The recipe that you have been asking for...a boat ride and a new book.

Sidney Spit Marine Park is a short cruise from our Marina so it is a great spot for a day trip and a picnic lunch.

After a relaxing ride we tied up at the dock...

there are buoys available to tie up to 

and one can always opt to drop the anchor.

There are sandy beaches and trails in the forest.

Sidney Island is serviced by a small ferry for landlubbers who want to come for a day trip and there are campsites for those who wish to stay longer.

Sunday was a scorcher and there was not much wind so we kept cool by hydrating with water and lemon drinks and I stayed in the shade.

We enjoyed a simple lunch.

 Salad, buns, egg salad, olives, fruit salad and some deli meat.

Mr. HB got some reading time and I played a few games of Sudoku.

My skin burns easily and I suffer from rosacea which flares up when exposed to too much sun. 

I wear big hats, sunglasses and I use Eminence powdered sunscreen which is gentle on the skin and offers decent coverage.

I saw this vintage book in the shop Kay's Korner in the Cook Street Village.

This book is intended to be read while one is "in the head."

"In the Head"  is not a state of mind, 

it is the term that boaters use to indicate the lavatory on board ship!

~ Nana's Bread Recipe ~

1 tbsp. fast rising yeast

1 tbsp. sugar

3 cups warm water

 6-8 cups all purpose flour

1 Tbsp. salt

(makes 2 loaves)

In a large bowl pour in 3 cups warm water and stir in 1 tbsp. sugar

 sprinkle 1 tbsp. yeast over top and let sit for 30 minutes

Stir in 3 cups flour cover bowl with saran wrap

let stand about 1 hour

(it will look fluffy and bubbly)

Ad 3 cups of flour 1 cup at a time stirring well after each addition.

add 1 tbsp. salt after the 3rd cup

add about 2 more cups of flour

when dough is too hard to stir place on floured board and knead in more flour

Knead until no longer sticky.

Grease the large bowl and place the dough back in the bowl. cover with saran and lay a towel over top to keep free from drafts

and leave to rise about 1-2 hours until it has doubled in size

(dough rises faster in a warm kitchen)

Punch dough down to get all the bubbles out and grease two bread tins

shape dough into two loaves 

 let rise on counter until it is just above the bread pans 

about 1-2 hours.

Bake at 350 degrees for 45- 60 minutes

(I often need to bake them for the full hour)

Remove from pans and cool on a rack.

Enjoy!

This bread is quite dense and tastes great with some butter and  jam.

You might be surprised just how fast it gets eaten!

This pretty and delicate honeysuckle flower is attracting the hummingbirds...

they love to flit about and sip the nectar.

I hope you have enjoyed this post and will be back soon.

In the meantime...

Fiona Ferris's new book arrived in the mail and I have started reading it.

I am not going to rush through the book

 as each chapter offers a lot of "food for thought."

I will review this book when I have finished but already I can tell it is going to be a best seller...Fiona writes the lovely blog How to Be Chic.

Pop over and pay her a visit and please tell her I sent you!

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

Walking in Sunshine...

The heat of summer is upon us and we spent a lot of time trying to stay hydrated while sitting in a shady location...for us that meant lazing about in our wicker chairs on the front porch of The Humble Bungalow.

My current novel...which is the perfect summer read.

I wore this hat on my walk along the seafront in the heat of the day

there was not a whisper of wind.

The California Poppies seem to like it hot.

They do not get watered in this location they rely solely on precipitation.

They must be drought tolerant hardy plants to thrive at the edge of the shoreline.

Driftwood Shelter

a place to recline in the shade.

Behold a crudely made crib board !

It always amazes me what I see on my beach walks.

I expect to see shells, stones and kelp...

it is the unexpected items that are "out of place" that surprise me.

I made two loaves of bread...

the Bungalow smelled wonderful and the dough rises so much faster in the heat!

Mr. HB loves his great Nana's bread and this recipe has been in his family for several generations.

The roses are starting to wilt in the heat...

as am I!

This morning it feels a wee bit cooler and I am wearing a simple black bamboo tank style dress by Gilmour and some black flip flop sandals...

I let my hair "air dry" and plan to take it easy today.

I will buy a store bought BBQ chicken and some deli salads for dinner 

I do not want to heat up the kitchen later in the day...

That's about it for now...

I'll post about our Sunday boat trip next time

until then

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

Date night...

Date nights are still important even after almost 42 years of marriage...
Making time for each other and sharing a little treat now and again keeps things fresh and introduces a wee bit of fun.

Lunches and dinners out, or attending a play, or watching a film are traditional "dates." We like to mix things up...

Last weekend we took time out to enjoy an soft ice cream cone followed by a drive along the seafront in Mr. HB's convertible.

We recently had a date night "at home"

We lit one of our scented candles on our vintage silver tray.

Mr. HB made me my favourite cocktail...a French 75 and 

served it in one of our French Bee Flutes!

 French 75

gin

bubbly

lemon juice

simple syrup

garnished with lemon curls

Delicious mixture of bitter and sweet with just a hint of bubbles.

We harvested a few spears of fresh asparagus from The Humble Bungalow garden.

I steamed the asparagus in a boiling water bath for 5 minutes.

Made a side dish of penne pasta with frozen peas and Gorgonzola cheese.

The star of the show was the Chicken Piccata!

Chicken Piccata

4 boneless skinless chicken breast halves pounded thin between parchment paper

lightly seasoned with cayenne pepper, salt and ground pepper

dredged in flour and set aside.

Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a skillet on medium heat. Place chicken in the pan and cook until browned, about 5 minutes per side, remove to a plate.

Cook 1 tbsp drained capers in pan until warm, about 30 seconds.

Pour 1/2 cup white wine into the pan and scrape any brown bits from the bottom of the pan and cook for about 2 minutes.

Stir in 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice, 1/4 cup water and 3 tablespoons cold butter into mixture to form a sauce about 2 minutes of cooking time then add 2 tbsp. fresh chopped parsley.

Add chicken back into pan and cook until heated through...serve with sauce spooned over top and garnish with lemon slices.

Enjoy!

Jude The Obscure David Austin Rose

The Humble Bungalow Garden has been getting lots of attention on these warm sunny days.

People have been stopping by taking photographs...

and two women were out front this morning literally gushing about the roses and saying that since they "discovered it" they have added it to their walking route.

My goodness...

with all the lovely and lush gardens nearby

 I cannot believe that our wee garden is getting so many compliments.

I suppose the hard work is paying off...

Our Humble Bungalow Garden

May 2016

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

Retirement dressing...

Darling Daughter has a keen eye for vintage treasures and she found this amazing leather handbag.

 ~ Kelly Style ~

The closest to an Hermes Kelly bag that this Humble Hostess will ever own!

Having a daughter who knows your taste and who shops a lot is quite convenient!

I rarely go thrifting anymore unless I am with her...

~ I am trying not to spend much money 

and to be content with less. ~

My wardrobe is much smaller than it was when I was gainfully employed.

My retirement lifestyle is casual

simpler 

than when I was working.

Every morning I put on my

walking clothes

and

things to wear when I am gardening.

My walking gear consists of a pair of black knit capri length pants

a tee top

scarf

jewelry

bamboo pop sox

walking shoes

~ Casual dressing is not sloppy dressing. ~

Classic clothes are worn 

when I go out 

running my errands

for appointments

or

with my husband

friends

sister and Mother.

Clothes in the past couple of years have not "worn out."

There are a pair of skinny NYDJ that have faded but they are still fine to wear.

 (I do not wear ripped jeans but faded are OK)

A classic white shirt was sadly stained beyond bleaching 

by a spot of unknown origin...

now gone.

Clothes purchased for summer include:

white linen pants

white and grey long linen top

white linen tank top

white V neck sweater

blue and white striped short sleeved tunic top

black Clark sandals

~ I do not plan on buying anything more this season. ~

I find that most mornings I work around The Humble Bungalow and go for my walk then come home and freshen up.

I will change clothes

if I am going out running errands or playing bridge with the ladies at the club...

otherwise 

I stay in my fitness gear

to bake bread

read my book

garden

action domestics

prepare dinner

blog

~ I do like to "play around" with accessories ~

a pretty scarf

earrings

a stack of sterling vintage bangles 

or perhaps a strand of pearls

~ Editing the wardrobe has been a great exercise ~

It has shown me what I really love to wear

~ I wear the same styles and shapes ~

When I shop I tend to buy similar items over and over.

With that thought in mind I really can avoid the shops unless my current pieces fall apart or become laundry fatalities!

~ Recreational shopping is not high on my radar these days ~

Although if a friend wants me to accompany her on a shopping trip

I am more than happy to help her find some new things!

It is fun spending other peoples' money.

Our Humble Bungalow House and Garden 

is where we are funnelling most of our money these days.

~ Plants, Paint and Pipes ~

~ It is fun living vicariously through bloggers whose focus is on fashion ~

Thought you might like to see this cute sign that I recently saw posted on the gate of a home in our neighbourhood...

walking never fails to offer opportunities for beautiful and interesting photographs.

Do you think a dachshund might be in residence?

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

Well Being...

Do you ever feel frazzled?

After last week with chaos of the plumbing problems
I was edgy and feeling overwhelmed.
So I decided to take some "down time" on the weekend for my well being.

Time to slow down,
to stop multi tasking,
take a day or two and have a change of pace and a rest from the regular routine.

Instead of hopping in the shower,  getting dressed and putting on my make up first thing in the morning I sat quietly with my coffee creme
and lazed about wearing my PJ's and robe.

~ Be Well ~

Time to sleep in and indulge in a little downtime
it feels so luxurious...
Giving oneself the permission to take a day off of the domestics is so simple and restorative, yet it is not in my nature, and it could and should be!

My daily walks offer time for peace, quiet and reflection.

Fresh air and exercise are free.

I opt to walk on a scenic route that provides opportunities for me to capture beauty on my IPhone and then I share them on Instagram and here on the blog.

For that I am grateful...

Re-energizing strategies...

"Stop and smell the roses"

 pick a bouquet and arrange them in a vase and enjoy them indoors.

Mariage Freres Paris Tea, 

in a pretty china cup

is the classic elixir that soothes...

an inspiring book that fuels the desire to feather one's surroundings.

Using simple pieces, editing, rearranging collections for a fresh new look.

Finding things in Nature...

using them in the home

pure white feathers

pine and fir cones

beach stones

fern fronds

leaves

shells

I'm embarking on a new project

"fluffing" and "feathering" my hobby room.

I took down my easel and put away my paints as I have not been using them and they take up so much space that I was not taking advantage of the space.

I am collecting a few bits and bobs that I love...

objects that bring me Joy

items that exude

a sense of calm and serenity.

It is a slow process and one not to force or rush.

Listening and looking...

experiencing the feelings a piece can evoke.

This never happens when I am busy or in a hurry.

Slowing down seems to help engage the creative side of my brain.

David Austin's Ballerina rose 

 soft shades of pink and cream 

looks like it could be featured in an issue of Victoria magazine.

I used to buy every issue of Victoria magazine...

Very few magazines have been purchased since I retired...

with the exception of Town and Country and Country Living UK

When I worked in the school I bought oodles of mags and would pour over them while savouring a chocolate bar and sipping tea.

Magazines were an escape from the stresses of work and trying to "do it all."

Home keeping, domestics, parenting, gardening, cooking, shopping etc...

Since retiring I have a looser schedule with fewer demands...

so it should be easy to take a day off here and there,

perhaps by setting unreasonable standards 

or

expecting a lot from myself and others is setting me up for failure.

Is striving for perfection the root of the problem?

See what happens when one has a few days to reflect on things!

I binge watched the newest season of Grace and Frankie On Netflix.

Love that series...

Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin

Sam Waterston and Martin Sheen

and a crazy story line come together to make for a very entertaining show.

I had not considered TV viewing as down time 

but if it makes me laugh and I love the characters

and it feels like an indulgence

I consider it 

 "mental snack food!" 

This blog often masquerades as an online journal...

but by now you've probably already figured that out! 

Hope that your week is off to a great start...

thank you for stopping by the Humble Bungalow.

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~