Bench Seat Renovation

AFTER:

BEFORE:

DURING:

Unscrew the seat. Sand the wood so that the paint adheres properly.

Pick sunny day. Paint with semi-gloss white. Flip over. Repeat.

Use flat head screwdriver and needle-nose pliers to remove
bazillion furniture staples. Save padding.

JUST SHOWING OFF:

Just after DURING and before SHOWING OFF, there was a mad hunt for the heavy-duty staple gun and staples, a trip to the local fabric store, mild horror at the price of fabric that would look best, calming moment after realization of how little material was actually needed, massive stapling to attach new fabric to old seat, screwing of the seat to the bench after misplacing the original screws and searching for four new screws that were long enough.

Voila!

A new bench seat in three easy steps...I think I need to sit down.

Walkabout in South Park

Last night was the Spring Walkabout in South Park, an evening festival.

A chance to enjoy live music, taste a bite of chocolate from Eclipse, sip a glass of wine while shopping at a vintage boutique and meander through a charming San Diego neighborhood.

If you missed it, there is still the Summer (July 19), Fall (October 4) and Holiday Walkabout (December 6) to enjoy in 2014.

This gym is located in Fire Station No. 9, San Diego's oldest fire station.

The Grove sells books, yarn, clothing and home furnishings.

Scored a pair of bamboo sunglasses at Graffiti Beach.

So Childish - stylish gifts for infants and toddlers.

Totally motivated for another walkabout, in the daylight, to enjoy the architecture in South Park.

Crab Cooker in Newport Beach

It used to be a bank.

Now they keep fish in the vault.

This is just one of the fun reasons why you should have a meal at the Crab Cooker in Newport Beach, California.

Printed on the paper placemat:

These walls once housed treasures of the Bank of America but now they house the treasure of our fish. Yes, right where the vault of the bank was we have our fish in refrigeration. We are the only seafood joint that keeps its fish in a vault.

This building was constructed in 1936 for the Bank of America. The insignia of the Bank of America can still be seen on the outside corners of this building about 16 feet above the ground. Ain't we lucky to be fishermen and also own a bank?

Eating at the Crab Cooker is a bit like having an indoor picnic - plastic fork, paper plate, even little plastic cups for the wine.

And you can shake out bread balls and breadsticks till you get full.

The seafood, oh the seafood.

It is prepared simply.

No fuss, no muss, just tasty and fresh.

And if you ask your server nicely, she will take your camera back to the kitchen and take snaps of the outside and inside of the vault!

Order the swordfish.

With a cup of chowder or a shrimp cocktail...

Pre-Surf Huddle

Venice Beach, a week ago.

Downward dog pose?

Morning meditation?

Looking for something in the sand?