Monday, July 25, 2022

OOTD ~ Summertime ~ Linen Dress




Beach Walk a week ago in Oak Bay on a hot summer day.

Wearing an Italian linen dress with capri tights.
Thankful for my sunhat, sunglasses
 the
COOL sea breezes blowing across the sand
while I peruse the beach for treasure.

I found a smooth white rock, very much like an egg...
a simple find but it begged to be picked up!


A handful of sea glass.


Behold the 4 jars full...
Working on filling up Jar 5 and I am well on my way!


The dress is a super simple style
loose and easy to wear in the heat.

Pearls accessorize and elevate the dress and sweater.


Pearls are the ultimate gift from the Sea.


My newest project...
Knitting pattern for the Miriam Sweater is available on Ravelry.


Rowan Felted Tweed Yarn is a dream to work with on any project.
I LOVE the softness of this yarn.


The Beehive Shop in Victoria is my go to yarn and knitting spot.
The staff are so knowledgeable and helpful.


Started knitting the Miriam sweater a few days ago...
a quiet few days at Quarterdeck Cottage and I am indulging in some knit time.

PURE BLISS

The weather hasn't been overly hot and we're enjoying a slow rhythm to our days.

Having an engaging project is wonderful 
when we are not swimming in the pool
or out walking.


Took advantage of the sunshine yesterday and knit 
while watching the pleasure craft
boats and ferries as they made their way across The Salish Sea.


Holiday time is perfect for relaxing and engaging in activities that one enjoys.
I would never spend as many hours knitting if I was home...
the household and garden duties and chores would keep me busy!


Lovely beach vibe bowls from our friends...
perfect for the cottage!

We celebrated our 48th anniversary on July 20th.


I made a simple penne pasta dish with a gorgonzola cream sauce and freshly shucked English Peas from the Humble Bungalow Garden.

Penne Pasta with Gorgonzola and Peas 

Melt several tablespoons of butter in a shallow pan 
add a couple of cloves of chopped garlic and some red pepper flakes
cook gently.
Whisk in a few tablespoons of flour add a 1/3 cup of cream.
Keep whisking then add crumbled gorgonzola and simmer until melted
then keep warm on low.
Meanwhile...
Put a large pot on to boil
When the water is boiling add the penne pasta and cook until al dente.
Drain
add sauce to pasta and stir to coat.

Grate some fresh pepper on top and serve.


I've had an extraordinary amount of SPAM here on the blog.
Really it has come out of the blue and I cannot for the life of me figure out why?

Comments have been streamlined to not allow Unknown accounts to respond.
Anyone with a legitimate google account can leave a comment.
Hopefully this will stop the crazed spam artists and robots 
who seem to have nothing better to do than to invade a rather calm and gentle place.

If you are unable to leave a comment and want to connect with me 
please send me an email, the address is on the blog at the left hand side.

Thank you for stopping by The Humble Bungalow Blog.
Hope that you are making the most of the season wherever you are.

Be Back Soon!


~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

Thursday, July 14, 2022

Colour Me Happy!


Bright Colours that POP make me feel HAPPY.

When I go for walks I seek out colourful things along my route.
It surprises me when on a rainy grey day that I can still find something bright to 
capture in a photo. 
I might have to look a wee bit harder but I definitely find something.


I love to accessorize with a pop of colour.
This wine coloured vintage leather bag adds just the right amount of OOMPH
to the simple neutral outfit here.

Black pants ~ Eileen Fisher
White top ~ Eileen Fisher
Khaki Jacket ~ Eileen Fisher


Look at how beautiful these tomatoes look resting on a bed of basil leaves!
I added some sea salt and ground pepper with a light drizzle of olive oil.

~ FRESH ~ 
Summertime salads are a healthy addition to our meals.

I love to add other ingredients to our daily salads.

diced red onions
avocado wedges
black olives
radishes
garbanzo beans
sprouted pea shoots
fresh shelled English Peas
beets
cucumber slices
capers
blanched green beans

There are SO many options when making a salad.

I regularly have on hand a homemade vinaigrette in a Bonne Maman Jam Jar.

Easy Peasy Vinaigrette

6 Tbsp. olive oil
2 Tbsp vinegar
2-3  Tbsp runny honey
salt and pepper (to taste)


Bold yellow Italian Linen Dress
this loose fitting dress is perfect for the heat and sun of SUMMER.

Add sandals or flip flops and a straw hat and sunglasses...
and a
French Market basket. 

I absolutely LOVE linen!
There is a great shop here in the Cook Street Village called Mercedes Lane Too...
I have purchased several tops and dresses from them 
 they are easy to wear and cool in the heat.
I wash them in lavender scented linen soap on the gentle cycle and hang them to dry.

In case you missed my post on the Doocot Sweater I knit I am sharing the photos.
I chose a bright Chartreuse Green Yarn
Rowan's Brooklyn Tweed


The sweater sits slightly above the natural waistline.

It took me 3 years to knit this sweater!
For some weird reason I didn't work on it in the first 2 years of Covid 
 really it should have been a delightful diversion but I couldn't seem to concentrate!

Now I am contemplating knitting the Miriam Sweater 
(on Ravelry)
I think it will be a fun project.
 Knitting in the cooler weather this Fall and Winter will be relaxing.

I am thinking of a charcoal or dove grey yarn.
I originally thought of black yarn but an experienced knitter friend said that black yarn is quite hard to see.

Must get myself off to the Beehive and see what they have in stock.
I need to buy needles too...
There are so many needles in my stash but none are the right size.


The Brooklyn Tweed yarn is lovely to work with, it is super soft.


Knitting and Tea go so well together!


We are kept very busy here in The Humble Bungalow Garden.
The roses are riddled with black spot this year which means that most days we are picking off the spotted leaves...
then we must keep up with the regular deadheading.

The rewards from all our efforts are numerous lovely bouquets 
for the house and to take to homes of friends.

Well I think it is time to close this post and head outside.

Thank you for popping by The Humble Bungalow Blog.
Hope that you are enjoying the gifts of the season.

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

Thursday, July 7, 2022

Remembering...snippets from the archives.



I recently bought a new computer and our son and grandson 
helped to transfer 
over all my programs and photos. 
It's great having smart computer savvy helpers in the family!

I've been looking at all the photos and remembering...


Life is not always full of sparkly things 
 we have the option of adding some of our own.
I do love a sparkly brooch or necklace for some whimsy...
I currently have a pink rhinestone butterfly pin on my distressed denim jacket.


Scented candles are one of my favourite ways to add elegance and ambiance 
in The Humble Bungalow.
There are so many wonderful candles on the market it is really quite wonderful
that we have so many choices.


Meet Jude the Obscure, a David Austin Rose.

Growing Roses is a very rewarding hobby.

I didn't grow roses when we first bought the bungalow.
Those early days we spent weeding and planning the garden.

It took an inspirational woman, Vi Heslop, an award winning rosarian 
in the Victoria Horticultural Society to get me started.
She generously gave me a Peace Rose and I entered a bloom 
in the Society show and won for best rose!

That did it, I was hooked!
We now have over 35 roses in our garden, most are fragrant David Austin varieties.


Jude the Obscure
my all time favourite rose.


I have a minimalist wardrobe.
We don't have a lot of storage space here in The Humble Bungalow
I keep it simple and wear my clothes for many years.
I buy classic pieces in a neutral palette.

Accessories are the "icing on the cake."
Sterling silver bangles and pearls get a lot of wear.


I have been collecting bangles for quite a few years and many of these were gifts.


Darling daughter gave me this luxurious bag...
sadly it has been lost.
I cannot for the life of me think where it went?
I have searched in all the closets cupboards and drawers but it is not here.
It remains an unsolved mystery.


Every once in awhile I will change things up...
get out of my comfort zone
like this peacock blue toe polish!


I didn't always embrace imperfection...
patina
like this rusty piece, adds character.
Perhaps it is my coming into an age where I willingly accept that things change.


Dried up and withered...


seriously old
oh so very beautiful.
Rather like laugh lines on an older woman's face...

In Japan they have "Wabi Sabi" which is a wonderful and freeing idea.

The Japanese embrace ~ the imperfect, impermanent, and incomplete.


I love natural beauty
like this collection of Mother of Pearl cutlery...
I find them in antique malls, thrift and local consignment shops.
I love how they add elegance and as Marie Kondo advocates "They Spark Joy!


Walking in Nature always pleases...
and eases away troubles
so soothing.


Seafront views along Dallas Road in our neighbourhood.


~ beach treasures ~ 
collecting shells and sea glass make me happy.


~ Simple Joys ~
a bar of scented soap and a bath or shower 
help to refresh and wash away stress.


Domestic chores feature prominently here in The Humble Bungalow.
I couldn't resist these tins at Marshalls
Polka dots are just so cheerful!


This is my everyday "uniform" pearls and a linen apron!

Life is not all glamour...

It is time to get busy and do a few jobs that are calling my name!


Thank you for stopping by The Humble Bungalow Blog.
I hope you have enjoyed seeing some of these archival images...

Will be back soon to share more.

 ~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

Thursday, June 30, 2022

June ~ in The Humble Bungalow Garden

 


Boscobel Rose


Bouquet of Roses

Gertrude Jekyll
Climbing Royal Sunset
Abraham Darby
Jude The Obscure


Abraham Darby


Climbing Royal Sunset


John Paul ll

I've been busy watering and deadheading the roses
in the garden.

We had such a wet spring that we have a lot of black spot on the roses.
I pick off the spotted leaves which is a lot of work.
Roses are high maintenance!

They are my favourite flower.


Our weather has warmed up nicely and we are enjoying the sunshine.

My husband has been busy starting veggies from seed and potting out the plants.

He's growing 5 zucchini plants 
which means that we will be inundated with a bumper crop!

We will harvest these when they are small and tender.

Inside the greenhouse we are growing peppers and lettuce and cherry tomatoes.
Out in the raised beds there are English Peas, broad beans, radicchio, and turnips.

Pots of tomatoes are lined up beside the greenhouse...
once they are ready for picking
I'll be roasting them in olive oil and garlic for the freezer.
They add such a lot of flavour to the homemade pasta sauces we enjoy throughout the year.


Have you planted a veggie garden this year?

With the cost of food rising so quickly 
it makes sense that we add a few plants in our home gardens.

Are you a gardener?
Have you noticed the spike in food prices?
Apparently it is the highest surge since the 1970's

Thank you for stopping by The Humble Bungalow Blog.

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

Sunday, June 12, 2022

Loving Linen ~ OOTD ~ a new skirt

 


Naif
linen skirt
made in Canada

a whisper weight that will be very swishy
worn with a variety of tops and shoes

thinking of a white top with casual flip flops for a walk on the beach


OOTD
kicked it up a notch with my pearls
an Eileen Fisher tank top with Nanette Lapore cropped sweater
blue leather Rieker flats


smocked elastic waist with drawstring ties

So comfy and great for warm summer weather...
just waiting for it to warm up a few degrees!


Read this page turner in 2 days


Am already into this new book!
Such great writing and another riveting story set in Paris.


Hope that you are enjoying your weekend.

A gentle mist has just rolled in here bringing light rain...
an opportunity to stay indoors and read.
One of life's little luxuries.

What are you reading ?

Thank you for popping by The Humble Bungalow Blog.

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~