Eating like a French Femme

Baby it's cold outside and there is nothing more soothing than a bowl of homemade soup.
Not only does the Bungalow take on a scent that tempts ones taste buds it actually fills the rooms with a cozy warmth.

Soup season is upon us and I bought a very large sack of onions at the Market which were such an amazing price that they virtually crawled in the cart all by themselves.

Dinner is economical when you take the time to prepare it from scratch

I find the process very therapeutic.

I cried a little slicing these strong onions!

They were happy tears...

The sweetness of the onions come out when they gently sizzle in the pan.

I do not own individual onion soup bowls so I used what I had on hand.

The slices of French bread go in first then top with soup and the grated cheese last.

They float to the top and I popped them under the broiler until the cheese was melted.

French Onion Soup 

by

Jules Breteuil

made by The Hostess

Update on the Hostess Health Regime...

now would be a good time to click off if you are bored by these small accomplishments...

I have not lost any more weight but the good news is that my shape is changing

which is very encouraging...

the belly fat seems to be shrinking

my calves are getting bigger

my hips smaller

I am only weighing in once a week to avoid being compulsive as it's not ALL about the weight

it's really more about having more energy and feeling healthy.

My BFF shared a breakfast cereal recipe with me that I think is wonderful.

It is based on the Skinny B cereal which is quite expensive so clever gal that she is

she made her own.

Like my BFF 

(she is wise and seriously savvy)

I did the same.

Copycat that I am!

Here's the basic formula;

1 cup organic buckwheat

1 cup organic chia

1 cup hulled hemp hearts

(optional additives are dried cranberries and pumpkin seeds)

Put 2 tablespoons in a bowl and 4 tablespoons water, juice or milk let sit 5 minutes 

top with 2 tablespoons Greek yogurt

and fruit

whatever you have on hand.

It sticks with you and has a great nutty flavour 

and is a super source of Omegas and fiber.

Keeps the blood sugar levels stable too.

Store this in the fridge for maximum freshness.

Thank you for dropping by today...

I heard on the news that there are over 200,000 active blogs on the net!

I am so grateful that you decided to pop in for a visit.

Now go off and seize what the day has to offer up to you.

Hostess

XO

Waterfront walking the Hostess's route...

It was an early walk the morning that I snapped these images...
I struggled getting up the nerve as it was raining cats and dogs.

By the time I had negotiated the first few blocks there was a clearing in the weather and things improved immensely.

Good morning Sunshine!

I should have worn my sunglasses

it was really bright after the sun peeked through the clouds.

I was alone on the seafront

the only sounds were of gulls as they dipped and dove.

I wore my hair up in a messy up do to camouflage the fact that I hadn't styled it at all.

I wore my old grey LuLu Yoga pants

yoga top and down jacket.

Not one speck of glamour could be seen in this ensemble.

I wasn't looking for glamour

 walking and hoping for some health benefits.

The ocean calm with just a hint of a ripple on the rocky shore.

A feast for the eyes...

soaking in beauty is calorie free!

Kelp looking very much like a twisted mass of noodles.

A spot of pink

wild rose

damp with raindrops.

Hope that your are having a great start to your week.

Try and keep hydrated

and if you are on this journey to wellness with me

I hope that you are feeling positive about your regime.

Boo! it's Halloween

Halloween is here and I am excited to see all the wee children in their costumes.
They come knocking on the Humble Bungalow front door for treats.
Choruses of "trick or treat" are often shouted loudly before I even get the door open!
The event starts early around dinner time and we usually call it a night by 9 pm it's lights out.
We have never run out of candy before and I always worry that I haven't bought enough.
Some of my co workers get several hundred children, we usually have around 25 and if the weather is really inclement we may have as few as 10.

Our Jack o' Lantern is carved with jagged teeth

and spooky eyes.

Nothing very artsy, just the run of the mill pumpkin face

as in the past years when the kids were home we'd all take turns carving

and it was a group effort.

This year I was the sole carver.

I decorated the front porch while Mr. HB went to Home Depot to see about our new shower.

The reno is in full swing and taking up a lot of Mr. HB's time and expertise.

I am trying to keep the dust to a minimum

and sweep after each work session...

I am not very handy

but I can clean and am a passable painter

so my job is to keep the crew fed!

I hope the little ones are not scared tonight.

We've got a big bowl of candy to give out and I confess that I have snuck a few sweets myself

and I KNOW they are not allowed on my diet but I did it anyway!

I was hoping for a black cat but I had to settle for this black crow instead.

This black Mondo grass is thriving in the front yard.

I planted two this fall and have nestled them between 3 limelight hydrangeas.

The garden is looking like it's ready to turn in for the season and slumber until next Spring.

Which is fine by me because I am ready to sink my teeth into some new books.

We have a great used bookstore in the village

and I walked down there yesterday for some fresh air and a little book browsing.

I didn't come home empty handed so these will be added to the stack of books

that I have waiting for me to read.

I have been giving away books like nobody's business.

No storage means less clutter.

In keeping with the spooky theme here's 

Thriller 

I remember when it first came out 

how impressed I was by the choreography and the special effects.

It's still worth watching.

Happy Halloween!

Bungalow memories...The Plant family.

The Humble Bungalow has many faces and the one that it is showing right now is sunny yellow.
Happily the sun is shining and the light is streaming in the windows.
The plants are putting on a performance as well.

White Christmas Cactus 

This Asian planter was a gift from the son of Mrs. Plant 

she was the longest resident of the Bungalow.

She was a widow and earned her living by taking in sewing 

and working as a seamstress at one of the better shops in the city.

She raised 3 children single handedly which back in the 30's and 40's would have been a struggle.

She had a small Victory Garden in the back yard, a King apple tree and black berry bushes.

Most of the garden had grown wild by the time we came to buy it and it took us several years to "tame it."

She had passed away a few years before we bought the house.

I researched the previous owners using the city's archives and found her son listed in the local directory.

I sent him a note and asked if he had any photo's which he did and would bring a few along for us to peruse when we got together.

We had Mr. and Mrs. Plant over for tea 

they also brought this lovely planter which had been a favourite of Mrs. Plant.

They provided us with the addresses of the two daughters who had married and moved to the United States. We corresponded for a few years until such time that they were in town and they popped by for a cup of tea and a tour.

I wish that I had taken pictures of all of us together but I was so excited to meet them that I completely was lost in the conversation and their impressions and memories of their childhood home.

The planter had a healthy plant in it at the time of their visit which unfortunately I managed to kill after a few months!

 I have much better luck with Christmas cactus plants.

Outside the garden is fading and the last flush of the roses are blooming.

Pretty in Pink

Nerine Bowdenii

a fall favourite.

Mrs. Plant

in front of The Humble Bungalow

which will be 100 years old in 2012.

Wishing you a wonderful weekend.

What are your plans?

I'll be walking outside in the crisp salty air

cleaning in and around the Bungalow

and 

reading 

The Beach House

 by Jane Green.

What to do with a Little BS?

I have a little BS...
no I am not being rude it's hanging in the closet.
Rubbing up to my LBD's...

Spanner retail originally $120

on sale for $25

This little Black Skirt will be the basis of many an outfit

I could tell immediately when I put it on that it was coming home with me.

I had the cash in my wallet and had party on the brain.

In fact I thought of a bohemian cameleon when I twirled in this flirty skirt.

Yes, Mother was there egging me on...

"birds of a feather flock together"

I can see this paired with my white tank top and black cashmere sweater

with three strands of pearl necklaces wrapped and roped about the neck.

My hair in a messy up do

dangly earrings.

A denim jacket would be fun 

would add a casual feel 

especially if worn with some boots.

I've got several black jersey knit tops too which would be 

oh so after 5

another up do and some bling.

I have a sequined black tee top and some Swarovski crystal encrusted mules

a shantung silk jacket

I'm ready for the theatre.

I own a crisp white shirt too which might be fun to play around with...

business meets pleasure

a camisole beneath

shirt cuffs rolled up

collar points up

hair worn down

simple pearl studs

and an armful of bangles

bow toed Stuart Weitzman shoes.

I have some netted mesh hose in black

a man's felt hat

a drawer full of scarves

belts

bangles 

baubles

and 

bows.

Can you tell that I am having fun?

I have only just begun!

What would you choose to wear with this LBS?

(how curious LBS = pounds)

Lost so far...4 LBS

My Plate at Livestrong is really helping!

What have you been up to?

I don't even want to mention my health

I'm so bored of Kleenex

and cough drops...

Tell me about YOU!

please embellish and do not spare any detail!

You have the power to heal...

I'm ready...

fire away!