working 3 or 4 and then taking a break.

Gardening is particularly hard on the hands and though I wear gloves I need some extra help.

Lotion is often applied before putting on my gloves and there is a warming effect that takes place when working

and the lotion is absorbed at the same time. 

( a mini spa treatment! )

Here's a helper

I rub it into my cuticles and let it soak in.

I keep it by my lap top so it's handy

and then I remember to use it.

There's a long weekend coming up and I plan to plant seeds in the vegetable garden

and go shopping with my BFF for a dress suitable for a summer garden wedding.

What have you planned to do this weekend?

Reeling from rudeness and soaking up gratitude or post # 622

Do you ever say something without thinking?
I try very hard to filter my thoughts and not blurt out everything that comes to mind.

I had a rather awkward moment with a co-worker who blurted something very unkind and embarrassing to me.
It was said in front of 5 other colleagues and I was so embarrassed that I looked around the room from face to face to see if anyone would come to my aid.
No one did and a couple of people laughed....
perhaps nervously?

I wanted to bolt out the door and run.
My legs would not move,
I was gobsmacked,
and stuck at a loss for words...
Struck Dumb!

The event re-played in my mind throughout the day and into the evening.
Only silenced by watching TV,
The Batchelorette season opener with lovely daughter.

This morning a couple of my colleagues who had overheard the comment approached me and asked how I was feeling about it and apologized for not supporting me at the time.
They felt badly.
Now that I have thought things through and discussed the rude event with others I feel a better sense of clarity and have some time and much needed perspective.

The speaker of the unkind words has a checkered past history of doing this with almost everyone on staff.
I am relieved that I am not the only target of these nasty barbs.
(security in numbers!)

"Hootie" 

made by darling daughter

to add to the box of toys here for the lovely Miss Isla.

Who by the way brought sunshine and light with her on Mother's Day visit. 

Patterns are few and far between in my wardrobe.

I have several dresses in patterns which I wear to work, for errands, shopping and dining out.

this dress has a wrap feature built in

chris cross over the bust

I am knackered tonight

 my day has been fraught with autistic uncertainty

some days are like that.

I have been full on

so I am putting my feet up 

breathing deep Yogic breaths

making mental notes about all the things that I am grateful for...

Mr. HB drove up island today to see a lucrative client

he had the top down on his BMW 

and after clocking many kilometers is home safe.

Hi Honey!

Pepper was in a cuddly mood when I got home so I have had lots of kitty cat love

I have leftover roast beef and am making beef dip tonight with a salad

easy peasy...

The sun is still shining and it's light outside

I have a great book at my bedside

(The Post Mistress)

we have fresh running water

the house has a roof

it's warm

I am alive

and 

aware.

I work with some pretty amazing people 

we have fabulous kids at school

and

I love my job.

How was your day?

What is old is new again...

The house on the corner has been empty for awhile.

The woman, a recent widow, has moved into an extended care facility.
We thought the family might be putting the home on the market for sale but they have decided to rent it to the granddaughter and her boyfriend. The young couple has been outside in the garden tidying things up, pruning and weeding ever since they moved in.

They have had the windows open wide and inside we have seen step ladders and pots of paint.
The old house is getting a much needed make over.

The tiny home was constructed in the early 1920's.
Mr. and Mrs. Prescott raised 3 sons here and by todays standards it's hard to imagine where would these 3 strapping boys sleep, let alone play.
Perhaps they all shared one room and had bunk beds or a make shift room in the basement or the wee attic room.

I imagine that they would have played outdoors like I did when I was younger. All kids played outside back in the 1950's, our Mothers knew that fresh air and exercise was what young children needed to grow up healthy.

Mr. and Mrs. Prescott were avid and energetic gardeners who spent many hours outside.
They had a thriving vegetable patch, raspberry bushes and fruit trees.
Mrs. P spent many hours tending her garden and making jams and preserving fruit.
We spoke over the fence often, shared snippets of plants, and often a basket of raspberries would come our way.
I learned a lot by watching them in the garden.

Mrs. Prescott spent Mondays washing clothes in her wringer washer
and she hung the clothes out to dry, rain or shine.

                             I am delighted to see that her grand daughter has followed in her footsteps...

The house would probably be a tear down if it was to make it to the market as the current price of lots in our area are $500,000 and up. So naturally we are rather happy that it is currently occupied and being well looked after and appreciated by the family.
I think Mrs. Prescott would be happy knowing that someone is tending her garden and using her clothes line.

I love that they are using the old wooden wheel barrow and all the vintage garden tools too.
I think it's all lovely and quite romantic...
what is old is new again.

Monday is still laundry day on our street...
Hope that your week is off to a fabulous start.

OOTD X two.....

OOTD...
It's been ages since I have posted an OOTD.
I must confess that I have been out of the fashion loop.

It took a men's shirt to get my game back on.
I feel so naughty wearing a man's shirt.

I wore this around the house 

this morning

and it's all I wore

well I don't count the pearls!

I cannot wear a men's shirt without pearls

I know it might sound silly 

but it's true.

This huge shirt leapt off the hanger

and landed smack dab in my arms at the thrift shop

I thought of Annette Benning in The American President

I love that film!

check out this scene here

Annette and Michael are fabulous

I think this is classic.

it looks unassuming here

 it has the power to transport...

you'll have to trust me !

I did get dressed for the theatre matinee

Mother would not want me to show up in a shirt and pearls.

Black and white was on the menu.

Pants by Talbots

tank by Symplii

shoes Roberto Vianni

I know it's not rocket science

formula

black equals 

pearls squared...

invite Eileen Fisher

to tag along and we are good to go

I've placed an order for a new frock at Land's End 

Dani showed us some new dresses and I need one for a summer wedding...

I hope it's OK to wear black to a summer garden wedding.

What do you say on the subject?

Black frock yes

Black frock no....

Please vote.

THe Humble Bungalow Hostess would love to know!

Happy Frye-day

Lovely daughter has some new boots and my gosh they are gorgeous....
(I have serious boot envy)

leather lovelies

foot friendly

she says they are so comfy

I tried one on and yes they are!

they've been making boots for a very long time

sneakers for the Hostess

patent leather

European "comfort shoe"

It's been a hectic week

and this is the first time that I have put my feet up

don't even want to rehash what's been going on

let's just say it was not one for the memory books

and I am glad it's Friday.

 The weekend will be spent honoring Mother.

Celebrations are in order and they will be fun and we will be dressing up for the occasion.

A theatre matinee

and

a luncheon

and yes there will be flowers.

Happy Mother's Day!

To all Moms

for all that you do

and have done for your offspring

 enjoy your special day.

French Vanilla Home

There's a lovely shop near to my home which I visit regularly.
French Vanilla Home carries a wide range of French inspired old and new things for the home.
It's a treasure trove.
French soaps and lotions, crockery, wire baskets, linens, candles, glasses and plates, totes and French market baskets. The furniture is vintage, distressed and worn, "shabby chic" which I happen to love.

                   Sheila arranges her stock with such flair that it's a rare day when I leave empty handed.

my last visit happened to be on a rainy day

we've been getting lots of rain

so it makes watering the garden quite effortless!

Sheila has introduced me to this lovely publication from Denmark.

Jeanne d'Arc Living

no advertisements 

fabulous features

gorgeous photographs

if you can find this magazine 

you will probably agree that it's worth keeping after reading.

In the reflection you can see the building across the street

this is where a fabulous consignment shop resides.

Good Things is another wonderful shop.

I have had great success consigning my household items with them 

and it's fun to walk in and peruse their wares.

You never know what you'll see

and the jewelry is always tempting!

Good Things is where I was recognized by the blog author Pondside.

It's fun shopping in places like these two gems.

I can't imagine how I would be able to restrain myself if I worked in either of these shops.

I'd probably be the number one shopper.

Do you have a favourite shop?

Tell me about it I'd love to know more.

Hostess

Scarf tying tutorial #2 and pearl love.

If you have been around for awhile you know that I am crazy about scarves.
I stumbled upon a lacy one that has a vintage quality and is so pretty and feminine that it could be worn to a wedding and I couldn't wait to show you.
I found it at French Vanilla Home, a shop that I regularly frequent and it was surprisingly affordable.
(I will write a post on this shop later)

Many random lacy features and details make tying this one as effortless as can be.
This scarf practically ties itself!

Simply

place scarf in front of neck

take the two long ends

put them over your shoulders to the back cross them and bring them over opposite shoulders

then forward and tie loosely

what could be easier?

move and arrange those features that you want to see most

play with your scarf

have fun

be confident

never let doubts about your ability to wear a scarf stop you 

once you wear one a few times you'll be a pro!

this soft piece of cloth reminds me of a cloud

here the ornate bead like details are in front 

while the long lacy edges are in the back

can you imagine how this scarf could dress up a simple dress?

I won't need to wear pearls with this scarf but I will 

because I love how they look together

if you look at the photo you can see I have "big hair"

that photo was taken on one of our anniversaries

many years ago

in the '80's

we are on our way out for dinner.

I am wearing pearls 

as I have done for years

the pearls on the scarf were a Valentine's Day gift from Mr. HB several years ago

the pearls on my neck in the photo are a baroque opera length strand I picked up at the Antique Mall.

Mother and Father gave me pearl studs early on and I still have them and wear them often.

I'd love a pair of gum ball sized studs 

lovely daughter has some and they are her signature look so I hesitate because I feel that might just be wrong.

I really do not "need" any more pearls

I have plenty

as I do scarves...

but that doesn't stop me from looking

Duchesse has a firm grasp on pearls

visit her here.

She loves pearls and has done her research.

I love her pearl posts!

My question is...

what accessory do you most enjoy wearing?

(Perhaps you are a scarf and pearl girl like me.)

Gardener's cottage inspiration and The Humble Bungalow Garden.

Janet from The Gardener's Cottage
inspires me
to make my life more healthy and beautiful
to redecorate and to have fun in the garden.

Her style, her thrift adventures, the way she decorates her cottage, the food that she chooses to eat
it's what makes me visit her as often as she posts.
I wish that she lived closer so that I could meet her in person.
Maybe someday...

Healthy yes and tasty too.

Take an avocado, mash it up

pop in on top of a skinny slice of bread

top it with tomato slices

a wee bit of pepper and salt

fast and easy

lunch is served!

(I used half an avocado)

Janet over at The Gardener's Cottage is excited about 

The Alkaline Sisters

their site is very interesting, inspiring and informative.

The weekend had it's ups and downs

the sunshine was around for most of the weekend hooray!

Mr. HB and I pottered about outside in The Humble Bungalow garden.

Mr. HB's mom had a fall and she broke her hip

 many hours were spent in the emergency ward while they took x-rays

she'll be on bed rest for weeks while it heals

she lives in a facility that offers 24 hour care

so she will be well looked after.

Such a stressful day waiting, wondering, and worrying...

 it's difficult seeing someone you love in pain

and however well informed we are there is always the chance that this might not turn out well.

For now we can breathe a little easier...

On the menu tonight:

 organic free range chicken

carrots

squash

peas

mashed potatoes

I harvested some rhubarb this afternoon and made a crisp for dessert

which I'll serve with a dollop of coconut yogurt.

We discovered a fabulous red wine through our catering friend Julie

it's a Shiraz from Australia

 Skulls

not a very inspiring name but a great flavour.

the grass is green 

with all our rain we haven't needed to water it

the garlic is growing taller

the rhubarb thicker

a bit of whimsy

 bowling balls peek out from the plantings

the raised vegetable beds

sweet peas are planted at the back with lattice to climb up on

the clematis is glorious

everything looks so lovely in the sunshine

it was great to be out and not need a sweater or a jacket

We are both weary after a day of gardening but it's a healthy feeling

knowing that we worked hard and accomplished a lot.

I am going to sleep like a baby tonight!

How was your weekend?

Tulips two ways....

Lovely daughter came over and cooked Mr. HB and I
Thai prawns and coconut curry the other evening.
As usual it was splendiferous, tasty and such a pleasure not to have to cook on a weeknight.
(thank you lovely J!)

She wandered in after pausing at the porch
capturing a tulip moment...

She took this stunning image with her IPhone

 crisp

beautiful

soft

organic

I am thinking

this image would be so lovely

printed and framed and hung in our bungalow.

many petals make a great tulip

 IPhone version

taken today by the Hostess

frilly frothy

simple 

but not quite as exquisite

as lovely daughter's

two IPhones

two tulips

two ways

just

two days

apart...

 Native BC Dogwood in bloom.

Nature and beauty bring out the poetic

as they conspire to inspire 

me

 to put pen to paper 

and write...

thoughts

and

musings

of

life

plodding along

weaving

bouncing

hovering on the edge

brushing up against the sides of reality

negotiating a highway

steering a true course

forward

as it should be...

Lovely daughter and I are watching Real Housewives of Vancouver

far from our reality

it's a guilty pleasure

and we are fascinated by these women and their lifestyles

I can't keep wondering if the show is scripted or not

as they are not very kind to each other

I know very few women that behave in this way...

Are you watching and if so 

what do you think?

The weekend is nudging near

fingers crossed it will be a good one.

Tell me what you fabulous followers will be doing to amuse yourselves...

Hostess

XO