Roses, Tea and Covid Cooking...a tonic during lockdown

 

Roses continue to bloom in The Humble Bungalow Garden.

The cheerful pops of colour elevate our days.

Jude the Obscure still putting on a show!

Walked downtown on Thursday 

to meet my husband at the lawyer's office and sign our new wills.

I had a few minutes to spare so I popped into Winners.

I bought a couple of gifts and just happened upon this trio of teas.

I have savoured the Wittards Chelsea Afternoon Tea blend and was eager to expand my taste experience...

I bought all three!

I have yet to try this one but it sounds delicious...

Oolong tea, pineapple, strawberry and papaya pieces, marigold flowers.

No7 Mango and Bergamot is SO GOOD!!!!

Green Tea, Mango, petals from cornflowers, sunflowers and roses.

Bergamot flavouring.

This one is a gift for a dear friend.

Lockdown is here to stay for the forseeable future.

The Covid Cases are climbing far too fast.

Hospitals are filling up and our provincial health doctor has had to enact the act

that prohibits us from gathering with others.

Only our immediate household can be together, even outdoors.

We are permitted to walk with one friend.

Masks are mandatory in public places and at worksites.

So I am cooking like crazy as a distraction to save my sanity...

(my husband winks when I say this!)

Thanks darling XO

BTW

Mr. HB seems to be enjoying all the meals.

Christmas decor here is minimal and I am fluffing the house bit by bit...

I will publish a post sharing what I've done soon.

Our neighbours to the south are preparing their Thanksgiving menus and sharing many gorgeous tablescapes.

I made Ina Garten's Herb and Apple Bread Pudding from her book 

"Cooking For Jeffrey."

(page 152)

I made it this morning and it is in the fridge waiting for later...

I love a make ahead dish.

Ina mentioned that it pairs well with Turkey.

I am making "Engagement Roast Chicken" similar to Ina's Perfect Roast Chicken.

Barefoot Contessa Cookbook

Will steam some broccoli to serve with dinner.

I had hoped to buy green beans but they were not that fresh...

why do some stores keep them on the shelf when they are past their prime?

My husband has been outside all morning digging fence post holes.

He'll be weary when he finally comes inside...

Hope this meal will be tasty and comforting.

How are you doing during this pandemic?

What are your favourite distractions?

Thank you for stopping by The Humble Bungalow.

Stay Safe

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

Fashion with a Vintage Vibe ~ French themed books

When I visited Paris in 2015 I met a savvy young stylist named Alois Guinut.

She led a workshop on French fashion and style 

for women on The Ooh La La Tour.

The tour was arranged and led by author Jamie Cat Callan.

You may have read some of her books...

( if you haven't already read her books you may want to!)

French Women Don't Sleep Alone: Pleasurable Secrets to Finding Love 

Bonjour Happiness: Secrets to Finding Your Joie de Vivre

Ooh La La!: French Women's Secrets to Feeling Beautiful Every Day

Parisian Charm School: French Secrets for Cultivating Love, Joy and That Certain Je Ne Sais Quoi

I took notes at the workshop as I was so inspired by this young woman.

When I returned home I decided to add some French flair to my daily outfits.

Not too long after I returned I learned that Alois had written a new book

"Dress Like a Parisian."

 I knew that I had to buy it and read more about this fascinating style.

I have just finished reading 

"Why French Women Wear Vintage and other secrets of sustainable style."

There are lots of great ideas here and as I am a passionate second hand, consignment, and thrift shopper so this fits right into my values of recycling and my current relaxed lifestyle.

My wardrobe is streamlined and minimalist with a colour palette based on black, white and greys that makes it easy to mix and match items.

I have denim jeans and chambray shirts too.

I add a pop of colour with accessories.

Alois shares some fun ways to add fun and flair to the classic basics.

I plan to look for more "unique accessories" when I venture out in the second hand consignment and charity shops

as well as

perusing

 ETSY and EBAY 

for more vintage finds.

Now I want to re-read her first book!

Hope that you are keeping well.

Are you cooking, baking, knitting, crafting or reading to stay safe during Covid?

 'French Exit ' a new fragrant candle from the company Cancelled Plans.

Scented candles add ambiance to our Humble Bungalow.

When the Fall and Winter weather gets gloomy I can't think of anything easier

 than lighting a candle to add a warm glow and a beautiful fragrance.

Thank you for stopping by The Humble Bungalow Blog.

Hope that you are staying safe, wearing your mask and washing your hands!

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

 

Shopping and de-cluttering

 

Fan Tan Alley in Victoria's historic Chinatown.

A place of interest for locals and visitors.

I enjoy going to chinatown and perusing the shops.

There are also some fabulous restaurants for Asian cuisine.

One of my favourite shops is Fan Tan Gallery.

They stock housewares, home decor items, cards, candles, soaps, gifts.

Baby clothes, books and toys.

An assortment of clothing...

many natural fabrics ~ linen and bamboo and wool.

An array of beautiful accessories and scarves.

On my last visit I left without purchasing a thing 

 I came away with some inspiration for our home decor.

On my neighbourhood walks I try to mix up the routes so that I don't get bored.

My usual walks are along the waterfront where I enjoy the changing views.

When I wander through the streets and gaze at other gardens 

I come home and look at The Humble Bungalow Garden with fresh eyes...

I really savour these meandering wanders.

Cook Street Village is a few blocks long and it has a lot of small shops.

 Coffee, grocery stores, cafes, pharmacy, hair salons, butcher shop, 

health food store, clothing retailer, two antique and collectible shops, 

a garden centre and more...

When I saunter down to the village I am usually on a "mission." 

Frequently I need an ingredient for a recipe that I am making.

 

Sometimes I just want to peruse the antique and collectible shops.

That was my plan the other day...

As I was walking my eye wandered to a store display 

hanging in the window was a cute top.

I masked up and walked in to find my size, tried it on, it fit, and that was it!

This black and white striped top skims my wobbly bits, has 3/4 length sleeves 

in a longer tunic length great for skinny pants or yoga pants.

The V neck works best for me as I am really quite short and rather busty.

The fabric is heavy enough that it doesn't cling and drapes beautifully.

I'll wear this top a lot

Fall through Winter and into Spring.

I culled many of my cook books...

placing them in the wee library across the street and they were snapped up.

My Covid goal is to tidy every cupboard, shelf, drawer and room 

in The Humble Bungalow.

One a day...

in no time I will be finished this task.

I just took 4 large bags to the local charity shop.

Boy it feels so good to pare down.

Hope that you are doing well, staying safe, and being mindful of the Covid Protocols.

Have you taken up any new hobbies or cultivated any new habits?

Are you cooking up a storm?

Baking bread?

What is keeping you sane during these isolating times?

Thank you for popping by The Humble Bungalow Blog.

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

Halloween during Covid...

 

Spooky Halloween Eve

Choosing pumpkins for Halloween with the grandchildren at a local farm.

We wandered about the pumpkin patch for about 45 minutes searching for the perfect specimens for our Jack O' Lanterns.

So many choices!

Difficult to opt for just one, so we ended up choosing two each.

Our wee pumpkins on the front porch table.

Packages of assorted treats in zip loc bags.

50 packs

Ready for the trick or treaters!

Large PVC tube on the left, for the safe delivery of the packages of treats.

We bundled up in out down coats.

I wore my scarf, gloves and a hat.

It was fun to see the costumes and hear the excitement of the children as they made their way up and down our block.

We turned the lights out when we ran out of treats at around 7:30.

Did you celebrate Halloween?

How did you do things differently so it was Safe?

Time is flying by and it is already November.

Take care.

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

OOTD...a focus on the classics

 

 ~ OOTD ~

Shirts with Jeans

My current uniform 

on rotation here in The Humble Bungalow.

New white shirt from Old Navy

worn here with classic pearls.

When I was working 

White shirts were worn a lot and I owned several in different styles.

Worn tucked into black pants and simple skirts.

On Fridays we wore jeans.

I paired my white shirt with a soft wool blazer, jeans and loafers.

Accessorized with faux pearls...

One Christmas several decades ago, my parents gave me a lovely pair of genuine pearl studs.

( I still have them and wear them often)

One Valentine's Day, a few years later, my husband gave me a strand of Akoya pearls.

I love pearls

My Mom loved pearls too.

When I wear my pearls I always think of Mom.

Mom wore her baroque long opera length pearls almost everyday.

The necklace was a gift to her one Christmas from my father.

Do you wear pearls?

Have you a classic white shirt in your wardrobe?

I also love denim and chambray shirts.

I have two...

I am wearing one right now with my pearls.

This shirt has all the details that make it a classic and yet it is budget friendly.

Keeping a white shirt white is tricky.

If I get a mark on it

 I spray it with my pink grapefruit Method brand cleaner 

gently scrub with a soft brush before popping it into the wash.

I hang my shirts to dry and smoothe out the edges when they are damp.

Ironing carefully after they are dry.

I wear an apron when I am cooking and cleaning.

It saves my clothes from stains.

I love this linen one from Rough Linen.

It was an early Covid purchase.

Pope John Paull II white rose

blooming in The Humble Bungalow Garden.

White is such an elegant shade...

(White shirt quotes)

"You can wear them with anything. 

It's the person and the way that they wear it 

that makes it different. 

I have been designing white shirts forever, 

but I don't get tired of it." 

~ Carolina Herrera ~

"The white blouse can be light and floating, impeccable and austere, sumptuous and all-enveloping, tight and close-fitting. 

It rises up to frame the face. 

It sculpts the body by transforming itself into a second skin. 

Imputed with glamour and poetry, freedom and impetuousness, the prim white shirt turns out to have a thousand identities." 

                                 ~ Gianfranco Ferre ~

How will you style your shirt?

The important thing is having fun with your creative accessories.

A scarf

necklace

brooch

collar up? or buttoned up?

maybe opened up?

 as a layering piece over a camisole or top.

The White Shirt is a versatile classic

a worthy workhorse in every wardrobe.

Thank you for stopping by The Humble Bungalow Blog.

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~