Loving Linen ~ OOTD ~ a new skirt

 

Naif

linen skirt

made in Canada

a whisper weight that will be very swishy

worn with a variety of tops and shoes

thinking of a white top with casual flip flops for a walk on the beach

OOTD

kicked it up a notch with my pearls

an Eileen Fisher tank top with Nanette Lapore cropped sweater

blue leather Rieker flats

smocked elastic waist with drawstring ties

So comfy and great for warm summer weather...

just waiting for it to warm up a few degrees!

Read this page turner in 2 days

Am already into this new book!

Such great writing and another riveting story set in Paris.

Hope that you are enjoying your weekend.

A gentle mist has just rolled in here bringing light rain...

an opportunity to stay indoors and read.

One of life's little luxuries.

What are you reading ?

Thank you for popping by The Humble Bungalow Blog.

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

Beautiful Blooms ~ The Humble Bungalow ~ Butchart Gardens and a Seafood Chowder

These lovely blooms are Lewisia Cotyledon

we grow them in pots and pop them in the perennial border

where there may be a gap in the plantings.

They are available in a variety of colours and are very sturdy plants.

Alliums are wonderful

 they are tall and narrow and can be planted in between other plants 

they offer an interesting pop of colour.

The bees LOVE these blooms.

Madame Gregoire Staechelin

a climbing rose 

in The Humble Bungalow Garden.

Our roses are behind this year due to the cooler unseasonable weather.

May usually is a riot of roses on the garden.

Alas, we will need to be patient,

and

 wait for warm sunshine to encourage the blooms.

Last week a friend and I walked at Butchart Gardens.

The azaleas are out in a full flush of flower

this apricot shade was so fragrant!

The Himalayan Blue Poppies are exquisite.

I have grown these from seed but they are very difficult to keep year after year.

These are blooming in the Japanese section of the gardens.

Their petals look so delicate and thin

like crepe paper.

This yellow azalea was fragrant and sweet

their bright colours look quite stunning

a much needed pop of colour on a cloudy day.

It's a cloudy day here this morning and it feels cool.

I've made a fish chowder for our lunch today.

Fish Chowder

Saute: 1 diced onion, two chopped carrots and 2 stalks of diced celery

cook until soft.

Add to the pot 1 piece of whitefish chopped into bite sized pieces

I also added some clam juice (1/2 cup)

two chopped up crab cakes that I had in the freezer.

I simmered the ingredients until they were cooked through 

added 1/2 cup of cream

salt and pepper to taste and a tsp of dill 

Serve with cracker, toast, or a soft bun.

Enjoy!

Hope that your week is off to a great start.

Thank you for popping by The Humble Bungalow Blog.

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

May daze...

Sunshine has made an appearance after many days of precipitation...

The sun streaming in through the windows elevate my spirits.

Tall ships sailing on The Salish Sea

out front of Quarterdeck Cottage.

Seas are calm and it is so soothing to watch the ferry boats as they glide past.

Oh my goodness!

Kate Quinn writes the MOST amazing historical fiction.

Her strong female characters are so interesting.

I just finished reading the book and it was a real page turner.

I highly recommend it.

Toadstool seen on our walk.

Walks in nature provide an interesting array of flora and fauna.

The woodpeckers have been working hard on the tree trunks...

~ rat tat tat ~

Purple Martins have returned and their sweet songs serenade us.

The gulls, eagles and ravens calls add to the symphonic sounds.

I found this book at the used bookshop and it sounds like a gentle story.

I know you should not judge a book by the cover but that is what tempted me...

written in 1931 and it just might be a delightful beach read.

I will start it soon.

Yesterday I made a loaf of bread

we don't eat a lot of bread 

every now and then 

I crave a piece of toast with Bonne Maman apricot jam.

Muguet des Bois are in their full flush with numerous glorious blooms.

Their fragrance is totally intoxicating.

I picked a large handful...

popped them in a vase 

placed them in the Humble Bungalow bathroom

their unique scent is wafting in the air...

which reminds me.

Yardley of London had a lily of the valley soap and cologne.

They also made scented products in lavender, rose and other floral scents.

I haven't been wearing fragrance lately and I am not sure why?

I have a lovely parfum by Hermes and it sits on my dresser gathering dust!

I must spritz some on and remind myself how it smells!

We are enjoying a sunny long weekend here in Victoria.

Mr HB has been out in the garden pulling weeds and planting veggies and plants.

The garden is far behind what it usually is at this time of year...

we usually have many many roses in bloom

they are just budding out now so it might be a few weeks yet.

What is your May looking like?

Have you read any good books lately?

Leave a comment and we'll chat!

I will close for now as I need to get some work done here in The Humble Bungalow.

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

Monday musings...

Last week we were at the cottage on Pender.

We enjoyed a sunny weekend then early in the week we awoke to ice and snow.

The snow didn't stick around very long and had melted by midday.

The chilly weather with the wind chill factor was too cold for us to walk.

(it registered as minus 15)

We made it home after a 4 hour wait at the ferry terminal.

The ferry broke down and was out of service!

The ferry was replaced with a smaller one that was also slower...

only 20 cars were able to board the 11:50 sailing...

fortunately we were one of those cars!

OOTD

Watching the kids swimming lessons at the Recreation Centre.

Pearls

Denim shirt

black pants

Chelsea Boots

I recently purchased a soft Tencel blue denim dress.

V Neck with button details down the front

short flirty capped sleeves

an asymmetrical scooped hem, 

shorter in front and longer in the back.

Will plan to wear it with some capri length tights and my pearls.

Made an easy and delicious French Onion Soup for lunch.

FRENCH ONION SOUP

Slice 4 large onions thinly.

Melt 3 tbsp. butter in a Dutch oven add onions

cook and stir for about 30 minutes until soft.

Add 8 cups of beef broth, boil, then simmer on low for 40 minutes.

Place 1/2 inch slices of French bread

topped with grated white cheese (I used white cheddar and parmesan reggiano)

in 425 degree oven for 5-8 minutes

until cheese melts.

Ladle the soup into bowls and top with the bread.

Let sit for a minute or two to allow the bread to absorb the broth.

Enjoy!

I went to Marshalls searching for  decorative salad dressing bottle with a spout...

I use a Bonne Maman jam jar for my vinaigrette but thought it might be nicer to have an interesting bottle that looks pretty.

No luck on the bottle 

BUT!

I found these charming tins with black polka dots for the laundry room!

Our decor downstairs is black and white and these just ticked all the boxes for storage.

Stain sticks, scrub brushes, wool dryer balls and specialty soaps are now discreetly hidden.

Am still on the decluttering band wagon!

Have tackled the linen closet, the kitchen drawers, dining room buffet and cupboards.

I have the hobby room cupboards

 and guest room closet with the out of season clothing to cull and sort.

There is rain forecast for most of the week so I will probably finish soon.

In the meantime 

while the laundry spins

I am using up leftovers and veggies and making soup.

How are things going with you?

Thank you for stopping by The Humble Bungalow Blog.

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

Snippets on a sunny afternoon...

The sunshine has spurred me on to write a wee post and check in here on the blog.

Today we are fortunate to have the sun shine down on us.

Mount Baker

viewed from The Esplanade in Oak Bay.

A glorious day outside, with a gentle breeze.

We managed a lovely walk along the seafront.

My 5 km walks are really helping me get stronger and feel more flexible.

I've cut back on carbohydrates, added oodles of veggies and am rationing wine.

The good news is that the scale tells me I have lost 5 pounds...

now the next goal will be 5 more pounds.

The scale is not the only gauge when it comes to fitness...

my clothes don't feel so snug

my tummy is ever-so-slightly smaller

my legs are more muscular

more energy

and

I feel very encouraged and more in control.

Chester is slowly gaining weight.

He's refused the prescribed canned food and is happy with the "early renal" type kibble.

We are feeding him Fancy Feast, offering him extra tablespoon several times a day.

He is acting more like his usual self.

This is great news!

Thank you so much to those of you who have emailed asking about his health.

On a recent walk I stopped in at Super Chance

a local consignment shop in James Bay.

I spied this pretty transferware covered dish...

not sure where I would put it at the time,

but I felt confident that I would find a suitable spot.

Inside I have all my make-up brushes.

De-cluttering has been an ongoing activity here in The Humble Bungalow.

There is a cardboard box out on the boulevard 

where I place unwanted items most days.

They disappear quite quickly!

Crocus out front in The Humble Bungalow Garden.

Flowers are blooming and the snowdrops are showing their white faces.

Spring is in the air.

We're off to the garden centre tomorrow...

we lost a few plants during the last snowfall and have some empty pots that need filling, one of my favourite places to go at this time of year.

Perusing the new and different varieties of flowers and plants is so inspiring.

We've been watching Carol Klein Great British Gardens on You Tube.

It is filmed throughout the 4 seasons.

Are you finding inspiration in the garden?

On PBS we are watching All Creatures Great and Small 

and 

The Seaside Hotel.

The Seaside Hotel is Danish and has subtitles.

It was recommended by Rosemarie in Vancouver.

(thank you Rosemarie, I am enjoying it)

She and I have met up for tea at Abkhazi Gardens, lunch at a pub in The Cook Street Village and appetizers at Cactus Club on Robson.

We try to get together as often as she is here in Victoria or when I go to Vancouver.

Hope that you are staying safe and keeping amused.

Until next time...

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

Snippets from Quarterdeck Cottage

 

Beautiful view from Medicine Beach

the walks along this rocky beach are breathtaking...

~ A soothing scene helps to unkink the knots of anxiety ~

The seas were so quiet and calm that I could feel my body relaxing.

The views toward Vancouver Island remind me of a Tony Only painting.

The weather here has been a mix of sun and fog.

No wild winds or rain.

Feeling grateful for these gifts...

The glorious sunny afternoon was an invitation to enjoy happy hour on the deck.

Evenings are dark and lighting candles adds ambiance and warmth.

These "Ethel Wood" scented soy candles are lovely.

They are sold at a farmstand on South Otter Bay Road here on Pender.

I purchased some for our home and cottage and they have quickly become my favourite.

These wee fungi remind me of that quote from Mary Engelbreit...

"Bloom Where You are Planted"

I finished The Doocot Sweater that I started knitting before the pandemic!

The project was a steep learning curve for me...

It was quite easy knitting baby blankets, dishcloths, shawls and scarves.

Sweaters are much more complicated... 

as I found out!

I have learned many new techniques and have gained confidence.

You Tube Videos and The Vogue Knitting book 

helped me 

as in person tutorials were few and far between.

Now I am excited to get going with my next project...

a simple sweater, very much like a shrug.

It is knit mostly using garter stitch.

 When we get back I plan to go shopping for the yarn...

I am just not sure what colour to use?

Basic black always calls to me...

I discovered that knitting in a cheerful colour has been such fun! 

especially using the Brooklyn Felted Tweed yarn 

and 

their yarn colours are brights and brilliant.

Seen on my beach walk at Port Browning...

a chain of rusted iron juxtaposed against a weathered log.

Seeking out and finding something on my daily walks

helps keep me motivated to continue taking steps.

Hope that you are staying healthy and finding inspiration in your daily round.

Thank you for stopping by The Humble Bungalow Blog.

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

Baby it's Cold Outside!

Slow mornings...

candlelight and silver

fairy lights

twinkling 

reflecting on the modernist crystal

sipping coffee in the quiet of the bungalow.

embracing gratitude.

Wondering what will the day bring?

New Year has entered softly...

gently

a white snow fell from the sky 

blanketing us with cold Arctic winter weather.

We were able to go for a short walk along the seafront.

Only a few stalwart and dedicated people were out...

Mostly dog owners!

There were lots of children outside building snowmen.

We heard the shouts of glee from the children as they tobogganed 

down the hill at Beacon Hill Park.

I've been cocooning here in The Humble Bungalow.

Staying warm and cozy

(cashmere is currently my best friend)

Drinking lots of hot tea and making soups.

Watching the new series "And Just Like That" on Crave.

The Sex and The City cast has made a return, albeit with an "older" theme.

I am not sure if it's going to hold my attention...

but I do like to be entertained :-))

Reading this gem...

a crime thriller which is a page turner.

Am halfway through and wonder how this is going to end.

I've picked up the needles again and am making progress on The Doocot Sweater.

One sleeve finished and the other one started...

I've made a few mistakes but will attempt a repair...

Who knew?

But

apparently quilters and knitters embrace

"wabi sabi"

a wee mistake is intentionally included in the finished product.

Did you know that?

Once this cold snap has left us I am going to restart my walking regime.

I am feeling fuller through my mid section from all this time spent indoors.

How are you starting the New Year?

Have you exciting new dreams and goals for the next 12 months?

Would love to hear your thoughts.

In the meantime 

we still need to mask up despite having two vaccinations and the booster.

It will be so lovely to put this pandemic well and truly behind us...

Thank you for popping by The Humble Bungalow Blog.

Stay Safe.

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

December Snowfall...and some snippets from the past few weeks.

We have snow!

It's pretty to look at but it is very cold.

I've been wearing my cozy cashmere sweaters and thick wool socks.

Bundling up in my puffy down coat 

(think Michelin man style)

hat

scarf

gloves

Fancy popping by to sit on the front porch with a hot cuppa?

The hummingbird feeders are freezing so we are rotating the two feeders 

in the cold snap of winter

the wee local Anna's hummingbirds rely on us to keep them fed.

Snowy scenes here in The Humble Bungalow Garden.

Abraham Darby a David Austin Rose

blooming 

while wearing a snow hat!

A fabulous book...

by author Alka Joshi.

The good news is she has published a sequel

 and is working on a third!

Lady Gaga was amazing in the film!

We saw it in the theatre...a matinee 

safely viewed with only two other people in attendance!

Lady Gaga is wearing the same pearls that I bought from a local shop.

Mary from Skanda sourced them from Hong Kong!

We discovered a new cocktail...

"Jingle Buck"

1 ounce Vodka

3/4 ounce pure cranberry juice

3/4 ounce lime juice

2 ounces ginger ale

ice

garnish with fresh cranberries

CHEERS!

I've felt at a loss for words on the blog lately...

perhaps it is writer's block?

Covid has worn so many of us down.

I want to rise up in positivity and rejoice 

but the new Omicron variant has us all in a tizzy.

Our numbers are surging and the hospitals are slammed.

We get our booster shots next week and for that I am very grateful.

I have been working on

The Doocot Sweater

I knit the body of the sweater and now I am working on the sleeves.

You'd think I would have this finished by now...

I started it before the pandemic hit!

When I attended the knitting club meeting I discovered that I am not alone in procrastinating with my knitting project.

Some of the women have taken up painting and several others bought bikes and have been meeting up to explore the scenic roads and trails.

I have made a conscious decision to focus on and embrace Simple Joys.

I feel happiest in my kitchen 

whether I am cutting veggies for a soup or baking cookies

or planning a menu to serve to my family

the contentment is hugely rewarding and comforting.

Two items that I purchased during Covid that have been most useful 

are linen aprons.

We have not purchased many things in the past two years...

we don't "need" much other than food.

Clothes shopping has been put on the back burner for the time being...

except for that "wee foray" at Eileen Fisher on South Granville in Vancouver!

I found a cute grey top and a sumptuous boiled wool sweater in a tunic length.

I bought the black one (of course!)

The sweater was, what I consider, an "investment piece."

It has been worn multiple times since I bought it!

I wore it Christmas Day with skinny Eileen Fisher pants.

I added a sparkly Sherman rhinestone pin.

Vintage rhinestone Brooches are such a fun way to add sparkle.

Hope that 2022 has some bright spots and highlights...

Thank you for stopping by The Humble Bungalow Blog.

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~