Today is National Tartan Day, which makes note of the signing of the Declaration of Arbroath in 1320. This document declared Scotland to be an independent and sovereign country – my, how things have changed.
Archive for the ‘Uncategorized’ Category
Where am I living this time?
April 5, 2017
Castles are usually expansive, grand affairs, but the old adage that good things come in small packages applies even to stone manors. Molly’s Lodge is the tiniest castle in the United Kingdom, and it also happens to be for sale.
Located on the northern edge of the Cotswolds in the southern tip of Warwickshire, Molly’s Lodge is a Grade II Listed (Britain’s ranking for buildings of historic interest that warrant preservation) property that was built in the 1830s by Edward Blore, the architect that expanded Buckingham Palace under the reign of Queen Victoria. It was originally used as a gatehouse for the Weston Park Estate, but is now a fully functioning home.
The 782 square foot Lodge features a Victorian cast iron fireplace, mullion windows, and a spiral staircase that leads up to the single bedroom. The property is on a .61 acre lot, with lovely gardens and a pond. There’s also a long, gravel driveway leading to the front door, an orchard, vegetable patch, and chicken run, with the idea that Molly’s Lodge could be self sufficient.
Also on the property is Molly’s Mews, a former stable that’s been converted into living space. The Mews is a bit larger than the Lodge, clocking in at 1,146 square feet. It has two carports, a single car garage, and a home office on the lower level, and an exterior staircase up to the one bedroom apartment with a kitchenette.
“Molly’s Lodge is certainly a unique Grade II listed home and there really isn’t much else like it in the area,” listing agent Iain Powis told Country Living. “The Cotswolds has a real breadth of architectural styles with everything from pretty thatched cottages through to grand manor houses and rectories, but this Gate Lodge offers something completely different. Interest so far has come from local buyers who are looking to downsize.” This might be the only castle that one could downsize to.
The property is listed for an equally small (considering it’s still a castle and all) £550,000, roughly $627,000. Especially when compared to the $30 million Guinness property.
What am I eating?
April 3, 2017
BOOKS! The 14th Edible Books Festival was held at Loganberry Books this weekend. People came and carefully set up their entries. Viewers paid their fee and carefully considered their favorites. After the judging was complete and the winners announced – the entries were demolished in less time than you can imagine. Here are some of the entrants this year.
The Monster Book of Monsters
Click Clack Moo
Pigs in Heaven
Not a Box
The Paper Dolls
And, in the adult category, Tequilla Mockingbird
What am I posting on Smoke and Mirrors Day?
March 30, 2017The answer is nothing – because Smoke and Mirrors Day was yesterday. However, I hope you enjoy this Penn and Teller bit of misdirection as much as I do.
What am I celebrating on tattoo Tuesday?
March 28, 2017
March 28 is Something on a Stick Day
When I was a Girl Scout and we went camping, sometimes we took twigs, took off the bark, wrapped the end in biscuit dough and baked them over a campfire. When they were done, we pulled them off the twigs and stuffed them with jam. I remember them being one of the best things I had ever tasted.
I am not sure I would have the same response now.
These look good, though.
And then there are corn dogs.
What am I riding?
March 23, 2017
Like all things that have their ups and downs, Otis elevators did not get off to a rousing start. People were afraid to trust the new devices. To allay their fears,
” . . . the company’s founder, Elisha Otis Graves, decided to make a dramatic demonstration at the New York Crystal Palace, a grand exhibition hall built for the 1853 Worlds Fair.
The company recounts this milestone in its history.
Perched on a hoisting platform high above the crowd at New York’s Crystal Palace, a pragmatic mechanic shocked the crowd when he dramatically cut the only rope suspending the platform on which he was standing. The platform dropped a few inches, but then came to a stop. His revolutionary new safety brake had worked, stopping the platform from crashing to the ground. “All safe, gentlemen!” the man proclaimed.
Otis’ demonstration had the desired effect. He sold seven elevators that year, and 15 the next. When Otis died only seven years later his company, now run by his sons, was well on its way. By 1873 there were 2,000 Otis elevators in use. They expanded to Europe and Russia. In rapid succession his company got the commissions for the Eiffel Tower, the Empire State Building, the Flatiron Building and the original Woolworth Building — in its day, the world’s tallest. In 1967, Otis Elevator installed all 255 elevators and 71 escalators in the World Trade Center.
But the very first commercial installation was on March 23, 1857, at a five-story department store at Broadway and Broome Street in what is now New York City’s SoHo district.”
Happy Elevator Day
Where am I working?
March 20, 2017
DoggyMan Kansai Logistics Center
A dachshund-shaped building was designed by Nikken and completed in 2011. It functions as DoggyMan’s warehouse and distribution center and is located in Osaka. It can be seen if you’re driving along the Hanshin Expressway No. 4. An outline along the roof lights up at night, allowing drivers to see the adorable shape even when its dark.
Kirin Beer Factory (Nagoya)
Located along the Tokaido Shinkansen Line (and viewable as you’re pulling out of Nagoya Station) is the Kirin Beer Factory. The tanks are immediately recognizable because they’re painted to look just like a tall glass of beer: golden brown on the bottom with white foam at the top. If you’re actually in Nagoya you can also schedule a free tour and tasting! (They even have a hip-looking restaurant)
Meiji Chocolate Factory (Osaka)
In 2011 Meiji, known for their chocolate candy, decided to refurbish their first factory that was originally built in 1955. Since then it’s been a magical place for kids and the company wanted to instill that same magical spirit into their new factory. Given that the JR Kyoto train line runs directly south, Taisei Design proposed an idea that to make the entire façade look like a gigantic bar of chocolate that can be seen from the train. It’s 28 m high and 166 m long, which is equivalent to 38,000 bars of chocolate. If you want to visit, they offer free tours as well.
(This one is my favorite.)
Taru Tonneau in Okinawa
In Okinawa there’s a bar and eatery known as the Barrel Restaurant. The real name is Taru Tonneau (taru means barrel in Japanese) and the shop is shaped like a gigantic whiskey barrel. It’s been around since at least 2012 but its website looks like it’s from the 90s. It’s one of the more wild novelty architecture designs we’ve come across but it certainly does the trick in announcing its business.
Gunsmoke and Knitting 