Humble Bungalow Domestics...France, Friends and Tea Time

A house guest will be arriving soon
so I have been busy prepping
and tidying the Humble Bungalow.

The warrior glove

protector 

and 

 friend of the Hostess.

I put hand lotion on before donning these gloves 

and my hands and cuticles get a moisture treatment 

which is activated by the cleaning action.

At rest

Oranges were on special at the Market 

I bought a mesh bag full

seedless and sweet 

and they look so cheerful in the bowl

I like to have some tea bread or a loaf on hand for tea time

I am looking forward to some friendly chats 

while taking tea 

with my guest.

The internet is such a handy resource 

It is especially great for recipes

I typed in 

orange-raisin-loaf

and found this recipe

here at ifood

baking in the oven 

scenting the kitchen with orange

the dishes are air drying

 recent books and DVD's that I have been reading and watching

Priceless was a cute film

Audrey Tatou is charming

A French movie with subtitles

in one scene there is a song playing 

in English 

and the lyrics are printed in English as subtitles!

Vicki Archer's book is a feast for the eyes

she has a fabulous blog 

full of lush images.

I gave her newest book French Essence as a Christmas gift this year to a dear friend.

I snuck a peek before I wrapped it up and the images are so beautiful

Vicki has a great artistic eye for details.

French Toast by Harriet Welty Rochefort

is a peek inside life from an American woman's perspective as she marries into a French family.

Her website offers a lot of great tips and information.

Words in a French Life by Kristin Espinasse

was inspired by the blog

french word a day

Lunch in Paris 

by Elizabeth Bard

is entertaining and funny 

 French recipes are included with each chapter of the book

and they look delicious!

read more here

Orange Raisin Loaf

I am brewing a pot of my favourite tea

I use a variety of loose and herbal teas

this one tops my list for flavour

Ingredients: 

Ceylon and Chinese black teas, 

bergamot essence, vanilla beans and essence.

Silk Road Tea Company

Enjoy your weekend whatever you do

maybe like me you'll be enjoying a friendly conversation with a friend

and sharing a cup of Tea!

I am 56, with a grey hair dilemma and can you believe it I am still making mud pies

I  am 56 and I have been playing with paint....
again
I graduated from kindergarten so many years ago and here I stand at an easel and it all comes flooding back to me...
is that youth calling?

"Raindrops on Roses"

Creative urges are not to be ignored as they can be fleeting...they come in fits and starts.
Not unlike actioning Spring Cleaning, window washing or sorting out a closet or junk drawer.

When the urge strikes I act...
I reworked a painting I did over a year ago...
I didn't like the first one and I am not too sure that the reworked one is "finished" or to my liking...
an artist I am not,
merely a woman unleashed
in a room with tubes of paint, brushes and canvas...
with the overpowering urge to play
with paint.

It is like making mud pies...

I don't "think" about what I am doing...
I "feel" it.
I am not asking for judgement or praise here...
It has taken me a long time to feel comfortable enough to expose these forays into acrylics
enough already...

Onto a New topic...
no segue...

Have you ever had a Bad Hair Day?
I caught sight of myself today and gasped....
I need a 911 rescue call for my overprocessed hair.
I have been having highlights for quite some time...(hiding the grey tinsel strands)
My hair is naturally dark brown...and my hairdresser suggested highlights as an option for a graceful way of aging...
she is very talented at her craft
but I am seriously considering letting nature take it's course.

What do you think about greying?

Are you sprinkled with grey or totally grey?
Do you feel old with grey hair?
Do you embrace your greys?
Do you dye it all one colour? Have highlights?

Just curious...
I have an appointment soon and am considering my options....

If you have been following the blog for awhile you might remember my commenting on our school secretary...
she is the one who has breast cancer...
she came in for that Meet The Babies Shower and was wearing a really cute red pixie styled wig.....
she is so thin it took me by surprise and I am hoping that my eyes did not register the shock I felt inside.

I think I held her too long in a hug that was meant to be friendly...awkward moment.

Her smile was as beamy as could be...she is one of the bravest women I have ever met.

I feel so ridiculous lamenting about my hair while she struggles on with chemo and has had to buy a wig.

Go get a mammogram ladies...
mark your calendars and do you monthly exams
please and go for the "squish test" it's important...

Did you know that BC is a leader in Breast Cancer Screening?

Hugs in Health,
Hostess
XO

Hostess Whites...and links to whites should you choose to go there.

White Wednesday is challenging...
I love black with white and there is a surprising amount of black here in the Bungalow...
Hermes, Breadtins, teacups....and beyond.

White Wednesdays may not be around long here!

Abyss towels

thick and absorbant

and Bungalow Basics

bath salts and soap

Super emollient skincare

the in house favourite

by

Dr. Hauschka

Canadian 

Guelph Ontario Soap Co.

Scented bath salts

go here for the recipe

Fragrant organic 

Lavender Orange Lotion

by

 Island Essentials

St. Geneve

soft and silky chemise

cool and sumptuous

(oops look away, it needs ironing!)

Home of the Hutterite Down Duvet

LaJord

the duvet which keeps us cozy here in the Bungalow.

 Oar

distressed

 hanging about in the guest room

which has a slight beachy theme...

Bowl of white roses

on a black background

I ask you...

would an all white painting be interesting

or 

would it be a canvas awaiting a smattering of colour?

 Hostess

XO

Chill chasing soup...

BRRR..... it feels cold here in the Bungalow
it's been raining all day
grey skies
puddles
gutters gurgling
raindrops on the window panes.

I am longing for sunshine and heat!

A lot of domestics were accomplished inside the Bungalow...
no sitting around pouting or thinking of saddness...
picking up a duster and sweeping away the cobwebs
the Garden will have to wait for better weather...
it'll wait!

Mother and I went out shopping and errands and I came home chilled to the bone...
the damp is rising...

After a pot of tea I was still chilly so I put on my green cashmere Club Monaco scarf
and cranked up the heat. Whatever did people do before central heating?

What is needed is a bowl of some chill chasing soup.

The trusty Soup book

which I use as a guideline

Lucky for me that I had this huge cauliflower on hand.

Spices

Herbs de Provence 

Salt and Pepper

loosely measure

taste later and add more if needed

cook the cauliflower in the broth until soft

20 minutes

Braun Master

purees the soup while in the pot

no need for the food processor when this guy is on the job!

When I tasted the soup it was bland-ish

so I added some curry powder

about 1 and 1/2 Tablespoons was enough.

(heat on the inside)

Simmer for another 30 minutes

I served this with some grilled cheese sandwiches

(comfort food)

A hot bath in Epsom Salts

 a warm bed cozy under the duvet

 a good book 

are also excellent chill chasers.

Outfit of the day

OOTD

Ballet Flats Me Too

Ponte knit black leggings Cleo

Cashmere Tunic top in dark grey BCBG

(warm and cozy)

Vintage pin

Baroque pearl

black onyx

and 

rhinestones

(a gift from lovely daughter)

Hair half up

full face forward to greet the day

close up 

a little sparkle to chase the chill

All strategies to illuminate the day 

and to be warm and cozy when nature is sending us winds and rain.

Sending you warm thoughts and wishes

Hugs

from the Hostess

Lunch and other things...

Clothes Shopping is a regular and common practice for myself...it's almost a hobby.
Mr. HB takes shopping seriously, it's something more of a chore or a job that must be tackled.
He does a major shop twice a year and buys in bulk...trousers, shirts, ties and jackets.
All are put together in a mix and match fashion which can be worn for the next 6 months (at least).

He has a lot of meetings so he must look pulled together;  he is a partner in the firm and does have to look professional, which of course he does with his creative and arty eye and my love of shopping.

We went shopping this weekend and he did not find much to his liking.
He did buy 2 shirts and some casual wear...so another trip for business attire will be coming soon.

After traipsing about many shops he suggested lunch and I jumped at the chance!
One of his favourite foods is pasta and we were fortunate enough to find a table available at our favourite pasta place on the way home.

Mr. HB's Pasta Bolognese

he had a glass of locally brewed beer with this

Hostess's Penne with Peas and Gorgonzola

I indulged in a glass of Bacchus 

from a Cowichan Valley Vineyard

It was a delicious lunch 

when we came home we were both very sleepy!

This casual shirt exudes warm weather and says vacation to me.

Simple blue linen short sleeved shirt

I can see both of these worn aboard the Chris Craft 

or  lunching in a quaint seaside cafe.

Look at this postcard 

it is from the lovely blogger 

Jeanne

While Mr. HB napped with his current novel in hand

I read through recent magazines.

Pepper lay beside me in a patch of sunshine.

A day off to relax is so important

a day to spend

with someone you love

be it a friend

or 

family

 a day to focus

nurture 

and 

indulge

or

perhaps

spend it

helping others

ever mindfull

that we all must pay our dues.