Food shopping, a new local business, books and a striped top that popped onto my radar!!!

 

Welcome to my Teeny Tiny Closet that I share with my Hubby!!

I definitely have a minimal wardrobe...

small closets make it necessary to be restrained.

The black, white, grey and denim basics are all getting lots of wear.

I've had fun finding more denim options...faded Mom Jeans from Mango.

A fleecy denim coloured shirt from Jane Delancey.

The dressy after 5 outfits are small but stored in the closet downstairs.

They co-mingle with the summer linens...

I peeked at the selection today and think I can cull a few more items.

New striped Breton style top...made in Portugal.

Company is Mus & Bombon from Barcelona.

LOVE the texture...

Love the texture YUP I said it again!!

 Very cozy.

Have been reading library books every afternoon with a cup of tea...

read the Nina Stibbe book in a couple of days..I liked her other books.

 I have started on The Queen of Dirt Island by Donal Ryan...

his books are new to me.

Have you read his books?

World news is TOO much right now...

Am taking a break from it and exploring (escaping) in the fun shops of our fair city!

Victoria Gourmet Food Market on Broughton is FABULOUS!!!

The owner is friendly and so knowledgeable...the food is above and beyond!!

All the charcuterie board basics are available and

with an extra punch of unique and exotic items to make it an incredibly special experience.

I like to think of this as "The Wall of Pasta!"

Please go in and introduce yourself to Cherilee and tell her I sent you!!

I am going to go back and get my charcuterie board and pasta favourites soon...

We are so fortunate to have so many energetic women entrepreneurs here in Victoria!

Wherever you live please support your local businesses.

Buy Local...chat with the owners

 like they do in France and become regular shoppers it is a wonderful experience...

knowing who sells you the goods that you use and need on a weekly basis.

It feels real and genuine to have a dialogue with the people who supply our foods.

We are planning some changes in The Humble Bungalow Garden...

busy getting ahead of the season with our wonderful local garden crew

from

Susanne Osmond Garden Design.

We are going to be on the Victoria Hospice Fundraising Teeny Tiny Garden Tour this June.

It is finally "pay back" for the care they gave Mom in her final days.

I hope to auction off a painting too for garden visitors...proceeds go to Hospice.

Well I haven't much more news to report...

BUT

perhaps I should mention that My Instagram is now Private.

I had a deluge of "MEN"...all claiming to be doctors 

who were wanting to follow me!

REALLY?

I think they were JUST BOTS...

so I am now hoping to stay under the radar...

Hope you are staying sane with all the crazy stuff going on in our world...

What are you doing these days?

Any exciting news to share...

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

Jumble Sale Table ~ Brooches, Yoga and some easy (Super Bowl) Recipes...

All is calm...

Sparkly Pink Puffer Fish...

Small enough to wear on a hat or beret.

Found at the local Market in a jumble sale table.

Marcasite Brooch

the sparkly "beads" are made from polished hematite

also from the jumble sale table.

Jumble sales are rather like a car boot or garage sale.

They are rather exciting...treasures can be found in these sales.

The items are not curated but heaped together in a jumble!

You may find a treasure.

Yoga is happening...

(albeit a solo practice)

I could benefit from a Zoom session from my instructors.

Our WiFi here is dodgy at best 

with many of the transmissions being pixelated.

So we can never depend on the reliability of the WiFi.

We sit near the window looking out across the Salish Sea 

while we read and where I knit...

many boats pass during the day and are all lit up at night.

The BC Ferries look like birthday cakes!

Local Fiadh Academy Aura Rose Quartz scent...

I use this on my wrists and neck.

It offers a calming fragrance which is lovely for my Yoga practice.

There are very few fragrances in my collection...

I've given up using heavy scents as so many people are allergic to them.

I read and enjoyed Geraldine Brooks recent book Horse...

so when I spied her Pulitzer Prize winning novel March I grabbed it.

Started it early this morning and I am already hooked...

I had to put it down for Yoga and then I met up with a friend for coffee.

I did a bit of shopping at Island Girl...

white Bamboo Yoga Top from Blue Sky.

Lovely chat with the new shop assistant...

saw some really cute Bueno white sneaker high tops...

Oh Dear could be trouble!!

If I dream of them tonight I will go back tomorrow...

What are you reading?

Do you enjoy a wee bit of chocolate?

I find these Ritter Sport bars from Germany quite delicious!

I do TRY to keep my habit under control...

BUT

Milk Chocolate and Hazelnuts are my favourite.

What are your favourite chocolates?

Did you watch the Super Bowl?

If you want a quick and easy Spread for crackers...

try this recipe.

Chutney Spread

2 ~ 8 ounce packages of Philly cream Cheese (room temp)

1/2 cup of mango chutney

1/2 cup of toasted chopped almonds

1 tsp. curry powder

1/2 tsp. dry mustard

Mix together in a bowl

 Chill for several hours

Perfect added to a charcuterie board.

Nice with a whole wheat cracker.

We had Spicy Szechuan chicken wings (2 dozen) and an orzo pasta salad for dinner.

Easy Peasy Wings

Put the wings in a bag with about 1/2 cup of all purpose flour and shake.

Place wings on a parchment paper lined sheet pan for an hour at 350 degrees.

Then add a jar of Spicy Szechuan sauce and liberally cover the wings.

Bake at 350 for another 30 minutes until sticky.

Orzo Salad 

Cook about 2 cups of orzo until al dente, drain.

Add a jar of Naam miso sauce, 1 cup pitted kalamata olives, 1 cup frozen green  peas

Mix and chill in fridge.

Bateaux Mouches Scarf/Shawl...

using

Bamboo Rayon 

soft with oodles of drape.

Will be an ongoing project for a few more weeks...

depending on how much time I plan to sit and knit.

The work is meditative, as it is a simple repeating pattern.

Add a pot of tea, a cozy warm seat by the fire and it's my idea of idyllic.

Simple Joys 

There is a lot of stress and crazy things happening in our world.

Fasten your seat belt and find some quiet tasks to keep your hands and mind busy.

Try to breathe, stay calm, eat healthy food, and don't forget to hydrate.

Let me know how you are doing...

 

Actions that you can control help with negative feelings...

Use your energy to do something positive...

pick up litter, do a good deed, pay it forward

Go for a walk, run, meditate, read a good book, call a friend,

eat some chocolate.

Take Care of You :-))

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

Canadian Tuxedo, Makeup, and a "Perfect" white tee

 

~ Snow ~

We don't get a lot of snow here in Victoria but when we do...

many things come to a halt.

The Yoga Studio closed, 

the rec centre annex Yoga classes were cancelled, 

schools were closed.

I have been busy here in The Humble Bungalow keeping the home fires burning.

Vacuuming, dusting, reading, knitting, making soup.

Baking ~ Banana bread and a Sourdough Boule.

Watching the birds outside, sipping tea, thinking deep thoughts.

Silently praying for Peace.

The amaryllis bloomed!

I planted it on Boxing Day.

It is sitting on the shelf above the farmhouse sink where I do the dishes.

The kitchen is my favourite place to work.

I spend many hours at the counters 

sharp knives in hand chopping, 

slicing, and dicing...

creating meals to feed us.

Last week I went to the mall in search of the "perfect" white Tee shirt.

I don't know why it is so difficult to find one that fits well

looks good, is not see through, and has some style.

I want a decent quality, a smooth washable fabric that doesn't cling.

I've spent ages looking for a white tee in the thrift shops, no Joy.

After trying many tees in shops 

most were thin, see through tops, much too clingy.

This is one that I found at The Gap...

it ticked all the boxes I bought 2 of them.

($54.95 each yikes!)

Will be a layering workhorse...

when they go on sale I am going to buy a couple more!

DENIM got me again...

pale blue softness.

Thank you GAP

I know this has become a problem...

Hanging in my closet now are 3 denim style shirts.

The newer fleecy one...

(see previous post)

a thrifted Gap one from 5 or 6 years ago

now a pale one for spring and summer.

(Charter and founding member of Denim Shirts Anonymous)

Actually, come to think of it...

the pale one will go well with those pale denim Mango jeans I bought.

Think Canadian Tuxedo :-))

Very good book!

I read Dear Edward by Ann Napolitano a while back and really enjoyed her writing.

Several friends have recommended this book so I borrowed it.

Glad that I did.

Replaced my former CC cream with this one from Marcelle.

Canadian Company in Quebec that has been in business since 1949.

The gals at The Oak Bay Pharmasave suggested the opthamologist recommended mascara and eye shadow...

 I was asking their advice after two eye infections

 which I attributed to my sensitivity to mascara.

Been using this for about 6 months and have had no problems whatsoever!

The lipstick is a sheer red perfect for everyday.

(Loving Red)

My "go to products" for a simple minimal 5 minute make-up routine.

For a woman who is on the cusp of 70 

I find that less is more when it comes to make-up.

That about wraps up this snow day...

need to make dinner.

~ Spaghetti Bolognese ~

I don't usually post as often so I guess this a "bonus" post.

Many of you have popped by The Humble Bungalow Blog

 through the years...many friendships have been forged.

A few of us get together from other areas of the globe.

There are wonderful spin offs to blogging.

Kind of surprising that after all these years

I still feel like writing.

I might be

Am I repeating myself!

Well I'll sign off for now...

What's new with you these days?

Leave me a comment and tell me how you are doing.

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

Hostess Hasty Notes...

 

Bateaux Mouches Scarf knit in a grey yarn by Drops.

Alpaca and Silk

It is super soft with a nice drape...

very cozy and warm for these colder days.

Mornings this week have been very icy...

A delightful week of Yoga

Yoga for Osteoporosis

Yoga for Balance

Yoga For Hips

Scraping the ice off the car before heading off to Yoga Class. 

I am focused on the new classes 

which are improving my hip alignment and strengthening the muscles that support the hip.

Training me to be in balance 

with a goal of stability and the ability to avoid future falls.

All of this is taking up time and energy and are an investment in my health.

My flexibility is not what it was prior to COVID.

My goal is to

get back as much flexibility as possible.

My instructor says it takes time.

Do you practice Yoga?

\

Marshalls dressing room selfie...

I LOVE denim!

 So when I spied this soft cozy fleecy knit denim blue shirt...

I pounced and have been wearing it on rotation these past few weeks.

I am loving this new Sonsie skincare.

The redness from my rosacea has completely calmed down.

If you want to try it please use the 15% discount code...

https://www.sonsieskin.com/LESLIE65651

If you have any questions please do not hesitate to shoot me an email.

Joanne from Steveston came to Victoria for a few days.

We got together for an afternoon of fun.

Shopped thrift and consignment shops 

visited the Vic West Market on Catherine Street

before we had lunch at The Snug in The Oak Bay Beach Hotel.

The Market has a very European Vibe...

lots of interesting food items and the displays are works of art!

Am knitting another Bateaux Mouches Scarf/Shawl

Using Bamboo Yarn in white for Summer.

Feels lovely in the hand...soft and light.

Soup for lunch at Pure Vanilla...

red lentil with a spicy tang.

New LG Washer and Dryer Set

Our former set were 

15 years old and the washer ground to a halt on Saturday.

I had to rinse the entire load in the bathtub 

before wringing the clothes by hand to dry!

Our laundry room is bright and cheerful...

I can look out onto the Humble Bungalow Garden while working downstairs.

There are some rustic touches in the minimalist decor.

Simple

but so important!

There are Joys in clean clothes and freshly ironed cottons.

I spend a LOT of time doing laundry!

Another sourdough Boule has baked...

"Alexandra Cooks" basic sourdough recipe is my favourite.

After making bread for several years now I can do it with my eyes closed :-))

The flavour is amazing and the bread is easy to make.

Do you bake your own bread?

White Orchid

Do you shop local?

Think we need to help these shops stay open and keep their business thriving.

So many small businesses are struggling to survive and many are already shut down.

Buying Power is in our hands

(and wallets)

we have choices

 through our decisions of 

who we buy from...

where we spend our money

If we

consciously

 support companies run and owned by women.

We are empowering them to continue...

Just like the

Cordova Candle Company who are local and make lovely scented soy candles.

I light mine every morning while I sip my coffee and read my socials.

What are your favourite local shops?

Are you a repeat customer?

Do you know the women behind the business?

Speaking of Socials...

several friends have quit Facebook

others are taking a 3 week break from all online platforms.

Are you considering leaving any of your social memberships?

We have the power to make changes...

it is up to each of us to decide what is right.

What is new with you?

Are you worried about the state of the world?

Have you, like me, had to limit your exposure to the news?

I do not go down rabbit holes...

I act locally...making changes where I can see the results of those efforts.

I bake, I knit, I drink tea, I read, I walk, I go to Yoga, I live an honest and simple life.

~ STAY SAFE ~

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

Thank you for popping by The Humble Bungalow Blog

Hostess

XO