Paris is Always a Good Idea!

Audrey Hepburn wasn't kidding when she was quoted as saying "Paris is Always a Good Idea!"

The past three weeks have exceeded my expectations and although I am slightly jet lagged I am very excited to be able to post a few words here and share a few quick thoughts.

In the next few days or weeks I plan to do some more in depth posts on Paris and my travels south to the idyllic and enchanting village of Auvillar and the surrounding countryside.

Notre Dame Cathedral Paris

the iconic church on the Seine.

Paris IS a beautiful city!

 The best way to see it is to walk in the various arrondissements taking in the sites then when you get tired stop for a coffee and a croissant in a street front cafe. 

(Great way to study Chic Paris Street Style!)

Lunches were delicious and I frequently opted for salads, omelets and I tried a traditional Croque Monsieur.

I started my day with a big breakfast in the morning at the Hotel.

The bread in France is like nothing I have ever tasted before...I don't know what they do to it but it is exceptional!

Meandering along the rues and grand boulevards gives you the best views 

and behind the beautiful doors there are hidden gems if you peek inside!

These doors, when opened reveal an inner courtyard.

I was obsessed with these doors and took many photos of them...

if you followed me on Instagram while I was away you've seen quite a few already!

The Ooh La La Tour was fabulous and I met some great women.

I'll chat more about this later...

 I had some fun and silly moments after our tour of the Fragonard museum!

I'm going to miss the champagne social...

that The Hotel Belloy provided every afternoon...

oh and the pastries and espresso!

I'm happy to report that my carry on was the perfect way to travel and my minimum wardrobe worked beautifully and I wore every item several times in the 3 weeks that I was away.

Basic wardrobe.

Black Eileen Fisher pants

Dark denim skinny jeans Banana Republic

Black and white striped Tee dress 

black skirt

4 tees

2 tanks

silk cream blouse

black cowl Wooden Ships sweater

2 bras

4 panties

2 pairs of black textured hose

2 pairs of socks, one compression style

nightie and light weight silky robe

short black boots

black ballet style walking shoes

2 scarves 

watch

 opera length pearls

umbrella

Barbour quilted jacket

black lightweight rain resistent coat

I did some shopping in Paris...more about that later...

Here is the vintage Jeanne Lanvin scarf I picked up in the vintage "pop up shop" at BHV.

Hope you've been well while I have been away and thank you for stopping by to read my little blog.

Hope you have a great week and I will be back soon.

Wishing you a Healthy and Happy New Year!

Today we woke to a frosty morn...cold and icy but clear and sunny.
We have been catching up on all the news from our friends John and Cheryl,
who by the way, are incredibly gracious house guests.
They pitch in and help and put up with the badly mannered bungalow cats.

Last evening we shared a delicious meal.
John made a tasty appetizer which he got from a neighbour in Auvillar...whose name is Jean-Philippe...it's a keeper and has a very French flair...
I love working with others in my tiny kitchen...
sipping a Junipero martini while we chat and prep is my idea of fun!

Mix approximately1 cup of duck rillette, with 2 chopped shallots and 2 tablespoons of drained capers.

When mixed top slices of a fresh French baguette with a dollop of the mixture.

Place on a sheet pan and bake at 350 degrees until the edges of the bread are golden and the duck is warm.

I made a quick and colourful arugula salad with cucumbers, green onions and pomegranate seeds.

I mixed up my Humble Bungalow jam jar vinaigrette.

In a Bon Maman jam jar put 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard, salt. pepper, and add 3 tablespoons olive oil and 1 tablespoon of vinegar...shake and dress and toss the salad just before serving.

Oysters with mignonette sauce and freshly grated horseradish.

Casual table setting...

Oysters are not to every one's liking but they are one of my favourites.

 I prefer the small varieties as they are much sweeter tasting.

We indulged in a cheese course...fresh from the French deli Choux Choux Charcuterie on Fort Street.

French macarons from Bon Macaron Patisserie for dessert!

Yes we ate them all...

and watched a lovely film on Netflix called Summer in Provence.

 A French film that was subtitled...

beautiful scenery, great story and wonderful actors...

I highly recommend that you watch it!

Thank you for stopping by and I'd like to take this opportunity to wish you all a Healthy and Happy New Year.

New Year's is a time to rethink old habits, make resolutions and start fresh...

What have you got on your list for the New Year?

Out with the old and in with the new...OOTD

I culled a few garments last week from our teeny tiny closet...
they were Tees that had pilled and were looking faded.
I hang most of my clothes to dry so pilling is not usually a problem but those Tees were quite cheap and I think they were worn so often and were layered with vests and sweaters perhaps that is why they were badly abraded.

I did not replace them as I have two long sleeved Tees still in the closet.
Instead I opted for one new top...and a scarf.

Lands' End tunic top in a black and white stripe.

I wore this to the Winter Harp Concert with black leggings and Mee Too ballet flats.

Lands' End did a great job matching the stripes when sewing this top.

I snapped this picture from the car when driving home from the concert...

(I was in the passenger seat)

the legislative buildings in Victoria are lit up for Christmas.

This patterned scarf folded in half ~ black, grey and creamy beige shades.

The fabric has a felted texture and was purchased from the Oak Bay Avenue Pharmasave.

It has no tag to say what the fabric content is or who or where it was made...

As it mixes and matches with almost everything in my closet it is going to get a LOT of wear...

it may even come with me to Paris.

I spy with my little eye something that is silver...

I found a carry on that meets the strict requirements of Air France...

an early Xmas gift to myself 

purchased at 60% off regular price AND I used my senior's discount!

It's good that it expands,

just in case I buy some things in Paris and need to check it on the flight home!

Mimi Thorisson author of the blog Manger has a cookbook out and it is full of fabulous French Country recipes.

This would make a great gift for the foodie on your Christmas list.

I have been drooling over her seasonal menus and cannot stop staring at the beautiful, sensual and sumptuous photographs in this book...

 artfully captured by her talented husband Oddur.

I whipped up a couple of loaves of fruit bread

read most of  "The House I Loved"...

I caught up on some much needed sleep...

Darling grand daughter Isla has been ill and my mind has not been able to completely turn off worrying about her.

She is on the mend thanks to antibiotics and I am looking forward to my "Grammy Day" this coming week.

I hope that Henry doesn't come down with the bug.

I was surprised when I recently got a thank you from Hermes in the mail.

I must admit that I am very impressed...

"Good Manners are Always in Fashion."

Must close for now 

as I need to get dinner organized.

Thank you for your comments and book suggestions...

until next time...

Be Well.

Positively Beastly Weather and Comfort Food.

Autumn walks are beyond beautiful.
I find them to be refreshing, exhilarating and energizing.
The air is fresh and crisp and there is a bit of a chill which keeps me moving.
The trees are shedding their leaves with the change of season...
I like to listen to the crunch of the leaves as I walk on their colourful carpeting.

On one of my most recent walks I ventured into the local cemetery. It's a park like space in our neighbourhood which has many heritage trees and a wide assortment of wildlife from birds and squirrels, to raccoons and deer. There are many headstones and a few crypts. My family ancestors have a plot and are buried here.

mushrooms the size of dinner plates!

I gathered a few leaves and cones to add to the wee pumpkins.

Walking in the crisp air made me so hungry!

 A simple salad on such a chilly day would not be enough so I actioned some serious COMFORT food for lunch.

French Toast with a wee drizzle of Canadian Maple Syrup!

Seriously simple to make...

whisk and egg in a shallow dish big enough to accommodate a piece of bread.

Buy the Silver Hills Little Big Bread in the blue bag ~ 2 pieces are only 1 WW point!

Soak bread and then flip over to allow it to absorb the rest of the egg.

Place in a small fry pan with a wee and I do mean "wee" bit of butter.

Cook a few minutes and then flip until done.

Drizzle with Maple Syrup.

I ate a pear after as dessert and sipped a mug of Earl Grey Tea.

~ ~ ~

Today as I read over and edit this post it is blustery outside and I am not too keen going out for my walk.

The wind is howling outside and I am grateful to be snug in a warm Humble Bungalow keeping cozy.

The weather is really beastly out there today...the ferries have been stopped due to the high winds and many people are stranded at the terminal waiting for a break in the storm.

I have been busy in the kitchen all morning making meat pies for my daughter's fellow, who is originally from the Marlborough area of New Zealand. His family own an award winning Olive Grove.

 N has been craving the meat pies that he grew up eating...

apparently they even sell them in McDonald's in NZ!

I googled New Zealand meat pies and found a recipe in a woman's magazine so I am following it to the letter.

The pies are cooked and cooling on the counter, and a pear dessert is baking in the oven.

I plan to cook fish for my daughter and myself...

I will try one bite of the meat pies just to see what they taste like.

What family recipes do you remember loving from your childhood?

Do you still make them?

"One cannot think well, love well, sleep well, if one has not dined well."

 ~ Virginia Woolf ~

Hostess

XO

An exciting weekend in The Humble Bungalow...

We have been busy entertaining friends John and Cheryl from Vancouver this weekend.
They are the kind of friends that we are very comfortable spending time with...
we are all very relaxed and casual...
I think that is the sign of a great friendship... one does not need to "put on airs" or dress up.

Many conversations, walking and seeing some local sights were all part of our time spent together.

Friday evening we went out for martini's and sushi at The Oak Bay Marina.
Saturday after breakfast we did some marketing.
Cheryl and I decided that we wanted to cook a rack of lamb
to go with the exquisite 2004 vintage St Emilion grand cru that they brought home from France.
A visit to Slater's butcher shop for the Frenched rack of lamb.
Chiarelli's (the best deli in Victoria), for our assorted cheeses
Peppers Grocers for the fresh vegetables.

We also went to Hatley Castle and had a wonderful walk in the sunshine
(post to follow soon)
Olive the Senses for an olive oil and vinegar tasting and some purchases
and a quick stroll through Silk Road Tea Company for some teas.

The recipe is straight forward and has clear instructions

our results were delicious!

The racks were "Frenched" by the butcher

making it look very professional when entwined.

Truffle mashed potatoes

 french style bean with almonds

Rack of lamb Persillade

followed by a cheese course

Roquefort

caramelized onion cheddar

goat cheese

Manchego

Pecorino with Pepper

The mashed potatoes were easy peasy

boil peeled spuds

drain

mash and add 1 tablespoon truffle oil

2 tbsp. butter

then fold in one shaved truffle.

Dinner was a wonderful combination of flavours

and clean up went swiftly with many hands.

We had a lovely walk at Mount Douglas Summit and looked out over the city and the Gulf islands beyond

before driving out to Island View Beach for another stroll.

We worked up an appetite for lunch and enjoyed The Noodle Box in Sidney before taking them to the ferry. 

It's been a whirlwind of fun.

The leftover lamb is simmering now as Scotch Broth Soup

and the washer and dryer are humming ever so quietly.

I'm excited about The Hatley Castle Post

the stately home and grounds reminds me of Downton Abbey...

oh and it's the season finale is tonight!

Hope that you have enjoyed your weekend.

Hostess

XO