Book chat...at Quarterdeck Cottage

I devoured the book Bella Figura written by Kamin Mohammadi

It "spoke to me" on many levels and the author included Italian recipes at the end of each chapter...I am going to keep it and put it on my cookbook shelf!

I was so inspired by her descriptions of the food 

that I made the pasta dish for dinner at the cottage.

Kamin describes the Italian city of Florence and the hills and villages of Tuscany so exquisitely that I felt that I was right there with her...

I am not going to give away any of her "secrets" but I did take away some very important tips that I will be incorporating into my daily regime.

I highly recommend this book...

Look at these fresh heirloom tomatoes!

Seriously flavourful and an easy salad to prepare...

you could dress it with a smidgen of good quality olive oil or do as I did.

I used Julia Childs' basic vinaigrette that I mix in a Bonne Maman Jam jar.

'Tis the season for Farmer's Markets and fresh produce...

I love the variety and availability of these roadside stands

 my basket is stuffed full to the brim

overflowing 

with healthy tasty veggies.

The bounty of beach combing is the expanding collection of sea glass.

Fresh air and exercise are benefits of this hobby.

Clam Shells with barnacles dot the local beaches.

The twinkling light bouncing off the Salish Sea

 a million diamonds dazzling....

the melodic waves are licking the shore

the seabirds are swooping

the cacophony of songbirds is music to my ears

contentment found in the beauty of nature

to slow down

to notice

to be silent and observe

these are times that I treasure

for they present me with

opportunities

 for reflection and gratitude

Do you find solace in the beauty that surrounds you?

Are you able to be still, sit quietly and absorb the gifts of Mother Nature?

We had a busy weekend here in The Humble Bungalow Garden...

there is a bounty of flowers

a riot of roses blooming 

the wee hummingbird babies can be seen in the nest...

two very tiny beaks pointing skyward waiting for food from their parents.

Hope you have a lovely week.

Thank you for stopping by The Humble Bungalow Blog...

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

Savouring the good things in life...

We are surrounded by beauty...
one need not look too far afield to glimpse these special gifts that cross our path.

Embracing the positive, simple things in life, keep me grounded and content.

If I get on the "I want this, I want that" tangent
I am not at ease...stress and anxiety are sure to follow.

Simple living...

getting back to nature
walking
taking time for peaceful pursuits
mindful healthy eating

valuable self care tools
that really nurture and feed my soul.

"Highlights" worth sharing from the past weekend...

Roesland Park

on

Pender Island, BC

a lovely walk with an abundance of natural beauty.

Calypso Bulbosa

aka

Lady Slipper Orchids

Lilies

A bench on which to sit and pause...

 count my blessings 

while surveying the views across The Salish Sea....

Skunk Cabbage

The Nature Sanctuary at Medicine Beach

we were there for the Earth Day beach clean up.

Fresh radishes from Raven Rock Farm stand 

at the Farmers Market

love these "red ravishing radishes"

Speaking of red...here is the Encore Red.

We went to the award winning Sea Star Vineyard for a wine tasting...

we purchased some red and white wines.

We invited our neighbours over for a drink and a nibble...

Sitting on the deck later watching the sun slip behind the mountains

taking note of the light 

the subtle changes 

of the intensity and tones.

The sunrise and sunsets are the gentle rhythms

that guide us through our days here at Quarter Deck Cottage.

Hope that your week is off to a gentle start...

Enjoy the gifts as they present themselves to you on your daily round.

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

Humble Bungalow Garden Roses...

Life is unpredictable and can shock and surprise us...
often throwing us curveballs.

I know that this is true...

All we can do is "fasten our seat belts" and hang on tight for the ride.

So in light of the turbulence that life can bring.

I offer you some beautiful roses...
to add some beauty to your day.

Growing right here in The Humble Bungalow Garden.

I hope you enjoy them.

Joesph's Coat roses

Constance Spry

Iceberg

(I forget the name of this rose)

Graham Thomas

Jude the Obscure

Climbing Royal Sunset

Abraham Darby

Graham Thomas

I am planning to visit a Gulf Island to view a garden and visit a friend.

At my Yoga class the instructor has just returned from a workshop.

She was very excited about her experience and spoke to us about looking for the "juicy" things in life...

The "juicy" being those things that bring us JOY

things that we need to seek out and embrace to "Get Our Happy On.

I am doing just that.

A "full to the brim week" of social events, 

a garden visit

walks 

Yoga

a movie out 

dinner with the girls

birthday shopping for a very special DIL.

Our garden is a riot of roses...

they are shedding their petals in the gusty winds today.

So many petals cover the walkway, the deck and the porch.

I hope that the winds blow them away...

it could save us hours of raking and sweeping

this weekend!

Wishing you a wonderful Wednesday and a week of "juicy" good things.

~ Take care as you go about your day ~

and 

~ Please Be Kind ~

Simple Joys...

Thank goodness for a quiet weekend to relax and enjoy the simple things...

Hot ancient grains and oats by Rogers and a fresh kiwi for breakfast.

Warming from the inside out on a cold morning.

Pure goodness and a healthy choice...

a simple joy to start the day.

Sipping some tasty tea and listening to the birdsong outside...

Silk Road makes some of my favourite blends

 they are located downtown in Victoria's Heritage Chinatown.

They have a lovely little spa and make wonderful skin care and bath products.

They also have an online shop for those of you who live further away...

The freedom to stay in my PJ's until 11:00 in the morning.

it felt truly decadent and luxurious...

JOY!

speaking of a little luxury I pulled out all my Hermes scarves 

and opened all the orange boxes and had a peek.

It has been awhile since I have worn them as our weather calls for wool and cashmere scarves and mufflers.

that wee pink scarf is the one that I bought in Paris

really my only significant souvenir other than my memories

this black and white Hermes scarf is the one I wear most often

I wore a Symplii black dress and black tights with my booties to the celebration of life on Friday

skipped perfume but layered on some classic pearls

lots of familiar faces were at the service

nearly a full house

it was a fine tribute

the food was perfect and I got some experience as a server carrying trays

it is not as easy as it looks!

There were a dozen or so friends and family members serving and we all were rookies together so it was fine.

"Security in numbers!"

There are so many interesting and eye catching things popping up on my waking and driving routes these days...

This tree is on my drive home from bridge and Mah Jong.

It is really quite unusual and reminds me of a dancing woman...

( my imagination runs away with me sometimes!)

snowdrops are up

sweet scented buds

emerging 

spreading pink scented wafts into the air

Hope that you are enjoying your weekend and are avoiding all those nasty colds and flu's that are about...

my throat is feeling a bit scratchy so I am pacing myself.

"I think it's important to find the little things in everyday life that make you happy."

Paula Cole

A Comforting Cottage Pie, Luxurious French Linen...and thoughts about happiness.

It's BC Day today and the weekend has flown by...

Mr. HB has been working hard at his office and I have been pottering about in the garden.
I took advantage of a sunny Saturday afternoon and decided I deserved a wee break .
My excuse was to do a bit of browsing and shopping.

There are several of my favourite shops located in the Oak Bay area of our city so I took off in the car and leisurely strolled along the Avenue. Poking into shops and saying hello to the merchants...
when you shop at the same stores on a regular basis you get to know the owners and they become more than just "shopkeepers."
I do not always buy things from them, I go in to see how they are doing and I ask after their families.

The French Touch carries a variety of vintage and antique pieces.

They have classes every month on painting using Anne Sloan Paints.

I adore their stock of lovely vintage linens imported from France.

A dozen of these pretty tea towels were priced separately so I purchased one.

Often the linens are sold as a set... tablecloths and matching sets of napkins or sheets.

Many are embroidered with monogrammed initials.

This one is interesting but I have no idea what it signifies or where in France it came from...

Lovely liquid soap in fragrant "Figue" from Marseilles...

which takes me back to my trip this past Spring to Paris and the South of France.

After I got home I spent some time browsing Bunny Williams' Garden Book while sipping a restorative cup of Mariage Freres Paris Tea.

Bunny's book is a wonderful guide for gardeners...and I LOVE perusing garden books.

There is so much inspiration to be found within the book.

I have her other books and am thinking that this one might need to be added to my bookshelf.

A little while later I got busy in the kitchen.

I donned my well worn soft linen apron (of course!) and made a comforting Cottage Pie.

Recipe for Cottage Pie

Saute 

1 large diced onion and 1 pound mushrooms sliced

2 peeled and chopped carrots

4 stalks of celery diced

gently cook until vegetables are no longer crisp.

Brown 1 pound of ground chicken until cooked.

add 1 cup chicken stock

(I use a tablespoon of "Better than Bouillon" chicken dissolved in boiling water.)

add in 1 cup of frozen peas

Salt and pepper ~ to taste

Place in ovenproof dish.

Boil peeled potatoes until soft 

drain and mash adding a bit of butter and milk.

Cover the cottage pie with soft mashed potatoes and bake in a 350 degree oven for about 45 minutes.

Simple and tasty.

While the cottage pie was baking in the oven 

I picked some alliums and popped them in a vase 

and placed them on the front porch...

I love a day when some domestic work is accomplished in The Humble Bungalow 

and then some time remains for creative pursuits.

It's the truly "the little things"

not the acquisition of luxury goods

that put a smile on my face.

I drive an old Volvo

 wear the same clothes many times.

There's really nothing fancy going on here...

Since returning from France

I've rediscovered the Joy of gardening 

working quietly

next to

the buzzing bees 

the butterflies

amid

the birdsong.

I travelled to Paris last Spring on a trip that I'd dreamed about for years.

It was so exciting and everything was fresh and new.

I felt truly alive...

like I'd been revitalized and injected with a new energy and spirit.

Upon my return ~ and after a period of contemplation 

I've come to the realization 

that what I really "need" to be content and satisfied

is all here in the city where I live with my family and friends

inside these walls 

and outside 

in the garden 

of my own home...

"The Humble Bungalow"

I look forward to future trips but have come to the realization that I am happy leading a quiet life.

It need not be anything remarkable

nothing worthy of the news.

Living a Simple Life suits me just fine.

Thank you for stopping by...