Showing posts with label Christmas. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Christmas. Show all posts

Friday, December 29, 2023

Christmas happened...despite Covid and we survived!


Christmas Gifts
Kosta Boda Rose pattern crystal votives.

Gift from darling daughter and her husband.
I love the design and the icy light from the candles.

The festive season was a bit different this year due to catching Covid.
My husband and I both had it earlier in December.
I have scarred lungs from repeated bouts of pneumonia 
so when I get a cold (or Covid) I tend to get a chesty cough.

We went to our son's home for Christmas morning where we exchanged gifts and had brunch.
I made Jacques Pepin's French Toast Bake, a fruit salad and sausages with croissants.
The kids were so excited!!!
Lovely to see their enthusiasm and joy.


Here is the island that Mr. HB made for our son's home.


It was a summer project and I have serious Island Envy!!!

I didn't have a ton of energy and so I had to give up on most of the baking.
Fortunately I had prepared the candied nuts ahead of time 
the chocolate bark is a quick recipe to make.
(posted the recipe in a previous blogpost)

Food is a BIG part of our traditional celebrations...
turkey and lots of side dishes.


Simple table setting...
using
red and greens.


The cute little tree was found in our Cook Street Village Garden Centre.
I used it as our centrepiece on the Christmas table...


The turkey was about 10 pounds...
I made stuffing, maple glazed carrots, whipped potatoes, sweet potatoes, Brussells sprouts with pancetta, gravy and cranberry sauce.


Dessert was Panna Cotta with Italian sour cherries in syrup.
Served in an iittala Ultima Thule Glass

We have quite a few pieces of Tapio Wirkkala's Icy Modernist Crystal.
It was popular when we got married in 1974 and is still in business today.


After Boxing Day...
made a small batch of Yorkshire puddings to add to the leftovers.


Turkey Soup


Candles in The Humble Bungalow Kitchen above the Farmhouse Sink.


This morning I woke early...
have been going to bed before 10:00 most nights.

Coffee in the dark and thoughts swirling...
felt a surge of energy to get some decluttering done.

The car was loaded up and I dropped off the donations around noon.
Starting downstairs in the guest and hobby rooms.

Still a few more things to deal with but it feels way better!!

Funny thing that has happened since I had to cancel my haircut...
I have been using the flat iron and straightening it...


I think it is "growing on me"

Not perfect 
getting to the stage where I can wear it up in a French Roll 
or put it in a scrunchie for a loose ponytail.

So I suppose that's enough rambling for one post...
Hope that you had a wonderful Festive Season.

Hope that you are staying healthy and are avoiding Covid.

Let me know how things are going...do you declutter after the holidays?

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

Friday, December 22, 2023

Seasons Greetings

 


Our Humble Bungalow is lit up with the fairy lights and the "cat proof" tree.
Chester still climbs the tree.

We were sidelined for a few weeks with a nasty bout of Covid.
Our first experience with it and we were really surprised, as we are so careful.
Mr. HB had it first and I did try to stay away from him as much as possible 
but after all it is a small house...

I ended up with a nasty cough which is lingering even now.
So I am pacing myself, staying hydrated and getting to bed early.

Many tea breaks in between cooking, baking and delivering gifts.

Hope that you are in good health.
Ready to embrace the JOYS of the Festive Season.


My "go to" Hostess Gift
 Chocolate Bark...

Line a sheet pan with parchment paper
Add a couple of packages of Bakers Chocolate (semi sweet)
Melt slowly in the oven at about 170 degrees for 5 or 10 minutes.
Check regularly as it doesn't take long to melt.

Remove and top with the nuts of your choosing.
Chill in the fridge for a few hours.
Break up and add to cellophane bags and tie with twine.

Very tasty and so easy to make
it is easy to see why this is my favourite
~ Hostess Gift ~

I make several batches as they are well received and quite yummy!


While out shopping for gifts I came across these new towels...
I haven't upgraded my towels in AGES!!!

Donated the former set to the Sally Ann and these ones really dress up the space.

I asked myself WHY DID I WAIT SO LONG?
They were not expensive and they make a huge difference.

(Perhaps frugality is not always sensible.)


Made a batch of butter tarts last night...
Mr. HB tested them and said they are good.
It is important to have someone on board as the Quality Control Expert!

I have lots of things still to make
for Christmas Eve, Christmas Day Brunch
as well as the Boxing Day Turkey Feast.

I will be living (and maybe sleeping) in my linen apron!

Hope you have a wonderful and Festive Holiday.

Thank you for popping by The Humble Bungalow Blog.


Pearls, a simple white shirt and jeans...
an easy "uniform" for daytime here in The Humble Bungalow.

Be careful out there with all the Covid Germs circulating...
I am wearing a mask to the shops now.

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~ 

Sunday, December 10, 2023

December 10th...a catch up post.

 


Time is ticking along at a very fast pace here in The Humble Bungalow.

Between the domestic jobs, baking and cooking I have been absent from my blog.
I continue to post daily on Instagram...
it is so much faster!


I use the tourtiere recipe found online though our local Yam Magazine.
In case you are not familiar with Tourtieres, 
they are a French Canadian tradition to serve during the holidays.
Basically they are a pork pie.

I like to serve ours with a good chutney or a grainy mustard.
They can be part of a dinner buffet or serve them with a simple tossed green salad.


Chester, the smaller of our two cats, finds the coziest spots to nap.
He actually folded the extra pillow downward to make a plump bed.
It looks a bit like a throne...


We have our "cat proof" tree up.
Chester can climb it but there are no fragile antique ornaments to break.
We learned the hard way...one year the tree toppled over and many delicate glass baubles were smashed.

We keep the "fairy lights" on the upper beams up all year.

Have you decorated your home for the festive season?
We are minimalists when it comes to seasonal decor... do you like to go all out?


I started knitting The Sophie Scarf.
Using wool from my Stash...two skeins of Rowan's Felted Tweed Yarn.
This is the yarn that I used in my latest Miriam sweater.
I had to go to You Tube to watch the I-cord pattern set up.
It seems that with each new project I discover and learn new skills!


The sweater turned out lovely and the wool is so soft and cozy.
Our weather has been rainy, foggy, and we had high gusty winds.
Sweater weather has definitely arrived!


Reading Mrs. England right now...
a friend gave this to me.
I picked it up early this morning and am already on page 80
I really like a book that gets and holds my attention within the first few pages.

I've decided that my Christmas baking will be greatly reduced this year.
Last year we ate far too many sweets...
I plan to make shortbread and butter tarts that's about it.

I put together a gift hamper for my cousins every year.
I vary the contents from year to year keeping a very British theme.
They receive a tourtiere, sweets, treats, pickles, tea, and a few other baked goods.
I cannot remember when I started this habit but it has become a fun tradition.

What traditions do you have at Christmas?


Our traditional wreath...
made for my Mother in Law by a friend 
consisting of baubles, pine cones and rhinestone brooches.


Mini lights and the Ojibwa tamarack ducks.


Wrapping is a very simple affair...
I use Kraft paper, twine, dried oranges and tags.
All are recyclable.

Are you feeling festive?

Will you be hosting a large or small dinner this year?
Perhaps you'll be a guest!

There are a lot of opportunities for giving at this time of year...
giving time and giving donations.

We need to think of others...
there are so many people in need out there.
Every little bit helps.

Drop off a bag of food at the local Food Bank or drop a donation in the Salvation Army Kettle.

Well I must close for now...

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

Tuesday, December 15, 2020

Christmas Traditions

There are many traditions that we embrace over the holidays...


We hang this hand made wreath that was made in the ealy 1960's.
This was made by a friend of my husband's mother.

It has shiny baubles, pine cones, faux holly and vintage rhinestone brooches.

We were fortunate to be given this wreath...
we hang it in The Humble Bungalow dining room every Christmas season.

Christmas is going to be VERY different this year because of the pandemic.
We will be visiting each other via ZOOM and FACE TIME.


Baking and cooking for Christmas occupies a lot of my time
 I am enjoying trying out new recipes.
Sharing Baskets and Food Hampers with family.

We'll be doing driveway drop offs!

With a focus on comfort these days I want to share a super simple pot roast recipe.


Pot Roast with whipped potatoes and peas.

Savoury Pot Roast

3 pound beef blade pot roast
2 Tbsp. oil
1/4 cup wine vinegar
1/4 cup ketchup
2 Tbsp soy sauce ( I use Braggs)
2 Tbsp worcherstershire sauce
1/2 Tsp minced garlic 
1/2 Tsp dry mustard

3 Tbsp flour
1/4 cup water

In a Dutch oven heat oil and brown roast on all sides.
Sprinkle with salt
Combine the rest of the ingredients and pour into pot.
Simmer covered for 2 hours.

Remove to a carving board and cover with foil to rest for 5 minutes.


Make a slurry of  3 Tbsp flour and 1/4 cup of water and shake in a bottle.
Whisk into the fluid left in the pot and thicken and use as a Gravy.

Enjoy!

How are you celebrating the holidays this year?
Are you able to meet in person?

I'll be busy for the next week or so baking and preparing gifts.

Are you ready for Christmas?

Thank you for dropping by The Humble Bungalow Blog.

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

Friday, December 27, 2019

Victoria Sponge with Lemon Curd

Recently I discovered that Bonne Maman makes lemon curd and I do love their jams so I wanted to give this a try.

I love the flavour of lemons.

An easy choice was opting to bake a Victoria sponge...
It is a basic cake that can be filled with jams
or in this case,
the star of the recipe...
Lemon Curd.








Hope you enjoy this cake recipe.
It is quick and easy.

We enjoyed our Christmas Holidays very much.

Seeing members of our small family was a highlight.

Our daughter and her husband accompanied us to Butchart Gardens for a festive dinner and a walk around the garden which is all lit up with festive holiday lights and
displays for the 12 Days Of Christmas.

Our son and the grandchildren spent Boxing Day with us.
We had a casual brunch and then a turkey dinner with all the fixings.
Salmon was on the menu for Isla the eldest grand who prefers not to eat meat.

Today I've made a tasty turkey vegetable soup for lunch.

The past few days of cooking and entertaining have kept me very busy.
The table linens and napkins are all washed, folded, ironed and put away.
Knitting and a leisurely walk with my husband sound like a great way to spend a few hours...

Now I am wondering...
what will I cook for dinner tonight?

Hope you had a lovely Holiday.

Cheers!

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

Thursday, December 5, 2019

Festive sparklers...and a trip to Vancouver.


Tis the festive season and I like to add some sparkle to my outfits.


Vintage Rhinestone Pins


Most of my pins are by the Canadian designer Sherman.
Mom loved her Sherman jewelry.
My father used to buy Sherman for her at Christmas.

Beautiful velvet boxes from Birks.
They usually contained a necklace, bracelet and earrings.
She would wear them with a velvet dress that she made for the holidays.
My sister and I had dresses also made by Mom...
she used the leftover fabric from her dress to sew ours.
All three of us had the same colour of velvet for each Christmas season.
(I have pictures of the three of us all dressed up)


This pin is by the designer Boucher of Paris.
He went on to design for the House of Cartier.

Do you add sparkle to your festive outfits?


This tree is in the square behind The Art Gallery in Vancouver.
We were there to attend a meeting and see friends who just moved into their newly built penthouse condominium.



Painted entrance to their parking garage.


Shopping happens when we visit the city!
I love the Eileen Fisher shop on South Granville.
I met a delightful woman in the shop.
She reads my blog!

I loved her outfit...
black vest, sweater and pants.
Very chic black glasses that many women in Paris wore.

Hope she will email me.
It would be fun to meet up for a chat and a coffee next time I am in Vancouver either before or after I shop in Eileen Fisher or we could shop together!


Casual greyish beige top


Very cozy

I'm wearing it with the black Eileen Fisher pants from last season.


I've got to finish this post quickly as I have a dental appointment.

There is so much to get done in the next few weeks...
baking, shopping, wrapping,  decorating the house.

Hope that we can get some of these jobs done this coming weekend.

How are your festive plans coming along?

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

Monday, December 24, 2018

Christmas Eve

                         Seasons Greetings from The Humble Bungalow.


Our Island and many of the southern Gulf Islands are recovering from a devastating storm last week that blew down trees and power lines.
Many people are still without power. We never lost our power and I am so grateful that we are warm and cozy snug in our home.

We are ready for the festivities...
time to enjoy our family and friends.


Our faux Christmas tree is lit with plain white lights
"cat proof" 
with no baubles.

Chester climbs it most days 
he has not knocked it over (yet) 
he got stuck once 
with the wire of the lights stretched tight across his belly
fortunately I was able to extricate him.


                    Like many of you, I have been busy these past few weeks.

"It's true, Christmas can feel like a lot of work, particularly for mothers. 
But when you look back on all the Christmases in your life, 
you'll find you've created family traditions and lasting memories. 
Those memories, good and bad, are really what help to keep a family together over the long haul. "

                                       ~ Caroline Kennedy ~


I love the message on this Emma Bridgewater tote!


It's not quite time for me to hang up my gloves...
the cooking is not finished.


The baking is done


The rum balls, citrus shortbread and butter tarts are ready for the tins.
The deliveries are in process...


Stuffed devilled eggs are ready for the party.


Christmas Day 
we will serve a simple brunch 
followed later by a small turkey dinner.


Thank you for your comments 
on the recent passing of my husband's mom.


"The spirit of Christmas is the spirit of love and of generosity and of goodness. It illuminates the picture window of the soul, and we look out upon the world's busy life and become more interested in people than in things."

~ Thomas S. Monson ~

Best wishes for a Peaceful and Happy Holiday.