Lot #428 Castle Close

While we were up at Family Camp, it was the 50th Anniversary of Arlington Beach.  As part of the celebrations, someone did up the history of each lot at Arlington.  This is the history of our cabin.

Gazebo RIP

On Tuesday night a violent wind ripped through Arlington Beach and there was casualties.  Among others (our neighbors gazebo), our gazebo suffered a premature death.  Several of it’s welds broke which lead to a pretty big structural collapse.

Now I think we only paid $99 for it from Superstore but I am unsure if I want to replace it this year.  The weather is so weird that this year that I am not sure that it won’t happen again.  The other alternative is a 8 x 8 deck out there to go with the 6 x 8 deck at the front.  Of course one can actually hear the mosquitoes and dragon flies go nuts at night so maybe a covered structure is the way to go after all.

How To Build A Global Community

• Think of no one as “them”
• Don’t confuse your comfort with your safety
• Talk to strangers
• Imagine other cultures through their poetry and novels
• Listen to music you don’t understand
• Dance to it
• Act locally
• Notice the workings of power and privilege in your culture
• Question consumption
• Know how your lettuce and coffee are grown: wake up and smell the exploitation
• Look for fair trade and union labels
• Help build economies from the bottom up
• Acquire few needs
• Learn a second (or third) language
• Visit people, places and cultures — not tourist attractions
• Learn people’s history
• Re-define progress
• Know physical and political geography
• Play games from other cultures
• Watch films with subtitles
• Know your heritage
• Honour everyone’s holidays
• Look at the moon and imagine someone else, somewhere else, looking at it too
• Read the UN’s Universal Declaration of Human Rights
• Understand the global economy in terms of people, land and water
• Know where your bank banks
• Never believe you have a right to anyone else’s resources
• Refuse to wear corporate logos: defy corporate domination
• Question military/corporate connections
• Don’t confuse money with wealth, or time with money
• Have a pen/email pal
• Honour indigenous cultures
• Judge governance by how well it meets all people’s needs
• Be sceptical about what you read
• Eat adventurously
• Enjoy vegetables, beans and grains in your diet
• Choose curiosity over certainty
• Know where your water comes from and where your wastes go
• Pledge allegiance to the earth: question nationalism
• Think South, Central and North — there are many Americans
• Assume that many others share your dreams
• Know that no one is silent though many are not heard.
• Work to change this.

via

How To Build Community

• Turn off your TV
• Know your neighbours
• Look up when you are walking
• Greet people
• Sit on your stoop
• Plant flowers
• Use your library
• Play together
• Buy from local merchants
• Share what you have
• Help a lost dog
• Take children to the park
• Garden together
• Support neighbourhood schools
• Fix it even if you didn’t break it
• Have pot lucks
• Honour elders
• Pick up litter
• Read stories aloud
• Dance in the street
• Talk to the mail carrier
• Listen to the birds
• Put up a swing
• Help carry something heavy
• Barter for your goods
• Start a tradition
• Ask a question-hire young people for odd jobs
• Organize a block party
• Bake extra and share
• Ask for help when you need it
• Open your shades
• Sing together
• Share your skills
• Take back the night
• Turn up the music
• Turn down the music
• Listen before you react to anger
• Mediate a conflict
• Seek to understand
• Learn from new and uncomfortable angles
• Know that no one is silent though many are not heard.
• Work to change this.

via

Swedish Summer Fun

Three of Sweden’s top architectural firms; Kjellander + Sjoberg Architects, Sandell Sandberg Architects and Tham & Videgård Hansson Architects have worked at creating a series of thoughtful and stylish sheds / cottages. The 15 square meters garden shed may be is not much to create something with but as you can see here, they did a lot with a little.

Flexa Studio by Modern Cabana and Houseplans.com

The 10- by 12-foot structure comes pre-assembled or as a panelized kit-of-parts that you put together yourself. In both cases you build the foundation, then bolt the Flexa Studio to it. It’s eco-friendly thanks to the use of  FSC (Forestry Stewardship Council)-certified lumber, recycled denim insulation, prefabricated elements for minimal waste, and a small footprint for less site impact. In most jurisdictions, permits are not required for structures that are 120 square feet or less — check with your building department to verify local permitting requirements. Flexa Studio starts at $8950 plus shipping, which varies based on distance and whether you order it pre-assembled or as the panelized kit.

Garden Shed with Green Roof by SHED Architecture & Design

Yeah, I hate to admit it but the horizontal siding gets me almost every time.  The structure contains two spaces: 1) a bike and kayak storage area facing the street and 2) a potting shed facing the garden/ pool.  Large sliding doors open and close these functional spaces.  The roof top is a planted green roof.

Seashell Lighting

Over at Martha Stewart’s website, she has a nice idea for some patio lighting.

Click on the photo of this link to see how to put this together.  These jam jar chandeliers are a great idea as well and here is a different way to hang them.

Last Night at the Cabin

Barbecue Chicken Recipe

Ingredients

• ¼ cup fresh lemon juice
• 2 Tbsp. molasses
• 2 tsp. Worcestershire sauce
• 4 garlic cloves, chopped
• 8 chicken thighs, skinless
• Salt and pepper

Directions

1. In a large baking dish, combine the lemon juice, molasses, Worcestershire sauce, and garlic. Wash and dry the chicken thighs; dip them thoroughly in the marinade. Cover the baking dish and set in the fridge to marinate for 1 hour.
2. To barbecue the chicken: Heat up a gas or charcoal grill. Remove the chicken thighs from their marinade; discard the marinade. Sprinkle the thighs with salt and pepper. Grill for about 8 to 10 minutes, turning occasionally, until the thighs are nicely charred on the outside and done on the inside.

The Crib by Broadhurst Architects

 
 

In case this looks familiar, it is because it done by the same architects and shares many of the design characteristics of The Shack at Hinkle Farm.   You can get your own version of The Shack at Hinkle Farm by Broadhurt Architects with The Crib.

The Cribs has the basic form of traditional American corn cribs. There are 2 types of the shelter, the basic and full type. The basic type serves as a very nice gazebo, provides 175 sq ft of roofed space and 125 square feet of exterior deck space. The tiny structure is open to the elements (other than optional screen panels and doors) and can be assembled in a few days. The full crib provides 250 square feet of enclosed space and 125 square feet of exterior deck space. This structure is assembled and finished with SIPs roofing and flooring in about two or three weeks. All of the types can be elevated on an enclosed foundation that can house the bathroom, or storage space.

• For more information, check out The Crib or Broadhurst Architects.

Tandoori Marinade Recipe

• 1 cup Balkan-style yogurt
• 2 tablespoons of lime juice
• 1 tablespoon of smoked sweet or regular paprika
• 1 tablespoon of curry powder
• 1 teaspoon of salt
• 1/2 teaspoon of pepper

Combine all six ingredients in a medium bowl.  Store in refrigerator in airtight container for up to one week.  Makes about 1 1/4 cups

Source: Everyday Barbecuing by Jean Pare

Steakhouse Spice Rub Recipe

An all purpose beef rub.

• 1 tablespoon brown sugar, packed
• 1 tablespoon garlic powder
• 1 tablespoon lemon pepper
• 1 tablespoon onion powder
• 1 tablespoon salt
• 1 teaspoon pepper
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1/2 teaspoon pepper

Combine all 8 ingredients in a small cup.  Store in airtight container for up to 3 months.  Makes about 1/3 cup.

Source: Everyday Barbecuing by Jean Pare

Tomato Veggie Cups Recipe

Ingredients

• 2 cups of frozen mixed vegetables
• 1/4 cup of herb and garlic cream cheese, softened
• 1 tsp of chopped fresh dill
• 6 medium Roma tomatoes, halved lengthwise, pulp and seeds removed.
• Salt, sprinkle
• Pepper, sprinkle
• Grated sharp Cheddar cheese

Directions

1. Combine first three ingredients in medium bowl.
2. Sprinkle inside of each tomato half with salt and pepper.  Fill with vegetable mixture.  Sprinkle with Cheddar cheese.
3. Preheat barbecue to medium.  Please tomatoes on greased grill.  Close lid.  Cook for about 12 minutes until cheese in milted and vegetables are tender.  Makes 12 tomato cups.

Source: Everyday Barbecuing by Jean Pare

Pub Steak Recipe

• Can of beer (or non-alcoholic beer)
• 1 tablespoon of cooking oil
• 1 tablespoon of Dijon mustard
• 1 tablespoon of Montreal steak spice
• 1 1/2 pounds of beef outside round steak, about inch think, cut into 4 pieces

1. Combine first 4 ingredients in small bowl
2. Please steaks into large re-sealable freezer bag.  Pour beer mixture over top.  Seal bag.  Turn until coated.  Marinate in refrigerator for at least six hours or overnight, turning occasionally.  Remove steaks.  Discard any remaining beer mixture.
3. Sprinkle steaks with second amount of steak spice.  Preheat barbecue to medium-high.  Place steaks on greased grill.  Close lid.  Cook for abut 5 minutes per side until internal temperature reaches 145 degrees Fahrenheit (or 63 degrees Celsius) for medium rare or until steak reach desired doneness.  Transfer to large plate.  Cover with foil.  Makes 4 pub steaks.

Source: Everyday Barbecuing by Jean Pare