Monday, February 14, 2011

Happy Valentine's Day!

It's Valentine's Day
February 14th, 2011

It's a day for
Hearts
and
Flowers...
Hugs
and Kisses




Hearts of gold and sprinkled with diamonds


They dangle and jangle from my wrist
on a bracelet of hearts
a circle of
tokens

gifts of love
from my sweetheart
Mr. HB


Today might include a movie date...
is a sweet 
romantic comedy
 a feel good
light hearted
escape

as are these...


DVD's for TV 
or the laptop 
perfect for when we are away on the boat
or snug in a cabin by the ocean
away from it all

We'll be celebrating while holidaying 
in a rustic cabin by the sea
soon
and I can hardly wait!



On Valentine's Day
whatever you do 
however you celebrate
I hope that there is someone that you love
someone you can hug
or snuggle up with
someone who enjoys spending time in your company
someone to savour 
 everyday simple moments 
with....

if you do not tell them everyday
how much they mean to you
make a point of
reminding them today...
just how special they are!



Roses
 image from  2010

Our plans involve a stay at home evening here in The Humble Bungalow
I'll be preparing a home made dinner


serving it with some wine or bubbly


Bubbly
image from New Years 2011

lovely daughter will be here too
it's her laundry night 
and our routine is to
watch 
The Batchelor on TV

Happy Valentine's Day!
Hugs from the Hostess
XO

Saturday, February 12, 2011

Rain rain go away....colour me orange.

It's raining 
it's pouring

coming down in buckets
the gutters are gurgling

the windows
splattered and smattered with rivulets of raindrops


it's chilly
and the wind has come up


 skies are grey
and
weeping 


I'm 
snug and warm
cocooning 
inside today = domestics 
later errands = actioned



boots, brolly, beret
and a raincoat
kept the Hostess
dry-ish
I dodged some puddles but the drops
coated my specs
there's nothing like trying to read labels 
through a rain-dotted lens
one's
perspective
is skewed


ducks must love it


starfish are at home in the wet


I refuse to feel sorry
 or entertain sad thoughts
they are party poopers
and who wants them to rain on a parade?

I will choose to dream in colour
day dream,
so I may remember
the colours
and vividly, if you please!


I rarely remember dreams
from slumber

I prefer to think that I must not dream
because if I do not remember 
and if I do in fact dream
why
 do I not remember?

dreams vividly
go visit
she knows a lot about dreams 

 Poppy blooms are dreamy
there's a patch of my garden where they have gone wild...
and grow like weeds

a very good friend has asked me
to paint some for her hallway...
a
long time friend
I hope that she likes what 
flows 
from the brush and the brain...


I am gathering ideas and inspirations
researching
and given the fact that I love orange
 in nature...
I am well on my way...
take heart
harness some courage
and proceed....


Rothschild variety of Azalea
sweetly scented
perfuming the garden in the sunshine of summer


Abkhazi Gardens
a
romantic 
and special place


David Austin summer blooming rose
rubbing shoulders with Lady's Mantle
a marriage
in a vase
I highly approve!


heirloom tomatoes
sweet
orange goodness
that one can eat


Cheddar Cheese
sharp
a long time love affair

Mac n' Cheese = Comfort Supreme


Hermes
 in the signature luxe orange


Hermes scarf 
with a touch of orange



Oranges
sweet 
juicy
vitamin C
parcels of goodness


Collection d'orangerie...
Hermes


Ranunculas 
painted in 2009
by the Humble Bungalow Hostess
 now hanging
in a retail shop
not far from the Bungalow
a gift to a friend

It's a wet weekend
the forecast is for a week of wind and rain
don't be surprised 
if by the end of the week
that

Sweet dreams to all....
Hugs 
from the Hostess
XO

Thursday, February 10, 2011

Prints charming...an infusion of colour

Colours...
I am inviting colour to play a bigger role in my life...

It has been a major player in my diet
Bright Foods make up the bulk of what I choose to eat...



The J. Peterman catalogue arrived in the post
the cover shouted colour
and had me lusting after something bright.

Brights
are a smidgen left
of my comfort zone

After a heart to heart with my inner voice
(the conservative one)
I
decided 
why not?

What transpired was an expedition
and excursion
an exercise 
in
exploration
and 
dialogue 

with the assistance of the gorgeous gals at the makeup counter
and 
the savvy and svelte sales clerks at the shops


To get started
2 new eye shadows
a soft mauve-y pink
and a darker accent colour in a taupe- y brown

Dust the lid with the lighter shade using a sable brush
and in the outer 1/3 of the lid and a little above the natural crease
dust with the accent colour 
blend well to soften
it creates depth
and makes the eyes 
stand out


Pepper 



feline photographic assistant
very photogenic 
when she sits still long enough for me to capture her image.



Prints charming
wooed me
but I had to get beyond the colours and put this garment on
I have trouble finding dresses that suit my figure
separates are much friendlier.

OK
 the shape flatters

wrap tops are kind
and very forgiving
and I seek them out 

the fabric has body
 and substance
 woven
 more like a knit
and
skims the middle bits
with a dark navy lining
hooray
 no need for a slip

it has a full flirty girl skirt 
feminine and fun

I twirled in the fitting room

 I bought the dress



Amber
terra cotta
black
cream
and splodges of a tealy blue


Shiny black patent belt
came with the dress
I am thinking that I will go a thrifting for a brighter belt
maybe in the amber shade

I can see this with denim jacket and strappy sandals
or
a pashmina and kitten heels
I visualize this dress going for lunch
for dinner
to the theatre
and 
shopping
it's packable too
so 
I'll be taking it away with me!



Pepper on a break


New toothpaste from the Health Food Store


is a Canadian company
with an interesting selection of flavours
this one sounded worth trying
and I LOVE the colour!

 after all this colour chatter
a confession...
the conservative voice spoke loudly...
I ordered 2 WHITE Tees from the J. Peterman catalogue!

Wednesday, February 9, 2011

Colour and textures...let's talk tulips

Coach scarf
look at the watery silky swirls of pattern and the riotous use of colours


this scarf is very versatile
and can be worn folded and draped in a variety of ways


to show off different aspects of the pattern.
and expose and focus on different colours.

I wear this scarf when I need a spring tonic...


I seek a shot of colour every now and again
and I adore items with texture
texture and weave
fringe
satin 
silk
linen
cashmere
 flannel
quilting



Textures inside the Bungalow 
muted tones


a silver picture frame


 a woven lamp base


 organic browns in a pottery jug


no more humdrum shades
let's bring on the brights

Spring flowers...
such a delight
affordable
 bunches and punches of colour



tulips
in a simple vase


heavy frosted glass vase
(garage sale find)











The language of flowers...
floriography

  Red tulips symbolize love, 
purple... royalty 
yellow tulips... cheer 

White tulips....forgiveness.



varigated tulips...beautiful eyes

Tulips
enchanting beauty
 and 
simplicity of form

 flowers today 
flowers tomorrow

Visit a local flower market
browse
and
see if there are any blooms that beg to be bought
and brought 
home


If you are fortunate enough to have a flowering quince like Janet 
you can ignore all this tulip talk

go outside with your secateurs and snip snip snip...

almost any flowering tree branches can be cut and brought indoors to "force" blooms
happy foraging...

Hugs
from the Hostess


Tuesday, February 8, 2011

Kitchen prescription for a quickie company dinner...Cheat!

I hang up the telephone...company's coming and what will I serve?


Good friends, the kind who accept you as you are...
no worries if the house is a bit under dusted no matter....
they have come to see you!
They are the best kind of friends.
long time friends,
friends who have seen you in illness, in health...
friends that come to converse and share...

We are relaxed and at ease...

When time is of the essence...
I serve an easy peasy uncomplicated dinner...
one that is quick to assemble and allows me time to visit.

How to do this?
CHEAT!

I employ some speedy and convenient helpers
a jar of good quality sauce, Italian sausages,  a package of prewashed spinach, a package of grated mozzarella cheese, and sheets of fresh lasagne, garlic bread, and a bakery made pie.





Serve a plate of fresh veggies with dip and a glass of wine and casually sip while the dinner is in the oven cooking.

Tossed mixed greens salad with cherry tomatoes
Simple vinagrette made in jam jar...see post.
Spicy Italian Sausage Lasagne
Garlic bread
Lemon Meringue Pie


Spicy Italian sausages are sauteed with onions, mushrooms until cooked.


Add a quality jar of tomato based sauce and add spices.
(I use basil, worchestershire sauce, salt,  pepper, and oregano)
Simmer until mixture is hot.
Coat the bottom of the lasagne pan with sauce layer pasta sheet


top with spinach leaves add a bit of sauce...
another sheet of pasta... more sauce
pasta and last bit of sauce to completely cover sheet of lasagne
top with grated cheese...
cover with foil and put in fridge.

Remove and let sit 30 minutes then heat oven to 350 degrees and bake 45 minutes...
the garlic bread takes about 15 minutes so just before the lasagne is finished cooking pop the bread into the oven the remove the lasagne and uncover let it sit for 10 minutes and serve...how easy is that?

Meanwhile you've sipped a glass of wine, munched on some raw veggies and chatted and laughed and caught up on all their news and shared yours...showed photos of grandbaby Isla and with their help have set the table and now there's time to sip more wine and enjoy a simple repast.

After the dishes were cleared the cards came out
and the bridge score was, well...
let's just say that the men won!

Cheating a little bit in the kitchen when last minute plans are made, make for a calm Hostess!

What quickie meals do you make for company?
Do you ever use pre washed salad greens, spinach or grated cheeses for convenience?