Rainbow blooms...cheap and cheerful.

Mother, my sister and I went out to brunch a few weeks ago and we happened upon a nursery where I discovered this plant. I think it is a cape primrose although there was no tag in sight.
These little plants were on sale for a mere $2.00 each!

Look at the rainbow of colours on this one little plant!

I bought two

one for the bathroom and one for the den.

The flowers on each plant have several colours which I thought quite unusual.

I feel myself smiling...

Aren't they cheerful?

I wasn't looking for house plants until I spied them blooming their wee hearts out 

just waiting for a home to call their own.

What have you stumbled on that brightened your day?

I hope that your weekend is full to the brim

with lovely things. 

~ ~ ~

Facing the future...thoughts on mortality and a death.

One never knows what is around the next corner and all we can do is plan as best we can and hope for the best.
The future that lies ahead, however long or short...
it is beyond our control and all we really can do is live as richly as we can in the moment,
the now, this very second.

Friends have mentioned those who have terminal illnesses and the stories of the recently departed.
Some taken before their time...
what we might consider "before their time"
meaning what?
That they were close to our age and we might feel nervous if we knew that we were in their shoes.

It could happen.
(Perish the thought)

Coming to terms with one's mortality feels a little uncomfortable...at least it does to me. I'm not ready!
I think "Oh when I'm 70 I'll consider it", or "maybe 80"
My Mother has not arrived at this place...
I don't think my Father did until he was told that he had a few days left to live.

Maybe we are never ready until the last minute
maybe it's months
or when we receive a diagnosis that kicks us in the gut and forces us to think long and hard about what we have done in our lives,
what is important,
what we may have wasted time doing,
what we could have done better...

What would you do if this was the last day of your life?
Who would you call?
Do you have any unresolved conflicts to resolve?
Is there someone you need to forgive?

I've been sitting here in The Humble Bungalow in the still and quiet and thoughts have been flowing free...
startling and awakening thoughts that so
many people struggle with health challenges everyday
and despite them they press on.

I am so humbled and feel immensely grateful for so many things in my life.

I am dedicating this post to Peg from Comox who lost her battle to cancer yesterday at 1:00...
she was a regular commenter and we emailed behind the scenes.
When she discovered my love of tea she sent me some delicious teas in the mail that were artfully blended in a Comox tea shop...my favourite was the Paris blend. In return I sent her a Kate Morton novel...

 Peg's husband sent me this picture of Peg yesterday and I thought how lovely it would be to post it here

in her memory...

Sheila from Ephemera and I had dinner with her and got a chance to spend some time in her company.
She was a gracious and inspiring woman...I am grateful that our paths crossed.

"Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life.
It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend."

                                                            ~ Melody Beattie ~

Gifts...that keep on giving.

This past weekend was sunny and warm, a perfect time to be out and about, pottering in the garden.
Mr. HB and I drove out to Brentwood Bay Nursery to redeem the gift certificate that I received from my family last March on my birthday.

I like to shop there because they have such great roses!
Lots of selection, many are of the David Austin variety.

Meet Madame Hardy

a pure white rose with a myrrh fragrance.

Mr. HB dug her into a bed in the back

out of harms way from the deer.

As long as the gate stays closed our plants should be safe from those hungry foragers.

Did I mention that our front yard is their new salad bar?

It's fortunate that we took Mr. HB's convertible so we could bring home our new Star Magnolia!

We had to take the backroads so we could drive slowly.

Planted in the front garden so it's sweet scent would greet us when we walk by...

isn't it pretty?

such a delicate dainty flower

many blooms are yet to emerge from their fuzzy cocoons

I've always admired Magnolia trees and find them startling in their beauty.

I wonder if the deer like magnolias...

I hope this one settles in nicely and grows roots.

Greeting those who walk by the Humble Bungalow Garden.

Hope that your week is off to a great start...

Happy daze....

On the most recent trip to my hairdresser I had a cut and a few minimal highlights to help ease the growing in of the grey hairs...
short of shaving my hair all off there is no real easy way to go grey gracefully.
Having dyed my hair for years it is a bit alarming to see just how much grey that I have!

I am happy that my hairdresser is guiding me through this journey.
She has many clients that are doing the same and she herself has silver hair which looks stunning.

The area around my temples seems to be where the bulk of the grey is growing

the rest is rather like tinsel a little bit here and there.

I hope I don't end up looking like a badger!

Maintaining a shorter cut for now seems like the easiest solution 

when all the colour has been cut off I can choose to grow it longer.

I think it will be several months yet...

Here's my salt and pepper linen scarf

I love linen!

I do not own any linen clothing but have done so in the past.

I am thinking of investing in a linen dress for summer as there is nothing cooler that wearing linen in the heat.

I don't even mind that linen creases

and I love how it softens up after laundering and years of wear.

My tea towels are all linen

I would not dream of using anything else to dry my dishes.

Do you know what I keep in this grey felted wool bag?

Why my knitting of course!

I dabble in dish cloths...

cotton, of course

 one of my quirks

they have to be cotton.

I know what you might be thinking...

The Hostess is a snob!

I AM fussy

 I know what I like.

Are you fussy too?

What are you fussy about?

The Easter weekend weather has been glorious ~ warm and sunny.

We have been out in the Humble Bungalow Garden messing about in the dirt.

It's springing to life before our very eyes.

I've got some new things 

so don't be a stranger and come back soon

until then...

it's a happy daze around here.

"Stop Blending In" or Accessorizing the scarf on Easter weekend.

How are you warming up your wardrobe for Spring and Summer?
Have you embraced the new focus on the Bright Shades that are popping up in every shop?

The black, white and grey gal that I am is taking baby steps adding colour and doing it very prudently...
I do not follow trends per se but I do not want to look like I have "given up" either.
So I walk a fine line...a line which I am sure that many of us almost 60's walk.

What I choose to wear is a reflection of who I am, what I consider to be an honest representation of my tastes and socio economic class, the middle class, conservative, and becoming more mindful of consumerism and frugality.
There is an inner struggle going on, a voice that whispers...buy me,
when on the other hand the level head says you do not "need" it.

Do you want it?
Do you need it?
Will it last for many seasons?
Is it something that will give you pleasure every time you put it on?
Is it well made?
Does it flatter?

All these thoughts co-mingling together as I stand admiring a simple scarf...
A scarf, I know! How silly!
I hesitate as the clerk comes over and gushes about these scarves and the wonderful colours that they come in...
she has 3 of them already and loves hers. I move on...
circling the department and come back,
not once but twice.

Mr. HB mentions that he likes the green and blue together.
Really honey? That definitely sounds like encouragement.
That casual observation might nudge me just a little.
I put the scarf up to my face, yes the colours work...
tha fabric is dreamy, soft and wispy.
It's not too expensive...
it's versatile and pretty.
It would perk up my greys and blacks.

Nordstrom's scarf

a wispy dreamy scarf

a little bit of soft colour to light up my wardrobe.

I'm thinking now that I will need to pull out my ethnic silver and turquoise earrings

they now have a partner!

ah yes!

maybe NOT!

Perhaps...

certainly!

Haggis anyone? 

Vintage Bakelite ~ when I'm feeling artsy.

Hosting out of town guests...

maybe strangers in a strange land?

an after 5 soiree...

walking the dogs...

NO! I have two cats.

date night...

afternoon tea with Mother

This scarf is so versatile!

I am imagining all the outfits that I can wear it with so it's a wise and prudent purchase.

Storing a scarf when not in use is minimal.

Our wee Humble Bungalow has teeny tiny cupboards 

so I always need to consider that when I buy something...

anything

where will it be stored when not in use?

Do you think before you buy something?

I had fun with this post and I hope it might have made you smile.

On the news front...

Jumping for JOY!

a new grand baby is on the way!

Happy Easter!

~ ~ ~

A Very Happy Hostess!

French Breton shirt...OOTD and thoughts for the day.

Seems like every magazine I pick up and leaf through is showing off French Breton shirts.
Stripes and prints are the current buzz.

Don't they look crisp and easy?
I like this French style, it's rather timeless and somewhat iconic.

Banana Republic had one that I purchased and it is a bit snug around my tummy and derriere but I bought it anyway. I thought to myself here's the motivation I need to amp up my pace and increase my walking.
In the meantime I will pair it with a jacket.

Banana Republic ~ Hermes

An anonymous commenter recently mentioned that I should go to the dermatologist and have my mole removed.

It has been with me forever and should it change significantly in size or look like it was cancer I would go asap.

In the meantime you will see me here full figured flaws and all.

Blogging and posting pictures of myself is a dodgy business!

I've had emails from people criticizing all manner of things.

I do know "these things" as I live in this body everyday.

I am not perfect nor do I pretend to be

I am not an expert 

nor am I a fashionista

I am simply a woman nudging 60 with a voice and a desire to write.

I am having fun with this blog or I would not bother to post as often as I do.

I hope that you get something out of it in return.

Red flats

black leggings

Breton top

You can see just how plump I am

it's difficult to hide in these OOTD shots.

I am not really trying to hide 

just trying to make the best of what I have been given 

until such time that I totally dedicate myself to slimming down.

I am on a journey and one that is a challenging.

One that I have struggled with for as long as I can remember.

This blog has helped me face up and confront my personal issues.

Following in the footsteps of other bloggers 

who have been successful in transforming their lives has been such an inspiration and so unexpected.

The network of online friends has been rather over whelming

the support that is out there

the emails

the comments...

Thank you for reading my Humble Blog.

Hostess

XO

Springing forth with colour...OOTD and a health report.

Spring is showing off in the yellow daffodils, purple crocus, red tulips and the blue hyacinths...
everywhere I look I see VIBRANT BRILLIANT COLOUR.
It is so startling after the grey skies of winter that my head turns to notice every bud and bloom.

This store's display

 caught my attention

and I stopped to look closer

to examine the details of each piece.

How cheerful and energetic it makes me feel.

As seen on the street in Seattle

mette might recognize some of the Marimekko prints.

Color or "Colour"

 is getting lots of press this season.

~ ~ ~

(Colour is how well spell it here in Canada)

Who knew there were blue trees in Seattle?

I'd call this cobalt blue...

it certainly makes a statement.

~ ~ ~

 Silly I know...

"Walking outfit"

I have two of these hoodies one in Glacier Blue and this Chartreuse Green

and I have been living in these "performance" active wear pants from Lands End!

They are so comfy...

I have been side lined with Vertigo all weekend and it continues 

my doctor thinks is Benign Postural Vertigo...

 I am taking some medicine, the same one that astronauts take for their trips to outer space!

So for now it's slow mo days in The Humble Bungalow

no walks allowed until it passes.

"Too risky"

 the hazards of falling are not worth it.

(I reluctantly have to agree)

I have lots of new magazines to browse

 a funny book to start

this really does sound entertaining!

What colours are you wearing this season and are you feeling bold in your choice of colour?

The Hostess gets a makeover at Bobbi Brown...

Bobbi Brown is well known and respected when it comes to making the best of make up.
Not over doing it, but using a lighter hand to accent and emphasize your best features.

When Mr. HB and I were in Seattle on holiday I did something completely out of my comfort zone.
I sat at the Bobbi Brown counter at Nordstrom's and had a make over!
It was very early so thankfully the store was not too crowded.
"No unnecessary attention please and thank you!"

After watching the Lisa Eldridge videos I realized that I could use some help.
Choosing the shades that are complimentary to my skin tone is something that I have always struggled a bit with
also I knew that I needed a base colour on my face to cover my ruddiness from rosacea and yet I still wanted to add a healthy glow. The cosmetician was helpful and was able to achieve what I was looking for in a very short time.

My morning routine has got to be easy...

A trio of products and a foundation brush.

Porcelain Luminous Moisturizing Foundation

Fresh Melon Pot Rouge for Lips and Cheeks 

Antigua Illuminating Bronzing Powder

I am happy with the products how easy they are to work with and how the end result looks natural.

If you have never had a makeover do try one

they are free and you can take home samples

having someone impartial give you advice is much easier than you might think!

If you like the products after trying them then go back to the cosmetic counter and buy them.

I wore the foundation for a day before I decided it was right for me.

Thanks for stopping by and spending a little time out of your busy day.

Have you tried anything new lately?

I've got my nose buried in a new book by an author that I have just discovered...

she has penned a dozen books!

Santa Montefiore

Thanks to Julian Fellowes 

writer of Downton Abbey and Gosford Park...

His comment on the front cover made the sale and I am enjoying it

 it feels a bit like I just stepped inside a home like the one in Downton Abbey but with different characters.

What are you reading?

Seattle and Vancouver Loot Shoot...

I bought very little on our recent trip as we focused on seeing the sights and walking ~ walking ~ walking!

I needed a new case for my IPhone 4 and the selection was quite thin on the ground.

Seems like the IPhone 5 is the new kid in town so I hunted high and low for a case for mine and was fortunate enough to find one of two Kate Spade dotty ones left at Holt Renfrew in Vancouver.

Kate Spade does do some fun designs...

I browsed her shop in Seattle and could have gotten into a LOT of trouble had I not been focused on what I need and not what tempts!

An Eileen Fisher top

found at Nordstrom's Rack

the main store's clearance centre.

metal beading makes this simple style more interesting

Leather Ballet flats to replace my worn ones

Mee Too 

comfy ~ like walking on pillows!

New walking shoes in a brushed gold shade

Born ~ comfort and a little dazzle.

Classic striped French inspired top from Banana Republic.

H and M 

tank tops white and one black and white in a very discreet pattern

perfect for layering with all my other pieces.

 I think H and M is for the young and young at heart.

Good value on these basics that's why I scooped them up...

I actually bought two white ones.

Stains happen, 

well they do to me 

and sadly often I cannot remove them.

I have one more post on my loot and that will follow shortly as I am having a bit of fun with it.

Be back soon...

enjoy your weekend!