Beach walking...weekend highlights.

Last weekend we motored over to South Pender Island.
The weather was positively gorgeous and we were snug and cozy nestled in our bunks for several nights of sweet slumber, gently lulled by the action of the tide.

The sunsets were amazing...

I finished The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry which I really enjoyed and have started reading Meg Wolitzer's new novel, The Interestings.

I'm impressed by her writing style and must remember to read some of her previous novels.

We savoured some succulent oysters in a mignonette sauce on the outdoor patio.

The Pender Island vineyard Sea Star Ortega was the perfect pairing...

so good in fact, that we purchased a few bottles to take home.

Keeping cool was a challenge...

the daily dips in the pool were essential.

Canada Geese and their goslings swam to and fro...from boat to boat hoping for a handout.

This cannon sits near the Canadian Customs dock...

I wonder if it a warning.

One of the most relaxing things to do when one gets off the boat is to saunter leisurely on a beach...
beach combing with hopes of finding some smooth sea glass or a shell.
Looking at Mother Nature's handiwork never gets boring...

The beach is made up mostly of clam shells...generally referred to as a midden.

The First Nations people would have eaten the clams as they were plentiful and easy to harvest.

The ocean would have provided a rich diet of seafood and the many small protected harbours would have been easy to reach by canoe for the hunter gatherers.

Archaeological digs are quite common on the Gulf Islands.

Arrowheads can still be found if one knows where to look.

The local Arbutus trees have a red bark that peels away like paper revealing a limey green wood underneath.

Seaweed and barnacles

The ocean is cold so I rarely swim in the sea.

There were people swimming and I am sure it would have been refreshing given the heat.

One big Barnacle!

Put to use as a place to store change...

toonies for the marina showers.

Hope you've enjoyed this wee peek into our latest boating adventure.

It's back to work for Mr. HB and I'll be catching up on the domestics and gardening 

here at The Humble Bungalow.

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