A Home Project and Highgate Cemetery

I’ve been working on a little project on the home front. There is a wide sill next to the kitchen so I thought I’d get a little planter box going.

Chamomile, thyme, chives, and strawberry!

I’ve never had my own garden. And this is about as close as I’m going to get for a while.

We took a trip to famous Highgate cemetery the other day. Karl Marx and creator of Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy, Douglas Adams reside there among other note worthy dead people.

The gatekeeper is hilarious and changes his accent to whatever nation you reside from. I think we said California and we got a “Well HOOOOWWWARDY ya’ll”! And as we left (trying to leave without him seeing) we got a “yar’ll come back now yaHEAAWWRRR”.

We went through Parliament Hill on the way back. Again, like Regent Park, I cannot show in pictures how beautiful this place is. It is THE ultimate family/picnic/outdoor fun destination. There were a lot of people there and still plenty of room left on the bright green rolling hills.

Some cockney prison rhyming slang experience. Grass, as in grass in the park, and park rhymes with nark! She told on them ooooooooooh!

Love and Warm Weathered London (Finally!)

~Valiant V

Something New-ish

Jesse's coworker's daughter is turning One! and having a party and she'll cry if she wants to!

I don't actually know them. But it's a chance to meet new people and see a new place. The party will be in lovely Kent. At least I think its lovely. We'll see.

I'm not sure how girly this girl is but I wanted to make something to say Happy Birthday. It's little blue bows with tiny cobra clips. Might start making these more often. Hopefully pictures on the recipient to come.

Love and BIRTHDAY CAKE YAY!...ahem...

~Valiant V

Hello Kitty?

I tried the bow in felt.

I like how it turned out.

Crafting A Bit Now

Made some new bows. A little green one and a bigger black one. mmmhmm.

I need to figure out ways of marketing myself while I'm here. Sigh. The need for money sucks.

Challenge from Home!

The wonderful owner of DiBartolo Café in Oakland requested...no...demanded that I post some of his stickers around town. The tube, the double deckers, etc.

I will not fail you John!

~Valiant V

Update 4/13/10: Big brother is all around. It's hard to put up stickers on buses and the tube with all the cameras. Gonna need some ingenuity with this challenge.

Regents Park

There are so many chunks of green glory in this large city.

One of which is Regents Park. Gorgeous. Pictures cannot show how epic and beautiful this place really is. There were a few crazy scenes witnessed while walking through it.

Lots of birds.

You know those large blue cranes we see every once in a while? Well there are lots of them here. Saw an old lady feeding a group of them like little pigeons.

Giant swans that growl at one another, intimidating.

Quaint and actually comfy green folding chairs that turns out you have to pay to sit in. No wonder no one was sitting in them. We snuck a sec though, ahhhh. I almost fell asleep in these.

ROW BOATS. Oh hell yes we are going back and riding in one of those bad boys. I'm looking at you Jason and Brian.

And finally... THE BATHROOMS ARE CLEAN! Need I say more.

We ended the adventure at our favorite pastry/tea shop Maison de Bertaux.

I couldn't wait for the tea. HAD to bite into that thang.

Love and Cranes and Eclairs

~Valiant V

National Geographic Presents: Ashley's London Discoveries

This Friday was the first official "nice Friday" of the year. Gorgeous evening weather.

So everyone was out in swarms in the downtown area (SOHO). I have never seen this before. Huge crowds of people surrounding outside areas of pubs. Huddled around smoking and drinking in the streets! There were police officers specifically patrolling to keep people from getting run over by taxis.

We met up with Jesse's coworkers for a drink at a pub called The White Horse. You can buy a bottle of wine and bring it outside and drink it. I know this sounds silly but it's just amazing for this Californian to see.

Love and Public Intoxication

~Valiant V

Late Update YEEEHAAAA!

There were a few things I did before I left that I wanted to share.

FARLEY'S

Pimped myself out at Farely's. Farely’s bathroom in Oakland has a blackboard wall that changes every once in a while. Before I left I posted my info one more time. Is it still there?

THE CIRCUS!

I went to a performance that my friend Gina helped put on. A wondrous circus from a local troupe at a center in Oakland. I think the show has already finished up BUT you can learn how to do the same things I saw that night!

HANDMADE HO DOWN.

Oh yeah! I went to a craft and cuisine show a few days before I left. It was a little smaller than I expected but there were some really great artists there.

I met Melissa from Blue Ribbon Salvage. She finds lovely antique medals and findings and creates unique jewelry out of them. There was one in fact that, I think, was a medal from china for ping pong honors! I immediately thought of Jess (he luuuurvs ping pong). Saving up to get me some of that antique awesomeness.

Lee was there from the World's Smallest Postal Service. I've heard about her great work from my friend Jill who was able to help her during the busy seasons but I finally got to see her in action there. On her little writing table, so cute. I LOVE getting and receiving snail mail but these cuties are just too ridiculous for words.

Another thing there that caught my eye was this photobooth in the corner. I got there just before the line was across the room. It was donation only and they had these props if you wanted. And instant digital 4 set picture. It was a shame I was there by my lonesome. You can reserve the booths for private events to capture “the faces and instants that define your event”. So fun.

And a shout out to the some of the providers of loot for the swag bags!

Ana Apple Designs

Yokomono Studios

Transient Treasures

Mangosteen

Bee ba la lou

More to come!

~Valiant V

I Have Arrived! Cheerio And What Not.

A few days, and many cups of tea later, I am finally writing to tell you that I have arrived!

I am writing this very early in the morning. The entirety of Great Britian's bird population apparently roosts right outside my bedroom window. I feel like a deranged princess with all those animals chirping me awake.

I’m still waiting on my packages to arrive with the rest of my worldly possessions, including all my craft things, but that is not at all a bad thing right now as I am still trying to get my bearings here on this crazy island. Jess has been oh so helpful with giving me time and space to adjust. Thank you babess.

With all this free time there should be more posting to come. Tali Ho!

I miss you guys.

~Valiant V

A Little Something To Tide You Over

Which candy should YOU eat?

Love and Plane Tickets

~Valiant V

Picture Source: AA