Oh my...Blighty!

I have been tagged, memed and I am wondering how I can respond to all these questions and sound as smart and witty and as fresh as Blighty...see her answers here.

Mrs Trefusis had tagged Blighty and Blighty tagged me and then I am to tag 3 more bloggers....
OLLIE OLLIE OXEN FREE!

I am going to try and answer these as best as I am able.

What experience most shaped you, and why?

Giving birth and becoming a mother.
The experience was humbling and beyond any of my wildest dreams. It made me realize how much family means to me and I discovered so many qualities in myself that I had never knew I possessed.
I was repeatedly challenged and tested by this process and surprised myself by my ability to cope, to change, and to take such enjoyment out of simple everyday events and be completely satisfied.
It has made me a much better and stronger person on many levels, from empathy and patience, to giving and selflessness. I discovered it was the best gift I could ever have been given...and I am grateful for that gift everyday.


If you had a whole day with no commitments, what would you do?

I'd go to the spa for a massage...have a tasty lunch with a girlfriend...go for a leisurely walk in town and buy something that I do not need that is purely frivilous and fun... and then go out for a romantic dinner with my husband!

(I'd really like to go to one of those fat farms for a week...like the Golden Door where I could eat spa food, hike, do Yoga, have massages and facials,  and at the same time get svelte...in my dreams I would anyway)

What food or drink could you never give up?

Potatoes, Potatoes, Potatoes!
Mashed, scalloped, baked and stuffed, twice baked, hash browns, pommes frites love them all.
Our family came from Ireland during the Potato famine so I am assuming my love for Spuds is purely genetic.

If you could travel anywhere where would that be and why?

Do you have to ask?
PARIS darlings!

Lisa, a  librarian and friend from our school district is there now, she and her husband Steve have taken a year off to travel the globe.

Interesting piece of art, if you enlarge this you'll see that it is made up of hundreds of photos!

I love the idea...the cityscapes, the boulevards, the architecture, the museums, the galleries, the cafes, the shops, the fashions...I can see myself wandering Rue Faubourg St. Honore...
I am wearing an Hermes scarf...a Chanel 2.55 bag dangles from my wrist...
I probably am wearing jeans, a white T shirt and flats...
You can take the girl out of the country but you can't take the country out of the girl!

Who do you have a crush on?

You might laugh...but honestly, Colin Firth!

I think he's brilliant and sexy and I love his British accent....he's funny, self deprecating, and charming and I do have a huge crush!
He had been spotted about town a few years ago...a friend saw him walking barefoot on a sandy beach nearby and another saw him wearing a long wool winter coat walking on the street downtown and yet another sat near him while he dined at a local Italian bistro...
IF I met up with him what would I say?...
I am certain to bumble along and mutter something wickedly ridiculous and be totally mortified and have to slink away in self loathing.

Love Actually clip...

BAFTA award

If you were a leader of your country, what would you do?

End poverty and homelessness for a start...make university and college tuition free...provide those who want to be stay at home moms (or Dads) a tax deduction that would equal a basic annual salary so it allows children to be reared by their natural parents instead of going to daycare.

Give me one savoury recipe that doesn't include cheese.

Crab cakes... 2 c. fresh cracked crab, 2 tbsp. minced onion, 1 egg, mix with hands until blended...add in a few tablespoons of flour mix until it holds together, shape into balls, flatten with a fork, saute in butter until golden. Enjoy!


If you could spend just one day in someone elses body, who would it be?

Oh this is a very odd idea...to imagine being in another persons body...an "out of body experience"
I had that feeling when I was having an operation and was given an anesthetic....very spooky.
The body of the person that I'd like to have spent a day in is actually not with us anymore...but if she were alive it would be Audrey Hepburn. I adore her....the way that she comported herself and her graceful willowy figure...I would go straight to Tiffany's and have breakfast!

Which woman writer-- living or dead-- do you most admire, and why?

It is a terrible thing to have to choose just one...I love so many.
I read mostly women writers, I prefer their slant on things, their insights, the retelling of events...maybe it's a chick thing...I hope that I have not offended anyone but I am being honest.

Jane Austin- She has written many novels which I have thoroughly enjoyed...I love her style and the romance that springs to life from the printed page.
Go here for more about Jane Austin

I am tagging....
LPC at Privilege
The Gardener's Cottage
mette

After visiting Mrs. Trefusis I am now a follower...check her blog out, she's great !

I must be crazy...

I do love a refreshing gin and tonic with a wedge of lime.
The high caloric content of regular tonic does make me think...twice.

I do not enjoy scotch and there is already one Single Malt Scotch lover here in the Humble Bungalow.
Mr.HB prefers Islay scotches above any other, although I have heard him say on numerous occasions..."there's no such thing as a bad scotch"
I do not share that same sentiment when it comes to Gin...Tanqueray and Tanqueray 10 are my brands of choice...although I have had others.

I enjoy wine...mostly whites.
I love an occasional martini...

Dorothy Parker once said "I like to have a martini  2 at the very most. After 3 I'm under the table, and four I'm under the host!"

A good old fashioned G and T ticks all the boxes for me.

I found a healthier tonic, I have sipped it before...but it's been awhile, and I have not been able to find it locally until now.

Nice packaging...

I think that Janet over at The Gardener's Cottage

would appreciate the colours here.

How charming!

....doesn't that sound healthy?

Gasping a little....

Look away Frugal Scholar!

I suppose this is a bit over the top....

am I crazy to have been wooed by the Q?

 which I now firmly believe must stand for The Queen of Tonic.

Family came, we dined and walked to the beach...

Yesterday we had family come from afar to visit and we put on a simple dinner.
Mr. HB's nephew and wife and their 7 year old son....
it's been awhile since we have had an active 7 year old here...
they arrived at 5:30...after a day of shopping, sightseeing, and playing at the park.

I had Brie and Smoked Applewood cheeses, crackers and cerignola olives for appies...
the 7year old, let's call him R...was famished and the Smoked Applewood was a hit!
I served him a glass of sparkling grapefruit which he drank in one sip...and after checking with his mom I gave him a refill.
It turns out he could drink it as fast as I could pour!

He was very active, excited, hopped a lot and chattered on a mile a minute...I was trying to stay one step ahead of him...but he was faster!
Mr. HB disappeared downstairs for the huge tub of Lego...it is one thing we have kept from when our children were young...
I spread out a large blanket on the family room floor and we dumped the entire collection of Lego out...
he made some wonderful flying contraptions which he flew past us as we sat and sipped our cocktails and enjoy a brief conversation before dinner.

As I mentioned, I kept dinner very simple...Caesar salad, Lasagne, garlic bread and cherry pie a la mode.
R love the salad..not the Lasagna, and inhaled the garlic bread! Ate only the ice cream and left the pie...no worries, I offered it and hoped for the best...
it turns out a grilled cheese sandwich would have achieved a 5 star rating.

After dinner R was still extremely energetic and surprisingly still hopping...
Does R stand for Rabbit?
Mr. HB suggested that we go for a walk to the beach...great idea!
The family live in the interior where there are rivers and lakes....no oceans.
R loved it! He was in his element.
He lead us down to the beach wielding a driftwood sword, he made Rules and shouted loudly to the rest of us who followed and had to abide,
we were a very loud and raucous lot as we made our merry way along the stoney beach.

Our group was disturbing the peace, and interrupting the calm and quiet of the people who were relaxing in the after dinner sunshine.
We were the Rabble Rousers...led by a sword wielding, elephant toting 7 year old...
who told me ...that he will be in grade 3 and learning The Times Tables next year.


It was a memorable evening, lots of laughter and smiles as broad as the day is long.
I took lots of photos...
one of my favourites is of his elephant "Stomper"

Tonight all is quiet in the Bungalow...

I've uploaded the photos and emailed them to family....

Kids help us recapture the joys, that as adults, we may have forgotten or lost.

My summer reading

I cannot believe that I have blogged 200 posts...
I hope very much that I have not become too repetative, dull or tedious...
pray do tell if my posts make you snore.

A few days ago I was lamenting about the fact that I have a book that I MUST read for an August workshop "Brain Rules"...the cover does suggest some enlightening information lies within...it sounds  very educational and our staff and local family of schools is embracing, and from what I gather, will be implementing many of the principles next term.

But now I am wearing my holiday hat...and am free to read whatever I fancy.

I have a stack of books that I am ready to dive into...

"Anonymous"
you are wanted to see my list so here it is...

My most recent discovery...

Mavis Cheek,

the Jane Austen of contemporary fiction!

I enjoyed Three Junes by Julia Glass so I am hoping that I See You Everywhere will not disappoint.

The American Au Pair sounds light and fun.

Wally Lamb adds to the mix

 and the idea of inheriting a stunning country home tickled my fancy.

Julia Glass again 

and Mr. HB recommended Loving Frank

about Frank Lloyd Wright and his dramatic life.

Katie Fforde is pure fun

Laurie Graham is a favourite author of mine

I have read all her books except this one.

(I highly recommend her)

Marcia Willett paints lovely pictures with words

I jump right into her books.

Bitter is the New Black sounds somewhat off beat and edgy,

I may not love this one but I am going to try it.

I like to stir things up once in awhile.

Water For Elephants, many book clubs have raved about it and I am rather behind.

The Outcast is set in England and the jacket description sounds a bit like Atonement.

Belonging and Chez Moi are my armchair travels to Europe!

Patti Boyd promises to deliver the goods on "the inner circle" and life with Eric Clapton and George Harrison.

The Highest Tide is set in the Pacific Northwest in and around the islands.

Maybe I will recognize some of the locations.

Tiger Lillie and Hunting and gathering were staff picks at my local used bookstore.

What is on your summer read list?

Canada Day!

I am very late getting to my computer and posting today.

I have been hostessing in the Humble Bungalow.

We had guests from out of town over for a flying visit...

(we had a visit with grandbaby Isla!)

 We walked and saw some local sights of note,

we dined out and sat on an outdoor patio

and walked some more today and took in the Canada Day festivities.

Tonight there will be fireworks!

Happy Canada Day!