Savouring the good things in life...

We are surrounded by beauty...
one need not look too far afield to glimpse these special gifts that cross our path.

Embracing the positive, simple things in life, keep me grounded and content.

If I get on the "I want this, I want that" tangent
I am not at ease...stress and anxiety are sure to follow.

Simple living...

getting back to nature
walking
taking time for peaceful pursuits
mindful healthy eating

valuable self care tools
that really nurture and feed my soul.

"Highlights" worth sharing from the past weekend...

Roesland Park

on

Pender Island, BC

a lovely walk with an abundance of natural beauty.

Calypso Bulbosa

aka

Lady Slipper Orchids

Lilies

A bench on which to sit and pause...

 count my blessings 

while surveying the views across The Salish Sea....

Skunk Cabbage

The Nature Sanctuary at Medicine Beach

we were there for the Earth Day beach clean up.

Fresh radishes from Raven Rock Farm stand 

at the Farmers Market

love these "red ravishing radishes"

Speaking of red...here is the Encore Red.

We went to the award winning Sea Star Vineyard for a wine tasting...

we purchased some red and white wines.

We invited our neighbours over for a drink and a nibble...

Sitting on the deck later watching the sun slip behind the mountains

taking note of the light 

the subtle changes 

of the intensity and tones.

The sunrise and sunsets are the gentle rhythms

that guide us through our days here at Quarter Deck Cottage.

Hope that your week is off to a gentle start...

Enjoy the gifts as they present themselves to you on your daily round.

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

Silk...and French Inspiration

Vintage Silk scarf by Vetter of Switzerland

easy to wear and so soft...

Silk and cashmere are two of my all time favourites.

When I think of lovely lingerie 

 France comes to mind...

the selection and sumptuous styles for women 

of all shapes and sizes 

are plentiful in the shops of Paris.

The lingerie sections at

Galleries Lafayette

and 

The Bon Marche 

are two that stand out.

It is so easy finding beautiful intimates in France...

there are lingerie shops in the smaller villages too!

I've been lusting after some new lingerie...

it is on the top of my list.

I love wearing this

Nougat Silk Camisole

soft mauve shade with purple lace.

Silk feels sensuous 

wearing a silk nightgown or camisole makes me feel very feminine.

I've juxtaposed the silk with denim here for a day of domestic chores and cooking.

Cooking new dishes has become a bit of an obsession of late...

Julia Child has some amazing books and You Tube videos of her PBS shows.

I have to smile when I watch some of these older videos...

she is such a character!

I felt like I was in a bit of a "cooking rut"

 so kicking it up a notch and trying some new recipes feels so energizing.

I made a jar of Julia's basic and very simple vinaigrette and loved the flavour.

In the movie Julie and Julia the scene from the Paris Cafe 

where Julia, played by the talented Maryl Streep, is served sole 

 seriously resonates with me...

that incredible dish is Sole Meuniere.

I plan to make this dish for my husband...

 I am substituting fresh halibut 

as it was the freshest fish offered at the fish monger.

The butter needs to be clarified ahead of time.

So

I spent the afternoon prepping dinner.

I made an endive leaf salad with crumbled bacon, sliced cherry tomatoes, scallions and grated parmigiano Reggiano

which is covered and is chilling in the fridge.

The vinaigrette will be drizzled over top just before serving. 

Asparagus will be steamed and served with the fish dish...

a few slices of a baguette will be at the ready to sop up any of the juices.

I will boil up a few waxy yellow potatoes to serve with the halibut.

Dessert will not be served...

as neither of us have "sweet teeth"

besides it will be a "big" meal...

enough to satisfy our humble tastebuds.

I sharpened all our knives too...

they were getting incredibly dull.

We have an electric sharpener by Chef's Choice 

I have practiced on several knives I think I have the hang of it.

Boy having a super sharp knife is so wonderful.

I'm kind of proud of myself for learning a new skill...

This book is quite a fun read...

am only into a few chapters so far as

I sat down for a few minutes to put my feet up and have a cuppa...

almost didn't want to get back up and put the book away!!

Bon Appetit!

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

Fluffing the nest...and a Spring de-cluttering project

Looking like a barbarian/warrior slightly disheveled...

Can you tell that I am growing out my hair?

It is a slow process but now that my frozen shoulder is in the thaw stage 

I can get back to using the blow dryer.

Casual Beach combing OOTD

(last month)

Gowland Point on Pender Island 

Saint James raincoat

Calvin Klein puffy down vest 

(under coat, not visible but needed to fend off the cold)

long sleeved Esprit Tee

Tribal jeans

colourful scarf ~ no name brand from the local pharmacy

Merrell walking shoes

Coach handbag

Hunting for Beach glass is a favourite pass time of mine.

Speaking of glass...

I emptied out the cupboard in the Humble Bungalow dining room and wiped down all the shelves and packed up many of the pieces of crystal 

(which were purchased at $1.49 day at Woodward's back in the early 1970's)

popped them in the dishwasher for a quick clean up 

before wrapping them up and whisking them off to the WIN thrift shop.

What possessed me you may wonder?

My husband knew that I wanted to pare down and have a simple set of stylish

 classic glassware that will never "date"

Here is the Tapio Wirrkkala Ultima Thule style of glasses I am now collecting.

My sweet husband brought home 4 of these goblets as a surprise which really kick started the whole de-cluttering exercise...

Thank you Honey!

Here's how the shelves are looking so far...

the vintage ones to the right of the new goblets are from thrift shops.

I have kept a few other wine glasses 

(on the shelves below, not in the photo)

until we purchase more Ultima Thule.

They are quite pricey...

I hope to find more at consignment or thrift shops 

or watch out for sales...

Spring cleaning...

The laundry room got a quick lick and a polish this week too.

The vintage enamel ware seems to go well in the black and white themed area downstairs.

Upstairs beside the farmhouse sink 

is my "work area."

I found an Antique transfer ware platter at a local shop to hold all my supplies.

Peach Blow circa 1886

Marseilles Soap Cube

Spring Parrot tulips 

full blown 

almost at the end of their prime

but still beautiful.

I have a bunch of cookbooks by Julia Child 

waiting for me at the local library

I am going to try and make her fish buerre blanc.

Until next time...

Enjoy your weekend.

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

Tea from Paris....and a new book which sounds so exciting!

Red flowering currant in our neighbours garden...

the hummingbirds love it!

Versailles Rose Tea

with

rose petals, grapefruit and sunflowers

The label is in French but I can provide you with a "rough" translation...

It is with a lot of love that I made this tea

the passion to do what I love 

and the love of a woman 

who is still waiting...

I am happy.

English Royal Chelsea cup and saucer

probably my favourite of the bunch.

A new mystery written by Jessica Fellowes...

she wrote all the companion books to the Downton Abbey series.

She is also the niece of Lord Julian Fellowes who wrote the Downton Abbey series.

I just finished reading Six, the book about the Mitford sisters

 and lo and behold this new book pops up on the shelf at the book sellers...

I grabbed the last copy!

 Also a new "can" to help me keep all the container plants well watered.

I like to have one on the front porch and one in the back so that I don't need to lug a heavy can throughout the garden and strain my back or arms.

My frozen shoulder has been slowly improving...

I am optimistic that it is in the thawing stage.

Tea time is over 

the flowers are in bloom and I am embracing the possibility of change.

Perhaps a trip?

Or maybe a new class or a course?

Feeling like I need to kick things up a notch...

What plans are you making?

Hope that your week is ticking along nicely...

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

Shopping with a nod to Mom...

The damp cold rainy weather has kept me indoors more than usual...

I have gone for shorter walks and took a page out of Mother's book!
Going shopping when inclement weather prevails...
Mom was a super shopper...she could have taught lessons on how to shop!
Mother absolutely loved fashion and clothing , she found such joy wearing and accessorizing her beautiful clothes. She was well turned out until the last couple of weeks before she passed away...and then she only wore her PJ's and bathrobe.

Mom had 4 full closets when she died... many classics and some quite trendy pieces...unfortunately we were not the same size...
I have kept her grey cashmere waterfall sweater and a black wool wrap...
they are so cozy and remind me of her when I wear them.

I've brewed up numerous pots of tea

layered on the extra warm cashmere and wool sweaters and shawls.

(thanks to mom I have two of her coziest)

My hands feel the chill so its nice to warm them with a cup of something hot.

Something soothing and tasty with zero calories!

I am mindful of my WW points and the slimming is slower than last time.

My Chelsea boots are away at the cobbler getting some new heels

so I have been wearing my favourite red shoes...

the pop of red makes me feel happy.

A few red things in the Humble Bungalow kitchen...

"Walking in the shops" has been productive...

(of course mom knew this!)

AND

I found a new coat.

I'd gone into Aritzia to look at their Wilfred Free tops 

as they make a nice basic which fits and has a great shape...

with a silhouette that skims and in a knit fabric that can be casual or dressy

a U hem detail which looks good un-tucked.

I already have one in black.

They were out of my size so I ordered one in a neutral soft light grey shade that I will layer with my white jeans and pants.

While I was in the shop I noticed the Babaton line of lightweight coats...

in a light soft fabric, with almost a Tencel feel.

They were far too long on me and I did not want to pay extra to take one to the seamstress to have it drastically shortened.

I found a similar coat at The Bay by Vero Moda

a deconstructed trench coat in a very light and soft fabric.

It was marked down and I got it for a great price.

Have you noticed how many straw and wicker bags are showing up in the magazines this Spring?

I've got a straw tote bag but it is too large for everyday use...

it's more of a market tote 

one that I use when going to the farmers market or to the beach.

Never fear...

Etsy has oodles of vintage straw and wicker bags...

I spent about an hour looking online and then this one popped up 

I could not resist!

The bag is by Ann Taylor

look at that pop of red!

It will work with my denim skirt and jeans

my red ballet flats

 it has just that little extra oomph which I think will perk up my basics quite nicely.

I am eager to see this and hope that the delivery is speedy.

I found this distressed looking Tee at The Bay this week too...

it looks like nothing (well maybe like a dish rag) on the hanger

 it is much better on!

I will wear this with my white jeans

 layered with my denim shirt

underneath a long white and grey linen top

Maybe even pair it with my black ponte knit pants.

Its going to get a LOT of wear.

Last evening we met up with darling daughter and her husband 

to see their new place.

I found a vintage mint orange Catherine Holm kettle and an icy modernist piece of art glass as their housewarming gifts which were well received!

We took them out to dinner after at our favourite local eatery...Zambri's.

I ordered this succulent fish feature and I had a "Julia Child moment!"

Do you remember the movie Julie and Julia?

It is the scene where Julia is in Paris 

dining in a small cafe 

and tastes 

for the first time 

fish cooked in beurre blanc...

Oh my this dish was a little slice of heaven on earth.

I must try to make it at home.

I have kept this vintage avocado green Catherine Holm bowl in our kitchen cupboard for quite some time and I casually mentioned it to darling daughter and it seems that she would use it so it is off to a good home soon...

Before I close 

I want to share some of our very tall snowdrops...

Drenched with precipitation...

things are definitely greening up in the Humble Bungalow Garden!

Hope you are having a fabulous week...

and hey its already Friday!

I've got to get in some groceries and stock up on some cleaning supplies.

Maybe I will do some research on the beurre blanc recipe too.

Whats on your agenda for the weekend?

Have you been shopping for some Spring things?

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

Tuesday snippets.. from my wicker chair on the front porch.

Come and sit for a bit on The Humble Bungalow front porch and relax...

I washed the front porch yesterday and took some things away.

There is a tendency to put too many things on the porch creating chaos

making relaxation next to impossible!

The magnolia is in bloom

out of these fuzzy pods 

pure white flowers emerge

They are so elegant...

Coco Chanel loved her camellias

well I love Magnolias!

We have several magnolias growing in the back garden 

 they are a different varieties.

One of the items that I moved was this old tool box

and when I spied these cheery daffodils at the garden centre later in the day I knew exactly where I would place them!

A pop of yellow...

I'd forgotten how much my skin loves this pot of Divine cream by L'Occitane.

So much moisture is delivered by using a small amount.

I've ordered the full size jar and have a bonus Divine Youth oil coming with it...

 a 2 day Easter special 

 as they say "timing is everything"

 so with a click of the button it was done.

 I know that "Youth Oil" is not going to turn back time 

but if it helps my skin glow and look hydrated I am content.

Dinner last night was a one pan classic...

prime rib roast with veggies roasted right beside it.

No gravy but big flavours.

I am reading this book right now which is really very entertaining...

these Mitford Sisters are truly iconic women.

Looking back in history when England was at war

 it describes how these six sisters played various roles in society

each unique with their contributions

one more famous than the others.

The fascinating Deborah, 

The Duchess of Devonshire,

whose book I read a few years ago.

Thank you for stopping by...

I must sign off for now and get cracking on my walk.

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~