Last Weekend I Deleted the Memory Card

I spent last weekend snapping pics of the demolition of another piece of significant West Vancouver architecture - 2362 Haywood - and scouring West Van church flea markets. Shot some great images saved them and then accidentally deleted them. Just means I need to go back to the house as I had a great convo with the guy doing the demo. He had no idea (of course). He showed me the paper lined walls - dated September 16, 1954 - which I snapped but lost.

Here are some snaps from 'the big camera' (that doesn't usually accompany me) and a few from 'the little camera' after a quick drop in to our local thrift shop yesterday.

 

Sometimes I crave pickled herring. Other times I crave feta stuffed jalapenos. Parthenon on Broadway (in Kits) has the best ones I've ever had.

I thought this would work to hold our turntable as the glass is very thick.

Here's its taller sibling. Might pick this up for our dining room to act as a room divider.

I know I just wrote about getting a picnic table for our deck but the ball and claw with six distressed leather seat chairs is only $250. If it's still there next week (when we have access to a truck) I'm getting it for our deck.

Flo's first venture on the deck (she's not fat, she's fluffy).

We picked up the IKEA Brimnes daybed for the spare room. I'm thinking about decoupaging it and then staining it - like the little demo we did here.

New neighbour. No lap dog eating bald eagles - yet.

We have concrete beams on the deck which needed some creative thinking in order to hang our outdoor lamps. We're using thin wire wrapped around each beam.

The led lights are going to be webbed through the beams and loosely hang on the wire. Stay tuned - picked up three more boxes of them yesterday.

Sunday's moon from the deck.

Currently listening to

- call the video a study in what you will culture (I don't say that word anymore).

B.Y.O.J.K. - Bring Your Own Jackknife

Free in a back alley in North Van - unfortunately too rotten

The Selby - if we can't find one we'll go this route

good ole Canada Parks version - Okanagan, BC 1994

Goldstream Provincial Park - I recommend staying in one of their yurts.


facing West

North - it wraps around the corner to the left as well

to the East

One of the first things I'm going to pick up for our deck is a picnic table. Not some highly varnished one or one from an outdoor store, I want an old school one like those ones at our provincial parks. One made by some local handyman or maybe even one made by a group of us friends one drunken Spring afternoon. The point being, we want to make it something reflective of us and our pals. Carve, graffiti and grind those bottle caps in as much as you want because that's why we love you.

So many choices - or not

exposed beams and Mexican Equipale leather chair and table


black acid stained concrete floor


zebra wood

You're buying one of those prefab condos and you have a choice of three different kitchen finishes - heavens to betsy you'd want to have your own taste reflected in your own home and select your own bloody finishes - I digress, which of the three of these hot kitchens would you choose? I'm torn, I want something from each - the black acid stained concrete floor, zebra wood cabinets, blue wall, white ceiling with exposed beams and the Mexican Equipale chairand table. I just moved out of a place with those exact white appliances so I'll pass.

I'm on a boat

Just pretending.

I've actually been moving for the last few days and am still knee deep in boxes and crumpled up newspaper. No Internet access at the new place for two weeks. 

Here are a few snaps of what's been going on:

A new little den with a big mess

Flo discovered the new fireplace.

One never can be too safe.

Cheap shiraz moving boxes, one of Blake's illustrations for Dante's Divine Comedy and Tilley

These were at the SPCA Thrift but I've decided they're a little too 'retro' for me

The wall color in the new place is disgusting. I think I'm opting for Benjamin Moore White Diamond - it has a blue undertone. Saving my pennies for the Saarinen Womb Chair. I want it in that color too.

First food stuffs on the deck.

Happy feet experiencing the first fresh air and sun of 2012

The new view

On Earth Day - from Nietzsche

We like to be out in nature so much because it has no opinion about us. Nietzsche 

Pacific Northwest Modern - Seattle

An insightful new documentary about mid-century northwest modern architecture, MODERN VIEWS illustrates how designers today can learn from sustainable and economic choices made as many as 50 years ago. Through the personal histories and insights of five prominent northwest modern architects, the film offers a deeper understanding of this unique style of architecture happening in the Pacific Northwest in a period that is often overlooked.

Wendell Lovett

From the Archives: 8 Tips for a Living Room Layout

Originally published October 18, 2008

1. The classic - useful in front of a picture or large window

2. For a long narrow space

3. The right angle creates its own domain in a small space

4. Practical for a larger living space

5. Smaller cocktail tables give a lighter look

6. Works well in large open plans or a fairly small room

7. An optional arrangement for smaller spaces

8. An arrangement for a room too small for a full sized sofa

If you enjoyed the post please pass it on.

Related Posts:

How To Make An Industrial Chic Table

How To Make A Cool Headboard

How To Make A Cool Floor Lamp

Quote of the Week - Eleanor Roosevelt

No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.

A little creepy

It's not just the turtelnecks that make this ad from the 80s creepy.

I was actually looking for the SNL parody of the Calvin Klein Obsession ad - the one with the male model in the pool with the dog but, unfortunately, NBC has removed all traces of it.

This one is for you - Dolce and Gabbana

If you're a frequent visitor to the Bijou Living FB page then you'll know the little commentary we have going on about Dolce & Gabbana (and Chloe) hanging out on my blog. I couldn't help but think of our Italian friends, and perhaps their next collection, when I watched Boris Karloff and Bela Lugosi in The Black Cat (1934) the other night.


images are screen shots © Universal Pictures

How to Make Sweet and Spicy Shrimp

I adapted this recipe from Skinny Taste (being a 'skinny' blog I don't understand why she didn't use nonfat plain yogurt instead of mayo). A big tub of cornstarch wasn't really on my shopping list so I thought I could try subbing it for something else - which didn't work very well. I used Panko because it was the only thing in our cupboard. Use the cornstarch.

This recipe is delicious. I can't wait to make it again.

What you need:

• 1 lb large peeled, deveined prawns
• 1 cup chopped peanuts
• 1 cup plain nonfat yogurt
• 3 tbsp Thai Sweet Red Chili Sauce
• 1 tsp Sriracha (to taste)
• 2 tsp cornstarch
• 1 tsp olive oil
• 3 cups shredded ice berg lettuce
• 1 cup shredded purple cabbage
• 4 tbsp chopped scallions
• a large skillet

What you do:

• combine nonfat plain yogurt, chili sauce and Sriracha
• combine shredded lettuce and cabbage
• coat prawns with cornstarch and blend
• heat skillet and add oil when skillet is hot
• toss in prawns and chopped peanuts and cook for about three minutes
• remove from heat and combine prawns with the chili and Sriracha sauce
• spoon over shredded lettuce and cabbage

serve with a Phillips Hop Circle IPA

Quote of the Week - F. Scott Fitzgerald

My generation of radicals and breakers-down never found anything to take the place of the old virtues of work and courage and the old graces of courtesy and politeness.
(A letter to his daughter quoted in F. Scott Fitzgerald, A Biography by Andre Le Vot)

Vintage Honda Motorcycles

source

Vintage Honda Scooter fan page.

Vintage Honda motorbikes from the archives.