Tory Burch ~ Thrift Find of the Summer!

On our summer boating holiday we visited a Gulf Island that had a Thrift Shop
"Nu~to~U" which was only open 2 days a week.
My BFF and I went early before the 10am scheduled opening and stood behind a few locals in a line that snaked it's way out the door and down the steps. I thought to myself as we waited that this must be one fabulous shop if the locals were queuing well before the doors were open.

She's made with recycled finds

love that aluminum teapot cover

can you spot it?

This female form certainly was a conversation starter!

On my first visit I found a wee watercolour of roses

which I plan to hang on the wall of our guest room.

 a brooch with two scottie dogs made out of bakelite

On Labour Day Weekend 

lovely daughter and I paid this wee shop another visit.

This time we found ourselves way at the very bottom of the stairs with probably 20 people ahead of us.

Listening in to the local gossip was incredibly entertaining

I suppose living on a small island means that everyone knows what everyone else is doing!

(there was some pretty interesting chatter with some very personal details going public)

When they opened the doors there was quite a surge 

as people entered the shop and scouted out the tables and shelves

it was rather difficult negotiating the tiny aisles

and I spied a black handbag

that no one else seemed to be interested in...

I bought it!

supple leather

a simple style 

do you recognize the logo?

Tory Burch design

Dena Glazed Hobo Bag.

subtle details

well constructed

a mirror inside

zippered section

with pockets for keys and a cellphone

(the mirror still had the protective film on it)

I think this bag is brand new.

You can see it here  at Saks for much more than I paid.

After we shopped the Thrift Store we went grocery shopping and my Roots cross body bag's strap broke!

It must have been meant for me.

I have taken the Roots bag in for repair and in the meantime I am enjoying this Tory Burch Bag

and I am feeling a little smug about the fact that I did not have to pay the regular retail price of this bag.

It's a guilt free pleasure!

What have you been fortunate enough to find at a thrift shop?

What is your best score ever?

Hope your week is off to a great start!

Soothing sights just steps away.

Life has been anything but routine here in The Humble Bungalow and I have needed to seek solace.
Things beyond our control that have upset the balance of calm and thrown us off kilter.
These events can only make us stronger and bind us tighter together as a family.

Looking for something to soothe my spirit I did what I usually do when life gets me down and I went outside and slowly meandered in the garden.

a cheery bunch of colchiums

tucked beneath a ginger plant

(also known as the Autumn Crocus)

here's the bloom on the ginger plant

looks very much like a lily

pretty ~ in ~ pink

speaking of lilies

here is a lovely orange day lily

sadly their blooms wilt after a day 

I have a mass planting of these against the north foundation of the Humble Bungalow

they've multiplied like mad

a flush of roses

this lovely rose whose name escapes me is a happy specimen

and never fails to please

Alliums which attract the bees like nobody's business

I like to use them as fillers for my arrangements.

a nod to blue

with this hydrangea

I have several blue hydrangeas in bloom

Recently I have fallen in love with hydrangeas

and have at 5 limelights in the front garden 

several blues in the back yard

 a few weeks ago I purchased an oak leaf hydrangea with a creamy lace-like pom pom flower.

It's comforting to know that they will grow and thrive in our clay soil.

They can be pruned and shaped which is convenient 

so that they do not take over the space where they have been planted.

Our reliable Jacob's Coat Rose

has been blooming all summer long

it is located just outside the back door

within easy reach

for picking and the necessary dead heading.

I feel the gloom has lifted ever so slightly

in just taking the time to look around outside 

getting some fresh air and sunshine.

I count on my garden to help me as I negotiate the often precarious journey of life.

What gives you strength in times of distress?

Where do you go to be alone with your thoughts and regain perspective when things go sideways?

Purr ~ affection, a catty post.

The news on the feline front is that a bond of friendship is being forged.
There are cat chases around the house when the rugs go flying and the cats are a blurry flash.

They regularly eat out of each other's food bowls.
Concerned about this habit I mentioned this to the vet she nodded and smiled and said there's very little you can do about it and she knows because she has two cats herself.

Pepper and Chester having an afternoon nap

(someone disturbed their slumber by taking a photo!)

Chester looking very chic in a feather boa

looking very wild attacking the feather boa

Chester has doubled his weight since arriving here from California

where he was rescued.

He had been malnourished and was a very skinny kitten.

I hope that he will continue to thrive and be as affectionate...

he purrs like a motor boat

and loves to snuggle and cuddle.

Our pets are family

they give us so much love and joy.

I can't imagine The Humble Bungalow 

without a pet or pets about...

He's a sweet little fellow.

Speaking of cats...

Have any of you been watching the Real Housewives of Vancouver?

They are the cattiest women I have ever seen.

One woman is mean to the core and doesn't care who she hurts...

they had 2 episodes of the Housewives Tell All and it was a full on cat fight.

I do not know any catty women

have had very few experiences that border on catty 

and wonder if I am just lucky.

How about you

have you got some cat tales to share?

~  ~  ~  

White Wednesday and The Verbena scent goes to....

I've been terribly lazy posting on the Humble Bungalow Blog.

One reason may be that my cleaning lady is on leave as her daughter got married and she has been hosting all the relatives from far and wide on this vast planet.
I cannot believe how much help she is around our dusty little home.
I am seriously missing her expertise.

I really don't do well living in chaos or watching the dust bunnies multiply like rabbits.
So I am "on the job."
It's a great way to get some exercise too.

JOY!

The Iceberg rose is having her second flush of blooms!

speaking of lovely ~ just look at that crisp clear blue sky

Thank you to all of you for stopping by...

your comments mean the world to me

honestly.

You must want to know whose name we drew out of the bowl.

Congratulations to Awakening My Wardrobe

please send me an email with your mailing address 

 I'll pop over to the Post Office later on in the week.

I hope that you'll enjoy this scent.

~ ~ ~

Hostess

Playing with light...

Summer is coming to an end,
slowly fading light comes early into the nights.

Fall is closing in on summer's heels...
which leaves me with a sense of sadness
longing for more sunny days ahead and time to kick back and relax.

It's bittersweet...
pretty soon we'll be deep in winter's embrace and slumbering soundly.
We'll be putting the Humble Bungalow Garden to bed for another season over the next few weeks...

Chester's relaxing in the sunshine.

I took my camera on a walkabout in The Humble Bungalow Garden.

I've had my nose firmly planted in this book and am enjoying it very much.

Too much as my cuisine has taken a back seat to the book!

It's been a few days of a free range organic chicken

cooked and served in different ways...

Chicken Pot Pie

homemade pastry which I whipped up in the food processor.

it was tasty and no complaints were uttered by Mr. HB

so I think I got away with it!

Now I am going to have to come up with something else...

(not chicken!)

I'll close for now and put on my apron and spring into action.

If you haven't entered the giveaway there's still time...

two posts back is where you'll find the particulars.

Good Luck!

Ines de la Fressange's Little Diaries ~ French Chic

Ines de la Fressange is the penultimate French Femme...
she looks fabulous and she makes dressing look effortless, tres chic.

Roger Vivier's site hosts "Ines's Little Diaries" and I would be remiss if I did not share the link with you...
look here!

This link is worth a viewing too...

Have a fabulous day and don't forget the French Scent giveaway.
If you are a follower please leave me a comment about what makes you feel chic.

Bon Chance!
Hostess

French Fragrance from Grasse, a giveaway!

I recently wandered into my favourite shop and was smitten by the fresh crisp scent of Verbena.
There were soaps, scents and lotions in this line from Durance.
I bought one for myself and I thought it might be time to thank all my followers and host a giveaway
so I bought a second bottle for one of you.
Time to give back a little to you because your wonderful comments encourage me to keep blogging.

Eau de Toilette Verbena

The Verbena scented composition is lemony and green. 

It has been made by the perfumers of Durance in the pure tradition of Grasse.

100ml ~ 3.3fl.oz

If you'd like to enter 

you need to be a follower of The Hostess of the Humble Bungalow Blog

and I'd love to know what makes you feel chic.

I'll keep this open until September 4th

I'll draw a name on the 5th and come back and see if it's yours!

I'll need an email with your mailing address at that time so I can pop it in the post.

Good luck and I look forward to hearing about what makes you feel chic!

~ ~ ~

Hostess

Rose Bouquet...

The garden roses are still blooming, nurtured and encouraged by regular dead heading.
I've been toiling outdoors for the past few days, trimming the ragged edges of the lawn, dead heading the spent flowers and pulling weeds. It's a fine way to get some exercise, bending, stretching and reaching.
I have taken to wearing my Lululemon Yoga gear as it seems to afford the most freedom. Lululemon make a great hairband which I recently picked up at the local store. It's a wide band of cloth lined with some slip proof strips which keep my bob out of my eyes...something which used to annoy me no end.

Climbing Royal Sunset in glorious apricot

below the frothy subtle yellow petals of Jude the Obscure

and in fuchsia The McCartney rose. 

They look so pretty atop the Stickley lingerie chest.

One of my favourite vessels for flowers 

is this Finnish icy crystal vase circa 1970's.

Did you know that roses last longer if their stems are cut under water?

Use your sharpest knife or secateurs for a clean cut.

Lee Valley sell a great tool to sharpen secateurs...

it has an angled guide which makes it easy.

I sleep soundly and deeper when I have been out in the garden most of the day.

It was a scorcher on Saturday and I had to pop a shirt on so my shoulders would not burn.

The heat was so intense that we were able to sit outside before dinner with not a hint of a breeze from the ocean.

In our area so close to the sea that is unusual.

We can count on one hand days and nights that are hot and still.

My thoughts wandered to a little island north 

and hoped that the weather would be perfect for mater's family 

on the occasion of their son's wedding.

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

Hostess

XO