4 Good Things About Last Weekend

  Capilano Canyon hike

  Finding The Handbook of Natural Plant Dyes at the library


   paying a whopping $1.75 for a vintage Coach bag, an antique Dietz lantern and a 1926 Vogue poster at a church flea market

mastering the recipe for this sweet potato burger (I baked it at 450 for 20 minutes on each side)

Inspiration - Doors in the West End

Next to the mantle piece, the front door is probably one of the most popular backdrops for family photos. It is also the first impression your home makes on visitors and passersby. I like to think of the front door as the gate keeper that both guards and greets. Sprucing up your front door can be an economical way to add some zest to your home or, don't make me say it -> curb appeal.Some things to consider when planning for your front door redo:

• give your door its own special character such as, but not limited to, a contrasting colored trim, French tile numbers, or a brass lion's head knocker
• bushes, plants or vines such as honeysuckle not only add a welcoming scent but also soften any imposing lines leading to your door
• your door should be of the same period or style as your home
• if your front door is actually on the side or around the back, a path, canopy or entrance courtyard indicate this is the way to the main entrance
• your front door is an extension of you and your family. It welcomes visitors into the home you've created out of a house.

A selection of front doors from Vancouver's West End:







Originally published July 7, 2009

Related Posts:
The Decline of West Coast Modernism
Windows: Keep it Simple
Tips for Decor in 620 Square Feet

Enjoy Your Weekend

You and I are of the Same Persuasion

Therefore, I recommend reading this book, this weekend.
Being of a different mindset than the rest of the United States, Northern California, Oregon and Washington (Cascadia to those in the know) separate from the rest of the country creating an environmental utopia. Most of what the author proposes can happen - some of which already has.  Where should we start?

I bought my used copy (in good old Ecotopian fashion) in Vancouver at Macleod's Books. He had one more copy - ask for it. You can also buy it here.

10 Boots for Men - Fall Winter 2012

Church's

etsy

Dr. Martens

etsy

Fiorentini and Baker

moma

etsy

paul smith

etsy

etsy

ps I've updated my men's favourites on etsy

In his bag you will find

In all fairness, I grabbed the bag from him last night (no staging allowed) and he had stuff for a weekend event in it - hence the big camera. I was surprised there weren't any little papers (receipts, candy wrappers, etc); he usually leaves a trail of them.

The bag is a vintage Frye messenger.

A New Architecture for the Pacific Northwest

 

 The Rondette, 1967

• can be built on any site, in any climate
• customizable and interchangeable walls, windows and doors
• 'packaged' structure
• can be used singly or expanded with the addition of other units
• available in four models, from an eight-sided 335 s.f. 'efficiency' unit to a 12-sided 775 s.f. unit
• nine-sided one bedroom unit shown comes with a redwood deck
• elevated on poles to protect the forest floor

Did you know that a single footstep in one of Oregon's coastal forests is taken on the backs of sixteen thousand invertebrates and that one square metre of temperate forest soil can contain as many as two million creatures representing a thousand species?

September 1989 Vintage Ungaro

Fall Winter 1989

supermodels

How to Make Cedar Plank Lobster Tails

45 years is a long time. That's how long my parents have been married. This August, we took a drive up to Kelowna to make them a special anniversary dinner. I chose cedar plank lobster tails with roasted radishes because my Dad loves lobster, and my Mom loves radishes.

Cedar Plank Lobster Tails

What you need:

• 1 jalapeno pepper
• ½ tsp finely grated lemon zest
• 2 tbsp lemon juice
• 2 tbsp unseasoned rice wine vinegar
• 1 tsp granulated sugar
• ⅓ cup good quality olive oil, plus more for grilling
• 6 uncooked lobster tails (7 to 8 oz each), halved lengthwise *
• 2 untreated cedar planks (7" x 14" or similar), soaked in water for 2 hours**

What you do:

1. Preheat the grill to medium-high. Place the pepper on the hot grill and cook until charred on all sides, about 6 minutes. Let cool, then remove the charred skin from the jalapeno and cut the pepper in half, discarding the seeds. Finely dice the jalapeno.

2. Place the diced pepper in a jar with a tightly fitting lid. Add the lemon zest, lemon juice, vinegar and sugar; cover and shake well to blend. Add the oil and replace the lid. Shake the mixture again until emulsified. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Set aside.

3. Brush the cut side of the lobster tails lightly with olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Place the cedar planks on the grill, close the lid and heat for 4 minutes. Arrange the lobster tails, cut side down, on top of the planks. Close the grill lid and cook until meat is opaque, not transparent, and firm to the touch, about 8 to 10 minutes.

4. Serve the lobster tails with a drizzle of the lemon jalapeno vinaigrette on top and more on the side for dipping.

** I picked up the cedar planks at Rona. A pack of two was $5.80. You can also get them at William Sonoma - for twice the price

Roasted Radishes

What you need:

• 1-¼ lbs medium-sized radishes, trimmed and quartered
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 2 cups fresh watercress, washed and drained, thick stems removed
• 2 tbsp fresh mint leaves, cut into a chiffonade

What you do:

1. Preheat the oven to 425°F. In a medium bowl, toss the radishes wth the olive oil and season with salt and pepper.

2. Transfer to an oven-safe skillet and roast until golden and tender when pierced with a knife, about 25 minutes.

3. Remove the pan from the oven, add the watercress and stir until the watercress is slightly wilted. Stir in the mint and serve immediately.

Tip: Roasting radishes sweetens and mellows their flavour. For best results, choose golf ball-sized radishes and quarter them.

recipe adapted from Style at Home