Alaska Cruise on Nieuw Amsterdam...Vancouver to Juneau.

We loved our week long cruise to Alaska aboard the Nieuw Amsterdam.

The weather was amazing, the seas calm, and we were able to gaze at the gorgeous natural scenery from our balcony.

Canada Place at the Vancouver Cruise Ship Terminal.

Large arrangements of fresh flowers were strategically placed in the public areas of the ship.

One of the many dining rooms...

we dined here for most of our meals during the cruise.

Cozy chairs and lounges which invited relaxation during the voyage.

The Atrium

We opted for room service the first morning...

we really enjoyed sitting on our balcony.

There was so much to see and do on the ship.

One could be busy and engaged all day long.

We were travelling with my husband's family 

so we wanted to interact with them as much as possible. 

We did not attend many of the entertainment options.

We walked many laps around the deck.

With so much delicious food on offer we needed to be mindful!!

Cocktails

Gala dinner

Let's start with some escargots.

a tossed green salad

Succulent lamb chops

Chocolate souffle

You can eat like this every evening if you desire.

There are casual venues where they make burgers, hot dogs, and pizza.

The Lido Market was buffet style

offering 

various salads, pastas, sandwiches, soups, and a variety of daily specials.

There are also some higher end dining options where you pay extra to dine.

We dined at the Italian themed Canaletto and Tamarind which served Asian Fusion cuisine.

The Tamarind was my favourite meal of the trip.

Juneau Alaska

We were travelling with other cruise ships.

About 4 or 5 ships were in each port 

the small towns were inundated with tourists.

The Holland America Line was recommended to us

in particular the refurbished ship Nieuw Amsterdam

 we were suitably impressed.

A popular spot to sample Alaska King and Dungeness Crab.

Mr HB loves crab!

Heritage buildings in Juneau

I was surprised by how many jewelry shops dotted the streets.

Apparently many people buy jewelry as a souvenir when they go on a cruise.

I'll be back with more on the cruise soon so please stay tuned!

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

July in the Humble Bungalow Garden

We have returned from the cruise to Alaska.

  I took oodles of pictures and if you follow me on Instagram you will have seen some of them.

I am catching up on the laundry and will try to put together a blog post of the highlights from our trip.

In the meantime...

Welcome to

The Humble Bungalow Garden 

The Humble Bungalow Garden

is a spot where we find respite from the busyness of life.

When I was working 

I de-stressed

pottering about in the garden.

The magic happens outside in Nature

when one is toiling in the soil troubles seem to evaporate

you can easily lose yourself

 dreaming about future plantings

 fresh air and exercise are both healthy benefits working outdoors 

Our Humble Bungalow Garden

 is an ever changing landscape of hopes and dreams.

You can see the holes munched by the hungry cutworms on this Claire Austin climber.

Some plants thrive and others fail...

I have tried growing delphiniums and hollyhocks but they never survive.

Roses are the stars here in our heavy clay soil.

Romneya Coulteri 

a stunner of a plant

it prefers gravelly soil

so we planted it out front in our driveway.

This plant came from a specialty nursery up island that is no longer in business.

It took 3 years on the waiting list to get a small plant.

Once established it seems to get bigger and better with each passing summer.

The side patio is a lush green oasis

 which features frothy chartreuse Lady's Mantle

Hostas and several limey Annabelle Hydrangeas.

Hope that you have enjoyed seeing some of the garden snapshots.

Until next time...

thank you for stopping by The Humble Bungalow Blog.

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

Weekend snippets...

I meant to post this earlier in the week but I have been preoccupied with other things...

Last weekend we had oodles of fun.
The highlights featured a garden wedding, lunch out with friends, pottering about in the garden tending to the roses, some leisure reading, and we went to see a matinee ~ Yesterday by Richard Curtis.

 It is a delightful story with the music of The Beatles playing throughout the film
Starring...
Himesh Patel, Lily James, Ed Sheeran, Kate MacKinnin, James Corden.

We thoroughly enjoyed it from start to finish.

a bucket full of roses from our garden for the wedding

Definitely deer food

half a hosta munched

Pink carpet of rose petals...

The wedding was set in the glorious garden of our dear friends.

You can see the Salish Sea just beyond the wedding arbour.

This arbour has been used several times for weddings.

It was reinforced with rope and new driftwood logs for this weekends' nuptials.

Beautiful bee balm co-mingling with yellow roses.

A gorgeous Monarda bloom

(aka Bee Balm)

A Family Affair...

Salmon caught by one of the cousins, 

smoked by the groom and served by my BFF

The theme for the wedding was birds as the couple are "birders"

The groom made these stunning bird sculptures.

I'd like to commission him to make us some too!

I wore a polka dot dress by a Vancouver company called Gilmour.

Flip Flops with some sparkle by Amanda Bleu.

My current read Windfallen by the exceptional author JoJo Moyes.

Marigold The Mouse is making an appearance on the blog.

She's been hiding snug in her mouse hole

as the ongoing noise from the construction has made her a wee bit jumpy.

The bedroom is getting a much needed makeover...

it is unbelievable that it has taken us so many years to have this done.

I am looking forward to purchasing new sheets and a dust ruffle.

Pillows are on my wish list too.

I must close for now and attend to some of the domestic chores that are waiting.

Thank you for stopping by The Humble Bungalow Blog.

Feel free to leave a comment

 tell us what you have been doing this week

or

what you are reading.

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

The omelette that reminds me of Paris....

In 2015,
I travelled to Paris as a gift to myself in the year that I turned 60...
(with the encouragement and support of my beloved husband!)
For many decades I had a dream about visiting Paris and I had always had other commitments...bills, a mortgage and a job.

I retired and started to save in earnest...
I decluttered my closet and cashed in at the consignment shop.
Sold some knick knacks and saved my pennies.

If wishes were horses then beggars would ride!

It happened...my dream came true!

The sights and sounds were more than I could ever have imagined...
the cobble stoned streets, the shops, the churches, the cafes, the galleries, the fashions...the food!

It really took my breath away...
I felt more "in the moment" and alive than I could ever have imagined.

I smiled all the time!!
I fell under the spell of Paris, and wandered through the streets for hours and hours with an intense energy that I never knew that I had...it was BLISS!

Recreating and resurrecting feelings and the memories that I enjoyed when I was in Paris are easily captured in the flavour department.

Wine, teas, fragrances and food.

a simple omelette and salad 

savoured in a street side cafe, a famous Paris museum or here at the cottage

so simple

Follow along with me:

heat a non stick pan with a dollop of butter on medium heat

let it gently melt

 whisk a few eggs in a bowl

when the butter is melted 

gently add the eggs

turn and swirl them in the pan

when they start to firm up a bit

top with some grated cheese

let the cheese sink in and meld

add a tablespoon of capers 

(salt and pepper to taste)

swirl a wee bit more and gently 

using a wide spatula loosen the edges

when you have the edges loose

roll one side of the omelette over 

and make a neat little bundle

add a fresh salad 

(a glass of wine!)

ENJOY!

Ah! Paris

Sweep me away...

in my dreams!

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

Cruise ship shopping...

The cruise to Alaska is approaching so fast and I have not even written out my packing list! I must get busy and do something about that or I will forget something important.

I did find some time for a quick trip to the shops to find a knit top that would look nice over my dresses and would be an extra layer over my Eileen Fisher tank tops and black pants.

When I spied this Nanette Lapore knit I knew immediately that it filled the required style idea that I had in my head.

I also found a simple linen Tahari Tee top which I will pair with my linen capris.

It will go well with jeans, my black knit skirt, and all my pants.

I plan to wear my pearls on the cruise ship as they go with everything...
"keep it simple"
 is my motto for a minimal travel wardrobe.

This is our first time on a cruise ship...
Do any of you have any advice on what I should pack?

                    Thank you for stopping by The Humble Bungalow Blog.

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~