Saturday, July 26, 2014

Summer salad and friendships...

My friend Ruth emailed me a handful of her favourite new recipes...
we chat a lot!
The conversation revolves around recipes, cooking, novels that we are reading, have read and want to read, hosting family dinners, lunch places in town and tea rooms when we walk along the seafront.
If you see us we are so absorbed in our conversation that we might not even see you.
We walked right by her husband as he passed us on the other side of Moss Street one afternoon.


Here is a salad that is fresh from the garden and as colourful and appetizing as one could wish for..
Perfectly portable for a picnic or a buffet, particularly nice if you have a bumper crop of zucchini.
Tasty, low calorie, a great compliment to a summertime BBQ dinner.


Ruth's Zucchini Ribbon Salad with Sweet Corn and Avocado

2 tablespoons olive oil
2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lime juice
salt and pepper to taste

2 each medium green and yellow zucchini
2 ears fresh cooked sweet corn
1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
1/2 red onion diced
2 medium ripe avocados, peeled pitted and sliced
1/2 cup queso fresco (Mexican) cheese or substitute feta cheese

In a large bowl whisk the olive oil and the lime juice together, season with salt and pepper, set aside.

Trim ends off the zucchini and using a vegetable peeler shave lengthwise into long strips. 
When you get to the seeds turn and shave other sides until you get to the center again.

Put the zucchini ribbons in a large bowl.
Cut the corn off the cooked and cooled cobs, add cilantro, red onion, and avocado to the ribbons.
Pour dressing over top and toss.

Crumble the cheese on top.
Serve chilled.

~ ~ ~

I've been thinking about friendships...
how important they are and how fragile and fleeting some can be.


Women friends are an important and vital part of my well being.
Nurturing, encouraging, supportive...
spending time together sharing life's ups and downs.


Spending time together
lunching
walking
sipping a cup of tea 
chatting on the phone
all help to fan the friendship fire
and keep it aglow.


I have had a few friendships fizzle out over the years...
 we moved in different directions or to different parts of the country and lost touch.
 I wonder, looking back, if we grew apart as our lifestyles were so opposite or if we both just stopped "trying."


 I love hosting a ladies afternoon tea...must get organized and plan another soon.


Keeping in contact is often a challenge.
 We lead busy lives and we must make our friends a priority if we want to continue to nurture the relationships.

I feel so blessed that my BFF and I have a rich long time friendship
we chat on the phone and text when we cannot visit
and can pick up where we left off if we are busy elsewhere.


 In the next few days a few friends will get together
spend some fun girl time on a lovely island 
in the waterfront home of a friend
and 
another girlfriend 
who moved off island years ago who lives on the mainland.

I'm really looking forward to our visit.


I have packed some bubbly
facial and hand masks.

 We will laze around in our pj's sipping our morning coffee
we'll walk along the quiet roads
 eat simple meals
watch a chick flick
 chat about our families
read
play cribbage
and
re-charge the bonds of friendship
working to keep the lines of communication going
despite the fact that oceans separate us
we are reconnecting to keep that spark of friendship aglow.



"A friend may well be reckoned the masterpiece of nature."
~ Ralph Waldo Emerson ~


Have a wonderful weekend.

Hostess


Friday, July 25, 2014

Black Day in July

Do you remember Gordon Lightfoot's song Black Day in July?
You can listen to it here...

It's a black day in July in The Humble Bungalow when it comes to clothing.


New Yoga capri length pants from Costco.


New Lands' End trail shoes for marathon walks.


Slip of a dress for summer time heat...
a Gilmour of Vancouver Bamboo creation.
It's a soft way to breeze through a busy day of errands, lunching with the ladies and it's taking me to a funeral.
I'll wear a light sweater over top and wear my Born sandals.


Polartec jacket by Lands' End...
warmth without weight.
Great for a chilly evening on the boat or a walk in inclement weather.

I've been doing a bit of shopping lately at the thrift shops...
I found a new to me "almost new" pair of Gap jeans.
Great straight leg style in a short ankle length.
Love the $5.00 price tag too.


Life is not all black here...
there is some sparkle and highlights.

Darling daughter and I had a wonderful day this week getting together for lunch and some thrift shop adventures.
We enjoyed a delicious Thai chicken noodle salad at Bubby Roses in the Cook Street Village which is always a busy place to go...such good value, with healthy choices and two size servings available.
We opted for the small salad and it was ample.


Hand hammered vintage silver is very near and dear to my heart.
I think it must be my crow like tendencies as I am drawn to shiny things...
diamonds and crystals and icy sparkles.




"Life and death appeared to me ideal bounds, which I should first break through, and pour a torrent of light into our dark world."

~ Mary Shelley ~


Wednesday, July 23, 2014

Weekend snippets and snapshots...

Our 40th anniversay weekend was wonderful.
As we met boating it seems fitting that we celebrate on the boat.
We were moored snugly at the Otter Bay Marina on Pender Island.


I brought along some boat flowers as we did not take the cats with us.
Our house and cat sitter, a good friend, moves right in and makes herself at home when we are away.
 She is a cat lover and takes excellent care of Pepper and Chester.


These cantilevered decks are shaded and offer a quiet spot to sit and read or sip a beverage.


Summer is time for swimming in pools.
 Otter Bay Marina pool just waiting for a swimmer...


A little shell with barnacles was left on the table.


Yucca flowers towered overhead...
I am just a tad taller than 5 feet so they were probably 6 feet high.
Apparently our warmer weather has contributed to their massive flowers this season.


Fancy drinks at lunch.
I love these sea green sealer jars as glasses.


Fish tacos for the Hostess.
Yum


Clam Chowder and a Burger for Mr. HB.


 Hope Bay is a short drive from the Marina and has a great gift shop, real estate agent, gallery, goldsmith as well as the fabulous and delicious Hope Bay Cafe.

I've been busy playing catch up on the laundry this week and have had very little time to blog.
There's been a luncheon with the gals and the meet and greet with a new baby and an outing with my Mother and sister and a few dinners to make and we have a funeral to attend.
 I have a long list of things to do so I musn't tarry long here...

I'll be back when time allows...
until then 
Be well and Be Kind

Thursday, July 17, 2014

OOTD ~ circa 2014 and circa 1974.

After much deliberation and a wee bit of anxiety I caved in and bought a pair of shorts...
I don't know why I feel so silly about wearing shorts, they are really not much more than a divided slim skirt.

Jumping on and off the boat docking in a skirt or dress just didn't make sense from a safety standpoint as there was too much fabric to get hung up on the rigging and made for a safety hazard....
Big Splash!  Hostess has gone overboard!


OOTD
 Santana black denim shorts
Tribal black and blue top
Born sandals  

This is as good as it gets 
 with my distinct aversion to shorts...


This Tribal ribbon top is actually one of my favorite tops.


I've got several other white tops which I can wear with the shorts.

We pack lightly on the boat in the summer time and use our large Lands' End totes.
I throw in a few pairs of pj's, bathing suits, pants, tee shirts and a few cool cotton dresses.
Polartec jacket, a sarong and a rain proof jacket round out the gear.

Speaking of shopping I did a quick turnaround in Sears and picked up a black one piece bathing suit so that I would have a second one on board.
I found that my bathing suit did not dry overnight and so I was squeezing into a damp suit for the morning swim...
not as easy as I thought it would be and much huffing anf puffing and wriggling was required!
I enjoy swimming in the outdoor pools in the heat and find two swims a day quite refreshing.


I love Audrey's writing and her novels are unusual and unique...
this one did not disappoint but I was not prepared for what would transpire...
I suppose the surprise is refreshing even if it is a bit strange.


My BFF loaned me this book when we were at Poets Cove on Pender Island this past weekend.
We enjoyed several lazy days of swimming in the pool and soaking in the hot tub...
a walk and dinner out squeezed in between sun bathing and reading rounded out the trip.

The funny thing was that when she showed it to me I said "Oh I am reading one of her novels right now!"

Niffeneger and Diffenbaugh...two distinctly different names and yet I thought I saw the same letters in the same order and yes I was wearing my sunglasses but I have no excuse as they are prescription Maui Jim's!


Sweet Peas
 a fragrant flowery fantasy in a vase...

Buying shorts might not seem like a big deal to you but for me it was a huge leap...
I have my fingers crossed that the Fashion Police are out of the country on holiday.
Shorts are what most boaters are wearing these days...
perhaps I have just come to the party late which is no surprise as that is my usual modus operandi!


OOTD
July 20th, 1974
Our wedding day under the rose arbour at Government House.

I cannot believe that we are at year 40 as husband and wife but it's true and yet it feels like yesterday 
when we stood in the church in front of over 100 of our friends and family saying I Do.
So young, so naive, and so completely in love.
With many dreams in our hearts for a future together.

My husband is a wonderful partner, a great friend and I am so grateful that we met.
I might call it fate how we met and my husband might refer to it as a mere coincidence.
We met when we were out boating.
 I was a guest on my BFF's family boat in the late 1960's...
so we've actually been a couple longer than 40 years.

We will be celebrating this weekend.

"Marriage is the golden ring in a chain whose
beginning is a glance and whose ending is Eternity."

~ Kahlil Gibran ~



Tuesday, July 15, 2014

Indulging in fabulous food...and more.

Despite all my walking I have gained 3 pounds and I think I know why...
maintenance on WW means a monthly weigh in so there is a wide window for (ch)-eating!
Yes I confess that I have been naughty!


I have been indulging a wee bit too much!
This short rib was nestled atop a soft garlicky whipped potato bed...
I LOVE potatoes.


My BFF ordered the halibut, it looked delicious.


My BFF's husband had the steak and lobster.

I have been eating lower point count meals since stepping on the scale a few days ago.
I am not in the habit of weighing myself everyday, once a week is plenty.


Spinach salad makes a hearty meal.
The colours all look so pretty before they get tossed in dressing.


Speaking of colour these delphinium blooms are over the top in hues of blues.


I had to stop and take a picture of this gorgeous Hosta and now I want one for our Humble Bungalow Garden.


I am wooed by the chartreuse shade of green...and can see this planted near the foamy flowers of Lady's Mantle.


Lemony yellow roses were right beside the sidewalk just waiting to be sniffed...
which of course I did and was rather disappointed as they were scentless.
How can such a beautiful rose be fragrance free?


Yellow fish swimming about in an aquarium at the mall.


I was on the hunt for some new children's books and found a few of my favourites.





This is a new title to me and it comes with three stretchy frogs to play with...sounds like fun.
Hope the little Miss will enjoy it.


Found this cookbook at the thrift shop and my goodness Rachel Ray is an inspiration...
she put a lot of work into this book and I have a great new source for weeknight meals.

I don't know about you but I do get rather bored with my cooking repertoire...
nothing like a new cookbook to get me out of my rut!


Rune Tennessmed necklace...
I have a few mid century moderne pieces in my collection that I am hoping to sell.
Guy Vidal, Tennesmed and now I just need to figure out how to sell them...
Ebay?
Etsy?

I welcome thoughts from you much more savvy and technically gifted readers.


Meanwhile...the cats are at play and I am trying to stay cool.

What have you been doing these days?