As summer approaches thoughts of lazy weekends at the beach distract us from... what we were just talking about? Oh right. How lovely it would be to spend some time in one of these cozy little seaside beach huts by James Ward. Each one is custom made using Red Swedish Pine with your choice of colors, finish and interior design for only $7500.
I saw this in the latest L.L. Bean catalog and wanted to order one immediately for the cabin. Sadly I noticed that it is just for USA locations so I thought I would post it here for our American readers.
We spent the weekend at the cabin. After heading to Spiritwood on Friday, we drove to Arlington Beach on Saturday where we were greeted by warm weather ad blue skies. After we unpacked the car and took Maggi for a swim (Last Mountain Lake still had a lot of ice on it but the beach was clear). While we were out for our walk, I gathered up some large rocks for our washer drum fire pit. The idea since we bought it was to surround it with some large stones. Our fire pit at home is made out of concrete blocks and I love the heat they give off after a long hot fire on a cool summer evening. Not only does it make the fire pit a look a little more permanent, the rocks should hold some of the heat as well. While we were out for our walk, Mark asked if he could sleep outside in his tent and was busy setting it up. We thought it would get chilly so Jordon sent out six blankets plus Mark’s sleeping bag out to him and after we had a fire, Mark went to bed.
Oliver was fussy during the night and while I was up with him, I noticed that it was snowing outside. Not heavily snowing but snowing enough to see. I expected Mark to come inside at any moment but he surprised me and spent the freezing night out in his tent with Hutch.
Sunday morning was even colder. After grabbing a shower, we decided to head to Regina for lunch and to do some shopping. The end result was Chapters where only Jordon found something. He bought The Somme by Sir Martin Gilbert which he read on Sunday afternoon. Normally I enjoy talking with Jordon about what he is reading but not this time, the Battle of the Somme was a little too disturbing and depressing. I picked up a magazine of landscape design which gave Jordon and I something to argue about for the rest of the weekend. On the way home we found some more large stones for the fire pit (bad for farmers, good for fire pits).
It was way too cold for Mark to sleep outside Sunday night. We didn’t get more than a couple of flakes of snow but it was quite a change from the summer temperatures we had last week.
The big thing of the weekend was that Oliver started to talk in a little more intelligible sentences this week. Some of this phrase are “dumb dog”, “shut up”, “poo poo bum poo poo”, “hug” as well as our names, well most of our names… Maggi and Hutch are “dog” but then again, they don’t listen to him anyways so what’s the point of learning their names.
I was surfing the Hammacher Schlemmer & Company website and saw this replica Coca-Cola cooler. While I can’t justify the $1000 price tag, it would look good in almost any cottage.
An authentically detailed replica of the Westinghouse Junior Coca-Cola cooler, this soda chest combines all the hallmarks of the original with modern refrigeration technology. The side-mounted bottle opener and cap catcher, swiveling wheels, and lid chain recall the ubiquitous self-serve refrigerated chests favored by mom-and-pop stores and barbershops in the 1930s. The 18-gauge stainless-steel chest is finished with a high-gloss, chip- and rust-resistant powder coat in classic red and white with Coca-Cola embossed on all sides and under the lid. Rubber seals along the lid, 1 1/2" of solid-foam insulation, and five temperature settings ensure optimal efficiency and cold beverages. The interior holds up to 80 12-oz. cans or 60 8-oz. bottles of your preferred beverage. Built to the exact dimensions of the original, the soda chest has the same footprint as a standard television stand.
34" H x 26" W x 18" D.
Over at The Tiny House Blog
6. Create a focus. If you are lucky enough to have a fireplace, accentuate it. Even if you don’t have a natural focal point, create one. Painting just one wall a different color will draw the attention into the room an make it seem bigger. Put a large credenza or entertainment center on that wall and decorate it with beautiful accessories.
Jordon ordered the Hammacher Schlemmer catalog last week and this caught my eye.
This space-efficient table and chair set is ideal for a patio or garden where space is limited. It offers convenient out-of-the-way storage and can be easily relocated indoors or outdoors. The Shorea wood (preferred for its outdoor, weather-resistant durability) is sealed with a protective oil finish that resists weather and gently grays with time. The set includes a 40 1/2"-wide octagonal table with four folding chairs. The table has two base crosspieces for stability and a slatted surface that sheds precipitation, plus a hole that accommodates an umbrella (not included). Each slatted chair is reinforced with a pair of spindles and has a curved back for comfort. Chairs stack underneath the table when not in use.
I love this photo from Apartment Therapy and the ideas that go along with it. The reuse of the dresser in the kitchen to store linens and other kitchen wares is a great idea. While you are at it, check out how this dresser was repurposed into a wonderful kitchen island.
I tried this at the lake this weekend. Didn’t quite turn out but I think I had a little too much baking powder.
Ingredients
3 cups of sifted flour
1 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons baking powder
water
vegetable oil or lard
Directions
Mix half the flour with the remaining dry ingredients.
Add water until the mixture becomes thick, "like a paper mache paste".
Add more flour until the dough feels like a soft earlobe.
Heat the oil or lard over a medium-high heat until very hot, but not smoking.
Break off small pieces of the dough and flatten each to the size of your palm, about 1/2-inch thick.
Place the pieces in the hot oil, turn after about 3 minutes, or when golden brown.
Place the bannock on a paper towel to soak up the excess grease.
