September ~ School daze and memories

We are staying at the cottage for a few days.

I picked a handful of Annabelle and Limelight Hydrangeas...

a little reminder of our Humble Bungalow Garden.

There are flowers here on the property at the cottage 

part of the communal "complex" 

owned by various owners 

so it doesn't feel right picking any flowers.

This morning the sun was shining brightly and the Salish Sea was calm.

There was the refreshing scent of sea salt in the air...

(which I love) 

I sat quietly sipping my coffee and soaking in the view.

Since retirement in 2014, I make time to savour two cups of coffee each morning.

I LOVE a good cup of coffee.

After I visited France in 2015, I made a bowl of espresso with foamed milk,

(cafe creme)

then after I returned from Italy 

I purchased an Italian espresso maker for the stove

using the popular Lavazza Italian coffee.

Mr. HB makes drip coffee and I admit I like to wake up and just pour a cup...

it is such a treat having someone make it :-))

Just finished this entertaining story by S J Bennett.

I read her other book, The Windsor Knot 

which is about HRH working on a mystery set in Buckingham Palace.

This is another mystery in which Elizabeth gets involved in solving a mystery.

It is an easy read ~ lots of fun...

if you are looking for something light you might enjoy it.

Warm nights 

the sun slipping behind the trees

crickets serenading us 

watching the boats as they pass by 

Quarterdeck Cottage.

The grandchildren are all heading back to school tomorrow...

summer is fading and fall is on its way.

Fall weather will be here before we know it...

warm sweaters and coats will be on our radar.

My new Eileen Fisher black fleece lined walking coat arrived last week...

The size fits perfectly, (the clerk was right) is lovely, cozy, great for everyday walks, yet stylish.

Will be able to wear it for errands, walking, and evenings out.

 

We will be busy putting the Humble Bungalow Garden to bed soon...

it has been a lovely summer in the garden.

We are currently enjoying oodles of fresh tomatoes, zucchini, yellow beans, cucumbers and several varieties of lettuce.

Salads have been a mainstay on the table for dinner for almost every meal.

It will be strange to go to the shops and purchase veggies 

when the harvest has finished.

Do you look forward to the new season and the change in the weather?

The opportunity to sort out your closet and bring the warmer or cooler clothes as needed?

I will be laundering the linen dresses, tops and skirts and swapping them out for the fall dresses and sweaters.

I need to buy some tall rubber rain and snow boots as my ancient pair fell apart!

It might be fun to look for a colourful pair this year.

Do you have plans to buy any new clothes?

What is on your list?

I must close for now and get some dinner organized...

thank you for popping by The Humble Bungalow Blog.

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

Weekend getaway...and flowers in The Humble Bungalow Garden

Last weekend we were invited to visit long time friends who retired to Thetis Island.

They built their dream home on the water's edge in Telegraph Harbour.

Other long time friends made the trek across the big pond from the Lower Mainland and we had a reunion of sorts...

we were celebrating Mr. HB's birthday.

I found a wee bit of time to work on the Miriam sweater...

the view was a bit distracting as

there were so many gorgeous yachts cruising past 

that I had to keep looking up from the knitting!

Just knitting the garter stitch front border, it will be finished soon!

Enjoying the newly purchased Tonka and Oud candle 

from a wee shop in Chemainus near the ferry dock.

The scent is woodsy and rich.

A lovely fragrant rose at the Telegraph Harbour Marina...

an old rose scent with soft apricot petals.

When I posted the picture on Instagram of the unknown rose...

several readers identified it as Just Joey.

Thank you :-))

Pulled out the stack of my TBR books

had a wee gander...

there are far more than I remembered.

Now my dilemma is to decide which one to read next?

What are you reading?

Our hydrangeas are the current stars in The Humble Bungalow Garden.

This hydrangea was a gift from my husband's architectural firm 

when my dad passed away years ago...

it has grown and never disappoints with its variety of blooms.

These limelight hydrangeas are just one of the dozen or so that we have planted over the years.

Their shade of chartreuse green glows

it lights up and illuminates the perennial borders.

Lots to keep us busy in the garden at this time of year.

I plan to go out and pick some of the various hydrangea blooms 

with hopes of drying them to bring indoors for the Fall and Winter months.

The weather is still very hot but i know that it will change as the summer wanes.

I'll be wearing boots and carrying my brolly before too long!

(I need to buy new rubber boots too!)

Well I must close and make lunch for us...

How are things going with you?

If you have a moment or two

please leave a comment and share your thoughts...

I always appreciate hearing from readers.

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

Colour Me Happy!

Bright Colours that POP make me feel HAPPY.

When I go for walks I seek out colourful things along my route.

It surprises me when on a rainy grey day that I can still find something bright to 

capture in a photo. 

I might have to look a wee bit harder but I definitely find something.

I love to accessorize with a pop of colour.

This wine coloured vintage leather bag adds just the right amount of OOMPH

to the simple neutral outfit here.

Black pants ~ Eileen Fisher

White top ~ Eileen Fisher

Khaki Jacket ~ Eileen Fisher

Look at how beautiful these tomatoes look resting on a bed of basil leaves!

I added some sea salt and ground pepper with a light drizzle of olive oil.

~ FRESH ~ 

Summertime salads are a healthy addition to our meals.

I love to add other ingredients to our daily salads.

diced red onions

avocado wedges

black olives

radishes

garbanzo beans

sprouted pea shoots

fresh shelled English Peas

beets

cucumber slices

capers

blanched green beans

There are SO many options when making a salad.

I regularly have on hand a homemade vinaigrette in a Bonne Maman Jam Jar.

Easy Peasy Vinaigrette

6 Tbsp. olive oil

2 Tbsp vinegar

2-3  Tbsp runny honey

salt and pepper (to taste)

Bold yellow Italian Linen Dress

this loose fitting dress is perfect for the heat and sun of SUMMER.

Add sandals or flip flops and a straw hat and sunglasses...

and a

French Market basket. 

I absolutely LOVE linen!

There is a great shop here in the Cook Street Village called Mercedes Lane Too...

I have purchased several tops and dresses from them 

 they are easy to wear and cool in the heat.

I wash them in lavender scented linen soap on the gentle cycle and hang them to dry.

In case you missed my post on the Doocot Sweater I knit I am sharing the photos.

I chose a bright Chartreuse Green Yarn

Rowan's Brooklyn Tweed

The sweater sits slightly above the natural waistline.

It took me 3 years to knit this sweater!

For some weird reason I didn't work on it in the first 2 years of Covid 

 really it should have been a delightful diversion but I couldn't seem to concentrate!

Now I am contemplating knitting the Miriam Sweater 

(on Ravelry)

I think it will be a fun project.

 Knitting in the cooler weather this Fall and Winter will be relaxing.

I am thinking of a charcoal or dove grey yarn.

I originally thought of black yarn but an experienced knitter friend said that black yarn is quite hard to see.

Must get myself off to the Beehive and see what they have in stock.

I need to buy needles too...

There are so many needles in my stash but none are the right size.

The Brooklyn Tweed yarn is lovely to work with, it is super soft.

Knitting and Tea go so well together!

We are kept very busy here in The Humble Bungalow Garden.

The roses are riddled with black spot this year which means that most days we are picking off the spotted leaves...

then we must keep up with the regular deadheading.

The rewards from all our efforts are numerous lovely bouquets 

for the house and to take to homes of friends.

Well I think it is time to close this post and head outside.

Thank you for popping by The Humble Bungalow Blog.

Hope that you are enjoying the gifts of the season.

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

Beautiful Blooms ~ The Humble Bungalow ~ Butchart Gardens and a Seafood Chowder

These lovely blooms are Lewisia Cotyledon

we grow them in pots and pop them in the perennial border

where there may be a gap in the plantings.

They are available in a variety of colours and are very sturdy plants.

Alliums are wonderful

 they are tall and narrow and can be planted in between other plants 

they offer an interesting pop of colour.

The bees LOVE these blooms.

Madame Gregoire Staechelin

a climbing rose 

in The Humble Bungalow Garden.

Our roses are behind this year due to the cooler unseasonable weather.

May usually is a riot of roses on the garden.

Alas, we will need to be patient,

and

 wait for warm sunshine to encourage the blooms.

Last week a friend and I walked at Butchart Gardens.

The azaleas are out in a full flush of flower

this apricot shade was so fragrant!

The Himalayan Blue Poppies are exquisite.

I have grown these from seed but they are very difficult to keep year after year.

These are blooming in the Japanese section of the gardens.

Their petals look so delicate and thin

like crepe paper.

This yellow azalea was fragrant and sweet

their bright colours look quite stunning

a much needed pop of colour on a cloudy day.

It's a cloudy day here this morning and it feels cool.

I've made a fish chowder for our lunch today.

Fish Chowder

Saute: 1 diced onion, two chopped carrots and 2 stalks of diced celery

cook until soft.

Add to the pot 1 piece of whitefish chopped into bite sized pieces

I also added some clam juice (1/2 cup)

two chopped up crab cakes that I had in the freezer.

I simmered the ingredients until they were cooked through 

added 1/2 cup of cream

salt and pepper to taste and a tsp of dill 

Serve with cracker, toast, or a soft bun.

Enjoy!

Hope that your week is off to a great start.

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 ~

Snippets on a sunny afternoon...

The sunshine has spurred me on to write a wee post and check in here on the blog.

Today we are fortunate to have the sun shine down on us.

Mount Baker

viewed from The Esplanade in Oak Bay.

A glorious day outside, with a gentle breeze.

We managed a lovely walk along the seafront.

My 5 km walks are really helping me get stronger and feel more flexible.

I've cut back on carbohydrates, added oodles of veggies and am rationing wine.

The good news is that the scale tells me I have lost 5 pounds...

now the next goal will be 5 more pounds.

The scale is not the only gauge when it comes to fitness...

my clothes don't feel so snug

my tummy is ever-so-slightly smaller

my legs are more muscular

more energy

and

I feel very encouraged and more in control.

Chester is slowly gaining weight.

He's refused the prescribed canned food and is happy with the "early renal" type kibble.

We are feeding him Fancy Feast, offering him extra tablespoon several times a day.

He is acting more like his usual self.

This is great news!

Thank you so much to those of you who have emailed asking about his health.

On a recent walk I stopped in at Super Chance

a local consignment shop in James Bay.

I spied this pretty transferware covered dish...

not sure where I would put it at the time,

but I felt confident that I would find a suitable spot.

Inside I have all my make-up brushes.

De-cluttering has been an ongoing activity here in The Humble Bungalow.

There is a cardboard box out on the boulevard 

where I place unwanted items most days.

They disappear quite quickly!

Crocus out front in The Humble Bungalow Garden.

Flowers are blooming and the snowdrops are showing their white faces.

Spring is in the air.

We're off to the garden centre tomorrow...

we lost a few plants during the last snowfall and have some empty pots that need filling, one of my favourite places to go at this time of year.

Perusing the new and different varieties of flowers and plants is so inspiring.

We've been watching Carol Klein Great British Gardens on You Tube.

It is filmed throughout the 4 seasons.

Are you finding inspiration in the garden?

On PBS we are watching All Creatures Great and Small 

and 

The Seaside Hotel.

The Seaside Hotel is Danish and has subtitles.

It was recommended by Rosemarie in Vancouver.

(thank you Rosemarie, I am enjoying it)

She and I have met up for tea at Abkhazi Gardens, lunch at a pub in The Cook Street Village and appetizers at Cactus Club on Robson.

We try to get together as often as she is here in Victoria or when I go to Vancouver.

Hope that you are staying safe and keeping amused.

Until next time...

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

December Snowfall...and some snippets from the past few weeks.

We have snow!

It's pretty to look at but it is very cold.

I've been wearing my cozy cashmere sweaters and thick wool socks.

Bundling up in my puffy down coat 

(think Michelin man style)

hat

scarf

gloves

Fancy popping by to sit on the front porch with a hot cuppa?

The hummingbird feeders are freezing so we are rotating the two feeders 

in the cold snap of winter

the wee local Anna's hummingbirds rely on us to keep them fed.

Snowy scenes here in The Humble Bungalow Garden.

Abraham Darby a David Austin Rose

blooming 

while wearing a snow hat!

A fabulous book...

by author Alka Joshi.

The good news is she has published a sequel

 and is working on a third!

Lady Gaga was amazing in the film!

We saw it in the theatre...a matinee 

safely viewed with only two other people in attendance!

Lady Gaga is wearing the same pearls that I bought from a local shop.

Mary from Skanda sourced them from Hong Kong!

We discovered a new cocktail...

"Jingle Buck"

1 ounce Vodka

3/4 ounce pure cranberry juice

3/4 ounce lime juice

2 ounces ginger ale

ice

garnish with fresh cranberries

CHEERS!

I've felt at a loss for words on the blog lately...

perhaps it is writer's block?

Covid has worn so many of us down.

I want to rise up in positivity and rejoice 

but the new Omicron variant has us all in a tizzy.

Our numbers are surging and the hospitals are slammed.

We get our booster shots next week and for that I am very grateful.

I have been working on

The Doocot Sweater

I knit the body of the sweater and now I am working on the sleeves.

You'd think I would have this finished by now...

I started it before the pandemic hit!

When I attended the knitting club meeting I discovered that I am not alone in procrastinating with my knitting project.

Some of the women have taken up painting and several others bought bikes and have been meeting up to explore the scenic roads and trails.

I have made a conscious decision to focus on and embrace Simple Joys.

I feel happiest in my kitchen 

whether I am cutting veggies for a soup or baking cookies

or planning a menu to serve to my family

the contentment is hugely rewarding and comforting.

Two items that I purchased during Covid that have been most useful 

are linen aprons.

We have not purchased many things in the past two years...

we don't "need" much other than food.

Clothes shopping has been put on the back burner for the time being...

except for that "wee foray" at Eileen Fisher on South Granville in Vancouver!

I found a cute grey top and a sumptuous boiled wool sweater in a tunic length.

I bought the black one (of course!)

The sweater was, what I consider, an "investment piece."

It has been worn multiple times since I bought it!

I wore it Christmas Day with skinny Eileen Fisher pants.

I added a sparkly Sherman rhinestone pin.

Vintage rhinestone Brooches are such a fun way to add sparkle.

Hope that 2022 has some bright spots and highlights...

Thank you for stopping 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 ~