Weekend Dinner Party and a Yummy Salad Recipe

Our daughter is going to be wed to her Kiwi fiancee this summer in an intimate ceremony on one of the beautiful Gulf Islands just off our coast.
We were introduced to our future SIL's father and step mom on the weekend and we celebrated by hosting a casual dinner here in The Humble Bungalow.
The Marlborough area in New Zealand is where they reside and they own and run an award winning olive grove and make olive oil...they gave us a bottle and I cannot wait to try it!
Marlborough is well known and famous for their vineyards and top notch wines so we wanted to introduce them to some of our BC wine and local seafood.

We served a very simple dinner and we sipped a Sandhill Pinot Gris from a BC Winery in Oliver.

We were celebrating our future SIL's birthday and getting acquainted with his father and step mom. The conversations were animated and we really got on well.
Such lovely people, warm and friendly, it feels as though we have been friends for a long time.

Dinner menu:

Cheese and olive platter with candied smoked wild salmon for the appetizers
Salad
Baby new potatoes with butter and chopped fresh mint
Salmon glazed with soy sauce and drizzled with maple syrup
Chocolate mousse with raspberries

I tried a new salad which was colourful and full of flavour.
Here is the recipe...
I have not indicated quantities because it is so easy to adapt the amounts to make more or less depending on how many you are serving.

Yummy Salad

A variety of salad greens and I added radicchio for colour
cooked beets (I used baby beets and quartered them after cooking)
radishes sliced
roasted pumpkin seeds
sliced green onions
goat or feta cheese crumbled

Put all these gorgeous ingredients in a large salad bowl.
(I used a shallow white bowl to show the rich colours of this salad)

Dressing

1/4 cup wine vinegar
1/4 cup honey
1 tablespoon of Dijon mustard
1 tablespoon of fresh dill or 2 tsp. dried dill weed
salt and pepper
1/2 cup olive oil

Put all the ingredients in a large jar and shake until emulsified and dress salad just before serving.

I ate the leftovers today (a wee bit soggy but yummy!)

I am half way through this book and am having difficulty putting it down.

It is well written and very interesting...and yes it is on my Paris themed reading list!

(I have it on good authority that Tilar Mazzeo is residing in Victoria for several months of each year)

Well I must get a move on and tackle some of the domestics around here...

no more excuses!

 After I have finished them I am going to pop the kettle on and sit for a bit and read my book!

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

OOTD domestic style and some good news.

Is there Glamour in the way that you dress to attend to the everyday domestics?

I do not run around in high heeled pink Marabou mules and a kimono over top of a silk chemise...
while that does sound quite luxe it is far from my reality!

OOTD

Domestics Style

The most important piece is my linen apron

Bon Appetit by Now Designs

(it keeps what I am wearing clean)

White Eddie Bauer shirt

Skinny NYDJ

JCREW Venus Flytrap necklace

slippers

I have been washing windows, clearing the clutter and sorting out some junky drawers.

The laundry is swishing away in the LG machines.

Have I ever mentioned that I LOVE doing laundry?

Ironing used to be a chore until I started ironing by the window

gazing out to the garden beyond 

where I can see the birds and admire the green grass and the flowers.

Some people iron in front of the TV but I never turn the TV on in the daytime.

I do like a great BBC or PBS series 

or something like Last Tango in Halifax or Happy Valley on Netflix 

but that is about all I watch.

The gorgeous Easter bouquet has been front and centre.

I kept it away from the cats when I was not at home as a reader kindly mentioned that the lilies were toxic to cats.

The stamens in the flowers stain anything that they come in contact with so do use caution.

I found this out many years ago and sadly my tablecloth was a goner.

Quite by accident I happened upon these vibrant autumnal leaves 

still clinging to a vine in the blazing afternoon sunshine.

Walking has taken me out of my neighbourhood

finding myself sauntering along the streets of Oak Bay 

gazing at the well tended yards 

looking for some real life garden inspiration.

We have a few beds that need some interesting plants and pots.

The tulips are putting on quite a show this Spring.

Mass planting of bulbs really do have an impact.

The deer have not eaten these...

and this patch is a block from our Humble Bungalow 

where the deer have munched ours down to the soil!

We were informed at the Garden Centre that Deer do not like Hellebores.

We popped this one in a pot out front and we will see if that is true.

There is some encouraging news...

actually it is really really GOOD NEWS!

The predicted 4-5 month long wait for that ultrasound was been reduced to a 3 month wait...

then I thought about it and wondered

why not ask to be put on the list for a priority appointment and take a cancellation.

I am retired and have a flexible schedule 

plus we live close to the office where they do the tests...

and wonders never cease

they called me!

By the end of the week I will have my test and next week I meet with the specialist.

So we are in the queue and will see what is next.

In the book front I finally finished reading The Luminaries.

It took me ages as it was 822 pages and very detailed and had a convoluted storyline.

And now for something completely different!

The Love Market from our wee library box across the street looked interesting...

It is written by an English born author, Carol Mason who now resides in BC.

The book jacket suggests it is chick lit...

will give it a whirl.

Thank you for stopping by, now I must get back to work.

There are some dishes to wash and the laundry needs to go into the dryer.

Cheerio,

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

Walks, weather and the weekend.

The sun came out on Friday and it is amazing how it lifted my spirits.
I decided to walk to town...

Cyclamen blooming in a rustic vessel on the front porch of The Humble Bungalow.

The sun illuminating the trunk of the Arbutus tree beside the front porch.

Lime green and sienna bark mingle...

a few puddles remain

I look taller in the shadows...

I daresay that this is not the original concrete ball atop the wall!

Looks suspiciously like a bowling ball to me.

The building that houses the Bike Shop looks crisp set against the blue sky.

Street tiles from many years ago still remain on a few streets in Fairfield.

I took a zig zag route to town and enjoyed looking at the heritage houses that line the streets.

I pottered about in the shops and looked at the sales.

In the end I opted for a new pair of NYDJ in a dark wash in their skinny style.

Not on sale but I had a $50 credit so they were a better price, one that I can live with!

All that walking and shopping made me thirsty so I stopped for a cup of tea and enjoyed the view of the Inner Harbour.

Victoria Harbour views looking west...
a seaplane taxiing out for take off

masts just visible above the rooftops

the Victoria Clipper high speed ferry at the far left middle of the picture.

The weekend is going to be full to the brim...

on the agenda

lunch out and shopping with lovely daughter

brunch with our son, DIL, and grand children

dessert here with our neighbours and their month of holiday snapshots from Australia

routine domestics

tea

coffee

baking 

 a few walks.

What are you doing this weekend?

Be Well and Be Kind.

Adding a wee bit of polish to my days...

The New Year is here and with it comes the opportunity to make some changes.
What changes might those be?
For starters,
getting back on the Weight Watchers Point Program with continued walks is my top priority.
Over the holidays too many sweets and treats have been savoured and despite the walks I am up a few pounds...it is not the end of the world but I do not want to let it get out of control.
I feel better when my clothes have a little bit of "breathing room!"

But I digress...
this post was titled adding a bit of polish.

 My hands and nails have never been given much thought...
I am a no nonsense kind of gal...and have thought of my hands as tools in the domestic arena.

As a result of neglect and my haphazard way of wearing gloves when I wash dishes and clean house
I have had to invest heavily in hand creams and slather them on throughout the day.
(L'Occitane Shea Butter... and I buy the small size to keep in my handbag and the car)

I have been inspired to make a wee change...
at least for now
while the New Year is fresh and new.
(will see how long it lasts!)

For now I am enjoying taking extra care of my hands and my nails.
My gloves are handy right beside the sink
as a reminder to put them on when I am immersed in domestics, which I am on a daily basis.

Purple Playtex Living Gloves

endorsed by This Hostess.

Workhorses in The Humble Bungalow

Base coat, polish and a top coat are applied so that they last longer and resist chipping.

This OPI shade is called Chocolate Moose...

I love how they choose creative names for their polish.

 I think this is a neutral versatile colour.

Looking for some pretty pink shades in the OPI,  Essie or Butter lines to add to my collection.

Perhaps something soft...and light, maybe in a blush pink.

or a deeper fuchsia like this Camellia.

Blues and greens and blacks are popular 

I am not sure that they are suitable for my 60 year old hands...

 though they are fine on my toes in the summer months.

Speaking of trying new things...

Cheryl, my friend from France, taught me how to make duck confit.

We browned the duck legs in a hot Le Creuset pan and then heated them in the oven.

We de-glazed the pan with a bit of Sancerre and added about a half cup of marmalade and let it simmer and reduced it until it was thick.

The wee potatoes were roasted in a bit of the duck fat in a hot oven until they were golden and softened.

The green beans were steamed until they were almost tender...

(I like a bit of resistance when I bite into a green bean)

~ Dessert ~

tasty lemon tarts from the bakery.

You can see why I am up a few pounds as we enjoyed many rich meals 

while our house guests were here in The Humble Bungalow.

So it is salad daze and healthy eating for the foreseeable future.

If you are looking for some inspiration and a fresh way of starting your New Year

Janet at The Gardener's Cottage has a week of healthy menus posted on her blog.

Chat soon

until next time...

~ Be Kind and Take Care ~

Activities ~ Senior Style ~ OOTD

Life is busy... and I'm finding it a bit of a challenge to sit down and blog.
Instagram is quick and easy and I am falling under it's spell.
Time is ticking along quickly...my days are full.
It could be the dental work, Mah Jongg, Bridge lessons and games, the walking, domestics, gardening and lunches out with friends. I am really enjoying meeting new people and exercising my brain cells!
I've joined Goward House, a seniors centre ( 50 years +) that is housed in a heritage home with several acres of woodland walking trails. A wide variety of classes and courses are offered and special interest clubs meet on site.
There is a small tea room set in a lovely room with vast windows overlooking the gardens...
soup, sandwiches, tea, coffee and sweets are reasonably priced, and the tea room is open to the public.
There are wide expansive decks that have tables and chairs which are used in the warmer weather...
weddings are frequently held here in the summer. It's a quiet and peaceful location for a celebration.

I think it is just lovely, such a relaxed atmosphere, antique and comfy furniture, beautiful artwork hangs on the walls, fresh flowers in vases, it feels like you are in the home of a good friend.

We purchased a beauty berry bush last weekend and planted several dozen purple allium bulbs around it's base...we plan to add a bunch of black mondo grass in the same bed.

Purple and Black sound like a interesting pairing.

I spied this super hero on my walk in our neighbourhood.

I wondered if it was making a statement and if so what was the message?

It's probably some one's idea of "garden art."

Moss covered rocks seen on Moss Street!

Creepy spiders are lurking in the trees....

Ghosts

Yikes!

Halloween decorations are more popular than they have been in the past.

We live in an area with good schools that offer French Immersion and so there are a lot of families with young children.

I'm reading this book right now and it's an easy and entertaining story.

If you liked The 100 year Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared,

 I think you'll enjoy this one too.

I've used up all my old lotions and potions and have switched up my skincare regime.

Andalou Naturals 1000 Roses for Sensitive skin.

An organic and cruelty free line.

I love the rose scent of all the products.

It's scent lingers long after you put it on...

(some people would not like to smell like a rose)

I'm new to eye gel and find this product has helped plump up and fills in the fine lines.

The exfoliator is gentle and does it's job without causing irritation or redness.

The oil is great for cuticles, hair and after shaving.

The Heavenly Night Time Moisturizer is so rich and soothing...I use it for daytime as my skin is super dry.

I'm going to invest in their serum for winter as my skin usually gets drier and needs more moisture.

I draped this Hermes scarf around my neck...

for the afternoon of Bridge.

Blue top  ~ Style My Way

Black denim jeans  ~ g21

Black loafers  ~ Coach

Sitting playing Mah Jongg or Bridge there are lulls in the game where you notice what the other players are wearing...

rings, necklaces, bracelets and scarves.

"Any opportunity to adorn oneself is human, and accessories are an easy way to do it."

~ Marc Jacobs ~

Playing with lipstick...a copy cat post.

Jennifer author of the blog "A Well Styled Life" wrote a post on lipstick.
"The Classic Red Lip: Not For Every Woman"
Her post made me think about lipstick shades...those that flatter and those that don't.

Luscious and Juicy Red Rose Hips 

The Humble Bungalow Bathroom has the best lighting so that's where this experiment takes place.

My nose got a wee bit burnt on the last few days of our holiday.

I wear an SPF of 30 but there is a double dose of rays when one is out on the ocean.

(rays from above and then reflected up again from the sea)

OOTD

Grey linen Tee from Monoprix

White Club Monaco jeans

bare feet

custom made gold and diamond necklace

On my lips I am wearing 

Fresh Sugar ~ Tulip

(my everyday shade that I wear in the bungalow while doing domestics or gardening)

It works better if I wear my glasses.

I can see what I am doing!

Chanel Rouge Coco Orchidee Lipstick

(a rosy red)

Jennifer mentions that a bold lip takes centre stage and the eyes almost disappear.

One must choose to focus on either the eyes or the lips when choosing make up.

Which one do you prefer to highlight?

Maybelline  #055 Pink~a~licious

Maybelline  #547  Pleasure Me Red

(purchased in Paris)

I wear this shade for evening or when I want to capture and remember a bit of Paris. 

I think red lips are quintessentially French!

Janet over at The Gardener's Cottage wears Poppy by Aveda.

She's written a post on beauty and I think you might like to pop over and read what she has to say.

I enjoy her blog so much.

(and I am in love with her gorgeous house)

Country Living magazine did a shoot at her cottage and are going to be featuring it soon.

I can hardly wait!

Do you have a favourite shade of lipstick?

Hope that you have some fun scheduled this weekend.

I'll be focusing on watering our newly sodded back lawn.

I'll share it with you sometime soon.

Cheerio

XO

OOTD ~ Washday observations...

It's wash day again here in our Humble Bungalow.
Mondays more frequently are washing, ironing and domestics days...

OOTD

Club Monaco jeans

Monoprix grey linen Tee

silver necklace from Paris

This inexpensive Parisian necklace gets lots of compliments.

I love white and silver together...

so icy and cool.

Our white orchid is in bloom again..this must be the 4th year that it has re-bloomed.

Orchids, the window sill variety are a great bargain...just a wee bit more than a bouquet and they continue to perform for years. 

I water mine every Monday.

Our grey and black back door rug... from Target.

The Christmas cactus is looking healthy.

It usually blooms twice a year and not always at Christmas!

Mr. HB and I both spent a lazy day on the boat this weekend.

We read our books and the cats snoozed...

I bought a new mat for the galley.

and some new melamine plates designed by Nicole Miller.

Home Sense and Winners are the source of the nautical inspired accents pieces for our boat.

Pepper

Chester

The view from here...

There were many opportunities to reflect...

remember 

and honour the memory of our Fathers

both gone but not forgotten...

I'll be starting this book soon...

I want to learn how to make a French omellete...

I need to find a non stick pan first.

The time has come to say adieu

There are linens to launder and cottons to iron...