Things to know about building a fence

My latest story for The Seattle Times is all about setting boundaries, literally. What you need to know if you're thinking about building a fence.

Here's a link.

Modern horizontal cedar
Cedar frame with hog wire grid
Classic white picket
Trellis detail for growing vines
Dark stain
Alternating widths on pickets for interest
Galvanized chain link
Daffodil season

If you only have one day in Vancouver, B.C. …

If you only have one day in Vancouver, here's what I'd do: 

  • Park at Science World (flat rate $12 until 6:30 p.m.)
  • Science World admission is FREE with Pacific Science Center membership and it is super fun
  • Take the Aquabus from Science World to Granville Island
  • Granville Island! There's a 2-story kids market, artist studios, a public market
  • Take the Aquabus back to Science World
  • IF you still have time, walk over to Chinatown

Lynn Canyon or Capilano Suspension Bridge Park?

Capilano Suspension Bridge Park: $67 per adult, $27 per kid

Lynn Canyon Park: Free

Guess which one the kids liked better?

Lynn Canyon!! (I could have saved myself a LOT of money.) Lynn Canyon is a little like Discovery Park, it's adjacent to a residential neighborhood, it's 15 minutes from downtown Vancouver, and it feels like a world apart.

Waterfall, mossy giants, a (maybe unofficial) swimming hole, and a suspension bridge. Restrooms and cafe on site, and a parking lot that is free before March 1 and after Oct. 1.

Brr!

Vancouver, B.C.: Stanley Park, Robson St

Lunch date with these XLB enthusiasts. Dinesty is the real deal —they even have shao bing you tiao 燒餅油條 on their "breakfast" menu (anytime before 2:30 p.m.).

The boys' favorite thing to do in Vancouver is renting bikes and riding the 6-mile Stanley Park loop. The path is flat, paved and impossibly scenic.

For most of the ride, my view was of two dots disappearing into the distance.

At one point I completely lost sight of the kids and I panicked, did someone fall into the water? When I saw them stopped ahead (PHEW) I thanked them for waiting for me.

Paul: "I wasn't waiting for you. I was waiting to tattle! 我沒有在等你。我在等告狀!" (Joseph accidentally swerved into the pedestrian lane, and Paul just HAD to tell on him.)