Home in The Humble Bungalow ~ Who Knew I was SO ready to POST?

 ~ Last Week of Summer at The Cottage ~ 

The weather was warm and sunny

with a whisper of wind...

The pool was open and there were only a few cottagers on site.

This particular afternoon we had the entire pool to ourselves.

It was so relaxing floating with my pool noodle and moving my legs.

I find the movement in the warm water very helpful for my arthritis.

I've started taking Canadian made TruMarine Collagen...

apparently skin, hair and joint pain will benefit from Collagen.

It's been a few weeks and I am pleased to report that my hair has stopped falling out!

Seriously that was FAST!!!

My skin is clear...

Joint pain in my hips may take up to 5 months to be reduced.

(according to the research)

IF it helps it will be a real bonus.

I am also changing up my diet...

working hard on eating a diet of anti-inflammatory foods.

Cauliflower is a powerful veggie and is reported to reduce inflammation....

Recipe is from Barefoot Contessa's Modern Comfort Food.

Roasted cauliflower with anchovies, capers, lemon juice, rind 

topped with a bit of grated parmesan cheese.

Stuffed Pork Tenderloin

Roasted Cauliflower 

SO GOOD!

I found some "good things"

(isn't that what Martha Stewart used to say?)

at the Thrift Shops last week...

Two Vintage German porcelain Egg Cups.

Found a day apart in two different thrifts!!

Our Quarter Share Cottage, 

(why I named it Quarterdeck Cottage.)

At Otter Bay.

The ferry dock is very close...

we watch the ferries come and go.

We wondered if the ferry traffic would be an issue when we purchased the share.

Surprisingly it has turned out to be a form of entertainment.

When we see 5 ferries out on The Salish Sea we all shout FERRY YACHTZEE.

 ~ OOTD ~ 

Akoya Pearls and a white TEE

worn here with my new French Dressing Jeans

& 

Thrifted Ralph Lauren Striped Oversize Tee.

Thrifted Vintage Paste Crystal choker...

I hummed and hawed...

Should I buy it?

Would I wear it?

I did buy it...

Still not sure...

I know 2 darling granddaughters who might have fun wearing it :-))

No Regrets...

Time will Tell.

I captured some lovely sunset images...

with the mild weather we sat outside after dinner.

We don't watch much TV or stream shows when we are at the cottage...

daytime we walk, read, swim, play crib ( I lose) 

and I knit.

We savour the views and keep an eye out for sealife...

otters, seals, whales,

So much birdsong with many new songs that the Merlin App help to identify.

Home here back in The Humble Bungalow.

All is quiet...

Mr. HB is out in the garden weeding and planting bulbs.

I've been reactivating my sourdough starter, a batch of dough is on the counter.

Laundry is done...

So moving forward...some dietary changes are afoot.

Hopefully some weight loss might occur.

I meet with the surgeon this week,

 will find out if I am a candidate for a hip replacement.

I do wonder why my hip is worn out...

did I walk too much?

Have I been negligent of not getting enough calcium?

I have Osteoporosis and Osteoarthritis.

I had a Hysterectomy in my early 40's so perhaps the lack of estrogen is to blame?

Whatever the case, I plan to fight.

If you've got any sage advice about inflammation and diet...

or arthritis 

or hip replacements...

I am all ears.

Don't be shy...

Share your thoughts.

Women need to stick together and share their wisdom.

These fluffy clouds felt like waving handkerchiefs at sunset..

were they waving hello or goodbye?

I appreciate you 

stopping by The Humble Bungalow Blog :-))

In this vast world which is undergoing uncertainty,

we need to focus on making a positive difference in our daily round.

If you are able...

Do something nice for your family, friends, neighbours.

It need not be a BIG thing...

simple gestures can be such a welcome gesture.

OK that's all from me...for now, until next time.

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

Mid March Musings...

 

Thank you all for the Birthday wishes...

The goal I have set for myself is welcoming with gratitude

wholeheartedly

embracing the 70's with a focus on exploring new and different experiences.

Life is full of surprises, simple JOYS

 but there is always a hint of the unknown...

Things that can derail or challenge us...

we are living in a very surreal time.

Having said that, 

there are many lovely pops of beauty in the day

one needs to be mindful and stop to look.

Yoga is teaching me many good habits...

take time to stop 

notice

slow down 

be mindful

aware

and

breathe

The house smells so good on bread baking days...

Look at that eyebrow...

I use the sourdough recipe on the Alexandra Cooks website.

I love the routine of making this bread.

A wonderful meditative habit that offers rewards.

Do you make sourdough bread?

I attended a workshop on Ikebana when we were on Pender at the cottage.

It is such an interesting discipline...

there is so much beauty in these spartan carefully arranged designs.

These Kenzan frogs are necessary to hold the twigs, branches and flowers in place.

I bought mine from Susanne Osmond's shop "Gardener's Kit" here in Victoria.

My first attempt at Ikebana...

lots of room for improvement but the process is fun!

Learning something new and fresh, feels very energizing...

have you taken a course or started a new hobby?

We have oodles of tete a tetes blooming in The Humble Bungalow Garden.

Just love these bright wee blooms...they are hard to resist.

My husband planted a few dozen in the boulevard 

where we have a wildflower "meadow" growing.

Some came inside...

popped them in the thrifted vintage elephant vase.

Bold yellow pops of colour...

It's almost like the elephant has something to trumpet about :-))

My late SIL collected elephants...

She told me to always buy an elephant with its' trunk in the upward position...

apparently it means good luck!

Chester seeks out the sunshine...

he loves to sit and snooze in the warmth of the sun.

(I can relate)

When I was making the bed I put the coverlet on the dining room table 

he jumped up and got cozy.

Both cats sleep on our bed during the day.

We had a casual dinner here on Sunday and I served some tortilla chips and hummus with our cocktails.

This delicious hummus is sold at The Root Cellar in the Cook Street Village...

dill pickle flavour and YUM it's darn good.

Beans are handy to have on hand...they are so versatile and high in fibre.

Good in soups, homemade hummus and chili and a star in healthy "bowls."

I might try making my own dill pickle hummus...

The sunshine has been so welcome...

the downside is that it shows how dirty the windows are after the storms of winter.

It also draws my attention to the dust bunnies and floors that need washing!

There is never a shortage of jobs to do here in this old house!!

Once these jobs are done, standing back and admiring the results always feels good.

Taking a break with a cup of green tea between these tasks makes it less onerous.

Lately I've been drinking a lot of green tea...

I read about the health benefits and thought I needed to get on that bandwagon.

Spring Cleaning is happening...

soon it will be time to swap out the winter clothes for the summer ones...

am looking forward to wearing linen and cotton.

Putting on a straw sunhat and sunglasses...

perhaps I am rushing things and should be living in the moment :-))

How are you keeping?

What is new?

Am feeling hungry so will close and make a salad and some avocado toast for lunch.

Until next time...

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

Hostess Hasty Notes...

 

Bateaux Mouches Scarf knit in a grey yarn by Drops.

Alpaca and Silk

It is super soft with a nice drape...

very cozy and warm for these colder days.

Mornings this week have been very icy...

A delightful week of Yoga

Yoga for Osteoporosis

Yoga for Balance

Yoga For Hips

Scraping the ice off the car before heading off to Yoga Class. 

I am focused on the new classes 

which are improving my hip alignment and strengthening the muscles that support the hip.

Training me to be in balance 

with a goal of stability and the ability to avoid future falls.

All of this is taking up time and energy and are an investment in my health.

My flexibility is not what it was prior to COVID.

My goal is to

get back as much flexibility as possible.

My instructor says it takes time.

Do you practice Yoga?

\

Marshalls dressing room selfie...

I LOVE denim!

 So when I spied this soft cozy fleecy knit denim blue shirt...

I pounced and have been wearing it on rotation these past few weeks.

I am loving this new Sonsie skincare.

The redness from my rosacea has completely calmed down.

If you want to try it please use the 15% discount code...

https://www.sonsieskin.com/LESLIE65651

If you have any questions please do not hesitate to shoot me an email.

Joanne from Steveston came to Victoria for a few days.

We got together for an afternoon of fun.

Shopped thrift and consignment shops 

visited the Vic West Market on Catherine Street

before we had lunch at The Snug in The Oak Bay Beach Hotel.

The Market has a very European Vibe...

lots of interesting food items and the displays are works of art!

Am knitting another Bateaux Mouches Scarf/Shawl

Using Bamboo Yarn in white for Summer.

Feels lovely in the hand...soft and light.

Soup for lunch at Pure Vanilla...

red lentil with a spicy tang.

New LG Washer and Dryer Set

Our former set were 

15 years old and the washer ground to a halt on Saturday.

I had to rinse the entire load in the bathtub 

before wringing the clothes by hand to dry!

Our laundry room is bright and cheerful...

I can look out onto the Humble Bungalow Garden while working downstairs.

There are some rustic touches in the minimalist decor.

Simple

but so important!

There are Joys in clean clothes and freshly ironed cottons.

I spend a LOT of time doing laundry!

Another sourdough Boule has baked...

"Alexandra Cooks" basic sourdough recipe is my favourite.

After making bread for several years now I can do it with my eyes closed :-))

The flavour is amazing and the bread is easy to make.

Do you bake your own bread?

White Orchid

Do you shop local?

Think we need to help these shops stay open and keep their business thriving.

So many small businesses are struggling to survive and many are already shut down.

Buying Power is in our hands

(and wallets)

we have choices

 through our decisions of 

who we buy from...

where we spend our money

If we

consciously

 support companies run and owned by women.

We are empowering them to continue...

Just like the

Cordova Candle Company who are local and make lovely scented soy candles.

I light mine every morning while I sip my coffee and read my socials.

What are your favourite local shops?

Are you a repeat customer?

Do you know the women behind the business?

Speaking of Socials...

several friends have quit Facebook

others are taking a 3 week break from all online platforms.

Are you considering leaving any of your social memberships?

We have the power to make changes...

it is up to each of us to decide what is right.

What is new with you?

Are you worried about the state of the world?

Have you, like me, had to limit your exposure to the news?

I do not go down rabbit holes...

I act locally...making changes where I can see the results of those efforts.

I bake, I knit, I drink tea, I read, I walk, I go to Yoga, I live an honest and simple life.

~ STAY SAFE ~

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

Thank you for popping by The Humble Bungalow Blog

Hostess

XO

Hello June !

 

Welcome June...

We spent the past week at the cottage.

Beautiful scenery...a surprising mix of weather...Sun, Rain and HAIL !

Our favourite sailboat went out for a brisk sail...

quite a few sailboats took advantage of the gusty winds.

There was a sailpast ceremony for a recently passed member of the Pipe Band.

A bag piper was on the point and all sailors dipped their flags as they passed...

I love the sound of bagpipes.

We went to the Legion for the Saturday night meat draw...

met some nice people and won some snapper!

(not meat but FISH! and a $100 gift card at the local grocery store)

We sat on the deck when the weather was nice...

watched the ferries as they cruised past the cottage.

Observed the cloud formations...

Swam in the refurbished pool. 

It is now a "salt water" pool but it isn't "sea water."

Much more eco friendly and we felt much more boyant!

I am embracing the colours of blue and white at the cottage.

Vintage blue and white ironstone and yellow flowers are a great pairing.

I found this crinkle shirt at the thrift shop...

$3.00

I seriously cannot believe the prices!

I found 2 pound weights!!

$2.00

So excited as my recent diagnosis with osteoporosis recommends weight training...

Found a seated chair routine with Lauren ~ Senior Fitness on YouTube.

The session is 10 minutes so I do it twice.

Hopefully I will have more toned arms for summer sleeveless tops and dresses.

But most important I will be building BONE.

Greek style yogurt...high protein and rich in calcium no added sugar.

Read Mireille's book French Women Don't Get Fat again...

I have gained weight since I broke my ankle.

Inactivity is the culprit and maybe some naughty mood lifting eating :-))

There was a French Theme in my book choices this week...

Read this book written by David Lebovitz...

I have read several of his books.

He documents his Paris apartment purchase and the extensive renovations...

definitely not an easy thing for an Anglophile!

Found this one in a wee library kiosk...

read one of Janine Marsh's books before and enjoyed it...

am not quite finished but her stories of village life are very vivid and funny!

One of our feasts...

Marinated Pork tenderloin on the BBQ

roasted zucchini, peppers and carrots

half a baked potato with sour cream and bacon bits.

Marinate a pork tenderloin in a glass bowl

~ Marinade ~

1/4 cup olive oil

1/4 cup soya sauce (I use Braggs)

1 clove chopped garlic

3 tbsp. honey Dijon mustard

salt and pepper

Marinate for at least 2 hours.

Heat grill on BBQ

cook until no longer pink

slice on the diagonal

Enjoy!

When we got home...

We were surprised to see my husband's latest project in full bloom!

He dug up all the grass on the boulevard...

planted a lawn alternative and VOILA!

The pollinators LOVE IT!!

OUR 

Climbing Royal Sunset Rose is in bloom.

This rose is so fragrant and repeat blooms all through the summer.

I love the orange shade...

We had a really rainy day today...

we stayed pretty close to home as our elder cat Pepper is unwell.

She has been diagnosed with idiopathic cystitis.

She is on pain medication and staying pretty quiet.

Her appetite is great so that is very encouraging.

Poor Girl...

Quite stressful for us adults...

if you are a pet owner you will know this feeling.

Baked my sourdough boule today...

such a rewarding and healthy habit.

Easy too...it sounds daunting 

once you have made one boule you will be a PRO!

Do you bake sourdough?

Do you know that it is lower in gluten, 

is easier to digest and has amazing probiotics?

Well that about wraps up our news...

Thank you for popping by The Humble Bungalow Blog

I will close for now...

we are going to watch some Acorn TV Mystery shows.

Stress can make us want to seek solace and escape...

English Murder Mysteries are just what we need tonight!!!

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~