Showing posts with label domestics storage. Show all posts
Showing posts with label domestics storage. Show all posts

Thursday, January 20, 2022

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 ~

Wednesday, August 30, 2017

Random stuff on Wednesday.


~ The Humble Bungalow ~

The garden out front has many plants and flowers.

Among them are yellow rudbeckia flowers 
a variety of yellow, pink, and red roses.

Limelight hydrangeas
Hostas
grasses
lime kniphofia
lavenders
boxwood 

The deer have been by munching on the Hostas and the Hydrangeas so the new garden help suggested that we try spraying with BOBEX...
it is all natural but is very stinky and it deters the deer from chowing down on the plants that have been treated.



Our tiny entry hall is rather cluttered,
it is where we hang our coats
store our brollies
hats.

Inside the picnic basket are winter woolly scarves and gloves.
No room for a wardrobe and no closets...


This wee area of the living room is where I write cards.
The quartersawn oak arts and crafts desk has many compartments inside 
which I use to store our address book, stamps, pens, and cards. 

We have such a small living area on the main floor...
about 975 square feet so we need to be careful not to collect too much stuff!
In 100 year old +  bungalows, storage was not originally a consideration.

People generally did not have a lot of extra things...
they were living on limited incomes, credit was not available and so people tended to be quite frugal.

Our bedroom closet is really small and we have to renovate that room someday. Mr. HB will redesign our closet and have some built in drawers installed.

We use the downstairs closets for our out of season clothes.


Trying to keep a minimal wardrobe is my goal but every so often I act on impulse and buy something that is usually something that I already have represented in my current wardrobe.

Buying a variation of something that I already own and don't really NEED 
is a waste of money.

This summer I paid attention to 
what I wore regularly 
what did not get worn often 
and 
what never got worn.

3 dresses were worn regularly and two others hung in the closet.
I wore 2 pairs of pants and the same few tops weekly.

The rest languished away...

 Why have something if it is not being used especially when storage is an issue?

The exercise also showed me that the clothes I wore 
were those that made me feel good wearing them
and  coincidentally 
they are the better quality more expensive items in my closet.

With that in mind, I plan to buy fewer things come the Fall and opt for better quality "investment" pieces.
It seems to me to make sense not to waste the space, time and money 
on something mediocre that is not going to be a workhorse in the wardrobe.

Walking scenery...


Clover Point on Dallas Road
the start of my regular 5 km. walking route.


Midway along the route Ross Bay
looking across at The Olympic Mountain Range in Washington State.


Ross Bay and the trees that line the edge of the historic Ross Bay Cemetery.
Walks have been lovely with the sunny warm weather...
breezes have been slight which I appreciate.


Plainsong was a good book...
a slightly different genre than I usually read but it came with high praise from the gal at the bookstore.
I have reserved the second in the series, Eventide,  at the local library.

In other news...
The scale has responded to the no alcohol regime.
I quit the wine habit last Tuesday.


Several readers have emailed me regarding me giving up alcohol.
My new tipple...non alcoholic wine.
It tastes good and has way less calories than real wine and is less expensive.


The information on the bottle 
may be of interest to you. 

I sip a couple of glasses at night, 
one before dinner and one with dinner.


Willows Beach walk
mixing up the walk locations for a variety of scenery.


There is a tearoom near the playground.
Mom and I used to stop in after our walk along the Esplanade.
I have taken tea here several times this summer and I think of her when I sip my cuppa.


My Mulberry knapsack has been getting a lot of wear this summer.
I love to be hands free when walking and it is the perfect size for my prescription glasses, wallet, lipstick, tissues and keys.

I love the colour of the leather and the details.
It is a sturdy bag that should wear well for many years.

Positively Smitten with this bag...
I like the shape, the brown embossed croc finish, and the clasp detail
it is not too big 
so there is no worry that I would be carrying a too heavy bag and injure my shoulder again!
  Plus it is a bonus that it is a cross body bag.

Perhaps I will invest in this one...
it has been ages since I bought a "new" handbag.
The last two have been thrift shop finds.

Back to the garden...


One of the Hostas that the deer have munched!


Thankfully the giant Rudbeckias seem to be safe from the deer.



Are you familiar with books by Kristin Hannah?
Firefly Lane (2008) is a page turner...
Kristin has a large number of books to her credit
and why have I not read her novels before this?
 I have no clue!

Thank you for stopping by The Humble Bungalow Blog
taking time out of your day to read the blog and glance at the pictures.

Hope that you are enjoying these last few days of August.

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

Wednesday, January 18, 2017

Ups and downs in The Humble Bungalow


Downstairs 
in The Humble Bungalow
in the laundry room is
where I spend a lot of my time.
Washing
hanging clothes to air dry
 heavy duty things go into the dryer
folding and ironing
all jobs that I do almost every day.

I run UP and DOWN the stairs many times in a day.


The bathroom downstairs is compact
 it has a shower, toilet and sink.

It is very handy when we work outside in the garden and need to come inside
even more convenient 
when we have house guests.


Did I mention that I run up and down the stairs many times a day?

It feels like I get a lot of exercise actioning the domestic chores but not enough to keep the pesky pounds at bay.

My new fitness regime with kettle bells is also done downstairs
in the laundry room as there is ample room to move about.

The space is bright and the cats like to sit and watch me go through my paces!

Today
I am wearing casual clothes.

OOTD
NYDJ boyfriend style jeans
Town Shoes quilted black leather flats
a simple short Joe Fresh charcoal grey T shirt



Upstairs and downstairs we have shelves for our fluffy white towels.
I am partial to white towels.
Are you?

Storage in The Humble Bungalow is abysma
it is minimal as our arts and crafts era home has very little space.

Our closet is tiny and so naturally my wardrobe is small.
That is actually a positive rather than a negative.
I do not like having too much stuff.
I like to see all my clothing choices which makes getting dressed so much easier.

BTW while we are on the topic of clothes...
you responses to the last post were interesting and informative.
I appreciate the time and energy that you put into your comments.


Upstairs 
the kitchen is the hub of our Humble Bungalow.

Besides doing the laundry I cook a lot.
I love to create healthy meals and enjoy experimenting with new recipes.


Simple Omelette

2 farm fresh eggs beaten with 2 tablespoons of milk
salt pepper

Melt a knob of butter in a flat crepe or omelette pan 
when bubbles form pour in the eggs.
Add toppings
herbs or arugula as I have used here.

When the edges are setting up 
run a spatula around the edges and gently coax one end
fold gently over
rolling as you go 
until you have a picture perfect omelette.


One of the "UPS" in this post is that I ate a sensible lunch.

Omelette served with a salad
a low Weight Watcher point count lunch.
A tasty pear sliced thinly and savoured with a cup of tea.

"Guilt free" eating and yet it is filling.
(protein is key to keep me feeling satisfied)


On the DOWNside...
Walking has been hit and miss with the recent inclement weather but we are expecting a warming trend so I will be lacing up my sneakers and pounding the pavement with renewed energy and enthusiasm.


Have you started with a 2017 health and wellness journey ?
Are you writing in your journal?

Are you feeling more energetic and enthusiastic?
Words can be so important when motivating and engaging in change.

The Nike slogan "Just Do It" comes to mind.

Another "DOWNfall"...
There was a small cello bag of chocolate bark coated in candy cane sprinkles 
a gift from Christmas 
hiding in the drawer that I "discovered" last Sunday while watching Victoria 
on PBS Masterpiece Theatre.

Dear reader, I am weak, I am human.
 I ate it.

The UPside of this is that there is no chocolate left in The Humble Bungalow!

So it is your turn...
have you been disciplined with your fitness and food regime?

Have you been tempted by treats ?

OR
were you clever and cleaned out your pantry of those naughty things
and
restocked it with only healthy foods?

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

Thursday, July 21, 2016

Home Keeping in The Humble Bungalow

Home keeping is very much a top priority here in The Humble Bungalow.
Keeping house is an ongoing job...no one else notices unless you neglect to keep things neat and tidy!

I have been emailing with a reader and we have been chatting about home keeping and exchanging tips on how we stay motivated and on top of the jobs required to keep the dirt and grime at bay.

I thought that this topic might be of interest to other readers so I quickly cobbled together this post...I hope you'll enjoy it.


Home keeping encompasses many aspects in the domestic arena...
laundry, ironing, dusting, vacuuming and tidying up keeping the clutter under control and out from under foot.

We have the luxury of having hired help every week.
In the two hours dusting, vacuuming, and cleaning of the bathrooms is accomplished.
This helps to keep our home looking spic and span and I take care of the rest.

When I see a mess it creates unwanted stress so I have a daily routine that takes very little time...
I make the bed right after I get up...
fluff the pillows and shake and smooth the duvet.

After showering and having my morning cafe creme
I will empty the dishwasher, put on a load of laundry and do some ironing.

I wander from room to room to look for anything that needs to be put away...
a pair of shoes by the front door, a sweater that hangs on the back of a chair, a magazine or mail that needs to be filed or recycled.

I will opt for one or two chores of a bigger nature if I have the energy...
polishing some silver, cleaning out a few drawers, mending, washing windows, wiping out the fridge, filing receipts etc.

I try to do all the cleaning jobs in the mornings and leave time in the afternoon to meet up with friends, go for a walk, run errands, or grocery shop.


Our kitchen is small and I prefer to see the counters 
not a jumble of appliances cluttering up the space.
Countertops and the sink and stove are wiped clean several times a day.
I keep a bottle of Method cleaner and a microfibre cloth tucked away in the cupboard by the sink.
(I am a messy cook!)


Dish soap, hand soap, lotion and scrubbers are kept on a tray beside the sink.


Dishes are white and I have mixed antique ironstone with new pieces.
Having glass cupboard doors makes one feel the need to keep the dishes tidy.


We keep a basket by the stairs where we put our recycling and take it down to the bins once or twice a day if it is full.
Storage is an issue in a small home so we try not to accumulate too much stuff.


Our main bathroom has a built in medicine chest but no other storage so we improvised by adding an arts and crafts wood shelf to store the towels.


The bathroom sink needs wiping daily 
which I do after putting on my make up and brushing my teeth.


The laundry room...
I spend a lot of time down stairs 
 it is so nice to have a clean and bright place to do my work. 


I have a small ironing board that fits on top of this counter for small things like linen napkins and dish towels.
The big ironing board is stored in a closet and I use it for shirts and sheets.


The handy drying rack is used a lot for delicate things like lingerie.
I also hang my tees and tops and yoga pants and find that they last longer when not subjected to the heat of the dryer.

I recommend that you read Fiona Ferris's book Thirty Chic Days 
for more hints and tips on home keeping and cultivating a rich and joyful life.


Isn't this a gorgeous flower?
It was swarming with bees and I had to step into the bed and stand on the dirt to capture this image...


I am going to take a blogging break.
I don't plan to be off line too long but I need some time to consider some new topics as I feel like my post are becoming a bit redundant.

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

Wednesday, February 10, 2016

February Joys

February has come in so fast I almost did not even notice it's arrival...
the thing that surprised me was that I was about to open one of the jars of yogurt in the fridge
(and thought to myself that I had purchased these awhile back...)
lo and behold the last two jars in the fridge were beyond their best before dates!

I used to think that stale dated foods kept in the fridge only happened to the elderly...
Welcome to the world of the advanced age Hostess
the first symptom is forgetting what day it is...

Retirement has had that effect on me...
I know the days of the week but not necessarily the actual date.


Pink Cyclamen
seen on my walk
a burst of colour
these flowers are so tiny 
that I had to bend down to my toes to capture their beauty.

I have actioned a fridge clean out and chucked out the older condiments 
read all the dates on all the jars
wiped out the drawers
and freshened up all the surfaces.

Dani P Mop Philosopher did this last week.
I thank her for inspiring me to get on with this job.
(we both buy the same type of yogurt made in Quebec and are fans of Bonne Maman jam)
( we both reuse the jars)


I organized my "work station" at the sink.
Polished stones make a great base for the soap.
It sits above the moisture which allows it to dry out and so it lasts longer.


Emma Bridgewater tray and bowl are re purposed for this arrangement.
I like to keep my "tools" close at hand.
I am not loyal to any one dish soap and seem to flit around like a butterfly
looking for the one with the prettiest container, the nicest scent and the best performer.

Are you loyal to a brand?
What makes it special?

Having an organized work area is worth the little bit of time and effort.
It is the "little things" that make a big difference.


Two of the books that I ordered from Ivy's on The Avenue arrived.
Style Forever was my first read...I enjoy and follow Alyson Walsh's blog
She has some great pointers about dressing and Fashion
after reading her book I felt like going shopping.
(which I did!)


The other evening after dinner
I lit my favourite Diptyque candle to set the mood.
Time to relax.

Dessert was a bowl of cafe au lait and Garance Dore's new book.
I love this book.
She looks so much like my former French Teacher...in fact they could be sisters.
I am not quite finished her book but know it will be a keeper and one that I will read again.


The black Hellebores from the Vancouver Van Dusen Garden shop are blooming 
in The Humble Bungalow Garden.
The plant has grown and soon seedlings will pop up and I will pot up some in the greenhouse to share with friends and neighbours.


Snowdrops are putting on their show.
Snowdrops are so elegant with their wee bonnets of white.
 Spring is coming...

February can feel like a long month as we wait for the arrival of Spring.
It feels like Spring is early and that February is going by fast.


I bid you adieu from The Humble Bungalow...
until next time when 
I will share with you some fashion focused posts.

Be Well and Be Kind.