Seeking Solace in Nature...

Sitting...

listening to the sound of the birds and the waves as they lap against the shore.

Lighting a candle...

Gazing out the window...

breathing and feeling grateful.

Reading a good book

sipping tea.

Walking along a beach

searching for sea glass

watching the otters and the gulls.

Taking time out to be soothed by the beauty of Nature.

Inviting Natural Beauty Indoors...

Bright and cheerful flowers

Diving into a new book.

Going for a walk in the misty rain...

Looking for bright pops of colour.

Taking in the views 

admiring the details

embracing the various colours and textures.

Wet logs strewn all over the beach and this one looked like a seal.

Do you see it?

Are you seeking the calm and soothing hands of Mother Nature?

Are you taking local action?

I'm looking into more ways to help...

We've made donations of money and plan to make more.

Fresh salt air 

the moist wet mist

slippery logs and mossy rocks.

The gentle lapping of the sea...

the Raven's Song.

A gentle breeze blowing 

shells crunch at our feet.

These don't solve our problems but they do help release tension.

Wishing, Hoping and Praying for Peace.

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

Mellow Yellow...

 

Pops of Colour

Yellow

With all that is going on globally...

I am seeking cheer in my daily round.

As hard as the news is to hear we need to be informed.

I don't consider myself a "news junkie."

Limiting the amount of negative news is something I consciously do.

Being sensitive, I need to be mindful of the amount I can process.

While at the garden centre I purchased 10 pots of tete a tete daffodils.

These wee plants will brighten up the border out front of the Humble Bungalow.

At the cashier there was a donation notice...

I added an amount to be sent to Ukraine.

These small acts of kindness 

where we all participate 

can help to make a difference.

Chester seems to be feeling better...

he's gained a few more ounces and is more energetic.

He loves a warm spot of sunshine to lie in and enjoys a nap on a lap.

I've got a very tall stack of books to be read.

Daisy Jones and The Six is my next book.

I've not been reading as much as I usually do...

walking and domestic chores and de-cluttering are keeping me busy!

Seen on my walk...

My new Columbia coat (which I shared on a recent post) is really warm and so cozy.

The pile lining in the hood helps keep my neck warm.

The silver mesh "Omni Tech" lining reflects the heat and keeps me from being cold.

Walking quietly in Nature helps to keep me calm and grounded...

there are small surprises that pop up on my radar when I walk.

A former co-worker who walked regularly

focusing on thoughts that "bubbled up"

 called it "mindful meditation."

The "first" 5 pounds are lost...

now working on the next 5.

Little by little...one day at a time.

Hope that you are finding some peace and solace in everyday simple Joys.

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

Monday musings...

Last week we were at the cottage on Pender.

We enjoyed a sunny weekend then early in the week we awoke to ice and snow.

The snow didn't stick around very long and had melted by midday.

The chilly weather with the wind chill factor was too cold for us to walk.

(it registered as minus 15)

We made it home after a 4 hour wait at the ferry terminal.

The ferry broke down and was out of service!

The ferry was replaced with a smaller one that was also slower...

only 20 cars were able to board the 11:50 sailing...

fortunately we were one of those cars!

OOTD

Watching the kids swimming lessons at the Recreation Centre.

Pearls

Denim shirt

black pants

Chelsea Boots

I recently purchased a soft Tencel blue denim dress.

V Neck with button details down the front

short flirty capped sleeves

an asymmetrical scooped hem, 

shorter in front and longer in the back.

Will plan to wear it with some capri length tights and my pearls.

Made an easy and delicious French Onion Soup for lunch.

FRENCH ONION SOUP

Slice 4 large onions thinly.

Melt 3 tbsp. butter in a Dutch oven add onions

cook and stir for about 30 minutes until soft.

Add 8 cups of beef broth, boil, then simmer on low for 40 minutes.

Place 1/2 inch slices of French bread

topped with grated white cheese (I used white cheddar and parmesan reggiano)

in 425 degree oven for 5-8 minutes

until cheese melts.

Ladle the soup into bowls and top with the bread.

Let sit for a minute or two to allow the bread to absorb the broth.

Enjoy!

I went to Marshalls searching for  decorative salad dressing bottle with a spout...

I use a Bonne Maman jam jar for my vinaigrette but thought it might be nicer to have an interesting bottle that looks pretty.

No luck on the bottle 

BUT!

I found these charming tins with black polka dots for the laundry room!

Our decor downstairs is black and white and these just ticked all the boxes for storage.

Stain sticks, scrub brushes, wool dryer balls and specialty soaps are now discreetly hidden.

Am still on the decluttering band wagon!

Have tackled the linen closet, the kitchen drawers, dining room buffet and cupboards.

I have the hobby room cupboards

 and guest room closet with the out of season clothing to cull and sort.

There is rain forecast for most of the week so I will probably finish soon.

In the meantime 

while the laundry spins

I am using up leftovers and veggies and making soup.

How are things going with you?

Thank you for stopping by The Humble Bungalow Blog.

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

Snippets on a sunny afternoon...

The sunshine has spurred me on to write a wee post and check in here on the blog.

Today we are fortunate to have the sun shine down on us.

Mount Baker

viewed from The Esplanade in Oak Bay.

A glorious day outside, with a gentle breeze.

We managed a lovely walk along the seafront.

My 5 km walks are really helping me get stronger and feel more flexible.

I've cut back on carbohydrates, added oodles of veggies and am rationing wine.

The good news is that the scale tells me I have lost 5 pounds...

now the next goal will be 5 more pounds.

The scale is not the only gauge when it comes to fitness...

my clothes don't feel so snug

my tummy is ever-so-slightly smaller

my legs are more muscular

more energy

and

I feel very encouraged and more in control.

Chester is slowly gaining weight.

He's refused the prescribed canned food and is happy with the "early renal" type kibble.

We are feeding him Fancy Feast, offering him extra tablespoon several times a day.

He is acting more like his usual self.

This is great news!

Thank you so much to those of you who have emailed asking about his health.

On a recent walk I stopped in at Super Chance

a local consignment shop in James Bay.

I spied this pretty transferware covered dish...

not sure where I would put it at the time,

but I felt confident that I would find a suitable spot.

Inside I have all my make-up brushes.

De-cluttering has been an ongoing activity here in The Humble Bungalow.

There is a cardboard box out on the boulevard 

where I place unwanted items most days.

They disappear quite quickly!

Crocus out front in The Humble Bungalow Garden.

Flowers are blooming and the snowdrops are showing their white faces.

Spring is in the air.

We're off to the garden centre tomorrow...

we lost a few plants during the last snowfall and have some empty pots that need filling, one of my favourite places to go at this time of year.

Perusing the new and different varieties of flowers and plants is so inspiring.

We've been watching Carol Klein Great British Gardens on You Tube.

It is filmed throughout the 4 seasons.

Are you finding inspiration in the garden?

On PBS we are watching All Creatures Great and Small 

and 

The Seaside Hotel.

The Seaside Hotel is Danish and has subtitles.

It was recommended by Rosemarie in Vancouver.

(thank you Rosemarie, I am enjoying it)

She and I have met up for tea at Abkhazi Gardens, lunch at a pub in The Cook Street Village and appetizers at Cactus Club on Robson.

We try to get together as often as she is here in Victoria or when I go to Vancouver.

Hope that you are staying safe and keeping amused.

Until next time...

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

Fast forward to February

 

I find it hard to believe that we are already in the month of February.

January felt like it flipped by so fast...

The crocus are showing us some much needed pops of colour.

Our snowdrops are in bud but not quite ready to fully open.

Many gardens in our area have masses of them 

naturalized in gardens and they look so beautiful.

I am of the opinion that one can never have too many snowdrops or roses!

Chester, our younger cat is 10 years old.

He's been losing weight these past couple of months and we had him to the vet.

She diagnosed him with early onset renal failure.

He's on a specially formulated kibble and we tried the canned food but he's not a fan.

It's better that he eat the canned food that he wants rather than lose more weight so we press on...

I am offering him small portions of canned food at several times each day.

He doesn't seem to have an appetite for the usual portions.

This situation is turning out to be quite stressful.

He is after all a big part of our family.

He's the cat with the biggest "in your face" personality...

We fondly call him...

"Chester the Pester"

and

"The Troublemaker"

Coffee by candlelight and fairy lights...

much appreciated and needed warm twinkle lights to ease the dark early mornings

Soups are currently the "go to" lunches here in The Humble Bungalow.

They are a great way to use up leftovers...

This soup is called chicken pot pie soup!

A store bought rotisserie chicken served us well.

Two nights of chicken and salads...

then soup for two lunches.

Economical, yes, indeed!

 I saved the carcass bones to make the rich broth.

The Boat Pond along the Victoria seafront.

We saw a group of fellows playing with their boats on our walk.

I stopped quickly and snapped this shot.

My husband is waking oodles of kilometres every day...

8 km at least.

I tag along for 5 or 6 km then head back home.

10,000 steps are my current comfort zone.

When I walk much more, my body aches.

It would be wonderful to be able to walk farther and not be in pain...

perhaps I can work up to more or is it my age?

We've been fortunate with our recent weather.

Sunshine and warmer temperatures have been lovely for our walks.

So grateful that the ice and snow have gone.

Today I walked to town and met a friend for lunch.

I spied this lovely clump of crocuses on my way home.

The crocus would add to a future blog post and they were actually what prompted me to sit for a few minutes to write a quick blogpost.

My teatime and knitting await...

my reward for getting in 10,000 steps

so will close for now.

Thank you for popping by the Humble Bungalow Blog.

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~