On the menu...a melange!

Baby it's hot outside!
French Homework, gardening, reading and keeping tabs on Mother have kept me busy.
Time to sit, with the shades down, quietly sip some tea and plan a post.
My thoughts are all over the place so this is a bit of a scramble.

You've arrived at The Humble Bungalow Blog.
Today the Hostess is serving up a melange...
(sounds like a dessert doesn't it?)
I'll blame it on the heat...

I am smitten with this brooch...

vintage 1960's perhaps worn with gold sandals, big Jackie O sunnies, white pants and white top 

perhaps Saint Tropez in the summer time?

Can you smell the Bain de Soleil?

Scents can transport you...a gal can dream...

Sophie Conran Heart dish...

I love her simple design and the china can go into the oven so it is very versatile.

Our regular everyday Maxwell Williams is getting ugly grey marks where the knives have sliced into the glaze...

the porcelain must be inferior quality as the set is not more than 4 or 5 years old.

I am really disappointed and am thinking of buying Sophie Conran's set of plates and bowls.

Do any of you own and use her dishes?

Are they better quality than Maxwell Williams?

I hate wasting money so I'd like to be sure before I buy them.

The idea that we live in a throw away society just makes me mad.

(fear not I will donate the scratched plates when I replace them)

I am referring to the lack of quality that has infiltrated our marketplace.

Toasters, kettles, appliances in general wear out,

 and instead of repairing them the companies offer replacements.

Just think of all those bits and pieces filling up our landfill...

  Mother still uses many of the appliances that she received as wedding gifts when she was married in the 1950's.

But let's not get all bent out of shape, 

it's way too hot to be getting our knickers in a twist.

 Let's embrace a little beauty shall we?

May means that one of my favourite flowers is blooming and scenting the garden.

Behold the beautiful Muguet de Bois.

I can pick a handful in a matter of minutes.

Delicate blossoms remind me of baby's bonnets.

Their fragrance is intoxicating...

I love to put a vase of these in our Humble Bungalow bathroom and let the scent waft throughout the house.

I read this novel super fast...

I liked it but I found it not quite as riveting as Louise Penny's books.

This one is next...

I've recently discovered a strong brew that has been tickling my taste buds...

it seems the Scots like their tea to pack a punch (like their single malt Scotch!) 

so I am using less loose tea when I brew a pot.

It's bold and delicious and calorie free.

If you are a vegan or vegetarian look away now...

just for the next two images and skip right to the Asian Slaw!

Julie our friend and caterer, told us about Chef John and I really like going to his site for recipes...

these ribs are wonderfully moist and delicious.

I made them first for Mr. HB before serving them to guests.

They are easy and are baked in the oven.

Janet blog writer at The Gardener's Cottage posted her Asian salad on her blog a few days ago

 I love a pea-nutty dressing so I whipped up a batch of the coleslaw to serve with the ribs.

Oh boy...this one is a winner and a good one to have on hand for summer picnics and barbeque's.

I used red and green cabbage, grated carrots, some onion and almonds as I did not have any peanuts in the house.

Next time I will try adding the dried cranberries as Janet suggests as they would really add to this dish.

Janet has a background as a professional cook/caterer so when she posts a recipe you know it is going to be good!

It has been HOT this week and tea with my friend at Abkhazi Gardens was wonderful.

The weather could not have been better.

(I will work on that post.)

The garden is thirsty and the edges of the lawns need trimming so I must not dawdle any longer...

there are radishes to harvest and flowers to pick.

The birds are chirping and a new day is unfolding...

BTW I really have been enjoying your comments.

They are a breath of fresh air here on the blog...

Hostess

Walking and fostering a love for books...

Mother and sister have a habit that they have dubbed "busy brain."
It is when events continue to replay over and over in the mind like a TV rerun and they cannot turn it off...

If I feel edgy, overwhelmed or stressed I go for a walk.

Walking is very helpful when gaining perspective on a situation that is evolving and needs to be addressed.
More often than not these things just slip away on their own as the walk progresses and are quickly forgotten.

How much time does one want to waste trying to figure out what could have been said when a rude or ill mannered person takes a liberty that ruffles one's feathers?
Have you noticed how manners have all but disappeared?
Simple everyday kindness, pleasantries and greetings have been replaced by people staring into their Smart Phones.
I think we need an app for manners...perhaps there is one, I wouldn't know, but honestly people can we not pry our eyes away long enough to be polite, perhaps smile and greet each other?

I am slightly miffed when I see a group of people sharing a meal together and all of them are busy texting.
Are they texting with each other instead of chatting?
It's a little thing but it kind of makes me crazy!

Walking helps me let things go...
I take my IPhone on my walks but I bring it along so I can take pictures for the blog...
I am not busy texting.

Do you make time for a quiet bit of reading each day even when you're busy?
I neglected my love of books when I was extra busy at school...
even though I was promoting them through my job I was not heeding my own advice!

Books have become a big part of my daily routine than when I worked as I now have the luxury of time.
Surprisingly I have started reading genres that I would have never gravitated to until recently...
Louise Penny was a fortuitous discovery and one that has delighted me no end.

Books can transport us to exotic locations, educate us, shock or enlighten, bring us to tears in rapture and joy as well hobble us with despair as the bitter taste of our tears spill forth in sadness.

The local branch of the public library has been a godsend.

Reading good books without having to invest in every book that one wants to read makes so much sense.

The online site showcases new book titles and allows you to reserve books even before they are in circulation so one needn't miss out on what is new. 

Researching authors is so easy now that most have their own sites and many are on facebook. 

Award winning novels are listed by the prize titles Orange, Booker, Governor General, Pulitzer, Giller, Canada Reads, as well as by country and by year.

Having worked in school libraries for many years I suppose it is natural that I am so passionate about books and it surprises me that many people do not enjoy reading.

Fostering a Love of literature starts early...with bedtime stories.

Parents, nannies, care givers and grandparents all play a part.

Pick up a book and read to those wee ones...

or read to a shut in or someone who is in hospital.

It's such a simple thing to do and such a lovely way to pass the time.

I am not sure that I can envision life without books...

but then again why would I want to?

Stepping off the soap box now...

Who are your favourite authors?

What are you reading?

(other than my blog post)

I need to go for a walk and let these thoughts wash away as gentle as the ocean breeze on this glorious morning.

Be Present in the moment and savour today's gifts.

Hostess

The Humble Bungalow Garden....Mother's Day blooms.

Our Humble Bungalow Garden is doing it's best to keep us content and focused on everyday beauty.

This recent planting was a thrifty addition to the deck.

Variegated grass, geraniums and lobelia all relatively inexpensive at the local garden centre.

Hardy geraniums...

I like these reliable plants as they last all season and if you dead head the spent blooms you get a repeat flush of flowers throughout the summer.

These pink geraniums are a surprise because I bought them thinking that they were white!

A fancy variety of primula whose names escapes me at this time...in a vivid shade of cobalt.

A Rothschild variety of azalea....almost ready to open up.

The scent is magnificent!

We purchased it many years ago after visiting Veronica Milner's Garden up island.

She was a master gardener and meeting her was a thrill.

My most vivid memory of our visit was that she was randomly picking weeds as we walked through her gorgeous garden....that and her very English gardening outfit...

a wide brimmed hat worn with a wool skirt, a cashmere twinset and a simple strand of pearls!

Montana reubens a reliable and vigorous clematis.

It has taken over the fence out front and sweetly the scent wafts softly when standing in close proximity.

Fragrant white lilac 

hanging gracefully over the fence from our neighbour's garden.

I love these but find that they are short lived when cut and brought indoors.

I'll post more garden images soon...

I've got to tackle some domestic chores and get a move on.

Loving this euphorbia

 even though it is an invasive plant I am totally won over by the chartreuse tone.

Green still has a hold on my heart...

plants, seedlings hostas anything that grows green seems to get my attention.

Hope that you've planned to have some fun this week...

I'm looking forward to a walkabout and tea at The Abkhazi Gardens this week with a friend.

I will take lots of pictures to share them with you in a future post.

Thanks for stopping by...

Hostess

Mother's Day Luncheon ~ Flip Flops and Orange Toes!

Mundane maintenance....
goes along with boats, homes, gardens, cars and so much more.

When we own "things" we have a responsibility to keep then in fine working order.
Regular maintenance is vital...it is boring, often costly but it must be done.

I schedule routine appointments with the dentist, hygienist, optometrist, hairdresser, mechanic and more.
If you let these things lapse you are going to run into trouble at some point.

Do you put off scheduling these things?

Our Humble Bungalow was re-roofed last Spring and is in dire need of paint but that is not going to happen for another couple of years so in the mean time I must avert my eyes and try not to cringe when I see the flaking paint on the porch and eaves.

Some things just cannot be put off...

We've had the boat hauled out for the annual mechanical servicing and bottom paint.

BOAT

have you heard what BOAT stands for?

"Bring On Another Thousand."

We own a small boat...

some might consider it more of a dingy and if you own a large yacht you might agree!

Here she is before the haul out...

she needs a wash, wax and a coat of bottom paint.

While she is getting some TLC I took time out to do the same.

Have you noticed that Orange is a really popular colour this Spring?

I know Radiant Orchid has been dubbed THE colour of the season but for me I keep seeing Orange at every turn.

The orange shade especially pops in the garden...

it seems like a happy tone.

For example this cheery euphorbia in the dappled sun blooming in the The Humble Bungalow Garden.

Or this fragrant and stunning Climbing Royal Sunset rose, our first rose to bloom this Spring.

I went with orange polish which is quite a departure for me...

Animalistic by OPI.

I could have opted for a soft pearly white.

Smilacena Racemosa looks quite frothy wearing this shade.

A fuchsia would have been fun...

an allium about to burst forth in flower.

Mauve might be a good choice as the Pacific Hybrid dwarf Iris shows us beautifully with her delicate petals.

~ ~ ~

We took Mother out for lunch to our favourite lunch spot Pure Vanilla to celebrate an early Mother's Day.

She ate a good lunch and had a cup of tea but she just seems to lack her usual lustre.

She seems tired...

I gave her a book which I think she will enjoy and perhaps she'll escape for a bit while she immerses herself in the story of the author's making.

A great book can be such a good tonic to what ails you...

She expressed her desire to have spaghetti and meatballs several times this past week and my sweet husband said that I make the best spaghetti and meatballs...I use Lydia Bastianich's recipe found online.

I took over a plate to her after lunch and she was so excited!

I am so happy and grateful to be able to spend time with Mother.

I expect that we will see more slowing down and deterioration in her as the days pass.

I hope that she perks up and feels better soon...

she'll be 87 this coming June.

It is Mother's Day this Sunday and many will be honouring their Mother's...

I'd like to think that I love and honour my Mother every single day.

It does not take a special day to remind me of her many gifts and I do not take her for granted.

"Life is a series of natural and spontaneous changes. 

Don't resist them - that only creates sorrow. 

Let reality be reality. 

Let things flow naturally forward in whatever way they like."

~ Lao Tzu ~

Wishing you a wonderful weekend.

Hostess

Rosacea Help, a product I think you should know about....

It was a few weeks ago that I mentioned I was going to have a microdermabrasion treatment at the local Spa.
The treatment went well and my skin was soft and pink and looked dewy and moist.

The esthetician suggested a product that would be great for my rosacea as it is gentle and not as expensive as a microdermabrasion treatment.

It is easy to use and takes only about 5 minutes to work before you gently remove it.

The box description is accurate.

I think it is rather pricey but it IS less expensive than a professional facial or microdermabrasion treatment.

So I bought it...

and the funny thing is I used this same product a few years ago and had completely forgotten about it. 

I used it when my rosacea had a flare up and I needed to get some laser treatments to get rid of the redness that made me look like I had been slapped in the face.

So I share this with you in case you have rosacea too...

it's not really a secret now is it?

I am happy to share it if it will help you deal with your skin and it might make you feel better and more confident.

Rosacea can be an embarrassing condition to deal with as everyone can see our skin so it makes it tough to hide.

I am reading a delightful novel by a French Femme...Cecile David - Weill 

it is well written and I am enjoying it so much that I am going to get my hands on her other books. 

She has a column in La Point called Letters from New York.

Chester loves playing in boxes...actually both Pepper and Chester love them.

I have kept this one on the floor in the kitchen as they are frolicking in it several times a day.

Pepper has been munching the hydrangea leaves...you can see them if you look closely.

OOTD

I've been wearing this Peter Nygaard sweater jacket a lot.

It is warm but does not add bulk.

It has a silver fleck and those tweedy aspects that I like so much.

My anniversary pearls and the simple white tank top by Coldwater Creek.

I read that Coldwater Creek is going out of business...I used to love getting their catalogues.

I am wearing cheap g21 jeans in dark wash denim.

I was outside in the garden yesterday dead heading the spent bluebells and pulling weeds.

My hands are a mess now as I didn't put on my gloves.

I wish I could take better care of my hands but for some reason they get very little love and they do so much hard work around here that I really should treat them like gold!

The water was like a mill pond when I went for my walk the other day...

lots of people were out enjoying the warm sunshine.

I've got lots of things on my list to do so I must be off...

Thank you for stopping by and visiting.

 I hope you'll come back again soon.