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

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 ~

Saturday, December 17, 2022

Hostess Gift ~ It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas in The Humble Bungalow

 


Festive Season is upon us and I am keeping things very simple.
Am wearing some sparkly vintage pins.


(Sherman pin ~ close up)


 Sherman brooches are a favourite of mine.
The newest one seen here is from our darling daughter. 
I popped it on a black boiled wool Eileen Fisher tunic sweater.

Some women avoid black but I gravitate to it for several reasons...
it is easy to wear,
it can be casual, or dressy.
It transitions well to evening...

My basic minimalist wardrobe relies heavily on black basics.
Accessories are the stars in a basic black ensemble.
I prefer pieces with a history...
Vintage jewellery is found in thrift shops, antique malls and online.
The thrill of the hunt excites me.


I found a new Finnish modernist votive holder at the thrift shop...
now I have a pair!
The silver baubles are from my childhood home.
Mom used to put them in a tall vase, I popped them in this silver trophy.

We don't have a lot of decorations...
a simple tree with white fairy lights


I found a pair of Josef Seibel boots 
to replace my tired "almost 8 year old" Chelsea Boots.
I will wear these with tights and skirts as well as my jeans.


A classic vintage handmade wreath made by a friend of my MIL.
Made with baubles, pine cones, rhinestone brooches.
I consider us custodians of this wreath...
it is a family "heirloom!"


Mixed Nuts are one of my go to Hostess Gifts.

Here's the recipe...

Mixed Nuts 

2 egg whites (at room temperature)
4 cups mixed unsalted nuts:
cashews, almonds, pecans, hazelnuts
1/2 cup sugar
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp cayenne pepper or hot paprika
1/2 tsp salt

Preheat oven to 325 degrees
Place egg whites in a large bowl and whisk until frothy.
Stir in nuts ~ mix to coat.

Combine in a small bowl: sugar, and spices
Pour over nut mixture.
Mix well.

Place on a parchment lined sheet pan spread out so they are in a single layer.
Bake 20-25 minutes 
stir halfway during the cooking time.
Cool then store in sealed jars.
Wrap in tissue paper add ribbon and a tag.
Ready for gift giving

BTW
They are delicious!!


Thank you for stopping by The Humble Bungalow Blog.

It's a busy time of year, so remember to take some time to stop and breathe, 
sip a cuppa and rest.

Wishing you a Very Merry Christmas.


~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

Thursday, November 25, 2021

Weekend~ A getaway...and now a state of emergency.

 


Last weekend we hopped across the pond...
 it is a rather BIG POND 
so not being frogs we actually took the ferry!

The first time we have travelled off island other than the short trip to our cottage in over 2 years.


We wanted to see the Yoko exhibit at The Vancouver Art Gallery.


It was a very nostalgic foray into the past...




The Bed In for Peace took place in 1969 in Canada.


Yoko's art includes some interactive areas 
where people are encouraged 
to mend china, hammer a nail, leave a comment and build with stones.

We shopped South Granville Street and found quite a few Christmas gifts.
I ventured into Eileen Fisher (Gosh I have missed this store!) 
I found a few pieces...
will share them in a future post!


We were hungry by the time we were finished shopping
so we headed to The Cactus Club for a cold drink and some sushi.

Dinner was at our favourite Indian Fusion restaurant Vij's.
Vikram walked over to chat with us and we were happy to renew his acquaintance.
We have been going to his restaurant for decades.
He mentioned my pearls and said how elegant they were!!

My OOTD




Wool beret by Canadian Hat Company.

The food was amazing.
For starters we had the beef and lamb meatballs with tamarind chutney.
Our main course:
Coconut curried chicken with rice, naan bread and lamb popsicles.

We were too full to have any dessert but what a wonderful evening it was.


We were hoping to meet up with long time friends but they were stuck at their cottage on the lake just outside Merritt 
where devastating floods and mudslides damaged the local highways.

Abbotsford and areas nearby have completely flooded!

A state of emergency has been declared.
Livestock have been lost and many had to be evacuated to higher ground...
homes have been lost and people have perished.

Travel and the transport of goods and gas have been impacted.

The major highway, The Coquihalla, will not be repaired for months.
A few smaller routes have reopened and one of our friends was able to drive through the US in Washington State to get back home and the other flew out to Vancouver.

Food is being rationed at the local grocery stores and gas is limited to 30 litres per visit.

More intense rain has been predicted and they are calling these events 
"atmospheric rivers."

Finger crossed our basement stays dry...
but the back yard is saturated 
so we are on high alert.


I found a new book and read it in 2 days...
we had lots of time to read 
as we were in the ferry line up, 
then we stayed in our car on the open air deck
for the journey home.

I can recommend this book.
 It is set in Paris during war time and is based on a true story.

We are decorating the house this afternoon as the rains here are torrential 
so we cannot work in the garden and we got pretty wet on our walk.

Stay safe...

Thank you for popping by The Humble Bungalow Blog.

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

Tuesday, December 8, 2020

December Vibes

 


The Christmas tree and fairy lights
we've added a few festive touches.


Our decorating has happened much sooner than usual.
Spending most of our time in The Humble Bungalow during the pandemic 
has made us much more aware of our surroundings and we need more Cheer!


Snow capped Mount Baker in the background at Willows Beach.
Walking along the sandy beach listening to the sound of the waves 
gulls calling as they fly overhead.

Walking under sunny skies is preferable to the rain...
unfortunately 
there is rain in the forecast for most of the week
so I will don my new red raincoat and grab a brolly...
Needs Must!


Cooking through Covid is helping me stay focused on comfort food.
Why not make a soothing meal each night for dinner?
Ina has hit the ball right out of the park with this timely cookbook.


The Ultimate Beef Stew recipe is full of flavour and makes a big batch.
Leftovers can easily be frozen for a future meal.

While this stew was simmering in the oven our Bungalow 
sumptuous scents wafted out from the dutch oven.

We were extra hungry by the time it was ready to sit down to dinner!


This wonderfully written book is transporting me back to Tuscany.
Its a delight to read...thank goodness for armchair travel!


Mr HB is busy building our deer fence. 
He installed the 3 panels this past weekend.
The tall cedar posts will be cut down and capped.


Hopefully 
Our roses out front should be safer next Spring and Summer.

We listened to Dr. Bonnie Henry's announcement yesterday and learned that the Covid cases here in BC are showing no bend in the curve...

We are not allowed to gather with friends or family inbdoors or outside.
Fines will be issued if we do not obey the rules.

Christmas will be only allowed for the family that live under one roof...
so we will need to be creative 
meet up remotely via Zoom or FaceTime.

In good news the vaccines are on their way!


How are you holding up during the pandemic?
 What are you reading?
Have you decorated earlier than usual for the festive season?

Stay Safe


~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

Wednesday, November 25, 2020

Adding some festive touches in The Humble Bungalow.


Welcome to The Humble Bungalow
we've started adding a few festive touches a wee bit earlier than usual.
With all the time that we are spending in our home these days...
 why not?


Festive starry candle holder 
a recent purchase from the Victoria Art Gallery gift shop.


I love to decorate with warm creamy white accents.


Sweet white hearts are hung from the knobs on the cupboard.
These were also found at the Art Gallery gift shop.
I think they would be really pretty hung on a tree with all white lights.


Cookie tins and English crackers.
We have no idea if we will be permitted to have our family come over for Christmas with the Covid cases still climbing.

I bought the crackers just in case...
I will drop them off when I pass over the gifts
 if we are not allowed to meet up in person.

The tins will hold cookies and chocolate bark...
which I will start making in a couple of weeks.


Battery powered LED lights add ambiance in The Humble Bungalow Kitchen.


These lights are warm and add festive cheer.

We plan to put up the tree this coming weekend and will pull out some of the other decorations.

Are you decorating for Christmas early this year?

Do you think Christmas will be celebrated differently this year due to lockdown?

Have you started shopping for the holidays?
Are you shopping online or supporting the local small businesses?

I am making a concerted effort to buy local.
I want to see the small shops survive...
it's so sad seeing those that have already closed up shop.

Stay safe and wear your masks!

Thank you for stopping by The Humble Bungalow Blog.

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

Monday, December 9, 2019

Using what is on hand...


The garden is very dormant this month.
I don't have an opportunity to pick fresh flowers
to bring inside...

There are oodles of these dried limelight hydrangeas outside 
in a lovely faded sepia shade
just right for the arts and crafts hammered copper vase in the dining room.


The fairy lights stay up all year.
I've added some silver stars that I purchased about 10 years ago.


The wreath is from my husband's family.
It was made by a friend of his mom's around 1960
using rhinestone brooches
and 
Christmas tree decorations.


It's dim in the dining room 
so it might be difficult to see the wee Noel sign on the cabinet.


A flock of Ojibwa tamarack duck decoys 
sitting perched upon an arts and crafts copper tray.
The wee battery operated copper lights were purchased several years ago.

I've been toying with the idea of putting up a small tree in the kitchen 
but I think the cats would rip it to shreds !

As you may have gathered we don't over decorate.
It's mostly because of the mischievous felines that reside here with us!

I've still got some baking and shopping to get done for Christmas...
 I am pacing myself to avoid unnecessary stress.

Keeping things simple just feels right.

We received a call from a long time family friend tonight that there has been a death in our circle...
it's been an emotional evening to say the least.

We have spent the past few hours recalling all the memories...
life is to be cherished.

How are your holidays preparations coming along?
Try not to get stressed...

Take Care 

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~