There's a man in my kitchen....

Several nights ago there was a man in my kitchen...
and he cooked his way into my heart, yet again.

Mr. HB loves pasta and this love found him cooking up a feast...
he has a fabulous recipe Pasta al Sugo which he discovered watching a PBS Cooks out of Seattle, Washington.
He has made this before for me and it is a winner!

 recipe architect style

Mr. HB at work

olive oil

Marinara Sauce

full bodied red wine

 crusty baguette

Portobello mushrooms, tenderloin of beef,

Marinara sauce, garlic, beef stock, and red wine

all simmering happily in a large pan

(he used our LeCreuset wok)

Pasta cooked until al dente in another pot and added to the sauce.

stir and add in a ladle full of pasta water

top with fresh basil and grated parmesan cheese

serve in a large bowl

Harumi Ota's porcelain is perfect for this

light the candles

pour the wine

(camera image in Reidel glass purely unintended)

dinner is served

Yummy 

darling if you are reading this...

XO

Hermes!

Linda in Chile recently visited a Hermes shop and although she really wanted to purchase a scarf she thought better of it and came out empty handed...
Linda has asked me to post a picture of one of mine to help her feel better...I hope this works!

I like the packaging and keep all the ribbons tags and boxes.

Vintage Hermes

artist designer Hubert de Watrigant

This very equestrian influenced scarf was purchased in a local shop not a Hermes boutique.

I didn't wear this one as much as I felt I should /could have... 

last week when my daughter was over for dinner and to do her laundry

I asked her if she'd like it

YES!

 a gift from a mother to daughter on the occasion of her new job

I have wandered into Hermes shops and come out without spending a dime...
I always have a good look around...it's free!
and more recently I came out with my current scent Voyage d' Hermes.

Browsing in high end shops is a great way to check out luxe looks.
I pay close attention to details and fabrics.
I often go shopping in a well stocked consignment or thrift shop seeking out pieces that can be had for a song...
I wore many different scarves long before my first Hermes.
I would suggest looking for silk, larger squares with hand rolled edges and choose a colour and print that "sing to you" practise tying as seen here at deja pseu's blog

When and if you are in a position to splurge, I say do some homework and when you are ready just go for it and buy what makes your heart beat a little faster.

It has been my experience that I enjoy wearing mine and every time I put one on it stirs up the memories associated with the purchase...my husband Mr. HB has been by my side, smiling!
He does know a thing or two on how to keep me happy...this is the luxe trick
the other is cooking for me...
stay tuned for the next post!

Thinking pink...

The sun has graced us with her presence and I am thinking warm thoughts...
sounds heard here in the Bungalow are that of the washer and dryer as they chug and whirr through their cycles.

I find that quiet is very restorative and the relative silence offers up gifts...
if you listen
opportunities to see intricate details,
to think peaceful thoughts,
to create,
to imagine,
to explore

today my camera found it's way into my hands...
and I went walkabout in the lower level of the Humble Bungalow
and behold...

Christmas cactus blooming now

residing in a vintage garage sale 

 Chinoserie planter

looking very relaxed

pointing something out...

it must be the birds that they notice

 I see beads of moisture...

water droplets!

beautiful details

if only you look

various shades of pink

perhaps, I think

pink perfection

Flea Market Find

antique bowl with staple repairs

 perhaps, I think

pink imperfection

...smiling from here on a sunny day....

How about you?

The Humble Bungalow circa 2010....

Some of you were asking to see the interior of the Humble Bungalow and back almost a year ago when I commenced the foray into the blog world of cyberspace I did post some images.
I chose the name Humble because our Bungalow is small in size and is simply decorated with finds from years of collecting.
Our furniture consists of mostly generic arts and crafts quarter sawn oak pieces...not the high end name brands. One exception is the Stickley bookcase which was a gift from my grandmother.

I am somewhat tentative showing these as I see so many beautifully arranged and decorated homes on blogs that are so magazine worthy...bear in mind that we live a simple life, our home from 1913 is mostly  in it's original state with updates to the kitchen and bathroom. The floors are worn, and the woodwork on the wainscotting has seen better days.
I do not have a large space to display things but have a large collection of "stuff"
In the early years here in the Bungalow I dreamed of owning a large arts and crafts home with ample storage!
I think subconsciously I prepared myself for the move up...so I over bought and collected things for the future larger home. We never did make the move and now we have ample space for the two of us...it's our starter and our retirement home.

The Humble Bungalow... naked and baring all her flaws...

The Living Room

Entry hall

The Dining Room

 forgot to remove my Tory Burch handbag 

from the chair

VanBriggle pieces

An arts and crafts cabinet from a local estate sale,

this early purchase necessitated budget stretching meals for awhile!

Bench seat opens for storage

 from dining room looking east

teensy bedroom

dwarfed by a queen sized bed

we had to graduate from the double a few years ago

modern Stickley lingerie chest

home to

knickers and lacy unmentionables

tab pocket curtains hide all our clothes

wee space = small wardrobes

Bathroom

creative storage

dark green walls

Kitchen upgraded in a sympathetic manner

where I spend many hours

where I spend many hours...

reading and writing

power bar and cords have been moved up 

as Pepper has decided that they are a tasty chew

I have omitted the family room as it is currently Pepper's kingdom

and she has toys strewn hither thither and 'yon...

also the lower level

guest room hobby room 

horribly scary bathroom and laundry area

which are on my wish list for updating.

see a former post here...

oh and to answer the question...

I ordered my French Market Basket from Victorian Trading Co.

they are online and also have a catalogue.

I've been very nauti...

charting a course...

plotting

&

measuring

making plans

the laws of attraction...

landmarks and signposts along the way

guiding lights...

what's in a name?

new footwear

 boots 

"nauti" 

but nice

buckle up

I went shopping and Hunter boots were on sale...

I decided that now was the time to buy the bespoke boots.

I have wanted a pair of Hunters for a few years...

I sat down while the clerk went to fetch my size

I was mulling over what colour to buy...

red, classic green, black...

 I have sad news...they did not feel at all comfortable

I cannot believe it...but it is true.

they wobbled when I walked and they were too tall for my short legs!

the shorter version were not at all on my radar so...

I said goodbye to Hunters

and Hello

to SPERRY'S

these are so comfortable

 and just a tad shorter so they feel great!

I'll be puddle jumping happy when the rain falls

and it will

it has been raining for days

but not today...

the box is getting recycled

just as soon as Pepper is finished with it!