Last Week ~ in a wink of an eye...

 

Gorgeous flowers

a surprise cottage welcome bouquet from a friend.

Springtime seems to have finally arrived at the Cottage...

warmer days and sunny skies.

Such a tonic after all the grey gloom and rain.

~ Thrift Shop Finds ~

Adams English ironstone jug and a well used wood board

A soft wool sweater...

it is lovely but is a wee bit too small.

I have a friend who stretched a lovely wool sweater by washing it in conditioner and manually stretching it back into a larger size!

I hope the conditioner trick works!

Read this book and loved it...

set in a charming picturesque area of Cornwall

involves a woman who has a daughter

is recently separated

and

with her mother buys a rambling old house on a cove by the sea.

This book appealed to me on so many levels...

I would LOVE to buy an old rambling home by the sea and redecorate!!

If one cannot have a rambling old home by the sea...

how about a week at the cottage once a month?

(I cannot nor dare not complain, I am immensely grateful)

My husband brought a few lettuce plants with us so we could harvest it fresh.

He really has discovered his "green thumb" upon his retirement.

The expansive sea views feed my soul.

They never "get old" and there is always something to see.

Boats, otters, whales, birds...

I baked a sourdough boule and two kinds of cookies.

Found a "flat oyster" shell on the beach...

they are a European variety.

I walk the local beaches daily in search of sea glass and the occasional shell.

I am surprised by the amount of glass I find.

There must be 8 or 9 jars full downstairs here in The Humble Bungalow.

What to do with it?

I suppose if I felt creative I could make mosaics...

for now I just keep it on the window ledge in the vintage sealer jars.

Have you read Anne Morrow Lindbergh's book Gift From The Sea?

I love the gentle story that she weaves of her time spent alone in a small rustic cabin on the beach.

She went there to rest, restore and recharge...

we all need a place to find solace and peace.

Years ago when life was really busy and hectic I went to the Spa for relaxation.

It was not a frugal option, but I was working and could justify the expense.

As a retiree, now living on a pension, I chose to find relaxation in Nature.

~ Things I find soothing ~

puttering in the garden

 reading a good book

knitting

sipping a cup of tea from a pretty vintage cup

baking bread

walking

beach combing

soaking in the tub

looking in thrift shops

ironing linens 

What do you find soothing?

Our week at the cottage passed so fast...

in the blink of an eye and here we are back home in The Humble Bungalow.

Well I have a busy week ahead...

lots of social things planned and will be catching up with friends.

How about You?

What does your week ahead have in store?

Hope its a good one.

Until next time...

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

Escape to the Cottage...

Dr. Bonnie Henry our official medical officer for Covid has informed us that we are in "Phase 3" which permits us to travel within our province of BC.

Mr. HB and I are enjoying a much needed week of respite at Quarter Deck Cottage on Pender Isalnd. The change of scenery is such a tonic and the fresh air walks are invigorating. We are feeling immense gratitude for this getaway.

Cottage life is relaxing and we get into the rhythm almost as soon as we drive off the ferry!

We brought some Graham Thomas roses from The Humble Bungalow Garden.

We eat quite simple meals here at the cottage.

Fresh French Radishes from our greenhouse for our salads.

Fresh from the Farm 

Strawberries, sweet tasting and delicious!

As a dessert or with my morning fruit and yogurt breakfast.

Fresh eggs from the Saturday morning Farmer's Market here on Pender.

The yolks are a dark orange colour and the flavour is outstanding.

My current book...

a page turner and a very interesting topic.

I have not read any of Jodi Picoult's books before and I am enjoying her writing.

Spaghetti and a glass of red wine from the local vineyard.

I make pasta once a week as it is my husband's favourite meal.

I make a batch of sauce that will last for two meals.

It's a very simple recipe.

Spaghetti Sauce

Pour a couple of tablespoons of olive oil in a large dutch oven.

add

1 medium diced onion saute until soft

then add:

 a cup of sliced mushrooms

 2 or 3 cloves of minced garlic

1 pound of lean ground beef or spicy Italian sausage

sprinkle with a teaspoon of red pepper flakes

(or to taste)

salt, pepper, dried oregano, a splash of worchestershire sauce

add a jar of good quality tomato sauce

small can of tomato paste

Simmer for about an hour.

Cook the pasta according to the directions on the package.

Top with the sauce and grate some fresh Parmesan cheese on top.

Enjoy!

The roses are wilting in the summer sunshine...

Staycations and local travel are the New Normal for residents of BC.

We must be vigilant and stay safe to avoid an upswing in Covid cases.

We have to make our own fun 

at home, at the cottage, at a resort, a marina, a hotel or campsite.

How are you doing?

What are your holiday plans?

Please share any tips you have for coping during the pandemic.

Thank you for stopping by The Humble Bungalow Blog.

Wishing you a lovely week.

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

Seasons greetings!

As I am whittling down my to do list 

getting ready for the holidays 

 finding myself extra busy

fatigue will surface.

If I am not careful I can feel the stress of trying to do it ALL.

Inner pressure to be the "perfect hostess"

 serve elaborate and tasty meals

keep up appearances

wanting

 a "picture perfect" home.

I need to remind myself not to set the bar too high.

Readjust my thought patterns...

Keep it simple

slow down

breathe

relax.

Candles are one of the things that help set a relaxed mood...

I light these festive reindeer votives in the morning when I sit and sip my coffee and 

again later in the afternoon with my tea.

Music is also a powerful mood shifter...

if I need energy I play some lively tunes from my teen years

if I am looking for calm I usually play a classical piece.

One of my favourites is Barber's Adagio for Strings

you can hear it performed by the Detroit Symphony

here.

I feel like I could just float away when I listen to the music.

The gifts are purchased and wrapped.

The tree is up...

Soon

festive tins will be filled 

with shortbread, dried fruit dipped in chocolate, and cookies.

Our dinner menu is in the planning stage.

Leisurely mulling over cookbooks

slowly turning the pages

 looking at the pictures 

 what to cook?

The Humble Bungalow is dressed up very simply...

Grapevine wreath wound with fairy lights in our family room.

Hope that you are savouring the wee moments

that make up your days.

We can start by

inviting

Peace and Quiet 

into our hearts and our homes.

I like this quote it sums up  what I am thinking.

“No person, no place, and no thing has any power over us, 

for 'we' are the only thinkers in our mind. 

When we create peace and harmony and balance in our minds, 

we will find it in our lives.”

~ Louise L. Hay ~

Wishing you a calm and meaningful holiday.

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

April snippets from Quarterdeck cottage

Love these pretty pink blossoms on the tree out front of the cottage.

I am tempted to pick a sprig and pop them into a vase.

They are so delicate and frilly, almost frothy in their form.

A subtle scent gently fills the air when you are standing beneath the branches.

A yellow primula and a variegated iris for the garden.

I planted the iris out front of the cottage and hope that the deer will ignore it!

The primula will come home with me to be planted in The Humble Bungalow Garden.

The Pender Island Garden Club had a sale at the community centre.

I purchased the plants from the garden centre and the shell was from their sale.

I quite like shells and have a few that I have collected over the years.

They reside on the window ledge of the guest room.

This one will be headed there soon.

I found this arts and crafts Ruskin pewter brooch at the Nu To Yu thrift shop.

I purchased it for a friend who collects these pins.

It amazes me what treasures can be found in this tiny little shop.

Speaking of treasures look at this sweet little toadstool!

We walked 3 km along a road under a magnificent canopy of trees.

Our destination was Gather a new cafe at Hope Bay.

They serve tea, coffee, beer, wine, baked goods and light meals.

There are musical events held here on occasion in the evening. 

It's been open for 3 weeks and already has a loyal following.

The local Pender Island knitting ladies were there for their meeting.

I could not help but to eavesdrop and sneak a peek at what knitting projects they were sharing.

It is very similar to the knitting group that I attend at a local Victoria cafe.

We both had a cold beer...

mine was a light IPA and Mr. HB chose a dark stout.

I opted for the curry vegetarian bowl served on brown rice.

It was incredibly tasty but I could not eat it all!

After lunch we walked back through the woods to the cottage.

We did a lot of walking so we felt little guilt 

relaxing and reading our books on the sunny deck.

April has been a blur...

so many things have kept us busy.

The cottage makes us slow our pace and we really relax and sleep soundly.

We go to bed earlier and get up before 7 most days.

The fresh air, 

peace and quiet, 

long walks in nature

 put us into this zen zone.

It's a beautiful sunny morning here at the cottage.

Hope wherever you are, that your week is off to a great start!

Thank you for stopping by The Humble Bungalow Blog.

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

Life at the cottage ~ easing into 2019

After a busy festive season I felt the need to relax and cocoon.

Taking life a wee bit slower 

as we ease gently into the New Year.

We were fortunate to be able to go over to the cottage for a week of relaxation.

Its such a peaceful place...

there are many opportunities to "just live in the moment"

to  listen to the birdsong

watch the raindrops 

while listening to the howling winds

taking note of the tides

the ebb and flow of the waves 

as they lap upon the Salish Sea

savouring

a bouquet of fresh flowers 

preparing

nibbles for dinner 

sharing them with the neighbours from across the road

They joined us for the Juniors Hockey Gold Medal Game

USA vs. Finland

one of our neighbours is Finnish 

so it was much more exciting watching the game!

Finland won the gold!

Heritage barn

seen on our walk.

My BFF came over for a few days.

We played crib, chatted, walked, drank tea and enjoyed each others company.

My BFF has a Fit Bit so we knew how many steps we took...

7,000 on our walk and by the time time we had picked up a few groceries

then returned to the cottage

it read out 10,000 and fireworks exploded on her screen!

Self care is so important...

it can mean different things for each of us:

Walking

eating mindfully

dabbling in a creative hobby

learning something new

taking time to dress in clothes that make us feel good

indulging in a spa day

putting on a pretty and flattering shade of lipstick

savouring a piece of good quality chocolate

going out for lunch

saying yes to things we love and no to things that rob us of joy

we can choose those

opportunities that fill our days with meaningful "feel good" moments

listening to our heart and paying attention to what we need

reading a good book

Thirty More Chic Days by Fiona Ferris

an inspiring one that is starting my year off on a positive note.

Thank you to Fiona who sent this to me...

I am embracing many of her ideas from the book.

Wishing you a peaceful 

Happy New Year!

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

Pender Island Snippets...

We have been relaxing here at Quarter Deck Cottage and our days are moving very slow...
We have a simple routine, slow walking, swimming in the pools, beach combing reading and we try to eat healthy meals.

We spend a lot of our day and early evenings on the deck 

 the weather has been marvelous

even HOT!

I posted a picture of these pretty periwinkle blue flowers on my Instagram page

and a reader mentioned that they were called wild chicory.

They grow tall and line the roadsides here on Pender Island.

So delicate and I love the colour...

they remind me of the South of France 

where the doors and shutters are painted a similar shade of blue-y mauve.

Queen Anne's Lace grows wild

 it is frequently growing right next to the wild chicory.

Another plant that thrives here is Yarrow.

I love the mustard shade and the bees like it too.

This bush is found dotting the landscape...

I must find out its name...

if you know its name please leave me a comment.

I have been enjoying fresh fruit and yogurt for breakfast.

It is so quick to prepare and the juicy nectarines are full of flavour.

Dahlias and fresh strawberries from the Farmers Market

I read both of these books and I highly recommend The Lost Vintage...

if you enjoyed The Nightingale I think you will love Ann Mah's book.

The Three Things about Elsie is about the elderly...

  it delves into dementia but it is actually a fun read.

The characters are interesting 

plus a mystery is woven into the text with an unexpected outcome.

I really liked Joanna Cannon's first novel The Trouble With Goats and Sheep 

which I also recommend.

I have started reading Kristin Hannah's Home Front...

will share more on that when I have finished it.

We discovered a sandy beach at the bottom of a steep trail...

I found more sea glass here than on any other beach so far!

I love the aqua glass chunks as they are not as common as the brown and whites.

I am test driving a new nail polish...

this one claims to be chip free and I am tough on my nails as I garden so much and my hands are rarely idle.

I indulged in a wee bit of pampering yesterday afternoon.

A lovely pedicure by a delightful young woman who lives on the island and runs a small business.

 The shade that I chose is a vibrant pinky OPI polish called California Raspberry.

It's a breezy day here...

the laundry is whizzing around in the machine.

I've tidied up, watered the outdoor garden by hand and am about to put my nose back in my book.

Hope that you are enjoying some restorative lazy days of summer.

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~