Christmas countdown

The Humble Bungalow

and a little Christmas Cheer.

simple wire stars

sit atop the plate rail

nestled between First Nations basketry

This weekend we will be decorating the tree and having our annual pizza party.

We also have a bunch of friends popping by for some Christmas cheer and a buffet dinner.

Finding a place to sit and eat might be a challenge in our wee bungalow.

You know what they say...the more the merrier.

We once had 32 people for a pot luck supper!

It was when "Bungalow Bob" came to Victoria to lecture for The Craftsman Bungalow Society.

Dr. Robert Winter from Pasadena California is the fellow responsible for raising awareness of the historical value of bungalows and the arts and crafts movement in the USA and Canada.

He's the author of several books and when we were in Pasadena many years ago we were able to visit him in his beautiful Batchelder bungalow on the Arroyo.

If you are looking for a last minute gift idea I like this chocolate bark recipe.

It takes just a few minutes to make and then you chill it in the fridge before breaking it into smaller pieces.

Melt good quality chocolate in the microwave.

Stir often so as not to burn it.

I do it in one minute intervals.

Pour onto a foil lined sheet pan and sprinkle with nuts and dried cranberries.

Chill.

What could be easier than this?

The challenge is not to sample too much.

Do you have any last minute gift ideas?

Try to carve out some time to relax and reflect on all the good things that you have in your life.

Adopt the attitude of gratitude and embrace the spirit of giving.

~ stepping down from the soap box now :-)) ~

Season's Greetings

Hostess

Food for a Fall Dinner

Our weather has been chilly and ice is on the ground, yet we are snug in our Humble Bungalow despite the single paned windows and the drafts. I just add a cashmere sweater and some woolly socks.

The Humble Bungalow is panelled in dark fir and the lights "glow" but do not offer much illumination.
It is rather like "mood lighting" and most of the arts and crafts furniture is dark oak.

On a dark and stormy night I like to serve a hot meal...
salads are fine but there is something so comforting sitting down to dinner when the food is hot.

Have you seen this book?

I hadn't until I was browsing the shelves at our local Value Village.

I enjoy reading Real Simple magazines when I get the opportunity so I thought why not...

I made the recipe for "Paprika Spiced Pork Chops with Spinach Saute."

I served them with carrots and a dish of roasted tomatoes with a panko crumb topping.

I rarely buy pork as I never know how to prepare it but this recipe on page 179 was a winner.

Mr. HB loved it!

I'll be wearing this trusty linen apron as I plan to spend the better part of the day in the kitchen.

Thinking about JFK today and the events 50 years ago in Dallas Texas.

Do you remember here were you when it happened?

~ ~ ~

Have a lovely weekend.

As per your request Lisa...

I am in full on cooking mode this afternoon so this is my OOTD.

Skinny jeans a white tee, loafers and a patterned jacket.

Simply White, a Wednesday in March...

White Wednesdays have all but disappeared, have you noticed?
Bloggers seems to have moved on to other themes.

I do so love white stoneware, plates and the soft glow of all white rooms.

Filtered light cast shadows on this simple jug.

Atlanta Bartlett's lovely book

At Home With White has some seriously beautiful images

I keep opening this book and dreaming in white.

I never tire of white rooms

they ooze with elegance

 a breath of calm relaxation.

I love when whites are massed together

the effect is amplified

especially when there are variations of shapes and texture.

Oh be still my beating heart,

 look at this all white kitchen!

Simple, elegant and stunning in it's beauty.

Our heritage Bungalow has dark Douglas Fir wood panelling and wainscoting and beams.

We would not dream of changing this element as that would be tampering with the original architects' design.

Milo S. Farwell worked in Victoria, Seattle and San Francisco.

I wonder how many of his homes still exist.

We are stewards of this home and do our best to keep it as original as possible.

Loving white as I do

 I add it where I can...

~ dishes and crockery ~

~ towels ~

The Meissen platter is a favourite of mine.

I love the grand scale of it and the gentle scalloped edge.

Maxwell Williams china is widely available and is quite reasonably priced.

Open stock makes it easy to pick up more pieces.

When you choose white china it is easy to mix and match different styles and designs 

it all works

trust me!

Say you are hosting a dinner party or a buffet for 20 and you own a set of 12 

you can borrow white china from your friends

and put it all together so it looks fabulous.

Apples even look prettier against the white bowl

this bowl was found at a local thrift shop

I think it was originally a wash basin.

For some inspiration pop on over to Country Living and have a browse...

I'll be back in a few days with some highlights from our Seattle and Vancouver trip.

There was lots of sightseeing and shopping...

and yes there were shoes!

~ Bungalow Beautification ~

Living in a 100 year old registered heritage home comes with responsibility and means keeping on top of the maintenance and is not for the faint of heart.
There is always a long list of things that need doing and we take on a few projects every year.
Mr. HB has been quite busy around here in The Humble Bungalow this month. Besides priming and painting downstairs in the laundry room he's been working on the front porch.

Here is the new front door made by a talented local craftsman Percy, an exact replica of the former 100 year old one that was seriously delaminating. The hardware is new and in the Craftsman style from Classic Brass.

Mr. HB has been busy down in his workshop testing out stain colours to get just the look and shade that we like.

The original bevelled glass was saved and used in the new door.

Mr. HB painted the old house numbers black as they were corroded from the salty ocean breezes.

For the same reason we replaced the porch light...

Waterglass Studio 

had an arts and crafts style lamp suitable for the porch.

There will be a bus full of arts and crafts enthusiasts coming through our Humble Bungalow this month.

We have been busy cleaning, tidying and tending to the garden 

 putting our best face forward.

Do you remember the glove?

I read Faux Fuchsia's post this morning and was astonished to read that her "baby" is now 18 months old!

I remember clearly the day she announced that she was expecting him and it seems like yesterday.

Time marches on...

Chester napping and groggy after his surgical procedure yesterday.

Poor little fellow...

we had to entice him with treats so we could give him the pain medicine this morning.

When one adopts a rescue kitten part of the agreement is that you will have them spayed or neutered.

I am keeping him company and blogging from bed.

It's a tough job but someone has to do it!

Hope that you have a fabulous weekend!

Hostess

XO

The Humble Bungalow May 2012

It's a sunny warm morning and I took my camera and walked about in the garden.
Preserving images of the garden in all it's glory keeps me motivated to maintain the weeding and pruning.
We watered for the first time last evening as there has been no rain and things were looking rather parched.

The peach coloured Rothschild variety azalea 

is putting on quite the show 

it's sweet, almost tropical, fragrance is heady.

The wee chartreuse euphorbia has filled in the front bed

(it's invasive so beware!)

The box wood has grown since I put it in last year and is looking rather sharp.

The azalea was purchased many years ago

we were inspired by Veronica Milner's estate and garden near Qualicum Beach.

Prince Charles and Princess Diana stayed there when they visited many moons ago.

The garden is now open to the public and I must get back up there sometime soon.

Perhaps this summer for a tour and some tea

you might like to visit...

Chairs at the ready 

tea on the porch 

sitting and watching

listening to birdsong

chatting with the passers by...

Gardening requires stamina and I find now that I can only toil for a few hours before resting.

When I was in my 40's I could work for 8 hours in a day

now that I am nearing 60 I am more comfortable working 3 or 4 and then taking a break.

Gardening is particularly hard on the hands and though I wear gloves I need some extra help.

Lotion is often applied before putting on my gloves and there is a warming effect that takes place when working

and the lotion is absorbed at the same time. 

( a mini spa treatment! )

Here's a helper

I rub it into my cuticles and let it soak in.

I keep it by my lap top so it's handy

and then I remember to use it.

There's a long weekend coming up and I plan to plant seeds in the vegetable garden

and go shopping with my BFF for a dress suitable for a summer garden wedding.

What have you planned to do this weekend?

Whew!

Not too many words in this post...
I am in awe and bowing to Mr. HB and his expertise.

His firm has been nominated for a  BC Wood award for their latest project at our local university.
It's all good.

Mr. HB has been working his magic with the help of the tradesmen.....
here at home and things are looking good!

the new cabinet

arts and crafts window details

no hardware yet

it's in transit

from Rejuvenation

Quartz countertop

100 pounds and then some

bevelled edges

(bit of a splurge)

installed this morning.

Wide window ledge

ready for some orchids

or Pepper!

My old stackable Frigidare washer and dryer

still swirling, swishing

washing and drying

and it's been eons!

The lacy knickers are at the drying post

they'll enjoy a new steamy machine :)

Looking for that new set

the LG's or Miele's in every flyer that graces our doorstep....

Tick tock, tick tock....a forgotten post.

I found this post that I wrote a few weeks ago and forgot to publish...

Life is quite quiet here today...
the clock sounds tick tock
birdsong is audible through the single paned 100 year old Humble Bungalow windows
sitting here with a hot mug of tea in hand
pondering
dreaming
resting
until it's time to begin making dinner.

The Humble Bungalow living room

as it is today.

Morris arts and crafts chairs

two mica lamps

our reading corner

my chair is smaller 

it's the one with the linen pillow.

the kitchen

I should have moved the linen tea towel that I flung on the counter

oh well 

life in the Bungalow is not perfect or immaculate

nor will it ever be...

Pepper in one of her quieter moments

she has been "in trouble"

she was exploring the skinny plate rail in the family room

she leapt off onto the cabinet 

that held a lovely vintage West German vase 

SMASH

let's just say Pepper is on the de-cluttering bandwagon.

Mother has been feeling poorly for the past month.

I have been back and forth with her on the phone and visiting

took her some tulips and had a cheer up session with her...

she's off to the doctor this week.

These tulips were a gift to lovely daughter

I took some just like these to Mother.

I bought some hyacinths 

and they are sweetly scenting the air.

I'll plant the bulbs outside after the blooms fade.

I am so in love with white flowers.

In the hour before supper this week I had a desperate moment...

what to make for dinner when I don't feel like cooking?

I had some leftover chili which I covered with mashed potatoes

added some salsa and grated mozzarella cheese

baked for 45 minutes and dinner's ready.

It was surprisingly good.

Crisis averted!

What do you serve for supper when you feel uninspired or too lazy to cook?

Renovation update...

Many bloggers are participating in Frugal February. 

 I am unable to join in due to the renovations in The Humble Bungalow.

It's so exciting to see the changes as they transform this space.
There is a new back door and window to brighten up what once was a dark and dingy laundry room.

Mr. HB is the main man on the job.
There are dry wallers, plumbers and electricians and soon there will be a tile expert on the job.
What is my role you might ask?

I am the sweeper/cleaner/cook.
I have been catering to Mr. HB's culinary desires to keep him happy and motivated!
(so far it's working)

So looking forward to the painting and decorating stage...
when I will weald a brush and go shopping for towels and trinkets to fluff up the space and add my personal touch.

back door

laundry area

Mr. HB's tool and The Hostess's tool

(a lowly broom)

bathroom

wall detail

hallway wall

looking from the guest room down the hall to the laundry area

left is the door to the bathroom

Mr. HB is working very hard on these improvements.

Thanks honey!

We are using Benjamin Moore "Simply White" on the ceiling and walls.

Flooring in the bathroom will be white subway tile with a black accent,

 charcoal grey tile will be laid in the hall and laundry areas

in floor heating throughout the space.

We have ordered a quartz slab for the laundry room counter top.

(quite a splurge)

Mr. HB is going to construct a cabinet under the window in the laundry room for storage.

In our Bungalow storage is rare as hen's teeth.

There will be a new washer and dryer 

I am thinking of the new steam Maytag series in white.

Anyone care to share their thoughts or experiences with the newer washer and dryers on the market these days?

My current set were the first HE series by Frigidaire and they have performed well and given us great service.

My goodness the weekend's almost here...

we'll be busy here on the homefront

tell me all of your lovely plans.

Hostess

XO

Bungalow memories...The Plant family.

The Humble Bungalow has many faces and the one that it is showing right now is sunny yellow.
Happily the sun is shining and the light is streaming in the windows.
The plants are putting on a performance as well.

White Christmas Cactus 

This Asian planter was a gift from the son of Mrs. Plant 

she was the longest resident of the Bungalow.

She was a widow and earned her living by taking in sewing 

and working as a seamstress at one of the better shops in the city.

She raised 3 children single handedly which back in the 30's and 40's would have been a struggle.

She had a small Victory Garden in the back yard, a King apple tree and black berry bushes.

Most of the garden had grown wild by the time we came to buy it and it took us several years to "tame it."

She had passed away a few years before we bought the house.

I researched the previous owners using the city's archives and found her son listed in the local directory.

I sent him a note and asked if he had any photo's which he did and would bring a few along for us to peruse when we got together.

We had Mr. and Mrs. Plant over for tea 

they also brought this lovely planter which had been a favourite of Mrs. Plant.

They provided us with the addresses of the two daughters who had married and moved to the United States. We corresponded for a few years until such time that they were in town and they popped by for a cup of tea and a tour.

I wish that I had taken pictures of all of us together but I was so excited to meet them that I completely was lost in the conversation and their impressions and memories of their childhood home.

The planter had a healthy plant in it at the time of their visit which unfortunately I managed to kill after a few months!

 I have much better luck with Christmas cactus plants.

Outside the garden is fading and the last flush of the roses are blooming.

Pretty in Pink

Nerine Bowdenii

a fall favourite.

Mrs. Plant

in front of The Humble Bungalow

which will be 100 years old in 2012.

Wishing you a wonderful weekend.

What are your plans?

I'll be walking outside in the crisp salty air

cleaning in and around the Bungalow

and 

reading 

The Beach House

 by Jane Green.