Visit of Dee, Isaiah and Andrew - Pt 1 (Montreal)

William, Isaiah, Andrew and Amy, Montreal

Sister Dee arrived in Montreal from Utah on the morning of the 14th July with her two grandsons Isaiah, 9 and Andrew 5, who was to have his 6th birthday here in Quebec later in the month. It was her first time in Quebec since she was a wee girl and was looking forward to 10 days here and a week later in Ontario with Richard. Although it had been a long flight and everyone was tired they insisted they would rather go into the city for the day so after a delicious breakfast prepared by Fernanda Marie and I walked with them to the nearest Metro. We got off in old Montreal and walked around the port, trying out maple syrup on ice (not a hit unfortunately with either of the boys) and discovering a fun park, complete with carousel and inflatable pirate ships just opposite the spot where Cirque de Soleil has set up their big tent. Later, in the rain, we went shopping before returning to Phil's place in NDG where we spent the night. The next morning we climbed into the truck for the long drive to our place, 3 hours away, and a week of fun ahead....  gws

Isaiah and William, Montreal

Vendome Metro, Montreal

Maple Taffy, downtown Montreal

Vieux Porte, Montreal

Andrew lovin his ride on the Carousel

Dee foolin in the truck, Andrew being grumpy

lunch, East Side Mario's, Bromont, Quebec

at the firepit, waiting to roast marshmallows

Andrew in the cabin swing, ready for bed...

Birthday trip to Maine

 On the 24th June Marie and I headed out in the rain for our annual lobster dinner in Maine. The weather all week had been unseasonably cool and wet and the forecast for the coast was hot and sunny so I thought it would be a nice birthday gift to myself to see the sea. After we had been driving for an hour, just before Farmington, Maine, the clouds lifted, the sun shone and the road dried. By the time we pulled into the parking lot at the Five Island Lobster Company in Georgetown we were hungry and didn't have to wait long for our fresh lobster to arrive at the dock and onto our plates.

 The clouds moved out and a cooling breeze off the Sheepscot River was welcome in the hot sun now beating down so after our delicious lunch we had an ice cream and walked around a the tiny village a bit with Ben the dog. At one point he decided to take a doggy dive into the water, coming up festooned with seaweed like a sea monster from the deep. He didn't take long to dry though and we headed to Wiscasset to meet our new AirBnB hosts, Rick and Elizabeth.

It was a short distance to Wiscasset - our secluded spot not far from the town was quiet but with the usual clouds of Maine mosquitoes. The couple and their two young boys made us feel right at home, getting the BBQ ready for us so we could cook up a mess of lamb chops for supper and helping me after dark to celebrate my birthday by lighting a lantern and launching it into the night sky. After a very comfortable sleep, a delicious breakfast prepared by our host and hugs all around we decided to spent the rest of the morning in Boothbay Harbor, a half hour south, before heading home.

 



Doug's 'herbal' garden

Boothbay Harbor, Maine

This is a real Maine tourist town, a popular sailing and kayaking destination with lots of delicious seafood restaurants, festivals, whale watching, historical museums and nature trails to explore and, if you're driving a big honking truck and its a weekend, don't expect to find a place to park. But we like the area and its handy, being at the end of SR 27 which goes all the way back to the Quebec border and home. Home and lots of things to do in preparation of the arrival of sister Dee and her two grandkids in July! It will be the first time here for her, the last of my four brothers and sisters to visit. We are looking forward to a week of fun and exploring... pictures to follow!  gws

where's ''Waldo' ? (Boothbay Harbor, Maine)



watch out for these guys on the road !

Flagstaff Lake, Eustis, Maine - an hour from home

home

Wedding of Mario and Elizabeth, Salem, Massachusetts

 

Salem, Massachusetts is just 17 miles north of Boston, home of the Peabody Essex Museum and what seemed to be hundreds of gift shops, scary museums, graveyards, tours, churches, psychics, statues, taverns and weddings all dedicated to the 1692 witch trials. This place isn't shy of its dark past as the Salem Witch trials are even now enacted at the Witch Dungeon Museum and other places we thought best not to bring Amy to. We were returning after two years to this small but touristy town because Marie's brother Mario was tying the knot with his girlfriend Elizabeth. We and 90 other guests were gathering at the Hawthorne Hotel in the heart of the town's historic district for the next three days. We had Amy with us for the weekend and she proved to be an excellent traveller and companion to me and Marie. We all gathered at Mario's home after we had settled into the hotel, meeting his and Elizabeth's friends and her family, coming from all corners of the USA and Canada. Amy made friends at once with the younger and older children there. As the wedding wasn't taking place until 6pm that evening we walked with Amy around Salem, explaining the history of the town and it's obsession with witches. As I have said the museums there were not really for her age group so we took her swimming at the Y, treated her to ice creams and let her play in the kids playground on the Salem Common across from our hotel. We also showed her a 400-year old graveyard, the Burying Point, where we explained to her the significance of the old headstones there. One noted person connected to the Witch Trials is buried there - Judge John Hawthorne, the 'Witch Hanging Judge' who died on May 10th, 1717 -  almost 300 years ago to the day we strolled over his remains. Our hotel was named after one of his descendants, the author Nathaniel Hawthorne.

 

US border crossing at Highgate Springs, Vermont

lunch at Applebee's, Berlin, Vermont

Amy with her tablet whiling away the miles and in a Stickwork 'bird's nest', Salem

'What the Birds Know' Stickwork by Patrick Dougherty

Amy at 'Maria's Sweet Nothings', the Burying Point graveyard, and supper with Elizabeth & Mario

our little bar maid, Hawthorne Hotel

Marie and Amy outside the Hawthorne Hotel, Salem, Massachusetts

in front of Bewitched star Elizabeth Montgomery, Lappin Park, Salem

Amy at the 'Y', Salem, Massachusetts

MELT, another delicious homemade ice cream shop in Salem

Burying Point, Salem

That evening we descended on the hotel's ballroom for supper and the wedding ceremony, followed by drinks and dancing afterwards. It was a pleasant surprise to see Adam, Mario's son there, as we had been told he wouldn't be attending. Zoe unfortunately was absent. The ceremony was performed by the wife of Elizabeth's sister, a poem was read and the assembled guests were attached by a long maroon coloured ribbon as the wedding was conducted. I think everyone agreed Mario and Elizabeth were made for each other and we wish them many years of happiness together.  Before returning home the next morning all family members gathered in the hotel dining room for a farewell breakfast. With goodbyes and promises to return we left for Canada, hoping to see Mario and Elizabeth again soon and wishing them a safe journey as they prepared to fly out the next morning to the enchanting and beautiful Caribbean island of St. Lucia for their honeymoon.   gws

Elizabeth and Mario, Salem, Massachusetts

Amy and Adam



the ceremony

breakfast next morning!