Showing posts with label laundry. Show all posts
Showing posts with label laundry. Show all posts

Saturday, January 14, 2023

January ~ Busy days and a time tested favourite recipe


The weather has warmed up a wee bit but I am still wearing cozy clothes.

This plush velour zip top by 32 Degrees is very warm 
paired with the felted hand woven wool scarf I was dressed for the windy day.

The scarf was found in a thrift shop on Pender and it was very reasonably priced.

My week has been surprisingly busy!

Two Yoga in person classes at the Studio.
Trivia night at the pub, dinner here after school pick up with the grandchildren.
Errands, cooking and cleaning, 
lunch out for sushi with my husband and another couple
watching Stay Close on Netflix.
Then on Friday I met up with a friend for lunch and a walk.
Then we met two couples for dinner at The Snug at the Oak Bay Beach Hotel.
My weeks are not usually so full of events...


Fresh Orchid arrangement in the Lobby of the OBBH.

The Snug Pub is getting a new floor
 so we dined in front of the fireplace in the hotel foyer.


Got my steps in...
so much easier and more enjoyable when a friend is on the walk!

I slept late Saturday morning and read a couple of chapters in my current book.


Looking For Jane by Heather Marshall is a page turner...
Set in Canada it weaves a story of three women linked by a common thread.
An important book which I am very glad that I picked up.

Did some grocery shopping and laundry...
took a book to a friend.

Making a pot roast, carrots and roasted potatoes for dinner tonight.

I have shared the recipe before on the blog...
it is SO SIMPLE!
In case you want a comforting meal...
here is the recipe.


I like to make a gravy 
remove the roast to the carving board

Mix 4 tablespoons of Cornstarch with an equal amount of water 
in a jar and shake to mix
 add to the wet ingredients and whisk quickly
you remove the roast to the carving board.
ENJOY!

In other news...


I purchased a new mat and a small bolster for my Yoga practice.


 January is ticking along quite quickly here...

How are things going for you?

Well I better close and get this roast ready for the carver!
I have gravy to make...

I think Sunday might be a day of rest!!

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

Tuesday, May 21, 2019

Love the "little things" ~ a recipe for contentment.


Reading home decor books, Instagram and magazines inspire me.
I often get frustrated and wonder how I can make our little bungalow look better.

  I actioned a quick and inexpensive DIY fix.

I purchased 3 black metal hooks 
(Mr. HB installed them for me)

I hung up my French Market basket
 gardening hat 
and
  watering can. 

As conscientious stewards 
of a Heritage home
we are required to honour the historic significance 
we do not stray too far from their original architectural design.

With one exception...
The laundry area is painted white 
the basement is dark with very little light 
with only a few small windows.

The bright white walls 
make it much more enjoyable to work in and it feels far less oppressive!


I like to do my ironing while gazing out to the garden.



Looking out and beyond at the foliage and flowers 
while ironing 
feels like a form of meditation.


A handy rolling cart in the space is used for towels.


I fold the laundry on the top of the counter
and
I have a small ironing board that I use for small jobs 
like our linen tea towels and napkins.

Domestic jobs are a necessity.
To make them a wee bit more enjoyable
I have "fluffed" my downstairs "workplace" adding a few accent pieces.
Vintage enamel tins, ceramics, bird sculptures, and trophies...

Work and chores need not be looked upon as "drudgery."

Attitude is key to making these everyday tasks pleasant.
Taking joy in the results of one's labour and effort is so important.

The feeling of accomplishment is felt...
as I stand back
admiring a stack of freshly laundered 
(scented with lavender soap)
neat and tidy crisply ironed tea towels.

It's the "little things" that make our days richer.

How do you add Joy in your daily duties?
Do you have a secret to share that you use to make your daily round feel richer?

On that note, 
I will close this post...

Thank you for taking the time to stop and visit The Humble Bungalow Blog.

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

Tuesday, August 7, 2018

The Humble Bungalow ~ keeping cool in a heat wave...

We have just returned from our holidays to our beloved home and garden...
the greenhouse is full of fresh home grown tomatoes
ready to be harvested and eaten.


a bounty of tasty tomatoes



I will be making tomato salads, perhaps indulge in some tomato sandwiches,
will also plan to roast some for a pasta dish and may freeze some.


BC is immersed in a heat wave...
the temperatures are rising
and with that, my plans to work outside in the garden are shelved for a cooler day.

The blinds are closed and the windows have been opened a crack
(otherwise the cats escape!)
The overhanging eaves, a typical feature of an arts and crafts bungalow,
help to keep the sunshine out.

So I am staying inside attacking my long "to do list"...
it's only 10:30 and I have done 3 loads of laundry,
the last load of slip covers are spinning in the LG as I type.

The farmhouse sink has been bleached,
the mail opened, bills paid ready to be posted.

I plan a quick manicure
a beach walk
need to return something to the store
stop by a friends' home
start a new book.


My summertime favourites...
Eau Thermale mist by Avene to help refresh the skin
I also keep a cool bottle of water on the counter by the sink 
 take one outside with me when I garden...hydrating from the inside out!

Sunscreen
SPF 50 for my face and exposed arms and legs.
I try to wear a light Tencel long sleeved shirt for extra sun coverage.

Spritz of Roger and Gallet light rose scent to refresh throughout the day.

The new favourite Sally Hansen diamond tough polish which lasted an entire week before showing signs of wear...
the shade is called Love Bug.


I'd better get back to work...
my break is over! 

Thank you for stopping by the Humble Bungalow Blog.

What are you reading and how is your summer going?
Is it hot where you are right now?

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

Thursday, February 15, 2018

Lightening up...

Have you noticed how the days are getting lighter?
The sun is setting later and we have been fortunate with our weather lately...
as the sun has been out several days this week which lightens up my mood enormously and energizes me...making me more efficent in the home department.


Love the sliver of light shining through the front door 
illuminating the orchids and making shadows dance on the wallpaper.

Bradbury and Bradbury heritage wallpaper in the arts and crafts style
hangs in our entry hall.


Looking towards the hall from the living room of The Humble Bungalow.
You may be able to see the wallpaper border at the top from this angle.

When the sun shines I like to get outdoors for my walks.


Emma Bridgewater has such an imagination...
I bought several of her shopping bags.

One I gave to a friend for a birthday...
it said Take Me To The Shops.
I'd never give this bag to a friend...this one is mine all mine!

I've culled some of my clothes...
again...
when one has a small wardrobe and closet the clothes get worn a LOT 
the fabric of my frequently worn tops tends to pill and look yucky after a couple of seasons.
I wash then inside out and hang them to dry 
but despite the gentle care 
they still develop these nubby bits which I find unsightly...


I've switched up my red lipstick for a pinker shade.

L'Oreal # 580 Pink Peony
It feels lighter on these sunny days.


OOTD
 a long lighter weight shirt by French Dressing
worn with my ponte knit skinny Calvin Klein pants and Chelsea boots.

Has the weather lightened up in your patch of the woods?
Have you been curating your closet?
Whats new with you?

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

Thursday, October 26, 2017

Hard workers...



There's a real hard working cleaning spray in The Humble Bungalow.
I use this dandy spray for everything 
from the kitchen sink to getting stains out of clothes.

Did you notice that we have a new faucet?
Our previous Franke faucet from 1988 was replaced when we had a leaky pipe.
The plumber who came to the house was punctual, prompt and polite 
AND he cleaned up all the mess too!


Janet's recent post on How to Wash Slip Covers reminded me of how much I use and love this cleaner.
We have white slip covered love seats in our family room 
they require regular laundering...
if there is a stain or a spot I pre-treat ours with this Method cleaner.


Another product that I use a lot is Bon Ami...
I have written about it before and it works really well without harming the environment.

Do you have any favourite cleaning products?

~ Be Well and Be Kind ~

Monday, May 1, 2017

OOTD, flowers, "serviettes vs. napkins"...


Surprise delivery of flowers from a friend...
a lovely and thoughtful gesture of kindness.



beautiful blooming buds 
such beauty 


soft delicate blush pink roses


sunlight on the floor
reflections
of the blinds


OOTD:
Northern Reflections crisp white shirt
NYDJ skinny jeans
Ferragamo flats

 Mr. HB took the photo...
it's a silly one

Delete?

Publish?

I am not a professional model and do not take myself too seriously...
so the pictures stay.



What is so funny you may ask?

Mr. HB was snapping photos so fast I could not keep up with him.
Stop now, please...


Crisp Fresh linen from Belgium
an extra large tea towel
that may be used as a tablecloth 
on our small arts and crafts 
kitchen table.


I noticed the pretty native lilies are blooming in the park.


Today I've been busy washing the bedding and catching up on the ironing. 
It is pouring rain outside and there is a chill in the air.


In the previous post 
several comments were made about the inappropriate use of the words 
"serviettes" and "napkins."

I use both...

We use paper "serviettes" as well as linen "napkins."
What about you?

ser·vi·ette
ˌsərvēˈet/Submit
nounBRITISHCANADIAN
plural noun: serviettes
a table napkin


nap·kin
ˈnapkən/
noun
1.
a square piece of cloth or paper used at a meal to wipe the fingers or lips and to protect garments, or to serve food on.
synonyms: table napkin, dinner napkin, cocktail napkin, serviette; More
2.
NORTH AMERICAN
another term for sanitary napkin.



What are your thoughts?


Tea is served in a variety of vessels here in The Humble Bungalow...


Emma Bridgewater mugs...


Fine bone china cups and saucers...

this one is my favourite as it is a wide deep bowl with a bright bold pattern. 

Speaking of favourite things...
My "go to casual fave" outfit.


Jeans, a white shirt or Tee
sterling bangles and pearls.


Chester found the one sunny spot for his nap.

Must close for now as I am making a new recipe for a comforting soup.
It is a curried sweet potato carrot and red lentil soup.
Vegetarian and perfect for a cold day like today.

Thank you for stopping by The Humble Bungalow.
XO

Friday, April 7, 2017

Hostess Shopping habits...Friday post.

I try to shop locally as much as possible.
This is especially important when it comes to food.
If we want the farms to survive as acreages
and the local farmers to stay in business we need to give them our business.

I opt to shop in smaller stores where I know the owners...
the big box stores do not offer much in the way of service
and one generally does not engage in the same sort of conversation with the clerks while conducting business as these stores are usually noisy and crowded and the line ups long
which makes waiting to get through the till a rather tedious exercise.

Having said that, there are a few exceptions...

Like linens...
Our kitchen tea towels are all made of linen.
I love how soft the linen towels get after many washings.
After years of fighting with the iron I have come to terms with the job, and I love ironing...
standing back admiring the stack of freshly ironed tea towels each week on laundry day is a just reward!

I'm not sure why ironing was in the category of "domestic drudgery"...
it never occurred to me that all I needed to do was shift the way that I thought about the job in order to embrace and enjoy the process...
after all is said and done, it is repetitive and very meditative.
Calming...


Patricia Hines designed linen towels from Western Australia
found in a local second hand shop
as new ~ unused
$7.00 each


Each towel has a bit of red in the pattern which is why I bought the pair...
I have a red tea kettle and some other red accents in The Humble Bungalow Kitchen.


Coffee for my morning cafe creme comes from Italy
served in my favourite bowl
from
Emma Bridgewater Black Toast pottery from the UK

Since retiring I have been quite frugal...
especially with clothing.
I have kept a book where I record the clothes that I purchase and how much they cost.
It has been a great exercise and I plan to keep up the habit.


I love to shop vintage and peruse the charity shops.
 This is rather like a hobby as it can take up quite a bit of time.
If one is pressed for time this is not the best way to shop.

We have quite a few good consignment shops in town which are fun to browse.

One of my favourites is Good Things on Oak Bay Avenue.
I have consigned many household things with them...
recently we took some of Mom's items to them.
 I have purchased many more items from them that I could ever list!
(no book itemizing these purchases exists!)

Other shops are;
Value Village, Salvation Army, WIN thrift, St. Vincent de Paul, Super Chance and the James Bay Community Closet are located in town.

The Beacon Hospital Thrift Shop in Sidney is a 40 minute drive
but has a good selection of housewares, books, and clothing.
Like any second hand shop one needs to go with an open mind and look carefully at what is in the store.

Do you shop second hand?
Do you prefer to shop online or in person?


How was your Friday?

Mine was busy, but relaxed.
Yoga class, lunch out with a friend, and a wee bit of shopping
tried to go for a walk in the gale force winds
wrote this post while drinking a pot of tea
next up I will prepare a healthy dinner.



For those of you who may be curious about the lot next door...
and those who aren't please look away now.

This is the view from my kitchen window...
there is a huge pile of dirt waiting to be trucked away.
I wonder if we will have a weekend of peace and quiet.

Hope that you have some fun things planned for the weekend.

Hostess
XO