Family stuff...

I bought this little fellow to cheer up our Little Miss Isla who is ill.

I love his soft squishy body and those long ears just beg to be patted.

(I'd like one too!)

Both of the grandchildren have pneumonia and naturally I am worried.

They have been to the doctor and were sent for X-rays and are now on antibiotics.

I am trying to do what I can to help.

Making meals for them is easy and so that's what I am focusing on for now.

Two new books are waiting for me to peruse as I continue my research for the Paris trip.

It's difficult to focus right now though...my thoughts are elsewhere.

I'm still in my bathrobe and must get a move on...

I need to get out and go for my walk then go grocery shopping and keep my phone close by and wait to see if I am needed to help out today.

I hope that the antibiotics work fast and those two little ones are better asap.

There is nothing like illness to stop us in our tracks.

Do something nice for someone you love today....

Julie's glorious Friday night Feast...

The weekend so far has been busy, it's a bit of a blur...
a lot has been happening to keep us out of mischief but first let's talk about Friday.
We started off with dinner at Julie's...she is our friend who owns and runs a local catering company.
When she invited us for dinner she mentioned that she was not going to "fuss."
I assumed that meant simple fare that required very little effort...something that I might do myself, although it takes me a lot more effort to make it look effortless!

I picked up a posy of flowers for our hostess from Thorn and Thistle...

Julie and her husband have recently renovated their kitchen and it is a cook's dream!
A 6 burner gas range with a hood overhead and a faucet to fill up the pasta pot right at the back of the stove top.
Three ovens...one is a state of the art steam oven and the other two are more traditional,
although they are all top of the line...exactly what a serious cook would want to use.

Are you ready for a peek?

The counter tops are "leathered granite" in black and they are sumptuous...
I loved all the LED lights with dimmer switches especially the task lighting.
The cabinets are white and the drawers and cupboards have those closers that make it impossible to slam even if your souffle falls!
The open plan makes it easy to have people seated at the table in the dining area and she is able to interact and converse with guests as she prepares the next course....

So are you ready to see the "no fuss" dinner?

We started with prawn filled won ton wrappers drizzled with Miso sauce...atop avocado and garnished with slivers of red cabbage, carrots, chives and thinly sliced radishes.

The wine flowed...

I drank lots of water with the wine.

Ribs drenched in a delicious BBQ sauce topped with roasted tomatoes, grilled asparagus and homemade gnocchi in a Gorgonzola cheese sauce.
Yes dear readers I ate it all....
I put the WW point count completely out of my mind and savoured every tasty morsel!

Chocolate souffle, what a decadent way to cap off the meal!

We had a wonderful time chatting and visiting and talking of her upcoming trip to Paris, Barcelona and Tuscany where she will be taking some cooking lessons.
I drank a few more glasses of wine than I am accustomed to...and just before midnight we hopped in a taxi for the 30 minute ride home and I went straight to bed!

I'll post more soon...hope that you have a delightful day.

Indulging...OOTD

Almond Joy!
I'd like to think of this as a WW point friendly way to enjoy almonds.

I love the scent of almond as well as the taste.
Having a weakness for the nut I try to keep my almond eating habit in check...

Enjoying the scent is one way to satisfy the craving...

L'Occitane makes a great almond products and the jar of almond milk concentrate is a Humble Bungalow staple.

The shower gel is heavenly and they have just launched a body oil which I recently purchased.

The wee package of travel sized almond products were added to my order for a fraction of the cost,

an indulgence if you will.

"Orange is the New Black"

 was hot a few seasons ago...

then Panetone Green was on center stage and now it's Radiant Orchid!

Have you seen designer and blogger Tamera Beardsley in her radiant orchid kimono?

 She is featured in the fashion section of this month's Skimbaco Lifestyle magazine!

I discovered Skimbaco Lifestyle magazine when Adrienne Shubin started writing for them...

you might know her from her blog The Rich Life on a Budget.

These gals are having so much fun with fashion that I was energized by their enthusiasm...

Dressing in colour has never been so exciting!

A soft infinity scarf with a smattering of radiant orchid...

a birthday gift from my BFF.

I wore this scarf with a black tunic top with black leggings and black ballet flats.

The colour made the entire outfit pop!

I chose Revlon 070 Cherry Tart to wear with the scarf...the richer colour looked better than 001 pink truffle

 which I thought was a wee bit pale.

I wear these rich shea butter glosses often and alternate it with the Chanel Orchidee.

I do love a great stripe as patterns never feel like they suit me.

I have tried and tried but they always hang in my closet sad and lonely...

scarves are my go to accessory for pattern.

Colour won't take center stage in the same way black does in my basic wardrobe

but it will pop up this summer on the boat paired with my white jeans.

I may look for a fun orange coral necklace to wear with this shirt.

I plan to use this as a"jacket" layering it over a plain white tank top.

Ralph Lauren shirt

It has a nautical edge so it will be a fun summer boat basic.

The 3/4 sleeve length won't get tangled up in the ropes...

I found my first pair of what I might call high end or luxury jeans.

Seven For All Mankind slim fit boot cut Kaylie's.

When I tried them on I wondered what exactly makes a luxury jean worth the money.

I'd have to say it is in the fit and the details.

The weight of the denim feels good and it has more body that the less expensive jeans that I regularly wear.

The shape seems to stay true after several wearings so I am not tempted to wash them as often.

Jeans play an important part of my wardrobe and since retiring I wear them much more often than dress pants.

I currently own two pairs of black ponte knit dress pants and now I have 4 pairs of jeans!

So where do you stand on luxury goods?

What would you indulge in if money were no object?

Are you on Pinterest?

I'm finding it is a bit like eating almonds...

 once I start I cannot stop!

Until next time,

Be Well and Be Kind.

Beach Bliss continued...

Point No Point Resort is nestled in the trees on a point of land along a rugged rocky shoreline.

The paths that weave their way throughout the property are well marked.

Bird song and the crashing of the waves are all one can hear for miles.

Wandering silently along the path 

with the warmth of the sun to keep us company

we are deep in thought

taking stock of the beauty and bounty of nature.

Despite the fact that we are off line I took the opportunity to create some blogging images.

The Humble Bungalow Blog is very close to my heart...

it is a personal expression

a creative outlet

a hobby if you will...

I put my heart out there and have faith that someone will read my words.

Many readers drop by and I'd like to reach out to more people.

Lisa from A Mid Life of Privilege has been instrumental in my presence here in the blogosphere.

She encouraged me to get started and I consider her a friend...

she generously linked my blog on one of her more recent posts

and she kindly emailed me with a few pointers as I would like to expand my audience.

I got a "bee in my bonnet" about collecting rocks in the shape of hearts

and proceeded to spend the next hour searching...

the time was not spent in vain

slowly scanning the rocks beneath my feet

I looked closely at the details and shapes.

three hearts...

and a new collection is born!

time spent relaxing is an investment in good health

quality of life is a delicate balance of work and play

These snow leopard printed Polar Feet sox are keeping my feet warm...

if you have not discovered the joys of cozy fleece you might want to head on over and treat yourself to a pair.

I have several pairs of these sox and they are great to wear on the boat or when hiking.

Speaking of cozy...

you might like to spend a few days in the peace and quiet of Point No Point Resort.

We like the Hummingbird cabin...

It's got everything one needs to put together s few simple meals...

though we dined at the restaurant twice during our stay.

The duck confit at dinner was beyond belief 

and I would be remiss if I didn't mention the grilled salmon served with salad that I ate for lunch.

My heart collection came home with me...

I'll be looking out for more as I meander along the beaches.

You might see me on the shoreline with my head bowed...

I'll be happy to chat with you if our paths cross.

I'm so grateful for your comments and emails...

I savour the connections that I continue to make here in cyberspace.

Until next time...

Be Well.

XO

Beach Bliss....

Mr. HB and I recently took a few days off and went to Point No Point where we enjoyed several quiet days.
The rustic resort is comfortable and quiet. Hot tubs on the deck, a restaurant that is open for lunch and dinner, well appointed cabins and nothing to do but relax. We turned off our cellphones and IPads as there is no Internet or cell coverage...beach walks, good books, a fire in the fireplace and delcious meals = bliss!

 
I love the beach and beach combing...

 the surf is strong and powerful
waves crash and recede as the sea flows with the tide

we were able to step over the rocks to the cove

the smooth damp sand was waiting...

writing in the sand...
which was erased without a trace with the next wave

mussel shells and kelp are scattered along the rocky shore

I arranged a few rocks
chosen for their colour
as a message left for another beach guest
should they look this way

other guests have left their mark

someone forgot their shovel
a bright spot on a grey background

splashes of bright red dot the resort

High above the beach the sound of the surf as it crashes on the shore is surprisingly soothing.

one can spend hours gazing out to sea
soaking in the sun
savouring
the rhythm of life

as the sun sets and we retreat inside to cook dinner and build a fire

I am reminded of how important it is to take a step back

quiet the mind

slow ones pace

and reflect on all that is good in life....

Be Well

until next time...

Hostess