My favourite Poppy the Romneya Coulteri...

The Romneya Coulteri poppy is a show stopper.
Its flower reminds me of a Georgia O'Keefe painting.

Crepe like pure white petals with a yellow centre 

which is why some people refer to this as the fried egg plant.

It grows in poor soil and loves a gravel bed...which is where we have planted it in our Humble Bungalow Garden...they do not transplant well, if at all...
I have heard of no one who was able to grow one by digging up a stem or a root division...they are just plain finicky.

Years ago when Royal Roads hosted the annual Garden and Flower Show I ordered one of these "hard to grow" seedlings from The Duncan Specialty Nursery which unfortunately is no longer in business.

It took 3 years to get my plant as they had trouble meeting the demands for this plant. I have seen a few of these plants for sale at The Demitasse in Oak Bay but I think they get snapped up pretty quickly...
so if you are interested you may have to pre-order one from your local nursery or garden centre and be patient and wait.

It has been happily blooming every summer and it asks very little in the way of TLC or ongoing maintenance.

I have never tried to cut one of these delicate flowers for indoors

as I feel that they would wilt almost immediately.

 Beautiful flowers continue to inspire me to be a better gardener,

to experiment with new and different varieties of plants

to rearrange the beds once in awhile 

to keep The Humble Bungalow Garden interesting and exciting.

Gardening is a very rich and rewarding hobby...

one gets fresh air, exercise, and there is an element of creativity involved.

Reading garden books in the off season allows me to plan and dream of the changes that I might consider making in the garden...

as any consummate gardener knows

a garden is NEVER finished!

I like to think of gardening as "painting with flowers and plants."

Do you enjoy pottering about in the garden?

Do you have a favourite flower?

Don't forget to enter the scarf giveaway if you have not yet done so...see the previous post and Good Luck!

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

Thirty Chic Days by Fiona Ferris and a Hostess Giveaway...

Do you love to wear scarves?
I do...but I opt for lighter weight ones in silk or linen for summer.
They are perfect on a cloudy or rainy day when I step out of the house to run some errands or go for my walk. Scarves so effortlessly add a little splash of colour and dress up the casual outfits that I wear at home or about in our neighbourhood.

I recently picked up a pretty raw silk scarf imported from India at The Bungalow card and gift shop on Estevan Avenue in Oak Bay.

It is a versatile long lightweight raw silk scarf with a fringe at the ends.

Soothing Sea colours for summer

you could tie this around the brim of your sun hat 

or wrap it around your shoulders...

it looks great with denim too.

I finished reading blogger and author Fiona Ferris' new book 

Thirty Chic Days Practical Inspiration For a Beautiful Life.

It is a lovely book chock full of great ideas and simple ways to add luxury to your every day round.

She has written a great guide book for women of all ages...

I picked up a few new tips and you might too.

Thank you again Fiona for sending me your book!

To enter the giveaway please leave me a comment and tell me what makes you feel chic.

The giveaway will close on midnight PST Saturday June 18th.

I will announce the winner on Sunday June 19th.

~ Good Luck ~

Hope that you have a fabulous week.

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

Early Saturday morning...reflecting on the events of the week.

I awoke very early this morning and could not get back to sleep...so I got up.

Weekend mornings I usually stay in bed longer and have a slow start to my day.
The coffee creme tasted so delicious that I savoured a second bowl before sitting down and opening up my lap top.

Have you heard of this award winning olive oil from the Marlborough area of New Zealand?
Lusatori is owned by our daughter's fiancee's family.
When they visited we were given a bottle and it is truly amazing!

I made a quick aioli that Dani BP mentioned in a recent comment on my blog.

I have a great easy sauce that my friend Pat gave me last week too, a fake aioli: 1 cup olive oil, 1/2 cup lemon juice, tsp of yogurt and tsp of mayo with fresh herbs thrown in and lots of pepper and a bit of salt, perfect on cold roast chicken and asparagus. Perfect this time of year.

Thank you Dani as it was delicious!

I served it with freshly picked asparagus grown in The Humble Bungalow garden and a store bought roasted chicken and deli salads.

We have been enjoying the Sunshine and Yellow flowers.

Darling daughter wore her citrine and diamond ring when we went out for lunch.

We ate outside in the "secret garden"behind Sally Bun on Fort Street.

They offer healthy food and make fabulous salads.

I am not a huge fan of gnomes but this one was tucked away into the foliage in such a way that it did not scare me!

a bird house in a tree that was inhabited

The canopy of trees makes this spot an intimate place for a quiet respite.

Our hydrangeas are starting to bloom.

The poppies are finished and I am gathering the seed pods to dry until next Spring when I will scatter them about the beds for more plants.

A pale yellow rose whose name remains unknown. 

Something has been munching on the leaves and there appears to be a bit of blackspot on this plant.

Bubble blowing in the garden with our grandson Henry.

Sidewalk Chalk Fun

Henry will be 3 this August.

Isla will be 6 this week...

I marvel at the speed with which time flies.

~ My week was full to the brim ~

several long walks with a friend

some beach time

a wee bit of gardening

the usual domestics

lunches out

time to read my book

play time with our grandson

I played bridge at the club and had fabulous cards

met some new bridge players

celebrated Mother's 89th birthday by taking her out for dinner

and now the weekend is here and we have more fun things planned.

It is time for me to wrap this up and get going with my day.

Hope you have a fantastic fun filled weekend.

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

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 ~