November vibes...

The autumnal light is fading slightly this month...

I've noticed more rainy days, breezy winds and fog.

Wearing layers to chase the chill...

a camisole underneath my cashmere sweater with warm wool socks and scarves.

The down puffer coat has made several appearances and I purchased a wool beret for my walks.

Made by The Canadian Hat Company.

I had my hairdresser chop off about 3 inches of my Covid Coiffure!

It feels so much healthier and the lightness has freed up some of the curls.

What a difference! 

A little pampering goes a LONG way to make one feel better.

There are a few geraniums still blooming on the front porch.

I crave a pop of colour in the Fall and Winter.

Calicarpia aka Beauty Berry

So delicate...

A fall flowering bush brightens up a corner of the Humble Bungalow Garden.

This weekend Mr. HB and I ventured out to the garden centre...

We were looking for a wreath for the front door.

We didn't find a wreath but we did find some Noble Fir boughs and Ilex red berries

A little festive cheer at the foot of the stairs.

A cheerful pop of colour!

I popped the cuttings in the tool box on the front porch table.

(waste not want not!)

We also purchased an Olive tree...

this purchase was inspired by our friend Julie who used some olive leaves to decorate her dining table when she hosted us for dinner.

Julie is a fabulous cook and she has a flair for home decor...

her home is an oasis of calm and she has recently redone it with soft greys and French style furnishings.

A feast for the eyes...

We brought some wine from The Pender Island Sea Star Winery.

Dungeness Crab Cake with Remoulade sauce...

succulent and so flavourful.

Goat cheese deep fried atop cherry tomatoes with pine nuts 

then drizzled with a balsamic reduction.

Salmon served with rice, asparagus and carrots

and a delicious

Beurre butter sauce

Dessert was from the Italian bakery...

fig and apple tarts.

Dinner was incredible...one for the memory book.

Thank you Julie!

We've got a busy couple of weeks planned with all kinds of events.

Looking forward to reclaiming our social life and activities in a safe way.

My knitting group is going to reconvene...

we are going out for dinner with our darling daughter and her husband.

Heading to the Art Gallery for an exhibit, meeting friends for a Happy Hour, coffee with the gals and a tea planned for next month at Butchart Gardens.

Thank you for stopping by The Humble Bungalow Blog.

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

 

October musings...

Fall is in full flourish...

we are enjoying

 the beautiful palette of Autumnal Shades.

Berries 

Leaves 

a pop of colour

red juxtaposed against grey stones.

Mother Nature's Paintbrush is showing her talent and liberal use of colours this Fall.

Rain and a fierce wild windstorm 

knocked out our power for 17 hours

at Quarterdeck Cottage.

We had to tough it out 

we kept the gas fireplace on and hunkered down with our books.

Unfortunately we had to throw out most of the food that was in the fridge.

I read this book in a couple of days...

set in Cornwall

I enjoyed the story.

The local Pender Island ferries were able to run even during the wind.

Several of our neighbours went home early due to the power outage.

I am back working on The Doocot Sweater pattern.

It has been sitting in my knitting bag for the better part of a year.

Not sure why I left it so long before picking up my knitting needles again?

Do you put aside projects?

The yarn is Rowan Tweed and is soft and easy to work with...

I am absolutely smitten with the colour!

There are a few more inches of ribbing before I can start on the sleeves.

I have learned many new techniques while working on this pattern.

My husband gave me The Vogue Knitting Book and that has been invaluable.

Trying something new without help "in real life" can be daunting 

so books and "You Tube" Knitting Videos have been great!

We will be packing up and back home tomorrow.

Halloween is only a few days away!

We've got the candy treats ready for the Trick or Treaters on Sunday.

Our friends from France will be staying with us for a few days.

How are things going with you?

Thank you for dropping by The Humble Bungalow Blog.

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

Fall Focus ~ Wool sweater, eye make-up, flowers and comfort food.

~ Autumnal shades ~

Glorious dahlias are boldly blooming here in The Humble Bungalow Garden.

I've cleaned and culled my make up bag and disposed of old mascara.

The last mascara I purchased was a real disappointment...

it was far too dark and really gloopy.

So I ventured to a local pharmacy 

where a long time clerk in the make-up section steered me in the right direction.

Benefit and Lancome

Brows and lashes

"Precisely My Brow" in "warm light brown" shade.

A soft smooth pencil to fill in the gaps and a wee brow brush for blending.

Waterproof, smudge proof for 12 hours.

Idole

360 micro bristle wand

feather light gel formula that provides:

Lash lifting mascara

140% eye opening effect

95% instant lift

94% intense volume

90% clump free lashes

Rachel Zoe wool sweater

comfy and cozy

sure to be a chill chaser

can be layered under my puffy vest.

Will wear this with my Eileen Fisher black pants or jeans.

If I had a great skirt I would pair it with that too...

HMMM...perhaps a skirt is next on my shopping list?

Will also match my grey cashmere socks.

Easy beans

a comforting meal on a chilly fall evening.

Slow Cooker Beans

6 slices of pork belly cubed

1 cup diced onion

1 cloves minced garlic

1 can pinto beans

1 can great Northern beans, drained

1 can baked beans

1 can kidney beans, drained

1 can garbanzo beans, drained

3/4 c ketchup

1/2 cup molasses

1/4 cup brown sugar

2 Tbsp. Worchestershire sauce

1 Tbsp. yellow mustard

1/2 Tsp. ground pepper

Put all the ingredients into a slow cooker.

Sir to mix and cook for 4 hours.

(Omit the pork belly if you want a vegetarian bean dish)

Serve with soft buns or toast.

Very tasty and so quick to assemble and the slow cooker does the work!

Enjoy.

Thank you for popping by The Humble Bungalow Blog.

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

 

Mr. HB has retired from his role as a senior partner in Continuum Architects...

His career spanned 43 years at the longest running Victoria architectural firm.

He is looking forward to new hobbies, longer walks and more book time.

We spent the first week at Quarterdeck Cottage on Pender Island.

Friends joined us for the weekend and we rented another cottage...

we enjoyed their company immensely.

So great to be able to see long time friends, 

one couple we had not seen in over 2 years due to Covid.

The weather was lovely so we were able to sit out on the deck.

We went for walks, played crib, read our books and reminisced...

lots of laughter filled the cottage as we went down memory lane.

It was quiet after they left.

We went for walks and read our books.

Rain fell and the fog rolled in...

Fall is here !

We indulged in a "naughty Coffee" and it was delicious!

The Marina store is getting ready to close for the season.

They told us they plan to open earlier next year and serve more food options

and introduce music performances.

We're home now and busy putting the garden to bed for the season.

We gave away plants to friends who are establishing a new shady bed in their garden.

We have a few more plants to give away and other friends are happy to take them.

Mr. HB is outside right now tidying up the beds by the patio.

I have laundry in the wash and am going to make us lunch when I finish this post.

Fall feels like a transition in so many ways...

I took some summer clothes downstairs to the guest room closet.

Then I brought up some winter garments.

My basic wardrobe continues to serve me well and despite being small it works.

There are a few pieces that I am considering buying but not that many.

A new cashmere sweater is on the radar as well as some pretty new lingerie.

Cashmere socks are so cozy...

BTW this author, William Trevor, writes very intense stories!

I wasn't sure what would happen in this thriller and was on the edge of my seat as I read on...

I picked a beautiful bouquet of roses.

These are frilly frothy and fragrant...

Graham Thomas a stalwart David Austin Rose.

It grows out back in The Humble Bungalow Garden near my potting table.

The hydrangeas are drying, 

hostas are fading

but thankfully 

the roses continue to bloom.

Thank you for popping by The Humble Bungalow Blog.

I appreciate your comments and readership.

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

A few things ~ French style.

A whisper soft scarf to wear that adds a wee bit of french style.

I have paired it with an Eileen Fisher top

Lands' End cashmere cardigan

Royalty jeans.

Silk square scarf by Pertrusse with exquisite hand rolled edges 

"Cha Cha Cha"

from

 My Stylish French Country Box.

Scarves are such an easy way to amp up a simple outfit.

I own maybe a dozen silk scarves...

Pertrusse, Hermes, Ralph Lauren

My first Hermes scarf was a souvenir from San Francisco.

The second and third were from the Hermes shop in Vancouver.

The others were purchased in Paris.

A friend Ali who lives on Salt Spring Island gave me a Le Fermiere pot

she brought some home from her trip to France.

I brought several more home from my last trip to Provence and the SW of France.

The French yogurt is so rich and creamy that we indulged with a pot each morning for breakfast with fruit before going out to explore the villages.

These sweet peas are the last for the season...

it was an amazing season for these scented gems.

A bountiful harvest of apples await to be picked in The Humble Bungalow Garden.

One of our favourite apple recipes is from Ina Garten

French Apple Tarte.

Serve it warm with ice cream.

A gift arrived in the post...

fresh grown and dried lavender sachets!

I love the detailed embroidery...

thank you Lorrie.

Do you follow Vivi et Margot on Instagram?

Charlotte Reiss has a shop Vivi et Margot that sells all things French...

baskets, linens, aprons, copper pots, candles, soaps etc.

I purchased this kitchen candle.

 It will be lit on the cool days of Fall and Winter when I am cooking in the kitchen.

Today it is raining and I am in the kitchen making a tomato and potato bisque.

Thank you for popping by The Humble Bungalow Blog.

Hope that you are staying safe.

 ~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

Roses and reading...

 

Golden Celebration 

a beautiful yellow David Austin Rose

This rose has black spot on the leaves 

besides dead heading the roses 

I hand pick the leaves that have black spots on them.

Jude the Obscure Rose

what a stunner!

 Now showing off with a second full flush of blooms 

The fragrance is unbelievable...

a hint of citrus and a deep scent.

Loved this book!

The story is perfect for those of us who love to look at gardens,

work in gardens, plan and dream about gardens.

Set in three different eras all revolving around the British country home and garden.

Those of you who have been reading my blog for awhile 

will know that I absolutely adore Louise Penny's mystery series set in Three Pines Quebec.

I read this one in 3 days...

could not put it down!

Louise is such a gifted and brilliant author.

I understand that there is a series being produced by a UK film studio that will feature her mysteries. It will be streaming on Amazon this coming fall and winter.

I look forward to watching the series with a friend who has Amazon.

Romneya Coulteri

a member of the Poppy Family.

Grows in gravel and looks like a fried egg...

I love the delicate crinkled petals.

Our weekend is going to be super busy...

lots going on here in The Humble Bungalow and Garden.

Hope that you are keeping safe.

The 4th wave of Covid is now infecting the unvaccinated.

We obtained our Vaccination Passports and will be required to show these at restaurants and all venues.

The only exceptions are essential services like grocery shops, medical clinics and such...

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

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

Quarterdeck Cottage ~ an oasis of peace.

We are at Quarterdeck Cottage this week...

we arrived with a bucket of fresh cut flowers from The Humble Bungalow Garden.

I couldn't resist bringing some of our roses.

Jude the Obscure, Julia Child and The McCartney rose fill the vase. 

Sunshine and the expansive views of the Salish Sea are such a tonic.

We went for a drive and walked along two different beaches 

beachcombing...collecting feathers and pieces of sea glass.

An artist has been busy creating some interesting carvings...

Building 

Driftwood structures are popular with many at the beach.

Our cottage time is so peaceful.

We sat out on the deck last night and gazed up at the stars... 

watched the brightly lit ferries as they passed by the cottage.

Feeling immense contentment here at the cottage.

Nature continues to amaze...

it renews our energies

inspires us

refreshes and invigorates.

The sound of the waves as they hit the rocky shore

the various bird songs

my favourite of which is the song of the purple martins

the breeze as it swishes the branches of the trees

all things that I have come to love and appreciate.

I've got a post to share with you soon...

we were fortunate to be able to host a dinner on the deck here with a fashion blogger and her husband and her lovely daughter.

We didn't take pictures of us all but I can share the menu.

If you want to get a sneak peak check out my Instagram post.

In closing, here's a picture of the other flowers that we brought to the cottage.

Sweet Peas

this summer we have enjoyed a bumper crop of these fragrant beauties.

The more we picked the blooms the faster they grew.

I cannot remember a summer when we had so many sweet peas.

They are cheap and cheerful and so worth the effort of growing them.

Hope that you are doing well and staying safe.

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~