September Snippets...

We are very fortunate to live in such a pretty city where gardens are carefully tended by enthusiastic gardeners....
There is a glorious garden along Hollywood Crescent in which many gorgeous flowers bloom...it is a riot of colour.
My favourites are the dahlias...I do not grow dahlias in our garden but I am very tempted to plant some next year.
I cross the street to get closer so that I can admire their exquisite details.
Such vibrant colours, each slightly different, some with frilly petals.

This dahlia is the size of a dinner plate!

A small feather had landed on this crimson dahlia.

a symphony of pink and white almost a mauve shade

orange with a smattering of red

The sun shone brightly before the rains came...

with a chilly breeze and the downpour I cocooned indoors and sat in a comfy chair to read my book.

This is a very interesting story that spans several generations

I am eager to find out what happens at the end.

I made a huge main dish salad 

served it with some homemade "jam jar" dressing.

The jam jar dressing is easy...

taste it while you mix in the ingredients 

you might want less jam or honey depending on your preference.

large dollop of grainy mustard

6 tablespoons of olive oil

3 tablespoons wine vinegar

a couple of tablespoons of jam or honey 

salt and pepper to taste

Shake well and lightly dress the salad just before serving.

Later in the afternoon the winds got fierce and the rains were hitting the windows sideways...

feeling chilled I decided to make a comforting roast for dinner.

Pork tenderloin coated with grainy mustard draped with bacon.

Vegetables ready to roast alongside the pork.

Brussels Sprouts

Potatoes

Carrots

Yellow Peppers

We had a yummy dinner and I used the leftovers to make a Cottage Pie.

Recently there have been some concerns raised by an anonymous reader regarding my linking to a company that makes a product that I have had great results using and I shared it with my readers.

This reader thinks that I am somehow linked with the company and I can assure you that I am not...the same reader suggests that I am "silly" advertising and promoting products when I am not receiving anything in return!

 I will continue to link to websites and share my experiences with products that I enjoy using.

I do not receive any money or gifts when I do so...

the opinions shared here on my blog are mine and I am not affiliated with any company.

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

Skin Dew a Hydration booster

Generally speaking I am happy with my Eminence skin care products
but in the past few weeks my skin has been feeling a wee bit dry.

I drink a LOT of Perrier so I don't think that I am dehydrated...and our summer has been long and hot so maybe that is a contributing factor.

It could also be aging, or hormones, or a combination of both...

While my friend Cheryl was stocking up on tea at Silk Road Tea Company...
I was browsing their skin care items.

When I spied their "cult favourite" Nourishing Dew popular for over 20 years...
 a sample was offered to me.
 I was impressed by the consistency and the key ingredients...
a little goes a long way.

Locally made which makes me feel even better about my purchase.

Taken from their website...
skincare benefits

Renowned for its radiant effect, NOURISHING DEW is a beloved cult favourite. When you use it regularly you’ll discover why. Happy clients of all ages & skin types have used this product for over 20 years, & their beautiful skin is a testament to the amazing benefits.

- regenerates, repairs, nourishes, re-balances & restores 
- gives skin an instant, luminous glow
- optimizes skin to function at a peak level while moisturizing
- powerful antioxidant, nutrient rich oils & botanicals encourages a healthy, glowing complexion
- prevents & diminishes visible signs of aging (combine with JADE ANTI-AGING SERUM for best results)

mindfulness benefits

- designed to have a soothing, powerfully harmonizing, mood balancing effect 

how to use

Apply NOURISHING DEW after washing face, before make-up (as a primer), before bed & anytime your skin needs hydration or a radiant, healthy, youthful glow. 

I am applying a few drops before bedtime and it feels wonderful,
my skin feels softer after just a week and it smells absolutely wonderful!

Now I am tempted to buy the Jade Serum for an extra punch of potency...
it was sold out as it is so popular they have trouble keeping it in stock!

I booked in for a facial in the Silk Road Spa and will report back on my experience in an upcoming post.

Hope that you are having a great week.

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

Food, friends and flowers...

Glorious pink rose blooming in The Humble Bungalow Garden.

Pretty pink shade and an intoxicating fragrance...

It has been a lovely weekend with friends and family.

We enjoyed having our dear friends from France visit 

we spent hours chatting and catching up....

There was an abundance of food and the wine flowed.

Beef Daube with a baguette followed by a green salad and rhubarb crisp for dinner the night that they arrived.

Tapas following a cruise up the Gorge waterway on the Harbour ferry on Saturday

then dinner out at a French Bistro.

We met our children and grand children for brunch on Sunday

so our friends could reacquaint themselves with Isla and Henry and meet Mira.

After brunch we drove out to the Marina and took our Sea Ray out for a scenic cruise off the Sidney waterfront.

I have a fridge full of food and will not need to cook for a couple of days!

You can see how much food played a major role in our weekend!

I refuse to step on the scale today.

I do not want a shock.

We enjoyed a cocktails on the deck of The Humble Bungalow

The weather cooperated, the sun shone and there was only a hint of a breeze...

We hosted a casual dinner party and invited a long time friend of our house guests.

The menu was simple and tasty.

veggies skewers with goat cheese in balsamic creme

grilled lamb chops 

salad

a dollop of lemon and dollop of mango sorbet 

served with a square a locally made chocolate for dessert.

A reader asked me to post some of my meals and this one is easy quick and tasty.

My plate has a healthy portion of vegetables

1/2 cup rice

small pork chop in a mustard marmalade glaze.

Brown chops in oil and butter.

Cook until no longer pink and remove from pan, cover with foil.

 De-glaze pan with orange juice

stir in grainy mustard

marmalade

add thyme and Worchestershire sauce and blend.

Add chops back into mixture and cook a few more minutes.

Serve immediately.

Enjoy!

Domestic jobs await...

and they will not get done if I keep typing!

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

Fall is in the air...

There is definitely a feeling of Fall in the air...
the mornings are cool and often we wake to a foggy mist.

The sun peeks out from the clouds and the waters glisten.

Simmering pot of comfort food...

soups, stews and roasts will be back on the menu.

Planter of mums is our nod to Fall in the Humble Bungalow Garden.

The roses are almost done...they have put on a fabulous show this season.

A new book and a cafe creme...

a wonderful way to start the day.

This book is based on Elizabeth Von Arnim's Enchanted April.

I loved the book and I have watched the film many many times...it is one of my all time favourites.

The scenery on my walk has been lovely...

and with the chill in the air I am contemplating buying a few new cozy things to wear.

Perhaps a new walking jacket...

The Lands' End catalogue arrived and they have some bright coloured down filled coats and jackets...my eyes keep hovering over the page with the grape coloured parka!

My weight has also been hovering...

a few ounces up and few down but still holding around 140.

I am going to post a new recipe that is WW friendly so please stay tuned.

We have house guests arriving soon and so I will be busy in hostess mode.

Be back in a few days...

How are you doing with your healthy eating?

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

Labour Day Long Weekend...

We have been out on our boat for the past few days enjoying a relaxing time with friends and family.

Port Browning on Pender Island

Many boats drop the hook and anchor in the bay.

We tie up at the marina as we do not have a generator on board.

There is a lovely beach just over this rocky outcropping.

Beach combing while walking along the shoreline is an activity that I quite enjoy.

I heard that Ellie passed away...

so sad 

she fought long and hard battling ALS.

I hope that she is at rest and that her family will be supported and surrounded with friends and family to help them cope with their grief.

I read her blog and bought her book and hope that she will now be at peace.

I thought about writing a tribute to her here on the blog but after reading 

The Vintage Contessa 

Stephen Andrew Jones 

 Heather from Lost in Arles 

 I felt that they said it best.

I thought of Ellie on my beach walk.

Clam shells were scattered along the stretch of beach...

A driftwood shelter

Rock with a heart on it...

Heart shaped rocks...

might be a strange thing to collect but I do!

Mr. HB found the last two heart rocks.

Queen Anne's Lace and Chicory line the paths...

such a pretty combination Mother Nature has painted for us to enjoy.

I have been savouring every word of Louise Penny's newest mystery novel.

She is a brilliant writer and I absolutely LOVE her books.

I have several chapters left to finish and so I will close for now...

Hope that you have had a lovely weekend.

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~