JOYEUSES FÉTES A TOUS!  Marie, Gary & Muffy gws

Mexico

   On the 18th of this month Marie and I will be flying down to Mexico City for 10 days. After that we are off to attend the union of Philippe and Fernanda in the Capilla de Nuestra Senora de Guadalupe at the Gran Caribe Real Resort & Spa in Cancun, Mexico. This will be a traditional Mexican ceremony and the completion of the vows begun at the Palais de Justice here in Montreal on November 17th. From there we will be going over to Cozumel for three days (Jan 1st-4th) at my sister's place, below.


                           

      Should be a fun time and a nice break from the winter cold! I will have lots of pictures and memories to share early in the New Year so come back and hear about our adventures!  gws

The Big Storm

View from my bedroom balcony

Dining room window - note new trim and curtains!

Back yard

   Here are some more pix of the snow storm of the night of December 6th! Forecast was for 2 cm, we got 20! Most of the drifts are from the wind so it looks worse than it was. Just the start of a lot more predicted for the winter of 10/11. Have a great week everyone and stay warm!  gws

Hiver!

                     Et voila! L`hiver est arrive! Pauvre petite Muffy! gws

"The Exiles Prayer" - a poem by my Grandfather William A. Steward

Farewell my country e'er I sleep tonight
Thy glories will have faded from my sight.
In yon new land, God teach me to do right
And ne'er forget thee.

Thy glorious history shared within my breast
Gives to the wanderers life an added zest.
From rising morn, till night's welcome nest
I`ll ne'er forget thee.

May thorns my path beset and rocks bestrew
My lonely road;
And may good friends be few
Should I, when fortune smiles,
Forsake those who will ne'er forget me.

My bonnie sons, in God's own image sent
To sanctify and bless a life ill spent,
Will sing, in childish fervour:
"We're content not to forget thee."

- W.A. Steward

Dining Room Renovations

Wow! It has been almost eight months since we started on our duplex renovations and have finally begun in earnest to completely upgrade the dining room, the last area to be done. So we say... This part of the house was an addition built in the 70's and in real desperate need of new windows, an exterior wall and insulation, a new floor and door. We hired someone to put up new driwall and redo the two passthroughs (formerly the exterior windows) from the kitchen and living room. After alot of scrubbing, sanding and dust everywhere I have completed the painting. We bought Behr paint as we are pleased with the results elsewhere in the duplex- two very light greys - Silver Drop and Irish Mist. Very subtle shades that will continue the light character of the rest of the walls. Next step was the installation of our new floor. It is a floating laminate floor made in Austria by Kaindl, dark brown to match the blades of the two large ceiling fans. First thing I did was to lay down sound proofing insulation. The downstairs dining room is directly below and hopefully this will help deaden any noise we will generate walking about. Alot of cutting, grunting and sweat involved with the floor itself but I am pleased with the look, especially in a room that wasn`t square. Following that the install of the two 1000 watt baseboard heaters. Good sense says they should not be installed under the windows or near a doorway but that was where the we put the wiring. Next step will be the baseboard, window trim and construction of a cabinet for the washer and dryer which will go in the corner nearest the water supply to the kitchen. I am also replacing the old hollow core door you see in the second photo that leads to the backyard balconey and stairs to the basement with a solid core Premdor masonite door. The pictures below show some before, during and after shots....

 

   I will keep you updated with the progress of this project as it unfolds. Oh, and welcome to December and remember - we are nearer to Spring than we were in September!  gws

Phi & Fer's Wedding Photos

Here are some more pictures from the wedding of Phil and Fernanda! Congratulations to the happy couple - they have been married one week now!  gws

"My Own Dear Land" - a poem by my Grandfather, William A Steward

My Own Dear Land

Spume of the sea and breath of the air,
Scent of the woodlands and dells;
Blood of my heart and my being,
How rare are my visits to thee and thy dells.
Land of my infancy, on thy sweet breast
How I drank of that life giving stream
Till thy songs and thy folklore
On me were imprest
Like thy hills I still see in my dreams.

Island of courtesy, beauty and grace
Land of a race true and kin
Ne'er shall the foreigner throw in thy face
Word of insult, nor taunt
Lest they find that in Britain's cold bosom
There burns a deep fire
Which unconsciously calls to us all.
And the hand which helped them out of the mire
Will again heed the Motherland's call.

Sons of our Empire, far flung to the breeze
Whose mother tongue circles the world;
Stand up for your flag in such moments as these
For a traitorous few wish it furled.
Had they fought as they should
When the war trumpets rang,
We might still wish them luck in their aim.
But they played not their part
Midst the shrapnels loud clang,
Nor e'en now are they playing the game.

- W.A Steward

Latin Mass

   Marie and I, César, Rosio and Fernanda attended the Latin Mass at Saint Patricks Basilica on Sunday morning. It is the second time that I have participated in a Latin mass and find it very peaceful and calming. It is the most popular Latin Mass sung in all Traditional Roman Catholic parish churches and I have included a version here which includes the the Kyrie, Nicene Creed, and Gloria by the Benedictine Monks of Silos, a beautiful rendition I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. Peace and love,   gws 

 

The Wedding of Philippe and Fernanda

On Wednesday, November 17th, at the  Palais de justice de Montréal, César and I were honoured to be witnesses for the marriage of our children Philippe Steward and Fernanda Penagos. Both Phil and Fer are the youngest children of both families and we all wish them a long and happy life together.

            

           There is only one happiness in life and that is to love and be loved.   gws

Our New Solar System

This past week Marie and I picked up all the parts for the new cabin solar system from a company here in Montreal and spent the weekend installing it. Hardest part was man-handling the four foot panel onto the roof and attaching it onto the frame I had already installed but we managed with the help of a friend. The system includes two AGM Gel batteries, 1000 watt inverter for 110 current, charge controller, and the 220 watt solar panel. We now will be able to use our lights, fans, DVD and monitor and any other electrical appliance we might need when we go up for a weekend or longer. My Honda genny has been very reliable for recharging small batteries and running my power tools and will continue to do so, and we will still use propane for cooking and heating - this as well has proved reliable and fairly inexpensive. Our long term plan is to live there while the house is being built and, with some tweaking if necessary, this system will enable us to do that. If everything goes well, solar power will eventually be powering our house. As you can see from the photos the weather was gorgeous, sunny and warm in the 60s and we had a fantastic weekend on the mountain. Most of that unexpected and way to early fall snow was gone except for a bit where the sun never reached, but it was warm enough that we didnt even need the heater at night!

 8am, Saturday morning, making breakfast

Marie enjoying bacon and eggs for breakfast

Saturday morning, Marie checking my work to the solar panel

Cabin roof and solar panel, looking nw

Cables from solar panel thru house leading to batteries

Finished results!

It seemed like a long time coming but, after deciding we would remain off the grid, going solar was the logical choice, especially with the high cost of bringing in power poles to our house and cabin. As well, and more important, it leaves us with a good feeling : this energy source is abundant and renewable and is one of the most environmentally friendly sources of power available today, next to wind power. We plan on having a small carbon footprint and feel we have taken the first step!    gws

November 11, 2010 Remembrance Day

In memory of my Grandfather, William Arman, hero and father, who fought gallantly for his country in the Great War 1914-1918. We miss you Grandpop.
This is the first Remembrance Day that Canada no longer has a single living vet from this war. Let us never forget them.
gws

Happy November!

 
  Happy November to all! Just a few pictures of our weekend trip to the cabin. It was warmer than it looks by these fotos and Sunday morning's hike through the woods was quite enjoyable, even for Muffy who struggled at times to keep up. That is snow on her legs, or what I call, Muffluks! Hope everyone had a great Halloween! Till later.  gws