Tuesday, April 30, 2013

Pretty in Pink...

Walking about in South Fairfield in April has a bonus...
there are the ocean views and there are the blooming trees.....


Look up!
Look way up.
Like pink cotton candy
frilly and frothy petals.


Closing in on the blooms...
and they are sweetly scented.


Pink petals as a snowy pavement.


Pink magnolia on the next street...



I openly wept at work.
In Music, 
an autistic student danced with joy and abandon with another student...
he smiled broadly and kept an eye on the moves that he was to follow.
We all watched and I held my breath...

The entire class applauded and I was overcome with emotion.

My glasses steamed up and I put them up on my head 
I had no tissues
so I tapped my nose with my hand and hoped that the kids did not notice.

I think that things are just going to get way more emotional as the days go by...
and I know I have 2 months left to work!

I feel that I have given my best to these students over the years.
I hope that I have paved the way for their continued success.

Saying goodbye will be bittersweet.
Thank goodness I have a few weeks to prepare.
It will be fun to see what the next chapter will bring.

Smile at a stranger today!
Hostess

Sunday, April 28, 2013

OOTD or what I wore to Sunday brunch...

It's been quite awhile since I've snapped an OOTD shot.
I've been really conscious of how badly I feel about my weight and have not been feeling confident...
it is rather crippling when one gets into this frame of mind.

I really dislike feeling this way because I would just rather sweep these feelings of inadequacy under the carpet and ignore them. I think that's a big part of my issue too is that I avoid mirrors and try to stay out of photos so that  I don't have to face up to reality.

Anyways it's an on going issue that will I will be addressing...
when I can devote more time and energy to that process and have no excuse.


We had a lovely Sunday brunch and sat by the window that looked out across the Harbour.
Darling Miss Isla sat beside me and we had a delightful visit.
She is sweetness and light...
it's always such a delight being in her company.
I've got so many adorable pictures of her on my IPhone
wish that I could share them with you...
but I promised not to!

I chose two poached eggs on toast instead of my usual Eggs Benedict
the Hollandaise is too high in calories.
I did not eat any potatoes and that took serious restraint!

Small changes might add up to big results!



Lands End ponte knit pants
I cut the tag out of the neck of this top as it was irritating my neck
I think it's a Jones...
why do manufacturers use such rough tags?


a lace camisole is required because the neck is rather low!


Mee Too flats
Colour Me Minnie OPI toes

I had a fabulous pedicure at Bliss and my feet feel so much softer now.


This weekend I made a rhubarb pie for Mr. HB


Coconut and rhubarb go great together.

I bought a gift for a friend's first grand child that arrived on Friday...
and we were saddened to hear that our dear friend Cheryl's father passed away...
he was in Hospice and is now at peace.
Wish we could be there to give her support and share a pot of tea or maybe a glass of wine.
~ ~ ~

Hope that your weekend was upbeat and positive.
I'm off to pound the pavement now
walking off brunch and soaking up the glory of Nature.

Hostess
XO


Friday, April 26, 2013

Tulips...here today by permission of the local deer population!

Egads! I have some tulips blooming out in front of The Humble Bungalow.
Miraculously they have not been munched by the deer...
I have it on good authority that tulips to deer is like chocolate to women.
Irresistable.


These brave tulips are leaning over onto the sidewalk...
pretty tempting and tasty treats just waiting for some hungry mouths to feed.


They are all the same variety but you can see that each tulip has some slight variations.


Mass plantings are so much more effective than spacing plants apart evenly.
It looks more natural...like Mother Nature intended.

I am counting the days until they are munched.
It's anyones guess when the deer will stop by for a bite.

Happy Friday!
I am so glad the weekend is near as I have had a busy week with very little "down time."
What are you doing this weekend?

I have a pedicure booked and am planning to get out for a couple of walks.
Read some of the novel I am into and perhaps get together with friends and family.

Thank you for popping by
I welcome your thoughts and comments 
and if you'd like to suggest a post topic please feel free to email me.

~ Enjoy your day ~

Wednesday, April 24, 2013

White Wednesday or April 24, 2013

A co-worker mentioned at coffee break that there were about 10 weeks left before school was out for the summer holidays...
I did a quick computation and give or take there are about 50 days left for me in my current job!
After 25 years this seems almost surreal.
I don't want to start counting down yet as it seems far too soon to get fixated on my departure.
Just let me do my job and maybe on the last week I'll focus on the days, hours, and minutes.
My preference is to just walk out the door with no fanfare or fuss...
a retirement event is planned as several of us are hanging up our hats but I really shy away from the spotlight.
But enough about me.

How are you enjoying Spring so far?
I've been noticing the wonderful light coming in through the windows.
(also noticing that the windows here in The Humble Bungalow are dirty!)

Do you follow Faded Charm Cottage?
It's another White Wednesday!

White and shades of white are lovely accents that seem to ooze relaxation....


Sea shell


Coral and a mollusc shell


My neighbour put this tin planter out on her boulevard
as it was "free for the taking" 
I scooped it up
and promptly bought some white geraniums from the nursery.


Our rhubarb has sprouted something rather fierce!
We have a bumper crop and Mr. HB went on the internet to see what this might be 
and decided that it needed to be cut off 
or the energy would be diverted to the flower rather than the plant.

I've been following Madame La Bas's journey in Paris.
You might just like to tag along too.

Take some time to breathe deeply and look around your life
what makes you happy?


Monday, April 22, 2013

Bloggers, Google, Rosenthal and Linen...

I met up with Susan Greig from the blog Arts and Crafts Bungalow at the gorgeous home and garden of my BFF and her husband who own WaterGlass Studios.
Susan is a very talented artist as well as being a gifted writer.
We had a lovely visit and I hope she will come back and spend some time here and visit in our Humble Bungalow.

On my way home I swung by a garage sale and spied an unusual looking vase...
one that strangely reminds me of a woman's breast!
I'm seriously not kidding!



Is it just me or do you get the same impression?

Rosenthal Studio Line designed by Tapio Wirkkala
called the Pollo Vase and it is quite popular among mid century modern collectors.
Lovely daughter has one or maybe two of these vases.
The bottoms are rounded and once they settle in place do not rock...
I think it will be perfect for one solitary bloom but hasten to think the cats might bat them about with their paws so I will need to be mindful of where I put this...


I've been on the lookout for a linen apron ever since I saw one in Vancouver at The Gourmet Warehouse.
I didn't purchase the one I saw there as it was $120 and I thought that a bit too much at the time.


This apron was just a tad under $50 so it came home with me!

It's a bit stiff right now but after laundering it will soften up and will offer years of service
and I'll feel a bit more chic wearing linen than my cotton one...
which has seen many stains and better days!
~ ~ ~
Mr. HB and I spent quite a bit of time outdoors working in the Humble Bungalow Garden.
Mr. HB is redoing our sundeck so there is a big mess in the yard...
lumber, sawdust, and tarps.
He's redesigning the railings and rebuilding the supports
and using pressure treated wood as this was not available when we built the original 25 years ago.
It's a big job and I am excited to see the end result...
I think we will have a BBQ and invite some friends over to help us celebrate when it's finished.


Orchids
 thrive in our bathroom
It must be the moisture from the shower
and the dappled sunlight from the window.
If I didn't love this plant's blooms so much I think I'd clip one stem and pop it in the "boob vase!"
OMG did I just type that? 
I thought it...
 now I wonder if I should delete that comment...

Tapio Wirkkala apologies to your design
and
I hope that you are not offended.
~ ~ ~

Some associations are forever...


I cannot read this phrase without thinking of Julia Child...
her parting words on her television series have stayed with me all these years.

What are you cooking for dinner tonight?
Bon Appetit!
~ ~ ~
Did you get distressed this afternoon when google went down?
I thought that's the end of my blog.
The smart folks have fixed it and we are back in action.

Thank you google geeks!