Expanse of beauty...and Smurfs?

This is the view that I am privileged to glimpse when I walk

 a few short blocks from The Humble Bungalow...

I love the vibrant colour.

It is definitely rugged terrain...

  exposed to the gale force winds from Juan de Fuca Strait

very little that is delicate or frail survives...

hardy plants and heather grow free

There is a lot to take in on my walking route...

some are unexpected

like the otters that were sunbathing on the concrete path the other morning.

I was distressed to see a fellow throwing rocks at them 

I presume so they would to sit up and he could snap a picture with his camera.

Fortunately someone else shouted at him to stop before I got into the act...

a few blocks farther along on the grassy boulevard...

Smurfs and "friends" 

reclining on a makeshift bench

looks like an enchanted kingdom

who has had a hand in the creation of this whimsy?

Mother Nature's work

always in fashion

and dressed appropriately for the season.

simple beauty

a feast for the eyes and soul

 I love the organic in nature

and I find that natural touches 

inside

 The Humble Bungalow

are a good mix with the arts and crafts design of our bungalow.

I found this shell at a thrift shop

it reminds me of one of my favourite books...

"A Gift From the Sea" by Ann Morrow Lindbergh

Speaking of books

 I received an email form a reader who wanted to know what I was reading...

This week it is a novel by Santa Montefiore 

"The French Gardener"

it is a well written light summer read

she writes a blog!

It is set in a vast Dorset garden and weaves a tale of plants, garden design and beauty 

the frailties of the human spirit

LOVE

~ ~ ~

 a French gardener 

 the ladies of the manor house, 

their families, 

the village

~ ~ ~

    a passion of pottering about in the dirt

has redemptive and healing power.

You can read more here...

a neighbour's cat has decided that he likes our front porch

we refer to him as "Ginger" for the lack of a better name

he's quite a handsome specimen

and loves to sleep on our Welcome mat!

Graham Thomas

a hardy David Austin rose

cheerfully blooming in the back corner of The Humble Bungalow Garden.

Until next time...

Enjoy your week!

Savouring the simple things...OOTD

As I wind down from the last school semester...
and embrace the rhythm and gentle flow of the summer hoildays I realize how much I savour the simple things...

fresh fruit is in abundance

breakfast is quick and easy

juicy ruby red plums

a sweet delight for the taste buds

one of my students gave me this peace lily plant

it is a perfect perk up for the corner of the laundry room

there is time to move slowly

no need for a frantic frenzied rush to accomplish things

I have a "do list" which I run wavy lines through when I finish a job

 the silverware has been polished

drawers have been tidied

books have been sorted

there is more

but 

tomorrow is another day

for now it is enough

Can you feel the ebb and flow of your daily round?

"laundry helper"

 Chester is on the job!

Pepper and Chester love me working downstairs

they race around chasing their toy mice and jump in the laundry basket

 often sneaking the opportunity when my back is turned to lie atop the freshly folded laundry.

I love the freshness of clean bedding

the softness of the cotton sateen as one slides between the sheets

such a simple pleasure

Mother always said to my sister and I 

"no matter how poor you are soap and water are cheap"

Never underestimate the theraputic value of doing laundry or cleaning the house.

Don't forget to stand back and admire your handiwork once you have accomplished a task.

It will sustain you in ways that you may not have thought possible.

It works for me...

but

I have a simple way of looking at things

perhaps that makes me sound like a simpleton which is not how I intend it

hopefully you get my drift!

I've been wearing activewear most days to work in the garden

action domestic chores 

walk my route...

I have a sneaking suspicion that this might be my new uniform

to get fitter one needs to wear the clothes!

I wore this OOTD when Mr. HB and I went to see the financial planner.

Lizette pants

H&M tank

Style & Co. sweater

chunky pearls

Franco Sarto sandals

It's time to book another pedicure...

one of the luxuries that I plan to keep in my retirement.

I gave up having my hair coloured...

the grey is creeping in around the temples

I quite like it.

We will be making some other financial changes

in the months to follow...

financial security is very important for peace of mind.

What's on your agenda for the weekend?

OOTD ~ remembering friends...

It was a glorious day outside, sunshine, warmth and a gentle breeze.

Mother asked me to accompany her shopping and suggested we pop into our favourite eatery for a light lunch.

Linen J Jill shirt

white tank

Jackpot white pants 

Lily Bleu flip flops

As creatures of habit I opted for the house salad with feta cheese and Mother chose a thin crust pizzette
two glasses of lemon infused water
(served in plastic tumblers which Mother cannot abide)
and our ritual pots of orange pekoe tea
(served in individual teapots which Mother applauds!)

Conversation wanders off tangentally as we think of things to relate to each other.

Mother recently lost a dear friend and neighbour and is grieving...
the two were widows and spent time together sipping wine, going to the theatre and keeping each other company.
Mother has very few friends left and feels with each death she is nudging closer to her own demise.

Having lost a few friends myself I know how emotional a process this can be...
it is so unsettling
like the rug has been pulled out from under.

A topsy turvy equilibrium follows.
Tears flow freely unbidden...

standing at the sink washing up the dishes
reading a book
listening to music
pulling weeds
looking out the window
driving
looking at old photos of us all together...

it doesn't take much to shake those memories loose...

simple threads dangling from a tapestry

There was a long time friend Margaret who grew up and attended school with me who died suddenly leaving two young girls and a husband in her wake.
This death stunned and shocked me to the core...

A few years later another girlfriend, also named Margaret,
one of the "original four" bridge partners lost her battle to cancer
she left a huge void.
It must have been so difficult for her as she knew she was leaving three very young girls, a husband, family, friends, and a career as a dedicated teacher...
when I visited her the last time in Hospice
she was in a coma and all I could do was weep and gently hold her hand.

It took years to come to terms with her demise and I think of her often.

Visiting with the girls

lovely women in their own right

who have become who they are without the gentle guiding and nurturing hand of their mothers

I cannot help but wonder how losing their mothers has impacted their lives...

Saying goodbye and letting go...
are we ever over the grief?
How do we come to terms with our own mortality?

Living life fully
not having regrets
forgiveness
treading gently on life's path
being kind
helping others
making a difference
taking time to honour those who have left...

Mother and I will attend a service, a "celebration of life" in a few days.
We have been advised to wear a bright scarf.

Mother mentioned that she has already decided what to wear and I have yet to decide...
I am leaning towards my black dress by Gilmour and a bright Hermes scarf.
The LBD not because of it's colour but because it fits well and is a summer weight bamboo.

“Though nothing can bring back the hour of splendor in the grass, of glory in the flower.
We will grieve not, rather find strength in what remains behind.”
                                  ~ William Wordsworth ~

Bamboozle...

I've heard great things about a shop called Bamboozle in the Coombs area up island.
Women seem to gush when they talk of their purchases of clothing, jewels, shoes, accessories...
and home decor items.
They are very effusive when describing how much fun their shopping experience was and that they can hardly wait to return.

My friend was the co pilot in my old Volvo wagon plus we had a GPS to help us from getting lost...
Bamboozle is tucked away in a rural area off the beaten path.
It is an oasis of loveliness...
set under a canopy of trees.

outside on the porch of Bamboozle

inside there are fabulous finds

my friend bought some gorgeous clothes for summer

the fabrics and colours are cheery and bright

I was drawn to the style of garments and the display of the accessories in colour groupings

as were the 20 or so other women inside jostling for space

there was a line up at the change room

and everyone looked happy

Coombs is a destination 

tourists flock here to the Goats on the Roof store and restaurant.

I love delphiniums 

but they do not thrive in The Humble Bungalow Garden

so I take pictures and admire them with serious envy from afar.

Love these cool shades of blue and some soft mauve tinges that pop up in the blooms.

I have been using aquatic shades in my recent painting.

The Yoga mat usually is rolled up and stored away neatly...

I have a hobby room and keep it as I see fit.

Often it is a jumble

 the cats love keeping me company when I am dabbling in acrylics

I do not like them usuing my Yoga mat as a scratching post though...

I found a really inexpensive dress when we stopped at Ladysmith for lunch on our way back from The Kingfisher.

Ladysmith is a quaint little town

 heritage buildings

a fabulous bakery

and a few boutiques dot the high street.

This frock is cool and the weather here has been sunny and very hot

so it is a much needed purchase.

even the colours are cool

three layers of ruffles at the bottom

Hoping that you are keeping cool and remember to hydrate with fresh cool water.

I have started taking bottled water on my hourly walks...

it makes all the difference.

Thank you for taking the time to read my humble blog

and for those of you who send me emails I really appreciate getting to know you better.

Almond Joy!

I keep coming back to the amazing products made by L'Occitane in Provence France.

This almond milk moisturizes and hydrates my skin like nothing else I have ever used...
plus it smells delicious and a little goes a long way.

Thinking of almonds

I decided to expand my experience and sample the shower gel and hand lotion.

I am pleased to say that they are worth every penny...

I received a small travel size of almond milk in the pack

 which I will come in handy when I meet my girlfriend up island for a Spa treat and a getaway at The Kingfisher.

My first impression of Retirement is that it is Blissful!

I have savoured playing with our gorgeous little Miss Isla.

She is so much fun!

Grammy's in love with her big time...and I think that Grampa is a just a wee bit of envious.

She painted him a picture so that he could get in on the action.

Thank you Isla Grampa loved it.

It's a warm and sunny day and I plan to sit and sip my afternoon tea outside

and browse and savour the latest Country Living magazine.

It's too hot to walk my route just yet...

will need to cool down a tad before I pound the pavement.

What a luxury to have the time to choose when to walk.

I took my time when I was in at the Avenue book sellers...

I browsed the shelves and found a new book to add to my ever growing pile of books beside my bed.

~ ~ ~

Time to do things at a relaxed pace is what I think I will enjoy the most about retirement.

But it is early days yet...

Thank you all for popping by and visiting my Humble Blog.

Be Well 

Remember Random Acts of Kindness never go out of style.