Love...

Feeling love...
possibly more intense in these precarious times that we are living in.

a brightly painted heart rock on my beach walk last week

Intense Blue Skies at McNeill Bay in Oak Bay.

This is the beach where I spent my childhood..

we lived 2 blocks from the beach and we loved exploring the seashore.

I found some pretty sea glass on my walk.

Feeling so grateful for the smallest of things each day...

 European Wall Lizard

one of many living in The Humble Bungalow Garden.

 ~ Muguet des Bois ~

Intoxicating...

a heavy heady fragrance

pure white elegance.

Mother's Day

Remembering my dear Mom today  

I think of her everyday

but miss her more on these "special" days.

Mother's Day garden visit

with gifts from darling daughter and her sweet husband.

Tokens of love.

Garden visit with our son.

Flowers...a handmade card made with love.

Warm weather over the weekend...

we broke two weather records for high temperatures!

Cats are content snoozing on our bed.

Yummy dinner of chicken baked potatoes 

with

freshly harvested asparagus which is growing in our garden.

Mount Baker as seen from Island View Beach.

A wee bit blurry...

 a magnificent sight to see.

So many things to see

to appreciate 

to love.

Hope that you are finding some bright spots in your daily round.

Our eyes can embrace the beauty that surrounds us all...

take a few moments breathe in the fresh air

in awe of Mother Nature and all her glory

stay calm

be well.

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~ 

Snippets of life here in The Humble Bungalow...and a couple of my favourite recipes

Wee little hydrangea leaves that over wintered in The Humble Bungalow Garden.

Lacy and delicate and as light as a whisper...

 tiny leaves...

Wee treasures found while weeding the beds.

Mother Nature's handiwork.

Mr. HB has been busy constructing raised beds.

We are on a long list at the Landscaping Supply Company.

Waiting for the soil to be delivered...

Apparently oodles of people locally are turning to their gardens

planting trees, flowers and veggies.

I ordered books from my favourite book seller Ivy's books on Oak Bay Avenue.

I am currently reading The Strawberry Thief by Joanne Harris.

It is the 4th book in her Chocolat series...

set in a small village in SW France 

near where our good friends live in Auvillar.

She mentions several of the places that I have visited, 

which I am remembering fondly.

Books can be a lovely way to "travel."

Dinner

of

Garden fresh asparagus

ribs

half a baked potato

I use Chef John's BBQ rib recipe from his blog Food Wishes.

It's a winner!

Made a big batch of oatmeal raisin cookies.

I've been keeping myself extra busy (happily distracted) in the kitchen.

Mr HB loves cookies...

Euphorbia bracts

photo bombed by a fly.

Brilliant blues...

a pop of colour under sunny skies.

The May skies are such a crisp blue...

have you noticed how clear the air is where you live?

Simple dinner 

Shake and Bake chicken thighs

"Booth Bay" broccoli salad

Hope you enjoy this tasty salad 

it is one of my summertime favourites.

Some of the restrictions here in BC are being eased this week. 

The authorities have devised a plan 

to gradually increase our return to the "new normal."

I look forward to resuming a wider "bubble" of people that we can interact with...

self distancing while being social should be easier with the better weather.

Picnics, outdoor cafes and bistros 

will be very popular in these coming weeks and months.

Hope all is well with you.

Stay safe.

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

Joy...

What is JOY?

In a google search the first definition that popped up was 
"a feeling of great pleasure and happiness."

Joy is finding a heart shaped rock on the beach.

Personally, I find Joy in many things...

maybe its easier because I am content with life's little pleasures.

Things that are mostly free...

"Attitude of gratitude" 

is my mantra.

Joy is sunshine and scenery.

Maybe it's a smile from a stranger that was unexpected.

A random kind gesture 

a surprise letter or card in the mail

when your grandchildren tell you they love you

if you are stuck in traffic and another driver lets you merge

finding a handful of sea glass on the beach

a beautiful moonlit evening

fresh salty sea air

a rose blooming in winter

there are so many places to look for JOY

it might be a pop of colour on a gloomy day

a phone call from a friend you haven't heard from in ages

a rainbow after the storm

It might even be a whimsical indulgence that makes you smile...

this festive wee tree lights up in many colours

while it might border on "tacky" I knew I had to have it.

It brings me Joy.

Sometimes you just need to take a chance...

Joy in the sunset

Joy is found in giving...

like these Lions international volunteers

who bring Mr. and Mrs. Claus to the Gulf Islands.

There was Joy on the faces of the children and parents in the crowd.

There were elves...

a choir

and pirates wielding balloon swords 

with a few local pirates ready for a battle.

These dedicated volunteers give 800 gifts to children on the various islands.

Each child leaves with a bag of treats and gifts.

Bringing JOY to these children and their families

 Hope Bay on Pender Island...

a generous gift 

that will be remembered for years to come.

“There are those who give with joy, and that joy is their reward.” 

~ Khalil Gibran ~

“Happiness doesn’t result from what we get, but from what we give.” 

~ Ben Carson ~

Wishing you Peace, Joy and Contentment.

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

Autumn splendour...last cottage visit.

Autumn is such a glorious time of year 

the vibrant colours elevate my energy 

making the time outdoors richer

with

walks that have become saturated in beauty.

a few raindrops do not dampen my spirits

they look like tiny jewels

embellishing the fallen leaves

 Isla and I were exploring at the cottage when we were last there...

we spied some interesting seed pods on this tree.

 Natural "treasures" from our nature walk

perfect "souvenirs" to take home.

Have you read The Country Diary of an Edwardian Lady?

It is an illustrated journal and quite lovely.

This vignette reminds me of that book.

I love seeing life through the eyes of an energetic and enthusiastic child.

Those moments of excited spontaniety...

sharing many magical moments at school 

during the course of my career

 in the classroom and the library

with our own children 

and now our delightful grandchildren.

The moss on these rocks proved to be VERY slippery

Grammy had to say that it was "an unsafe place to play."

I didn't want to have an injury "on my watch!"

Peeking outside 

we spied raindrops on the leaves

"liquid sunshine"

inside we were cozy and content.

We were engaged in creative pursuits...

 felts, crayons, paper, 

colouring and activity books

Lego, games and toys.

"Pursue some path, however narrow and crooked, in which you can walk with love and reverence."

~ Henry David Thoreau ~

"Just as treasures are uncovered from the earth, so virtue appears from good deeds, and wisdom appears from a pure and peaceful mind. To walk safely through the maze of human life, one needs the light of wisdom and the guidance of virtue." 

~ Buddha ~

Wishing all American readers a very Happy Thanksgiving.

Hope that your week is off to a grand start!

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

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 ~