Trip to San Francisco

Took Edward to the City on Friday April 9th. On the way up we visited a woodworkers gallery in Half Moon Bay that I have been trying to get to for some time. Its called Gallery M and they have some really amazing stuff.

Edward wanted to go to the City to revisit a train display at the Conservatory of Flowers in Golden Gate Park. It was interesting reading about the history of the Conservatory, it is one of the oldest buildings in San Francisco having originally been build in about 1878. They always run some exhibit in the one side of the Conservatory and in this case they have created a garden railway with many of the familiar buildings in the City.

After we spend some time at the Conservatory we walked over to the Academy of Sciences and spent the afternoon learning about animals and visiting the Stienhart aquarium inside the Academy. We really enjoyed visiting the living roof, which is really wonderful and very interesting from an ecological stand point. Sorry but I must have been so overwhelmed that I forgot to take pictures. The weather was really wonderful one of those really rare San Francisco days. We took our time driving home via Highway One and listened to the Giants win a ball game in 14 innings, it was really exciting and a great end to a very nice day.

Octagon Box

I have completed another project in the shop. Seems a bit anti-climatic as the whole family is really waiting for me to complete the bed for Teddy. I am done with the headboard on that and working on the foot. This box was really created out of a thought that I should be able to do it but do I have the skills. I am very pleased with it, I would change a few things if I redid it but I really like it. So this puts me on to the next project. I keep three going at any one time due to the need for supplies and times that I have to wait for stuff to dry. We currently have The Bed (as always), a new speaker system with clock, and a toy box for the living room. I took he week off for spring break and due to scheduling problems we are not traveling so I am making a lot more progress then normal in the shop. If the Van would stay together long enough (engine like keeps coming on) I could pick up the wood to complete the toy box. Speaker system is waiting on the clock parts. So you guessed it I am spending most of my time on the bed.

Guinness Cake

Be sure to check out the newest recipe I added to the blog last month. This cake was on the NPR website for St. Patrick's day. It is a very unusual cake to make since the batter is all made on the stove in a pot. Then poured into a cake pan and baked. I haven't made a lot of scratch cakes but I have never made the batter for any on the stove. Try it, we like it a lot.

March is birthday month for two of my favorite people. My mother Lydia and my Grandson Gavin. We had Mom over for dinner at Bittersweet in Aptos. I think she enjoyed it a great deal. Gavin had a wonderful birthday and got many presents which he is still in the process of deciding which are his favorites.


It is a little hard to believe the he is now 3 years old. He is a wonderful companion on our walks and can travel at least as far as his buddy Revel for a cookie. I look forward to a few more years of having the little guy wake me each morning and hit the trail, although not sure how much longer we can do it with the backpack.