HELLO VANCOUVER!

As explained in a previous post, half of our planned trip to Canada and Alaska was cancelled due to ill health.   We missed the first two weeks of travel around parts of Canada which included Lake Louise, Banff, Jasper and others.   We joined the rest of the tour in Vancouver, the day before the proposed cruise into Alaska. 

A day in Vancouver gave us a mini-view of this pretty city.  Vancouver is  quite  'young' being established in 1886 and  I was impressed by some of the architecture, the cleanliness but perhaps a   bit disappointed in the apparent lack of pavement culture in the city.  I realise however,  that these observations were restricted to the immediate area near to our hotel.   The suburbs could of course prove be very different.   The coffee was also disappointing but friendliness and the 

excellent service, more than made  up for this! 

We visited The Nitobe Garden - a small Japanese garden opposite the University of British Columbia - a quiet hour spent in this lovely space was uplifting for our jet-lagged souls and below photos of this garden. 

Nitobe Memorial Garden

Below - a couple of photos of the  Museum of Anthropology at the University of British Columbia a visit which proved to be fascinating

Ancient Totum Poles

The Nanai people of Siberia, Russia used fish as their primary food source.  They used fish skins to create traditional-style clothing as is the case with this salmon-skin coat below.  These coats were light, water repellent and durable.  The skins would have been dried, moistened and kneaded to make them soft before being sewn into a garment.  The aplique embroidery and fabric were also added for embellishment.




Circumpolar clothing was manufactured from skins of local fish and mammals, was functional and often carefully crafted using intricate embroidery and delicate needlework.

I thought this coat was magnificent and I'm sure designers like Ralph Lauren have drawn inspiration from these garments as well as garments worn by the early indigenous people of the USA.

Vancouver Art Gallery

These beautiful lights inside the Vancouver Art Gallery are manufactured from paper.

Street Art - some of it quite superb

We also strolled through Gastown on the evening before our cruise even though we were warned by our hotel that we should be careful as this area could be 'dangerous'?..  Gastown was the Vancouver's first downtown area and was named after "Gassy" Jack Deighton, a Yorkshire seaman. 

Gastown is a mix of "hip" shopping, souvenir and home furnishing boutiques. The architecture is very attractive  as are the street lights,  trees and there is a trendy atmosphere. 

Gastown typical building style - note the street lamp

Steam clock in Gastown

As we leave Vancouver

Vancouver is overlooked by mountains

I will talk about Alaska in my next couple of posts.  I was very disappointed to have missed the Canadian component of the trip but as Vancouver is "only" a 14hr direct flight from Sydney,  we will definitely make a point of revisiting Canada.

    

ALASKA!

NEWS FLASH

Just a very quick  post to say that I'm very excited to have been given the go-ahead to leave on a trip tomorrow.  We were supposed to leave for Canada/Alaska two weeks ago but due to illness, had to miss out on the first part of the trip which was in Canada.  We will at least be in time to get to see Alaska!

I hope to blog from there and will be sure to post lots of photos!

Till then!

This hasn't been a healthy winter!

The past three weeks could not have crawled by more slowly if they tried!   Naomi from one of my favourite blogs Coulda Shoulda Woulda spoke this week about the Mercury Retrograde.  I'm blaming the two week break-down of our wifi,  Pneumonia and Shingles that was circulating in this household, entirely on this Retrograde!.. I mean - what other explanation could there possibly be.  My poor little grand-daughters have been constantly sick as well.  At last it feels (I hope) that things are slowly improving!   

So, while I wasn't lying on the sofa feeling sorry for myself,  I spent some hours on the computer doing 'house-stuff'!  The joinery drawings went off to be priced two weeks ago and I thought I'd show you a couple of the kitchen drawings and my choices.  It's such a coincidence that Heidi from Adelaide Villa is at a similar stage of her building as I am.  I am full of admiration of her skills as an architect//project manager and full time Mum to three little children.

Please go over to her blog and look at her kitchen choices as they are really beautiful - I especially love her choice of steel windows and the simplicity of her joinery.

I was inspired by lots and lots of kitchens .. and in particular...

Anyway - here are a couple of pics of my kitchen joinery.  As yet,  I am not sure whether the finish will be 2pac or hand-painted.  It depends which price is more attractive!  Unfortunately, I don't have all of the elements together in one picture so  fingers crossed it will look OK when it all goes in! 

I will probably use Hogg's Bristle half strength as the colour on the doors. I am still undecided about what to use for the bench tops...Probably Caesar Stone... or Stainless or both?  As you can see,  it is a very traditional design Not much glamour - hopefully functional, warm and inviting!  I have a lovely collection of old copper pots and Majolica which will be displayed.  I will also have terracotta pots with indoor plants on the deep window sill alongside the sink.  

This kitchen tap from Perrin & Rowe at the sink.

 

I have posted this pic to show the subway tiles as a splash back.  

This fitting above the Island - in chrome and clear ribbed glass shades.

I will be using a grey grouting 

Polished Nickel door knobs

Polished nickel drawer pulls

These oak floors throughout the Butlers pantry, kitchen and Breakfast/living

The Butlers pantry and kitchen

The East elevation of the kitchen.  The windows above the sink(not shown) are bi-fold.  The door on the left through to rest of the house is glass with glass side-lights

The view into the pantry from the kitchen.  The half-glass door through to the dining room.  Bottom right is a wine fridge, and bottom left of the door is a drawer dishwasher.

The dishwasher to the right of the sink will unpack mostly into the eastern side of the island.  The above shows the layout.  The tiles shown in the pantry are incorrect...we are using timber flooring.


I have also been dreaming about the garden.. probably as I've been inspired by Faux Fuchsia blog and her recent visit to many beautiful gardens in the UK.  

 In a way,  planning a smaller garden is more difficult as there is nowhere to hide .. ie - every square metre will be have to be planned out.  There is a level change in the back garden,  and we are planning a knee-high basalt stone wall with stone steps up to the higher level.  The pool is situated on the higher level.  I am using a timber pool fence which will weather grey and will compliment all of the pergolas which will be in natural timber as well.  I would have loved having the pool in the courtyard off the house,  but pool fences are ugly - no matter what material they are in.  Below are Pinterest images which I love.

Here's hoping for a bright, healthy couple of weeks ahead for everyone!  

A visit to Bowral for the day - and new house updates!

BUILDING UPDATES!

I have been very quiet on the blogging front!  We have not had the internet for over a week!!!.... Bigpond have almost driven Mr R-I to a mental asylum!  I have been using my iphone as a 'hotspot' which is not really reliable and anyone who blogs will know that reliable internet is essential when uploading photos!  

Anyway - we spent the day in Bowral on Tuesday.   I was delighted with the progress of the house as the roof installation is almost complete!  It's amazing how quickly the roof goes on, once all the box-guttering/flashing etc, is completed.  

It had been raining in Bowral and the site was very wet and soggy.  The good thing about having the roof on is that it allows for work to continue inside in all weather.   Some friends popped in as well to see the progress and we had lunch afterwards at our favourite cafe.   

I have also decided on the floor finishes!  Taking a leap of faith and using tiles in the gallery - which is a 2m wide passage, glass doors on either end,   linking the bedroom area and the kitchen.  It has large windows facing the courtyard and I thought tiles here would be great!  I am using timber and sisal carpet everywhere else - Timber in the kitchen/living and butlers pantry ( except there's no butler!).  

Looking at the back garden from the south facing verandah off the gallery.  That large tree is a Ginko Biloba.  The pool is on the left.  There will be a level change and I plan to contain the levels with knee-high stone wall.

Looking back at the courtyard off the gallery and between the kitchen/living and the bedroom wing.

View from the upstairs landing

Taken a few weeks ago before the roof installation

The wide street

The living room - impossible to see this room as it's a complete mess at the moment!

Looking across the courtyard from a kitchen bi-fold window - not the size seen here as it is above bench height.

Looking across the kitchen/living towards the fireplace.

upstairs bathroom window looking onto a lovely tree (in summer)

The Cupola!

Window of Bedroom 3

Looking at the front door entrance area - between the living room and the study(left)

My tile choice for the gallery

Timber floor

Bedroom 1

I am hoping that photos from now on will be a little more interesting!  Have a great weekend!