New things in The Humble Bungalow ...

It is a lovely morning here in The Humble Bungalow.

Sunshine, blue skies and very little breeze.

I just got back from a walk along the seafront.

The first walk of the day 3.3 km and 5,210 steps.

My daily goal is 10,000 steps which adds up to about 6.2 km

Yesterday I changed the bedding and Pepper was very impatient...

she "assumes the position" on our bed during the daytime.

We updated our coverlet this year with this Laura Ashley printed coverlet and shams.

We also purchased a new wool runner for the hallway.

Staying at home so much has made me aware of lots of things that need attention.

I reorganized the spices using Bonne Maman jam jars.

These jars are a great size and fit well inside the drawer.

3 more jars are waiting to be filled...

I haven't decided which spices I need yet.

Sweet, juicy Tangerines in a vintage ironstone bowl.

We have a larger one of these bowls and it is filled with apples.

Weight Watcher 360 plan assigns ZERO POINTS for fresh fruit

so fresh fruits are my "go to" snacks.

All the walking is helping me feel better.

My muscles are tighter and my legs feel stronger.

I have noticed a change in my shape...

fewer wobbly bits!

Am reading The Which Elm by Tana French.

It is an interesting story and Tana writes such vivid scenes.

I feel like I am inside the rooms and gardens 

beside the characters that are playing their roles.

I must close for now as I have a bunch of laundry that needs my attention.

What are you reading?

Any home projects underway that are keeping you busy?

Please feel free to leave a comment, I love hearing from readers.

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

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 ~

Thanksgiving and some Autumn Colours

It's Thanksgiving weekend and I have been very busy cleaning the Humble Bungalow and preparing for our family dinner...

I went to the local nursery and bought some lovely plants and things to add some Autumn colour to our home and front porch.

A simple chrysanthemum in a terra cotta pot

which I hope says Welcome to our home.

A white pumpkin and a mixed planter with mixed foliage plants.

A new orchid which I popped into a vintage white planter.

These orchids last for years and re-bloom several times each year...

the blooms usually last for 3-4 months.

I purchased 5 of these wee white pumpkins to use on the dinner table.

A sweet little Kalanchoe in a wee pot for the powder room.

Mr. HB has been busy outside 

harvesting the apples from the dwarf trees that we planted a few years ago.

I am making an apple crisp for our Thanksgiving dessert.

Greenhouse tomatoes are finished for the year but this last harvest will be enjoyed and the green tomatoes will ripen in a few days.

I must get back to my cooking...

The menu for the family feast:

Prime Rib of Beef

whipped mashed potatoes

carrots cooked in orange juice with parsley

peas

macaroni and cheese 

(4 year old Henry's favourite)

crab cakes 

(for the non meat eaters and extras for those who like both!)

my sister is bringing a veggie dish

butter buns

gravy

Apple crisp with coconut ice cream

banana bread

salted caramel truffles 

coffee and tea

Must get back to the duties at hand.

Happy Thanksgiving!

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

Decorating ~ free, thrift shop finds and some luxurious habits.

I love using "found" or foraged things from Nature in our home and cottage decor.

Thrift shop finds also factor in when it comes to things I have added to our bungalow...often they are unusual or somewhat quirky.

I have also been known to pull the car over when I see a free pile on the boulevard.

I am not particularly talented when it comes to interior decorating.

 But I do know what styles I do like and what I feel comfortable adding to our surroundings here in The Humble Bungalow.

Sea shells in a vintage canning jar.

Big barnacle

Chunk of coral

Glass Fish floats

Large Shell

Coral and shells mixed together.

a vintage flag

vintage enamel ware

I love using basic whites...

so versatile 

vases, trays and dishes.

White vintage Ironstone

Potted orchids

Emma Bridgewater tray...I also use her bowls for my morning cafe creme

White beach glass in a Ball sealer jar.

Emma Bridgewater Black Toast Pattern

Fresh flowers in an icy modernist vase.

Simple beach stones inside a bowl to keep the soap dry.

Vintage ironstone soap dish with built in ribbing for drainage.

Lovely soap...a weakness of mine is to buy quality french scented soaps.

Silver accents are peppered throughout the house.

My all time favourite candles...a splurge I know but so worth it.

First Nations baskets.

I love this book

by Tricia Foley 

Her simple style inspires me and I like to pick this book up from time to time and get re-energized about culling and curating what we have in our home.

 Tricia's ideas help inspire me when I am out perusing the thrift shops.

I tend to look closer at the "qualities" or the "bones" of a piece and am able to evaluate whether it is something that could add interest in our home.

Do you have a certain style when it comes to your home decor?

Have you ever hired a professional interior decorator?

What style do you admire?

Hope you have a lovely weekend...

the sun is shining here this morning and the day is going to be hot!

I plan to mix up a batch of lemonade and keep hydrated.

The Quarter Deck Cottage on the edge of The Salish Sea

Mr. HB and I recently purchased a quarter share in a cottage on the water.
Pender Island is one of the smaller islands in The Salish Sea. The cost is modest and we do not need to do any maintenance ourselves so when we are able to use it we can sit back, relax and enjoy the place.

Mr. HB knows that I like to beach comb for heart shaped rocks and while we were at the dock waiting for the ferry he found a vendor selling various rocks 

he inquired, if by chance, she had any heart shaped rocks...

and she did so he surprised me with this one.

XO

Roses picked from The Humble Bungalow Garden made the trip to the cottage.

Arranged and popped into an icy modernist vase 

perfectly scenting the cottage and kitchen.

We brought a few things to personalize the cottage when we have our time here.

There is a locker that we will store the items when we are not in residence.

I found this fish sculpture in an antique shop in Victoria. 

It is originally from the Cayman Islands.

This book was really good.

Deck chairs just waiting for us!

Bubbly to celebrate our first day here...

served in our new Emma Bridgewater etched FIZZ flutes.

Umbrella and cushions found at the Hardware store on the Island.

Books to read while relaxing on the deck.

 The binoculars are MUST to get a closer look at the whales and boats passing by...

Sunhat, sunscreen and sunglasses.

The oar I found in a shop on Fort Street on Antique Row.

I painted and distressed it for the cottage.

Here is the view looking across Otter Bay from Roesland Park.

We walked almost 8 km to visit the Pender island museum only to find out that it was closed! 

Besides we needed to stretch our legs and get some exercise after reading so much!

We sat for a wee bit in the red chairs installed by Parks Canada and took in the glorious views.

These Beaver brand chairs have been placed in the Parks across Canada in honour of our 150th anniversary.

Roes Bay

I swam almost everyday in this pool...

and as our week drew to a close I felt that we had made a good choice to invest in the cottage and resort for our future.

We will look forward to having our family and grandchildren stay here at the cottage making memorable memories.

I hope you enjoyed the wee tour of The Quarter Deck Cottage.

Hostess

XO