OOTD...

 

OOTD

Lord and Taylor Cashmere 

It is officially 

"sweater weather"

Stormy

Rain and gusty winds

power outages across the Island and The Gulf Islands

Tress and branches are down...

rain is hitting the windows sideways!

Timberland Boots

Vintage America Jeans

Dressing casually for comfort and warmth during the stormy weather.

I ran a bunch of errands...

had my annual mammogram.

Grocery shopping

Refill for our Method dish soap pump bottle

Joie silicone soft gentle scrubber

Bamboo brush scrubber for tough jobs

I use a vintage porcelain pudding bowl for these items beside our farmhouse sink.

Water drains away from the brushes as the bottom of the bowl has a raised pattern.

Super sponge cloths they last and last 

washable 

up to 300 times!

One towel replaces 15 rolls of paper towels

absorbs 20 times its weight in water

compostable

It surprises me how much better I feel when I get some new cleaning supplies.

Daily domestic chores are a big part of my routine.

Spending so much more time at home 

means that I cannot avoid seeing what needs to be done!

 ~ New Book ~

by Gill Paul 

She wrote a book that I recently read The Secret Wife

which I really enjoyed and highly recommend.

What are you reading?

Have you been watching any good shows on Netflix ?

We discovered The Duchess, a quirky British series which we are enjoying.

Also an older series, After Life written, directed and starring Ricky Gervais.

(Dark subject matter but quite brilliant and funny.) 

Doing it Ourselves, a French castle renovation by a British family is on You Tube.

I welcome your suggestions...

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

September...

The second flush of rose blooms ~ always a welcome sight.

The repeat blooming roses will bloom again after being deadheaded

a job 

while time consuming...

is rewarding!

Yesterday I was super busy dusting, vacuuming, doing laundry.

These domestic chores need to be done regularly...

once accomplished are so satisfying.

I blitzed the bungalow and by noon I was pretty much knackered!

I stopped for a break and decided what I would cook for dinner.

The planning of meals is very much a priority here in The Humble Bungalow.

The view from our laundry room...

the patio plants and garden beyond.

I peek through the French door when I am folding laundry or ironing.

Natural beauty helps keep me grounded and sane.

The Covid upswing in numbers here in BC is rather unsettling.

We will have to keep our bubbles small moving into the cooler weather.

How will we manage to be social when it gets cold?

Sales of outdoor heaters and marquis tents might be in demand.

I plan to walk regularly with a couple of friends.

Thankfully

I have a long down coat which will keep me cozy.

We enjoyed a tasty lunch on our boat last week...

so simple and full of flavour.

Bagels cream cheese, lox, capers and red onion slices.

Have you been busy making meals?

Are you baking bread?

I've been cooking regularly since early March.

The number of times we have been out for a meal on a patio are few.

Happy Hour with friends outside have been our safe social dates.

Our dinner...

Chili and baking powder biscuits.

(I haven't baked biscuits in years)

Martha's recipe from the Goward House Cooking Club.

Sadly we are not able to meet up due to Covid right now.

Harvest this morning.

Fresh tomatoes from the greenhouse.

Yellow beans from the raised bed.

I blanched the beans for 3 minutes then plunged them into ice water until they were cool.

Dried them with kitchen towels

 packed them in Ziploc bags ready for the freezer.

Almost finished Akin by Emma Donoghue...

I am enjoying the story.

Emma is a very creative and gifted writer.

She's Canadian.

What are you reading?

How are you keeping your spirits up while in isolation and staying safe?

Have you been inspired to be creative?

New crafts, projects, redecorating?

Hope that you are being careful and staying safe.

Thank you for stopping by The Humble Bungalow Blog.

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

Love the "little things" ~ a recipe for contentment.

Reading home decor books, Instagram and magazines inspire me.

I often get frustrated and wonder how I can make our little bungalow look better.

  I actioned a quick and inexpensive DIY fix.

I purchased 3 black metal hooks 

(Mr. HB installed them for me)

I hung up my French Market basket

 gardening hat 

and

  watering can. 

As conscientious stewards 

of a Heritage home

we are required to honour the historic significance 

we do not stray too far from their original architectural design.

With one exception...

The laundry area is painted white 

the basement is dark with very little light 

with only a few small windows.

The bright white walls 

make it much more enjoyable to work in and it feels far less oppressive!

I like to do my ironing while gazing out to the garden.

Looking out and beyond at the foliage and flowers 

while ironing 

feels like a form of meditation.

A handy rolling cart in the space is used for towels.

I fold the laundry on the top of the counter

and

I have a small ironing board that I use for small jobs 

like our linen tea towels and napkins.

Domestic jobs are a necessity.

To make them a wee bit more enjoyable

I have "fluffed" my downstairs "workplace" adding a few accent pieces.

Vintage enamel tins, ceramics, bird sculptures, and trophies...

Work and chores need not be looked upon as "drudgery."

Attitude is key to making these everyday tasks pleasant.

Taking joy in the results of one's labour and effort is so important.

The feeling of accomplishment is felt...

as I stand back

admiring a stack of freshly laundered 

(scented with lavender soap)

neat and tidy crisply ironed tea towels.

It's the "little things" that make our days richer.

How do you add Joy in your daily duties?

Do you have a secret to share that you use to make your daily round feel richer?

On that note, 

I will close this post...

Thank you for taking the time to stop and visit The Humble Bungalow Blog.

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

The Humble Bungalow ~ keeping cool in a heat wave...

We have just returned from our holidays to our beloved home and garden...
the greenhouse is full of fresh home grown tomatoes
ready to be harvested and eaten.

a bounty of tasty tomatoes

I will be making tomato salads, perhaps indulge in some tomato sandwiches,

will also plan to roast some for a pasta dish and may freeze some.

BC is immersed in a heat wave...
the temperatures are rising
and with that, my plans to work outside in the garden are shelved for a cooler day.

The blinds are closed and the windows have been opened a crack
(otherwise the cats escape!)
The overhanging eaves, a typical feature of an arts and crafts bungalow,
help to keep the sunshine out.

So I am staying inside attacking my long "to do list"...
it's only 10:30 and I have done 3 loads of laundry,
the last load of slip covers are spinning in the LG as I type.

The farmhouse sink has been bleached,
the mail opened, bills paid ready to be posted.

I plan a quick manicure
a beach walk
need to return something to the store
stop by a friends' home
start a new book.

My summertime favourites...

Eau Thermale mist by Avene to help refresh the skin

I also keep a cool bottle of water on the counter by the sink 

 take one outside with me when I garden...hydrating from the inside out!

Sunscreen

SPF 50 for my face and exposed arms and legs.

I try to wear a light Tencel long sleeved shirt for extra sun coverage.

Spritz of Roger and Gallet light rose scent to refresh throughout the day.

The new favourite Sally Hansen diamond tough polish which lasted an entire week before showing signs of wear...

the shade is called Love Bug.

I'd better get back to work...

my break is over! 

Thank you for stopping by the Humble Bungalow Blog.

What are you reading and how is your summer going?

Is it hot where you are right now?

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

Rainy Day Rhythm...

Cheap and cheerful

chrysanthemums

perk me up on a grey rainy day...

The power of flowers can elevate any decor...

a simple jam jar with daisies

a Baccarat crystal vase with roses

a single bloom in a flask

an orchid in a blue and white porcelain planter

depending on your budget

you can get as creative as you like when it comes to floral arrangements.

Vintage Verlys glass satin dish bowl

etched simply with pine cones

sits empty 

beside the window

catching the light

The grandchildren made this colourful Easter Wreath at Michael's.

We were meant to go to the workshop together but I had Vertigo and had to cancel...

it sounds like they had lots of fun.

Our sunsets have been quite stunning 

this week at Quarter Deck Cottage.

I love how sculptural the arbutus trees look set against the yellow skies.

One needn't go far to find beauty 

it is outside just beyond the front door...

all you have to do is open your eyes and look around.

It may surprise you to find that there are ordinary things 

which when studied 

on close inspection

look like works of art.

I never come home from a walk without seeing something quite lovely.

Perhaps that is why I love to walk so much...

not only do I feel restored and re-energized

there are snippets of Nature's handiwork at every turn.

I make it my goal to seek out the delights that Nature has provided...

A juicy red rose hip still clinging to the vine...

Queen Anne's Lace seed head boldly standing tall against the blue sky.

A reclaimed lifeboat

re purposed as a planter at the end of the road.

The Riddle Family plant this boat with seasonal offerings...

The sign says 

"The Point...Of it All!"

A scarecrow and mums were on display for Fall

daffodils and tulips for Spring

 I am already curious what they will plant for Summer.

The rains have arrived after several sunny days so it's a day of domestic chores...

laundry and tidying.

A pot of tea now waits

 I will return to my books and knitting

after I hit the publish button on this post.

The Humble Dishcloth

(a knitting pattern that I return to time and again)

Size 6 or 7 (US) needles

Cotton yarn

Cast on 4 stitches

Row 1 - Knit 4 stitches

Row 2 -  Knit 2 Yarn over knit to end of row

Repeat Row 2 until you have 44 stitches

Row 3 - Knit 1 Knit 2 together, Yarn Over, Knit 2 together knit to end of row

Knit row 3 until you have 4 stitches left on the needles

Bind off.

so soothing to knit

useful to use

soft

makes a great Hostess Gift!

Wishing you all a Very Happy Weekend.

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

Finding my way...

Thank you so much for your supportive emails and comments on my previous post.

Many of you wrote about your personal tragedies and situations that are much more dire than what our family is going through and upon reflection this past week I have been able to regain my sense of perspective

coming to terms with my feelings of helplessness.

I've put my energies into action 

working on domestic chores

focusing on the jobs at hand.

It is not a cure all but it feels good to accomplish something that needs doing.

I am glad that my kitchen does not look like this one

but it CAN look rather messy if I do not stay on top of the cleaning.

Thank goodness for the auto clean program...

it makes the job so much easier.

I've been chiselling away at my "to do" list...

the feeling of accomplishment 

is a reward

when I am able to cross another job off the list.

Maintaining leather 

Coach bag, shoes and boots pays off as they look better and last longer.

 Fresh Shampoo

for  

my make up brushes once a month...

a simple routine that takes just a few minutes.

This wee orchid was a gift from a friend 

when Mom died on my birthday last March.

It is blooming again!

This orchid has a double row of blooms...

speaking of blooms our Amaryllis is absolutely stunning!

Each stem has four flowers!

There is another stem about to bloom.

We have never ever had an amaryllis like this one.

Low WW point lunch yesterday

after a busy day working in the Humble Bungalow.

Did you watch the Golden Globes last night?

Oprah's speech was so inspiring...

I watched it twice.

A stack of books await...

Speaking of inspiring.

I found this wonderful quote on Pinterest...

Hope that you find some comfort and joy in your week.

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

A quiet weekend, focusing on our home....

Autumn brings chilly days 

and it's time to do some work inside the Humble Bungalow.

The garden will have to wait!

Mr. HB and I are "deep cleaning" the storage area and workshop downstairs where the furnace is located in our home...

it is an area that tends to be a catch all and because it is behind "closed doors" 

we do not look at it often...

 extra stuff gathers

  it mounts up 

one can be happy ignoring 

the bits of debris and recycling and cardboard only for so long!

Exhausting work but certainly satisfying...

I needed to take a break late in the day and have a cafe creme 

 now writing this blog post before starting dinner.

My tummy is grumbling!

Sharon Santoni's new book...

she lives in such a pretty home and her garden is beautiful

and how wonderful that she has shared some of her favourite recipes!

Speaking of recipes...

I took this book out of the local library and I love the recipes so much that I have placed an order with the booksellers in Oak Bay.

I have read most of Jane Green's novels and find them very entertaining.

Tonight I am making Jane Green's Maple Glazed Pork Chops 

served with my whipped potato bake

shown here ready to go into the oven...

AH COMFORT FOOD!

I recently shared the recipe...

this time I had no cottage cheese so I substituted some cream cheese.

NEEDS MUST!

Must get on with the rest of the dinner prep so I will close.

How is your weekend going?

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

OOTD, flowers, "serviettes vs. napkins"...

Surprise delivery of flowers from a friend...

a lovely and thoughtful gesture of kindness.

beautiful blooming buds 

such beauty 

soft delicate blush pink roses

sunlight on the floor

reflections

of the blinds

OOTD:

Northern Reflections crisp white shirt

NYDJ skinny jeans

Ferragamo flats

 Mr. HB took the photo...

it's a silly one

Delete?

Publish?

I am not a professional model and do not take myself too seriously...

so the pictures stay.

What is so funny you may ask?

Mr. HB was snapping photos so fast I could not keep up with him.

Stop now, please...

Crisp Fresh linen from Belgium

an extra large tea towel

that may be used as a tablecloth 

on our small arts and crafts 

kitchen table.

I noticed the pretty native lilies are blooming in the park.

Today I've been busy washing the bedding and catching up on the ironing. 

It is pouring rain outside and there is a chill in the air.

In the previous post 

several comments were made about the inappropriate use of the words 

"serviettes" and "napkins."

I use both...

We use paper "serviettes" as well as linen "napkins."

What about you?

ser·vi·ette

ˌsərvēˈet/Submit

nounBRITISHCANADIAN

plural noun: serviettes

a table napkin

nap·kin

ˈnapkən/

noun

1.

a square piece of cloth or paper used at a meal to wipe the fingers or lips and to protect garments, or to serve food on.

synonyms: table napkin, dinner napkin, cocktail napkin, serviette; More

2.

NORTH AMERICAN

another term for sanitary napkin.

What are your thoughts?

Tea is served in a variety of vessels here in The Humble Bungalow...

Emma Bridgewater mugs...

Fine bone china cups and saucers...

this one is my favourite as it is a wide deep bowl with a bright bold pattern. 

Speaking of favourite things...

My "go to casual fave" outfit.

Jeans, a white shirt or Tee

sterling bangles and pearls.

Chester found the one sunny spot for his nap.

Must close for now as I am making a new recipe for a comforting soup.

It is a curried sweet potato carrot and red lentil soup.

Vegetarian and perfect for a cold day like today.

Thank you for stopping by The Humble Bungalow.

XO