Rosemarie arrives...fun ensues...and then a few tidbits.

 

Meet Rosemarie!

She lives in Vancouver and we are friends.

On any given week we will email several times and catch up with what we are doing.

Rosemarie is active, has a vibrant personality, is gregarious,

an adventurous traveller, kind and giving.

We have met up in Victoria several times for lunch and teas.

 Both of us love gardens, gardening and enjoy visiting gardens.

I invited Rosemarie to tour our Humble Bungalow Garden.

Then I asked if she wanted to peek inside our home.

We drove around the waterfront and stopped in at The Oak Bay Native Plant Garden.

The garden is tended by volunteers and is an oasis of calm and beauty.

Trilliums blooming...

Several different trilliums were dotted about in the lush space.

Checker Lily a Frittilaria 

The sound of water had us looking for the source

a  brook or a creek was nearby

such a lovely spot to sit and enjoy the natural beauty.

We met up with a couple who were visiting from Oakville Ontario.

Alix Scott and her husband...

Alix knows Ellen...

a woman who went to Oak Bay High School with me...

who I recently met up with at our 50th reunion.

(Hi Alix ~ Hi Ellen)

Apparently they both follow and read my blog!

Rosemarie and I continued on our scenic waterfront drive...

we stopped again at The Esplanade at Willows Beach.

Rosemarie collects cans and bottles and takes them to the depot

 exchanges

 them for cash 

which she sends to her cousin who has an animal shelter up island.

The shelter is called Misfit Meadow Sanctuary in Ladysmith.

You can read all about them on Facebook.

If you want to donate to them I am sure that Rosemarie would be THRILLED!

Tell them you read about it on my blog!!!

Let's see if we can help all those animals like Rosemarie does :-))

She tells me she usually sends about $100 a month.

The shelter needs the money for food to feed the rescued animals.

I bought a chicken on sale and wanted to find a new recipe...

I searched on line and found this one.

The site is Simply Delicious by Alida Ryder

Mr. HB and I love East Indian cuisine so this one caught my eye.

I had all the spices on hand and I got busy mixing up the rub and I marinated the roaster a few hours before cooking.

The results were delicious!

Jeanne on Instagram mentioned this book to me a few months ago.

It has been on my radar ever since,

so when I spied it at the thrift shop I knew I would buy it!

I read it in 2 days...loved it!

Thank you Jeanne 2707

Vintage Mustard Yellow Beret matches the yellow chrysanthemums.

I was washing dishes and gazing out at the gorgeous sea views...

when this combo caught my eye 

~ Cheap and cheerful ~

Weather Report

yesterday was super windy with rain.

This morning we awoke to glorious sunshine!

What a Gift!

Speaking of gifts...

I received this new book for my birthday from my BFF.

I am going to pop the kettle on and brew a pot of tea and start the book.

Thank you Suzanne.

XO

Hope your week is off to a great start...

Thank you for stopping by The Humble Bungalow Blog.

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

Drugstore ~ Skincare and Make Up

 

When I was in Paris I made a pilgrimage to the "Pharmacie."

(easily identifiable by the large neon Green Cross)

Many seasoned travellers suggested the local Paris Pharmacies as a must see.

I was surprised by the popularity of these local shops.

Some actually had a line up out front !

I visited several Pharmacies in different arrondissements.

Some were larger and had more skincare products.

Citypharma at 26 rue du Four in the heart of Saint Germain des Pres has the reputation of being the BEST.

I stayed in the 6th arrondissement so this was closest.

(It did not disappoint)

The pharmacy is often crowded as it is very popular with locals and tourists.

Shelves are loaded with jars and bottles of serious skincare products.

Staff are happy to consult with patrons and are readily available to give advice.

The Pharmasave on Oak Bay Avenue 

has a wide variety of reasonably priced products with trained staff on hand to help.

One needn't spend a fortune to get good quality skincare products...

For example

Andalou Natural Products...

the company make product lines to suit most skin care needs.

I have enjoyed using the Andalou Rose products in the past.

Recently I have switched up to the Age Defying series.

I like the rich formulas...my skin soaks up the moisture.

I like to keep my skincare regime very simple.

Wash, tone and moisturize.

An intensive moisturizing enzyme facial mask is used once a week.

I have added a serum which helps particularly in the winter.

Derma-E Vitamin enriched serum is my favourite.

Rosehips and Grape Seed Oils 

Vitamin A and E

(4 drops morning and night ~ this bottle lasts a few months)

I wait 10 minutes before doing my make up 

to allow the oil to sink in and be absorbed.

My make-up routine is minimal 

5 minutes tops.

Minimal coverage and a light touch work best for my older skin.

Drugstore Make up products...

Andalou Age Defying BB cream

Burts Bees Aglow blush

Physicians Formula eyebrow tint

Annabelle eye shadow

Maybelline Great Lash Mascara

Eucerin Aquaphor Lip Repair

Miss Pupa Lip Gloss

While writing this post I have been sipping tea and nibbling some dark chocolate.

Afternoon Tea and dark chocolate

my afternoon ritual.

One of life's little luxuries!

Found a pretty vintage silver cake server this afternoon.

I met up with a friend who came over from the mainland for a visit.

We walked along The Avenue popped into the shops and had a lovely long lunch.

Joanne surprised me with a blue tote bag and a book AND she treated me to lunch.

We always have a lovely time chatting.

Thank you Joanne!

“Joy is the best makeup. 

But a little lipstick is a close runner-up.” 

~ Anne Lamott ~

Well I must close for now and get dinner started.

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

Until next time...

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

Thanksgiving Weekend at Quarterdeck Cottage

 

We welcomed friends to the cottage for a Thanksgiving Dinner.

The sun shone and the winds abated for their arrival.

The menu was Italian themed and Julie and I cooked in the kitchen while the guys hung out on the deck watching the boats.

I was Julie's sous chef :-))

It is a great day being in the kitchen when Julie cooks 

I Watch and Learn.

Caesar Salad to start...

Julie mixes her dressing (which includes anchovies) directly in the bowl.

Then we added the romaine, croutons and cheese.

Julie also adds bacon which gives it a real zesty flavour!

We made Stanley Tucci's Favourite pasta dish.

On an episode of his series Eating Italy they featured the recipe.

Julie got her recipe from Chef John Pierre who has a You Tube Channel.

The basis of the sauce is deep fried zucchini slices...

it tastes delicious, nutty and thick and you'd never guess it was zucchini!

WOW

I made an apple crisp using our Liberty apples

served it with French Vanilla ice Cream.

The wine we served was Italian from the Tuscany region...

(I had to get Mr. HB to go out to the recycling bin and snap a photo)

We went to the Pender Island Museum...

saw this buck sitting in the sunshine.

Tried to walk at Roseland but the tide was in and so we couldn't get across

the inlet to wander along the scenic trails.

For breakfast the next morning I served a fruit salad and a smoked salmon frittata.

The frittata was simple to make...

Frittata

Sliced small red onion

diced red pepper

sliced 4 large mushrooms

6 ounces smoked salmon cut into small pieces

grated cheeses about 1 1/2 cups

a dozen eggs whisked til frothy

salt pepper and some chopped mint leaves

Bake in a deep dish at 350 for about 40 minutes until eggs are cooked and no longer runny.

Lunch was a charcuterie board...

we call it a "picky plate"

We walked at Hamilton Beach in the rain...

our friends left later in the afternoon before dinner.

I made scallops for dinner...

Chef Jean Pierre's scallop recipe is on his You Tube Channel and online at his website.

Delicious!

Will be reading these books over the next few days...

Am really enjoying The Last Devil to Die!

I love the Thursday Murder Club.

We are fortunate to have a great little boutique on the island.

I always pop in and peruse the stock...

you never know what you'll find!

C'est Moi

White Linen shirt

I found another one in a sleek percale cotton but I couldn't justify buying two...

I love a crisp white shirt to wear with black pants or jeans and my pearls.

Well I suppose that I better get some lunch ready for my husband...

he's out walking in the rain and will be cold and hungry when he returns.

In case you are interested lunch will be bacon and home grown tomato sandwiches on homemade sourdough bread!

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

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 ~