Creative pursuits...OOTD

Whitewater Cooks Runaway Train Wraps...

This recipe serves 6 and is a great way to use up leftover cooked chicken.

3 boneless chicken breasts cooked and sliced
6 tortillas
2 caramelized onions (recipe follows)
BBQ sauce
1 cup roasted Corn Salsa (recipe follows)
1 cup shredded lettuce or chopped fresh cilantro

Spread tortillas with BBQ sauce top with chicken, onion, salsa and cilantro (or lettuce).
Wrap up and cut in half.

To caramelize onions...place cut onions in a heavy skillet and saute in oil until translucent.
Add 1 tbsp of brown sugar and 1 tbsp of balsamic vinegar per onion and cook on low heat for another 15-20 minutes until syrupy looking. Season with salt and pepper.

Corn Salsa

2 cups frozen corn
1 cup roasted red pepper diced
1/2 cup red onion diced
1/3 cup chopped cilantro
juice and zest of 2 limes
2 tbsp olive oil
1 tsp cumin
1 tsp chili powder
1 tbsp brown sugar

In a baking dish toss corn in olive oil and brown sugar. Roast at 350 degrees until caramelized, about 20 minutes.
Remove from oven and add remaining ingredients. Mix well, place in a bowl, cover and put into the fridge.
Great with fish especially halibut.

I own three of the Whitewater Cooks books...the recipes are healthy and everyone that I have served them to have commented on how delicious, tasty and colourful the meals have been.

                                                                        ~ ~ ~

If you have been following my blog for some time you might remember that on occasion I dabble in acrylics...
roses are my muse and when inspired I find myself standing at the easel with a brush in hand waiting to see where it will take me.

Oddly I have not felt inspired to paint since retiring last year.

Last week I had an overpowering urge, almost an urgent voice beckoning me to paint something.
I had a full list of things on my "to do" list but the insistent voice would not be silenced.
I did as I was told.

July 2014

2013

2013

I have had this navy and white striped dress for over a year and have not yet worn it.

I now know why!

I thought when I bought it that it looked OK but it is actually a very unflattering dress.

It's very "mumsy" and it makes me look wider than a barge!

It will be donated next time I pass by the WIN thrift shop.

Do you ever make mistakes when it comes to clothing purchases?

I've been living in this Gilmour of Vancouver Bamboo dress and keeping cool in our recent heat wave.

Called a ballet dress, it is available in a variety of colours but I much prefer it in the black.

(no surprise)

I found a picture of the Eiffel Tower and Mr. HB hung it downstairs to inspire me...

I've a weekend of boat photos to share with you 

but there is a mountain of laundry that needs to be tended to before I can sit down and upload them all.

Until next time...

Be Well and Be Kind.

"Paris is always a good idea."

~ Audrey Hepburn ~

Lime Time

Home Sweet Home.

Our girls meet up was filled with laughter and good conversations.
We stayed up late and rose early, played bridge, cribbage, read and walked.
The mosquitoes were terrible!
I have about a dozen bites which are super itchy and have taken an antihistamine.

The washer and dryer are working hard and dinner is in the works but I had to sit down for a few minutes and catch up on my blog reading.
You can read the blogs I follow by scrolling down and checking out their links on the side bar,
they are a very diverse group and I am always searching for more interesting bloggers...
feel free to introduce me to your favourite bloggers.

I love limes...
freshly squeezed in a refreshing glass of sparking water on a hot summer day.

I am particularly fond of chartreuse green.

I recently made a shrimp 

stir fried with pea pods, red pepper slivers, fresh ginger, garlic, soy sauce, sesame oil grated rind,

and lime juice for dinner.

I loved the taste of all the flavours together...

A mesh bag full of limes is stored in the crisper section of the fridge.

Mouthwatering, delicious, and who says lemonade is the best summer drink?

I am thinking limeade is the flavour of summer.

A whisper soft French scarf with a smattering of lime.

Picture from the archives

(I am 30 pounds heavier in this image)

A gift from our friends who live part time in Auvillar France.

Lime light Hydrangeas

Our former boat, in the photo, a Mahogany 1957 Classic Chris Craft Constellation...

Lime Le Creuset...

Our Sea Ray looking toward Poets Cove Resort.

Smaller and much more compact and what I now refer to as  "A Go Fast!"

I'm trying to be greener with my food choices.

Organic and local and many grown in our own back yard.

Still on the kale bandwagon...

Wilted steamed baby bok choy...

packed with nutrients.

Try drizzling some balsamic "crema" over top of these and I doubt you will be disappointed.

Euphorbia

These chairs are calling my name and I feel a cool beverage is in the offing.

Thank you for stopping by and visiting The Humble Bungalow.

I have had so much fun with my gal pals....

will be back soon.

Hope you are savouring all the goodness that life has to offer...

"If life gives you limes, make margaritas.”

~  Jimmy Buffett ~

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

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 ~

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