Mother.....

For those of you who have read my blog for awhile you'll know just how close a bond that Mother and I share.
How often we do things together.
Our Seattle trip had been planned for several months and eagerly anticipated by us both.

We had just checked into our suite when Mother felt very tired and she said she needed to go to bed for a nap.
She is 85 so I put this down to travel fatigue and so did Mother.
She assured me that she'd be better after a nap and she shooed me out the door to go and do some shopping.

I left her for an hour
but a second sense, a voice in my head, kept worrying about her while I was out.
I am not one to ignore that little voice...I call it intuition.

When I returned she was feeling really sick and said that she needed to go home.
A few hours later she was vomiting had trouble walking to the bathroom as her legs were weak and she felt dizzy.

I suggested that we go to the hospital as we always travel with extra medical insurance but she refused...
I informed the hotel concierge who set about making arrangements for us to leave.
The staff were so understanding and helpful.

I was terrified,
and my thoughts were that she might not last through the night.
I don't know if I was over reacting, or becoming hysterical with worry,
so I phoned Mr. HB and told him the situation...he helped to calm me down and reassured me.
(Thanks honey)

Alone and afraid and feeling very responsible I thought I should stay up all night and keep watch.
I lasted until 11:30 when fatigue overtook me.
I fell into a deep sleep and woke up at 4:30 when I decided to get up and get ready as we needed to be ready by 6:15 to depart.

We were gone less than 24 hours and went straight to our family doctor when we got back. He was booked up so we saw his partner who ordered some tests and sent us directly to the ER.
We spent an agonizing and tedious 6 hours in and out of the treatment rooms while Mom had a multitude of tests...
then surprisingly they sent her home and told us if she didn't improve in a couple of days to come back!

I have been taking care of her and am sick with worry.

She is pale and tired and if she doesn't start to improve tomorrow I am taking her back.

Mother has a tough constitution so when she is sidelined like this I am beside myself.
She keeps saying she knows her own body, that she's just tired and for me not to worry, but I do.
It's not like her...

I picked my favourite roses for her today, David Austin's Jude the Obscure.

She is resting in bed and I have fed her some scrambled eggs and tea...
Who knows what tomorrow will bring.

I'm not even excited that I found some new things in Seattle.

I took this when we first arrived and I had such hopes for a wonderful holiday.

We always book the same suite 

2 beds

2 bathrooms

a living room

and a view of The Space Needle from the 10th floor.

My trip could be summed up 

"Sleepless in Seattle"

I will be hovering very close and monitoring Mother.

Feeling over tired and stressed to the max

on the verge of tears

I really need to keep my wits about me.

I cannot let Mother see me like this 

or she will start to worry about me 

instead of putting her energy into getting better.

Will keep you posted.

Entertaining grape...a new dress.

I have pushed my fashion envelope and I purchased a dress in something other than black.
Are you shocked?
The LGD has arrived on the scene...
little grape dress by Gilmour, a line made in Vancouver, BC.
The fabric is a dreamy sensuous bamboo and it drapes and skims and twirls as I spin.
Honestly it feels like I am wearing yoga gear.

I am pairing this with some black Hue capri length tights

and will wear it with sandals and perhaps the Swarovski encrusted flip flops.

Lucy Bleu

 I need to find a new OPI to wear on my toes 

maybe there's a shade of purple 

now that does sound like fun!

BLING!

It has no hanger appeal

I very nearly passed it up.

A little voice in my head said why not be adventurous and try it on?

I'm going to be wearing this in Seattle.

I gave myself a manicure and tried a faux French nail...

OPI Hearts and Tarts

 I ran a white nail pencil by Sally Hansen under the nails

bright ~ shiny

simple.

~ I think I am going to take Pondside's advice and try something new ~

Have you tried anything new lately?

OOTD or what I wore on date night.

It's date night here in The Humble Bungalow and this is my OOTD.

I took a beading course at a local shop and this necklace was the first thing I made.

Pearls and Labradorite.

I have made a few things since but I'd need a refresher course if I were to take it up again.

Land's End layering tank

Aerie wisp of a cardigan

metallic crinkle skirt in pewter by Spanner

Sofft shoes

I gave myself a home spa treatment ~ a manicure. pedicure and facial.

I surprised myself by actioning the pedicure

with

less mid section to get in the way

I was able to bend over without huffing and puffing!

Look at those eyebrows people.

There are no longer a flimsy excuse.

Gosh little things really do excite me!

~  ~  ~

We ate some delicious high calorie Thai food and then went for a walk
before going to see Bill Maher at the Royal Theatre.
Mr.HB and our friend Julie, of catering fame, are fans.
I was a tag~a~long.

I love the ornate details of this heritage theatre.

The event was SOLD OUT and the audience a mix of the elderly, boomers and the younger generation.
Bill's focus is on American politics and religion and he's irreverent and rude.
Any excuse for a date with my mate.
Gotta keep the love alive and dating is such a great way to focus on a relationship.

If you haven't taken your spouse out in awhile start planning a date...
you'll be surprised how it rekindles long lost feelings especially if you have neglected this part of your marriage.

I think a picnic on a beach or in a park is a great place to start...

What would be your dream date?

Wednesday meet up found me wearing black!

I met up with Sheila who writes the blog Ephemera and Peg from Comox for dinner.
Sheila will be posting a picture of the three of us on her blog sometime soon.
We enjoyed a glass of wine and a salad.
Three women three different wines, all chose the Tuna Tataki spinach salad!
Conversation was brisk between bites.

Peg is going through treatment for cancer and has a very positive attitude.
Wearing a pixie cut and looking radiant in her soft mauve she looked beautiful.

She's taking time to see the sights in our fair city while she stays at the local lodge,
then she goes home to her husband, home and garden on the weekends.

Sheila is a fun fashion blogger and if you have never visited her blog...run over and pay her a visit.
She has a flair for fashion and an eye for quality and shops regularly at consignment and thrift shops.

I wore a black and white patterned dress and a black unconstructed sweater...

vintage bakelite clamper bracelet

heavily carved

necklace worn as a bracelet

in place of my usual stack of sterling bangles

red velvet made the date

Earlier in the day I went with a friend to the floral wholesale market

the prices are lower than retail and the selection was impressive.

We were looking for the wedding flowers for my BFF's niece

the wedding will be held in the fabulous garden of my BFF.

There will be 5 of us arranging flowers the day before the big event.

I've done this several times over the past few years and it's so much fun.

While there I decided to treat myself to a new orchid...

Weller jardinere 

Price for this 2 stemmed orchid 

a mere $25

I'd be paying almost double for this at the Avenue flower shop.

The sun is shining and the garden is abuzz with bees as they flitter about from bloom to bloom.

It's a great day to be outside in The Humble Bungalow Garden.

Take some time to pause and reflect 

and consider all that you have to be grateful for in your life.

Tuscan Sun...a meagre wardrobe, and thoughts of Seattle.

One of my favourite movies is Under the Tuscan Sun
the cinematography is rich,
the scenery is beautiful,
the story wonderful.

I put myself into the story and imagine what it might be like if I were to live Frances Mayes' adventure in Tuscany.

After watching the film a few years ago I immediately got my hands on the novel by Frances Mayes.
The novel was devoured in record time and I was left craving red wine and pasta!

Little did I know that she had written a cookbook...
one of the year end gifts I received was this lovely book.
A big thank you goes out to my teaching partner!

Mr. HB loves short ribs so the first recipe I have prepared is Short Ribs Tuscan style!

Lucky that we own a vast Le Creuset ovenproof pot

the recipe filled this almost to the brim.

In a freshly cleaned oven 

the weight of the pot 

+

sagging racks

 contents are weighty.

The Humble Bungalow smells divine.

The windows inside the Humble Bungalow are all spotless and shining.

Now all we need is some sunshine to prove it!

I went through my meagre wardrobe and found a few pieces that needed further weeding.

I have been wearing the same few basics over and over.

It makes getting dressed fast and easy.

It surprises me that I do not mind having a minimalist wardrobe.

Would you be comfortable living with less?

Changing the idea of what constitutes a workable wardrobe has been a slow process.

Less 

is definitely working...

streamlined to the basic workhorses

add those brilliant accessories

seems to fit my simple lifestyle.

Black and white are the neutral basics left hanging in my closet.

There are some spaces that could be refilled which would inject some energy

and a splash of colour might be fun.

I plan to keep an open mind when I go shopping.

I have been avoiding the stores lately in preparation for the trip so it will be fun to see what they are showing.

I do "need" shoes

and I am not exaggerating!

Seattle will certainly have some shoes

and a few basics

as I need to replace some tees and tanks.

There's a new wheel on the Seattle waterfront 

which looks far too ambitious for either Mother or myself...

it looks a bit like the millennium wheel!

I think we'll do the Space Needle

and perhaps "ride the ducks!"

Summer often means a holiday...

tell me what are you planning

a stay cation

or a vacation?

Every thing's coming up roses...

Man cannot live by bread alone...

I rely on flowers to bring perfection to the table.
Blooms that radiate loveliness
colours that fill my soul with joy
home grown in The Humble Bungalow Garden...

Saturday's roses

nudging 

and 

shuffling for space

in a crystal ice bucket

It's been a busy weekend here in The Humble Bungalow.

On Canada Day

we went to a BBQ at the gorgeous heritage home of our BFF's.

watched the fireworks from our dining room window when we got home...

Happy 4th of July to our neighbours south of the border!

OOTD among other things...

Do you love a dress in a pattern or a solid shade?
I am partial to black, black and more black.
It hides a multitude of sins.

Besides all my LBD's,

I have a couple of reliable patterned dresses which I can pop on

and in a flash be out the door.

One such dress has had oodles of wear and is still going strong,
 the pattern is a marriage of unlikely colours,
daubs of colour that look as if they have been splashed on by a paint brush.

I have owned this dress for several years

when I bought it it was on sale 

 the CPW (cost per wearing) 

now

down to just a few pennies!

I wore a Sherman pin that I've had for eons,

a co worker said it reminded her of a coral reef in Hawaii 

where she and her husband went scuba diving.

I used to wear brooches everyday

I think that was before I discovered scarves and when my only strand of pearls was a small faux pearl choker.

Change is the one constant...

preferring real to faux

I have very little in the way of jewelry.

I do love how fashion conscious younger women accessorize.

They are not afraid of taking risks and seem to have a sixth sense of what looks great.

Vickie is one amazing blogger and she is on the cutting edge of fashion

go and see for yourself.

~ ~ ~

I will be opening this bag soon...

I purchased this as I have been seriously craving some crunch, sour and salt...

as the end of term closes I plan to indulge

(the first in over 2 months)

 naughty yes, but I feel I have more than earned them...

Poppy patterned Mikasa vase

I snatched it from the free pile from down the street

it's just waiting for some fresh cut flowers...

~ ~ ~

The cats have been racing around the bungalow

most of the time they are friendly.

Nose to nose greetings are common

Pepper has been keeping Chester in line when he gets too rambunctious

Chester likes to run full steam ahead, pounce and leap on Pepper's back...

a swat lets the little guy know he's out of line.

 ~ ~ ~

I have been arranging flowers for the year end ceremony this week

tick tock the term is coming to a close...

~ ~ ~

Holidays!

Who knows what the months will bring....

Go Big or Go Home...

It was an occasion of honour, one of our near and dear colleagues was hanging up her hat.
Taking her leave at 55 to travel the world with her husband of 35 years...
they are embarking on a trip of a lifetime and plan to do it in style.
We gathered to wish them bon voyage...

I watched from the wings and had a few moments of envy.
These two have invested in revenue property, paid off their mortgage, and saved their money.

A lively party was held in a heritage home filled with local art.
The gals on staff did the decorating, catering, serving and clean up.

I offered to do the flowers...
something I am able to contribute
and enjoy doing.
(don't even ask about the skit ~ let's just say I was the one wearing the silly costume!)

I use a very sturdy crystal wine bucket

so the flowers do not threaten to tip over.

Roses

foxgloves

dusty miller

lady's mantle

alliums

ferns

I build it big

and 

work from all sides

bulking up with fillers like Lady's mantle

turning the vessel 

as the shape takes form.

I must apologize as it must be dead set boring

 to read and see these roses again...

feel free to 

YAWN!

 I never tire of roses

(no surprise!)

apricot and chartreuse

a lovely marriage of colour

There were lots of comments on the flowers

but I really didn't notice

my focus was on the happy couple

both embarking on their dreams

of travel and a life of adventure 

on the doorstep of their future.

Best wishes J and S.

This quote speaks to me

(I hail from some hearty Irish potato famine survivors)

"May the road rise up to meet you.

May the wind always be at your back.

May the sun shine warm upon your face,

and rains fall soft upon your fields.

And until we meet again,

May God hold you in the palm of His hand."

~ Irish Blessing ~