Hostess Gift ~ It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas in The Humble Bungalow

 

Festive Season is upon us and I am keeping things very simple.

Am wearing some sparkly vintage pins.

(Sherman pin ~ close up)

 Sherman brooches are a favourite of mine.

The newest one seen here is from our darling daughter. 

I popped it on a black boiled wool Eileen Fisher tunic sweater.

Some women avoid black but I gravitate to it for several reasons...

it is easy to wear,

it can be casual, or dressy.

It transitions well to evening...

My basic minimalist wardrobe relies heavily on black basics.

Accessories are the stars in a basic black ensemble.

I prefer pieces with a history...

Vintage jewellery is found in thrift shops, antique malls and online.

The thrill of the hunt excites me.

I found a new Finnish modernist votive holder at the thrift shop...

now I have a pair!

The silver baubles are from my childhood home.

Mom used to put them in a tall vase, I popped them in this silver trophy.

We don't have a lot of decorations...

a simple tree with white fairy lights

I found a pair of Josef Seibel boots 

to replace my tired "almost 8 year old" Chelsea Boots.

I will wear these with tights and skirts as well as my jeans.

A classic vintage handmade wreath made by a friend of my MIL.

Made with baubles, pine cones, rhinestone brooches.

I consider us custodians of this wreath...

it is a family "heirloom!"

Mixed Nuts are one of my go to Hostess Gifts.

Here's the recipe...

Mixed Nuts 

2 egg whites (at room temperature)

4 cups mixed unsalted nuts:

cashews, almonds, pecans, hazelnuts

1/2 cup sugar

1 tsp cinnamon

1 tsp cayenne pepper or hot paprika

1/2 tsp salt

Preheat oven to 325 degrees

Place egg whites in a large bowl and whisk until frothy.

Stir in nuts ~ mix to coat.

Combine in a small bowl: sugar, and spices

Pour over nut mixture.

Mix well.

Place on a parchment lined sheet pan spread out so they are in a single layer.

Bake 20-25 minutes 

stir halfway during the cooking time.

Cool then store in sealed jars.

Wrap in tissue paper add ribbon and a tag.

Ready for gift giving

BTW

They are delicious!!

Thank you for stopping by The Humble Bungalow Blog.

It's a busy time of year, so remember to take some time to stop and breathe, 

sip a cuppa and rest.

Wishing you a Very Merry Christmas.

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

Cold weather, a Thrifty Chicken Veggie Soup Recipe, and knitting at the cottage.

 

We are at the cottage and awoke to snow dusting the stairs...

It coated the ground which reminded me of icing sugar...

then I thought of cookies :-))

We purchased a wee tree for the cottage and chose small fairy lights in white.

It looks best when the lights are dimmed or turned off but we felt the need to add some festive cheer, it is December after all.

With this cold I decided to make a chicken veggie soup.

It was full of flavour and was a warm and cozy choice for the cold day.

Thrifty Chicken Soup

I used a roast chicken carcass.

Pick off the bigger chunks of meat and set them aside in the fridge.

In a soup pot I added the carcass and just covered the bones with water.

Boil then simmer for about an hour.

Take out bones and set them aside to cool.

Put the rich stock into a large container.

Pick off any more meat from the bones and add to the stock, discard the bones.

Saute one large diced onion, 2 stalks diced celery in oil until soft.

Add the meat from the fridge and the stock to the pot

2 diced carrots, some sliced greens 

(I used bok choy)

Cook about 45 minutes until carrots are soft

salt and pepper to taste.

Serve

It is very tasty and is so warming on a cold snowy day.

The sun was shining and we bundled up for a cold weather walk.

The air was crisp and so refreshing.

Little birds skitting about pecking for morsels of food...

Gulls soaring in the sky.

Soon the birds will be nibbling these red berries and rose hips...

December is a truly beautiful time to visit the cottage.

It is quite peaceful so we sleep deeply and feel relaxed when we wake up.

We are so fortunate to be able to come and do not take our time here for granted.

It is a precious gift.

We have been reading our books and I've been knitting on my vest 

which is getting very close to being finished.

I needed to buy some new locking stitch markers

 so I went to The Beehive before we left town.

 

Wouldn't you know it! I spied a lovely blue variegated yarn by Berocco.

Wool shops are rather lethal for me...chocolate, tea and book shops are trouble!

I rarely leave with empty hands.

This pattern is my next project.

Are you a knitter?

What do you love to make?

Hope that you are warm and cozy and enjoying the beginning of December.

I think it is going to get busy with baking and shopping and wrapping!

(with time set aside for knitting and reading)

Thank you for stopping by The Humble Bungalow Blog.

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

DIY ~ Festive Wreath and a couple of Hostess Gifts

 

I purchased a basic simple wreath from the floral department at the grocers.

The price was good but I felt like it needed something more.

The DIY spirit in me spurred me on to add something...

but what?

I mulled it over for a few days

 every time I went out and closed the door I knew I had to act.

I had made a bowl full of dried oranges...

to add to Christmas gifts.

I followed the directions that Annie Diamond

at Most Lovely Things had shared in the December issue of BHG.

Basic directions are to cut oranges into 1/4 inch slices 

place on a rack atop a cookie sheet.

Bake at 225 degrees for 3- 4 hours until dried.

I thought they might look good on the wreath.

I used florists wire and tied them onto the fir boughs 

tucking them carefully into the fronds.

I think it looks natural and dresses up and adds interest to the simple wreath.

The theme for this year's wrap is simple and natural.

The local Michaels store had a wide variety of choices for wrap.

I opted for plain and printed kraft paper with a simple twine and tags.

My current favourite scented candle...

Black Fig 

by

~ Sand and Fog ~

The Sand and Fog brand of candles use soy wax and essential oils.

I prefer a "woodsy"scent over "sweet."

The vintage wood box is my "new" recipe box.

I found it at a local consignment shop.

The new box prompted me to go through all my recipes...

what a job!

Mom's recipes as well as mine were organized into categories

some were rewritten, most of mom's recipes are for the holidays.

She was a plain cook but loved baking.

I've been baking quite a bit lately...

cakes mostly, to serve as dessert or an afternoon treat with tea.

Bath salts are a simple hostess gift.

This recipe is inexpensive, quick and easy to make.

(you can double or triple this recipe)

If you look at thrift shops you can find some pretty glass jars.

I like to add a pretty ribbon and a simple tag.

If you are gifting a spa "pampering" basket

think of including:

a soft towel

soap

body lotion

candle

bath salts

chocolate bar

hand lotion

Do you remember those expensive flavoured instant coffee beverages sold in the grocery stores?

I am not sure if they still sell them?

Years ago a friend gave me this recipe and she shared it with many friends.

We all made batch after batch of this drink...

It has stood the test of time and is still a tasty beverage.

Looks pretty in a simple clear glass jar.

Think of a canning jar or a decorative canister.

Make some for yourself while you are wrapping the gifts this season!

I'll be making some of mom's cookies and fruit loaves in a few weeks.

Hope to share some of the recipes here on the blog.

Have you started to get ready for the festive season?

Are you feeling creative?

Will you make some or all of the gifts that you give?

If you are in The US you might be getting ready for Thanksgiving.

Hope that you are able to join with friends and family this year.

Thank you for popping by the blog...

Commenting continues to be a challenge, 

I have reached out to Blogger

but it seems that there is little tech support available.

So far it hasn't stopped me from posting...

it is a fun hobby.

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

Shiny Things....OOTD

 

Today I am wearing an all black OOTD.

Eileen Fisher Boiled Wool Tunic Sweater

(an investment piece that I wear a lot)

Black leggings 

Black leather Clark Chelsea Boots

I added a Canadian vintage Sherman sparkly rhinestone brooch.

(Outfits that are plain look so much more interesting with  accessories.)

I digress...

Mom had several parure Sherman sets which were gifts from my father.

He bought them from Birks a Canadian shop that rivalled Tiffany's.

My sister has a beautiful Aurora Borealis set of Mom's.

 She wears the long drop earrings and wide cuff bracelet on special occasions...

I don't need a special occasion to wear a sparkly brooch.

I worked at Birks one Christmas and had so much fun selling jewelry!

The store offered free wrapping and I loved adding bows and tags 

making the gifts look special.

That year I gave Mom a Sherman red bracelet and earring set.

(I got a store discount)

Our darling daughter has the set.

Continuing on with the black theme I photoshopped this image of Poppies.

The details look like they really "pop."

Vintage silver champagne buckets are used in the kitchen as utensil holders.

We don't use the buckets for bubbly as we haven't had a fancy party for ages.

Silver requires polishing and not everyone likes the upkeep...

in fact you can find silver in thrift shops for next to nothing prices.

I have quite a few silver trays, silver tea service, and other silverware

in The Humble Bungalow.

Several trays, candlesticks and dishes were wedding gifts.

Silver was a classic wedding gift when we were married in 1974.

Close up on the vintage silver trophy...

local North Saanich Garden Club 

Flower and Garden Show

aggregate trophy

awarded to 

A.J.Nunn in 1929

(I found this trophy in a local consignment shop.)

I am definitely drawn to silver and shiny sparkly things!

Do you like to wear shiny or sparkly jewelry?

Do you collect silverware?

It's a sunny day here and the birds are singing.

Looking forward to a quiet afternoon...

I plan to brew a pot of loose tea this afternoon and read my book.

Perhaps knit a few rows on the vest I currently have on the needles

before 

I prepare our dinner.

I honestly love quiet afternoons

they feel like a gift!

I try to get all my chores and laundry done early in the morning.

Since retiring, the luxury of time and slowing down is priceless.

Take care and thank you for stopping by The Humble Bungalow Blog.

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

OOTD ~ SNOW DAY and Baby it's cold outside!

~ Snow Day Selfie ~

I am getting ready to head out in the snow...

Snow does not usually make an appearance until after Christmas

so I was caught scrambling for my woolen accessories.

I popped on my boiled wool Eileen Fisher sweater overtop of a black camisole.

Layering is the warmest way to dress in this chilly weather.

~ OOTD ~

The cashmere Burberry scarf is ages old...maybe 10 years or more.

My hat is one I wore in Paris in 2015...Andre Diffusion with a feather pin.

The bag is vintage Due Fratelli.

My down Puffer coat is by Columbia and has a thermal foil-like lining in the body.

Super warm but bulky!

My dear departed Mom used to say...

"Darling Why don't you just wrap yourself in a Down Duvet?"

(I wear them simply because they are warm.)

Early morning routines...

candles, coffee, and my book.

I enjoyed this book...

set in Ontario Canada, in an Italian community.

I read Anne Giardini's The Sad Truth About Happiness and enjoyed it.

 When I spied this novel at the bookstore on Pender Island I grabbed it.

Chester and Pepper are snuggling...

a rare sight!

Perhaps it is the cold weather that encouraged them to sleep side by side?

Staying indoors has inspired me to bake.

I found this recipe online.

Cream Cheese Pound Cake

a heavy cake but oh so delicious!

Blackberries and whipped cream elevated it to a divine dessert.

You can see that the snow is melting on the porch.

The sun is warming us up...

I added a vintage Sherman Pin.

The rhinestones sparkle brightly set on a black background.

I love adding Vintage accessories...

they are unique, 

often found at thrift shops and can add a personal touch.

Do you wear Vintage pieces?

I'd love to know more about your vintage pieces.

I must close for now as I am heading out to the knitting group

we meet in a friends home, knit, chat and sip tea.

It's a fabulous way to be social and share our projects.

CHEERIO

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~