Salish Sea Life at the Shaw Discovery Centre...

Last weekend
we took the grandchildren to The Shaw Discovery Centre in Sidney.
I am not sure who had the most fun...the adults or the wee ones!

Aquatic life viewed from beneath the sea.

Mira loves looking into the tanks...

Silver salmon swimming...

Colourful fish and graceful anemones.

So much beauty abounds under the sea...

The centre has a "hands on" open area 

where we washed our hands and were permitted to use a baby finger to gently touch the sea life...

the children were fascinated by this opportunity and spent a large portion of our visit at this tactile area of the centre.

The Shaw Centre is a popular venue for school field trips.

The last year that I was working in the school

 we took a small group of our special needs students for a visit.

The children had a wonderful time

were visually stimulated 

with various activities 

that held their attention and they were fully engaged.

It was fun to see how happy and enthusiastic they were during the visit.

It's also a fun place to take family.

Parks, the seashore, museums, libraries, recreation and activity centres 

provide hours of fun and they are not just for kids!

This beautiful tray caught my eye and was purchased recently...

at a local gift shop on sale at half price!

It works well on the boat or at the cottage.

Here is a snapshot from the archives...

taken at Sidney Spit Marine Park on one of our summer visits.

Our family love the sea, enjoy cottage life and boating...

I met my husband many years ago while boating

 I was just 15 !

so this love of ocean and marine life has deep roots and it keeps us connected.

We feel very fortunate to live so close to the Salish Sea.

Do you love the sea?

I must close for now and get some work done here in The Humble Bungalow!

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

OOTD....flowers, friends and a fabulous book!

OOTD 

Ralph Lauren skinny knit tweedy pants

Black Symplii tunic top

Red Joesph Seibel ballet flats

(vintage carpet)

I like having a few colourful accessories 

they elevate the basic black and grey garments that I regularly wear.

Juicy red rose hips...

I have heard that when the hips form early in the season 

 it means we will have a cold harsh winter...

The sun is shining today and there are blue skies.

Yesterday I helped a new friend move into her new condo.

She is a lovely woman, a recent widow who is relocating from Vancouver to Victoria where she has family.

I admire her in so many ways...

she has left behind many friends but is embracing this move.

Her energy and enthusiasm is contagious!

This past month she has been discovering the amenities that Victoria offers

exploring new groups

cycling club, bridge, yoga, french lessons and a french conversational group.

We have met up for walks and coffee and there will be future lunches 

bridge games and perhaps we will go to the theatre.

I also discovered that she is a painter and has sold many paintings...

she is very modest about her work.

She plans to take a class or two this winter and I am considering joining her.

She will be unpacking for the next week or two 

fluffing and arranging her furniture and hanging her art in her light filled condo.

This pretty tea cup and saucer was a gift...

I love the gold polka dots.

This book is quite the page turner...

I am almost finished it and can recommend it

it is very intense and so well written.

I will finish it this afternoon while the white Ektorp slipcovers are in the wash!

Hope your week is off to a great start.

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

Purple pops of colour...

Look at this luscious artichoke flower!

It's growing beside the sidewalk in the garden of one of our neighbours...

We spend time looking for pops of colour as we walk.

Walking is such a great way to explore our city.

It was one of the highlights from my Paris trip...

walking and taking in the sights...

Women who walk and explore have been given the term "Flaneuse."

The feminine form of flaneur...

which means 

"a man who saunters around observing society."

This book caught my attention when I was at the local library...

I had read Eleanor's first book Weird Sisters 

the title sealed the deal!

I am halfway through it and am enjoying it...

I am trying not to rush the chapters so that I can savour the story.

How is your week going?

What are you reading right now?

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

September routines...

September in The Humble Bungalow Garden
loudly and clearly signals the end of summer...

the days are shorter
the flowers fade

Cooler temperatures
salty ocean breezes
foggy mists shroud the garden
petals fall
plants change colour
leaves begin to fall from the trees

Jude The Obscure has put on such an amazing show this summer!

I cannot remember a year when our roses have performed so well.

There have been many hours invested in dead heading 

which encourages repeat flushes of flowers 

the effort has definitely paid off...

We may even enjoy blooms well into the fall.

I've noticed many spider webs in the garden 

which also signal that Fall is coming soon.

My energy and enthusiasm in the garden is waning...

the

new

season 

changes our focus 

moving hobbies indoors 

instead of outside.

A general tidy up is happening...

in the garden and soon the closet!

The wardrobe swap out was accomplished this weekend.

It didn't take long

(there are not many clothes)

the bed gets covered with spring and summer clothes

 waiting to go downstairs to the guest room closet.

Many garments are worn all year long...

denim, jeans, dresses

 quite a few tops span the seasons 

with the addition of a vest or cardigan. 

The fall and winter wear is brought upstairs 

then I scrutinize the condition of the items 

donating the pieces are tired or lack lustre.

(I filled a bag!)

Noting items that I need to replace...

I've already purchased Eileen Fisher black pants

a pair of Ralph Lauren tweedy skinny pants.

Last month new lingerie was purchased.

I like to put my sandals away 

bring out my boots and loafers.

I always give them a polish before wearing them

and 

clean and polish the summer shoes 

ready for storage until another season.

The handbags get a treatment too...

This neutral polish works with all of my leather accessories.

The strap on my watch is looking quite worn so I may have to replace it soon.

It is going on 4 or 5 years old so that is not a surprise.

This ESQ watch is so old I cannot remember what year I purchased it...

I do know that my parents gave me some money one Christmas when the children were small.

 I shopped the sales after the holidays and bought it for half price.

It has kept good time all these years...

the style is classic 

which makes it so versatile.

The limelight hydrangeas are the current stars of the Humble Bungalow Garden.

They have been so happy in the warm summer sunshine...

I must remember to pick some to bring inside to dry.

Soon they will crisp up, fade and dry to the colour of straw.

Their shape will hold up through most of the fall and winter 

giving the garden some interest

until they will be cut down in the early Spring.

How is your garden shaping up?

Have you swapped out your clothes for a new season yet?

Have you perused the September issues of Vogue,  Elle or Bazaar?

Do you want to buy some new pieces for Fall?

Have you seen anything in the shops that might tempt you?

I'd love to hear from you!

Well I must close for now and get some chores done around here.

Thank you for stopping by The Humble Bungalow Garden.

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

Colourful tidbits...flowers, a book and a recipe for a comforting meal.

The rain and fog have set in and there is a definite chill in the air...
a perfect time to cozy up in a chair and read a wonderful book.

Frances Mayes latest novel "Women in Sunlight" is set in Tuscany

it revolves around a group of women who are renting a Villa 

 exploring new possibilities...

I am enjoying the descriptions of the food, wines and the countryside

if you liked Frances Mayes previous books this one will not disappoint!

The dahlias are providing us with some bright colour on this misty morning.

When the weather changes and the skies turn to grey 

I opt for pops of colour to infuse energy and positivity.

I do not grow dahlias in our garden.

The road side stands and local farmers markets 

are a great place to find these colourful gems...

many varieties all so different and some the size of a dinner plate!

We went beach combing on Pender Island last weekend 

look what we found!

A HUGE amount of beach glass

a few pieces of porcelain

The aqua vintage Mason jar on the left

was empty

waiting 

for a few pieces and now its almost half full!

We invited dear friends to share the cottage with us this past weekend...

we had oodles of fun 

both my husband and I remarked that we had not laughed so much in a very long time.

"A good laugh heals a lot of hurts."

~ Madeleine L’Engle ~

Last night I roasted a chicken in the oven

it was so tasty that I want to share the recipe...

Roast chicken

 Wash a roasting chicken inside and out then dry with paper towel.

Cut a whole lemon in half and stick inside the cavity add a few cloves of garlic

lightly baste the outside of the chicken with olive oil

sprinkle with a generous amount of fresh pepper

then lay a few sprigs of fresh rosemary on top

Roast in a moderate oven (325) for about and hour and a half.

Make a simple gravy with the drippings 

whisk in some flour and stock.

I served our chicken with roasty potatoes and fresh green beans.

It was a wonderfully comforting meal...

I am planning on making some soup with the leftovers.

Hope that your week is off to a great start.

Thank you for popping by The Humble Bungalow Blog.

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~