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

A womanly post...thinking in pink.

Getting the right fit
is so important.

Did you know that most women are wearing the wrong bra size?

I have had the luxury of shopping at a lovely boutique owned by a very skilled English lady Jackie,
who incidentally, insisted on measuring her clients every time they came in for new brassieres.
I scoffed at the idea as I shopped semi annually for bras, how could they change size in 6 months?
Who knew?
Thankfully I listened to her advice.

She has retired now and I miss the sumptuous selection and her expert service so much.
I may have vented about this here on my blog before...
like a dog with a bone I am not wanting to let it go!

It's frustrating to go to a department store, peruse the stock, take in a few at a time, try them on and then get dressed again and repeat the process several times before finding what works best.
There never seems to be a clerk about when I need one.
I am I the only one who finds this frustrating?

Jackie would eye you up after measuring you with her tape and she knew which bras would fit
and often the sizes would be slightly different than what you might expect based on the styles.
(not unlike a designer's sizing, each company has it's quirks)

Peg was Jackie's assistant and she was SO funny.
A woman of "a certain age" with a savvy sense of fashion and a figure quite like mine and a rapid rapier wit.
She once shocked me after she measured my chest with her tape
(which hung conveniently around her neck as if she was a tailor)
she placed both her "cupped hands" over my breasts
to determine my cup size. I kid you not.

It took me by surprise and I didn't know whether to laugh or cry.
I have told this story many times to my friends, but the weird thing is that she knew the cup size!

Living in a smallish town we have a few lingerie shops and I am hoping that someone will open a new one.
Vancouver is the closest city where one can find lovely the French lacy Chantelle's and the Italian engineered Prima Donna's, two of my favourite makers.
Good quality lingerie does not come cheap, they are investment pieces in my opinion.
When one spends a generous sum on staples like these, one needs to economize in other areas.

Do you ever order lingerie off the internet?

I picked this up the other day

at the small bookshop on The Avenue

apparently it inspired Julian Fellowes

to pen Downton Abbey.

The clerk Shirley, and I had a rousing and animated conversation about Downton Abbey.

We were both gushing about the series and have watched the episodes many times and never tire of them.

Are you a Downton Abbey fan?

I am mad for the series and can't wait for more.

You might like to read Julian's novels Snobs and Past Imperfect

both reside in a place of honour in my collection 

they are very rich and thoroughly entertaining.

To Marry an English Lord

"American Heiresses Take on Peerage"

"In 1895 nine American girls, including a Vanderbilt, LaRoche, Rogers, and Whitney married peers of the British realm-- among them, a duke, an earl, three barons, and a knight. It was the peak year of a social phenomenon that began in the Gilded Age after the American Civil War, and handed down the legacy of Anglomania, preppie, and the world of the television series Downton Abbey."

It has been added to the stack of books at my bedside table

so many fabulous books waiting...

Hermes share a shelf with future reads.

Bolder Breakfast Tea

(gift from Peg in Comox)

sipping and savouring this delicious blend 

while composing this post.

Thanks Peg!

I just realized there are two Pegs in my posts today.

Soft pink hydrangea blooms

subtle in the dim light

  of the Humble Bungalow dining room.

pretty in pink

This plant was under $20

 will bloom for many weeks 

before being replanted in the garden.

May brings many blooms to the garden

and with them come many weeds

and a lawn that runs riot.

Treat your self to some fresh flowers

or some pesky weeds if you prefer...

 a jar of sunny yellow dandelions are free

and ever so cheery.

XO

Hostess

Join me over at The Rich Life (on a budget) today

Today I am over at The Rich Life (on a budget).
Adrienne has graciously offered to host a post on "How You Wear Your Favourite Scarf."

I have so many scarves that I could have sent many images but I settled on my black and white Hermes vintage style soft silk square...
please join me and the other ladies as we tie one on!

Hostess
XO

Macarons and more....

The weekend was full to the brim of fun food family and friends...
and it's Monday
with only one Macaron left!

Delicious

 made by Julie

a Hostess gift 

(sheer perfection)

Don't you think it looks nice with the bluebells?

such a pretty shade

What to serve when a caterer comes to dine....

Buy some "fresh off the boat" crab

cook and clean it then pick it

make crab cakes

serve with ginger mayonnaise

atop a bed of pea shoots

follow with salad 

Barefoot Contessa style

from her Parties cookbook

red leaf lettuce

balsamic onions

vinaigrette

blue cheese 

Pasta al Sugo 

(Mr. HB's recipe)

with fresh homemade fettucini pasta

artisan bread

roasted fruit

Greek coconut yogurt

(full fat)

with

chocolate espresso cookies

(homemade but rock hard the disaster of the evening!)

I should have tested these cookies before serving them

oh well no one is perfect!

Family dinner was a BBQ

new recipe from White Water Cooks

birthday gift from my son and DIL

West coast fare...

served with twice baked and stuffed potatoes

broccoli salad

tomato basil balsamic salad

red leaf lettuce balsamic blue cheese salad

(fresh, a repeat of Saturday's salad)

wild rice

served with the remaining fruit salad and yogurt

Slept like a baby last night after all the hustle and bustle.

I was recognized by a reader at the market yesterday!

Hello to Marsha

who so kindly introduced herself to me.

She'd been shopping in the newly opened J. Crew in Vancouver

she said the space is quite small

and the selection was limited.

I'll bet that they are dipping their polished toes

 very carefully into our Canadian market before they go big or go home.

Have a fabulous Monday...

see you tomorrow!

XO

A book that inspires and our native Camus blooms.

Do you love finding a great book as much as I do?
I've never been in a book club as I think I read far too slowly to join one.
Oh but I do have a great book on the go at the moment...
you might enjoy this one too....

This book takes place in India 

and tells the story of a woman who grew up in privilege 

now money is scarce

her mansion is crumbling...

"Spanning decades and told in rich rhapsodic prose that takes us from India to England, 

to high peaks of the Himalayas and deep into the Burmese jungle, 

Waiting for the Monsoon is an unforgettable tale of love, loss and the unusual bond between two people" 

(from the jacket cover)

"If her soul had been as spotless as her lawn, she would not have died that year. She was like the old Lloyds.

For years it was the only electric lawnmower for miles around: the fact that it was still functioning was thanks to the brand and not to love. The machine hummed softly as she pushed it along. In the distance she heard the bus starting up for the first run of the day. In one of the houses as the bottom of the road a light came on; the crickets had fallen silent and the birds were still in dreamland. India was slowly awakening..."

(from the jacket cover)

You can read a review here.

I have read over 200 pages and have been transported to another place and time and am enjoying every minute of this adventure!

What are you reading?

I'd love some book recommendations.

The Garry Oak Meadow at school just beyond the playing field.

Can you see those dots of blue scattered in with the yellow buttercups?

I can tell you that this is a special piece of paradise.

Easter lilies dotted this place a few weeks ago

their creamy heads bobbing in the breeze as if they were bonnets.

Camus

The First Nations People used the root for food.

I love the blue and mauve petals they truly glow amid the field.

There is a white Camus which we see rarely

known as Death Camus because it's root is poisonous.

If you drive through town you will glimpse some parks with this blue and mauve native plant.

It's quite stunning massed under the mighty oaks.

It gives me cause to pause and wonder what our land looked like when the settlers first arrived to the land.

I can't wait to see what the field looks like in a few more weeks as all the buds mature and bloom.

Perhaps you'll join me in a future post when I show it again in all it's glory.

Do have yourself a fabulous weekend.

Love that you popped by for a visit.

Until next time...

Be Well.

The Humble Bungalow Garden is growing...

We are trying to keep up with our Humble Bungalow Garden.
It's size and needs have gotten away from us...
Created by an industrious Hostess over the past 30 years it is a pleasant place to sit and relax.
There are heavily planted beds and very little grass!
The point that I am getting at is that it is a LOT of work to maintain so I have hired a strong man to help me whip it into shape and I am hoping that we can keep him on for a few hours each month to keep things looking tidy.
At least until I retire and have more free time to tend it.

I picked these Euphorbia blooms as we removed one 

to make room for a dedicated asparagus bed.

Looking down from the sundeck

2 robust rhubarb plants

alliums

Euphorbia

limelight hydrangeas

garlic in the raised bed between the rhubarbs

and the new raised bed

I bought new organic soil to fill this bed

but did not buy enough 

(24 cubic feet is not the same as 49 square feet!)

so I am making two more trips in the Volvo wagon

until it is filled

and then Mr. HB will be planting the asparagus

which apparently takes a few years of growth before a decent harvest can be expected.

Keeping Mr. HB fueled I actioned some spaghetti and meatballs

Lidia Bastianich's recipe that I found online.

You make the sauce first and then brown the meatballs in oil before adding them to the sauce.

Homemade pasta 

so quick with Adrienne's food processor recipe

and the Kitchen Aid Pasta attachment.

Dinner is served...

we really work up an appetite when we are outdoors in the garden.

West Coast Seed packets are scattered about the kitchen

Touchstone Gold yellow beets

Oregon Sugar peas

Bright Lights Swiss chard

Gold Rush Zucchini

I have some leftover seeds from last summer which we'll use as well.

I like the West Coast Seed Company as their seeds are fresh and reliable

they also specialize in heirloom varieties

their seeds are also untreated non GMO seeds

which is important to me.

The company is located in Richmond BC and is Canada's No.1 Seed

Are you growing food in your garden?

I love being able to walk out to my garden and pick some fresh vegetables for dinner.

I think they taste better when they are home grown and freshly harvested just before serving.

The seed planting will happen on the long weekend in May.

Many varieties are available for growing in pots too so you don't need to have a big garden to grow food

you can have a balcony with pots

or a sunny window sill.

On my walk the other day I noticed that the neighbours down the street have removed all the grass from their front lawn and are making it into an enormous vegetable patch!

They have dressed up a homemade scarecrow 

in a red plaid shirt with straw filling

and baggy pants.

If you have never tried growing food from seed

I hope that you'll try it

or at the very least...

Please support the local organic farmers markets in your area.

Bon appetit.