December Snowfall...and some snippets from the past few weeks.

We have snow!

It's pretty to look at but it is very cold.

I've been wearing my cozy cashmere sweaters and thick wool socks.

Bundling up in my puffy down coat 

(think Michelin man style)

hat

scarf

gloves

Fancy popping by to sit on the front porch with a hot cuppa?

The hummingbird feeders are freezing so we are rotating the two feeders 

in the cold snap of winter

the wee local Anna's hummingbirds rely on us to keep them fed.

Snowy scenes here in The Humble Bungalow Garden.

Abraham Darby a David Austin Rose

blooming 

while wearing a snow hat!

A fabulous book...

by author Alka Joshi.

The good news is she has published a sequel

 and is working on a third!

Lady Gaga was amazing in the film!

We saw it in the theatre...a matinee 

safely viewed with only two other people in attendance!

Lady Gaga is wearing the same pearls that I bought from a local shop.

Mary from Skanda sourced them from Hong Kong!

We discovered a new cocktail...

"Jingle Buck"

1 ounce Vodka

3/4 ounce pure cranberry juice

3/4 ounce lime juice

2 ounces ginger ale

ice

garnish with fresh cranberries

CHEERS!

I've felt at a loss for words on the blog lately...

perhaps it is writer's block?

Covid has worn so many of us down.

I want to rise up in positivity and rejoice 

but the new Omicron variant has us all in a tizzy.

Our numbers are surging and the hospitals are slammed.

We get our booster shots next week and for that I am very grateful.

I have been working on

The Doocot Sweater

I knit the body of the sweater and now I am working on the sleeves.

You'd think I would have this finished by now...

I started it before the pandemic hit!

When I attended the knitting club meeting I discovered that I am not alone in procrastinating with my knitting project.

Some of the women have taken up painting and several others bought bikes and have been meeting up to explore the scenic roads and trails.

I have made a conscious decision to focus on and embrace Simple Joys.

I feel happiest in my kitchen 

whether I am cutting veggies for a soup or baking cookies

or planning a menu to serve to my family

the contentment is hugely rewarding and comforting.

Two items that I purchased during Covid that have been most useful 

are linen aprons.

We have not purchased many things in the past two years...

we don't "need" much other than food.

Clothes shopping has been put on the back burner for the time being...

except for that "wee foray" at Eileen Fisher on South Granville in Vancouver!

I found a cute grey top and a sumptuous boiled wool sweater in a tunic length.

I bought the black one (of course!)

The sweater was, what I consider, an "investment piece."

It has been worn multiple times since I bought it!

I wore it Christmas Day with skinny Eileen Fisher pants.

I added a sparkly Sherman rhinestone pin.

Vintage rhinestone Brooches are such a fun way to add sparkle.

Hope that 2022 has some bright spots and highlights...

Thank you for stopping by The Humble Bungalow Blog.

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

OOTD a fabulous dinner and something new...

 

OOTD

I had my hair flat ironed for a festive holiday dinner.

I don't own a flat iron and I am not great at straightening my hair with the blow dryer.

It's fun to play around with hair styles...

wavy, curly, messy up do's and simple pony tails.

Red ballet flats for a pop of colour.

A black dress with capri tights.

Sparkly Sherman rhinestone brooch for a wee bit of festive fun.

With a minimal wardrobe that is mostly black

it's easy to get dressed 

I always add a few accessories to lighten the overall look.

My friend Julie hosted a lovely gathering last evening.

Her home radiates warmth and was bright with very festive accents.

Here is the French Themed menu...

so delicious!

Cozy, charming and elegant.

Julie is multi talented...

she is so incredibly creative!

Julie sews, decorates, gardens, cooks,...

I don't think there is anything that Julie cannot do!

Thank you for the lovely evening.

I might be rushing the season a bit...

when I saw that Charlotte of Vivi et Margot had a sale...

I pounced!

New French Market basket from Vivi et Margot.

Love the long leather straps that make this a hands free option!

Will be a workhorse throughout the year...

toting around an assortment of things and market ready.

I made a double batch of whipped shortbread cookies.

The recipe is "an oldie but a goodie."

It is in The Best of the Best of Bridge Cookbook.

They are quick and easy to make and they melt in your mouth!

I found this wee festive tray at the Pharmasave in Oak Bay.

Thought it would be versatile and I can use it for veggies and dip, nuts and dried fruit or cookies.

Seasons Greetings

from

The Humble Bungalow.

Best wishes for a safe and Happy Holiday.

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~ 

Weekend~ A getaway...and now a state of emergency.

 

Last weekend we hopped across the pond...

 it is a rather BIG POND 

so not being frogs we actually took the ferry!

The first time we have travelled off island other than the short trip to our cottage in over 2 years.

We wanted to see the Yoko exhibit at The Vancouver Art Gallery.

It was a very nostalgic foray into the past...

The Bed In for Peace took place in 1969 in Canada.

Yoko's art includes some interactive areas 

where people are encouraged 

to mend china, hammer a nail, leave a comment and build with stones.

We shopped South Granville Street and found quite a few Christmas gifts.

I ventured into Eileen Fisher (Gosh I have missed this store!) 

I found a few pieces...

will share them in a future post!

We were hungry by the time we were finished shopping

so we headed to The Cactus Club for a cold drink and some sushi.

Dinner was at our favourite Indian Fusion restaurant Vij's.

Vikram walked over to chat with us and we were happy to renew his acquaintance.

We have been going to his restaurant for decades.

He mentioned my pearls and said how elegant they were!!

My OOTD

Wool beret by Canadian Hat Company.

The food was amazing.

For starters we had the beef and lamb meatballs with tamarind chutney.

Our main course:

Coconut curried chicken with rice, naan bread and lamb popsicles.

We were too full to have any dessert but what a wonderful evening it was.

We were hoping to meet up with long time friends but they were stuck at their cottage on the lake just outside Merritt 

where devastating floods and mudslides damaged the local highways.

Abbotsford and areas nearby have completely flooded!

A state of emergency has been declared.

Livestock have been lost and many had to be evacuated to higher ground...

homes have been lost and people have perished.

Travel and the transport of goods and gas have been impacted.

The major highway, The Coquihalla, will not be repaired for months.

A few smaller routes have reopened and one of our friends was able to drive through the US in Washington State to get back home and the other flew out to Vancouver.

Food is being rationed at the local grocery stores and gas is limited to 30 litres per visit.

More intense rain has been predicted and they are calling these events 

"atmospheric rivers."

Finger crossed our basement stays dry...

but the back yard is saturated 

so we are on high alert.

I found a new book and read it in 2 days...

we had lots of time to read 

as we were in the ferry line up, 

then we stayed in our car on the open air deck

for the journey home.

I can recommend this book.

 It is set in Paris during war time and is based on a true story.

We are decorating the house this afternoon as the rains here are torrential 

so we cannot work in the garden and we got pretty wet on our walk.

Stay safe...

Thank you for popping by The Humble Bungalow Blog.

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

November vibes...

The autumnal light is fading slightly this month...

I've noticed more rainy days, breezy winds and fog.

Wearing layers to chase the chill...

a camisole underneath my cashmere sweater with warm wool socks and scarves.

The down puffer coat has made several appearances and I purchased a wool beret for my walks.

Made by The Canadian Hat Company.

I had my hairdresser chop off about 3 inches of my Covid Coiffure!

It feels so much healthier and the lightness has freed up some of the curls.

What a difference! 

A little pampering goes a LONG way to make one feel better.

There are a few geraniums still blooming on the front porch.

I crave a pop of colour in the Fall and Winter.

Calicarpia aka Beauty Berry

So delicate...

A fall flowering bush brightens up a corner of the Humble Bungalow Garden.

This weekend Mr. HB and I ventured out to the garden centre...

We were looking for a wreath for the front door.

We didn't find a wreath but we did find some Noble Fir boughs and Ilex red berries

A little festive cheer at the foot of the stairs.

A cheerful pop of colour!

I popped the cuttings in the tool box on the front porch table.

(waste not want not!)

We also purchased an Olive tree...

this purchase was inspired by our friend Julie who used some olive leaves to decorate her dining table when she hosted us for dinner.

Julie is a fabulous cook and she has a flair for home decor...

her home is an oasis of calm and she has recently redone it with soft greys and French style furnishings.

A feast for the eyes...

We brought some wine from The Pender Island Sea Star Winery.

Dungeness Crab Cake with Remoulade sauce...

succulent and so flavourful.

Goat cheese deep fried atop cherry tomatoes with pine nuts 

then drizzled with a balsamic reduction.

Salmon served with rice, asparagus and carrots

and a delicious

Beurre butter sauce

Dessert was from the Italian bakery...

fig and apple tarts.

Dinner was incredible...one for the memory book.

Thank you Julie!

We've got a busy couple of weeks planned with all kinds of events.

Looking forward to reclaiming our social life and activities in a safe way.

My knitting group is going to reconvene...

we are going out for dinner with our darling daughter and her husband.

Heading to the Art Gallery for an exhibit, meeting friends for a Happy Hour, coffee with the gals and a tea planned for next month at Butchart Gardens.

Thank you for stopping by The Humble Bungalow Blog.

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~