Tulip Mania...and a surprise!

The Spring tulips are magnificent in colour and form...
tulip mania is very real here in The Humble Bungalow!

Intricate patterns and vibrant details.

I've been gardening in these pretty grey pearls...

a gift from our darling daughter.

Love this soft worn in chambray shirt from the Gap.

Its years old and a favourite of mine.

It is so very cozy and in these troubling times I am wearing only comfy clothes.

Cashmere, chambray and yes! Yoga pants.

Keeping it real here.

My days are slow paced and provide a variety of activities...

gardening, dusting, cooking, reading, knitting and walking.

I never know exactly how my days will shape up.

Coffee and checking in with social media and the news are the first things...

Sitting still and looking out the window

while quietly reflecting

on things that I am grateful for and that practise sets the tone for the day.

I don't usually gravitate toward suspense thrillers...

 this one by Shari Lapena caught my eye and WOW!

I read it in two days and was riveted to my seat!

The ending has a real twist!

Reading is such a fabulous distraction.

I am "escaping" every day through books during this pandemic.

How are you doing?

What are you reading?

Chester napping...he makes it look effortless to fall asleep!

I envy him...

Rosemarie who resides in Vancouver sent me these sweet socks.

Cheerful and soft, perfect for these cozy comfort clothing days...

Thank you Rosemarie.

XO

I am going to start reading this book later today.

In the meantime I am going to water the garden and do some laundry.

Routines help fill the time while we are staying home so much.

Are you keeping busy?

Stay safe

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

Seeing Red...recipes and pops of colour

I've been struggling to come up with cheerful and inspiring posts while we are isolating and cocooning at home.
Perhaps I have hit a bit of a writer's block so instead of obsessing about why I went to the archives and found some bright red images to share.

We start off with the recipe that I made recently...
My husband absolutely loves pasta!

To start 

I roast cut up tomatoes in the oven at 400 degrees for 45 minutes until soft.

Several cloves of diced garlic on top of the tomatoes and a bit of olive oil with fresh ground pepper.

This step makes the flavour richer and more intense.

Lidia Bastianich's meatball recipe is the best one that I have tried.

I use an ice cream scoop to make the balls more uniform.

I add the tomatoes that I have previously roasted 

as well as the other sauce ingredients

It serves 6 so we have it for two dinners with a tossed salad.

My husband usually takes the leftovers for his lunches...

as I said he adores pasta so he never tires of this dish.

We are enjoying our meals here in The Humble Bungalow.

(maybe a bit too much now that we are unable to go out for meals)

Dinnertime has become somewhat sacred...

Comfort food is being served regularly here during the pandemic.

This is the vintage ice cream scoop that I use for the meatballs...

I use it for cookies and muffins too.

I've been using leftover vegetables in my weekly soups.

Waste Not, Want Not.

Luscious juicy red tomatoes 

so pretty to look at...

Flying high up in the sky.

Full blown tulips

Heirloom tomatoes and a brioche loaf

slice the tomatoes and the bread

add butter and a sprinkling of salt

the perfect fresh sandwich

awaits

Tomatoes with fresh Mint 

drizzled with a balsamic cream reduction

makes for a tasty salad.

Pearls and stripes 

why not get dressed up?

Even if there is nowhere special to go...

Hope that you have enjoyed seeing some of these bright pops of colour.

A distraction from reality 

is what I am craving these days filled with so much uncertainty.

People are stressed and struggling to keep positive.

We are safe, the sun is shining, the garden is full of flowers.

There is food in the fridge and the pantry has the basic staples.

We have toilet paper!

Books to read and a knitting project on the needles.

Our world has changed but we are doing what we are told by staying home and staying safe and here in BC the curve is showing signs of flattening.

We are grateful for all the medical staff and essential services

 that allow us to remain safely cocooned at home.

We are all in this together in unity.

Please leave a comment of how you are feeling and what you are doing...

(use a google search engine as Safari no longer works)

Thank you for stopping by The Humble Bungalow Blog

Stay Safe

until next time....

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

Trying harder to budge the winter weight gain...shoes, salads and a Fitbit

One step at a time...

Walking in comfortable sneakers is my idea of luxury!

These New Balance shoes are unbelievable!

I think its the memory foam...

I finally broke down and bought a Fitbit.

I opted for the new model Inspire HR.

So many women I know love them and say that they really help motivate them 

to walk longer, farther and to stay active.

They also record sleep, 

the length of time slept, 

the sleep stages...

awake, REM, light and deep.

You can track weight, water, heart rate, calories, steps, kms walked or run.

I've noticed that I am more mindful since wearing mine.

I'm going to track my weight too and see if there is any change.

The weather has been wonderful this weekend and I spent quite a few hours outside pulling weeds and deadheading the roses.

Marigold the Mouse designed and created by the talented artist Robyn 

at Willie Woolly

is enjoying the Climber Royal Sunset.

Its a fragrant frothy rose that grows up on a trellis on our deck overlooking the back garden.

Arugula, red onions, strawberries and goat cheese salad.

a light vinaigrette dressing and lunch is served!

Lunch out with Mr. HB at a new waterfront bistro

Boom and Batton

Mega yachts 

a tasty salad and a glass of wine

Reading this humorous book by Olivier Magny.

I think I may have been to his wine bar in Paris when I was there on tour in 2015.

We went to a tasting in a cavern that looks exactly like the pictures online and he must have been the sommelier who led the tasting as he looks the same!

He's written other books which I might buy:

Into Wine: An invitation to Pleasure

WTF? What the French

How was your weekend?

What are you reading?

Do you wear a Fitbit?

Has it been a game changer for your fitness regime?

Have you had difficulty leaving comments on my blog?

I have had a few readers email saying that they cannot comment anymore and I have no idea what is wrong as I have changed nothing!

Try Bloglovin where I also have the blog listed on their platform.

I've got to close for now as I am having guests for dinner tonight and need to prepare a few more dishes.

Thank you for stopping by The Humble Bungalow Blog.

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

Three months...and the journey continues...

Last March 3rd, on my 62nd birthday, Mother passed away.
It has been 3 months and I still miss her so much.

Everywhere I go...I am "with her" and she is "with me."

Mom was so much a part of my life,
and in retirement...a weekly friend who would join me for teas, lunches, shopping and coffee. We shared books, laughter and love.

My daily walks, which were curtailed upon her demise.
Load of work to do on the estate, but mostly because
I passed by her condo on my walking route
and I felt so sad walking by...

Most days, before Mom died, I would stop in for tea and a chat after my walk.
so naturally,
walking past was just too emotional for me.

Many times I would start to walk only to turn around and return home.
Then I took to driving to other areas of town for my walk but this felt too weird and why drive the car and use the gas?

Three months in...
the bulk of the estate has been seen to...
mom's condo has sold and her personal things have been dispersed among the family and those not wanted, were donated.

It has been a big challenge and I have dug deep for strength.
With support from my husband and friends... I am grateful.

I returned to Yoga
to increase my flexibility and for stress relief...
The deep breathing and calming poses help.

I have gained a few pounds.

Recently a call came in from Hospice offering me some counselling...

I cried while I was on the phone and said 

"Thank you,  I am OK"

I have been eating "comfort food"

too many salty crunchy chips!

(my weakness)

They call it comfort food for a reason!

I gave myself a stern lecture.

It is time to get back on track.

The roses are blooming, the sun is shining and my walking route awaits...

Mom would not want me to be sad.

So I have been walking along my favourite route and am looking at the building where she lived and remembering...

with a few tears mixed in with the salt air and sunshine.

Behind my sunglasses no one can see them.

 My week is ticking along...

watching the scale slowly reflecting the results of my efforts.

Pepper is looking longingly out at the birds.

She would leap out the window and try and catch one of the birds if she only could...

Lunch after my walk.

Tea with a 2 egg omelette and a small salad.

The daily 5km walks are not quite happening yet

4kms each day is my current goal...

The roses blooming in The Humble Bungalow Garden 

are helping to brighten up my days. 

It is going to take me some time to get totally "back on track"

to my desired weight.

In the meantime we plod along and try to make the best of things.

Grief is not predictable.

Frankly it frequently startles and surprises me.

Thank you for stopping by...

Hostess

Books and comfort food...

On a grey day last week I took my book to a local cafe and sat at a table near the window.

I ordered a pot of tea and a hearty bowl of soup.

There were scads of people lunching and chatting yet I felt quite sheltered by the noise in my little corner by the window.

Kate Morton's book "The Lake House" has so many twists and turns that I cannot figure out the mystery that she has so cleverly crafted.

I have been lunching on soup quite a bit as I find it such a comforting meal.

Simple, hot, tasty and nutritious.

I've noticed a lot of dandelions on the boulevards that line the streets nearby...

many lawns are dotted with the yellow flowers that are considered by many as noxious weeds.

We have a gadget for pulling these long rooted weeds out of the lawn.

The taproots can be 8-10 inches and if you don't get the root in its entirety it will grow back with a vengeance!

I received a lovely gift from a local author.

Thank you for the book Lise-Lotte!

Lise-Lotte Loomer

has written a book about 

her GreenHouse

the gift her Mother gave to her while she was in Hospice.

Her Mother was an avid gardener and was happy pottering about in her "glasshouse" in her garden by the sea.

The greenhouse was a gift from her husband many years ago...

Lise -Lotte, friends and family dismantled the glasshouse and moved it carefully 

before reassembling it in her back yard...and by all accounts it was a challenge!

(Lise-Lotte's Mother, like my own Mother, wore Chanel No. 5)

Greenhouse Hygge

The House of My Growing Dreams

Lise-Lotte popped in a packet of Earl Grey Tea 

 several of her beautiful art cards

and so I put the kettle on and brewed some tea while I read her book.

Lise- Lotte has used many beautiful snapshots of her garden and greenhouse

in the book...

Lise-Lotte has written a lovely tribute to her Mother

shared with us her vision for the greenhouse 

how it will play a new role in her garden.

Lise-Lotte uses it for entertaining 

as well as growing and propagating flowers 

and vegetables.

The author is able to pop out and sit in her greenhouse 

all year long

sipping a cup of tea or a glass of wine.

It is a quiet refuge, a place for reflection and contemplation.

Having recently lost my own Mother 

I can understand why Lise-Lotte likes to spend so much time in her Mother's greenhouse.

I feel that she, like me, is looking for moments 

when we can be close to,  remember and honour our Mothers.

If you are in the Victoria area you can find Lise-Lotte's book at:

 Ivy's on Oak Bay Avenue, 

Tanners in Sidney on Beacon Avenue, 

Thorn and Thistle Flower Merchants on Bowker Avenue

Russell Nursery on Wain Road

Southlands Nursery In Vancouver also carry the book.

I received this book as a gift and in no way am I being reimbursed by the author

all opinions are mine.

More lunchtime comfort soup...

this one, a creamy tomato basil bisque

with a side of salad and a baguette slice.

I am looking for some new book titles and know many of you are avid readers.

What are you currently reading or which books are on your wish list?

Thank you for stopping by The Humble Bungalow Blog.

XO