Tuesday, June 7, 2011

Music for my mood...

I feel low today...
I slept fitfully and really it feels like not much more than a wink.

I have called in sick...

as I sit here in a stupor staring at my coffee
waiting for the caffeine to kick in
I am trying to shake this feeling that has settled in and permeated my usual cheerful disposition.

I so rarely have days like this it feels strange...

Abraham Darby cannot cheer me...




nor the lovely white Lilacs that so sweetly scent the bathroom

I am planning on a quiet day
and a nap is on the agenda
an
antidote
for
a sleep deprived Hostess.


I want to share a lovely, haunting, and soulful musical selection...
Adagio for Strings by Samuel Barber....

Perhaps you will play it in the background while you do something else...
(for it is 10 minutes)

Do you feel the powerful emotions captured and released by the violins?
What do you do when you have a day of low energy or a night with little sleep?

Sunday, June 5, 2011

Floral fever...weekend bliss!

When it comes to garden centers and all things floral I have a serious problem...
Trouble Not Spending Money!

I am frugal in many other areas...
but this area is a major weakness
it's really not a bad thing

I could be a compulsive gambler...
and have nothing to show for my money.

Flowers woo and charm me
and it's easy to see why...
when I look at these cheery blooms
I see Mother Nature smiling.


pretty and drought tolerant 
Osteospermums


White Begonias
white alyssum
 violet lobelia
osteospermums 
in yellow and fuchsia

 a planter of all white flowers
geraniums
silvery dusty miller
petunias and bacopa
all from the Garden Center.



I also attended a hardy plant sale
put on by a group of master gardener's.
It was a cash only sale 
and 
I went without checking the money that I had in my wallet
I'd forgotten that I had spent some already
so
what did I do?

I spent all of the cash on hand right down to a few red cents...
can you imagine just how annoying it was for the people in line up behind me?

Surprisingly they seemed to take it in their stride and made comments about how we gardener's are a frugal lot
and wasn't I clever to limit my spending
one $20 bill and the rest in...
loonies, toonies and small coins!



succulents
which I will plant together


major purpurascens
a lovely and interesting bloomer.

I have been planting and potting these up
my hands are filthy even with garden gloves
they have a few holes
(I'll be adding them to my list of things to buy)
but it has been a fabulous sunny weekend to play in the dirt!

Pictures will be shared in a future post
stay tuned...

It's time to make dinner 
and I am feeling fatigued
so
I am simply opening a jar 
Stonewall Kitchen's Traditional Marinara sauce and serving it with pasta.
I know to listen to my body
and it's OK not to make everything from scratch!

Next on the agenda...
my nails!

Hope that you had a fun weekend!

Friday, June 3, 2011

Friday Flowers....

Friday Flowers...


Clematis


Smilacena racemosa


Hosta 
and beyond
 Pride of London
a superb ground cover


White Lilac



A carpet of wooly thyme


where would we be
without the hard working honeybees?

Thank goodness we have the local Mason Bees
as
the honey bee population 
has been
severely depleted
and 
continues to be 
at risk...

Burt's Bees
produce products which I use 
and recommend
the cuticle cream and lip balms are favourites of mine

go here 
and see what Burt has to say about Bees.

The demise of bees
and the collapse of their colonies
scares the heck out of me...

I really dislike what's happening to Mother Earth
and that's one reason that The Humble Bungalow garden is totally pesticide free.

We 
recycle
compost
repurpose
donate things 
we no longer use
or 
want

This weekend 
I challenge you to try to do something "Green" 
Enjoy!

Thursday, June 2, 2011

Mellow Yellow and an Award...

I was nominated for the Versatile Blogger Award by Rebekah from Cupcake Caramel
Thank you for the nod I appreciate it!

A few things that you might not already know about me...
after 400+ posts I think my life is pretty much an open book!

Yellow is the colour of happiness here in the Humble Bungalow.


Sweet Pansy
colour me Happy!
In my opinion just about the best bloomin bargain in the plant shop.


Fragrantly scented Azalea
Rothschild variety
my favourite


Delicate petals
an infusion of sunny sweetness


I love the contrast of the bloom and the foliage
nature has got so many things right.


I took a mosaic course a few years ago 
and made many pots
for friends and family.
(the centers of these black pansies are yellow!)



 I love to start the day with a sunny breakfast
protein 
packed with organic free range goodness.

A piece of whole wheat toast 
and a glass of water

To cut calories I used to skip breakfast 
until I read that the metabolism slows down
if food is not eaten.

I must have mentioned a bazillion times that I am not happy with my weight.
I try not to obsess about it
life's too short.

I also detest sweating 
or perspiring as Mother calls it!
I think it was because I have had more than my share of Hot Flashes!

I guess that's enough about me...


Mellow Yellow
 by Donovan Leitch 
a song that I listened to in the mid sixties
I thought he was a super cute bloke back in the day
and 

you can read more about Donovan on his website
 Wow! 
he's performing at Royal Albert Hall June 3rd!


Hugs
from the Hostess
Thanks Rebekah!

Wednesday, June 1, 2011

Wednesday...

The morning is grey and overcast
the sounds of birdsong are coming through the single paned window beside my kitchen nook
where I sit to blog...
a mug of steaming hot coffee is fueling my morning routine

Pepper is perched upon the window sill and she is chirping at the birds
the washer and dryer are in full swing
and it would appear that all is as it should be
for a Wednesday


Wednesday 
as often as not 
is wash day here in the Bungalow


Whites are washed frequently
almost after every wearing
I love whites for summer
a crinkled shirt worn over a white tank top is a look that I embrace

I replace my white tanks every summer 
I look for cotton that is not sheer 
and buy in multiples
this year I found a very inexpensive tank at Superstore
the line is called Joe
the crinkle cotton shirt is also Joe
I feel fresh as a daisy!



Joe cargo pants
Bandolino sandals
Thanks so Muchness OPI


Anne Klein 
soft nightgown in Black and White
I suppose you are not surprised to see more black and white!
I know! I know!
is it boring yet?

Fasten your seatbelt...
there's more where that came from!




my passion for pearls
is
evident in my choice of buttons


an Opus is a creative work
often a composition


loosely constructed and somewhat deconstructed
boxy
Bohemian jacket in linen
a gamine option
which instantly energizes me when I put it on
(and it's perfectly packable)



a bit of Bling
shine
Hi Ho Silver


a strand of pearls
and 
I'm happy


Lily of the Valley is putting on a show 
and 
scenting the bungalow bathroom

I love scented soaps and seek out lovely bars when shopping
it's a clean conscience purchase
and I have amassed quite the collection.

Mother instilled in me at a very young age how important it was to wash with soap and water.
I can still hear her saying soap is cheap and there's no excuse for being dirty!
(I think that was her nursing background coming out!)

Yardley's English Lavender Soap was her favourite
she used to keep it in her lingerie drawer to scent her delicates
 whenever I smell it 
I am transported back to my childhood 
memories and scents
go hand in hand.

What is the scent that takes you back to your childhood?


Hope that you are having a Happy Wednesday!