Lions Hold Coat of Arms and Crown Over Castle Shed

Amersfoort has a city emblem of lions holding the coat of arms and crown. My castle shed, inspired by the medieval city needed the same emblem. 

Left is a photo of the actual emblem on the Koppelpoort, water gate, it is about 2 to 3 feet wide. On the right is the drawing that hubby did to make it ten inches tall, in scale for our shed.

The crown is done in metallic gold paint.

 
 Wow! I love how it's coming out.

Still a little more to go.

All done and it's a fabulous little piece. We especially liked it sitting in a bookcase in the living room.

Here it is mounted above the door. It's made to fit the space but how I wish it was bigger. I put the bug in hubby's ear that if he made a larger one for the shed this one can go in the bookcase. Think he'll go for it?

Coat of arms now available at our Etsy shop here.

Garden Castle Solar Lights and Shelves

Little by little as we have time another project is planned or completed for the garden castle shed. The solar lights that have a slight torch look still need a decorative element that will be made of copper.

One day last week I pulled out yellow paper, pencil and scissors to create a paper pattern. Idea after idea and cut out after cut out just wasn't right. After idea number three I started numbering the paper patterns and made nine patterns. It was number eight that looks the best, here it is just taped to the wall.

Hubby got to work on shelves for the right side.

The recycled fencing shelves got a white washing with a mix of paint, water and carpenter's chalk dust.

Simple shelves are easy to move if things change, they just rest on the supports. As quickly as they dried they were loaded, to be organized later.

The white desk was moved out, couldn't stand the sticky drawers and just didn't want to deal with it. The plan is to have a small table that mounts to the studs, it will also be made of recycled fencing like the shelves and doors.

By evening, when the solar lights come on there is a nice glow. We still have many things to do, a shield like the Amersfoort water gate, maybe flags and it will need two gargoyles to match, he looks too lonely on the left all alone.

Yosemite National Park Ahwahnee Hotel and Queen's Table

On Friday we took another summer day trip with grandsons and daughter-in-law, Lisa. This famous view with half dome in the background always takes my breath away.

Excited grandsons, Davis and Reese. Really?

Lisa had never been inside the Ahwahnee hotel. We had 11:30 a.m. lunch reservations and requested the Queen's table, that could not be reserved. Waiting for lunch.

...and Davis's waiting in the grand lounge, can you tell he really wasn't impressed? We took the boys to lunch at the Ahwahnee last summer, that's how we learned about the Queen's table.

After our wait and request we were first into the dining room. Last year as we left the Reese said to me, "This is like the dining hall in Harry Potter."

Here we are being seated at the Queen's table, Jan stayed back and shot the photo of the impressive alcove. Last year when we took the boys I had planned on eating in the alcove. We were seated at the center table and our server told us it was called the Queen's table because Queen Elizabeth dined there on her visit a few years ago. During that meal we were also told that Tim Cook, Apple CEO, had dined at that table just three weeks before. Did that have anything to do with naming the new operating system Yosemite, getting away from all the cat names?

The grand lounge lives up to its name.

Jan took this shot of half dome from one of the windows.

Lisa had to see water, not much coming down this drought year at Yosemite falls. Her t-shirt says, Proud Supporter of Messy Hair and Sweatpants.

A visit to Yosemite always includes a stop in front of El Capitan to watch climbers. Jan zoomed in on two.

Lisa had to do a few Bar Method poses to share with her friends, El Capitan makes a statement.

Carmel by the Sea, La Bicyclette and Tour de France

Daughter-in-law, Lisa, loves the beach and was disappointed a couple of weeks ago when we went to Hearst Castle and didn't have time at the beach.

Friday we made a day trip to Carmel. After a few stops we had to have lunch, Jan and I had planned to go to La Bicyclette at Dolores and 7th street. Lisa and the boys had never eaten there.

What a coincidence! Look at Lisa's shirt and the restaurant window display.

La Bicyclette is like a European cafe. This month the Tour de France is the highlight. Look at the 1920s photo of bikers, smoking and passing a cigarette.

It was very busy, we got to sit at the staff table in the back, great atmosphere with blackboard chalk walls, wood, chairs, and bread. Lisa, Davis, me and Reese.

 Smile, standing next to Jan, my Dutchman.

Isn't the table great? Would be nice to have a couple of similar tables for our back patio.

Lisa and I toasted the day with a sparkling wine, left out our designated driver.

The guys all had pizza from the wood burning oven. Lisa and I had the Tour de France special, stew with noodles. Reese took the photo, a budding photographer.

Lisa was in her glory at the beach, here showing some Bar Method poses.

Reese kept saying he didn't want to go to the beach, mom was thrilled when he got out there.

They dragged me in so finally pulled my pants legs up. What a gorgeous day it was!

Davis had the least fun, just wanted to go home and back to his computer.

Olde England Inn Victoria British Columbia

Making crumpets on Sunday reminded me of the first time I had crumpets.
It was at the Old England Inn in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada in the early 1980s.

The inn impressed me because of my love of anything English and I had never been to England at that time. Afternoon tea and dining at the inn were memorable events, staff was in costume. I still remember the crumpets at teatime and the roast beef and Yorkshire pudding at dinner.

Below are the 6 sides of a 1986 folding brochure from my old travel files, each section scanned.

 Such a shame that the inn has changed, it is no longer filled with antiques and is not English Inn.

For a 1980 article about the couple who developed the Olde England Inn go to this link.

Crumpets and Tea

We spent the 4th of July poolside with family. After great hamburgers and fixings for dinner we had TV time with the grandsons.

Today was a quiet end to a holiday weekend. Hubby and I are sitting out after finishing up the last of the crumpets I made earlier today. I also made lemon curd.

Here it is after the sun went down, we had set the table.

Holes in crumpets have eluded me with many recipes. Today I tried a recipe by Titli Nihaan from her YouTube channel, The Bread Kitchen. She has a lovely British voice, watch her make them Here.

All set for crumpets and tea. Hubby poured tea from my latest English teapot.

 Yum yum! Loved the crumpets slathered in lemon curd.

   

Now all the solar lights have come on....

 ... and one candle. Time to say good night.