Say Cheese

"Say cheese"...

Cheese is one of the basics I keep on hand in the fridge,
it's a quick and easy snack.
Cut it up and serve it with an apple, pop it on a cracker, melt it on bread, grate it on top of a fresh salad...
it's very versatile.

It's full of fat and that may explain my current shape
I also know it has calcium which is good for aging bones...
combined with daily walks I hope that I am warding off brittle bones.

I was not a regular Costco shopper until a friend showed me the great cheeses that she purchased at even better prices. I now go to Costco every 3 months mostly for cheese.

Behold the latest cheeses...

Large blocks with lots of time before the "best before" dates.

Perfect to have on hand for unexpected guests

I always stock olives, crackers and dried apricots 

which make up a quick and tasty platter

served with a glass of bubbly or white wine.

As I sit at my laptop and type...

I am currently doing laundry and cleaning the oven.

The oven is self cleaning so I can relax with a cup of tea

while sitting in the sunny Bungalow kitchen.

rays of spring sunshine

Modern Family

my current favorite TV comedy.

Mr. HB gave me the second season 

we have the first one

we regularly laugh out loud when viewing the episodes.

"Laughter is great medicine"

Laughter is good for your health

Laughter relaxes the whole body. A good, hearty laugh relieves physical tension and stress, leaving your muscles relaxed for up to 45 minutes after.

Laughter boosts the immune system. Laughter decreases stress hormones and increases immune cells and infection-fighting antibodies, thus improving your resistance to disease.

Laughter triggers the release of endorphins, the body’s natural feel-good chemicals. Endorphins promote an overall sense of well-being and can even temporarily relieve pain.

Laughter protects the heart. Laughter improves the function of blood vessels and increases blood flow, which can help protect you against a heart attack and other cardiovascular problems.

This information was found here.

American Bungalow

we have every issue ever printed

we visited their office when we went to California.

Those were the days when they were a smaller company and worked out of an arts and crafts bungalow in Pasadena.

Our Humble Bungalow was featured in the Family Album section many years ago

we are a Canadian Bungalow and they graciously extended their hospitality to us.

MOO!

Are you in need of a hard working hand lotion?

This one is fabulous.

I wash my hands often working in a school

 so I know what dry chapped hands are all about

this one works miracles.

Don't just take my word for it

 try it and see for yourself.

(no remuneration was offered by the company this is my personal rave review)

The Bungalow is scented with Verbena 

I open windows, run the fan and light a candle when the self clean oven is on

or we are reminded of the roast beef Sunday dinners...

Once Mr. HB came home after I had cleaned the oven 

and when he got in the door he thought we were having roast beef on a weeknight!

I wonder what he'll think when he is welcomed home with Verbena cooking!

I have no idea what we are going to have for dinner as the oven is still "locked" and it's nearly 6 o'clock.

It might be take out tonight!

Birthday Bling a weekend review....

So it's been my birthday weekend.
I am now officially 57 years "young"
sounds much better than saying 57 years "old."

The vintage rhinestone necklace I ordered from Ruby Lane Antiques arrived
I wore it out to dinner...
Sparkles + Twinkles = Bling.

To start the weekend celebrations we dined out Friday at a fabulous French Bistro.
The memory of that tasty meal is still ever so clear in my mind....

French 75 for the Hostess and a martini for Mr. HB...
we started with French Onion Soup,
followed by steak, mushrooms and pommes frites for the main course,
Creme Brulee with two spoons for dessert.
Coffee for Mr. HB and I sipped wine and water as I planned to enjoy a sleep in and caffeine affects my slumber.

French Red Wine

Sterling our waiter, 

recommended a Cotes du Rhone variety.

Fountain 

flooded in a fuchsia light

I snapped this image on my IPhone as we waited for the cab to arrive.

( Faux Fuchsia might like this)

I sent her a copy

 I sent her the Pho Fuchsia eatery from Seattle a few years ago 

and she posted the image on her sidebar.

If you've never been a visitor to her blog you'll be impressed...

she's a busy mom and a lawyer with incredible taste in home decor, food and fashion.

When we got home Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band were on Jimmy Fallon,
we watched our Boss work his magic. We are huge fans!

Saturday lunch with Mother...

I'd dare not show up wearing too much Bling...

I dressed sedately in a black knit skirt, boots, a cashmere sweater, Hermes scarf.

No reason to alarm her at her age.

Saturday evening and it's dinner with friends...
I wore the sparkly choker with
Gap wide legged jeans, black tank top, black long knit sweater and kitten heels.

Janet author of The Gardener's Cottage would have been glued to the TV as Jack White was on SNL.
How was it Janet?
We taped it and will watch it sometime this week.

If you haven't met Janet yet pop by for a visit and say Hi for me.
She embraces frugality and minimalism, gardens, practices Yoga and she's a drop dead gorgeous esthetician who looks far too young to be a grandmother!

Mr. HB designed the paper that he wrapped my gift in...

he's so clever!

Lovely delicate orchid blooms.

I am going to put my feet up and relax 

with In Style and a cup of tea...

It's been a busy weekend

filled with wonderful birthday celebrations

a I feel so Happy.

Thank you

from your 

Humble Hostess

XO

How are things going with you?

Tell me everything...

Say goodbye to that grumpy Hostess!

Gosh I feel like a new woman.
(Would that be something my husband might say?)

The skies were bright blue and there were puffy cotton white clouds as far as the eye could see.
The sun was shining and the birds were chirping, it was warmer and I felt a huge weight lifted off....
if only the scale would agree!

I bought flowers and went shopping and I didn't break the budget.
Exercising frugality has become a way of life.

Primulas are plentiful at this time of year

they are cheap and cheerful

"good for what ails you"

their sunny little faces remind me of pansies

the edges are delicate 

as if a water colour artist had painted them by hand...

the yellow variety have a scent

they are the only ones to have a fragrance

a trio for the front porch

can you see the sunshine in those wee flowers?

I can.

a rather nautical hooded top

with a blue tank underneath

(both pieces are from Joe and cost $22)

Joe Mimran of Pink Tartan designs this clothing line 

sold at Superstore 

the Weston family's retail giant.

a soft blush of pink

tank and sweater

both from Joe $26

I spent $5 on 5 primula plants

less than $50 for 4 pieces of clothing

and 

I'd have to say I feel like a new woman!

So say goodbye to that Grumpy Hostess and Hello to Happy!

I wonder what Mr. HB will say when he reads my blog opening sentence!

I'll be celebrating my birthday this weekend and dining with friends.

What will you be doing?

Snowdrops...

Here's the Humble Bungalow front porch

the chairs stay out all winter 

while their cream cushions hibernate inside.

I am so longing for a warm patch of sunny weather.

It snowed last weekend and has been chilly

I've needed to wear a 

down coat, boots and gloves.

I admit that I am feeling a wee bit tired and grumpy.

Mighty oaks line this byway...

walking in this neighbourhood of old homes and granite walls

one can glimpse lovely gardens carefully tended year round.

A carpet of snowdrops 'neath the oaks...

there was a garden maintenance company tending this garden.

one of my dreams

 is to have a bed this lush and full of snowdrops...

and while we're dreaming...

I wouldn't mind having a gardener

someone who could do the heavy work 

the serious digging.

Coincidentally 

this dreamy magazine was in the mailbox when I got home.

Beth Chatto came and spoke to our Horticultural Society many moons ago

she was an animated and educated woman whose passion for gardens was inspiring and contagious.

I really must go back to the Society as it was such a wonderful group of eccentrics

who shared knowledge and plant snips and enjoyed guest speakers from around the globe.

I held the job of membership chairperson

 which at the time had 1200 members

I was responsible for the collection of fees, typing up the addresses and mailing out the newsletter.

A group of 8-10 volunteers, all women,

 would meet here in The Humble Bungalow once a month 

we'd stuff 1200 envelopes, lick stamps 

and chatter at the dining table.

The kettle was on and tea was sipped...

"china service"

home baked goodies were consumed

and often toddlers would be rushing about.

I remember fondly the crumbs and chaos of toys 

and quiet after the ladies left...

then it was time to clean up and beetle off to deposit the letters in the post.

Good times!

Gardens Illustrated is a fabulous publication

I treat myself to an annual subscription

if you love to garden peruse one of these issues and you'll see why it's worth buying.

(and we gardeners are a very frugal lot)

Rare Irish snowdrops.

Wow this is a snowdrop!

"Hill Poe"

a late bloomer

discovered in 1911 in the garden at Riverton County, Tipperary.

While on my walk I passed by the flower shop and bought a bunch of flowers.

Parrot tulips

in

chartreuse and white.

Inspired by the snowdrops.

not quite open

I am dreaming of snowdrops

and Spring...

 I need to snap out of this cold weather funk.

Is it time to go out and buy something truly frivolous

or eat some quality chocolate?

What would you do?

Here comes Pepper

I think she's freaked out by the gale force winds that are pummeling the Bungalow

the 100 year old windows are rattling and the gusts are coming through the cracks!

I'd better go.

Tell me what's the weather like where you are?

Thanks for stopping by and spending some time with me here in The Humble Bungalow

I wouldn't be here if you didn't pop in now and again...

Hostess

XO

Chemise please!

The weather has been positively beastly and grey and dull and I needed to seek out some comfort and colour.

I've been very frugal lately because we have the renovation underway and there really isn't anything I "need"
well there is one thing!
So I popped on my grey and black feline printed scarf (the one from my tying tutorial) and my grey duffel coat, over top of black boots, skinny jeans, white tank and my black cashmere sweater...it's no wonder I crave colour!

I was on a mission as our stove top kettle finally packed it in after many years of fine service.

I traipsed all over looking for a new kettle that was to my liking. I wanted something simple and durable yet with a bit of style as it sits on the stove top all the time. I looked at Le Creuset's, Staubs, Copco's and some really disappointing flimsy stainless steel models before giving up and resigning myself to finding one another day.

In the meantime I found some new towels on sale Hammam white Turkish towels and they are every bit as nice as the Abyss towels we currently have in The Humble Bungalow which are over 5 years old and starting to look their age. White never stays pure white forever....

Hammam bath sheet and towel

I have on order the face cloths and another bath sheet.

I'll decide if they'll be upstairs or downstairs towels later.

Quality~comfort

soft~supple~cotton~sateen

(this company also made our Hutterite down duvet)

a chemise if you please!

I have had one of these in the past and they are a delight to wear in the warmer days of summer.

It feels like nothing on but there is a wisp of coverage for modesty's sake.

this style has a wee hint of lace

Pepper thinks I brought home a toy for her to play with!

what's inside?

I spy with my little eye...

a furry tail!

Boo!

Remember that Red Huck

The twigs that I thought would bloom...

well they have sprouted leaves not flowers :(

On my way home from town I stopped off at the local Market for some food.

I also picked up my husband's shirts at the cleaners

and popped my head in the Hardware store...

and found the kettle that I needed!

Stainless steel Paderno

guaranteed for 25 years...

my husband's comment was "that kettle will see us out!"

Embracing frugality I made Osso Bucco with beef shanks and the next day I transformed the leftovers into 

Scotch Broth Soup!

simmering and scenting the kitchen

I wish you could taste this bowl of soup.

You'll just have to trust me that it is in fact delicious!

Mr. HB and I watched The Help on the weekend and I loved it.

The book was a good read.

I'd recommend it

 I mentioned it to Mother and she read it in a couple of days!

I hope that your week is off to a great start!