Friday thoughts...

In response to a recent comment
I wrote this from the heart
and thought it might be a focus for Friday
as we approach the festive season...
which for many,
can be fraught with emotion.

Gate of Harmonious Interest in Victoria's Chinatown

"it is sad to think that people want to inflict their gloom on others who embrace the good things in life and seek out beauty and prefer to be joyful. We all experience dark days and there are many who suffer from depression and chronic pain which I can understand as I have been there and have come out of the bouts with an invigorated and focused approach to embrace the little things in life that make me happy. My wish is that we work at finding solutions and tools that make our way through life a richer and more rewarding journey."

Juan de Fuca Strait

as viewed from King George Terrace

"after the storm"

The skies reminded me of a Tony Onley watercolour.

I love looking at the holiday lights as they transport me back to my childhood.

Mother and Father would let us stay up late, 

bundle us up in our pajamas and robes 

drive us around town looking at many of the homes with the twinkling lights.

Some had lawn ornaments and several had mechanized reindeer with Santa guiding the sleigh.

Our family fell into what we might consider as the middle class.

We had a home in a nice neighbourhood but we did not have a lot of money.

Gifts at Christmas were often second hand...

Mother was an excellent seamstress and she made our velvet Xmas dresses.

She sewed one for herself and with the leftover fabric she made my sister and I matching dresses.

Our pictures every year show 3 of us in matching coloured velvet frocks!

Father was very handy and he could fix things.

I remember getting a pink radio!

It was a vintage (even by1960's standard) radio that he refurbished and painted pink just for me...

I'd say that was a labour of love.

One year I got a bike...

a Raleigh, that he completely rebuilt with new tires and a fresh coat of paint.

We also got things that we "needed" like socks and underwear.

Books and a couple of small toys.

My Father was in the Fraternal Order of the Elks and they had a Christmas Party for the families every Christmas and that is where we got a super duper gift!

I remember getting a Barbie, a Midge and Skipper dolls.

The gifts were a real treat.

My Father grew up during the Depression and I think it had a huge impact on how he viewed money.

He scrimped and saved to put money away in the bank.

His family struggled to put food on the table and I heard a story once that they sold their claw foot tub in order to pay for something!

Can you imagine?

My thoughts are rather discombobulated 

but what I am trying to say is that life is a tapestry of events 

sewn together rather haphazardly

what we choose to do with these events 

has a huge impact on who we are

how we are seen by others

and what we bring to the table.

Life has struggles and challenges

and

after all is said and done...

We all have choices...

we can wallow

feel sorry for ourselves

OR

take action

work hard to change things

adopt the attitude of gratitude

 I choose gratitude and when I do,

 happiness follows...

If you know of someone who could use a little cheer today

please take it upon yourself to lend a hand.

Carol Woodard the slow cooker cookbook is yours!

please email me your address at bungalowhostess@gmail.com

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

Giveaway recipient...a dilemma for Mr. HB!

Greetings from The Humble Bungalow!

We have been busy of late with many lovely seasonal events and one particularly very special one today...a precious school pageant starring all the pupils of the private school that focuses on the arts as well as the mandated BC curriculum.
Our sweet red headed granddaughter Isla,
sang solo parts of a song by Sarah Brightman "The Music of The Night"
that moved this Grammy to tears....
MR. HB's eyes weren't the driest either!

I have been "under the weather" with a stiff neck this past week

and attribute it to too much knitting or possibly a virus.

 I have been trying to keep warm and cozy by wearing a fleecy jacket and cashmere socks.

But enough about me...

Mr. HB had to choose the recipient of the WW slow cooker recipe cookbook and he found it a tougher job than he signed on for so he narrowed it down to two...

So...dear reader he did what many people do when in doubt...

The Finel mid century bowl was put into action with the two entries inside...

He pulled this one out of the bowl.

Carol Woodard please send me an email with your mailing address

and I will send you the book.

We entered the 50/50 and the wine draw tonight at the pageant...

no wins here but so glad that we can help support a great school and see our sweet grand daughter on stage.

Hope you are having a lovely week.

May I just say that I have had an outpouring of support from readers who were feeling uncomfortable about the rude comments and I would like to take this opportunity to say that you have restored my faith in human nature.

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

The Humble Bungalow kitchen...and cats.

So before we get too far into this post let me just say that our current kitchen is not the original 1913 arts and crafts design or layout.
The kitchen had been muddled many times,
years before we even set eyes on it and it was a disaster.

Mr HB took time thinking about the improvements and figuring out a workable design...with 3 doors in the space and a set of stairs it was tricky...

The room off to the left is our TV room where we have two love seats.

The stove and island are in front of the stairs that lead 

 to the laundry room, hobby room, Mr. HB's work area and guest room.

Shaw French country sink and pantry cupboard on the right.

Glass fronted cupboards for crockery...

and an open workspace are essential.

Above the sink ~ windowsill orchids...

White ironstone

  an assortment 

Sophie Conran Portmeirion, 

Emma Bridgewater 

and 

vintage china.

McCoy basket weave pot with my favourite wooden spoons and spatulas.

Two of these pots sit behind the stove with utensils at the ready.

I like using wooden spoons and they develop a patina over time.

The radio is on when I am in the kitchen...

I tune into the CBC most of the time.

The Kitchen Aid...

I keep it handy on top of the counter as I find it so useful.

Many of my other seldom used appliances are hidden out of the way.

My day starts with a cafe creme every morning.

A luxury that I acquired while visiting Paris and SW France.

 This De Longhi espresso machine is small and efficient.

The sink "work station" 

domestic life needs some organization.

Many hours every day are spent in the kitchen by choice as I love to cook.

So naturally it plays a prominent role in our home.

Working in a space that is pleasing to the eye...

with tools and equipment that help it function efficiently 

and a few extras make my job here easier.

A drawer full of tea towels and napkins...

There is not a lot of storage on our small bungalow so I try not to buy too many gadgets.

Keeping things to a minimum is simple and it saves money too.

My feline "companions" are here most of the time keeping me company.

Chester lying on the table...

Pepper drinking from the tap...

I apologize for any inconvenience but in light of the recent flurry of spam and unpleasant comments

 I have opted to moderate all blog comments.

 ~ Be Well and Be Kind ~ 

Greenery and good manners....

With the festive season just around the corner we are focusing on greening up our Humble Bungalow...

A simple wreath hangs upon the door.

I love to use natural accents when it comes to decorating for the holidays.

Scented green swags with fir boughs and pine cones that one can gather outdoors feels much more genuine than buying the plastic ones sold in stores.

Our arts and crafts bungalow lends itself to organic and natural elements.

From the wood walls and beams

to the granite fireplace

we live in an unassuming space

one that does not lend itself easily to shiny silver baubles and tinsel.

We all have our own personal tastes and I appreciate that we may disagree on certain topics...

 in our disagreements we need to be mindful of our manners

carefully monitoring how we conduct ourselves

there is no excuse for rudeness or bad behaviour.

The lobby of the Oak Bay Beach Hotel is looking dressed up for the holidays.

Mother loved seeing all the decorations on our lunch date this past week.

I dressed up for the luncheon.

I wore my black top with a grey boiled wool skirt, some textured tights and my Chelsea style boots.

Mother schooled us on manners from the time we were toddlers.

She insisted that we pay attention to our choice of words, our tone of voice and how we behaved, especially important when it came to our elders and when we were out in public.

We were expected to say please and thank you 

to listen politely

 to send thank you cards in the mail.

We were also sent to Charm School...

 I doubt that many youngsters are sent to charm or etiquette classes these days.

We teach children by modelling good behaviour and by comporting ourselves in a manner that is beyond reproach.

I wore a vintage Sherman rhinestone brooch the other day when I played bridge.

It was a grey rainy day and I craved a wee bit of sparkle.

The ladies that convene to play cards take care in their choice of clothes and wear pretty jewellery.

Dressing up has its rewards...it does elevate the spirit.

“I have always believed that fashion was not only to make women more beautiful, but also to reassure them, give them confidence.” 

~  Yves Saint Laurent ~

“Fashion is the armour to survive the reality of everyday life.” 

~  Bill Cunningham ~

Stir frying oodles of veggies has become a bit of a habit

which helps keep my WW points within my daily allowance.

The scales are not reflecting my efforts as quickly as I would like but I am keeping my eye on the goals that I have set.

The WW cookbook giveaway contest from the previous post closes November 30th

 Good Luck.

I wish you a weekend filled with JOY and good things.

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

A giveaway and a recipe...

PHEW!
It has been busy here in The Humble Bungalow!
I need to catch my breath...

Living life fully, and being present in the moment comes first,
reporting and recording events here on the blog are second...
I hope you appreciate that fact.

Shopping, knitting, running errands, volunteering at my club, and hanging out with the grand babies...
have been keeping me hopping...and I LOVE it!

Church Mouse bias loop scarf cowl...

Does it look better with the Gala apple?

I ate this as my WW friendly afternoon snack today!

This scarf is keeping my neck so cozy on my walks.

Surprised to see a mauve hydrangea blooming in our front garden...

grateful for these gifts from Mother Nature.

An old recipe but a good one...

Yummy...

serve with rice and a crisp vegetable.

Hope you like it!

Tis the season...

and my gift to one of you is...

Weight Watcher Book...

I would like to give this book to someone who likes to use their slow cooker.

Please leave a comment and tell me why you would like this book

I will ask MR.HB to help me decide on the recipient...

I will keep this open until November 30th.

Good Luck!

Happy Thanksgiving to our American Neighbours...

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~