Muddy boots...

I have muddy boots!
They are not the luxe leather variety that are fashionable, they are utilitarian boots that are made for grime and puddles.

If you have been following along here for awhile

you might remember when I purchased these...

I had been lusting after Hunter boots

 and tried some on 

only to discover that my legs were too short 

and that the top of the boot went well above my knees.

These boots are perfect for me but I do love how the Hunter boots look.

You'd be surprised to see how many of our students at school are wearing them.

There's an adorable young fellow who wears a kilt with his!

Cozy with wooly liners and great for the muddy playground.

Our local "village street" has a new shop which sells rain gear for women and children.

In the Pacific Northwest rain is a given.

So you must be prepared and suitably attired.

Curious about this shop I popped in and checked out their stock...

very chic, stylish, and very pricey

oh and

welcoming staff who were eager to assist.

If Miss Isla were a size 4, I could buy her a pair for $55.

Were she to want some, they come in many cheery colours

I particularly like red and yellow.

I can see her splashing about in puddles

her feet dry and warm...

what a picture of loveliness!

Our children wore Mothercare boots in cheery red

with their "muddy buddy" zip up gear.

Rain did not keep us indoors.

I am a proponent of seeking fresh air in all kinds of weather.

I used to put my children outside in the garden to nap in the pram when they were babies.

Mothercare was available here by catalog only and it was my "go to shop" when they were young.

(Before they decided what styles they would insist on wearing!)

Osh Gosh B'Gosh 

from Wisconsin was another place that I ordered regularly from...

denim overalls and pink jeans

worn with white tees underneath

gosh they were cute

and they never wore out

I passed them on to several friends and they may still be in service

 who knows!

My Mother and Gran, my husband's mother

saw to it that they were dressed up in fancy clothes

smocked dresses with white tights and leather Mary Janes

navy jackets grey flannels shirts and bow ties...

Social outings with the family required more than casual attire

but I digress...

Simple boots

by Sperry

the company that has been making deck shoes for boaters for years...

Mr. HB checking his email

 aft deck

summertime.

(I have lost count of how many Sperry shoes he has owned over the last 30 years)

if Sperry can help us keep our feet firmly planted on the mahogany decks 

they can certainly be trusted to keep our feet dry in the rain.

Now I think I'll go outside and splash in a puddle....

Hermes Giveaway or a contest you decide!

Well the time has come to part with one of my lesser worn Hermes scarves.
I am DE-CLUTTERING in a big way!

I checked in with Mr. HB and I mentioned that I might try to sell it here on the Humble Bungalow Blog
and he thought not...
too tacky and so not in the style of The Humble Bungalow Hostess.

I agree I am not really commercially minded.
I know
it's sad.

My question is how should I pass on the scarf?
Retailing in at just a tad under $400
should I give it away?

Would a writing contest be worthy of a scarf?

Are any of you bloggers willing to help judge a Hermes scarf writing contest with me?
I cannot do this alone!
I think that the subject could be "where and how you would wear this scarf!"
Embellish and be colourful...

I would love for someone who would appreciate it to own it.
The scarf in question is VERY EQUESTRIAN...look here.

Please let me know what you think...writing contest or giveaway?

Let's get this going soon so that someone might have a new scarf under their Christmas tree!

Please vote for a giveaway or a writing contest and do so asap!
Time is ticking away....

Sequins and the memories they evoke...

I am joining Adrienne today from The Rich Life on a Budget and Jill at Everything Just So on the topic of sequins...

My wardrobe would not be complete without some sequin studded garment.
Sequins were something that I grew up appreciating.

Mother in her hey day had a few sequined garments. I remember sitting on her bed watching her at her vanity getting ready to go out with Father. She would be sipping a martini and  smoking a cigarette.
She took great care with her hair and makeup and she would dab Shalimar on her pulse points.

Mother and Father had quite a busy social life when I was growing up. My Father was involved in the ELKS Club, a fraternal order of gentlemen who raised money for local causes. He wore a purple Fez and held office while doing many good deeds for the under privileged.
Father was either in the May Day parade riding in a convertible with Mother beside him or at the start co-ordinating behind the scenes. Our parade is one of the largest in BC and many bands from the US would venture north to join in and get practice and exposure.

There were numerous dances and galas which required fancy dress and often Father would wear his tux.
Mother had a large wardrobe just for these occasions and would often whip up a dress the week of a big event.

She would clear off the kitchen table and set up her sewing machine and stitch well into the night.
On those weeks we'd be fed quick and easy meals, often grilled cheese sandwiches and Campbell's soup!

One of my favourite outfits was Mother's black velvet skirt and silver sequined top. The top was pure magic, at least that's what I thought when she put it on. Father would zip up the back zip in one deft move. He'd also fasten the clasp on her Sherman sparkly rhinestone necklace...she'd clip on the long dangly earrings.
She'd pop her lipstick and cigarettes into her clutch and snap it closed.
She was ready for their evening out...

I thought Mother had the best taste in fashion.
Through the eyes of a pre teen, she was much better dressed than my Barbie or Midge.
I must add that Mother made many of their clothes out of the velvets and silks that she herself would be wearing.

Mother elevated getting ready to a fine art.

She'd bathe in bubbles scented with Yardley's Lavender for at least an hour...and we had one bathroom back in those days. She'd announce her intentions so if we needed to use the facilities do it before she finished drawing her bath!
Her hair would be in curlers under the commodious bonnet of the portable hair dryer which was attached to a 12 foot cord that allowed her a range of movement. It was kept in a round case which had an image of the Eiffel Tower on it, I think it might have been made by Sunbeam. Check this out!

Often she'd apply her make up sitting in her silk slip before dressing.
Mother loved fur coats...she had several but never owned a stole.
A stole would have elevated this to a higher plane...

My sister has the silver sequined top now and wears it once in awhile.
It is a heavy top to wear but so worth it!
Vintage circa 1966-67.
Mother mentioned that she had spent quite a substantial sum for this top which is sleeveless with a U shaped neck, a simple tank style. Mother wore it on many occasions over the years, and received many compliments probably because it lit up her face.

I still love sparkly things and I am older than Mother was when she wore her top.
My sequined top is subtle and something I like to wear under a jacket.

Memories of watching Mother get ready for a party and sequins are forever linked.

Lovely daughter has a dress heavily laden with sequins.

I used to sew sequins on her leotards for her ballet recitals....

sequins link the generations.

I spied these silver shoes at a local shoppe

I think they might be Tom's

my favourite things...

 bling and shoes!

I didn't realize how the thought of sequins would bring up so many cherished memories...

it's surprising how easily the past can be revived and I find myself back in the home that I grew up in.

There's no place like Home!

Which reminds me of Dorothy and her sequined ruby slippers.

OOTD and The Humble Bungalow has a birthday!

The Humble Bungalow Blog is celebrating it's second year in the blogosphere!
528 posts and counting...
no cake or candles to mark the occasion just another post!

What I wore when the skies of the Pacific Northwest opened up and gave us copious amounts of rain.
There was a destination and a mission.
A command performance.
Mother was involved...

Mother and I had a date.

One does not dress down when out with Mother.

She sets the gold standard for dressing

a former nurse

and a fashion boutique manager in her later working life...

she does not dress down

she dresses up

and I do mean everyday.

Always.

Mother can be ill and still be coiffed and comported.

She will have jewelry on and pearls are her mainstay beads.

Baroque and Opera length if you please!

A pashmina will grace her shoulders

hose 

shoes

gloves

a handbag or clutch

it's all part of her ensemble.

I wore my Burberry coat

black ponte trousers

black ballet flats

and I carried my new thrifted Italian ostrich leather bag.

Italian Cecconi Piero Ostrich bag 

a surprising find from the thrift shop.

The frosty greeting that met me in the front garden 

of The Humble Bungalow.

I scraped the windows of the Volvo wagon before driving the block and a half to pick up Mother at her condo.

Seat heaters on...check.

Symphonic music tuned in...check.

Lipstick on...check.

Hair in place...check.

Positive attitude...check.

We went out for a bit of browsing the boutiques 

before tucking into a "wee tea" at a local Tea Room.

A repast that engaged us in a lively dialogue that lasted over an hour...

it might just be our new "go to" spot.

The weather has been quite surprising...

clear and cold 

raining cats and dogs

crisp and freezing 

cold  and  frosty....

Garments are hung by the door ready to be chosen at a moment's notice...

scarves and gloves are everyday items now.

Hand lotion is applied several times a day as the chilly weather makes ones hands dry out.

Sipping warm beverages

and 

taking vitamins are part of everyday life here.

What are you doing to adjust to the new season?

"The Official Fruitcake of the Humble Bungalow"

I am not the fruitcake in question!!

Christmas is coming....
we do not go overboard with material goods but we do bake.
It is a family tradition to bake some festive treats and have them on hand for guests and for gifts.
Mother's Rum Balls and Scottish shortbread are made every year without fail.
I posted these recipes here and here.

Mother has a very traditional fruit cake recipe that she used to make every year and ladle full of rum or brandy for many weeks before serving. It is a dark cake, the same cake that we served at our wedding and the wedding of friends. It was iced with almond paste and was quite heavy.

For the past 10 years I have branched out and broadened my fruit cake horizons and have chosen the Bon Appetit Golden Fruitcake to be "The Official Humble Bungalow Christmas Cake."

(efi recently requested this recipe)

This cake uses dried fruit...
it is not an inexpensive cake to make but it is delicious!

Humble Bungalow Golden Fruitcake
(makes 4 loaves 8 1/2 x 3 1/2 x 2)

Ingredients;

1 7 oz. package Marzipan
1 1/4 c. chopped dried figs
3 c. dried fruit chopped I used ginger, apricots, craisins, pineapple, and pitted dates.
(choose your favourite fruits)
1 c. golden raisins
1/2 c. brandy

1 1/2 c. softened unsalted butter (3 sticks)
1 1/2 c. sugar
1 c. packed brown sugar
8 large free range eggs
1 tbsp. pure vanilla extract
1 tsp. ground cardamom
1 tsp. nutmeg
1/2 tsp. salt
3 c. all purpose flour
1 1/2 c. pine nuts toasted

Cut Marzipan into 1/2 inch cubes, freeze on a plate overnight covered in Saran wrap.
Chop and combine all the fruit and place in a large bowl with the brandy covered on the counter overnight.
Stir frequently.

Toast the pine nuts, cover and set aside.

The next morning...
Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
Butter the pans and set aside.

Beat the butter and sugars together in the bowl of a mixer and beat until light.
(I love my Kitchen Aid, I think of it as my Kitchen MAID!)
Beat eggs in one at a time then add vanilla and the spices.
Slowly add the flour in 4 additions, blending well each time.
Stir in the pine nuts and dried fruit and brandy.
Gently fold in the frozen Marzipan.

Divide the batter among the 4 pans, place on a baking sheet and bake until a tester comes out clean...
about 1 hour and 15 minutes.

Cool completely on wire racks and then wrap and keep in a very cold room or refrigerate.

These make great gifts and look festive wrapped in ribbon with a sprig of fresh holly.

Paired with a glass of sherry this sweet little fruity concoction has great powers of festive restoration.
Before or after shopping and wrapping gifts...
Personally I love a sliver of this cake served with a cup of tea!

I hope that you like this recipe.
If you make it please let me know what you think of it.

If you have a family recipe that you care to share I'd love to have it here.

House dressing...

With the Christmas season approaching I like to add a few touches to The Humble Bungalow.
Living in such a wee space I cannot decorate on a grand scale so I choose a few token touches to add a little of the festive spirit. We purchase a live tree about a week before the 24th and then we really get serious and lay on the shine and sparkle.
In the mean time...

The front door must be dressed and a wreath is a "must have."

 I prefer natural and organic accents.

This will last throughout the season because the climate here is cool to cold.

If you were in a hot spot you'd need to mist this daily.

A small tree which I will wrap in some sparkly garland closer to Christmas

for now it will just be green.

Paper whites

 bulbs of distinction 

they grow tall and bear the prettiest white flowers 

which have a rich and heady perfume.

I use this glass building block for paper whites every year.

The glass beads can be purchased at most home decor stores.

It's busy times here in The Humble Bungalow.

Mr. HB is stringing up the exterior white lights

while I am inside tidying up and doing laundry

(and yes, I'm blogging!)

How are you dressing your home for the season?

Chanel and shopping...

Lovely daughter in law and I tripped the light fantastic and went to the shopping mall to buy some Christmas clothes and toys for the adorable Miss Isla, grand baby extraordinaire.

Our expedition started out at Starbucks for some yuletide lattes...

We found many cute things for her at The Gap
and then we traipsed into the big toy store...
Toys R Us and found a couple of board books and an educational toy.

We also checked out some boots, shoes and lingerie at The Bay...
our very own Canadian store which has been sold to an American conglomerate!

I found some new lip gloss from Chanel...

Rouge Allure Extrait De Gloss

#517  Triomphal

which is

A Limited Edition Christmas Colour.

Rouge Allure Laque

#74 Dynastie

I sat on a tall chair which I had to jump up onto

(I am height challenged so lovely DIL asked if I needed a boost!)

I managed on my own however it was a very ungracious looking move

as I was

laden down with parcels and bundled up in my Burberry quilted coat.

Perched on the chair I was there for all to see as the cosmetician tried several shades

( I think several passers by were very amused!)

after testing, swapping and swiping

we decided on two new colours...

Dynastie is for daytime

the Triomphal is bolder and richer 

perfect for nighttime.

The super glossy one is a bit of a change for me

but it catches the light and will look good in the evening.

Lily was the name of the gal at the counter...

 she added some samples of Chanel No.19 

which is a grassy lighter green scent.

Quite a departure from Mother's signature scent Chanel No. 5.

We were home in time for me to wrap the presents.

This year I have vowed to wrap as I buy...

don't really know why I just feel like it.

Last week I bought Michael Buble's Christmas CD and he does have me in the spirit already!

It's the eve of the weekend here and I hope that your weekend is a dreamy one...

If you are shopping Black Friday Sales

be careful of those bargain hunters

I read in the paper that they can be dangerous.

I'll be posting my Christmas fruitcake soon so stay tuned!

Happy Thanksgiving !

Happy Thanksgiving!

In the US it's Thanksgiving and there will be families and friends gathered together to share in celebrations.
There might be a turkey and the traditional dishes on the menu
or possibly it will be a vegetarian or vegan feast.
It may be simple fare or a gourmet dinner.

You'll probably be dining inside in a heated home,
you might be the hostess or a guest.

Hunger is a something you might never know...
there will be food banks giving out groceries
and organized dinners provided by dedicated volunteers
feeding the homeless and those down on their luck.

Our simple table set for Thanksgiving last year.

However you celebrate I hope that you have an enjoyable day thinking thoughts of gratitude.

You could be volunteering in your community helping the under privileged,
even digging deep into your pockets to help
share some food with someone who is less fortunate.

It is always better to give than to receive....