Cottage Holiday ~ A few Snippets and Tidbits...

Cottage Time is so relaxing.

We find that we cocoon and relax and by the time we leave we are completely rejuvenated.

I suppose that is what holidays are all about.

We see the most beautiful boats sail by Quarterdeck Cottage.

This sailboat moors in the bay.

We watch the boat as the owner manoeuvers it out to sea and hoists the sails.

On this day there was a full crew aboard...

they were out for several hours enjoying the breezes.

We watch as the ferries pass by the cottage.

We play a game...

Ferry Yahtzee.

If there are 5 ferries all in view we call out Yathzee!

Our two weeks at the cottage seemed to fly by...

Our son and grandchildren were at the cottage for the first week.

Lots of fun activities and games.

The pool is still very much a favourite with all of us.

Meals were kept simple

desserts were served

we nibbled on snacks ~ chips and popcorn

ice cream cones were almost a daily thing!

Once they all departed it was almost TOO quiet...

My husband walked his 6 km island route in the mornings.

I puttered in the kitchen, planned our meals and shopped at the market.

Read my books, knitted on the Miriam Sweater, perused some magazines.

My walks are focused on the beaches nearby

I went to the end of the road and wandered down to the beach...

the tide was way way out!

Two fellows were fishing off the rocks but I had the beach to myself.

I took a leisurely saunter back and forth looking for sea glass.

Not much was found but I had a pleasant time walking.

The current jar is almost full...

I have quite a few jars full here in The Humble Bungalow.

Found an antique Lenox dish at the thrift shop.

The details are so pretty ands the porcelain is so luminescent.

Smooth and delicate, too dainty to leave at the cottage.

Blue label indicates that the dish is pre 1930.

We invited friends over to spend the day.

I don't think that they had ever been to Pender before. 

They arrived early on a direct ferry around 9:30

so I made The Barefoot Contessa's Apple Tart to serve with our morning coffee.

If you don't catch a direct ferry you will be on board for several hours while the ferry visits many of the Gulf Islands!

For lunch I made what we call a "Picky Plate" 

in case you are curious 

a picky plate is an assortment of foods mostly finger foods.

Cheeses, olives, breadsticks, crackers, salami, hummus, pickles, spreads...

Dinner was a strawberry spinach salad and lasagne.

Dessert was a blackberry pie with ice cream.

(my husband picked the berries)

We had a lovely day.

Drove around a wee bit, went to Hope Bay, Browning, The Driftwood Centre

 then we stopped in at Renaissance Antiques to look at the art.

Our friends Keith and Michelle,

 purchased an antique table with a marble top!

There were large full moons at night.

I love the way they sparkled on the sea...

I read that they were referring to these moons as Full Sturgeon Moons.

Can you see the moon at the top left?

This book is so good that I read late into the evening...

I highly recommend Friendship Point by Alice Elliot Dark.

I need to stay hydrated...

drinking low calorie or no calorie beverages is my goal.

Bubly water comes in many flavours and it is thirst quenching.

NO CALORIES!

I've been buying it by the case.

Found a lovely trench coat at the island Thrift Shop.

Banana Republic

I am excited to have found this classic coat 

which BTW I have been looking to add to my wardrobe for several years.

It is in perfect condition and was at a giveaway price!!

I am wearing Black!

I know it is odd to wear black in the heat of summer 

but this Cut Loose cotton dress is cool and airy.

I feel a bit like an Italian Nonna...

black capri tights, sandals and the dress.

Popped the hat atop and away I go...

met a friend for coffee at the cafe.

California Poppies are glowing up on the Ridge.

They capture the sun and reflect their beauty.

Simple Joys 

are found in everyday life.

I seek out these marvelous surprises that are just waiting to be discovered...

When I first started collecting Sea Glass I found mostly white.

I put the pieces in a vintage sealer jar and that my friends was the beginning of 

this very addictive habit that continues to this day :-))

I love a blue sky with puffy white clouds...

This is the biggest piece of amethyst glass that I have in my collection.

My husband found it for me on Pender Island.

Amethyst, cobalt blue, deep shades of green and aqua are the most difficult to find.

We are back home now and settled into our Humble Bungalow routines.

I've been busy getting in some groceries and my husband has been tidying up the garden.

Hope that your summer is ticking along nicely.

Abraham Darby

Thank you for stopping by The Humble Bungalow Blog.

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

LOTS of new things here in The Humble Bungalow...

Meet the gorgeous bold yellow fragrant climber Graham Thomas.

A stalwart David Austin Rose.

This repeat bloomer grows in the "work area" of The Humble Bungalow Garden.

Every garden needs a work area...

it is a space dedicated to storage of things we use.

Bamboo stakes, empty pots, the wheelbarrow, extra soil, tools and such.

We have it cordoned off by a half lattice fence with a smallish entryway.

It is rather like a linen closet...that holds extra sheets, towels and TP.

So necessary, but not really an inviting space

well except 

that this rose beckons me in...

I regularly deadhead it to encourage more blooms 

pick a few blooms to bring inside

who could resist?

Things are moving along fast here in The Humble Bungalow.

We had an unexpected "oopsie" with the oven...

it died completely last Wednesday.

No warning...

I did some research and the life expectancy of the former stove was 13-15 years.

Ours was 15 years and 1 month...

So we scrambled off to the shop.

A locally owned one 

where we purchased a freezer during Covid.

We were pleased with their staff, service and delivery options.

Thursday morning bright and early we stepped into the showroom

5 minutes later I was paying for the stove.

With a next day delivery and they hauled away the old one.

How fabulous is that?

~ LG STOVE ~

I LOVE the blue interior.

Ceramic stovetop with expandable elements.

Convection and regular baking settings.

It has a built in air fryer, and a proofing setting for bread.

So let the baking begin...

the first order of business will be The Victoria Sponge Cake

followed by the weekly sourdough boule.

I have been trying to get out for some short walks in this glorious weather.

Need to build up some strength...

lots of idle time spent inside resting up and trying to get better.

Stopped for a cuppa at The Willows Tea Room.

Mom and I used to come here when we walked the Esplanade.

Thought of her while I gazed out to the sea.

Good news is that I am not in such terrible pain,

feeling better and sleeping soundly.

I finished the antibiotics and go for some more tests this week.

Another diagnostic CT scan, this time with dye.

Fingers crossed the specialists can figure out what is going on and how to fix it.

Sweet peas are putting on a lovely show in the garden...

picking them insures that more flowers will follow.

If you don't pick the flowers the seed pods set and no more flowers.

The new mug is a thrift shop find...

I had 30 minutes before my dentist appointment and I was close to the Sally Ann.

So I went in and made the rounds...

I got lucky!

A cute Banana Republic top that I plan to wear with my white jeans.

(and Pearls)

Silver trivet for the teapot

all it needed was a quick polish.

Some days all the stars align and the thrift GODS smile down from above...

feeling grateful.

I've been reading a LOT!

I just finished Bloomsbury Girls this morning...

I really enjoyed it.

The first book was The Jane Austen Society.

I can recommend both these novels by Natalie Jenner.

I will start The Lipstick Bureau later this afternoon...

I have read and enjoyed all of Michelle Gable's books so I am pretty confident that this one will not disappoint.

Been on a spending Spree...

Bought this vase at a yard sale...

not sure that it has any age to speak of but it spoke to me!

I also upgraded our toaster as the old one was not working very well.

Bought a Zwilling long slice toaster in matte black.

It will accommodate the longer sourdough slices.

Also I bought a new All Clad pot and ordered a new All Clad Pasta pot.

Put all the old pots on the boulevard and they went to new homes lickety split!!!

With the stove on the fritz

Hubby took me out to lunch last week...

we went to Faro in The Oak Bay Beach Hotel for pizza.

The oven fired Italian thin crust pizza was delicious.

We ordered an arugula pear salad to go with it and couldn't eat it all!

On our way back to the car we stopped by the Hen House...

I had to stop and say hello to the darling girls.

There were quite a few in the yard and they are very friendly.

I love free range eggs...those amber coloured yolks have so much flavour.

We had to order in a few meals with no cooking facilities available

but that was fun because we seldom order in, it is so easy to make a meal.

Now that I have a new oven there will be no excuse not to cook!!

Since my UTI and kidney infection I have been mindful of drinking more fluids.

A LOT of water with MANY MANY cups of tea have passed through my system.

If you follow me on Instagram you may have seen this post in my stories.

Fortnum and Mason Tea 

a gift from Christine who asked her son to pop into the shop in London and buy some tea for her friends...

fortunately I was one of the lucky friends who were given a tin of tea.

This blend is so amazing! I may need to order some more...

or else I could pop over to London and shop in person?

(HAHA)

That's about all the news I have to share for now.

Will pop in again soon for an update.

Take Care.

XO

In the meantime...

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

I am calling in sick....

 

Love these simple white blooms with the yellow stamens.

A garden filled with all white flowers is stunning and elegant.

Do you have a colour theme in your garden?

Ours is a riot of colour.

My foray into black and white photography continues...

The Royal Oak Pharmasave is an amazing place to shop

they have some great buyers and a wide variety of gift items, clothing and travel accessories.

While perusing the aisles I spied this new cuticle lotion.

I tried the sample tube and walked around the store buying the items on my list.

When I was finished I went back to the display and grabbed a tube.

Made in Vancouver BC

Emollient, rich and it absorbs right into the skin.

using only a pea size amount I think this will be a hand and cuticle 

"game changer."

Am suffering with a nasty kidney infection that stems from those UTI's.

I ended up going to the ER as the pain in my back was so intense I could not sleep a wink.

The doctor decided that I should have a CT scan 

which showed the kidney infection

there is also a kidney stone floating inside the kidney.

First off I had never had a CT scan 

so when the nurse wheeled me off to the imaging unit

I was actually gobsmacked!

It was a huge white space age looking Seimens machine.

I am on some new antibiotics and hope that they kick the bacterial infection.

I'll be back to more tests after I finish the 10 days of pills.

The ER was a CRAZY BUSY place...

the staff was amazing.

The doctor and nurse who were helping me were so professional and calm.

The nurse Sarah was young, very sweet and had a bubbly personality.

The Dr had excellent bedside manner and was very attentive.

It felt to me that they were working under extremely challenging chaotic and stressful circumstances...

yet they both remained calm and treated me like I was the only patient in their care.

I have dropped off a small gift bag for each of them.

Tea, chocolate, and some triple milled French soaps with a card of thanks for each.

I still have a fever, am tired and so I am not doing too much as I recuperate.

Tea and reading every afternoon and perhaps a nap.

Alliums in an antique jug.

I am reading this series at top speed!

When I woke up early this morning I made a pot of coffee and got stuck in...

there are a few chapters left to read but will save them for tomorrow.

Isn't it fun when you find a series that you love to read and the author is still adding more books to the series?

Everyone seems to rave about this Thursday Murder Club Series.

My husband laughs out loud when he read the books!

~ Pink snow ~

Constance Spry 

a fragrant David Austin climbing rose in the Humble Bungalow Garden.

We can see people stop as they walk by and look up...

many remark about the fragrance and other swoon over the blooms.

All the roses are doing their best to knock our socks off right now.

I am barefoot and in awe of their extreme beauty.

Roses ARE my FAVOURITE FLOWER :-))

Perhaps you love them too?

I'm going to keep this post short and sweet.

Make a cup of peppermint tea...

wash and moisturize my face 

put my nightie on and lay down

wrap myself in a cozy blanket 

and watch some TV.

Hope that you are all well...

 MY personal PSA 

(heads up)

intense pain is a signal to take action

when it comes to your urinary system don't wait

ACT!

I think I waited too long and things went sideways.

I'll be slowly on the mend 

which sounds like it could be for many weeks.

Take Care

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~ 

Hostess OOTD ~ "Edgy Biker Style"

 

Butchart Gardens was one of the highlights that I enjoyed last week.

Walking slowly taking note of the gorgeous flowers on a sunny day was such a tonic.

We munched on a healthy salad sitting in the shade in the main courtyard.

Watching people come and go and listening to their delighted comments.

Butchart Gardens is a JOY to behold.

Moving on to an edgier OOTD...

~ Dressing Room Selfie ~

I went shopping for a new denim dress.

I love the denim jumper that I bought so much, I decided a dress would be handy.

It was a petite and on sale so what's not to love?

~ OOTD ~ 

The faux leather biker "Moto" style jacket is getting lots of wear.

I paired it with a simple white tee ~ Lands' End

Jeans  ~ MNG 

Chelsea boots ~ Josef Seibel

Faux Leather

Moto Style 

oodles of "edgy biker" details

great fit and very comfy to wear.

~ Reitman's ~  

a Canadian brand that hearkens back many decades.

I have just rediscovered the store...

reasonable prices

a wide range of sizes

(petites ~ plus size)

cute styles

My test results are in and I have been diagnosed with osteoarthritis.

My hands, back and hips are affected.

 I won't be moaning about my health, I am taking the news in my stride.

After all, I am 68, so some aches and pains are to be expected.

An appointment is booked to see a physiotherapist who specializes in osteoarthritis.

She will give me advice on exercises and administer IMS treatments.

I've been reading up on the condition and will be going to the pool for aquafit

there will be shorter walks, 

perhaps twice a day instead of one longer walk.

My Doctor has ordered a new bone density test as I have osteopenia.

He's asked me to take a higher dose of Vitamin D

and

take anti inflammatory pain medication as needed.

I've baked the sourdough, have a load of laundry in the wash.

This weekend The King was crowned...

Did you watch the ceremony?

The highlights I saw looked incredible.

It's the dawn of a new era for the Royals.

I do miss Her Majesty the Queen.

So what are your plans for the coming week?

Anything exciting?

Things might be kind of quiet here after such a busy week...

Will try out the pool and see what the Aquafit classes are like.

My responses to your comments are at the end of the comment section...

I am unable to respond to each comment automatically through Blogger

so if you comment as anonymous 

please put your name somewhere so I can respond at the end.

Thank you for stopping by The Humble Bungalow Blog.

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

Hoping for a Sun day...while waiting, I shop.

Greetings...

our weather has been really rather beastly.

This weather is for the birds!!!

Rain with high winds and all manner of things blowing away.

We are hanging onto our hats in hope

as we read the forecast for the start to the week 

which is promising (teasing) us warmer temperatures and some sunshine.

If you are reading this post you know that I have decided to continue to blog

using the free Blogger platform.

My research revealed that it would cost me about $2,000 to transfer all my posts

and migrate to a new host. The host would then be charging me an annual fee for the posts and GB that I would be using to keep my blog live.

I am retired and this is a hobby so that was not going to be reasonable.

Thank you again for following.

It is great to read all your comments, I really appreciate them.

I have been forced indoors during the inclement weather

so I have had a few shopping trips to 

 the local shops and malls.

I found a comfy and fun pair of Converse sneakers.

I chose the blue ones but they were also available in red 

which was SO tempting...I really didn't NEED two pairs.

I think they will look great with all my denim pieces and my white jeans.

I have a faded blue linen skirt that I purchased last year which might be fun to

wear white ankle socks and these together.

Oh and I also found a new backpack...

to replace the thrifted one that I repaired .

Hands free for hiking, walking, shopping and beach combing.

Soft leather, attractive details and wonderfully made.

Big enough to pop in a book and my usual wallet, keys, sunglasses and lipstick.

It looks smart too...

I am pleasantly surprised by the quality for the price.

I've been having an espresso on these cold windy afternoons.

I made coffee this way when I was in Roccatederighi, Italy

The Lavazza brand Crema coffee is smooth and needs no cream.

The new to me espresso /demitasse cups are vintage by Susie Cooper.

Made in England.

I found them at Kay's Korner in the Cook Street Village.

I love Karin's shop...

I regularly walk in our Fairfield neighbourhood and will pop in on my route.

If you haven't been to Kay's Korner yet...you have a treat in store.

 Spook Street is a book in the popular British spy series by Mick Herron...

my husband has read the entire series and purchased all the books so I am reading them now.

Interestingly, he has picked up the Louise Penny series which I love and is reading the first one now!

I have a few more things to share with you but will leave those for the next post.

For those of you who were enquiring about my back...

I had some X Rays of my back and hands, 

both have been very surprisingly stiff, uncomfortable and very painful.

 The doctor also ordered blood work.

I haven't seen my doctor since before Covid.

He is very busy and it takes a long time to get an appointment to see him.

He's thinking it may be arthritis 

 I won't know more until my follow up appointment in early May.

In the meantime I am taking Tylenol at night which is helping me sleep a bit better.

We'll see...

Hope that your week has some sunshine and fun packed into it.

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~