Love...

Feeling love...
possibly more intense in these precarious times that we are living in.

a brightly painted heart rock on my beach walk last week

Intense Blue Skies at McNeill Bay in Oak Bay.

This is the beach where I spent my childhood..

we lived 2 blocks from the beach and we loved exploring the seashore.

I found some pretty sea glass on my walk.

Feeling so grateful for the smallest of things each day...

 European Wall Lizard

one of many living in The Humble Bungalow Garden.

 ~ Muguet des Bois ~

Intoxicating...

a heavy heady fragrance

pure white elegance.

Mother's Day

Remembering my dear Mom today  

I think of her everyday

but miss her more on these "special" days.

Mother's Day garden visit

with gifts from darling daughter and her sweet husband.

Tokens of love.

Garden visit with our son.

Flowers...a handmade card made with love.

Warm weather over the weekend...

we broke two weather records for high temperatures!

Cats are content snoozing on our bed.

Yummy dinner of chicken baked potatoes 

with

freshly harvested asparagus which is growing in our garden.

Mount Baker as seen from Island View Beach.

A wee bit blurry...

 a magnificent sight to see.

So many things to see

to appreciate 

to love.

Hope that you are finding some bright spots in your daily round.

Our eyes can embrace the beauty that surrounds us all...

take a few moments breathe in the fresh air

in awe of Mother Nature and all her glory

stay calm

be well.

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~ 

Snippets of life here in The Humble Bungalow...and a couple of my favourite recipes

Wee little hydrangea leaves that over wintered in The Humble Bungalow Garden.

Lacy and delicate and as light as a whisper...

 tiny leaves...

Wee treasures found while weeding the beds.

Mother Nature's handiwork.

Mr. HB has been busy constructing raised beds.

We are on a long list at the Landscaping Supply Company.

Waiting for the soil to be delivered...

Apparently oodles of people locally are turning to their gardens

planting trees, flowers and veggies.

I ordered books from my favourite book seller Ivy's books on Oak Bay Avenue.

I am currently reading The Strawberry Thief by Joanne Harris.

It is the 4th book in her Chocolat series...

set in a small village in SW France 

near where our good friends live in Auvillar.

She mentions several of the places that I have visited, 

which I am remembering fondly.

Books can be a lovely way to "travel."

Dinner

of

Garden fresh asparagus

ribs

half a baked potato

I use Chef John's BBQ rib recipe from his blog Food Wishes.

It's a winner!

Made a big batch of oatmeal raisin cookies.

I've been keeping myself extra busy (happily distracted) in the kitchen.

Mr HB loves cookies...

Euphorbia bracts

photo bombed by a fly.

Brilliant blues...

a pop of colour under sunny skies.

The May skies are such a crisp blue...

have you noticed how clear the air is where you live?

Simple dinner 

Shake and Bake chicken thighs

"Booth Bay" broccoli salad

Hope you enjoy this tasty salad 

it is one of my summertime favourites.

Some of the restrictions here in BC are being eased this week. 

The authorities have devised a plan 

to gradually increase our return to the "new normal."

I look forward to resuming a wider "bubble" of people that we can interact with...

self distancing while being social should be easier with the better weather.

Picnics, outdoor cafes and bistros 

will be very popular in these coming weeks and months.

Hope all is well with you.

Stay safe.

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

Ups and downs during the Pandemic...

Parrot tulips with chartreuse streaks...

Mother Nature could have painted these sweet flowers herself.

I love the modernist icy Tapio Wirkkala Finnish vases.

They cleverly camouflage the flower stems.

I cannot imagine my life without flowers.

Can You?

I suppose that is why I toil for hours in our garden.

Hopeful that seeds, tubers and bulbs will grow and flourish.

Gardening is a quiet hobby

one that offers many rewards.

Tending and creating a garden has so many benefits

fresh air

 exercise

nature

birdsong

bees 

butterflies

"My extravagance is my garden - 

it's the first thing I look at every morning when I wake up. 

It gives me so much pleasure."

~ Ina Garten ~

Flowers have the power to elevate even the humblest of vessels...

from a jam jar to a crystal vase.

We are flying a new flag here in The Humble Bungalow.

It is flown in support and gratitude for the front line workers

who are helping us all stay safe during the pandemic.

We purchased this flag at The Victoria Flag Shop on Fort Street.

Each night at 7pm we are out banging pots and pans with our neighbours

to let the workers know that we are grateful for their work.

Current read Mary Coin by Marisa Silver

an interesting book so far and I am almost halfway through the story.

Am seriously looking for some book suggestions 

as I am running out of books fast!

Hope that you are managing to stay safe and are feeling cozy in the comfort of your own home.

We are living through such unusual times...

some days are better than others.

I read that we might be modifying our way of life for the next couple of years.

Perhaps we will never go back to those carefree days?

Who knows?

We just have to take it one day at a time and do our best.

I miss so many things

family

friends

entertaining at home and being entertained at other peoples homes

our bridge games

knitting group meetings

sitting sipping coffee at the cafe

the freedom to go shopping and browse in a store

the local library and bookshops

the pool and yoga studio

lunching out with my gal friends

the spa and hair salon

dinners out with friends

going to the cottage

travel

"May your choices reflect your hopes, not your fears."

~  Nelson Mandela ~

"Hope is being able to see that there is light despite all of the darkness."

~  Desmond Tutu ~

Take care.

XO

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

Tulip Mania...and a surprise!

The Spring tulips are magnificent in colour and form...
tulip mania is very real here in The Humble Bungalow!

Intricate patterns and vibrant details.

I've been gardening in these pretty grey pearls...

a gift from our darling daughter.

Love this soft worn in chambray shirt from the Gap.

Its years old and a favourite of mine.

It is so very cozy and in these troubling times I am wearing only comfy clothes.

Cashmere, chambray and yes! Yoga pants.

Keeping it real here.

My days are slow paced and provide a variety of activities...

gardening, dusting, cooking, reading, knitting and walking.

I never know exactly how my days will shape up.

Coffee and checking in with social media and the news are the first things...

Sitting still and looking out the window

while quietly reflecting

on things that I am grateful for and that practise sets the tone for the day.

I don't usually gravitate toward suspense thrillers...

 this one by Shari Lapena caught my eye and WOW!

I read it in two days and was riveted to my seat!

The ending has a real twist!

Reading is such a fabulous distraction.

I am "escaping" every day through books during this pandemic.

How are you doing?

What are you reading?

Chester napping...he makes it look effortless to fall asleep!

I envy him...

Rosemarie who resides in Vancouver sent me these sweet socks.

Cheerful and soft, perfect for these cozy comfort clothing days...

Thank you Rosemarie.

XO

I am going to start reading this book later today.

In the meantime I am going to water the garden and do some laundry.

Routines help fill the time while we are staying home so much.

Are you keeping busy?

Stay safe

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

April Showers bring May flowers...

Tulips are blooming in the glorious Sunshine.

With so much uncertainty in our world 

we are clinging to the comforting rituals and safety of our homes.

Feeling grateful for so much right now...

Food in the fridge and cupboards

hot water for baths and showers

scented soaps

candles

flowers

books

the cats

family

friends

our small cozy bungalow

fresh air

sunshine

walks outdoors

I loved this new book by Santa Montefiore.

This is the 4th book in The Deverill series and it did not disappoint!

Healthy dinner 

steamed assorted vegetables with a Tasty Bite package of Ancient Grain Mixture.

My digestive system has been really acting up...

major heartburn!

maybe it is caused by stress or just plain old age

it would appear that I have all the signs of a hiatus hernia.

I had a telephone call to my GP and I am on some new medication.

Hope that we have nipped it in the bud as there are not many other options right now with all the closures in place.

I've tidied up the pots on the patio.

Primula

Not sure why Chester was hanging out in the clawfoot tub?

He's so entertaining!

Am looking forward to reading this new book.

I placed an order with my favourite independent local book seller 

Ivy's Bookshop on Oak Bay Avenue.

 I am reading so many books during this pandemic...

it is a wonderful "escape" during these quiet weeks.

We have been washing our hands so many times each day that we are getting low on our favourite lemongrass liquid soap.

So I went online and purchased more soap from Nezza Naturals 

another local small business, we were able to pick up our order just outside their front door.

I do hope that we can help small business owners "stay afloat" until more "normal" business can resume.

What are you reading?

Have you been sewing masks?

How are you occupying your time at home?

Love to hear from you...

(use Google as Safari is not working if you want to leave a comment)

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

What I am wearing these days...and a recipe for Pandemic Pasta

The view from our back deck

the climbing Royal Sunset rose will be blooming soon

The rose is incredibly fragrant and blooms in a deep rich apricot shade.

Sunlight and shadows

life is moving rather slow these days.

Have you found that too?

I am pacing myself with domestic jobs, 

in between gardening, reading and knitting.

Today I pulled the vacuum out.

Do I hear applause?

I am hoovering a room 

then stopping for a different task 

before resuming the vacuuming in another area.

I cleaned out the storage area

did two loads of laundry.

Feeling like I have accomplished a lot and deserve a rest now!

Patting myself on the back.

Time to blog!

Chester enjoying a nap in the sunshine.

Our two rescue cats are indoor cats.

We let them go out on the back deck when we are there to supervise.

Making sure they don't jump off the edge and escape into the wild.

Lunaria aka "money plant" is in bloom.

The garden is starting to come alive!

We are planting veggies and are going to build some more raised beds.

Garlic, asparagus, yellow beans and butternut squash are planted out back.

My husband grows cucumbers, radishes and tomatoes in the greenhouse.

We have two dwarf apple trees in the side garden.

For the future raised beds 

we are thinking we may grow 

beets, carrots, swiss chard, broccoli or broccolini

brussel sprouts, cilantro 

and ?

Pandemic Pasta

I roasted a cubed butternut squash 

in the oven at 400 degrees for about 45 minutes.

Cooked the penne noodles according to the package directions.

Drained the pasta topped it with the squash

added some salt, pepper and freshly grated parmigiana reggiano cheese.

Quick and easy dinner

Delicious!

Comfort food and comfy clothes are helping me through the isolation.

I have 2 pairs of yoga pants, both black on rotation...

Most days I am wearing a tunic style black cashmere sweater 

with one of the Yoga pants.

I have another comfy look...

 Eileen Fisher sleeveless linen tanks, one white, one black

with Yoga pants

then I layer my soft denim Gap shirt over top.

Diamond princess cut pendant and diamond stud earrings are worn every day.

I have added pearls on days when I feel like "dressing up!"

I wear scent each morning...

Fig Amore by Bastide from Provence

or

Arlessianne by L'Occitane

also from Provence.

My hair is getting long...

Am wearing it up in a French Roll or a "chignon"

or in a "pony tail" with a velvet scrunchie.

There is a sense of ease in the days here...

no pressure to do anything much.

If I feel lack lustre I will treat myself to a spa at home day.

Sip sparkling mineral water from a pretty etched vintage goblet.

Soak in the clawfoot tub with bath salts.

Light the scented candle.

Moisturize after the bath with some rose scented Andalou lotion.

Self care is so important.

I hope that you are finding ways to treat yourself and others 

gently and with kindness.

Stay safe.

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~