Quarterdeck Cottage ~ an oasis of peace.

We are at Quarterdeck Cottage this week...

we arrived with a bucket of fresh cut flowers from The Humble Bungalow Garden.

I couldn't resist bringing some of our roses.

Jude the Obscure, Julia Child and The McCartney rose fill the vase. 

Sunshine and the expansive views of the Salish Sea are such a tonic.

We went for a drive and walked along two different beaches 

beachcombing...collecting feathers and pieces of sea glass.

An artist has been busy creating some interesting carvings...

Building 

Driftwood structures are popular with many at the beach.

Our cottage time is so peaceful.

We sat out on the deck last night and gazed up at the stars... 

watched the brightly lit ferries as they passed by the cottage.

Feeling immense contentment here at the cottage.

Nature continues to amaze...

it renews our energies

inspires us

refreshes and invigorates.

The sound of the waves as they hit the rocky shore

the various bird songs

my favourite of which is the song of the purple martins

the breeze as it swishes the branches of the trees

all things that I have come to love and appreciate.

I've got a post to share with you soon...

we were fortunate to be able to host a dinner on the deck here with a fashion blogger and her husband and her lovely daughter.

We didn't take pictures of us all but I can share the menu.

If you want to get a sneak peak check out my Instagram post.

In closing, here's a picture of the other flowers that we brought to the cottage.

Sweet Peas

this summer we have enjoyed a bumper crop of these fragrant beauties.

The more we picked the blooms the faster they grew.

I cannot remember a summer when we had so many sweet peas.

They are cheap and cheerful and so worth the effort of growing them.

Hope that you are doing well and staying safe.

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

Holidaze...The Humble Bungalow Garden Roses

 

Jude the Obscure Rose

Buttery yellow Julia Child Rose

Golden Celebration

Jude the Obscure up close

Jude the Obscure Rose is full of blooms.

We took our son and the grandchildren up island to Nanoose Bay for a getaway.

It is located 2 hours (driving) north from Victoria.

We stayed at Pacific Shores, which is s time share on Craig Bay,

 just south of Parksville.

Early morning views from the patio on Craig Bay up island.

We sat outside most mornings with our coffee and soaked in the pristine scenery.

We watched paddle boarders as they moved about the bay...

motor and sailboats, 

kayaks

swimmers and waders all playing in the sunshine.

Many families stayed at the resort so there were lots of kids.

 Our grandchildren enjoyed meeting and playing with some summer "friends."

Large rocks and sandstone 

warmed by the sun.

A few treasures from my beach walk.

We kayaked in the bay, swam in the pools, walked along the beach, played Monopoly, cards, read our books, went to mini golf and rode in bumper boats.

Lots of laughter and fun were had by all.

Summer is winding down...

today we have refreshing and much needed rain.

Reading Santa Montefiore's new book...

Here and Now

about a woman and her family 

as they navigate a journey involving memory loss.

I have read all her books and enjoy her style of writing very much.

How is your summer going?

Have you been away or are you enjoying a staycation in your own town?

We don't plan to travel very far in the near future.

The rates of transmission of the Covid Delta variant are rather staggering.

The Canadian borders are open to the vaccinated visitors.

Vaccinations continue to be offered and I hope that the children will be able to get their shots as school will be starting in early September.

Thank you for popping by The Humble Bungalow Blog.

Stay Safe.

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

Flower Power ~ a cheerful and bright pop of colour and a new murder series to read.

Abraham Darby

David Austin Rose

Fragrant frilly and frothy petalled rose in The Humble Bungalow Garden.

How is your summer going?

Ours has been a hot one with no rain.

We are staying hydrated by drinking lots of homemade lemonade 

reading in the shade of the front porch in the afternoon.

Trying to get our garden chores done early in the morning 

while keeping up with the watering.

Blooming Artichokes

seen on my walk.

These bloom every summer 

they always catch my eye when I walk down the street.

Buttery yellow Roses in the front yard.

Jude the Obscure

another David Austin Rose

citrus fragrance

deep cupped blooms

that are 

repeat blooming.

The sweet peas are growing vigorously this summer.

I cut them each day and the next time I go out there are more flowers!

It must be because of the heat and constant sunshine that we are experiencing.

Angel's Fishing Wand

aka Dierama

We have two clumps of this planted in our front garden.

The hummingbirds like them!

Jude the Obscure 

I almost swoon when I see these blooms.

The limelight hydrangeas are brightening up The Humble Bungalow Garden.

Their chartreuse shade GLOWS!

Verbena Bonariensis

I finally found this in a local nursery after hunting for it for well over a year!

It felt like winning the plant lottery...

I must have been in the right place at the right time.

I discovered a new mystery series by Canadian writer Steven Burrows.

"The Birder Murder Series"

which is set in the UK.

A memorable group of characters and a murder with birds featured in the story.

Steven Burrows is an experienced "birder" and has written for many birding magazines.

This book is the second one in the series...

A Siege of Bitterns is the first book.

I am planning to read it as soon as I finish this one.

Good News...

There are 4 more books

something to look forward to!

Hope that you are keeping well.

Our Covid cases have spiked again...

The delta variant seems to be spreading quickly.

We have had both our vaccinations but are not taking any chances.

Masks indoors and avoiding close contacts.

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

Anniversary of our wedding day from July 20, 1974

July 20, 1974

47 years ago...

We were so young 

but we knew that we were in love 

and

ready to spend our lives together

as husband and wife.

I have kept my wedding dress, veil and blue garter.

Maybe Isla will want to play "dress up" and wear it someday?

We went out for dinner with our friends on Sunday evening to celebrate.

We went to the Snug at the Oak Bay Beach Hotel and we were waited on by Mom's favourite server.

I had a glass of the wine that Mom always ordered.

Tonight

If it is not too hot we will sit on the deck and have a cocktail.

I will make my husband his favourite spaghetti dinner and a simple salad.

The sun is shining down on The Humble Bungalow Garden.

on the north side of the bungalow we have a slate patio

that is surrounded by a riot of hydrangeas, 

Limelight and Angelina mixed in with hostas and lady's mantle.

We spent the better part of the weekend in the garden getting caught up on the weeding and the deadheading of the roses.

It feels a little bit cooler today as there is a breeze...

an exterminator is coming by this afternoon to deal with a large wasp nest.

We are planning to buy a new TV and get an upgrade on our viewing subscriptions.

There are so many options and channels that it feels quite daunting trying to decide what to order...

Do you have any suggestions on particularly good channels?

Will close with this pretty sunflower grown from the seeds that dear reader Rosemarie sent to me in memory of my mom.

Thank you for popping by The Humble Bungalow Blog.

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

Holidaze at Quarterdeck Cottage

The lazy daze of summer...

Simple meals

family

pooltime

Sun

Gazing at the Bees collecting pollen from the flowers 

can hold the attention of a sweet girl.

Sunshine 

 a bright bold yellow flower.

Buzzing Busy Bees...

bees on almost every bloom.

We had the grandchildren here for a week and it has flown by so fast.

They left on the ferry on Friday...

I will miss their happy laughter and energy.

Simple daisies

blooming at the side of the road.

Love these humble beauties...

there is something so classic about these blooms.

I like to pick a few and pop them in a jam jar.

Behold the beauty of this gorgeous Dahlia!

Mom grew dahlias when we lived in Oak Bay.

Her garden was quite lovely and she spent many hours every week tending to the perennial beds.

She had a dedicated section for her beloved Dahlias.

Some of the flowers were as big a dinner plates.

When dahlia season was at its' peak 

mom would pack a variety of dahlias to bring inside the house.

There would be vases in almost every room.

Oh those were the days...

We've got my sister and her husband coming to the cottage today for a visit so I will close for now.

Hope that your summer is ticking along nicely.

Stay safe.

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~