Amy - 2 months old!

smile for the camera!

Amy & Lara

zzzzzzzzzzzzz...

St Patrick's Day 2012

Phil and Fer standing beneath the Sanctuary Lamp

This past Saturday, St. Patrick's Day, Marie and I, Phil and Fer along with Christina and Patrick who drove down from Ottawa celebrated Mass at St. Patrick's Basilica. Rosalia, who returns to Mexico City this coming week, stayed at home and looked after Amy. She will miss her granddaughter but hopefully takes back many many happy memories of her time here! It was another beautiful and warm late winter day and we were all in good spirits as we made our way downtown on the Metro. Pastor Msgr Francis John Coyle spoke on the past history of the Irish in Montreal and the beginning of the church built in 1847 - 165 years ago! It was a very special Mass for us as the Sanctuary Lamp had been burning it's red candle this week in memory of our little angel. I was not aware of the significance of the Lamp but from the Kings James version of the Bible I find it says: And thou shalt command the children of Israel, that they bring thee pure olive oil beaten for the light, to cause the lamp to burn always. In the tabernacle of the congregation without the veil, which is before the testimony, Aaron and his sons shall order it from the evening to morning before the Lord: it shall be a statute for ever unto their generations on the the behalf of the children of Israel. After the service we had the Pastor bless Patrick's remembrance book that we had brought with us and which we keep in a prominent spot in our home. It has been 2 years now since we lost our grandson but his memory never fades and he is with us each day. Amy of course reminds us of him, but is another gift we cherish and will always thank God for. A beautiful St. Patty's Day and lest I forget to wish you all reading this - May you have a world of wishes at your command, God and his angels close to hand, friends and family their love to impart, and Irish blessings deep in your heart ! gws

Phil & Fer, St. Patrick's Basilica

First outing for Amy, on the hottest March 18th in history in Montreal (75 degrees F.) !

starting to smile!

our little sweetie!

hugging Grandpa!

Here is a video of a song, Prayer of the Children I like, in memory of Patrick....

Louis & Denise

Marie's cousins, Louise and Denise Séguin, and her Godmother Madame Leblanc visited us this week to extend best wishes to Phil and Fer on the arrival of baby Amy. She was on her best behaviour as usual and enjoyed the attention. It was certainly nice to see Louis and his wife again after so many years and to hear all the news of their family. They brought Amy a lovely yellow sleepwear outfit and a small statuette - a child within a protective hand.  We all really appreciate their kind gesture and regret that in our busy lives we don't see friends and family as often as we should. We parted promising to get together once again this summer when Marie and I drive out to the cabin. Louis and Denise have a trailer in a campground in the small village of Mansonville in the Eastern Townships, south of highway 10, near the Vermont border...a bientot, nos amis! gws

Denise, Louis, Marie and Amy

Madame Leblanc, Amy and mama

Happy Birthday Philippe!

Farewell Montreal!

outside L´Acadamie, Crescent St, Montreal

This Saturday night Marie and I met Cesar and Rosalia for dinner at one of our favourite restaurants,
 L´Acadamie, on Crescent downtown. This would be a farewell to Montreal for Cesar who returns to the bustle of Mexico City early Monday morning. A late supper Sunday night and up early to head for the airport...so till we meet again, compadre!  gws

Un des restaurants que nous aimons beaucoup à Montréal!

a sample from the menu....

Filet de poulet à la Vénitienne (à la limette) .........................................................................................  20
Bifteck coupe N.Y.  (sauce au poivre)  ....................................................................................................  30
Filet mignon (au vieux porto)   .................................................................................................................  30
Suprême de poulet  (au poivre rose)  ......................................................................................................  21
Pétoncles grillés aux fines herbes  ......................................................................................................  28
Saumon (à la crème de basilic)  ................................................................................................................ 22
Thon grillé au poivre (vinaigrette au gingembre, coriandre et soya) ...........................................................  28
Magret de canard (sauce porto et framboise)  ........................................................................................  27
Crevettes à la crème d’ail  ..................................................................................................................  27
Sole meunière  ......................................................................................................................................  20
Langoustines grillées  ..........................................................................................................................  29
Carré d'agneau (sauce au romarin)  .................................................................................  prix du marché

Metro station Guy-Concordia

last supper...till we meet again...

March...in like a lion!

Amy's first outing - Maharajah restaurant, Montreal

Well how totally wrong could my prediction be about a green March? It started snowing on the 28th of last month and hasn't stopped since - we must have over  a foot and a half down already. But rain and warm temperatures is forecast for the next few days so it looks like a trip to the cabin later in the week might be in order. This is the last week that Cesar will be spending in Montreal as he flies back to Mexico City on the 5th. I imagine he is getting a bit homesick now and eager to see his kids and resume his morning walks in the park across from his house. Hopefully he will be able to come up later on in the year when the weather is hot. Rosalia will be staying on for a few more weeks helping out Phil and Fernnanda with the baby. Amy is growing like the proverbial weed and doing very well. Fer baked a cake to celebtate her first month and as you can see by the photos Amy is now a chubby and healthy little girl! Meanwhile we continue to renovate, rewire, replace and repair here in our duplex - Phil redoing the laundry room in the basement and Marie and I putting in electrical plugs, wall heaters and trying to solve a recurring problem with water pressure in the bathroom shower. Its a fact of life that upkeep never ends in an old building. Hopefully when we leave here and are long departed some part of us will remain in what we have accomplished! I think what we do here reflects on how we approach life in general...for they who love an old house never love in vain....gws

Amy cutting the cake!

Marie & her petit-fille

proud abuelos!