What a difference a day makes...

Yesterday I had to force myself to go for my walk...
the blustery wind and rain made me want to stay indoors and cocoon.
I absolutely need to get out and walk...
my weight is still over my WW goal weight and I am discouraged.

The winds were strong

and

 they helped to whisk away negativity as I walked along the seafront.

There were only a handful of people out and about...

The sun popped out for a few precious moments and illuminated the leaves

with a vibrant light that one could not help but notice.

I spied a pretty pink hollyhock on the street that leads to the seafront...

it waves on the tall stalk with other blooms 

while braving the inclement weather.

A new rose bloom and buds greeted me when I stepped back into the Humble Bungalow Garden.

I made an easy peasy Frittata for dinner which I served with some steamed vegetables.

Frittata

5 mushrooms sliced 

2 diced green onions 

cherry tomatoes halved

6 eggs beaten

1/2 cup milk (or Cream)

1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese

sprinkling of fresh ground pepper

1 tsp. herbs de Provence

Bake at 350 for about 45-50 minutes until centre is firm and eggs are cooked.

This keeps well covered in the fridge and is a Weight Watcher friendly lunch or dinner.

Watched an episode of The Durell's in Corfu

and gave myself a manicure.

The shade is called Jag-U-Are 

I do love a shiny glossy red nail varnish...

Feeling such relief knowing that our darling daughter and her hubby are safe in Wellington after the earthquake.

We have been chatting and the hotel upgraded them to the penthouse after they saw the damage in their suite...they have an expansive view of the harbour.

My thoughts are with the people in New Zealand...

Today lets all try and do something nice for someone who needs help.

Random Acts of Kindness are a win win for both the giver and the receiver.

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

Earthquake!

We awoke this morning to hear the news of a severe earthquake in New Zealand. Darling daughter and her husband are honeymooning in NZ...
currently they are staying in Wellington
we have heard that the magnitude was 7. 5 and that there were tsunamis predicted...

Thankfully they are safe...

Their hotel is located very close to the waterfront and they were evacuated from their hotel after the quake in the middle of the night.

They have been allowed back inside to their suite.

Plaster has fallen down inside the hotel and there are cracks in the ceilings...

some apartments nearby on Market Lane have sustained significant damage.

The live streaming NZ news coverage is actually quite good...

(I admit that I am not a news junkie)

 It is so different when ones family is in the middle of an event.

We have been able to chat with them on What's App.

They are planning to travel to Blenheim in the Marlborough area on the South Island where family live.

The ferries, railways, buses are not running today.

Some roads are cracked, there are land slides, buildings are damaged and some homes have collapsed.

We know the risks of earthquakes as we are in a zone where two underground plates are merging... the "Big One" is predicted but we do not know when it will happen.

Our earthquake kit is much better stocked than before...

we have added warm blankets, tarps, tools, gloves, canned food, a cook stove,

and many more small items that may come in handy

I hope we will never need to use it but at least we have a few things put by.

I hope to calm down now that we know they are safe...

I am planning to pick up my knitting needles and start another project.

The baby bonnet for Mira is finished...

it knit up quite quickly and I am excited to see if it fits!

My knitted poncho is finished...

I wore it two days in a row!

Burberry scarf and the poncho with my NYDJ.

Lovely baroque pearl brooch, a gift several years ago from darling daughter.

Feeling so thankful and grateful...

Must close for now...

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

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

Seeking Perspective...thoughts for the day.

How are you feeling today?
Are you experiencing anxiety?

There are many many people feeling unsettled in light of the recent US election...
many of them are north of the border
here where I live,
in Canada.

I refuse to subscribe to the constant bombardment of the media...
I am not a news junkie,
it affects me in a negative way
that I often find crippling...

Limiting exposure to negativity is a self preservation technique that I have had to employ over much of my adult life...
if I did not avert my eyes
occasionally to the horrors in our world
I would never sleep a wink at night.

I am not putting my head in the sand,
one cannot live in a society and not be informed...
but we must listen to our hearts
and decide just how much we can absorb and tolerate and still function.

Nature is a beautiful and rich sanctuary 

that feeds my soul.

Seeking small and simple things of beauty provide me with moments of Joy.

I wonder what lies ahead on this journey...

 uncertainty can fill us with fear.

Fear that can stop us from living a full life 

that same fear can poison our spirit

paralyzing us.

Some will find taking action will help them...

others will hold home, family and friends close.

What will you choose to do?

How are you coping?

Today in this time of uncertainty,

Embracing the moment...

living mindfully

savouring the beauty in nature

will help keep me stay focused on living a joyful life.

Just this one simple thing

 is enough to help me maintain my perspective 

from spiralling down the rabbit hole.

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

Monday the view from here....

Walking at my usual pace has been difficult recently due to a sore knee...
I don't know what I have done.
I could have twisted it or pulled a muscle,
so I am walking slower and trying not to exacerbate it.

Really must not complain too much as there are so many more serious things to consider out there, other than knee pain...
I'm sure you can think of a thing or two worse.

"Sorbis Hupehensis"

Aren't these wee pink berries adorable?

They are growing on a bush on a street nearby The Humble Bungalow.

Mr. HB made me a fancy cocktail...

a Chambord Cosmopolitan.

Chambord is a raspberry liqueur from the Loire Valley.

Here is a link to the recipe.

We used pure unsweetened cranberry juice and it is delicious!

The cooler weather inspires me to make roasts on Sunday evenings.

A free range organic chicken or a prime rib is a tasty treat at this time of year.

Yorkshire pudding is yummy too!

Root vegetables roasted in a shallow pan with a bit of olive oil brings out their flavours.

All the produce is locally grown.

It's important to support the island farmers.

This is the current view out the kitchen window...

the crew that are dismantling the home beside us have chosen a yellow dumpster which looks quite pretty with the autumnal foliage.

The noise starts around 8am and goes until about 4pm.

We will have two homes on this site once the building gets started.

Two couples eager to get into the housing market have purchased the old home from an estate for just under a million dollars!

(Our real estate market has been brisk but is showing signs of slowing down)

The couples have been by and introduced themselves to us 

and all the neighbours near to the property.

Just down the street 

there are 3 or 4 significant home renovation projects happening...

our little street seems to be quite a popular place for tradesmen these days...

Chester is not amused...

the constant truck traffic is disturbing his naps.

He and Pepper frequently sit on the front window ledges and keep watch.

Have you been watching The Durells in Corfu on PBS?

I am really enjoying the series...

I read most of Gerald Durrells' novels when I was growing up.

Peacock pecking on the ground in Beacon Hill Park this afternoon.

It did not seem to mind that I was slowly creeping closer...

He glanced over in my direction and then got back to the task at hand...

there were oodles of pea hens whose drab colouring helped them blend into the foliage also pecking for tidbits.

It was chilly today so I bundled up in a scarf and my puffer coat.

 Purposely I chose a different route with varied and interesting scenery 

I felt would keep me focused on distance rather than my pace.

I passed quite a few walkers who were also enjoying the park.

Hope your week is off to a great start.

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

Cilantro....love it or hate it? Perhaps an acquired taste?

Cilantro divides the masses...
there are people who love the taste
and in our group of friends and family,
an equal number of people who despise the flavour.

Fortunately we are in the "love it group"
and have a green house with a bumper crop of cilantro just waiting to be picked.

Mr. HB suggested that I find some recipes online so that we do not waste the plants.

Here is the link to the recipe for
Pasta with Almond Spinach Cilantro Pesto and Sausages.

You will need a food processor to make quick work of the pesto.

The pesto makes enough for the recipe with leftovers that you can freeze for future use. The author suggest that you freeze the pesto in ice cube trays but we have an automatic ice cube maker in our freezer so I used my trusty scoop and freeze them in a container and when they are frozen I will pop them in a ziploc bag.

Lovely shade of green...and the taste is divine!

Busy cooking in the Humble Bungalow Kitchen

Love this shallow Sophie Conran Portmeirion bowl

I use it for salads and pasta.

a few shavings of parmesan cheese and dinner is served

just as I expected Mr. HB enjoyed the new recipe and there were no leftovers.

Pretty African Violets line the windowsills at Goward House. 

 I take French lessons and play bridge in this heritage home which has been converted to a club for seniors.

Next time I go to a flower shop I am going to pick up a few of these plants....

they are very inexpensive, easy to grow and bloom for a long time.

Thank you for popping by The Humble Bungalow.

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~