Showing posts with label drinks. Show all posts
Showing posts with label drinks. Show all posts

Sunday, May 30, 2021

OOTD, cocktails and Beautiful Blooms...

 


White rose on John Paul ll
Pure white blooms are very elegant...
they remind me of Coco Chanel's simple white gardenias.

I have been so distracted by Donna Leon's mystery books of late...
I am reserving them at the public library and are reading my way through 
her series with Guido Brunetti.

I highly recommend her books.

So this post will be a wee one and once I hit publish
I'll be back in my chair in the living room with my nose in her book.


OOTD

I wore a Cut Loose crinkly tunic top with black capri tights.
An artisan necklace


Josef Siebel red ballet flats
Vintage wicker Ann Taylor bag.

We met up with friends On Friday evening in the sunshine.


Cocktails on the patio at The Snug at The Oak Bay Beach Hotel.


So wonderful getting together with friends.

It has been many months since we were permitted to go out to eat with friends.
The vaccinations and our recent "circuit breaker" that was set by our provincial health officer has helped reduce the number of active Covid cases and the rules are once again eased...

This week while I was
walking in the Cook Street Village
 I popped into Mercedes Lane.

A large shop with oodles of fun clothes...many are beautiful Italian linens.

The skort is by UPP and The dress is made in Turkey by Sassy.


I had not planned to buy anything I went in merely to peruse their stock.
Slightly risky because you never know what you'll find.


Spanish Lavender
potted in an urn out front of The Humble Bungalow.
The bees just love this plant.
I like the feathery "hat" atop of the blooms.

Hope that you are enjoying your weekend.

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~





Monday, November 7, 2016

Monday the view from here....

Walking at my usual pace has been difficult recently due to a sore knee...
I don't know what I have done.
I could have twisted it or pulled a muscle,
so I am walking slower and trying not to exacerbate it.

Really must not complain too much as there are so many more serious things to consider out there, other than knee pain...
I'm sure you can think of a thing or two worse.


"Sorbis Hupehensis"
Aren't these wee pink berries adorable?

They are growing on a bush on a street nearby The Humble Bungalow.


Mr. HB made me a fancy cocktail...
a Chambord Cosmopolitan.
Chambord is a raspberry liqueur from the Loire Valley.

We used pure unsweetened cranberry juice and it is delicious!


The cooler weather inspires me to make roasts on Sunday evenings.
A free range organic chicken or a prime rib is a tasty treat at this time of year.
Yorkshire pudding is yummy too!


Root vegetables roasted in a shallow pan with a bit of olive oil brings out their flavours.


All the produce is locally grown.
It's important to support the island farmers.


This is the current view out the kitchen window...
the crew that are dismantling the home beside us have chosen a yellow dumpster which looks quite pretty with the autumnal foliage.

The noise starts around 8am and goes until about 4pm.
We will have two homes on this site once the building gets started.
Two couples eager to get into the housing market have purchased the old home from an estate for just under a million dollars!
(Our real estate market has been brisk but is showing signs of slowing down)

The couples have been by and introduced themselves to us 
and all the neighbours near to the property.

Just down the street 
there are 3 or 4 significant home renovation projects happening...
our little street seems to be quite a popular place for tradesmen these days...


Chester is not amused...
the constant truck traffic is disturbing his naps.
He and Pepper frequently sit on the front window ledges and keep watch.

Have you been watching The Durells in Corfu on PBS?
I am really enjoying the series...
I read most of Gerald Durrells' novels when I was growing up.


Peacock pecking on the ground in Beacon Hill Park this afternoon.
It did not seem to mind that I was slowly creeping closer...


He glanced over in my direction and then got back to the task at hand...
there were oodles of pea hens whose drab colouring helped them blend into the foliage also pecking for tidbits.

It was chilly today so I bundled up in a scarf and my puffer coat.

 Purposely I chose a different route with varied and interesting scenery 
I felt would keep me focused on distance rather than my pace.

I passed quite a few walkers who were also enjoying the park.

Hope your week is off to a great start.

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~


Monday, September 12, 2016

Food, friends and flowers...


Glorious pink rose blooming in The Humble Bungalow Garden.
Pretty pink shade and an intoxicating fragrance...

It has been a lovely weekend with friends and family.

We enjoyed having our dear friends from France visit 
we spent hours chatting and catching up....

There was an abundance of food and the wine flowed.

Beef Daube with a baguette followed by a green salad and rhubarb crisp for dinner the night that they arrived.

Tapas following a cruise up the Gorge waterway on the Harbour ferry on Saturday
then dinner out at a French Bistro.

We met our children and grand children for brunch on Sunday
so our friends could reacquaint themselves with Isla and Henry and meet Mira.
After brunch we drove out to the Marina and took our Sea Ray out for a scenic cruise off the Sidney waterfront.

I have a fridge full of food and will not need to cook for a couple of days!

You can see how much food played a major role in our weekend!

I refuse to step on the scale today.
I do not want a shock.


We enjoyed a cocktails on the deck of The Humble Bungalow


The weather cooperated, the sun shone and there was only a hint of a breeze...


We hosted a casual dinner party and invited a long time friend of our house guests.
The menu was simple and tasty.


veggies skewers with goat cheese in balsamic creme
grilled lamb chops 
salad
a dollop of lemon and dollop of mango sorbet 
served with a square a locally made chocolate for dessert.


A reader asked me to post some of my meals and this one is easy quick and tasty.

My plate has a healthy portion of vegetables
1/2 cup rice
small pork chop in a mustard marmalade glaze.


Brown chops in oil and butter.
Cook until no longer pink and remove from pan, cover with foil.
 De-glaze pan with orange juice
stir in grainy mustard
marmalade
add thyme and Worchestershire sauce and blend.
Add chops back into mixture and cook a few more minutes.
Serve immediately.
Enjoy!

Domestic jobs await...
and they will not get done if I keep typing!

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

Friday, June 3, 2016

Date night...

Date nights are still important even after almost 42 years of marriage...
Making time for each other and sharing a little treat now and again keeps things fresh and introduces a wee bit of fun.

Lunches and dinners out, or attending a play, or watching a film are traditional "dates." We like to mix things up...

Last weekend we took time out to enjoy an soft ice cream cone followed by a drive along the seafront in Mr. HB's convertible.

We recently had a date night "at home"


We lit one of our scented candles on our vintage silver tray.

Mr. HB made me my favourite cocktail...a French 75 and 
served it in one of our French Bee Flutes!

 French 75
gin
bubbly
lemon juice
simple syrup
garnished with lemon curls

Delicious mixture of bitter and sweet with just a hint of bubbles.


We harvested a few spears of fresh asparagus from The Humble Bungalow garden.

I steamed the asparagus in a boiling water bath for 5 minutes.
Made a side dish of penne pasta with frozen peas and Gorgonzola cheese.

The star of the show was the Chicken Piccata!

Chicken Piccata

4 boneless skinless chicken breast halves pounded thin between parchment paper
lightly seasoned with cayenne pepper, salt and ground pepper
dredged in flour and set aside.

Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a skillet on medium heat. Place chicken in the pan and cook until browned, about 5 minutes per side, remove to a plate.

Cook 1 tbsp drained capers in pan until warm, about 30 seconds.

Pour 1/2 cup white wine into the pan and scrape any brown bits from the bottom of the pan and cook for about 2 minutes.

Stir in 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice, 1/4 cup water and 3 tablespoons cold butter into mixture to form a sauce about 2 minutes of cooking time then add 2 tbsp. fresh chopped parsley.

Add chicken back into pan and cook until heated through...serve with sauce spooned over top and garnish with lemon slices.

Enjoy!


Jude The Obscure David Austin Rose


The Humble Bungalow Garden has been getting lots of attention on these warm sunny days.
People have been stopping by taking photographs...
and two women were out front this morning literally gushing about the roses and saying that since they "discovered it" they have added it to their walking route.

My goodness...
with all the lovely and lush gardens nearby
 I cannot believe that our wee garden is getting so many compliments.
I suppose the hard work is paying off...


Our Humble Bungalow Garden
May 2016

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

Thursday, December 3, 2015

A time tested Hostess Gift

Olives anyone?


I love a Martini...gin and 3 olives...just one and I am done.

“I like to have a martini,
Two at the very most.
After three I'm under the table,
after four I'm under my host.”

~ Dorothy Parker ~


Last time we were sharing the dipped fruit recipe...today we are making my Mother's Rum Balls.
I have made them every year for the past 30 years.
They are well received and a much anticipated sweet treat...


These are quick and easy...

Mother's Rum Ball Recipe

In a food processor grind a 312g. box of Vanilla Wafers and 1 cup of pecans.

Place in a large bowl 
add 1 cup of icing sugar
 3 tablespoons of Caro Syrup
1 1/2 tablespoons of cocoa 
1/2 cup rum

Mix together and roll into small bite sized balls.
Roll in icing sugar or cocoa.

Store in airtight containers.

Place in pretty containers for gift giving.
Enjoy!

(don't tell Mother I am sharing her recipe yet again...she likes to keep these family recipes a secret!)


We bought a wee tree for the front porch.


We can look out the living room window and see the little white fairy lights twinkling.


The sunlight warmed a very frosty day...


we scavenged some boughs from the fallen limbs on the Golf Course for the porch.


I am reading this novel...the first in a series and am enjoying it very much.

We went to see our darling grand daughter in her school Christmas Play.
All the students in her private school were in the production.
From the preschoolers and their rendition of the "Teddy Bear's Picnic" to the grade 4's
it was an uplifting and joyous evening.

We gave Isla a pink rose after it was over and she just beamed...
our little Miss shined on stage...
she danced
she remembered her lines 
and best of all she smiled and waved to all of us!
Members of the audience were oohing and awing when she waved and Mr. HB and I wanted to stand up and shout...
"That is OUR Grand Daughter!"

Thank you for stopping by and taking the time out of your busy day to say hello.
Cheers!

Tuesday, July 28, 2015

LBD ~ Linen Black Dress

Keeping cool has been a personal challenge in this hot summer weather.
We are not accustomed to unrelenting high temperatures here in Victoria and like many people I am learning the hard way how to modify and adapt my routine and habits in accordance with the changing climate.

The roses in The Humble Bungalow Garden are totally loving this summer sunshine and they are putting on a spectacular and repeated display of blooms.
A few David Austin Roses in the front yard have proven to be a delicious snack for our local deer :-(

Roses are rather high maintenance in the heat as they are "thirsty plants"...
I've decided that I am in that "same category" when it comes to maintaining my "cool."

Gardening in the sunshine is certainly thirsty work for this Hostess.
I've been mindful and hydrating while I work sipping sparkling Perrier when I am out in the garden.


A little later in the evening after a hard days work in the garden Mr. HB made me a Gimlet.
Do you know what goes into a Gimlet? I didn't.
Roses Lime Cordial, gin and a slice of lime.
It was delicious...


Our lower level of The Humble Bungalow is cool...
( we turn off the in floor heat for the summer)
I love looking out our French door to the patio when I am ironing or doing the laundry.
Sometimes I take a mug of tea or a cold drink downstairs and gaze out at the garden.
I plan a lot of changes when I sit on the bench.


Amalfi shoes
on the cool tile.

When I am not mucking about in the Humble Bungalow Garden...
(wearing my standard uniform of black Yoga pants and a Tee shirt)
I get cleaned up and change into something a bit nicer...


Lately have been wearing a cool loose black linen dress that was made in Italy.
I purchased it from Mercedes Lane, a shop in the Cook Street Village.
I proudly wear my natural linen dress with wrinkles!


It's a "sack dress" with slouchy pockets but the thing is so darn cool that I grab it more often than any other garment in my closet...the women that I met in the South of France wore Italian linen dresses too and they have very HOT weather there.


I wear a sunhat, sunscreen and sunglasses.
~ ~ ~ 

The Humble Bungalow Garden is undergoing a transformation this summer.
It's long overdue...
with marauding and hungry deer and the recent drought I figure it's as good a time as any.
 I will be posting some updates soon.


A lone Allium stands amid a bed of Lily of the Valley...
these dry beautifully and make an interesting feature in a simple glass vessel.


Thanks for stopping by...
Hostess

Wednesday, June 17, 2015

Lime Time...

Love love love the colour green!
I adore the taste of limes...
have a "green thumb" and am often "green with envy."

I gravitate toward greens of all shades...

I love to use limes in a gin and tonic cocktail...
(My WW friendly G and T's are made using mostly Perrier with just a splash of tonic)
the wedge of lime is squeezed into the cocktail and then popped into the glass.

Avocado's are a WW high point but healthy splurge...avocado on toast or eaten straight from the skin with a splash of worchestershire sauce and a sprinkling of Sea salt...yum.

Green salads, green beans, green apples, green peas, green smoothie drinks...
so many healthy foods are green.


Our Humble Bungalow front porch is where we often sit after a hard day of working.
I found most of our vintage wicker porch furniture free on the boulevards...
after dragging the chairs and tables home I painted them black.


It's a cozy place to sit and chat.
It's located close to the street so it gives us an opportunity to greet the neighbours 
as they stroll by on the sidewalk.

We have a few dull planters that are going to be transformed by a coat of black paint...
I am not sure why I like black pots in the garden, but I do.
I'm not sure why I love green either but I do...
Does anyone know why we have colour favourites?
Ah but I digress...
 I need to get myself off to the paint store...
and I'm sitting here writing a blog post when I could be painting!
(my excuse is that it's really hot outside ~ I am keeping cool inside)
Do you "feel the heat?"
I do.
 I hydrate with sparkling water all day long so it is rather frustrating...
I garden in the mornings or later in the afternoon when the sun is not so intense.




I cannot remember if I mentioned that Mr. HB has been busy redoing our front porch and stairs.
They were in dire need of restoration.
When I went off to France my darling husband ripped them out and began a long and tedious project.
He improved the look as well as the stability and function of the stairs.
He rebuilt the area in front of the door by ripping out and replacing all the wood. 
Then he extended the treads of the stairs so they were deeper and reconfigured the detail of the sides by using the beveled siding as seen on the original house.
The beveled wood wraps around as you can see and it all needed to be level...
it was a big job but he is finished all the hard work and is ready to prime and paint.
I like the improved functionality and think it looks much better.
We need to decide on the style of the wood railings before the job is complete.
Railings would not have been part of the original design.
 With Mother popping by, 
(and we are aging ourselves!) 
we need to have something sturdy to hang onto.


Hermes scarf


Which I wear with this lime cardigan that I bought last summer from Target.
Cheap and cheerful.
  (I am still lamenting the loss of Target stores in Canada.)


I'm excited to report the wee lizard that we saw awhile ago in our Humble Bungalow Garden has been sighted several more times!


The Limelight hydrangeas are getting ready to flower so there will be lime bouquets in abundance.

That's all to report for now...
what's new with you?
Anything exciting happening in your neck of the woods?