Showing posts with label thanksgiving. Show all posts
Showing posts with label thanksgiving. Show all posts

Sunday, October 13, 2024

Thanksgiving...and catch up from The Humble Bungalow.

 


It has taken me a few weeks to get back to blogging...
Not sure why?

 I am here now and am sharing lots of pictures and snippets.
Make yourself a cuppa and join me.

As you can see...
the Hydrangeas are getting crispy!
Time to make a wreath for the front door.


I have a grapevine wreath that I keep for seasonal use.
I just popped a few hydrangeas into the vine and hung it on the door.
It is simple and I quite like the effect.
No fussing required!

I've been busy lately!
Am back at aqua fit classes now that the pool has re-opened.

My arthritis in my hip flared up last week...
I think it was all the tomatoes that I have been eating...
apparently they are high in uric acid and that is a trigger for arthritic pain.

I took a day off and rested.


Fortunately I had a great book to read and the cats kept me company!
I found this Pulitzer Prize winner a difficult book to read 
 I am so glad that I persevered...
it really is an exceptional book, so well written.


I picked some of the Money Plant from the garden
saved the seeds, them popped them into the mosaic vase.
My mom grew these plants and used to do the same thing.


They are paper thin and I like how they glow in the sunlight.


We are enjoying the sunny Fall Days...
I have swapped out my summer wardrobe for the Fall and Winter clothes.


I found this cozy grey sweater dress at the thrift shop.
It doesn't have much "hanger" appeal here, it is much better on!
It is going to be my "go to" dress to wear on a cold day.

I have black capri tights and will wear them under the dress for added warmth 
paired with my Black Chelsea Boots.


My friend Wendie is loaning me her Ruth Galloway series of mystery books.
I am on book number 4 and am loving the stories.

Like Louise Penny, she has many of the same characters, and they develop over time.
 So you should start at the first book and read them in order.

Elly Griffiths has another series that I am planning to read after I finish this series.

What are you reading? 
Do you like mystery novels?


Iphone photo capturing the intense light at sunset a couple of nights ago.
Many people posted similar pictures on their Instagram Pages.
It felt surreal seeing this bold light...


The roses are fading in The Humble Bungalow Garden.
Margaret Merrill is a new rose here in the garden.
I found her at the Demitasse Garden Centre in Oak Bay.
She looks healthy and her subtle fragrance is lovely.


I love comfort food in the Fall and Winter.
I searched on google for cottage pie recipes and found this one 
on the BBC Good Food site.

Was very delicious and made enough for a hungry family.


Lots of ferry and boat traffic at the cottage...


Feeling grateful...
for
Sunshine this Thanksgiving weekend.

Cooking a small turkey with stuffing and oodles of seasonal root veggies.
Gravy and cranberry sauce.
Pumpkin Pie and whipped cream.

Looking forward to turkey sandwiches on soft White Bread :-))

Perhaps I will make soup?


Pasta dinner

I sauteed leftover diced Ham, fresh asparagus, and mushrooms.
Then added a jar of Alfredo sauce.
Served on top of spaghetti with grated parmigana reggiano cheese.


My (new to me) textured charcoal grey tunic top is getting lots of wear.

I am really enjoying the cooler Fall weather and am keeping busy.
What are you up to these days?


Jude The Obscure


Late into the rose season the petals fall when picked...
the fragrance is rich and heady.
The  $2 vintage silver jug looks so much better now that I have polished it!


Seriously colourful sky...
great views over The Salish Sea.


A wee treasure found at the recycle store...
for our darling daughter who collects these Nagel stackable mid century candle holders.

Well I must close for now and get started on the Thanksgiving Feast!
Thank you for your kind messages on the passing of my SIL.

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~


Tuesday, October 10, 2023

Thanksgiving Weekend at Quarterdeck Cottage

 


We welcomed friends to the cottage for a Thanksgiving Dinner.
The sun shone and the winds abated for their arrival.

The menu was Italian themed and Julie and I cooked in the kitchen while the guys hung out on the deck watching the boats.

I was Julie's sous chef :-))
It is a great day being in the kitchen when Julie cooks 
I Watch and Learn.


Caesar Salad to start...
Julie mixes her dressing (which includes anchovies) directly in the bowl.
Then we added the romaine, croutons and cheese.
Julie also adds bacon which gives it a real zesty flavour!


We made Stanley Tucci's Favourite pasta dish.
On an episode of his series Eating Italy they featured the recipe.
Julie got her recipe from Chef John Pierre who has a You Tube Channel.

The basis of the sauce is deep fried zucchini slices...
it tastes delicious, nutty and thick and you'd never guess it was zucchini!
WOW

I made an apple crisp using our Liberty apples
served it with French Vanilla ice Cream.


The wine we served was Italian from the Tuscany region...
(I had to get Mr. HB to go out to the recycling bin and snap a photo)


We went to the Pender Island Museum...
saw this buck sitting in the sunshine.
Tried to walk at Roseland but the tide was in and so we couldn't get across
the inlet to wander along the scenic trails.

For breakfast the next morning I served a fruit salad and a smoked salmon frittata.
The frittata was simple to make...

Frittata

Sliced small red onion
diced red pepper
sliced 4 large mushrooms
6 ounces smoked salmon cut into small pieces
grated cheeses about 1 1/2 cups
a dozen eggs whisked til frothy
salt pepper and some chopped mint leaves

Bake in a deep dish at 350 for about 40 minutes until eggs are cooked and no longer runny.


Lunch was a charcuterie board...
we call it a "picky plate"

We walked at Hamilton Beach in the rain...
our friends left later in the afternoon before dinner.

I made scallops for dinner...
Chef Jean Pierre's scallop recipe is on his You Tube Channel and online at his website.




Delicious!


Will be reading these books over the next few days...
Am really enjoying The Last Devil to Die!
I love the Thursday Murder Club.


We are fortunate to have a great little boutique on the island.
I always pop in and peruse the stock...
you never know what you'll find!


C'est Moi


White Linen shirt

I found another one in a sleek percale cotton but I couldn't justify buying two...
I love a crisp white shirt to wear with black pants or jeans and my pearls.

Well I suppose that I better get some lunch ready for my husband...
he's out walking in the rain and will be cold and hungry when he returns.

In case you are interested lunch will be bacon and home grown tomato sandwiches on homemade sourdough bread!

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

Monday, October 8, 2018

Thanksgiving at Quarter Deck Cottage

We've been cozy here at Quarter Deck Cottage this past weekend.
The weather has been mixed with some sunshine, rain and fog...



Cheers...
we sat on the deck one afternoon in the sunshine 
admiring the views and sipped a Corona.


Excuse the grainy picture 
 I wanted to share the sighting of the two whales as they swam past the deck.


Fresh from the Flower Shop


We pick flowers up from the florist as soon as we get settled in at the cottage.
Then we go grocery shopping.


A simple Thanksgiving meal.

Turkey, mashed potatoes and parsnips, with peas and gravy 
topped with a generous dollop of homemade cranberry sauce.
Dessert was a small store bought pie with ice cream.

I made turkey soup...
when I posted this on Instagram one of the readers asked for the recipe.

Quarter Deck Cottage Turkey Soup

In a large pot
Saute 1 large diced onion in a wee bit of oil until soft.
pour in chicken stock
( I used 1 can and 2 cans full of water)
Add a large cubed carrot about 1 1/2 cups
Then add chopped up the turkey meat approximately 1 1/2 cups
3/4 cup of frozen peas
1 cup short skinny noodles
(I used the No Yokes noodles)
a generous amount of fresh ground pepper
( do not add salt as there is plenty in the chicken stock already)
Parsley is optional
Boil and then reduce heat and simmer until carrots are cooked.


Hope you enjoy it!


The cottage smelled so wonderful as the soup simmered...

we had a bowl and then went for a walk in the rain.




A peaceful walk along the beach...
in moody light
a few pieces of sea glass were gathered.


Time now to finish French Exit by Patrick deWitt.

His book "Sisters, Brothers" has just been made into a film and has been released.
I read the book sometime in the last two years and found it rather shocking!
Filled with violence with a rough rawness that kept me on the edge of my chair!

I have no doubt that the film will be powerful.


French Exit has interesting and quirky characters
with a plausible storyline...
I enjoy Patrick's wry edgy writing.

(The book has been short listed for the Scotia Bank Giller Award.)

Happy Thanksgiving!

Thank you for stopping by The Humble Bungalow Blog.

 ~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

Thursday, October 4, 2018

Humble Bungalow ~ October Views


The Humble Bungalow Garden is starting to fade...

the hydrangea blooms are drying up


Jude The Obscure Rose

October has arrived with a new flush of roses...
petals fall littering the ground like confetti.


The Hostas are wilting
their leaves turning gold


The temperatures are chilly 
not conducive to sitting on the front porch.


Lovely Limelight Hydrangeas


I cannot remember the name of this climbing rose...
anyone know? 


Another peek at Jude The Obscure...
I never tire of this rose
the heady fragrance and full cups of frothy petals.

Reading has taken a front seat of late...


I absolutely LOVED this book...
the subject matter is rather serious but my goodness its a good read.
I could not put it down.


The wind is blowing the leaves around the garden today.
It will be time to get the rake out soon...

"Autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower."
~ Albert Camus ~





I went to the garden centre and bought some pretty red cyclamens for the planter
and 
while I was there I purchased a green pumpkin or squash!



I have started a new book...


We will be celebrating Thanksgiving this weekend...

Taking time to ponder the joys in life
feeling immense gratitude
and
 giving thanks 
for the abundance of life
our family
with thoughts of those who have passed on
and 
last but not least
our wonderful friends.

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~