Weekend snippets...

I meant to post this earlier in the week but I have been preoccupied with other things...

Last weekend we had oodles of fun.
The highlights featured a garden wedding, lunch out with friends, pottering about in the garden tending to the roses, some leisure reading, and we went to see a matinee ~ Yesterday by Richard Curtis.

 It is a delightful story with the music of The Beatles playing throughout the film
Starring...
Himesh Patel, Lily James, Ed Sheeran, Kate MacKinnin, James Corden.

We thoroughly enjoyed it from start to finish.

a bucket full of roses from our garden for the wedding

Definitely deer food

half a hosta munched

Pink carpet of rose petals...

The wedding was set in the glorious garden of our dear friends.

You can see the Salish Sea just beyond the wedding arbour.

This arbour has been used several times for weddings.

It was reinforced with rope and new driftwood logs for this weekends' nuptials.

Beautiful bee balm co-mingling with yellow roses.

A gorgeous Monarda bloom

(aka Bee Balm)

A Family Affair...

Salmon caught by one of the cousins, 

smoked by the groom and served by my BFF

The theme for the wedding was birds as the couple are "birders"

The groom made these stunning bird sculptures.

I'd like to commission him to make us some too!

I wore a polka dot dress by a Vancouver company called Gilmour.

Flip Flops with some sparkle by Amanda Bleu.

My current read Windfallen by the exceptional author JoJo Moyes.

Marigold The Mouse is making an appearance on the blog.

She's been hiding snug in her mouse hole

as the ongoing noise from the construction has made her a wee bit jumpy.

The bedroom is getting a much needed makeover...

it is unbelievable that it has taken us so many years to have this done.

I am looking forward to purchasing new sheets and a dust ruffle.

Pillows are on my wish list too.

I must close for now and attend to some of the domestic chores that are waiting.

Thank you for stopping by The Humble Bungalow Blog.

Feel free to leave a comment

 tell us what you have been doing this week

or

what you are reading.

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

The omelette that reminds me of Paris....

In 2015,
I travelled to Paris as a gift to myself in the year that I turned 60...
(with the encouragement and support of my beloved husband!)
For many decades I had a dream about visiting Paris and I had always had other commitments...bills, a mortgage and a job.

I retired and started to save in earnest...
I decluttered my closet and cashed in at the consignment shop.
Sold some knick knacks and saved my pennies.

If wishes were horses then beggars would ride!

It happened...my dream came true!

The sights and sounds were more than I could ever have imagined...
the cobble stoned streets, the shops, the churches, the cafes, the galleries, the fashions...the food!

It really took my breath away...
I felt more "in the moment" and alive than I could ever have imagined.

I smiled all the time!!
I fell under the spell of Paris, and wandered through the streets for hours and hours with an intense energy that I never knew that I had...it was BLISS!

Recreating and resurrecting feelings and the memories that I enjoyed when I was in Paris are easily captured in the flavour department.

Wine, teas, fragrances and food.

a simple omelette and salad 

savoured in a street side cafe, a famous Paris museum or here at the cottage

so simple

Follow along with me:

heat a non stick pan with a dollop of butter on medium heat

let it gently melt

 whisk a few eggs in a bowl

when the butter is melted 

gently add the eggs

turn and swirl them in the pan

when they start to firm up a bit

top with some grated cheese

let the cheese sink in and meld

add a tablespoon of capers 

(salt and pepper to taste)

swirl a wee bit more and gently 

using a wide spatula loosen the edges

when you have the edges loose

roll one side of the omelette over 

and make a neat little bundle

add a fresh salad 

(a glass of wine!)

ENJOY!

Ah! Paris

Sweep me away...

in my dreams!

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

Cruise ship shopping...

The cruise to Alaska is approaching so fast and I have not even written out my packing list! I must get busy and do something about that or I will forget something important.

I did find some time for a quick trip to the shops to find a knit top that would look nice over my dresses and would be an extra layer over my Eileen Fisher tank tops and black pants.

When I spied this Nanette Lapore knit I knew immediately that it filled the required style idea that I had in my head.

I also found a simple linen Tahari Tee top which I will pair with my linen capris.

It will go well with jeans, my black knit skirt, and all my pants.

I plan to wear my pearls on the cruise ship as they go with everything...
"keep it simple"
 is my motto for a minimal travel wardrobe.

This is our first time on a cruise ship...
Do any of you have any advice on what I should pack?

                    Thank you for stopping by The Humble Bungalow Blog.

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

An amazing product that I never knew about!!

Am I the last person to hear about the award winning product by Weleda called Skin Food?

There has been a lot written about the formula in this green tube.

Here's what the Weleda site says about Skin Food.

No animal testing

Paraben and phthalate free

No synthetic preservatives or fragrances

Apparently it's a "cult favourite!"

Perhaps not being in a cult might explain why I haven't heard of it before!

I've just 

slathered my hands with this lotion and WOW!

I had to share this with you 

just in case I was not the only person who had not tried this cream.

(you'll thank me)

The clerk in the Pharmacy sold me her last tube...

she says they can hardly keep it in stock!

You can use this all over your skin, even in your hair!

It is good for ragged cuticles and if it helps with this issue,

 I'll be ever so grateful!

Gardening and homekeeping chores are hard on my hands.

So next time you need a hard working product you might consider trying this one.

Thank you for stopping by The Humble Bungalow Blog!

Let me know what you think about the Skin Food if you try some...

or you may already be using it!!

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

Embracing Joy...

Do you feel Joyful?

Joy definition...

a feeling of great pleasure and happiness.
"tears of joy"
synonyms: delight, great pleasure, joyfulness, jubilation, triumph, exultation, rejoicing, happiness, gladness, glee, exhilaration, ebullience, exuberance, elation, euphoria, bliss, ecstasy, transports of delight, rapture, radiance

What do you enjoy in your daily round?

I've thought about what brings me pleasure on a daily basis.
After due consideration,
I discovered its really the simple things that bring me Joy.

Starting each morning with a mug of hot coffee...
with some quiet time to check my email, social media, and perhaps read a chapter in my current book.

A shower with fragrant soap or body wash, drying off with a pure linen towel and then applying some emollient lotion.

Washing my face and gently applying a rich serum followed by moisturizer.

Domestic routines are followed...

simple chores like making the bed
tidying up the kitchen
emptying the dishwasher
starting the laundry

these jobs are important home keeping rituals.

An organized home is less stressful for me personally
so staying on top of the mess and clutter is imperative.

Getting out for a walk every day.

Looking at the homes and gardens as I pass by
listening to the songs of the birds...
gazing across the ocean to the snow capped mountains
as I walk along the seafront.

Other things that bring Joy;

family
friends
gardening
roses roses roses!!!!
flowers
tasty healthy food
(cooking)
afternoon tea sipped from a beautiful china cup and saucer
thrift shopping
good books
scented candles
sunshine
a cozy cashmere sweater
comfy jeans
pearls
decluttering
donating to charity
a bouquet of David Austin roses picked fresh from the garden

                 ~ giving simple gifts ~

food...homemade soup, a frittata, or a casserole
delivering a posy of flowers
sharing a good book
a jar of jam and some fresh baked scones
soap with a handknit dishcloth
beeswax candles wrapped in a linen tea towel

"Giving" is rewarding and it is something I really enjoy...

There are so many things that bring Joy into our lives...
what are the things that you find bring you Joy?

I almost forgot to mention how much I love collecting sea glass!

and heart shaped rocks!!

So now its your turn to share what brings you joy...

please leave a comment if you have time.

Thank you for stopping by The Humble Bungalow Blog today.

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~