OOTD and The Humble Bungalow has a birthday!

The Humble Bungalow Blog is celebrating it's second year in the blogosphere!
528 posts and counting...
no cake or candles to mark the occasion just another post!

What I wore when the skies of the Pacific Northwest opened up and gave us copious amounts of rain.
There was a destination and a mission.
A command performance.
Mother was involved...

Mother and I had a date.

One does not dress down when out with Mother.

She sets the gold standard for dressing

a former nurse

and a fashion boutique manager in her later working life...

she does not dress down

she dresses up

and I do mean everyday.

Always.

Mother can be ill and still be coiffed and comported.

She will have jewelry on and pearls are her mainstay beads.

Baroque and Opera length if you please!

A pashmina will grace her shoulders

hose 

shoes

gloves

a handbag or clutch

it's all part of her ensemble.

I wore my Burberry coat

black ponte trousers

black ballet flats

and I carried my new thrifted Italian ostrich leather bag.

Italian Cecconi Piero Ostrich bag 

a surprising find from the thrift shop.

The frosty greeting that met me in the front garden 

of The Humble Bungalow.

I scraped the windows of the Volvo wagon before driving the block and a half to pick up Mother at her condo.

Seat heaters on...check.

Symphonic music tuned in...check.

Lipstick on...check.

Hair in place...check.

Positive attitude...check.

We went out for a bit of browsing the boutiques 

before tucking into a "wee tea" at a local Tea Room.

A repast that engaged us in a lively dialogue that lasted over an hour...

it might just be our new "go to" spot.

The weather has been quite surprising...

clear and cold 

raining cats and dogs

crisp and freezing 

cold  and  frosty....

Garments are hung by the door ready to be chosen at a moment's notice...

scarves and gloves are everyday items now.

Hand lotion is applied several times a day as the chilly weather makes ones hands dry out.

Sipping warm beverages

and 

taking vitamins are part of everyday life here.

What are you doing to adjust to the new season?

"The Official Fruitcake of the Humble Bungalow"

I am not the fruitcake in question!!

Christmas is coming....
we do not go overboard with material goods but we do bake.
It is a family tradition to bake some festive treats and have them on hand for guests and for gifts.
Mother's Rum Balls and Scottish shortbread are made every year without fail.
I posted these recipes here and here.

Mother has a very traditional fruit cake recipe that she used to make every year and ladle full of rum or brandy for many weeks before serving. It is a dark cake, the same cake that we served at our wedding and the wedding of friends. It was iced with almond paste and was quite heavy.

For the past 10 years I have branched out and broadened my fruit cake horizons and have chosen the Bon Appetit Golden Fruitcake to be "The Official Humble Bungalow Christmas Cake."

(efi recently requested this recipe)

This cake uses dried fruit...
it is not an inexpensive cake to make but it is delicious!

Humble Bungalow Golden Fruitcake
(makes 4 loaves 8 1/2 x 3 1/2 x 2)

Ingredients;

1 7 oz. package Marzipan
1 1/4 c. chopped dried figs
3 c. dried fruit chopped I used ginger, apricots, craisins, pineapple, and pitted dates.
(choose your favourite fruits)
1 c. golden raisins
1/2 c. brandy

1 1/2 c. softened unsalted butter (3 sticks)
1 1/2 c. sugar
1 c. packed brown sugar
8 large free range eggs
1 tbsp. pure vanilla extract
1 tsp. ground cardamom
1 tsp. nutmeg
1/2 tsp. salt
3 c. all purpose flour
1 1/2 c. pine nuts toasted

Cut Marzipan into 1/2 inch cubes, freeze on a plate overnight covered in Saran wrap.
Chop and combine all the fruit and place in a large bowl with the brandy covered on the counter overnight.
Stir frequently.

Toast the pine nuts, cover and set aside.

The next morning...
Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
Butter the pans and set aside.

Beat the butter and sugars together in the bowl of a mixer and beat until light.
(I love my Kitchen Aid, I think of it as my Kitchen MAID!)
Beat eggs in one at a time then add vanilla and the spices.
Slowly add the flour in 4 additions, blending well each time.
Stir in the pine nuts and dried fruit and brandy.
Gently fold in the frozen Marzipan.

Divide the batter among the 4 pans, place on a baking sheet and bake until a tester comes out clean...
about 1 hour and 15 minutes.

Cool completely on wire racks and then wrap and keep in a very cold room or refrigerate.

These make great gifts and look festive wrapped in ribbon with a sprig of fresh holly.

Paired with a glass of sherry this sweet little fruity concoction has great powers of festive restoration.
Before or after shopping and wrapping gifts...
Personally I love a sliver of this cake served with a cup of tea!

I hope that you like this recipe.
If you make it please let me know what you think of it.

If you have a family recipe that you care to share I'd love to have it here.

House dressing...

With the Christmas season approaching I like to add a few touches to The Humble Bungalow.
Living in such a wee space I cannot decorate on a grand scale so I choose a few token touches to add a little of the festive spirit. We purchase a live tree about a week before the 24th and then we really get serious and lay on the shine and sparkle.
In the mean time...

The front door must be dressed and a wreath is a "must have."

 I prefer natural and organic accents.

This will last throughout the season because the climate here is cool to cold.

If you were in a hot spot you'd need to mist this daily.

A small tree which I will wrap in some sparkly garland closer to Christmas

for now it will just be green.

Paper whites

 bulbs of distinction 

they grow tall and bear the prettiest white flowers 

which have a rich and heady perfume.

I use this glass building block for paper whites every year.

The glass beads can be purchased at most home decor stores.

It's busy times here in The Humble Bungalow.

Mr. HB is stringing up the exterior white lights

while I am inside tidying up and doing laundry

(and yes, I'm blogging!)

How are you dressing your home for the season?

Chanel and shopping...

Lovely daughter in law and I tripped the light fantastic and went to the shopping mall to buy some Christmas clothes and toys for the adorable Miss Isla, grand baby extraordinaire.

Our expedition started out at Starbucks for some yuletide lattes...

We found many cute things for her at The Gap
and then we traipsed into the big toy store...
Toys R Us and found a couple of board books and an educational toy.

We also checked out some boots, shoes and lingerie at The Bay...
our very own Canadian store which has been sold to an American conglomerate!

I found some new lip gloss from Chanel...

Rouge Allure Extrait De Gloss

#517  Triomphal

which is

A Limited Edition Christmas Colour.

Rouge Allure Laque

#74 Dynastie

I sat on a tall chair which I had to jump up onto

(I am height challenged so lovely DIL asked if I needed a boost!)

I managed on my own however it was a very ungracious looking move

as I was

laden down with parcels and bundled up in my Burberry quilted coat.

Perched on the chair I was there for all to see as the cosmetician tried several shades

( I think several passers by were very amused!)

after testing, swapping and swiping

we decided on two new colours...

Dynastie is for daytime

the Triomphal is bolder and richer 

perfect for nighttime.

The super glossy one is a bit of a change for me

but it catches the light and will look good in the evening.

Lily was the name of the gal at the counter...

 she added some samples of Chanel No.19 

which is a grassy lighter green scent.

Quite a departure from Mother's signature scent Chanel No. 5.

We were home in time for me to wrap the presents.

This year I have vowed to wrap as I buy...

don't really know why I just feel like it.

Last week I bought Michael Buble's Christmas CD and he does have me in the spirit already!

It's the eve of the weekend here and I hope that your weekend is a dreamy one...

If you are shopping Black Friday Sales

be careful of those bargain hunters

I read in the paper that they can be dangerous.

I'll be posting my Christmas fruitcake soon so stay tuned!

Happy Thanksgiving !

Happy Thanksgiving!

In the US it's Thanksgiving and there will be families and friends gathered together to share in celebrations.
There might be a turkey and the traditional dishes on the menu
or possibly it will be a vegetarian or vegan feast.
It may be simple fare or a gourmet dinner.

You'll probably be dining inside in a heated home,
you might be the hostess or a guest.

Hunger is a something you might never know...
there will be food banks giving out groceries
and organized dinners provided by dedicated volunteers
feeding the homeless and those down on their luck.

Our simple table set for Thanksgiving last year.

However you celebrate I hope that you have an enjoyable day thinking thoughts of gratitude.

You could be volunteering in your community helping the under privileged,
even digging deep into your pockets to help
share some food with someone who is less fortunate.

It is always better to give than to receive....