What's in my make-up bag? September starts...

 

My washable make-up bag from the local Pharmasave.

It holds all the tools that I need for my 5 minute face routine...

Do you recognize any of these products?

Jane Iredale face powder foundation ~ "Satin"

Marcelle eye shadow palette ~ Plum Perfect

Marcelle Kohl eye pencil ~ Black

Marcelle Fortifying and Lengthening Mascara ~ Black

Marcelle lipsticks ~ Loving Red and Living Rose

L'Oreal lipstick ~ #251 Wisteria Rose

I like a light hand and a simple approach to make up...

like a French Woman.

What are your "go to" products?

Do you like a certain brand or are you tempted to try new products?

Our lovely neighbours next door dropped off a bouquet of flowers,

to welcome us back from our holiday at the cottage.

Chester seems to be drawn to the flowers!

He is in fine form...

full of snuggles and enjoying his cat toys.

He was cared for by our wonderful cat and house sitter Tina.

XO

He tried to sleep in our bed when we got back...

it did not go well, I hardly slept a wink that first night!

He kept waking me up licking my face and "kneading" my hair!

He must have missed me?

So he's snoozing outside the door on the rug at night which seems fine...

he must be missing Pepper as they used to sleep very close together.

Often on the same small fuzzy cat blanket.

Thank you for all your kind messages and condolences

 on the passing of our beloved Pepper.

The Hollyhocks are still in bloom.

Some of the roses have had another flush of flowers.

The garden is a riot of hydrangea blooms too...

am going to try and pick some to dry for inside the Humble Bungalow.

I am on the hunt for "alum" which is supposed to help the blooms stay fresh.

I've had a few days at home to get back into the swing of things here...

the sourdough starter has been refreshed and a boule was baked this morning.

I've made a batch of fresh pasta and we plan to make a lemon and prawn sauce

with grated parmigiana reggiano.

The recipe is simple...

September is here and the weather is already cooler...

such a quick change.

I'll be back in the Yoga Studio this week, I've missed my sessions.

and

I have an appointment to get my hair cut which always perks me up!

What have you got planned for your week?

Thank you for popping by The Humble Bungalow Blog.

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

July Joys ~ Roses, ( a surprise recipe) books and time at Quarterdeck Cottage.

 

The Lavender is ready to harvest...

I snipped a few stems off the plant and made some fragrant sachets.

This job takes a while to do...

patience is required to remove the buds and so I brew a big pot of tea

sit myself in a comfy chair on the front porch and get stuck in.

I love the scent of lavender and the sachets are useful in the drawers...

where I store lingerie, sweaters and nightgowns.

I found these wee gauze bags at the local Dollar Store.

I reuse them from year to year.

Yellow rose at the back is Climbing Graham Thomas...

the pink one closest is Strawberry Hill.

These two are out back by the greenhouse and the work area...

both are happy and have oodles of blooms and they are both very fragrant.

Strawberry Hill has deep cups with frilly petals.

Here's a closer look at Graham Thomas...

bold yellow blooms.

I love to look at the cheerful lush display when I am out in the garden working.

It feels like these jobs are so worth it,

a reward for our efforts when we get these rather stunning displays.

This lovely iris bloom is only one of many on the plant...

it is a newer plant in The Humble Bungalow Garden.

Another bright colour and the wee yellow stripe in the middle of the petals 

makes for a wonderful bold contrast.

Iced Latte...

a refreshing choice for a hot afternoon by the pool.

I loved this fun and fantastical book by Jess Kidd.

Her books are new to me, and they are a wee bit different than my usual books.

They are FUN and the mystery gets solved in the end...

a wild ride to get to the past page but ever so entertaining.

Mr HB and I play crib at the cottage...

he wins almost ALL THE TIME!

~ Beach walks and Sea Glass ~

The weather was lovely when we were at Quarterdeck Cottage...

sunny and warm, pools were open and water was perfect.

I need a new swimsuit...and I am going to go shopping these next few weeks.

My older black suit is 4 or 5 years old and is definitely needing to be retired!!

Canada Day...July 1st

Beaver Chairs at Roseland Park.

Knitting on the Miriam Sweater 

using the vintage Baycrest Aran Yarn. 

(darling daughter found at a local thrift shop)

Loved Jess Kidd's other book and saw this at the Pender Island Bookshop...

read it in 2 days...such a wild romp and lovely quirky characters.

Climbing Royal Sunset Rose 

a bowlful of petals...

Made some rosewater face spray...

easy and a lovely way to use up petals.

Roses are definitely my muse...

love them in the garden, love them in bouquets.

Do you grow roses?

I've had a molar crack and half of it fell apart...

I think I actually ate it :-((

I thought my burger had a crunchy bite, then I realized that my tooth was rough!

So I am booked in to see my dentist...

a crown perhaps?

Oh well at 70 one must expect these things...

We are watching Outrageous on Britbox...

it is about the Mitford sisters.

I read the book years ago and the series is staying very close to the book.

The scenes are lush and the locations and houses are fabulous.

I adore the fashions and am eager to watch each and every episode.

Are you watching a great period drama?

The trailer for Downton Abbey is out...it's a MUST SEE for me.

How about you?

Now to this next book...

another grand story is unfolding and turns out it is a real page turner.

Well that's about it for now...

lots to do here in The Humble Bungalow Garden.

Playing Catch up after our time away...

Thank you for popping by and checking out my little blog...

until next time.

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

Garden snippets, vintage silver and almond nuts ~ recipe included.

 

Greetings from The Humble Bungalow Garden.

We have been enjoying the garden and have had a few quiet days.

We celebrated our darling grand daughter's 15th birthday and Father's Day.

Snacks on the deck with a variety of things...

cheese and crackers, 

veggies and hummus, 

homemade foccaccia bread with olive oil and balsamic vinegar

raspberry tarts with coconut whipped cream

watermelon

Presents were well received :-))

(a list from the birthday girl helps)

We purchased some planters from the garden centre for the tour...

they are a great pop of colour.

Roses are in their glory...

May and June are the prime months for roses here in The Humble Bungalow Garden.

Climbing Royal Sunset Rose 

and a riot of foxgloves dotting the perennial beds.

Josephs's Coat Rose...

a huge rose that puts on an amazing show.

Very thorny but multiple blooms on each branch.

This rose has masses of blooms...

I cannot remember the name but think it might be Mary Lester.

The bees buzz here all day long!

Darling daughter found us a fabulous silver tray...

~ arts and crafts art nouveau ~

The tray is beautiful and beside it the rose is Ambridge Rose...

it has so many blooms on it this year!

Look at the details...

morning glory?

wheat?

James F Tufts 

Boston Ma. USA

Have placed it on the plate rail in the dining room for now...

it is a stunning piece.

Thank you Jennifer.

Monday morning starts with Yoga...

Thank you Jules and Ajna Studio.

I look forward to each and every class.

I came home and made a simple lunch...

sourdough bread toasted with a salmon and celery salad topping.

Open Face sandwich for me and a regular sandwich for Mr. HB

I did some clean up in the kitchen and vacuumed the floor.

I have started a knitting project using the wool that darling daughter found at the thrift shop.

I am making another Miriam sweater...

the colour is a warm beige.

Knitted a few rows then got back to the kitchen and did a fridge clean out...

Decided to make some spiced NUTS!

I know I know...it is usually a winter project 

but that big bag of almonds called to me.

I only used almonds in this batch...

I use sealer jars to store these and often give these as hostess gifts.

They are so yummy!

I made a single batch today...

popped in a load of laundry while these were cooking.

Spoon them into jars right away so they don't get stuck on the sheet pan!

Cool completely before putting on the top.

Knit a few more rows...

Dinner was easy...

I made a "home grown lettuce" salad...

and 

baked frozen pizzas!

I've decided that I need to pace myself...

if I have a busy day.

How is your week starting off?

I recently have received some lovely emails...

from readers that I am just getting to know.

So nice to know that after all these years there are new readers who enjoy the blog!

Love hearing from you and what you are up to...

A lovely reader shared her "comfort book" suggestion:

 Pilgrim's Inn by Elizabeth Goudge.

She reads it every year.

A Gift From The Sea by Ann Morrow Lindbergh 

is one of my favourite "comfort books"

Have you read it?

I have ordered Pilgrim's Inn from my favourite local bookseller 

Ivy's Books in Oak Bay.

Do you have a good book suggestion?

How is your week going so far?

Thank you for stopping by The Humble Bungalow Blog

until next time...

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

Almost Easter...

The Erythronium Lilies are in bloom...

Easter is almost here.

Are you celebrating with an Easter dinner with friends or family?

The lily plants have been multiplying since we planted them 

over a decade or so ago...

I love their delicate form and nodding heads.

We have some Native white Fawn lilies but they are slow to multiply.

Dried Annabelle hydrangeas are still hanging out in the dining room.

Picked them last year when they were in full bloom.

They've faded but they still perk up the dark corner here in The Humble Bungalow.

The hallway was bathed in morning sunlight and I had to capture the moment.

A different view of the Hall and Dining Room 

to the right is the small living room.

I've been washing the inside windows...

we hired a local company do the outside a week ago.

I cannot reach the high small panes as my step stool is too low 

 I do not like working on step ladders!

It feels too wobbly and risky to be 5 feet off the ground.

Not sure if we will just live with them slightly hazy?

Perhaps hire that same company to come inside next time, 

in the fall perhaps?

Do you wash all your windows?

Spring cleaning is rewarding once the tasks have been done...

I find now at 70, that I procrastinate.

I do keep the house "tidy" and try to keep "clutter" under control.

How do you feel about housework?

Dust and cat hair are always with us...

with 2 cats and an old home we seem to be constantly vacuuming and dusting.

When we were at the Cottage I treated myself to a bunch of yellow roses...

too bad that greenhouse roses from the florist are not fragrant.

They lasted the entire week...glowed bright and bold such a sunny shade.

I changed the water daily and recut them twice,

 first when I got to the cottage

then again halfway through the week.

On the yellow theme I purchase a new cookbook!

I follow Julius Roberts on Instagram...he is a farmer and a chef.

The picture from his book spoke to me!!!

I knew that this simple recipe would be amazing...

So flavourful...

I learned how to spatchcock a chicken too.

The fragrance from the pan was unbelievably rich.

Served it with mashed potatoes and some steamed fresh asparagus.

We had enough for two meals and then I used the carcass for soup.

Keeping things fresh and interesting is very much on my radar.

A new Ikebana presentation was advertised...

Happily my friend and I attended.

Such a simple idea to find things in nature and make them into beautiful art.

The black container is so interesting...

a curly twiggy branch

 reeds, a pink rhododendron and some feathery foliage.

Leafy branches, red rhododendron blooms and a twiggy branch on the table.

Gerbera daisies, flowing curvy branches and some Pieris in a shallow dish.

The presenter has taken 120 lessons.

 She has learned all the rules and principles of the practise and has graduated to the "freeform" stage of Ikebana.

She suggested that we look for interesting vases and bowls at the local thrift shops.

The Kenzens are available online.

 We are fortunate to have a local shop here in town that sells them...

Gardener's Kit.

I bought 4 small ones and a large round one.

It's fun to learn new things and explore creative pursuits and hobbies.

What are you learning?

A new skill, or a foreign language?

Pottery, Sewing, A Craft?

The weather has been sunny and warm these past few days.

My skin is sensitive and I have rosacea 

so I ordered some Eminence sunscreen from a Canadian website.

They have reformulated their powdered sunscreen...

I like how easy it is to use and it is buildable.

There is a built in brush.

We've got a Federal election here in Canada and we vote soon...

it is a very important election what with new trade war and the tariffs.

I hope we can build a stronger Canada, one that will not result in a recession.

We've got many issues that need fixing...

our medical system needs more doctors and nurses

there are too many people that are homeless

 lots of families are struggling financially.

~ PLEASE VOTE ~

Well I have to get some dinner ready now.

On the menu tonight...

Tossed green salad, gnocchi with cheese and bacon, Maple BBQ chicken thighs.

Thank you for taking time to pop in and read my blog.

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~