Mother Nature's Paint Brush...

I look to Mother Nature for inspiration and appreciate her flair for colour.

I have always been attracted to white bouquets.

Arrangements that mix shapes and textures of a variety of white blooms complimented with a flush of greens...

Lady's Mantle makes a wonderful filler, Hosta leaves add interest, fern fronds, the list of greens is endless.

I've had the pleasure of arranging flowers for several weddings for friends and have enjoyed the experience immensely...not being on the payroll or having design constraints made it fun.

Do you love weddings?

I do and I cry at every one that I attend...

not out of sadness

It's the over whelming emotions welling up when I see two people commit to a lifetime together. 

Traditional brides tend to wear white gowns and many carry white floral wedding bouquets.

I find them terribly romantic...

 Pinterest is more than I could ever have imagined and I am drawn to the wedding Pins...

like a moth to a flame.

White blooms evoke purity and serenity...

Mother carried white calla lilies with a white leather bible down the aisle when she got married in the early 1950's.

I love looking at the wedding photos ~ they show a very young couple with "stars in their eyes."

They went on to spend many years together separated by the death of my father in 2007.

Mother has never completely come to terms with his demise...

she talks of him often as if he might be in the next room.

the contrast of the green foliage makes the white glow brighter

BC dogwood flowers

Pure and White

Hosta in the center and at top and right Lady's Mantle.

Mother picked a pink peony in the garden at the back of her condominium.

The flower is stunning in this gorgeous shade of pink.

She floated it in a crystal footed bowl and placed it on the Duncan Phyfe table beside her chair. 

That table has an amusing story...

if only it could talk.

It is the same table that Father had to refinish.

One morning early, before my parents were up, I got into a wee bit of mischief.

(not something I did often or so I am told!)

I was about 3 or 4 years old when I discovered Mother's red nail varnish left on the table...

I wanted to paint my toes like Mother.

 Unfortunately I was not too skilled with the brush and so more red was on the table than I put on my toes!

I don't remember getting into trouble...

maybe because there were late night cocktail party remnants littering the room...

Mom tells me that I had a few sips from the martini glasses that they neglected to put away before they went to bed!

These lovely roses climb up the wall by the front porch of The Humble Bungalow.

Mr. HB has tied them to the pillars so the bloom laden branches don't snap with the weight of the flowers.

Their scent lingers and is carried on the breeze.

Hydrangeas in white vessels

 (images from last summer)

I love this shade of green!

I wore this coin necklace to my appointment with my doctor...

where I recently got some great news.

No more high blood pressure medications needed at this time.

Obviously walking, weight loss and lifestyle changes have had a positive impact...

I've slipped a bit in the walking (reading too much) and need to rev up my regime...

another 3 pounds!

I have ordered some new trainers from Lands' End and plan to hit the pavement big time this week.

Happy Father's Day to all the dads young and old and those who we have lost and are holding close to our hearts.

Hostess

Just desserts...

Dessert is not a course that we eat every day here in The Humble Bungalow...
however, when we have company for dinner, it is a given.

Our house guest is not on Weight Watchers but she ate and enjoyed a low point count dessert.

Whether she knew it was a WW friendly choice or not I am not sure.

 I try not to inundate our guests with my eating regime rules or point counts!

Angel food cake and fresh fruit was served with a choice of whipped cream or yogurt.

It was a refreshing seasonal option especially with all the fresh fruits currently available in the grocery shops.

We discussed desserts and dinner party menus and L shared her easy peasy dessert recipe with me.

I think it is a keeper so I am sharing it with you.

Beat 3 egg yolks with 1/4 cup of sugar until blended and set aside.

Whip 1 cup of whipping cream and add 1/4 cup of any liqueur

Fold the egg mixture and the cream together and put into serving size ramekins.

Freeze until just before serving.

I picked some flowers and snuck them inside The Humble Bungalow when the cats were snoozing...

arranged and placed in the main bathroom and guest suite downstairs.

Flowers, Perrier, scents and light reading are stocked and ready for our guests.

The bed is comfy and the room quiet.

The downstairs bathroom has shampoo, cream rinse, razors, Q-Tips, cotton balls, toothpaste, toothbrushes, fresh white towels and a spare bathrobe.

My friend L and I walked each day and chatted while sipping wine before dinner.

We went for massage at Silk Road Spa and followed up the pampering with a healthy lunch at Rebar.

Bliss!

She helped me choose some new frames for prescription sunglasses.

They are Maui Jim sunnies, not the Ray Ban Wayfarer's that I had been considering.

Jacob's Coat rose growing by the back door...

the vintage Parisian table and chair where I sit with a mug of tea or a bottle of water when it is 

 time to relax a bit and soak in the beauty and sounds of the birds and the bees as they go about their business in the Humble Bungalow Garden.

I've been busy catching up on domestics.

I washed the wood floor in the kitchen on my hands and knees as that's the only way to really get the job done.

The floor is over 100 years old ~ it's dull, scratched and dented ~ it looks so much better when it's clean!

Janet at The Gardener's Cottage has a clean floor and she shares her recipe so you might want to pop over and check it out, she's lovely.

Hope that you are taking care of you and yours...

until next time when we meet up again here on this blog.

Hostess

Today's bathing suit post by Lisa inspires this Hostess...

Lisa from Amid Life of Privilege posted this morning about swimsuit options for women of a certain age...
she got me thinking about my attitude towards my body and the swimsuit dilemma.

You can read her post here.

As a curvy gal with some wobbly bits I shy away from anything too scant.
Give me coverage and some support and I am happy to join in on the fun in the pool or the ocean.
My days of strutting around attention seeking were limited to my very early teen years.
Nowadays I am happy to cool off and swim before laying down and relaxing on a comfy chaise lounge...
no fuss, no fanfare, and I'd prefer if I blended in rather than sticking out!

I love Lands' End for their variety of styles and the accurate sizing makes for a happy encounter.

The good news is that you can buy a new swimsuit on sale now at Lands' End.

They have a swimsuit guide which will help you choose a style that fits and flatters.

There are many styles, shapes and colours...a suit for every shape and size.

This shape is flattering for a curvy gal and offers lots of support where needed...

looks great with a pareo wrapped at the waist too if you are modest.

These two bathing suits are comfortable to wear...
not that you'd find me parading up and down along The Esplanade at noon on a hot summer weekend.
Besides, securing a spot in the sand is like buying high end real estate in The Hamptons...
expensive and hard to come by!

A cute two piece suit and in a stunning shade of red but not enough fabric for this Hostess !

Beach, pool and boating attire all require some serious forethought.

If one is planning to swim a suit is required...

(unless under the cover of darkness!)

Shopping for a suit needn't be unpleasant and as Lisa suggests you might consider ordering a bunch 

trying them on in the privacy of your own home and returning those that are not flattering...

Lycra and Spandex fabrics offer stretch and ease of movement and I like the way they help control my mid zone.

Washing and rinsing chlorine and salt water after use help to keep the fabrics strong and the colours bright.

I launder mine by hand and use Aveda Shampure Shampoo and hang to dry.

Two suits mean that I have a fresh one to wear while the other is drying.

Have you got a swim suit that fits and flatters?

One that makes you feel good or at the very least one that feels comfortable when you put it on?

Hey Jude...we're talking about roses today.

Hey Jude

a classic song and a classic rose.

David Austin's stunning rose "Jude The Obscure."

In our Humble Bungalow Garden of roses Jude stands out head and shoulders above the rest.

It is no secret that it remains my favourite.

There are so many wonderful roses on the market and by no means am I an expert...far from it.

I'm nothing but a passionate rosarian.

Our "Peace" Rose won Best Rose in Show

at The Gordon Head Garden Club Exhibition back in the early 2000's.

 Our name was engraved on a Vintage Silver Rose Bowl and we had the extreme pleasure of having it reside in our Humble Bungalow for a year.

(I polished it regularly)

Things to consider when buying a rose...

the variety ~ shrub, rambler, climber

the growing habit ~ size at maturity

blooms ~ shape, size, colour

flower flush ~ once, twice or repeating

fragrance ~ mild, bold, myrrh, bourbon, citrus, sweet...

(you'll need a sunny spot in your garden as roses thrive on the warmth)

When you visit the garden centre go with an open mind...

don't compromise your basic preferences and get swayed by the first beautiful blooms that you see as there are many!

There are oodles of roses on the market today and a little research goes a long way.

Always buy hardy plant stock from a reputable grower.

The David Austin website is a fabulous place to start.

Once you've purchased your rose(s) 

you'll need to dig a hole and pop in some organic compost before setting the rose into the hole.

Make sure that you like the way it is oriented before filling the hole with dirt.

Stamp your foot down all around the base of the plant to press the soil in.

Make a ridge of soil in a circle around the base that helps keep the moisture near the roots and water well.

Roses are greedy guzzlers and when they are getting established they like a drink every day!

They like lots of good nutrition and if they are well fed they are more resistant to bugs.

Some gardeners like chemical fertilizers I prefer to utilize natural aids.

Banana peels and Epsom salts once a month provide great results.

(an experienced rose grower told me that she feeds her roses rabbit food!)

Dig the peels into the soil and sprinkle the base with a handful of salts before watering.

If you water in the morning you can usually keep black spot at bay.

It loves to attack and take hold when the roses go to bed wet at night because the leaves don't dry out until the following morning. 

We often water in the evening as we have water restrictions so just be prepared for it.

If the leaves are peppered with black spot pick them off and do not add them to your compost bin if you plan to use it in your beds in the future.

Aphids can be washed off with some soapy water in a spray bottle or buy some live lady bugs.

Make sure you prune your roses every year and remember the pruning rule ~ the 3 D's...

Dead, damaged and diseased.

Prune back the stem to a leaf formation of 5 leaves and cut using clean sharp secateurs.

Oh and when you prune your roses be sure to wear some decent rose warrior gloves so your arms do not fall prey to those prickly thorns!

To learn more about growing roses you can go online to the various rose societies.

Brentwood Bay Nursery is a great place to find roses and they have a helpful website with links to clubs, roses and gardens to visit when you are in Victoria.

As a rose lover I think that roses make a great gift.

What a lovely way to mark a special anniversary, wedding or a milestone birthday.

Climbing Royal Sunset is a lovely shade of apricot with a delicious rich perfume.

Ours climbs up the sundeck which faces west. 

It blooms like mad and is incredibly hardy and disease resistant.

It would make a good rose for any novice grower...

a lovely housewarming gift!

"A garden is a grand teacher. It teaches patience and careful watchfulness; it teaches industry and thrift; above all it teaches entire trust."

~ Gertrude Jekyll ~

What is your favourite rose?

Paddling pool playtime...

The weather has been conducive for dining and playing outdoors...
this is not usual as we live so close to Juan de Fuca Strait and the winds blow more often than not.

Clover Point is the perfect kite flying area...

there are few overhead wires to get the kite strings snarled.

Gale force winds are not uncommon even in the height of summer so when a gentle breeze or no wind blows we are delighted to get outside and splash about in the paddling pool play on the slide...

Lounging and sipping a glass of something cool and refreshing...

soaking up the warmth of the sun.

Enjoying an al fresco meal overlooking the Humble Bungalow Garden.

Grammy's got a vintage watering can and Isla has a new pink one.

She has almost outgrown this slide...

hope that Henry will have some fun with this soon.

I scrubbed the pool clean earlier in the day and filled it with tap water that was warmed by the sun and it was like bathwater by the time we were ready to splash...and splash we did!

Grammy was prepared and dressed for the occasion...wearing a casual cotton skirt and top with flip flops.

There were big jumps..."the biggest jumps EVER Grammy."

Swimming and splashing until the pool was shaded by the trees and then it was time to towel off and get changed for dinner.

We served BBQ'd salmon, stuffed eggs, tomatoes with mint, coleslaw, Greek and green salad with buns.

Dessert was angel food cake, strawberries and whipped cream.

The house is quiet now...

The sounds of family ~ chatter and children really contribute to make a home feel full.

Our house guest has arrived and I will be kept busy as I take my Hostess role seriously!

I have some adventures planned and there will be conversations over a glass of wine later in the evening.

See you in a few days...

"The family is one of nature's masterpieces."

~ George Santayana ~