Let it snow....

It was almost a white Christmas!

The snow fell fast and furious and closed down the roads.

Ferries, buses and some businesses were out of service for several days.

Tea for Two?

Iced Tea perhaps...

Dinner on the Deck?

Looks like a puffy Pavlova dessert.

Even the Christmas baubles were clad in snow....

The Humble Bungalow Garden

looked quite pretty dressed up in all white.

We've been busy!

The snow has melted and there is a gusty wind and rain taking its place.

Power outages are predicted and the lights here are flickering

so I am hoping that we don't lose our power.

We have a lot of candles and a fireplace with some logs 

in which to build a fire if need be...

Hubby got one of those cool toques with a light in the front

so he can turn it on and read his book.

I don't think there would be enough light for me to knit on my current project.

I finished the vest and am knitting another Miriam sweater.

I knit one in a soft dove grey and the one that I am knitting now is a turquoise shade.

We were busy over the holidays with family, friends and there was lots of good food.

Did you try the nut recipe that I posted last time?

I gave away all the jars I made except one...

it is currently on the counter and I sneak a bite every so often.

Dang those nuts are tasty!!!

My husband and I no longer exchange gifts at Christmas.

We really have enough...

If we really NEED something we go out and buy it.

For example...

Our infloor heating thermostat broke just before the holidays

so we hired an electrician to come and swap it out.

Besides it is much more fun to give...

to our family

and

to friends.

I've been able to add a donation to the local food bank every week 

when I buy our groceries...

there are many people in need.

I will close for now and get our dinner started.

I hope that you had a good Christmas.

Thank you for stopping by The Humble Bungalow Blog.

Until next time...

 ~Be Well and Be Kind ~

Cold weather, a Thrifty Chicken Veggie Soup Recipe, and knitting at the cottage.

 

We are at the cottage and awoke to snow dusting the stairs...

It coated the ground which reminded me of icing sugar...

then I thought of cookies :-))

We purchased a wee tree for the cottage and chose small fairy lights in white.

It looks best when the lights are dimmed or turned off but we felt the need to add some festive cheer, it is December after all.

With this cold I decided to make a chicken veggie soup.

It was full of flavour and was a warm and cozy choice for the cold day.

Thrifty Chicken Soup

I used a roast chicken carcass.

Pick off the bigger chunks of meat and set them aside in the fridge.

In a soup pot I added the carcass and just covered the bones with water.

Boil then simmer for about an hour.

Take out bones and set them aside to cool.

Put the rich stock into a large container.

Pick off any more meat from the bones and add to the stock, discard the bones.

Saute one large diced onion, 2 stalks diced celery in oil until soft.

Add the meat from the fridge and the stock to the pot

2 diced carrots, some sliced greens 

(I used bok choy)

Cook about 45 minutes until carrots are soft

salt and pepper to taste.

Serve

It is very tasty and is so warming on a cold snowy day.

The sun was shining and we bundled up for a cold weather walk.

The air was crisp and so refreshing.

Little birds skitting about pecking for morsels of food...

Gulls soaring in the sky.

Soon the birds will be nibbling these red berries and rose hips...

December is a truly beautiful time to visit the cottage.

It is quite peaceful so we sleep deeply and feel relaxed when we wake up.

We are so fortunate to be able to come and do not take our time here for granted.

It is a precious gift.

We have been reading our books and I've been knitting on my vest 

which is getting very close to being finished.

I needed to buy some new locking stitch markers

 so I went to The Beehive before we left town.

 

Wouldn't you know it! I spied a lovely blue variegated yarn by Berocco.

Wool shops are rather lethal for me...chocolate, tea and book shops are trouble!

I rarely leave with empty hands.

This pattern is my next project.

Are you a knitter?

What do you love to make?

Hope that you are warm and cozy and enjoying the beginning of December.

I think it is going to get busy with baking and shopping and wrapping!

(with time set aside for knitting and reading)

Thank you for stopping by The Humble Bungalow Blog.

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

OOTD ~ SNOW DAY and Baby it's cold outside!

~ Snow Day Selfie ~

I am getting ready to head out in the snow...

Snow does not usually make an appearance until after Christmas

so I was caught scrambling for my woolen accessories.

I popped on my boiled wool Eileen Fisher sweater overtop of a black camisole.

Layering is the warmest way to dress in this chilly weather.

~ OOTD ~

The cashmere Burberry scarf is ages old...maybe 10 years or more.

My hat is one I wore in Paris in 2015...Andre Diffusion with a feather pin.

The bag is vintage Due Fratelli.

My down Puffer coat is by Columbia and has a thermal foil-like lining in the body.

Super warm but bulky!

My dear departed Mom used to say...

"Darling Why don't you just wrap yourself in a Down Duvet?"

(I wear them simply because they are warm.)

Early morning routines...

candles, coffee, and my book.

I enjoyed this book...

set in Ontario Canada, in an Italian community.

I read Anne Giardini's The Sad Truth About Happiness and enjoyed it.

 When I spied this novel at the bookstore on Pender Island I grabbed it.

Chester and Pepper are snuggling...

a rare sight!

Perhaps it is the cold weather that encouraged them to sleep side by side?

Staying indoors has inspired me to bake.

I found this recipe online.

Cream Cheese Pound Cake

a heavy cake but oh so delicious!

Blackberries and whipped cream elevated it to a divine dessert.

You can see that the snow is melting on the porch.

The sun is warming us up...

I added a vintage Sherman Pin.

The rhinestones sparkle brightly set on a black background.

I love adding Vintage accessories...

they are unique, 

often found at thrift shops and can add a personal touch.

Do you wear Vintage pieces?

I'd love to know more about your vintage pieces.

I must close for now as I am heading out to the knitting group

we meet in a friends home, knit, chat and sip tea.

It's a fabulous way to be social and share our projects.

CHEERIO

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

 

October 31st ~ Snippets and tidbits

Spider webs adorn the Humble Bungalow Garden.

They are woven throughout and one needs to be mindful when walking :-((

Our zinc planter has some new plants...

the geraniums had faded and were getting leggy 

so I zipped off to the garden centre and grabbed these foliage plants.

Black Mondo Grass and Dusty Miller.

~ Jude the Obscure ~

These may quite possibly be the last roses of the season that we bring inside.

The garden is settling into a long winter slumber...

I have candles at the ready...

they add fragrance and much needed warmth and a cozy ambiance.

I have looked at many many shops for boots...

thought that I was destined to have wet feet

until 

I spied these serious rain boots at Mouats on Salt Spring Island.

~ Tretorn ~

I bought some thick socks to wear with them and they are so comfy!

I have been wearing them this past weekend on Pender.

The thrifted (repaired) backpack made its first voyage on the ferry to the cottage!

This is an excellent book...

it centres around an interesting character and flashes back to the Japanese internment.

Set in BC and Ontario

written by a very talented author.

I read her book Deafening years ago and enjoyed it,

 so when I saw this title and read the jacket cover I knew I needed to read it.

I also went to the bookstore and found several books!

I am amassing another small book stack 

after "almost" catching up on all my reading :-))

There was an atmospheric river weather warning for the weekend...

I was prepared for a power outage but I think we must have been spared.

The views from the cottage this morning.

The activities here this week are centred around relaxation, 

punctuated with scenic walks, reading and knitting.

When we arrived on Friday I popped into the Thrift Shop.

It is only open on Fridays now...

I bought this wee sugar bowl (missing the lid) for $1

I decided to pick some rosemary and add it to our tablescape.

Blue and White are a classic pairing and seem to mingle nicely with the cottage decor.

We walked along the Home Farm Trail and saw the Halloween Display...

lots of scary scenes

goblins, ghouls, ghosts, skeletons, witches...

will put together a wee post for my Instagram.

Have a safe and Fun Halloween.

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

~ In The Pink ~ trying new things

 

Greetings from The Humble Bungalow!

I've made a conscious decision to try new things...

get out of my "comfort zone"

take a wee risk

do something different...

Walk a different route

try a new cafe

read a book in a genre that I usually dismiss as "not my style"

wear a new shade of nail polish

shop in a new food store

try a new tea

explore an area of town that is "new to me"

visit a beach off the beaten track

try a new lipstick

a flavour of ice cream

OR

chocolate?

~ so many options to consider when trying new things ~

~ Refreshing ~

Drinking lots of water (fluids) help to keep your skin supple.

Aim for 6-8 glasses a day.

(Partake in a Pear flavour.)

If you aren't a fan of plain water 

try slicing fruits or lemons in a big jug of water and letting the flavours steep.

Add lots of ice and enjoy.

Have you ever heard the saying...

Pink Skies at Night

Sailors Delight

Pink Skies in the Morning

 Sailors Take Warning

We used to heed this advice when we were cruising on our boat.

Trying to keep my hands in better shape...

starting with a manicure

using

hand lotion and nail polish.

Cruelty Free Polish

~ Pink Cloud ~

My current favourite shade for a home manicure.

Extended Summer weather...

holding its own with warm sunshine and sunny skies.

Wearing sunglasses and a hat to minimize the risk of sun damage...

skin cancer and macular degeneration are risks from too much sun.

I enjoyed a much needed pedicure 

and chose a bold shade Snow White.

I usually opt for a rich jewel tone but I am trying new things

just because...

 

The facial that I had in August at The Boathouse Spa at the Oak Bay Beach Hotel was amazing...my skin looked dewy and smooth for weeks after the service.

Babor European products are new to me.

So in the spirit of trying new things

 I popped by the Spa to buy a couple of their products cleansing line.

Enzyme Cleanser and Rose Toner.

Hopefully they will live up to the numerous positive ratings by clients.

Pinky red Skies over Salt Spring Island as seen from our cottage on Pender.

There is a feeling of Fall in the air... 

a cool fresh crispness that is hard to describe

you need to feel it!

Lovely Fall beach walk on Bricky Bay

My gentle walks along the seashore soothe and calm.

Searching for sea glass is a very meditative habit.

Trying to mix up my walks to get me more motivated.

When the weather cools I tend to want to cocoon inside and stay cozy...

I recently purchased a pre-worn soft velour jacket by the company 32 Degrees.

It is so warm and because it is black, it is dressier and more versatile.

Trying to buy fewer garments to be more mindful of waste 

when I need something in my wardrobe 

I will try to seek out second hand and vintage options.

My Sea Glass collection now fills about 7 large sealer jars.

I'll need to find some more vintage jars to take to the cottage

 as I brought home yet another jarful.

What do YOU collect?

~ Pink Grapefruit Cleaner ~

works like a charm in the kitchen and has a delicious fruity fragrance.

Used as a pre wash stain remover it rarely fails...

saving garments by laundering clothing one stain at a time.

Before I discovered the powerful stain removing properties of this Method cleaner

I threw out stained clothes.

I also wear protective linen aprons when cooking 

to protect my clothes from food splatters.

These are beautifully made and are available from Trica's shop Rough Linen.

I have bought 3 aprons and use them every day.

~ David Austin Roses ~

Almost finished blooming in The Humble Bungalow Garden.

The Andalou CC cream that I swear by...

Must be on my 6th tube by now, is not expensive and it lasts a long time.

Evens out my complexion and is hydrating.

(I give it 5 stars out of 5)

Will not be trying a new CC cream as this one is a winner!

These pretty Colchiums are harbingers of Fall...

these are bent over trying to seek more light.

Perhaps we need to relocate this clump

 buy 

more bulbs as they bloom a long time?

Are you open to trying New Things?

I look forward to hearing from you.

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

June ~ in The Humble Bungalow Garden

 

Boscobel Rose

Bouquet of Roses

Gertrude Jekyll

Climbing Royal Sunset

Abraham Darby

Jude The Obscure

Abraham Darby

Climbing Royal Sunset

John Paul ll

I've been busy watering and deadheading the roses

in the garden.

We had such a wet spring that we have a lot of black spot on the roses.

I pick off the spotted leaves which is a lot of work.

Roses are high maintenance!

They are my favourite flower.

Our weather has warmed up nicely and we are enjoying the sunshine.

My husband has been busy starting veggies from seed and potting out the plants.

He's growing 5 zucchini plants 

which means that we will be inundated with a bumper crop!

We will harvest these when they are small and tender.

Inside the greenhouse we are growing peppers and lettuce and cherry tomatoes.

Out in the raised beds there are English Peas, broad beans, radicchio, and turnips.

Pots of tomatoes are lined up beside the greenhouse...

once they are ready for picking

I'll be roasting them in olive oil and garlic for the freezer.

They add such a lot of flavour to the homemade pasta sauces we enjoy throughout the year.

Have you planted a veggie garden this year?

With the cost of food rising so quickly 

it makes sense that we add a few plants in our home gardens.

Are you a gardener?

Have you noticed the spike in food prices?

Apparently it is the highest surge since the 1970's

Thank you for stopping by The Humble Bungalow Blog.

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~