Embracing small Joys...

 

Cheap and Cheerful Primulas are planted in the front porch planter.

I usually buy an assortment of colours...

this time I decided to go for the full impact with sunny yellow blooms.

Very pleased with these healthy stalwart plants...

they'll be planted in the garden beds early in the summer.

My spices are stored in these Bon Maman Jam Jars.

I also use them to make a "simple vinaigrette."

Oil ~ 1/3 cup

vinegar ~ 1 Tbsp

salt and pepper (to taste)

a couple of tablespoons of honey

Shake well and pour over salad.

We went to a "hidden gem" here in Victoria.

The Market Garden is located on Catherine Street and it is a wonderful shop!

We bought this tin of Italian tomatoes to use in our spaghetti.

I saved the tin because it is so pretty.

Candles have been lit most evenings here to add scent, warm light and ambiance.

Ethel Wood fragrant candle made on Pender Island.

The scent is fabulous!

I 've been consciously using up "stuff" in an effort not to be wasteful.

We tend to stockpile staples that we use regularly here in The Humble Bungalow.

Buying when things are on special...

to save money.

Soap, toothpaste, tinned goods.

Storage is limited so we need to be creative...

Here's a snapshot of our quarter sawn oak arts and crafts shelving

in The Humble Bungalow bathroom.

Walking attire...

OOTD

Cashmere Burberry scarf...at least 10 years old

Wool hat

Black Eileen Fisher wool tunic top

(recent investment piece)

Eddie Bauer Down Puffer coat

Needs Must!

Warmth comes first on my winter walks.

Hope you are staying safe.

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

Baby it's Cold Outside!

Slow mornings...

candlelight and silver

fairy lights

twinkling 

reflecting on the modernist crystal

sipping coffee in the quiet of the bungalow.

embracing gratitude.

Wondering what will the day bring?

New Year has entered softly...

gently

a white snow fell from the sky 

blanketing us with cold Arctic winter weather.

We were able to go for a short walk along the seafront.

Only a few stalwart and dedicated people were out...

Mostly dog owners!

There were lots of children outside building snowmen.

We heard the shouts of glee from the children as they tobogganed 

down the hill at Beacon Hill Park.

I've been cocooning here in The Humble Bungalow.

Staying warm and cozy

(cashmere is currently my best friend)

Drinking lots of hot tea and making soups.

Watching the new series "And Just Like That" on Crave.

The Sex and The City cast has made a return, albeit with an "older" theme.

I am not sure if it's going to hold my attention...

but I do like to be entertained :-))

Reading this gem...

a crime thriller which is a page turner.

Am halfway through and wonder how this is going to end.

I've picked up the needles again and am making progress on The Doocot Sweater.

One sleeve finished and the other one started...

I've made a few mistakes but will attempt a repair...

Who knew?

But

apparently quilters and knitters embrace

"wabi sabi"

a wee mistake is intentionally included in the finished product.

Did you know that?

Once this cold snap has left us I am going to restart my walking regime.

I am feeling fuller through my mid section from all this time spent indoors.

How are you starting the New Year?

Have you exciting new dreams and goals for the next 12 months?

Would love to hear your thoughts.

In the meantime 

we still need to mask up despite having two vaccinations and the booster.

It will be so lovely to put this pandemic well and truly behind us...

Thank you for popping by The Humble Bungalow Blog.

Stay Safe.

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

December Snowfall...and some snippets from the past few weeks.

We have snow!

It's pretty to look at but it is very cold.

I've been wearing my cozy cashmere sweaters and thick wool socks.

Bundling up in my puffy down coat 

(think Michelin man style)

hat

scarf

gloves

Fancy popping by to sit on the front porch with a hot cuppa?

The hummingbird feeders are freezing so we are rotating the two feeders 

in the cold snap of winter

the wee local Anna's hummingbirds rely on us to keep them fed.

Snowy scenes here in The Humble Bungalow Garden.

Abraham Darby a David Austin Rose

blooming 

while wearing a snow hat!

A fabulous book...

by author Alka Joshi.

The good news is she has published a sequel

 and is working on a third!

Lady Gaga was amazing in the film!

We saw it in the theatre...a matinee 

safely viewed with only two other people in attendance!

Lady Gaga is wearing the same pearls that I bought from a local shop.

Mary from Skanda sourced them from Hong Kong!

We discovered a new cocktail...

"Jingle Buck"

1 ounce Vodka

3/4 ounce pure cranberry juice

3/4 ounce lime juice

2 ounces ginger ale

ice

garnish with fresh cranberries

CHEERS!

I've felt at a loss for words on the blog lately...

perhaps it is writer's block?

Covid has worn so many of us down.

I want to rise up in positivity and rejoice 

but the new Omicron variant has us all in a tizzy.

Our numbers are surging and the hospitals are slammed.

We get our booster shots next week and for that I am very grateful.

I have been working on

The Doocot Sweater

I knit the body of the sweater and now I am working on the sleeves.

You'd think I would have this finished by now...

I started it before the pandemic hit!

When I attended the knitting club meeting I discovered that I am not alone in procrastinating with my knitting project.

Some of the women have taken up painting and several others bought bikes and have been meeting up to explore the scenic roads and trails.

I have made a conscious decision to focus on and embrace Simple Joys.

I feel happiest in my kitchen 

whether I am cutting veggies for a soup or baking cookies

or planning a menu to serve to my family

the contentment is hugely rewarding and comforting.

Two items that I purchased during Covid that have been most useful 

are linen aprons.

We have not purchased many things in the past two years...

we don't "need" much other than food.

Clothes shopping has been put on the back burner for the time being...

except for that "wee foray" at Eileen Fisher on South Granville in Vancouver!

I found a cute grey top and a sumptuous boiled wool sweater in a tunic length.

I bought the black one (of course!)

The sweater was, what I consider, an "investment piece."

It has been worn multiple times since I bought it!

I wore it Christmas Day with skinny Eileen Fisher pants.

I added a sparkly Sherman rhinestone pin.

Vintage rhinestone Brooches are such a fun way to add sparkle.

Hope that 2022 has some bright spots and highlights...

Thank you for stopping by The Humble Bungalow Blog.

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

OOTD a fabulous dinner and something new...

 

OOTD

I had my hair flat ironed for a festive holiday dinner.

I don't own a flat iron and I am not great at straightening my hair with the blow dryer.

It's fun to play around with hair styles...

wavy, curly, messy up do's and simple pony tails.

Red ballet flats for a pop of colour.

A black dress with capri tights.

Sparkly Sherman rhinestone brooch for a wee bit of festive fun.

With a minimal wardrobe that is mostly black

it's easy to get dressed 

I always add a few accessories to lighten the overall look.

My friend Julie hosted a lovely gathering last evening.

Her home radiates warmth and was bright with very festive accents.

Here is the French Themed menu...

so delicious!

Cozy, charming and elegant.

Julie is multi talented...

she is so incredibly creative!

Julie sews, decorates, gardens, cooks,...

I don't think there is anything that Julie cannot do!

Thank you for the lovely evening.

I might be rushing the season a bit...

when I saw that Charlotte of Vivi et Margot had a sale...

I pounced!

New French Market basket from Vivi et Margot.

Love the long leather straps that make this a hands free option!

Will be a workhorse throughout the year...

toting around an assortment of things and market ready.

I made a double batch of whipped shortbread cookies.

The recipe is "an oldie but a goodie."

It is in The Best of the Best of Bridge Cookbook.

They are quick and easy to make and they melt in your mouth!

I found this wee festive tray at the Pharmasave in Oak Bay.

Thought it would be versatile and I can use it for veggies and dip, nuts and dried fruit or cookies.

Seasons Greetings

from

The Humble Bungalow.

Best wishes for a safe and Happy Holiday.

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~ 

Weekend~ A getaway...and now a state of emergency.

 

Last weekend we hopped across the pond...

 it is a rather BIG POND 

so not being frogs we actually took the ferry!

The first time we have travelled off island other than the short trip to our cottage in over 2 years.

We wanted to see the Yoko exhibit at The Vancouver Art Gallery.

It was a very nostalgic foray into the past...

The Bed In for Peace took place in 1969 in Canada.

Yoko's art includes some interactive areas 

where people are encouraged 

to mend china, hammer a nail, leave a comment and build with stones.

We shopped South Granville Street and found quite a few Christmas gifts.

I ventured into Eileen Fisher (Gosh I have missed this store!) 

I found a few pieces...

will share them in a future post!

We were hungry by the time we were finished shopping

so we headed to The Cactus Club for a cold drink and some sushi.

Dinner was at our favourite Indian Fusion restaurant Vij's.

Vikram walked over to chat with us and we were happy to renew his acquaintance.

We have been going to his restaurant for decades.

He mentioned my pearls and said how elegant they were!!

My OOTD

Wool beret by Canadian Hat Company.

The food was amazing.

For starters we had the beef and lamb meatballs with tamarind chutney.

Our main course:

Coconut curried chicken with rice, naan bread and lamb popsicles.

We were too full to have any dessert but what a wonderful evening it was.

We were hoping to meet up with long time friends but they were stuck at their cottage on the lake just outside Merritt 

where devastating floods and mudslides damaged the local highways.

Abbotsford and areas nearby have completely flooded!

A state of emergency has been declared.

Livestock have been lost and many had to be evacuated to higher ground...

homes have been lost and people have perished.

Travel and the transport of goods and gas have been impacted.

The major highway, The Coquihalla, will not be repaired for months.

A few smaller routes have reopened and one of our friends was able to drive through the US in Washington State to get back home and the other flew out to Vancouver.

Food is being rationed at the local grocery stores and gas is limited to 30 litres per visit.

More intense rain has been predicted and they are calling these events 

"atmospheric rivers."

Finger crossed our basement stays dry...

but the back yard is saturated 

so we are on high alert.

I found a new book and read it in 2 days...

we had lots of time to read 

as we were in the ferry line up, 

then we stayed in our car on the open air deck

for the journey home.

I can recommend this book.

 It is set in Paris during war time and is based on a true story.

We are decorating the house this afternoon as the rains here are torrential 

so we cannot work in the garden and we got pretty wet on our walk.

Stay safe...

Thank you for popping by The Humble Bungalow Blog.

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~