Macarons and more....

The weekend was full to the brim of fun food family and friends...
and it's Monday
with only one Macaron left!

Delicious

 made by Julie

a Hostess gift 

(sheer perfection)

Don't you think it looks nice with the bluebells?

such a pretty shade

What to serve when a caterer comes to dine....

Buy some "fresh off the boat" crab

cook and clean it then pick it

make crab cakes

serve with ginger mayonnaise

atop a bed of pea shoots

follow with salad 

Barefoot Contessa style

from her Parties cookbook

red leaf lettuce

balsamic onions

vinaigrette

blue cheese 

Pasta al Sugo 

(Mr. HB's recipe)

with fresh homemade fettucini pasta

artisan bread

roasted fruit

Greek coconut yogurt

(full fat)

with

chocolate espresso cookies

(homemade but rock hard the disaster of the evening!)

I should have tested these cookies before serving them

oh well no one is perfect!

Family dinner was a BBQ

new recipe from White Water Cooks

birthday gift from my son and DIL

West coast fare...

served with twice baked and stuffed potatoes

broccoli salad

tomato basil balsamic salad

red leaf lettuce balsamic blue cheese salad

(fresh, a repeat of Saturday's salad)

wild rice

served with the remaining fruit salad and yogurt

Slept like a baby last night after all the hustle and bustle.

I was recognized by a reader at the market yesterday!

Hello to Marsha

who so kindly introduced herself to me.

She'd been shopping in the newly opened J. Crew in Vancouver

she said the space is quite small

and the selection was limited.

I'll bet that they are dipping their polished toes

 very carefully into our Canadian market before they go big or go home.

Have a fabulous Monday...

see you tomorrow!

XO

A book that inspires and our native Camus blooms.

Do you love finding a great book as much as I do?
I've never been in a book club as I think I read far too slowly to join one.
Oh but I do have a great book on the go at the moment...
you might enjoy this one too....

This book takes place in India 

and tells the story of a woman who grew up in privilege 

now money is scarce

her mansion is crumbling...

"Spanning decades and told in rich rhapsodic prose that takes us from India to England, 

to high peaks of the Himalayas and deep into the Burmese jungle, 

Waiting for the Monsoon is an unforgettable tale of love, loss and the unusual bond between two people" 

(from the jacket cover)

"If her soul had been as spotless as her lawn, she would not have died that year. She was like the old Lloyds.

For years it was the only electric lawnmower for miles around: the fact that it was still functioning was thanks to the brand and not to love. The machine hummed softly as she pushed it along. In the distance she heard the bus starting up for the first run of the day. In one of the houses as the bottom of the road a light came on; the crickets had fallen silent and the birds were still in dreamland. India was slowly awakening..."

(from the jacket cover)

You can read a review here.

I have read over 200 pages and have been transported to another place and time and am enjoying every minute of this adventure!

What are you reading?

I'd love some book recommendations.

The Garry Oak Meadow at school just beyond the playing field.

Can you see those dots of blue scattered in with the yellow buttercups?

I can tell you that this is a special piece of paradise.

Easter lilies dotted this place a few weeks ago

their creamy heads bobbing in the breeze as if they were bonnets.

Camus

The First Nations People used the root for food.

I love the blue and mauve petals they truly glow amid the field.

There is a white Camus which we see rarely

known as Death Camus because it's root is poisonous.

If you drive through town you will glimpse some parks with this blue and mauve native plant.

It's quite stunning massed under the mighty oaks.

It gives me cause to pause and wonder what our land looked like when the settlers first arrived to the land.

I can't wait to see what the field looks like in a few more weeks as all the buds mature and bloom.

Perhaps you'll join me in a future post when I show it again in all it's glory.

Do have yourself a fabulous weekend.

Love that you popped by for a visit.

Until next time...

Be Well.

The Humble Bungalow Garden is growing...

We are trying to keep up with our Humble Bungalow Garden.
It's size and needs have gotten away from us...
Created by an industrious Hostess over the past 30 years it is a pleasant place to sit and relax.
There are heavily planted beds and very little grass!
The point that I am getting at is that it is a LOT of work to maintain so I have hired a strong man to help me whip it into shape and I am hoping that we can keep him on for a few hours each month to keep things looking tidy.
At least until I retire and have more free time to tend it.

I picked these Euphorbia blooms as we removed one 

to make room for a dedicated asparagus bed.

Looking down from the sundeck

2 robust rhubarb plants

alliums

Euphorbia

limelight hydrangeas

garlic in the raised bed between the rhubarbs

and the new raised bed

I bought new organic soil to fill this bed

but did not buy enough 

(24 cubic feet is not the same as 49 square feet!)

so I am making two more trips in the Volvo wagon

until it is filled

and then Mr. HB will be planting the asparagus

which apparently takes a few years of growth before a decent harvest can be expected.

Keeping Mr. HB fueled I actioned some spaghetti and meatballs

Lidia Bastianich's recipe that I found online.

You make the sauce first and then brown the meatballs in oil before adding them to the sauce.

Homemade pasta 

so quick with Adrienne's food processor recipe

and the Kitchen Aid Pasta attachment.

Dinner is served...

we really work up an appetite when we are outdoors in the garden.

West Coast Seed packets are scattered about the kitchen

Touchstone Gold yellow beets

Oregon Sugar peas

Bright Lights Swiss chard

Gold Rush Zucchini

I have some leftover seeds from last summer which we'll use as well.

I like the West Coast Seed Company as their seeds are fresh and reliable

they also specialize in heirloom varieties

their seeds are also untreated non GMO seeds

which is important to me.

The company is located in Richmond BC and is Canada's No.1 Seed

Are you growing food in your garden?

I love being able to walk out to my garden and pick some fresh vegetables for dinner.

I think they taste better when they are home grown and freshly harvested just before serving.

The seed planting will happen on the long weekend in May.

Many varieties are available for growing in pots too so you don't need to have a big garden to grow food

you can have a balcony with pots

or a sunny window sill.

On my walk the other day I noticed that the neighbours down the street have removed all the grass from their front lawn and are making it into an enormous vegetable patch!

They have dressed up a homemade scarecrow 

in a red plaid shirt with straw filling

and baggy pants.

If you have never tried growing food from seed

I hope that you'll try it

or at the very least...

Please support the local organic farmers markets in your area.

Bon appetit.

Hermes and the Hostess OOTD

The sun shone down on us this past weekend.
There's nothing quite so uplifting as the sun and the spring fresh air.
Flowers and blue skies...
It prompted me to get busy and seek out some lighter clothes from the wardrobe
wash some wintery things, readying them for storage.
The weekend was not all work as Mother and I drove out to the country and perused some chic shops before settling into a very serious afternoon tea tray.
I mentioned to Mother that I was dressing casual...

Hermes scarf

makes an appearance.

I love this Olsen belt so much 

but I fear it's days are numbered 

as some stones have fallen out 

and there is some base metal showing 

where the silver has worn off.

I must find a suitable replacement before I let go of this belt.

This Hermes scarf is so summery 

it feels like a whisper.

I am so happy that I opted for subtle instead of bright and bold.

I wore my white Symplii tank top

Aerie dove grey light sweater

and Gap wide legged jeans.

The teahouse was pleasant and the voices of the tea drinkers were polite and hushed.

Good too because Mother's hearing is becoming a problem and she refuses to buy a hearing aid.

She is very firm about this and has taken a stand on it even after repeated requests from her family.

Did I tell you that I am taking her to seattle this summer for a jaunt and a shopping expedition?

We'll be staying at our home away from home, The Mayflower Park Hotel.

It's the same age as Mother, and they both look good for their ages!

Did you know that Hermes sells rocks?

They do.

Mr. HB received these with his Terre d'Hermes

the way they work is you spritz them with your scent and they retain the scent

 you can pop them in a drawer

to scent your lingerie 

or leave them out in a room as a diffuser.

Well that's about it for the weekend wrap up

 a new week is about to begin

I am keeping my fingers crossed for more sunshine.

What did you do this weekend?

Baskets are weaving their way into my heart.

There is something about a basket that sends me all aflutter...
baskets speak to me and I have quite a few that I am passionate about.
I didn't think I needed another basket but two new ones have entered The Humble Bungalow.

Mother gave me a new basket and it reminds me of some that I have seen from Nantucket.
She is Spring cleaning her condo and getting rid of stuff.
I think that my de-cluttering binge has influenced her...
she has way too much stuff so I am really encouraged that she is paring down.

Strong sturdy and well crafted.

So pretty just on it's own

a perfect size for toting to the market.

My friend Cheryl and I did some shopping when she was here visiting and we ventured into a consignment shop in the Village and she found a lovely vintage framed picture and I found a basket!

Nut brown

 well woven and seriously commodious.

Pepper hopped inside and promptly curled up and went to sleep.

I've left it on the floor in the kitchen for now as she is enjoying it so much!

These baskets are in the front hallway

the hinged basket holds gloves scarves and hats.

The one on the left holds shopping bags

it's easy to grab a couple on my way out the door.

I try to always bring a bag or basket when I go shopping

it's one easy thing that I can do to help reduce reuse and recycle.

Earth Week has been full of "green" themed events.

We got involved in a community clean up project at school.

Our class filled 6 garbage bags with litter that we found scattered in and around the park.

It surprises me no end that people litter so much...

no excuse really as there are numerous garbage cans available

back in the day we'd call these folks litterbugs!

Take a tote, basket or some canvas bags when you go shopping

it's the right thing to do.

I don't know about you but I feel chic carrying something other than plastic.

Check this out!

 Be well

and many thanks for popping by and visiting.

It's a sun shiny day out there so I am off to weed the garden....

XO

My hairdresser listens to me and my OOTD

My hair has been getting me down lately...
too thick and too heavy
so I asked my talented hairdresser to thin it out and crop it into a French bob.
She, my dear readers, is a miracle worker.

All I need is to dry it with my diffuser and add some mousse and voila

I'm ready.

Slightly shorter in the back

with face framing layers at the sides.

OOTD

black Nygaard dark denim jeans

black loafers, Aerosoles

black Symplii tank top

tweedy waterfall sweater by Style & Co.

baroque opera length strand of pearls

sterling bangles

I don't have any plans for the weekend but have a play date with my granddaughter today.

That in itself is a recipe for happy.

loving tangerine these days

especially these roses

Hope that you make time to stop and smell the flowers.

Be good to yourself and others

and don't forget to smile!

Camouflage dressing...

Waterfall style sweaters seem to call my name...

I gravitate to them whenever I see one in a shop.

They do a good job of camouflaging my wobbly bits and when fitted properly they skim the bumps and drape nicely. 

It would be nice if I was slim...

who am I kidding

it would be fabulous!
But that's another post altogether!

For the time being...

I found a new sweater and it feels much lighter and springy than the tweedy black one I have been wearing all winter.

Oatmeal toned

lacy light and loose knit

great to pop over a white tank

here's a close up of the pattern detail

I have been eating rabbit food for lunch for weeks

raw veggies and hummus dip

an apple

I thought this might help shed some weight but so far the scale has not budged.

Yoga is going to be the exercise I opt for after my swimming and back injury fiasco.

Which BTW is still not quite mended even after several massages

but I have little to complain about

 as it is getting better.

Lovely daughter is having her birthday this month

she'll be 33.

She wanted clothes as a gift so we blitzed the mall and came home with some great stuff.

She's a tiny gal and she looks great in anything she puts on.

We'll be hosting a family dinner celebration and we are ordering in sushi

and she wants a cheesecake for dessert.

We have a long standing tradition

that you can have whatever food you want on your birthday.

I do love traditions.

It's my MIL's birthday today, 

you can imagine how excited she was when our lovely daughter was born on her special day.

Coincidentally there was a great grandchild born on this day as well

3 family members all celebrating today.

Happy Birthday to all.

Must be running as I have a long list of things to do today.

Cheerio!

Paris Tea and The Titanic.

The lovely reader Peg sent me some teas and I am in love with Paris Tea!
Nothing says luxury better than a cup of tea brewed to perfection
served in a beautiful patterned bone china cup and saucer.
I highly recommend it for what ails you...

My favourite china tea cup is by English maker Royal Chelsea.

I love the deep wide bowl

and the pattern is so pretty and the gilt is thick.

I hand wash this very carefully, never ever will it go in the dishwasher!

I do love a special teacup to celebrate the simple pleasure of taking tea.

I cannot imagine life without tea.

It's a life saver...

The Titanic is in all the newspapers

 100 years ago that she was launched and then sank

such a tragic disaster

so many lives lost

the story still haunts us

stories that have come out years after her sinking are grim reminders of how fragile and precious life can be...

Julian Fellowes production Titanic is on the TV

it's worth a look...

I caught up on some blog reading here at Slim Paley's blog

she is a clever and talented woman

you really must not miss her blog posts

just browse her amazing photographs 

and you'll be hooked like her several thousand followers!

(of which I am one)

Life is infinitely better when sipping tea.

It elevates my pedestrian life to meet up with those of the titled and privileged.

Hostess

XO

I'd love to see your favourite tea cups

perhaps you'll send me a picture

it would make a fun post to show all the cups here in a future post.

There's your challenge people

send me your tea cup images

or link up a blog post on your tea cups for a virtual tea party!

Weekend Doings and Thoughtful Musings

Weekend Doings and Thoughtful Musings

Abkhazi Gardens

Cheryl and I strolled through these lovely grounds on Saturday.

Beauty was all around

every nook and cranny sported blooms.

Easter Lilies

so pure and delicate as they nodded in the gentle breeze.

So much has been packed into a short time

the weekend is almost over...

The weekend has flown by

Cheryl and I went to the spa

while Mr. HB and John went to a brew pub for lunch

I took Cheryl to the Abkhazi Gardens

we all walked along the sea front and watched the wind surfers

watched the movie Crazy Stupid Love

catch up

share laughter

we did our best to serve delicious meals

and offer comfort and hospitality to our friends

it was great to see them as they are off to France for the next 6 months.

Bon Voyage John and Cheryl!

The Humble Bungalow Blog was started on a whim and has become a large part of my routine.

I can't quite believe that I have arrived at the 603rd post, 

it's rather staggering when I seriously think about it.

Our life here is so simple...

we are humble

and go about our daily round

expecting little

joys are often found while doing chores

they pop up and surprise us when we least expect it.

This morning is a good example

we had said goodbye to our house guests and I was tidying up

the vacuuming was finished and Pepper was in the front hallway

I was just about to take a load of towels downstairs to the laundry room

when I was stopped in my tracks...

Pepper was pawing frantically in the air trying to catch the dust particles that she could see moving in the sunshine.

It was a glimpse of something unexpected and it made me smile.

Tell me about your weekend!

Rhapsody in colour, a prescription for Happy!

Let the sun shine today please...
in the absence of full sun today I am protesting
and engaging colour
by posting a myriad of images that shout happy.

the simple tomato

sunny T shirt and scarf

semi precious sunny drops

window display 

South Granville

snowdrops

a rhapsody in white

lush green lawn

acacia limbs

soon to be firewood

Any thoughts on a great apple tree to plant in it's place?

Pepper's slurping up her morning H2O

she only drinks from the tap

loves her water cold and fresh.

(We do indulge her)

Could that be sunshine peeking through the clouds?

small but charming

Soon the roses will start to bloom 

 in The Humble Bungalow Garden

and I can't wait!

whatever the weather brings

have yourself a very happy weekend 

we've got house guests

one functioning bathroom

and the reno is still in an unfinished state

I've cleaned up the mess

dusted

vacuumed

and 

good friends are on the way!

You know they are good friends when they'll line up for the loo

and have to navigate a worksite to get to their room!

Think sunny thoughts...

I know I am:-)

XO

A quickie with a few tidbits and snippets of our trip.

I've been busy getting back in action here in The Humble Bungalow and late getting to my blog.

Weekend wrap up
highlights...
we wined and dined and visited friends aboard their boat in False Creek
we walked in Stanley Park
meandering
leisurely
poking in shops
window shopping
serious shopping
reading
sleeping late in the most comfortable beds...
PURE BLISS!

19th floor

digs for the weekend

Wetizman "party shoes"

snapped just 

before we tripped the light fantastic...

Black Symplii dress

 jersey knit

rolled in a ball in my suitcase

unrolled and crinkle free

travel friendly

Debra Kay necklace

OOTE

 Italian dinner 

 before sipping a nightcap high above the clouds

42nd floor

(if memory serves)

looking at the city lights

and there were fireworks below!

When we got together with our friends

I wore a LBD sheath style with little room to lift a leg

and getting into the minivan model taxi was less than lady like!

Boarding the boat was virtually the same 

thank heavens no one was following behind me!

We had bubbly and some nibbles before we went to the

French bistro

The food was amazing and the atmosphere subtle

every table was in use

and most people were enjoying themselves...

except for one unfortunate couple who were engaged in a very heated discussion within earshot 

my friend Cheryl and I were treated to a list of expletives that made us turn around.

A couple in their late 50's to mid 60's were having a full on domestic dispute!

I've never been in a situation quite like this one.

The waiter came over and told them to take it outside!

They left promptly leaving us wondering what could have gone wrong in such a romantic establishment.

New handbag

made in Canada

by ROOTS

cross body saddle leather

in black

the tangerine cellphone case was a gift with purchase

now in the hands of lovely daughter

an everyday basic

simple

hands free

with pockets and compartments inside

easy peasy 

I'd call this bag a work horse.

Next stop was Hermes...

busy place on the day we chose to pop in

Birkins on the wrists of most of the well heeled customers

(Mr. HB whispers "what recession!")

Terre d'Hermes for Mr. HB

Voyage d'Hermes for my sister

(we wear the same scent!)

It took about 30 minutes to choose my new scarf

this was my first choice and I kept trying others with more splash and colour

but I kept coming back to this painterly pattern.

Hermes scarf

Peinture Fraiche

by Dimitri Rybaltchenko

White background

grey design

conservative

Hostess style

(it looks great with pearls!)

Belated Happy Birthday Hostess!

There's more shopping adventures to follow when I have more time

so please stay tuned...

In the meantime we have to eat so

 I made a curry for our lovely daughter and her friend in appreciation

as they house and cat sat.

We lunched at Rangoli in the Tony South Granville neighbourhood.

it's Vij's casual eatery.

The food is amazing Indian fusion

the food and flavours are complex 

my taste buds did a happy dance!

I made the chicken curry

served it over rice...

Prosecco for the ladies

beer for the gents.

I'll close with this image of a lone native plant 

which is bravely blooming in the rocky area of the school grounds.

It reminds me of my favourite Mary Engelbreit quote

"Bloom where you are planted"

Don't forget to stop and smell the flowers!

Hostess