Snippets, tidbits and good books...

Holdays are such a gift...
time to relax, cocoon and embrace the good things in life.

We sleep well here at the cottage.
There is a gentle calm pulsing throughout our days...

As we spend a lot of time outside in the fresh air...
dining al fresco, walking, swimming, reading.

These slow days contribute to our well being and we are usually in bed asleep just after 9pm...
we wake and watch the light as it brightens and moves across The Salish Sea.

The bark of the arbutus trees are peeling which reveals a limey green layer under the rich amber colour...these are a feature in our views as we have several of these lovely trees growing at the edge of the sea.

Birds flitter about, gather and sing...
they seem to be drawn to the limbs of these trees.

I read this engaging mystery novel in a day...

a real page turner set on The French Riviera.

You might enjoy it!

The old stove died a few days ago and the general manager was able to order a new one and have it delivered to our small island in a day!

This is quite remarkable and we were very happy as we have no local access to shops and the ferry service is limited.

Local Sea Star Vineyards make excellent award winning wines.

Their Encore is a rich full bodied red wine...

perfect with a BBQ steak, baked potatoes and green beans.

Things break...

My Fit Bit battery died and I went online to get a replacement and was surprised to learn they are not available!

OH NO!

You are meant to purchase a new FitBit...

well that was a shock, 

so I have decided not to replace it.

My husband says I should buy an IWatch but I am reluctant...

I am wearing one of the vintage sterling bangles that I have in my collection...

this one a sweet gift from our darling daughter Jennifer.

Campus Queen from 1968

Fresh halibut, steamed broccoli and wild rice with sauteed mushrooms.

Yummy Halibut

To cook the halibut I dip it in flour, salt and pepper

saute in a wee bit of oil and butter

cook until skin is somewhat brown and fish is white and flaky

squeeze the juice from a fresh lemon overtop and add a tablespoon of capers.

Easy and so flavourful

Enjoy!

Read this gem yesterday.

A real binge read..

could not put it down

  I am considering re-reading all of the Jane Austin classics.

Am heading to the bookstore today as I have read all the books that I brought for our holiday.

Hope that you are staying safe.

Our Covid case numbers have increased here over the past few weeks.

It is alarming and we continue to keep our "bubble" small.

We wear our masks when we are out in the shops.

Hand washing and sanitizer are used constantly.

Feeling so thankful for the fresh air and sunshine.

The ability to be out safely in nature

soaking in all of the beauty that surrounds us

is soothing during these uncertain times.

Stay Safe.

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

Holidaze...

We are on holiday at the cottage and have our boat at the marina...

son and grandchildren are up at the cottage and my husband and I are on our boat. We have great weather and the pools are open.

Lego is a favourite with the grands.

Doctoring up a patient.

Side walk chalk

Very busy days...
3 excited youngsters to entertain.

Lots of food to prepare...snacks and meals.
Their favourite pool time swims, complete with floaty toys!

I will be back blogging after they return home.
Will need to try and figure out the new blogging formats...

Wish me Luck!

Take care, stay safe...

                       ~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

OOTD...spa time and lunch out.

Welcome to The Humble Bungalow Blog.

Blogger has introduced a new interface which is proving to be quite quirky.
If it continues to be problematic I will give up and post only on Instagram.

Vintage Coach bag and Maui Jim prescription sunglasses

Summertime Basics

Chaus of New York Polka dot top.

I found this at Marshalls and it is a comfy loose longer length top that I can wear with my casual black Yoga pants or dressy Eileen Fisher skinny black pants.

I have done very little shopping since Covid arrived.
When I do shop I wear a mask.

Except for a new pair of black Yoga pants and a blue pair of linen trousers by Ellen Tracey both sourced at Marshalls. I have only ventured into Toys R Us to buy birthday gifts for the grandchildren.

Our cases of Covid are up a bit more here in BC and both my husband and I remain very vigilant in our efforts to stay safe. Our ages put us at a higher risk and I have had pneumonia 3 times, the last bout kept me bedridden for 6 weeks so I daren't take any chances.

                       Pepper, our elder cat,
                       loves to find a ray of sunshine and have a nap.

My sister and I went to the Spa last week at the Oak Bay Beach Hotel.

We were celebrating her 60th birthday.

It was a beautiful sunny day and we really enjoyed soaking in the mineral pool.

We enjoyed lunch at Faro the new pizza spot in the hotel.

Sized for sharing

I met a long time reader Rosemarie for lunch last week.

She and I exchanged gifts.

Rosemarie is a vivacious and kind woman who sends me cheery emails.

She sends me sunflower seeds at the anniversary of my Mom's passing...

she has also sent me tea, earrings, and more recently some polka dot socks!

My current book stack...

Just finished The Guest List by Lisa Foley, an Agatha Christie type of mystery.

I never guessed who the murderer was, with so many twists and turns.

Well that about wraps up this post...

I hope Blogger can give us a tutorial on the new format.

It is difficult trying to figure it out withour much help!

Stay Safe

and 

Please 

Wear your Mask

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

Summer Hollidays

The Humble Bungalow Garden

We have been away on the boat...and had motor trouble.
Repairs need to happen before we can go out on it again.

Midweek I drove upisland for a few days
with our son and 3 grand children.

Oodles of fun in the sun and a crazy thunder and lightning storm!
Mini Golf, bumper boats, pooltime, crafts...

Fresh veggies from The Humble Bungalow Garden and Greenhouse.

The garden is looking wonderful and we are starting to harvest vegetables.

Limelight Hydrangeas 

and

Himalayan Honeysuckle

I love the combination of colours and textures.

This wee green grasshopper hitched a ride from Victoria all the way to Parksville.

The views from our suite.

Sandy beaches and many lovely homes.

Abraham Darby

a stalwart David Austin Rose

very frilly and frothy 

a beautiful fragrance.

Second flush of sweet peas...

Monty Don said to cut ALL the flowers off and expect a flush of new ones.

I was skeptical but it works.

BTW 

I had an email from a reader 

saying that ads are popping up in the blog side bar 

that are related to the US election and the NRA.

I do not live in the US.

My blog is not political in any way, shape or form.

It is my understanding that any ads that do pop up 

are related to searches by the users of the device.

North Island Wildlife Recovery Centre is located in Errington, BC

near Parksville and Qualicum Beach.

The centre rehabilitates animals that are injured and then releases them back into the wild.

There are a few animals that are permanent residents. 

Their injuries were so severe

that they will not be able to fend for themselves.

The centre is clean

the cages are large 

the habitats inside are similar to the wilderness

that the animals call home.

Look at this precious owl.

Farley cannot fly, he was hit by a car in Prince George BC.

He underwent an operation but has never been able to regain the ability to fly.

We are enjoying hosting outdoor "Happy Hours" with friends and family.

It is a wonderful way to stay connected and remain safe.

How is your summer going?

The time seems to be flying by here...

I've got lots of things planned for the next few weeks.

Catching up with friends and a spa date with my baby sister who just turned 60!

Take care and stay safe.

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

Summer snippets 2020...

My neighbour's garden has some rare and unusual plants.

Artistic touches are evident throughout her garden. 

Her choice of colourful flowers make a bold statement and are often dramatic.

Our poppies are still putting on a spectacular show.

I am saving the seeds for next years blooms.

My neighbour across the street and I were out chatting and watched a doe

as she grabbed one of the seed pods and swallowed it right before our eyes!

The urban deer are a hot topic of conversation among the gardeneres at this end of the block...

(5 deer reside in the back yard of a home nearby)

Mom and her fawns are enjoying our front garden "salad bar" so much this year!

No amount of Bobex is stopping their munching.

A dear friend and I went out to an antique store last week.

We wore our masks and perused the shop

before we decided on purchasing these Canadian vintage sap buckets.

We both thought of creative ways that we could use them...

ice buckets, flower vases, planters, 

My friend is planning to use them to collect sap from her Elm tree.

John Paul II Rose

reblooming after getting planted in The Humble Bungalow Garden.

He shares the bed with Crocosmia Lucifer...

I wonder how they are getting along?

Dierama aka Angel's Fishing Wand

 in my neighbour's garden...ours has not yet bloomed.

Bought some new buckets and shovels for the sandy beach at Sidney Spit.

Hope we have some sunny days when we are there with the grandchildren.

We plan to build some sandcastles...

A friend dropped off some books the other evening.

I had run out of books to read.

To me that is a very dire situation...

I purchased The Library at the Edge of the World by Felicity Hayes-McCoy

it is a delightful book ~ a perfect beach read.

Am excited to read these other titles. 

They should keep me entertained for the next month or so.

Jude the Obscure with Lady's Mantle

Love the form and fragrance of this beautiful David Austin Rose.

Hubby and I are celebrating our 46th anniversary.

We were married young and were high school sweethearts.

So we have actually been together as a couple for 50 years!

Our friends treated us to a lovely dinner on their porch the other evening.

Look at the rhubarb pie!

Hope that you are staying safe, 

are wearing your mask when you cannot self distance...

our active Covid cases on Vancouver Island 

have increased since Phase 3 has been enacted.

It is quite unsettling hearing the double digit daily cases in BC.

We need to keep our bubbles "small"

and as Dr. Bonnie Henry reminds us

"more faces in bigger spaces."

Fresh air, blue skies, sunshine, birdsong and buzzing bees

just some of the 

JOYS 

of Summer.

Thank you for stopping by The Humble Bungalow Blog!

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~