Greetings from Quarter Deck Cottage!

We spent a few idyllic days here at the cottage.

 The temperature was cold, hovering around 5 degrees in the daytime,

 in the minuses at night.

Thankfully the sun has shone brightly every day!

We bundled up and took advantage of the sunny afternoons.

Someone had a birthday...

We had a tipple and a nibble on the day to celebrate the event.

We drove to Gowland Point and walked along the beach in a blustery wind.

The waves were SO BIG you could have surfed on them!

These icy branches looked so pretty juxtaposed with the red rosehips.

There is still snow on the ground where the sun has not melted it.

It is quite pretty but I have to admit that I am ready for warmer weather and Spring flowers!

We always visit the flower shop and buy a bouquet when we arrive at the cottage.

I choose yellow flowers to add a punch of colour in the winter months.

I made a batch of Lidia Bastianich's meatballs...

we serve them over noodles.

Very comforting on a cold evening.

We've read a lot and walked along the beaches in search of sea glass...

a bounty of sea glass was collected on someone's birthday!

a rare piece of cobalt blue glass

a heart shaped rock was also found on the beach.

Pretty soon we will need to find another vintage sealer jar 

for the collection is growing quite quickly.

A delightful memoir...

a lovely story of a woman of a certain age who meets an Italian man

and moves to Venice to get married.

 I am thrilled to hear that there is a sequel.

A Thousand Days in Tuscany.

Marlena and her husband live in a village quite close to the Tuscan village that  our week long Italian cooking school and vacation is situated...

Lots of plans are underway for the various stages of our holiday to Italy and Provence then the Midi Pyrenees and to top it off a couple of days in Paris.

So much fun searching online and dreaming about the trip.

It will be here before we know it!

Hope that your week is off to a great start...

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

Fitted jeans...

One item in my wardrobe that I love are a decent fitting pair of jeans.
I have a pair of boot cut NYDJ in the closet as the skinny pair that I owned developed a hole and I have not been able to bring myself to wear ripped jeans...

I have tried but they just don't "feel right" on me.
Do you wear ripped jeans?

I wonder if my Mother's style affects my inability to wear ripped jeans?
She taught me so many things about how we present ourselves to the world...
"her voice" and advice is still very much with me.

My OOTD

Black UP pants and Tilley top

Verve Ami knitted vest

Clark Chelsea boots

The fit is great and I love the ankle length with the slit detail at the bottom.

Can just imagine these with my red ballet flats!

The best part, besides the fit, was the cost, they were SO inexpensive!

Less than $40

A quick bite at Starbucks before heading to the club to play bridge.

We had a new player come and join us yesterday.

Its a fun group of people with varied levels of bridge skills.

We enjoy each others company and are a very congenial group.

We break for tea mid afternoon

the topic of conversation ranges from 

art, travel, current events and local politics.

Besides reading and walking, 

playing bridge and taking classes at the community centre 

are wonderful perks of retirement.

We have grape hyacinths blooming in the garden!

Spring cannot be too far off...

there is snow falling in the higher elevations today.

Its raining here which makes it much easier to get out and about.

A snowy snapshot from the archives.

Daffodils are just so cheerful.

Sunny yellow blooms always put a smile on my face!

Raindrops do not dampen my spirit when there are flowers in the garden.

Hope that you are well and in good spirits.

Thank you for stopping by The Humble Bungalow Blog.

I must close for now as I am meeting a friend for a rainy walk and a light lunch.

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

Checking in...

My time on the computer has dwindled of late...
there are more things keeping me busy that require my attention.

In advance of our trip to Italy 

I enrolled in a class at the local community centre.

Italian for travellers.

The language is beautiful...

it has a very melodic sound

and

spoken with such passion.

Learning a new language at my age is proving to be a challenge!

The teacher, 

who is from Rome,

gives us lots of homework and much of it requires memorization.

I am really enjoying the sessions

 have met many wonderful people 

who are also planning a trip to Italy.

The snow kept me indoors more than I would have liked...

I love to walk every day.

The fresh air clears out any cobwebs and energizes.

I discovered that noticing and savouring the beauty of nature has a positive effect on my mental well being.

So I suffered a bit with cabin fever...

which prompted me to clean out cupboards and drawers.

Many bags are heading off to the charity shop,

The snow is melting!

The roads are clear and only a few patches of snow linger in The Humble Bungalow Garden.

Walking has resumed!

I'm reading a great book...

have you read it?

What are you reading?

Do you have any favourite books to share?

My hair is greyer these days...

its longer and some days is curlier than others.

I've stopped washing it every day as grey hair tends to be dry.

My skin has been extra dry...

think it must be the cold weather.

I have been slathering on serums, moisturizers, body lotion and hand cream.

Are you on Instagram?

Have you seen Linda V Wright's account?

She lives in Paris and has an amazing shop called Crimson.

She is a style icon.

I plan to visit her shop when I go to Paris.

Many mature women are reinventing themselves...

the confidence, joy and passion that they share 

is positively invigorating...

Times up! 

Must close the laptop 

 I am meeting friend for a walk.

Thank you for stopping by The Humble Bungalow Blog.

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

Snowmageddon!

Our snow event has become known as
"Snow~ mageddon!

The Humble Bungalow Garden

is covered in snow!

Looks like a Winter wonderland.

Iced tea anyone?

That's my husbands' car under that blanket of white!

Our red chairs look quite comfy with their thick white cushions.

I've been spending most of these snow days indoors.

Knitting, reading, sipping tea, and making hot soups and curries.

The front steps are swept clear of snow

 the sidewalk gets shovelled...

we have been keeping the fire in our fireplace going 

as it really takes the chill off.

Our single paned windows let in so much cold air...

sitting next to a window one can feel a chilly draught!

My husband has been busy.

He's kept up with the supply of kindling and wood.

Walking back and forth to and from his office downtown.

Many of the staff are unable to get into town to work.

Schools, UVIC, Camosun College and the Naval base at Esquimalt are all closed.

Buses are delayed or not running...

roads are icy and covered with snow

its pretty to look at but is proving difficult "getting around."

It is still snowing 

we are expected to get another 5 inches today...

more predicted for the rest of the week and into the next one.

Stay safe and cozy.

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

Snow and soups...

It's COLD!
Not as cold as our neighbours back east or southeast of us...

The temperatures are quickly dipping and the forecast is calling for more snow...
tomorrow and throughout next week!

            When its really cold I like to serve a hearty meal of homemade soup.

I discovered this book at the library while perusing the soup cookbooks...

the authors suggest that drinking bone broth has many health benefits.

I have tried bone broth at restaurants and love the flavour.

So I figured I might try making it at home.

Many of the recipes in this book suggest using a crock pot.

You cook the bones with a mirepoix of veggies, and several quarts of water

 for 12-24 hours on the low setting of the crock pot.

( I used a large slow cooker)

You can use beef, pork, turkey or chicken bones.

(No salt is added during the cooking process)

The bones are removed and cooled

( I picked the meat off the bones and set them aside for my soup)

strain the rest of the ingredients

cool on the countertop

before

putting it into the fridge

the broth can be used in soups or heated up as a drink

it can also be frozen 

in quart mason sealer jars

(fill only 3/4 full)

Ready for the freezer.

Hearty beef and vegetable soup

simmering on the stove.

Smells delicious!

I used the meat from the soup bones, the mirepoix and added a bit of pepper.

When it snows here...

there is very little in the way of snow removal equipment

so if we get a big dump of snow 

getting around town is quite the challenge.

Snow is really beautiful to look at...

so pure

 it muffles any noise 

a white blanket that covers us

kids love it

So much fun

for

making snowmen

snow angels

sledding

I remember 

when I was a child 

 a snowfall was so exciting.

Almost 64 years ago 

I was born on a snowday.

My father had to shovel the driveway, 

which was on a slant, 

before he could get the car out.

My mother was quite worried that she would not make it to the hospital

before giving birth to me.

They made it in time and for many years (in March) 

it snowed on my birthday.

Is it cold where you live?

Do you have snow?

What do you like to cook when the mercury drops?

Do you make a big pot of soup or stew?

Perhaps you bake bread or buns?

Do you have a favourite recipe that you can share?

Stay warm and cozy!

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~