Showing posts with label roses. Show all posts
Showing posts with label roses. Show all posts

Thursday, February 8, 2024

Abundance of roses, and clothes that Spark Joy!

 


We have a full garden with an abundance of roses.
I consider myself an avid rosarian....
desiring more roses in an already full garden is rather greedy.

My husband mentioned that our olive tree might have died during the icy cold snap.
He mentioned I could always buy a rose to fill the space where the tree was planted!

What a great idea!!!


I have always been smitten by shoes with bows.

I own a pair of Ferragamo black patent shoes with bows.
Years ago I had purple suede flats with velvet bows...I wore them out!
They were my "Happy Shoes" I felt so joyful when I wore them.

A few years after the demise of the purple shoes 
I found a pair of black patent flats with black velvet bows.

Mom had a similar pair...
they were such a great mood lifter.
We smiled at each other knowingly when we were together 
wearing our patent bow toed shoes.

So when I was in Twice As Nice consignment looking for a wool winter coat
(which I didn't find)
I spied these shoes by Browns...
tried them on and HAD to have them.


My current "daytime" winter wardrobe.
Athletic wear is stored in the bureau
evening and dressy clothes are in the Hobby Room closet.

I have been adding a few thrifted finds lately...


Gap casual sweater.
Thrifted
Will be worn with my denim and white denim jeans.


A sequin top!!!!
Thrifted
$2.00


The volunteers at the thrift shop were literally doing a "Happy Dance" 
when I approached the cash desk...
asking how much it was?
They said $2.00 and I was so stunned that I gave them $5 and told them to put the extra money toward their new building fund!

I am definitely going to wear this top and perhaps it will be daytime.
It is a JOYFUL top.
Do you think it will SPARK JOY?

I love how we can shift our moods with clothing...
wearing brighter colours on a dark dreary day.
Adding accessories that elevate a plain outfit or dress.
Finding inexpensive and vintage pieces in the thrift shops that are cheap and cheerful.
One needn't go into debt to have fun with fashion.

Happy Hunting in the Thrifts!


An abundance of Sea Glass...
one day's haul after my beach walk.
Saw two fat seals lying on a floating log...
a familiar face and a shaggy dog
a wee chat with a neighbour.
Gulls, Ravens and a majestic Eagle calling...
Fresh Air, a gentle breeze, and I feel rejuvenated.


Jar of sea glass...
probably my 10th jar.
(I must go downstairs to count them, they are in the window sill of the Hobby Room)


~ Sunshine and Blue Skies ~
BLISS


Farm Fresh Free Range Eggs
a lovely gift from Becky.
They look like jewels such pretty colours.
Taste great too!


Finished this fabulous book by Anthony Horowitz.
Need to read some more of his books...have read a couple and they are so well written and are wonderful murder mysteries.

What are you reading?

Thank you for popping by The Humble Bungalow Blog.
Until next time...

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

Sunday, August 20, 2023

A quick post ~ I missed last week as I was away...


Roses for a friend...


I am writing and publishing a quick post.
I've been a wee bit busy so I missed last week's post.
I was in White Rock with the grandchildren and our son.
We stayed at the Ocean Promenade Hotel 
across from the beach with the train tracks in between.

Trains pass by frequently and the kids loved watching all the cars pass by...
We went to IKEA at Port Coquitlam, had my first Swedish Meatball lunch.
I bought napkins, candles, and some inexpensive knives.

We also shopped at Zara at Metrotown for the girls outfits for back to school.
I was surprised how FAST they shop!

We also had a day at Big Splash Water Park...lots of water and slides.
Tsawwassen Mills Mall for the Adidas shop for Henry.

Our suite was great...it had a kitchenette
I was able to make breakfasts. coffee and snacks.


My husband turned 70 on Saturday.
We were out Friday for a happy hour, Saturday we attended the annual summer gathering hosted by my husband's former architectural firm.


The dinner was held at Mary's Farm and Sanctuary out by Goldstream.
Farm animals, a disc golf course, games, a tire swing and scenic walks and trails 
on the 30 acres.
The families just loved the amenities and the food was made by my friend Julie.
Everything was delicious and had a "country theme."


There was smoke in the sky...
forest fires burning up in the interior of BC and south of us in Washington State.


I am making Mr HB a pasta dinner tonight...
Vongole

(His favourite)


I have the ingredients all chopped and prepped and ready to go...
to the left you can see my new All Clad Pasta Pot.

(I've invested in a few new pots by All Clad)

Well I must get busy cooking as it is almost 5:30...
Will be back soon!

Hope that you have a fabulous week.

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

Sunday, July 9, 2023

Summer Snippets...


Apricot blooms of Jude the Obscure
the fragrance is citrus.

This rose is a repeat bloomer and has had its first flush and we expect more flowers.

Most of our roses have had their first flush of blooms.
Dead heading is a daily job and very worthwhile as it encourages more flowers.


Did you know that sweet peas need to be picked regularly or they set seed and stop making flowers?
I love their unique fresh fragrance.

Mr. HB has been bringing in sweet peas almost daily.
I pop them into vases and place them in the kitchen by the farmhouse sink 
and in the main bathroom atop the sink.

They last a few days and then they drop their petals,
by that time we have another couple of bunches at the ready!


~ OOTD ~

White Lands' End tee ~ Italian Linen dress
White capri tights
White Bueno Sandals

Hong Kong Pearls



Garden Shows are so much fun!

Lots of tables, many entries, ribbons galore.

The plant sale table is SO POPULAR...
plants are reasonably priced and some are VERY EXOTIC!


I had a fun day volunteering at the Summer Scentsation Garden Show.

After perusing the displays and looking at the award winning entries 
I donned my apron and served tea to the masses!!

We had 4 large tea tables set with lovely china cups, saucers and plates.
  Tea, coffee, scones, jam and clotted cream were served...

Plates of assorted home baking were circulated after the scones.
No one left hungry!

There was a silent auction and I bid on many items but only won one of them...
a large black pot which I am looking forward to potting up.

I am considering a fancy Hosta or an assortment of flowers.
Geraniums, lobelia, and dusty miller.


Our north patio area resembles a jungle right now!
The Lady's Mantle has gone wild...
we will be cutting it down soon.

I love black accents in the garden...like these vintage tables and chairs.


I found this metal rooster in a thrift shop and my husband spray painted it.

Garden accent pieces are hard to find locally...
if I wanted to spend a LOT the possibilities might be better but I love a bargain.


I usually finish my second coffee in the bathroom as I put on my makeup...
the thrifted English China mug looks like it matches the sweet peas
so I had to snap an image to share.

In other news...
my infection is now classified as "complicated."
I have had 3 or 4 rounds of antibiotics and they haven't worked.
So I am now receiving IV antibiotics at the hospital outpatient clinic.
They were selected to specifically target the different bacteria strains that I have...
Who knows how long this will take?

I had my second CT scan, this one with dye.
Haven't got the report yet.
I cannot believe how High Tech all these machines are...

The staff have been amazing and the departments are regularly short staffed.

I am drinking lots of fluids...many many cups of tea.
Knitting and reading...
taking life easy.



I've been meaning to read this book for years!
When I spied it in the local Book Nook I grabbed it.

I hope that you are enjoying your summer so far...
or the winter if you are in NZ or Australia.

Thank you for stopping by The Humble Bungalow Blog.

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~




Sunday, July 2, 2023

LOTS of new things here in The Humble Bungalow...


Meet the gorgeous bold yellow fragrant climber Graham Thomas.
A stalwart David Austin Rose.

This repeat bloomer grows in the "work area" of The Humble Bungalow Garden.
Every garden needs a work area...
it is a space dedicated to storage of things we use.
Bamboo stakes, empty pots, the wheelbarrow, extra soil, tools and such.

We have it cordoned off by a half lattice fence with a smallish entryway.
It is rather like a linen closet...that holds extra sheets, towels and TP.
So necessary, but not really an inviting space
well except 
that this rose beckons me in...
I regularly deadhead it to encourage more blooms 
pick a few blooms to bring inside
who could resist?

Things are moving along fast here in The Humble Bungalow.

We had an unexpected "oopsie" with the oven...
it died completely last Wednesday.

No warning...


I did some research and the life expectancy of the former stove was 13-15 years.
Ours was 15 years and 1 month...

So we scrambled off to the shop.
A locally owned one 
where we purchased a freezer during Covid.

We were pleased with their staff, service and delivery options.

Thursday morning bright and early we stepped into the showroom
5 minutes later I was paying for the stove.

With a next day delivery and they hauled away the old one.
How fabulous is that?


~ LG STOVE ~

I LOVE the blue interior.
Ceramic stovetop with expandable elements.
Convection and regular baking settings.
It has a built in air fryer, and a proofing setting for bread.

So let the baking begin...
the first order of business will be The Victoria Sponge Cake
followed by the weekly sourdough boule.


I have been trying to get out for some short walks in this glorious weather.
Need to build up some strength...
lots of idle time spent inside resting up and trying to get better.

Stopped for a cuppa at The Willows Tea Room.
Mom and I used to come here when we walked the Esplanade.
Thought of her while I gazed out to the sea.

Good news is that I am not in such terrible pain,
feeling better and sleeping soundly.

I finished the antibiotics and go for some more tests this week.
Another diagnostic CT scan, this time with dye.
Fingers crossed the specialists can figure out what is going on and how to fix it.


Sweet peas are putting on a lovely show in the garden...
picking them insures that more flowers will follow.
If you don't pick the flowers the seed pods set and no more flowers.

The new mug is a thrift shop find...
I had 30 minutes before my dentist appointment and I was close to the Sally Ann.
So I went in and made the rounds...
I got lucky!


A cute Banana Republic top that I plan to wear with my white jeans.
(and Pearls)


Silver trivet for the teapot
all it needed was a quick polish.

Some days all the stars align and the thrift GODS smile down from above...
feeling grateful.


I've been reading a LOT!

I just finished Bloomsbury Girls this morning...
I really enjoyed it.

The first book was The Jane Austen Society.
I can recommend both these novels by Natalie Jenner.

I will start The Lipstick Bureau later this afternoon...
I have read and enjoyed all of Michelle Gable's books so I am pretty confident that this one will not disappoint.


Been on a spending Spree...

Bought this vase at a yard sale...
not sure that it has any age to speak of but it spoke to me!

I also upgraded our toaster as the old one was not working very well.
Bought a Zwilling long slice toaster in matte black.
It will accommodate the longer sourdough slices.

Also I bought a new All Clad pot and ordered a new All Clad Pasta pot.

Put all the old pots on the boulevard and they went to new homes lickety split!!!

With the stove on the fritz
Hubby took me out to lunch last week...
we went to Faro in The Oak Bay Beach Hotel for pizza.

The oven fired Italian thin crust pizza was delicious.
We ordered an arugula pear salad to go with it and couldn't eat it all!

On our way back to the car we stopped by the Hen House...


I had to stop and say hello to the darling girls.


There were quite a few in the yard and they are very friendly.
I love free range eggs...those amber coloured yolks have so much flavour.

We had to order in a few meals with no cooking facilities available
but that was fun because we seldom order in, it is so easy to make a meal.
Now that I have a new oven there will be no excuse not to cook!!

Since my UTI and kidney infection I have been mindful of drinking more fluids.
A LOT of water with MANY MANY cups of tea have passed through my system.


If you follow me on Instagram you may have seen this post in my stories.

Fortnum and Mason Tea 
a gift from Christine who asked her son to pop into the shop in London and buy some tea for her friends...
fortunately I was one of the lucky friends who were given a tin of tea.

This blend is so amazing! I may need to order some more...
or else I could pop over to London and shop in person?
(HAHA)

That's about all the news I have to share for now.
Will pop in again soon for an update.
Take Care.
XO

In the meantime...

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

Monday, June 26, 2023

Monday morning...a few snippets...Victoria Sponge Cake!

 


Thank you for all the get well wishes...
I responded to your kind comments in the past post.

Life is rather slow here in The Humble Bungalow as I am following doctor's orders.
I CAN be quiet and REST despite my busy brain.
Fever has gone and I have 5 more antibiotic pills left to take.
Go for more tests next week and a CT scan with dye will be arranged.

I have also booked a haircut and a pedicure.
(NEEDS MUST)


My husband kindly chauffeured me to the local library...
I found 3 books in about 15 minutes which might be a record.

Reading and copious cups of tea are my go to cure all.
I made a quick pilgrimage to Murchie's for Queen Victoria Blend Tea.

I'm not a daytime TV watcher...never have been.

Books to the rescue.


Am almost finished this Kate Atkinson book...
set in 1920's London
A seedy view of the clubbing scene with drugs, sex, booze, and murder.

Despite the dark side of the life that The Bright Young Things dabble in,
 I am drawn to the glamour...flutes of champagne, dresses, furs and flashy cars.

The book is a departure from Kate's usual themes 
but is incredibly well written, atmospheric and rich.


One of the newer roses in The Humble Bungalow Garden is in bloom.
Meet Betsy Sinclair, a rose that Robin Sinclair cultivated in the memory of his wife.
Robin used to own and run The Brentwood Bay Nursery 
where I purchased most of the David Austin roses that started my collection.
He still dabbles in horticulture and  a friend of mine volunteers out there...
she was able to secure the purchase of this rose for me.

The rose is gorgeous and the scent is fragrant with a citrus overtone.
It reminds me a bit of my favourite David Austin Rose Jude the Obscure.


Joseph's Coat Rose

Staying at home more has opened my eyes to the coziness of our old bungalow.
Cocooning in my bathrobe longer in the mornings feels like a luxury...
no rushing, 
hardly anything to make me get up and get going :-))

Simple meals served by my husband...
a combination of deli food and take out ~ healthy and delicious.

This morning I decided to make some sourdough bread...
that is my mission for the day!



I feel a wee bit like an Edwardian woman...
drinking tea and reading
occasionally looking outside at the lovely flowers
contemplating the songs of the birds
slowly
rubbing rich hand cream into my idle hands.

Dreaming of wellness and future activities of my own choosing.

There is a garden party for some friends in a week
 I plan to make my favourite Victoria Sponge Cake.



These sweet peas are SO fragrant!
I popped them into a wee vintage battered silver jug.
I think the jug cost $3 and it had been passed up by many a shopper.
I kept seeing it on the shelf getting dustier and dustier, looking so forlorn.
It is my newest thrift shop vase!

Am so looking forward to attending...
it's lovely to be invited into a lush garden for tea
with friends.

Friends in a garden... Tea and Cake
What could be nicer?

Have you got any lovely plans coming up in the next few weeks?



Thank you for stopping by The Humble Bungalow Blog.

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

Thursday, June 22, 2023

I am calling in sick....

 


Love these simple white blooms with the yellow stamens.
A garden filled with all white flowers is stunning and elegant.

Do you have a colour theme in your garden?

Ours is a riot of colour.


My foray into black and white photography continues...


The Royal Oak Pharmasave is an amazing place to shop
they have some great buyers and a wide variety of gift items, clothing and travel accessories.

While perusing the aisles I spied this new cuticle lotion.
I tried the sample tube and walked around the store buying the items on my list.
When I was finished I went back to the display and grabbed a tube.


Made in Vancouver BC


Emollient, rich and it absorbs right into the skin.
using only a pea size amount I think this will be a hand and cuticle 
"game changer."

Am suffering with a nasty kidney infection that stems from those UTI's.
I ended up going to the ER as the pain in my back was so intense I could not sleep a wink.

The doctor decided that I should have a CT scan 
which showed the kidney infection
there is also a kidney stone floating inside the kidney.

First off I had never had a CT scan 
so when the nurse wheeled me off to the imaging unit
I was actually gobsmacked!

It was a huge white space age looking Seimens machine.

I am on some new antibiotics and hope that they kick the bacterial infection.
I'll be back to more tests after I finish the 10 days of pills.

The ER was a CRAZY BUSY place...
the staff was amazing.

The doctor and nurse who were helping me were so professional and calm.
The nurse Sarah was young, very sweet and had a bubbly personality.

The Dr had excellent bedside manner and was very attentive.

It felt to me that they were working under extremely challenging chaotic and stressful circumstances...
yet they both remained calm and treated me like I was the only patient in their care.

I have dropped off a small gift bag for each of them.
Tea, chocolate, and some triple milled French soaps with a card of thanks for each.

I still have a fever, am tired and so I am not doing too much as I recuperate.

Tea and reading every afternoon and perhaps a nap.


Alliums in an antique jug.


I am reading this series at top speed!
When I woke up early this morning I made a pot of coffee and got stuck in...
there are a few chapters left to read but will save them for tomorrow.

Isn't it fun when you find a series that you love to read and the author is still adding more books to the series?

Everyone seems to rave about this Thursday Murder Club Series.
My husband laughs out loud when he read the books!


~ Pink snow ~

Constance Spry 
a fragrant David Austin climbing rose in the Humble Bungalow Garden.

We can see people stop as they walk by and look up...
many remark about the fragrance and other swoon over the blooms.

All the roses are doing their best to knock our socks off right now.
I am barefoot and in awe of their extreme beauty.
Roses ARE my FAVOURITE FLOWER :-))
Perhaps you love them too?

I'm going to keep this post short and sweet.

Make a cup of peppermint tea...
wash and moisturize my face 
put my nightie on and lay down
wrap myself in a cozy blanket 
and watch some TV.

Hope that you are all well...

 MY personal PSA 
(heads up)
intense pain is a signal to take action
when it comes to your urinary system don't wait
ACT!

I think I waited too long and things went sideways.
I'll be slowly on the mend 
which sounds like it could be for many weeks.

Take Care

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~