Friend and artist...Cheryl Fortier

Cheryl Fortier is a BC artist and a personal friend
she spends time in her Vancouver BC studio
and in Auvilar, France as a host for the VCCA

She lives aboard a classic Chris Craft in False Creek
she has a lovely husband, dear friend to mine...
a skilled I.T. guy, photographer, navigator, scotch drinker and wine connoisseur...

Seen here about to partake in fresh Dungeness Crab Cakes...
caught by Mr. HB one of the the best crab hunters and catchers I have known.

The Humble Bungalow Hostess's specialty at anchor...
crab cakes served with my BFF 's amazing ginger dip.

Cheryl is at home on the sea

prawns anyone?

Mr. HB and I have enjoyed many a cruise together with Cheryl and her hubby

theirs is the large Chris Craft 

originally powered by 3 motors

we are the smaller vessel

powered by two

sharing an anchorage 

tied together

going nowhere

and somewhere

sharing time

bobbing

and ebbing

on the tides

Cruising is all about the journey

and we are steering a course

of friendship

                                          We are fortunate to have a few pieces of her work....

Cabbage Island, BC 

I commissioned her paint the Humble Bungalow

 a gift to my husband a few years back for Christmas

she has captured it brilliantly.

                                                         She has been very generous...

 watercolour of a totem 

 Queen Charlotte Islands, BC

which has a place of honour in our dining room

and 

fresh from France

circa 2011

Poppies painted on antique French linen

framed floating in glass

with the Humble Bungalow green paint in the bathroom as a backdrop!

I fell in love...

"still life with apples"

and

wave pattern china

(which we both have and use on our vintage Chris Crafts)

I purchased this on a surprise visit to her studio during the Vancouver Eastside Cultural Crawl.

here she is cooking in the Humble Bungalow

French cuisine

naturally

she's so beautiful...

looking very chic

on a cold winter walk

her smile is bright and genuine

she has a passion for colour 

evidenced in her art

clothing and accessories

she embraces life with zest 

I find that trait enviable and admirable

balanced and strengthened with the practice of Yoga

she embodies grace

and

her spirit is light

 she's started a new blog 

here

please go visit and say hi 

it's her birthday...

say that I sent you!

Happy Birthday Cheryl

Hugs from the Hostess!

Strategies to rise above the bleak and dreary..

January feels like a long month to me...

It is dreary and damp 

I think it has a lot to do with our weather here in the Pacific Northwest...
I am passionate about the contrast of black and white,
whilst the muddy grey of the skies borders on tedious.

We get a huge amount of precipitation and when it's not raining, the clouds and fog hang around.
It feels cold because of all the moisture...makes one feel like cocooning in a shell...or given the opportunity Hibernating!

There are many people who go south to escape...to warmer climates.

This is not an option for me at this time so I have developed some strategies for coping.

I like to see the light when dark is all around..
I seek out bright with every facet of my being...
I turn on lights,
I light a fire to create a spark within to chase away the dim.

I yearn for and seek out colour

in my wardrobe

and more.

I dress in layers and wear cozy cashmere to keep the chill at bay.
Cashmere feels like a soft caress, a wooly hug that snuggles and blankets the skin.

A long scarf works well here as I like to wrap it twice to keep my neck warm...
my neck and feet are the most vulnerable to the damp and feel chilled if they are exposed.

Cashmere socks are wonderful
and I wear them all winter
and often on a very cold night I'll keep them on when I go to bed!

I indulge in baths filled with scented salts and warm water

I close my eyes and breath deeply.

I exfoliate my skin

I love the fresh feeling of softness

and then slather on a rich moisturizer

or I dab on an oil or serum for a "spa effect"

I leisurely peruse magazines while sipping a blended tea...

loose tea leaves add that little extra punch of flavour...

and a little goes a long way.

I like to window shop the sales

and look at new stock for spring and summer.

Taking in an art exhibit or a gallery showing.

Listening to music while actioning domestics 

dressed in my Yoga gear 

for ease of movement and comfort.

Sadly the Bungalow garden is rather dormant at this time of year
so the roses are asleep...their bushes bear rose hips.

I purchase flowers and bring some sunny cheer indoors...

Primulas are plentiful and very inexpensive
and can be planted outside in the garden after they have finished blooming.

I dig deep in the recipe box for comfort food recipes

 a delicious way of nourishing ones self and ones soul.

The joy of preparing a simple meal and the anticipation of the taste

sustain and nurture my core.

Dinner of roasted veggies and a free range organic chicken with gravy

smells good while cooking and tastes even better from the plate!

Trying new recipes from cookbooks borrowed from friends or the library...

online sources are plentiful too.

I like to start the day with a warm breakfast 

something with "staying power"

I top mine with a small amount of Canadian maple syrup.

Pay attention and add some colour to the everyday routines

a pretty cup and saucer for taking tea

makes it taste better 

eye candy

goes a long long way.

I like to reread this book as I garner strength and wisdom through another woman's journey

her desperation and the solace she seeks

eloquently described using simple props from nature.

Anne Morrow Lindberg's A Gift From the Sea 

if you haven't read it 

please do...

Maintain and engage in friendships

a telephone call, 

a walk 

 sharing a coffee

going to the cinema

shopping

connecting with others is paramount for ones health

 friends enrich and elevate my days

and I am grateful for them.

Plan to bring some joy into your day

and get to know what makes you happy

Embrace, radiate and shine 

spread light

so others can see.

If you are feeling blue, get outdoors for a walk

or volunteer your services at a local agency in your community

there are so many people in need.

What strategies do you employ to brighten and illuminate your days?

I've been tagged.....and 5 more...

Deja Pseu has listed the 5 things that she does not leave home without and now she has tagged me.

5 things that I don't leave home without...

# 1. House keys (and car keys if I plan to drive)

#2. My cellphone (for emergencies only)

#3. Kleenex...when I go for my walks especially!

#4. Glasses...reading and sunglasses if it's sunny.

#5. Suitable clothing ( that's a given!)  foundation, mascara, and lip gloss...wallet and/or handbag.

Looks like a lot more than 5...

Now to tag other bloggers...which I find tricky

if I mention your blog 

please do not feel that you need to respond,

only do so if you would enjoy sharing!

Collage of life

Gardening in High Heels

How to be Chic

Moonlight Reflections

The Rich Life (on a budget)

Soups on.....

What could be better than supping on soup on a cold winter day?

Ina has persuaded me to embrace my Inner French Girl...

put on an apron and COOK!

I made this and it is tasty

so great that I am adding it to my repertoire

I could serve this to company

it is guest worthy...

just add bread.

Ina uses a food mill and I cheat with this contraption

works a treat

easy clean up

so I am done in half the time.

Soup is soul food

it warms and comforts all that ails

very affordable

a great tonic to the over indulgence of the holidays

easy to take to work for lunches

freeze in smaller batches for nights when you need to pull off something fast and easy

and make it look like you've been toiling all day

as Martha would say...

they're a good thing!

Look for some opportunities to bring comfort to someone this weekend...

be it a bowl of homemade soup

cookies

  running an errand for a senior that lives alone

 calling a family member that you have been neglecting

cheering up a friend 

helping out at your local soup kitchen

you will feel better for it...

Textures in fashion...

Wardrobe basics can be more fun when a little twist comes into play...
I like to add a variety of textures.

as seen here in the Burberry jacket

or a scarf and pearls

a hand knit sweater

a black sequin Tee 

Jones of NY knit sweater 

 shiny silver woven belt

thick sturdy Dolce and Gabbana belt

and for your best fashion accessory

your face

superior rose oil by Dr. Hauschka

I use and love this

the fragrance of roses

and 

 the dewy emollience

are such a happy mix.

the sun looks good on this carpet

but it is your skins worst enemy

take care to protect your skin

and stay out of the sun for prolonged periods

“A beautiful thing is never perfect.”

A designer knows he has achieved perfection, not when there is nothing left to add, but when there is nothing left to take away.