Gingerbread Architecture: Part 2

Finally finished my gingerbread design!

Bedford Butterfly Footbridge, UK (Courtesy of Wikipedia)

I followed this recipe (thank you, Food Network):

• 6 cups all purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 4 teaspoons ground ginger
• 4 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves or allspice
• 1/2 teaspoon salt

• 1 1/2 sticks (12 Tbsp) butter, softened
• 1 1/2 cups packed light brown sugar

• 2 large eggs
• 1 cup dark molasses
• 1 Tbsp water

1) Beat butter, b. sugar

2) Mix in dry ingredients

3) Add eggs, molasses, and water.

4) Knead until manageable

Oven temp: 350 , Time: 11-15min

...and away I went.

Merry Christmas to you and yours!

San Francisco in Jell-O

San Francisco

It's always a little sad to see all the gardening tools and beach towels packed away, in favour of binders and lined paper. In my case, school supplies includes model supplies.

But I'm taking a cue from Liz Hickok, and her scale model of San Francisco in Jell-O, this year as inspiration for getting creative with model-making projects.

Alamo Square

Bay Bridge

♥

I'll be sharing this inspiration at For the Love of Blogs

Kissing Bridge Legend

It's Sunday morning, which seems as good a time as any to tell a ghost story...

***

Local legend has it that the Kissing Bridge of West Montrose is haunted.

West Montrose, Ontario

West Montrose is a sleepy town, surrounded in acres of farmland and solitude. The town was largely settled by Old Order Mennonites. Many of the town's descendents continue to live and practice traditional Mennonite customs, including the use of horse and buggy.

The bridge was built by two brothers in 1880. 

Many young couples would meet under the bridge, out of sight of any prying eyes.

Until one night...

A young couple agreed to meet at the bridge, under the cover of dark. But the ill-fated couple did not meet that night, and instead the young girl's life was tragically cut short when she trampled by a horse and buggy, passing beneath the bridge.

To this day, she has been known to roam the bridge at night, looking for her sweetheart. 

Residents hear the clatter of horse-hooves when the bridge is empty.

100 years later, and no one will walk alone on the Kissing Bridge.

***

 

I'll be sharing my spooky story at
Saturday Morning's No Rules Link Party
It's A Very Cherry World's Rednesday

Pictures courtesy of Wikipedia.

LDN

You might laugh, you might frown

Walking round London-town

LDN by Lily Allen

"Big Ben" and the London Eye, London, England

City Plaza, London, Ontario

I'm often told that the streets turn into gold

When moon shines on Circus and Square

London by Night by Frank Sinatra

Churchill Monument, London

London Monument, Ontario

After all this, won't you give me a smile?

London Calling...

London Calling by The Clash

Tourist for a day

The university I attend is not exactly enormous, but over the last few years it’s expanded a lot. We currently have only one library, but all year long the university has been putting up a brand new one, and I see it every day on my way to the food court. Doesn’t it look amazing? 

I do have one small objection: the name. It’s called the “House of Learning”, which I have to say, does not exactly match the prestige that the building radiates.

The building was designed by Diamond and Schmitt, and kudos to them for a daily inspiration for yours truly.

Meanwhile, downtown has one of the best footbridges.

As you walk up the steps there are inspirational messages on the stairs every half-dozen steps.

Love my town... beautiful.

All things bridges.....

Mackinac Bridge, Northern Michigan

In the field of design, bridges are separated from anything else.

My favorite bridge has to be the Confederation Bridge. 

The ultimate "welcome".

Followed by a close second, the BP Bridge...

So unusual, yet it fits in perfectly with the rest of the park.

And in my own backyard, the Alex Fraser Bridge in Vancouver.

I must be the world's most unusual tourist, seeking out and taking pictures of bridges, but they fascinate me like no other aspect of the design world.