March ~ ing onward into Spring.

 

This Andalou cream has been my "go to" night cream for the past few months...

a little goes a long way. You may be able to see that the jar is still half full.

Can you see the grey pearl stud beside the diamond stud that I wear most days?

My husband gave me a pair for my birthday the year Mom passed away. 

I haven't worn these pearls as often since Covid hit

(need to wear masks)

I almost lost an earring taking my mask off.

I already had a pearl fiasco losing that strand at the beach...

must take more care not to lose things!!

My new FUN skirt from a thrift shop.

Knife pleats in a black grey print.

I will dress this up with a black rayon sweater and a camisole.

Dress it down very casual with a tee and my denim jacket.

I am already thinking of fun things to pair it with...

it is made by Zara, the only thing I own from the company.

Finally got a copy from the library...it had been on the Holds for a LONG time.

I read it in two days...another stunning mystery from Louise Penny.

Birthday flowers and vase from a friend.

I have such lovely friends...

so thoughtful 

the range of unexpected gifts was amazing.

Soaps, tea, a beautiful hand knit dishcloth, books, an apron, 

flowers, and some sourdough starter!

Thank you for ALL those kind email messages and birthday greetings 

from the Blog and Instagram... feeling very grateful.

My first attempt at a sourdough boule.

Was delicious with the homemade chicken soup!

Dinner out at Zambri's

Dessert

Brunch and dinner out with the family rounded out the weeklong celebrations.

They spoiled me too :-))

Thank you ALL 

Murchies teas and a gift card at a favourite restaurant.

Vintage silk hand rolled scarf and a Wedgewood clam shaped white porcelain plate.

We zipped off to the garden centre to buy two flats of these cheerful tete a tete's.

On sale half price.

We planted them out in front of the deer fence 

to fill in the gaps from the ones we planted last year.

Such a pretty pop of colour and they bloom earlier than our daffodils.

The Oscars are on TV tonight...are you going to watch them?

I like to see the fashions...and the jewels.

Making a pot roast, potatoes, carrots and a lemon torte for dessert.

Comfort Food for a cold rainy Sunday.

Hope that you are keeping healthy and staying sane with all the crazy stuff that is happening in our world.

Vintage Bread tray

might come in handy?

Crocuses blooming out front in The Humble Bungalow Garden.

Thank you for popping by The Humble Bungalow Blog.

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

OOTD ~ vintage classics

~ OOTD ~

Burberry quilted jacket

Dex lace top

Eileen Fisher rayon pants

Ferragamo flats

Vintage eel skin bag

a mix of textures...

shiny, quilted, lacy, smooth

neutral shades

I shopped my closet...

for a celebratory birthday dinner out with our daughter and her husband.

I haven't forgotten "how" to dress up 

I am just "out of the habit!"

Gosh it felt wonderful going out for a delicious meal prepared by someone else 

and 

I didn't have to do the washing up!

Our garden is looking quite lovely.

Flowers are blooming, the grass is green and the roses are in bud.

There is so much to be grateful for in my daily round...

Chester our cat had surgery last week to remove a stone from his bladder.

He was very wobbly the first day and has continued to improve.

His appetite has come back and he has already gained weight.

I had been so very stressed with his failing health and am so relieved that we finally got a diagnosis and that surgery would fix the problem.

His early renal failure is going to be monitored closely,

we will continue to feed him the special food.

Hopefully he will be with us for a few more years.

He's such an affectionate little guy and has a very "big" personality.

In other news, 

I had my third IPL treatment for rosacea,

 my skin is looking much better.

The treatments are not too painful but they are expensive.

I purchased a skin repair cream by Skin Medica.

It is a rich thick cream that I apply before bedtime.

It soaks in and I have noticed my skin is much softer and hydrated.

Herbs are planted in pots by the basement door for easy picking.

I ordered a new Pasta cookbook and plan to try some new recipes.

My husband loves pasta and I make it once a week.

The book is an older publication, I found it at Thrift Books.

Healthy Pasta: The Sexy, Skinny, and Smart Way To Eat Your Favourite Food

It is written by Joseph Bastianich and Tanya Bastianich Manuali

Going to try a bunch of new recipes when it arrives.

How are things going with you?

Thank you for stopping by The Humble Bungalow Blog.

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

OOTD a fabulous dinner and something new...

 

OOTD

I had my hair flat ironed for a festive holiday dinner.

I don't own a flat iron and I am not great at straightening my hair with the blow dryer.

It's fun to play around with hair styles...

wavy, curly, messy up do's and simple pony tails.

Red ballet flats for a pop of colour.

A black dress with capri tights.

Sparkly Sherman rhinestone brooch for a wee bit of festive fun.

With a minimal wardrobe that is mostly black

it's easy to get dressed 

I always add a few accessories to lighten the overall look.

My friend Julie hosted a lovely gathering last evening.

Her home radiates warmth and was bright with very festive accents.

Here is the French Themed menu...

so delicious!

Cozy, charming and elegant.

Julie is multi talented...

she is so incredibly creative!

Julie sews, decorates, gardens, cooks,...

I don't think there is anything that Julie cannot do!

Thank you for the lovely evening.

I might be rushing the season a bit...

when I saw that Charlotte of Vivi et Margot had a sale...

I pounced!

New French Market basket from Vivi et Margot.

Love the long leather straps that make this a hands free option!

Will be a workhorse throughout the year...

toting around an assortment of things and market ready.

I made a double batch of whipped shortbread cookies.

The recipe is "an oldie but a goodie."

It is in The Best of the Best of Bridge Cookbook.

They are quick and easy to make and they melt in your mouth!

I found this wee festive tray at the Pharmasave in Oak Bay.

Thought it would be versatile and I can use it for veggies and dip, nuts and dried fruit or cookies.

Seasons Greetings

from

The Humble Bungalow.

Best wishes for a safe and Happy Holiday.

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~ 

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 ~

November vibes...

The autumnal light is fading slightly this month...

I've noticed more rainy days, breezy winds and fog.

Wearing layers to chase the chill...

a camisole underneath my cashmere sweater with warm wool socks and scarves.

The down puffer coat has made several appearances and I purchased a wool beret for my walks.

Made by The Canadian Hat Company.

I had my hairdresser chop off about 3 inches of my Covid Coiffure!

It feels so much healthier and the lightness has freed up some of the curls.

What a difference! 

A little pampering goes a LONG way to make one feel better.

There are a few geraniums still blooming on the front porch.

I crave a pop of colour in the Fall and Winter.

Calicarpia aka Beauty Berry

So delicate...

A fall flowering bush brightens up a corner of the Humble Bungalow Garden.

This weekend Mr. HB and I ventured out to the garden centre...

We were looking for a wreath for the front door.

We didn't find a wreath but we did find some Noble Fir boughs and Ilex red berries

A little festive cheer at the foot of the stairs.

A cheerful pop of colour!

I popped the cuttings in the tool box on the front porch table.

(waste not want not!)

We also purchased an Olive tree...

this purchase was inspired by our friend Julie who used some olive leaves to decorate her dining table when she hosted us for dinner.

Julie is a fabulous cook and she has a flair for home decor...

her home is an oasis of calm and she has recently redone it with soft greys and French style furnishings.

A feast for the eyes...

We brought some wine from The Pender Island Sea Star Winery.

Dungeness Crab Cake with Remoulade sauce...

succulent and so flavourful.

Goat cheese deep fried atop cherry tomatoes with pine nuts 

then drizzled with a balsamic reduction.

Salmon served with rice, asparagus and carrots

and a delicious

Beurre butter sauce

Dessert was from the Italian bakery...

fig and apple tarts.

Dinner was incredible...one for the memory book.

Thank you Julie!

We've got a busy couple of weeks planned with all kinds of events.

Looking forward to reclaiming our social life and activities in a safe way.

My knitting group is going to reconvene...

we are going out for dinner with our darling daughter and her husband.

Heading to the Art Gallery for an exhibit, meeting friends for a Happy Hour, coffee with the gals and a tea planned for next month at Butchart Gardens.

Thank you for stopping by The Humble Bungalow Blog.

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~