Under the weather...

September the first has brought the fog in blanketing us with a cool misty overcoat of dewdrops.
There's a frosty feel in the air...BRR.
I am ailing,
snug under the cozy and warm duvet of down.

Ginger ale in hand, I have donned my grey cashmere sox.
Pepper is curled up at my feet and is slumbering deeply.

I have read the blogs that I follow...
before resuming my latest project, the twisted scarf in simple garter stick with that sumptuous alpaca yarn.
Knitting is conducive to meditating on all the gifts of everyday life
the garter stitch of gratitude.

I love and embrace the simple things in life.

Hot water for bathing,
food in the fridge,
a roof overhead,
family,
a warm hug,
the sound of birdsong in the garden,
scented soap,
comfortable shoes,
a great book to read,
a job to do,
friends who accept us for who we really are without judging,
a hobby to be passionate about...
and last but not least health.

What would be on your list?
Have I forgotten anything important?

My head is a bit foggy like the weather so feel free to add your own thoughts.

This vintage soap dish is so simple in style and form
it performs a function and in my eyes, is quite pretty.
I particularly like those two random black specks which are inside the porcelain glaze.
"Beauty in imperfection"

A recent find in the local shop from the village 

 residing by the kitchen sink

married with a bar of Provence triple milled lavender soap.

Pepper 

another beauty

and

not as simple as you might think!

She has become the most wonderful cat

she keeps me company here in the Humble Bungalow

follows me from room to room 

 "helping" with the domestics

her playful nature is a great source of entertainment.

Seeking comfort in small ways today

I'd like to have something yummy for lunch...

Lisa has something interesting on the menu.

I think they would go very nicely with my Schweppes ginger ale and Tums.

What do you think?

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.

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 ~

Recipes for a bountiful harvest...snapshots and books.

Our annual holiday is over and we had a relaxing time...
I read oodles of books and gained a few pounds.
(no surprise with the amount of reading that I have accomplished!)

Friends who live on the island introduced us to the owners of a stunning waterfront home and garden situated at the end of Pilkey Point on Thetis Island which is known for its beautiful sunsets.

We sat on their deck and sipped a cold beer and marvelled at the views.

Telegraph Harbour Marina is well run and maintained 

by the current owners Tara and Ron...

we have been going to this Marina since the 1970's when it was in Peter's hands.

Despite the lack of water they have beautiful flowers and a lovely garden.

The deep blue agapanthus attract bees.

Buzzing right into a flower.

A fun read that I found at the book exchange at the marina.

We are back home in our Humble Bungalow...
it feels familiar and cozy. The hydrangeas are in full bloom and the roses have another flush of flowers...the greenhouse is yielding our first summer harvest of produce.

Cucumbers and tomatoes

Time for a couple of salads.

I searched online for a new cucumber salad recipe

and found this gem here.

I knew that Jamie Oliver had a great tomato salad recipe in his cookbook.

He had a series on the food network that showcased his garden and he came up with recipes that used what he had growing in his garden.

The cookbook is called Jamie at Home.

I have a few weeks of laundry to catch up on and some groceries to buy...

the garden needs some attention and I have already started a "do " list.

My current book...

also found at the marina book exchange.

I love my Mulberry back pack bag.

Its perfect for the boat 

as it is great for activities like walking, beach combing, hiking.

It holds my extra glasses, cellphone, wallet, lipstick and a few assorted extras.

Thank you for stopping by The Humble Bungalow today.

I'll be tackling the domestics starting with the laundry as soon as I hit the publish button.

Just out on the front porch...

Limelight hydrangeas and strawberries in a pot.

Cheerio

XO 

Checking in to say....

My week is shaping up to be another busy one...
we are in the midst of planning a catered celebration this weekend.
I'm not giving too much away, it's not a surprise...
it's a milestone birthday.

Walks with friends, French lessons, a Grammy play date, the regularly scheduled weekly Mother/ daughters get together, domestics, grocery shopping and that's just the start.

The trees are bursting forth with buds...

my energy has been ebbing on the low side so I have been trying to go to bed earlier.

My sleep patterns are changing and sleep is interrupted several times through the night.

It frustrates me no end because I used to be able to sleep most of the night.

Most of my friends have mentioned that this too is their "new normal."

The bright and shocking colours of Spring

fresh air and sunshine coupled with a good strong cup of coffee are helping me stay awake and alert.

I've been toying with the idea of making some art cards from my photographs.

I've purchased some cards and envelopes and ordered some prints...

just need to carve out some time to glue the photos onto the card stock

then muster up the courage to take them to a few of the card shops and see if they are at all interested...

if not, I will have some for my personal use.

French "homework" reading Paris Vogue!

Ines de la Fressange is the focus of this issue...

J'adore Ines.

I must close for now as I am off to meet a friend and French class follows.

Photographs from my walks have featured prominently in this post and I hope that they have elevated your spirits.
Enjoy your week!

Strategies to rise above the bleak and dreary..

January feels like a long month to me...

It is dreary and damp 

I think it has a lot to do with our weather here in the Pacific Northwest...
I am passionate about the contrast of black and white,
whilst the muddy grey of the skies borders on tedious.

We get a huge amount of precipitation and when it's not raining, the clouds and fog hang around.
It feels cold because of all the moisture...makes one feel like cocooning in a shell...or given the opportunity Hibernating!

There are many people who go south to escape...to warmer climates.

This is not an option for me at this time so I have developed some strategies for coping.

I like to see the light when dark is all around..
I seek out bright with every facet of my being...
I turn on lights,
I light a fire to create a spark within to chase away the dim.

I yearn for and seek out colour

in my wardrobe

and more.

I dress in layers and wear cozy cashmere to keep the chill at bay.
Cashmere feels like a soft caress, a wooly hug that snuggles and blankets the skin.

A long scarf works well here as I like to wrap it twice to keep my neck warm...
my neck and feet are the most vulnerable to the damp and feel chilled if they are exposed.

Cashmere socks are wonderful
and I wear them all winter
and often on a very cold night I'll keep them on when I go to bed!

I indulge in baths filled with scented salts and warm water

I close my eyes and breath deeply.

I exfoliate my skin

I love the fresh feeling of softness

and then slather on a rich moisturizer

or I dab on an oil or serum for a "spa effect"

I leisurely peruse magazines while sipping a blended tea...

loose tea leaves add that little extra punch of flavour...

and a little goes a long way.

I like to window shop the sales

and look at new stock for spring and summer.

Taking in an art exhibit or a gallery showing.

Listening to music while actioning domestics 

dressed in my Yoga gear 

for ease of movement and comfort.

Sadly the Bungalow garden is rather dormant at this time of year
so the roses are asleep...their bushes bear rose hips.

I purchase flowers and bring some sunny cheer indoors...

Primulas are plentiful and very inexpensive
and can be planted outside in the garden after they have finished blooming.

I dig deep in the recipe box for comfort food recipes

 a delicious way of nourishing ones self and ones soul.

The joy of preparing a simple meal and the anticipation of the taste

sustain and nurture my core.

Dinner of roasted veggies and a free range organic chicken with gravy

smells good while cooking and tastes even better from the plate!

Trying new recipes from cookbooks borrowed from friends or the library...

online sources are plentiful too.

I like to start the day with a warm breakfast 

something with "staying power"

I top mine with a small amount of Canadian maple syrup.

Pay attention and add some colour to the everyday routines

a pretty cup and saucer for taking tea

makes it taste better 

eye candy

goes a long long way.

I like to reread this book as I garner strength and wisdom through another woman's journey

her desperation and the solace she seeks

eloquently described using simple props from nature.

Anne Morrow Lindberg's A Gift From the Sea 

if you haven't read it 

please do...

Maintain and engage in friendships

a telephone call, 

a walk 

 sharing a coffee

going to the cinema

shopping

connecting with others is paramount for ones health

 friends enrich and elevate my days

and I am grateful for them.

Plan to bring some joy into your day

and get to know what makes you happy

Embrace, radiate and shine 

spread light

so others can see.

If you are feeling blue, get outdoors for a walk

or volunteer your services at a local agency in your community

there are so many people in need.

What strategies do you employ to brighten and illuminate your days?