Showing posts with label meditation. Show all posts
Showing posts with label meditation. Show all posts

Thursday, July 16, 2020

Calm and Soothing...


Serenity ~ peace ~ calm

Soothing thoughts 
 I cultivate on a regular basis.

Self care is not selfish it is vital to our well being.


First thing each morning I savour a cup of coffee.

Then I have a shower.

After drying off using a Belgian linen towel 
I apply an emollient lotion which soothes and softens my skin.

These may seem like simple rituals...
 and they are!

They are essential for my mental well being and health.

(especially during this pandemic when we are all living with stress)

Most days are spent in The Humble Bungalow Garden.
There is a lot of weeding, dead heading of the roses and general tidying up.

Sweeping inside the downstairs of the Humble Bungalow is a daily habit.
I used to despise this job but now I embrace it as an opportunity to meditate.

The repetative motion of the broom as it sweeps away dust is very soothing...

Home keeping is necessary and I have learned to enjoy most of the tasks.

It feels so satisfying looking at what has been accomplished after tidying up.

My reward is a cup of tea and a couple of chapters in the book that I am currently reading...


White flowers are so elegant..
they feel calm and peaceful
Serene.

Sharing these thoughts with you this morning has reinforced 
my daily habits of cultivating what I seek.

Hope that you enjoy your week.

Thank you for stopping by...
The Humble Bungalow Blog.

 ~Be Well and Be Kind ~

Wednesday, November 25, 2015

Tick Tock...Life in the moments.

Most afternoons I take a break from whatever I am doing and sit in one of our Morris chairs in our living room and sip a cup of tea.
This is a restorative time to sit in peace and ponder...


The ticking of the clock, the beating of my heart, a few cars passing by...
children's excited voices a they skip home from school are the usual sounds.

I find quiet times are very important to my well being.


One yellow lone Daisy sits in a vase in our Humble Bungalow bathroom.
One bloom spreads as much cheer as an entire bouquet.
(and it's cheaper!)


The frosty mornings have seen me bundle up in layers.
Warmth is essential to my comfort.


The windscreen on our Volvo has a thick crust of ice...
the automatic heat defrosting fan takes about 5 minutes 
so I usually speed up the process by using the scraper.


Autumn shadows grow long...


the last summer geranium is blooming.


Red Green and Silver
my favourite colours to use in Christmas Bouquets.
I must get something organized for our front porch soon and buy a wreath for the front door.


I've discovered some lovely French products...
wee glass jars of yogurt
Bonne Maman Dulce de Leche Caramel sauce.

I reuse jars...do you?
the Bonne Maman jars are sturdy
used for everything 
from homemade vinaigrette to storing small bits and bobs.
~ Waste not Want Not ~


Last week I cooked a small prime rib of beef for the two of us.
The ultimate comfort food on a cold day.
Mr. HB uses horseradish with his roast and I love Coleman's Hot mustard.
There is room enough in our home for both our tastes.


I volunteered to work at the Craft Fair last weekend
it was a busy morning selling jams, home baking and the crafts. 


These sold out in the first hour!
I had to buy one even though I cannot even think of who I could give it to...
Just so creative and kitschy.


Beautiful bright sunshine
twinkling on the ocean at McNeil Bay.
Trial Island Light House is in the distance.
We are so fortunate to live here...


Nudge Nudge
Wink Wink

I think this seal was "flirting" with me!


I posted this lovely David Austin Rose on my Instagram page this morning.
I was surprised to see it blooming in our garden as the weather is freezing outside.

Thank you for stopping by...I hope that you are enjoying your week.


Friday, December 5, 2014

"Tis the season to be jolly...'tis folly to be stressed.

'Tis the season to be jolly...
try to keep that in mind while others are running around in a panic.

Lists make a huge difference for me when planning for Christmas gift giving and shopping.
I try to shop local in small stores near where we live.
For many of our friends I opt for consumable gifts...at our stage of life we have most things that we need and many of us are thinking about de-cluttering and downsizing to smaller homes and condos.

I also make a list of things that I need to do...
my current lists looks like this:

~ order turkey
~ write out Christmas cards
~ wrap gifts
~ pick a date for the tree decorating/pizza night
~ buy stamps
~ make a swag for our door
~ make rum balls
~ make chocolate bark
~ go shopping for grandchildren with lovely DIL


Things are looking festive and bright...


The Laurel Point Inn on the Harbour is all dressed up for the holidays.


Sun set and all is calm on the water.


My sister and I took Mom to see the annual decorated gingerbread house display at The Laurel point Inn last week.
It was well worth seeing as many amateur and professional bakers rolled up their sleeves and got very creative...
it was most impressive.

The only time that I ever tried my hand at making a gingerbread house it was a total disaster!
The house tilted sideways and the walls collapsed.
It tasted good...



Look at the attention to detail.





Many many hours went into these houses...




The Baggins residence was my favourite of all the entries...


There was a Dental themed entry with a toothbrush, floss and toothpaste.



a good reminder with all the sweets that are around at this time of year


There was a mouse house...
aren't these adorable?


There's even a Santa Mouse visiting the house!


Looking out at this beautiful scenery reminds me that we need to keep calm when so many people around us are showing signs of stress and becoming impatient and cranky.



I have been mindful of others and have made every effort to allow others to go first in line ups and have politely yielded to merging traffic.

I usually do these things but I feel that it is even more important to be patient and kind when there are crowds.




Take time out to refocus and relax.




Keep things simple.
Stay hydrated get a good nights sleep.
Walk in the fresh air and breathe deeply.


Stay focused on the positive...
don't be tempted to go into debt buying presents
live within your means
make some or all of your gifts
give a gift of your time
offer to babysit for a busy mom
visit an elderly relative or shut in
be kind to others 
 give to those less fortunate.

"Tis the season of giving after all.

Give yourself the gift of a stress free holiday.
Choose peace and sanity and savour the little things.


Tuesday, September 9, 2014

Fall Wardrobe basics, after the heart rocks...

I started out thinking about rocks when I sat down to write today's post but I segued into my thoughts about my wardrobe quite quickly...so bear with me as I take you on a bit of a romp from rocks to clothes!


Collecting heart shaped rocks has proved ot be quite a challenge.
They are rather illusive on the beach and searching requires a lot of concentration and patience.


Thoughts flutter through my mind as I am in a meditative mood when sorting and seeking rocks.
I sit on a log and scan the area at my feet...
I am the first to admit that it is an odd activity. 
I wonder why I am preoccupied with only the heart shapes
 as there are so many beautiful stones in a variety of colours, shapes and sizes.


The collection is small enough to fit into a vintage silver compote.
These few hearts represent a few hours of beach combing in a calm and focused state.

Peace
Tranquility
Alone with my thoughts
 in a natural setting
of beauty.


Shaped by the tides
they feel smooth in my palm.


Each one is different...


This was the first one I found
while walking along the beach off of Dallas Road waterfront 
I did a double take when I saw it and knew I had to take it home.


Places by the ocean offer up opportunities
 for thoughts to bubble up 
which in a peaceful place 
help me sort out things that might be preying on my mind.

The days are getting shorter as the seasons are in flux.
Soon we will be cocooning indoors by the warmth of the fire with mugs of hot tea to chase the chill away.


Speaking of chill chasers...
sweater and vest weather is coming...


Last year's investment piece, a Barbour vest,
 I wore it often.


Hermes scarf in shades of white and grey...
a great accent piece to add to my basic casual tee and jeans.


These reliable and machine washable Merino tee sweaters will be back on the beat.
They were purchased at Costco last year and look as new and fresh as the day I brought them home.


Shoes will replace sandals...


The quilted Burberry will carry me through the Fall in style.


This Breton striped top layered with the Barbour vest and worn with a Hermes scarf and jeans is an easy look to put together for a day of errands.
It is comfortable to wear to the grocery store.


I'll be wearing boots a lot...


My cashmere cardigans get worn most fall and winter days during the week...
they are my "go to basics" for they offer warmth without the weight and bulk of most wools.


I have a few dressier items in the closet for dinners out and parties.
Peter Nygaard skirt.


A basic black dress can take me almost anywhere.


A vintage beaded cardigan is incredibly versatile and it's a fun and whimsical piece to add some interest to a basic black and grey wardrobe.


A little black skirt can take you most places...


A sweater like this can do double duty as a jacket.


A pair of basic dressy shoes like these will go with everything.


Jeans 
I love my jeans and I practically live in them now that I lead a casual lifestyle...
retirement dressing is so much simpler than when one is working.

It doesn't mean sloppy dressing for me...even my walking gear is pretty.


You'd be surprised how few clothes I have left hanging in my closet.

Since I started blogging I have become so much more aware of my tastes 
 what clothes suit my shape and what I feel good wearing.


Not all my clothes are purchased new.
Some are investment pieces and others are bargains...
this jacket is a wonderful example of a thrift shop find.


This soft cashmere Burberry scarf was a gift from my sweet husband.
It kept me warm and cozy last year and I can hardly wait to wear it again when the temperature dips.


A nod to colour...a bright walking jacket.
Cheerful for our rainy days to come.


A Chanel inspired jacket can elevate a pair of jeans and take me out to lunch.


I like to use accessories to make the most of my basic minimal wardrobe.
They change the mood and feeling and add interest.
They needn't be expensive and can be readily found in stores.
Don't overlook gallery and museum gift shops, ethnic import shops and thrift shops.

Have fun hunting for the pieces that you like and you don't have to settle for the mass produced plastics...
look for the unique, vintage, designer pieces or if you are creative make your own! 

Tune into your inner voice and wear something that expresses a little bit of your personality.
I dare you to push the envelope with accessories.
Fashion should be fun.

My take on dressing is to keep my wardrobe small and manageable.
The basic palette is black, white and grey.
I like to have something hanging in my closet for any occasion so there is no panic shopping required.
I take stock each season of the garments and their condition before storing them.
If they need repair or if they need to be replaced.

At the start of a new season I look at what I already own before embarking on a shopping spree.
I make and use a list so that I do not fall prey to impulse buying...
Too many dollars have been wasted when I shopped as a hobby.
I record all my purchases in a book since retiring and it gives me an idea of how much I spend on clothes.

I am enjoying dressing on a budget and find that I am much more selective and creative with less.

Are you happy with your wardrobe?
Do you have a few choice garments or a closet crammed full of clothes?

“Simplicity is the keynote of all true elegance.”
~ Coco Chanel ~