Showing posts with label entertaining. Show all posts
Showing posts with label entertaining. Show all posts

Monday, January 29, 2024

Art, Entertaining and my recent successful thrifting adventures...

 


We attended the art exhibit "Building Bridges" at Cedar Hill Recreation Centre.


Victoria Artist Tanya Bub


Paper Mache Rooster


~ Grace ~


Tanya Bub created this "chair" using a variety of reclaimed and recycled pieces.
Walmart carry bags, cardboard, and papers among them.

Can you see the boots hanging underneath the chair?

A documentary "Sitting With Grace" has been screened locally.


Tanya has such a great eye for detail...
the face is exquisite.

Tanya is well known locally for her amazing driftwood sculptures.

~ OOTD ~


Thrifted Black Kirkland Tee
Artisan necklace


Thrifted ankle length pants black with small white dots.
(label missing but I think they are by INC)
Coach Loafers that I bought new last Spring.


We shared dinner with friends...
on the menu:

Appies ~ Olives, Dried Apricots, Dates, Smoked cheese and Blue Cheese

Salad ~ Arugula, sweet red pepper mini pearls, chopped pecans, thinly sliced white radishes and a French Vinaigrette.

Main course ~ Chicken Breasts stuffed with feta and topped with red pepper pesto
Spinach Gnocchi with cheese sauce, garnished with snipped fresh basil

Dessert ~ Olive Oil Citrus Cake with fresh blackberries and whipped cream


Our guests brought a lovely Maidenhair Fern.
(Thank you!)


I popped it into our Vintage Arts and Crafts Weller Jardiniere.

Chester, our smaller cat, was quite taken with the fern!
It is a pet friendly plant so if he nibbles a wee bit no harm done.


I absolutely LOVE Vintage Sherman Rhinestones.
I have a small collection of brooches.
If you have been reading my Blog awhile you know I wear these pieces often...

If you are REALLY lucky you might find some in a thrift shop.
Most of the ones that I see are now sold in The Antique Malls.


Denim shirtdress...was purchased on sale, not thrifted.
(Lands' End)


The Baroque strand of Pearls add some interest.


Dress by H&M

Second Hand Hope Thrift Store.

I went thrift shopping with Annie, a woman I have connected with on Instagram.
She is starting up a business where she plans to take people to the thrift shops and consignment stores here in Victoria.
Her instagram page is Victoria Thrifting Tours.
If you pop over to check out her site, please say I sent you :-))


Ralph Lauren reversible leather belt from WIN Thrift Shop.


Small Patterns work better for me as I am a curvy gal...
I like the small metal button details at the neck and on the cuffs.
The fabric is a jersey knit so this will be a great Spring and Summer Dress.


Found one of my favourite author's books in a wee Book Nook.
It just so happens that the Book Nook is in the front yard of my childhood home.

I keep finding the BEST books there...
if I ever see the owners I am going to introduce myself.
Tell them that I grew up in the house.

Well that about wraps up my news...
until next time.

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~ 

Sunday, November 26, 2023

Dinners In and out ~ OOTD...


I bought this simple black Eileen Fisher dress a few years ago...
it has become a real workhorse in my wardrobe.

I have worn it with a white long sleeved top underneath
tights and black Chelsea Boots.

Last night I wore it as it is and added a soft wool Petrusse scarf as a shawl.



This is a surprisingly warm scarf despite it being rather sheer.

I received this in one of the My French Country Boxes from France.
It has had a few years of use and still looks new.


I thought about wearing my Ferragamo shoes 
but in the end I decided I should test drive the new Coach loafers.

I wore sheer black hose for the first time in ages...
fortunately I have a few new packages in my drawer.

I added the vintage rhinestone bracelet and wore my simple princess cut diamond necklace and studs.

It felt strange not wearing my pearls 
I thought that I should keep it simple when adding the BLING.


We had a delicious dinner at Zambri's our favourite Italian restaurant.


I forgot to capture our appetizers, main course but here is dessert!
Passionfruit Panna Cotta
so delicious!

We had a lovely evening out and it was such a treat.

On Friday evening we hosted a small dinner party here in The Humble Bungalow.


The table is set and ready for the guests.


Appetizers ~ cheese plate with Olives, pickles, antipasto and candied salmon with assorted crackers in the living room in front of the fireplace.

The main course ~ Beef Daube, mashed potatoes and green beans.
Dessert ~ large brownies topped with fresh raspberries.

I wanted to host a casual dinner before everyone got busy with the seasonal events.

Have you noticed that people are out in droves buying Christmas presents?
I too am trying to get my shopping done early.
I need time to bake some cookies and the annual Christmas Tourtieres.


Hope that you are all staying healthy...
I have heard that the viruses are making the rounds.
One of my friends has been hospitalized and she's been in for a week and only now starting to feel better.

Thank you for stopping by The Humble Bungalow Blog.

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

Monday, September 11, 2023

Quarterdeck Cottage ~ September Snippets

 


Here at Quarterdeck Cottage we keep things simple.

I am in my casual cottage cooking gear...
Apron
White Tee
Black Yoga pants
Bare feet (with red polish)



It is a cloudy Monday morning so 
I baked the sourdough boule
and
made a Frittata


Today's Frittata Recipe

 7 large eggs beaten
1/3 cup milk (or cream)
1/3 cup chopped pitted black olives 
1 small green pepper diced 
10 cherry tomatoes cut in half 
cup of grated white cheddar cheese
salt and pepper

Place in shallow ovenproof quiche pan
Bake at 350 for approximately 35 minutes.


We brought some green tomatoes with us...
I fried them up for breakfast and served them with worchestershire sauce.

Yesterday
we invited some of the neighbours from the nearby cottages over for a Happy Hour.


It was so lovely that we sat on the deck...
chatting away and laughing
nibbling on the charcuterie offerings
sipping our beverages
time passed and before long it was getting chilly.
We packed up just after 7pm


I finally finished knitting the Miriam sweater...
it is at home and I need to block it before I can wear it.
But I never like to be without my knitting so I went shopping last week!


I started knitting a shawl "River's Wrap"
 in this gorgeous Japanese Noro Akari Yarn
from The Beehive in Victoria.

The yarn is wonderfully soft and so soothing to work with...
silk, cotton, viscose, mohair and wool.

In other shopping news...
Found a wee crystal vessel at the thrift shop in Sidney on Friday 
before we caught the ferry....

There's a bit of magic in the way the light reflects
 in the crisp cut design of a crystal piece.


I foraged some wild dried flowers...
they look so pretty in the vase.


Am smitten with the light!!
The glow is so warm, and it does feel like magic.


On my walk to day I went to Bricky Bay.
In the early 1900's a brick making crew used this area and the beach.
They shipped the bricks off island from the bay, there are remnants of the dock.

Bits of bricks cover the beach and many have worn down and are soft shapes.
Some are small round shapes like marbles...

I managed to find a couple of pieces of sea glass but not much.

I sat on a log and listened to the call of the ravens and the swish of the waves.
Watched a few boats cruise past before pulling myself away from this idyllic spot.


I spied this sunny painted rock.
People paint rocks and leave them on the beaches here...
I usually don't take the rocks, just snap a picture to share on Instagram.

Before I close 
I must share with you a totally unexpected gift from a dear reader Rosemarie, 
who resides in Vancouver.
Rosemarie and I correspond regularly via email
we've met several times for lunch and tea when she visited Victoria
Last time I was in Vancouver we met for a glass of wine and some nibbles at The Cactus Club.


Look at this beautiful kimono style wrap!
She knows me so well...
It will be a welcome addition to my wardrobe.

THANK YOU ROSEMARIE :-))
You are such a generous person.

(I am going to find something to send Rosemarie)


Well I must close for now and go outside with my knitting.
The views are stunning!

Thank you for stopping by The Humble Bungalow Blog.

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

Tuesday, October 16, 2018

Dinner Party...with a wee bit of help from My Stylish French Box


For the evening I picked two David Austin Roses, my favourite 
"Jude the Obscure" and some rosemary for the main dish.


I set a very simple table...

The Menu:

Tray of appies

Salad

Jamie Oliver's Succulent Lamb Stew
Mashed Potatoes
Green beans and shaved carrots

Chocolate torte with raspberry coulis


Brie cheese, balsamic fig spread, olives, cherry tomatoes, dates, & crackers.


Mixed in a big bowl
butter lettuce, radicchio, endive
pea shoots
pomegranate seeds

Julia Child's basic vinaigrette drizzled over top and tossed.


Jamie Oliver's Succulent Lamb Stew can be found in his 5 Ingredient cookbook.
I borrowed a copy from our local library.

The chocolate torte was a packaged mix by Marlette
from the most recent delivery of "My Stylish French Box"


The chocolate torte mix was fast and easy.


Look at all the beautiful items that Sharon and her team chose for the last box!


The candle is fragrant and the copper tin will come in handy when it is finished.
(put the candle in the freezer for a few hours and the wax shrinks away from the sides and then I pop it out.


Vintage linen tea towel.


linen apron


copper cannele molds


Love these carefully curated French themed boxes.

A wonderful treat filled with exquisite delights.
If you want to try one 
or indulge in an annual subscription 

The November box will be on its way shortly and I am really excited as heard that one of the items will be from the company Petrusse who make and design beautiful scarves and shawls!

Most of the contents are kept secret so that subscribers are surprised...
when all the boxes have been delivered 
the team will share the box contents on the website.


I'm back in the kitchen today preparing a casual dinner for family who are visiting from the Kootenay region of our province.

So I must not dilly dally and put my apron on and start prepping!

Hope that your week is going well and that you are finding some time to stop and smell the flowers along the way!

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~