Tuesday, April 5, 2011

Chill chasing soup...

BRRR..... it feels cold here in the Bungalow
it's been raining all day
grey skies
puddles
gutters gurgling
raindrops on the window panes.

I am longing for sunshine and heat!



A lot of domestics were accomplished inside the Bungalow...
no sitting around pouting or thinking of saddness...
picking up a duster and sweeping away the cobwebs
the Garden will have to wait for better weather...
it'll wait!

Mother and I went out shopping and errands and I came home chilled to the bone...
the damp is rising...



After a pot of tea I was still chilly so I put on my green cashmere Club Monaco scarf
and cranked up the heat. Whatever did people do before central heating?


What is needed is a bowl of some chill chasing soup.


The trusty Soup book
which I use as a guideline

Lucky for me that I had this huge cauliflower on hand.


Spices
Herbs de Provence 

Salt and Pepper


loosely measure
taste later and add more if needed


cook the cauliflower in the broth until soft
20 minutes


Braun Master
purees the soup while in the pot
no need for the food processor when this guy is on the job!


When I tasted the soup it was bland-ish
so I added some curry powder
about 1 and 1/2 Tablespoons was enough.
(heat on the inside)

Simmer for another 30 minutes
I served this with some grilled cheese sandwiches
(comfort food)

A hot bath in Epsom Salts
 a warm bed cozy under the duvet
 a good book 
are also excellent chill chasers.

Outfit of the day
OOTD


Ballet Flats Me Too
Ponte knit black leggings Cleo
Cashmere Tunic top in dark grey BCBG
(warm and cozy)


Vintage pin
Baroque pearl
black onyx
and 
rhinestones
(a gift from lovely daughter)


Hair half up
full face forward to greet the day


close up 
a little sparkle to chase the chill

All strategies to illuminate the day 
and to be warm and cozy when nature is sending us winds and rain.

Sending you warm thoughts and wishes
Hugs
from the Hostess

Monday, April 4, 2011

Lunch and other things...

Clothes Shopping is a regular and common practice for myself...it's almost a hobby.
Mr. HB takes shopping seriously, it's something more of a chore or a job that must be tackled.
He does a major shop twice a year and buys in bulk...trousers, shirts, ties and jackets.
All are put together in a mix and match fashion which can be worn for the next 6 months (at least).

He has a lot of meetings so he must look pulled together;  he is a partner in the firm and does have to look professional, which of course he does with his creative and arty eye and my love of shopping.

We went shopping this weekend and he did not find much to his liking.
He did buy 2 shirts and some casual wear...so another trip for business attire will be coming soon.

After traipsing about many shops he suggested lunch and I jumped at the chance!
One of his favourite foods is pasta and we were fortunate enough to find a table available at our favourite pasta place on the way home.


Mr. HB's Pasta Bolognese
he had a glass of locally brewed beer with this


Hostess's Penne with Peas and Gorgonzola

I indulged in a glass of Bacchus 
from a Cowichan Valley Vineyard

It was a delicious lunch 
when we came home we were both very sleepy!



This casual shirt exudes warm weather and says vacation to me.


Simple blue linen short sleeved shirt
I can see both of these worn aboard the Chris Craft 
or  lunching in a quaint seaside cafe.



Look at this postcard 
it is from the lovely blogger 


While Mr. HB napped with his current novel in hand
I read through recent magazines.


Pepper lay beside me in a patch of sunshine.

A day off to relax is so important
a day to spend
with someone you love
be it a friend
or 
family

 a day to focus
nurture 
and 
indulge
or
perhaps
spend it
helping others
ever mindfull
that we all must pay our dues.

Saturday, April 2, 2011

Hermes and a vintage find...



Hostess Pearls
+
a mystery item
in Mother of Pearl

I found this Mother of Pearl piece in a vintage shop
I think it was a belt buckle in it's heyday.

When I spied it I had a light bulb moment...
I knew what it could be used for!


 NOT this
even though 
 it 
works!


H H H Hermes 
meet the scarf enhancer!


no tie required


easy peasy


a H H H H Happy pairing



 It works well if you want to you can use it with a small square 
like this silk olive green dotty scarf
(generic silk scarf = thrift shop find)

thread the ends though
pull to the back and secure with a knot.


A found item
which just popped out said "Hi Buy Me"
and 
something new and useful
has been born.

Enjoy your weekend pursuits whatever they may be....

Challenge yourself to look 
at things 
with new eyes
things are not always what they first appear to be...

Thursday, March 31, 2011

Adapting a recipe...and Dabbling in paint

Catering to a crowd of calorie conscious women is tricky.
It necessitates offering smaller sizes so as to allow for sampling of a variety of foods and ultimately reduces waste.

How to do this?
Adapt recipes and their cooking times.

For an afternoon tea introducing a new baby...
I think it's easiest to keep things relaxed and simple...
Two teachers have newborns and the staff are putting together a group shower in the Library.

We are serving small scones with jam and clotted cream, a fruit platter, small sandwiches, a veggie tray and decorated mini cupcakes.
A variety of teas, black, green, herbal and milk, lemon wedges, sugar and honey.
It's always a good idea to have a large pitcher of water with sliced lemons on the table as well.

Place everything on a table laid with a pretty tablecloth...don't forget the flowers...they needn't be expensive just a cheery bunch in a simple vase.
You'll also need plates, cups and saucers and some pretty napkins...

Scones in miniature...

Best of Best of Bridge Cookbook
Cranberry Scone Recipe
I substituted blueberries for the cranberries...


Generously floured counter


I used a small jar as the "cutter" because all my others were too large
necessity is the mother of invention!


I had to use 2 pizza pans as well
so many scones so few cookie sheets!


Golden and ready to serve
I watched the oven very carefully so as not to burn these
instead of the 15-20 minutes that the recipe stated
I only needed 10 minutes.

I have packed them up in a large Tupperware container and they are good to go.

After all this baking I made a pot of Chai Tea
which is new to me and I love it.
I like it with milk and one sugar cube
I do not use sugar in other teas
just this one.
YUM!


I decided to play around with paint...
dabble if you will.


I have felt the urge ever since my girlfriend D. bought the Poppie painting...
just a little nudge was all it took
and so it goes...



Pepper was so funny when I was painting
She was leaping around, scratching and exploring all the corners
of
"my studio"
which is also 
"Pepper's Room"
she was a great companion!

I enjoyed her antics
she is such a great kitten
Pets really make a difference
do you agree?

I am also curious...
what hobbies do you engage in?

Wednesday, March 30, 2011

White Wednesday...

Something rather experi- mental...prepare yourself...it gets silly!

I have seen quite a few blogs with themes of white
which happen to fall on Wednesdays...
maybe you have seen them too?
They are of few words...mostly images of whites.


white spring hyacinths


Hamilton, the King of Irons


white roses in a matte white Weller vase


J. Peterman white Tee
about to be flattened and smoothed by Hamilton the King of all Irons


beachwalk blooms


Moonsnail and oyster shells


Fish bone washed up by the tide


Romneya coulteri


Smilacena racemosa


white tulips


Meissen platter



Humble Bungalow bathroom floor
and 
Clawfoot leg sporting Last Season's Nickel

So what do you think
about my stab at White Wednesday
a not so serious post?
and 
 always room for improvement...
(isn't that why WhiteOut was invented?)

Hope you have a great day :)