Lake Shrine
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Yesterday I checked out a place I had read about in our AAA magazine. It's called Lake Shrine, and it's a multi-denominational spiritual center in the Pacific Palisades. There as a wedding there yesterday, so I couldn't explore everything, but the grounds are beautiful. They hold Sunday services, but the rest of the week the property is open to the public. There's a little chapel in the windmill, and a temple in a section I couldn't get to.
Projects
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I love old things, and I love making things. The new house has been the source of many opportunities to make something new out of something old. I also love to scavenge and treasure hunt, and as a result most of our furniture is second hand. I like thinking that our stuff had a life before it got to us, and that I get to rehabilitate much of it. Here are some projects I've been working on the last few months...
Got this bookcase for free on craigslist. Pitiful looking.
Shabby chic-ified! Books now cover the hole.
I'm very proud of this next one because it almost defeated me.
Found this at a thrift store. Liked the frame, hated the painting in it, so I repainted with lyrics from a song in our wedding.
The ad for this place advertised it as a "creative guest house." I now know they choose the word "creative" because it's so weird inside you have to be creative to make it work! For example, we have no drawers in the kitchen. Zero. What to do with the silverware? I got these wire containers (actually tea light lanterns), and after we wash the silverware (no dishwasher either), it goes straight in the baskets where it can dry and we don't have to first put it on a drying rack and then put it away. It's also very easy to take silverware outside when we're eating on the porch or have a group over; we just put the wire baskets on a tray and take them out. Other kitchen utensils live in a flower pot.
More to come. I'm currently tackling some more chairs (why do I do this to myself?) and I've bartered with a friend who is making me some curtains in exchange for a website. The fun continues!
Old window pane with fabric. I found a great fabric store with lots of terrific remnants. I may have started a fabric habit.
$7 thrift store chair.
Sand. Paint. Remove fabric. Recover with fabric remnant. Curse. Keep recovering.
Handsome chair! I even used upholstery nails on this one.
More fabric.
Found this on the side of the road (told you I scavenge). It was stained and covered in spiders.
Sand. Paint. Remove fabric. Recover with fabric remnant. Curse. Keep recovering.
Handsome chair! I even used upholstery nails on this one.
More fabric.
Found this on the side of the road (told you I scavenge). It was stained and covered in spiders.
Sanded. Painted. Love it.
The ad for this place advertised it as a "creative guest house." I now know they choose the word "creative" because it's so weird inside you have to be creative to make it work! For example, we have no drawers in the kitchen. Zero. What to do with the silverware? I got these wire containers (actually tea light lanterns), and after we wash the silverware (no dishwasher either), it goes straight in the baskets where it can dry and we don't have to first put it on a drying rack and then put it away. It's also very easy to take silverware outside when we're eating on the porch or have a group over; we just put the wire baskets on a tray and take them out. Other kitchen utensils live in a flower pot.
More to come. I'm currently tackling some more chairs (why do I do this to myself?) and I've bartered with a friend who is making me some curtains in exchange for a website. The fun continues!
Roomie Reunion
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One of my favorite parts of the year is whenever the roomies are able to get together. It's been more difficult the last few years with babies, jobs, and pesky California being so far away, and that made this visit even more special. Three whole days, part of 2 days, no babies (as wonderful as they are, I still love their mamas most), and a beach house to play in.
Day 1: Zach calls.
Z: So what have you all been doing?
L: Oh, talking, watching DVDs. We walked on the beach. We talked.
Day 2:
Z: What did you do today?
L: We talked, went to the pool. Went out for dinner. We stayed up late talking.
Day 3:
Z: What are you guys doing for the rest of the day?
L: I think we're gonna go to the pool. Maybe take some magazines. And talk.
Z: What could you possible still have to talk about?
And that's just the thing. We'll never run out of stuff to talk about! Looking forward to spending my golden years at the Furman retirement home with you, roomies!
Zombie Rabbit
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Christina and I decided that "Sister Day" would make a nice holiday, so we agreed on a date and sent goodies to each other. Among her gifts to me: a bunny cake pan. So fitting. I told her that everyone would know the true depths of my dorkiness when I served them a rabbit cake. 'Cause heavens knows I'm not waiting until Easter to break out a bunny cake. I made one this weekend. The decorative icing got a little runny, but here is attempt #1: a zombie rabbit. Next time, more gruesome.
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