January...starting slowly

Easing into the New Year...

mulling over some goals and ideas

making a few intentions

not necessarily resolutions

confirming if they are reasonable, attainable and worth considering.

Have you made any resolutions for twenty twenty?

The view on my walk earlier this week on a beautiful sunny day.

December Hollyhocks in bloom on a street near the Humble Bungalow.

The eagle has landed!

There are frequently two bald eagles perched up in the tree...

On

New Years Day 

a few people walking past the tree 

stopped to look up and admire this majestic bird.

Speaking of looking up...

A Single Star 

made out of tin 

hangs above the sink in The Humble Bungalow.

Different from the 

Stars

 that sparkle and twinkle up above 

in the night sky.

Do you remember this poem about Stars from your childhood?

The rains have started and they'll be with us for awhile.

 Cenotaph near Cattle Point in the Uplands area of Victoria.

Glimpsed as we walked by on our morning walk.

I don't know any food more comforting 

except a bowl of soup on a cold rainy day.

 Homemade Tomato Soup

I roasted several pounds of fresh tomatoes 

diced onions 

5 cloves of minced garlic 

in a shallow pan with some olive oil 

 400 degree oven for 45 minutes

 I popped them all in a pot 

added a tetra pack of veggie stock

put it on to simmer.

Then I used the immersion blender to blend it all.

Salt and Pepper to taste.

Currently reading The Rocks by Peter Nichols.

Going to pop the kettle on soon and brew a pot of tasty Murchies Chestnut Tea.

Will light the candle and read for a bit.

How is your New Year looking so far?

What are you reading?

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

New Year

It's the Eve of the New Year today and I am pondering...

thinking on things that I can do to improve my health.

Walking more 

perhaps going back to the Yoga studio 

or branching out 

by taking a Zumba class.

I've got a stack of books to read...

a knitting project on the needles

busy with the Strata Council as a new board member

plus the regular bridge games at the club.

My current book is a heart breaking story...

well written and very sad.

I recommend it very highly.

“New year—a new chapter, new verse, or just the same old story? 

Ultimately we write it. The choice is ours.”

~ Alex Morritt ~

On this Eve I am saying farewell to 2019.

Taking with me into the New Year 

 lessons learned

places I have visited

experiences and memories

that 

will enable me to welcome the days and weeks ahead 

with an open mind and heart.

“The new year stands before us, like a chapter in a book, 

waiting to be written.” 

~ Melody Beattie ~

Happy New Year to You!

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

Victoria Sponge with Lemon Curd

Recently I discovered that Bonne Maman makes lemon curd and I do love their jams so I wanted to give this a try.

I love the flavour of lemons.

An easy choice was opting to bake a Victoria sponge...
It is a basic cake that can be filled with jams
or in this case,
the star of the recipe...
Lemon Curd.

Hope you enjoy this cake recipe.

It is quick and easy.

We enjoyed our Christmas Holidays very much.

Seeing members of our small family was a highlight.

Our daughter and her husband accompanied us to Butchart Gardens for a festive dinner and a walk around the garden which is all lit up with festive holiday lights and

displays for the 12 Days Of Christmas.

Our son and the grandchildren spent Boxing Day with us.

We had a casual brunch and then a turkey dinner with all the fixings.

Salmon was on the menu for Isla the eldest grand who prefers not to eat meat.

Today I've made a tasty turkey vegetable soup for lunch.

The past few days of cooking and entertaining have kept me very busy.

The table linens and napkins are all washed, folded, ironed and put away.

Knitting and a leisurely walk with my husband sound like a great way to spend a few hours...

Now I am wondering...

what will I cook for dinner tonight?

Hope you had a lovely Holiday.

Cheers!

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

Seasons greetings!

As I am whittling down my to do list 

getting ready for the holidays 

 finding myself extra busy

fatigue will surface.

If I am not careful I can feel the stress of trying to do it ALL.

Inner pressure to be the "perfect hostess"

 serve elaborate and tasty meals

keep up appearances

wanting

 a "picture perfect" home.

I need to remind myself not to set the bar too high.

Readjust my thought patterns...

Keep it simple

slow down

breathe

relax.

Candles are one of the things that help set a relaxed mood...

I light these festive reindeer votives in the morning when I sit and sip my coffee and 

again later in the afternoon with my tea.

Music is also a powerful mood shifter...

if I need energy I play some lively tunes from my teen years

if I am looking for calm I usually play a classical piece.

One of my favourites is Barber's Adagio for Strings

you can hear it performed by the Detroit Symphony

here.

I feel like I could just float away when I listen to the music.

The gifts are purchased and wrapped.

The tree is up...

Soon

festive tins will be filled 

with shortbread, dried fruit dipped in chocolate, and cookies.

Our dinner menu is in the planning stage.

Leisurely mulling over cookbooks

slowly turning the pages

 looking at the pictures 

 what to cook?

The Humble Bungalow is dressed up very simply...

Grapevine wreath wound with fairy lights in our family room.

Hope that you are savouring the wee moments

that make up your days.

We can start by

inviting

Peace and Quiet 

into our hearts and our homes.

I like this quote it sums up  what I am thinking.

“No person, no place, and no thing has any power over us, 

for 'we' are the only thinkers in our mind. 

When we create peace and harmony and balance in our minds, 

we will find it in our lives.”

~ Louise L. Hay ~

Wishing you a calm and meaningful holiday.

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

Joy...

What is JOY?

In a google search the first definition that popped up was 
"a feeling of great pleasure and happiness."

Joy is finding a heart shaped rock on the beach.

Personally, I find Joy in many things...

maybe its easier because I am content with life's little pleasures.

Things that are mostly free...

"Attitude of gratitude" 

is my mantra.

Joy is sunshine and scenery.

Maybe it's a smile from a stranger that was unexpected.

A random kind gesture 

a surprise letter or card in the mail

when your grandchildren tell you they love you

if you are stuck in traffic and another driver lets you merge

finding a handful of sea glass on the beach

a beautiful moonlit evening

fresh salty sea air

a rose blooming in winter

there are so many places to look for JOY

it might be a pop of colour on a gloomy day

a phone call from a friend you haven't heard from in ages

a rainbow after the storm

It might even be a whimsical indulgence that makes you smile...

this festive wee tree lights up in many colours

while it might border on "tacky" I knew I had to have it.

It brings me Joy.

Sometimes you just need to take a chance...

Joy in the sunset

Joy is found in giving...

like these Lions international volunteers

who bring Mr. and Mrs. Claus to the Gulf Islands.

There was Joy on the faces of the children and parents in the crowd.

There were elves...

a choir

and pirates wielding balloon swords 

with a few local pirates ready for a battle.

These dedicated volunteers give 800 gifts to children on the various islands.

Each child leaves with a bag of treats and gifts.

Bringing JOY to these children and their families

 Hope Bay on Pender Island...

a generous gift 

that will be remembered for years to come.

“There are those who give with joy, and that joy is their reward.” 

~ Khalil Gibran ~

“Happiness doesn’t result from what we get, but from what we give.” 

~ Ben Carson ~

Wishing you Peace, Joy and Contentment.

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~