Renovations : Part 456

Amy, almost 3 months!

I thought I would put that little sweetie at the top of this post to get you in the right frame of mind! But to the point of this post : Renovations! Do they ever stop? Not bloody likely, but owning a building constructed when Calvin Coolidge was the president of the US, Zeppelins (remember them?) were flying between here and Germany, and 'Show Me the Way to Go Home' by Teddy Lewis and his Jazz Band was the most popular song on the old Victrola suggests that repairs and maintenance won't be ending anytime soon! So, (and here is where I get into trouble) to make Marie happy, I agreed to let her update the bathroom, making her promise that it would be the last major renovation that we would take on in this old duplex before beginning construction of our new home this summer...We started out by removing the crummy looking medicine cabinet that I'm sure was was designed when the only remedies available were snake oil serum, Dr Whatley's Memory Elixir and Lydia Pinkham's pink pills, and replaced it with a much taller cabinet from IKEA called Raatshoertlaanggen (or something like that) which can hold more medicine than I will use in a lifetime, moved the lights up above the new mirror ( Kraackenskaar ?), put in another cabinet and rectangular sink and tap (Rinnensloorpenn maybe), painted the walls a nice robin egg blue and voila: instant bathroom redo!

Now where the &%#@ does that wire go?

when in doubt...call Phil!

Please God make it fit this time!

Hi! Its me again!

Ta da! Thanks IKEA!

Now to concentrate on finishing Phil's basement! I would like to see it completed by the end of May because as the Beach Boys said in Surfing USA- "we'll all be gone for the summer!" I put in the rest of the insulation today in the ceiling so the driwall can now go up and, once the painting is finished, I can lay down the tile on the floor. It has been a slow process as Phil works most days and often on weekends but it will for sure add all sorts of value to this place. The duplex two doors down on our street this week just sold for $490,000 so that is encouraging! Tomorrow the four of us are off to the old port to see Cirque du Soleil's Amaluna under the big top. The story revolves around a mysterious island governed by Goddesses and guided by the cycles of the moon. Their queen, Prospera, directs her daughters coming of age ceremony in a rite that honours femininity, renewal, rebirth, etc etc which marks the passing of those values from one generation to the other. But wait! There's more! In the wake of a storm caused by Prospera, a group of horny young sailors land on the island and one of them falls in love with the daughter resulting in trials and setbacks that I'm sure we will marvel at as only Cirque de Soleil can make us do! Christina will be coming down to babysit Amy and I will report on the show tomorrow. Till then...gws

Pablo - Rocket Man

Last weekend Marie and I took the Metro to a part of town we haven't been to for a few years when we first came to Montreal. Just a few blocks from the Jarry station where we stayed for six months in the spring of 2010 Rafa and Pilar have their small home, and it was there we were going to see for the first time their little son Pablo. What a sweet little baby and he will certainly be loved by his happy parents! I wanted to take him home with us but contented myself with holding him in my arms for a while as he slept peacefully. Our congratulations again to Rafa and Pilar for their beautiful son! May he have many wonderful journeys ahead...ground control to Major Pablo!.... gws

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!