Felicities~

Felicities..:

Plural of Felicity..

Happiness..Bliss..

I love that word..and right now..felicities abound around me.

The gardens..from bud to bloom in the same day..

Iris and Tree Peonies are  great examples of this~

A few blooms on Bridal Wreath Spireas to a full blown bush~

Aquilegias..with their glorious flowers..

Huge Hostas~

Queen Anne's Lace picked by the railway tracks..

After seeing a friend and her garden.

"Whatcha Got Cookin' Good Lookin?"

This little catchy phrase is going to be with me forever.

I started working whenI was 28..my office smack in town..through the years I got to know some people..

who became regulars really where I worked..just to drop in and say hi if they saw my car..etc..

and  one gent 4 years younger than I who used to visit regularly.. he had been in a terrible auto accident..in his twenties I think ..I had thought younger but he said no ..he seemed to remember his twenties..

It left him mobile..capable...lovely smile.. etc..

but unable to work and with difficulties..

such as speech etc..

Anyways his line to me was the above..:)

And he said it to all the girls..

We had nice conversations together..through the years..one day he even brought in a photo album with photos of his dog..himself..his car..prior to the accident..with the faded pages..

he left our little town a few years ago..and I left work 4 yrs ago so I had not seen him in ages..remember I am 60 now:)

Still cookin but not good lookin:)

Anyways we took 3 of the boys to the local let's eat outside where everybody knows your name.. but the tourists.

As soon as I walked to the outside Main Road patio area.. He stood up from a picnic table and said:"Hey..Whatcha Got Cookin Good lookin"

So the 3 boys..Jacques and I went to sit at his table..

the 3 boys sat across from him..with Jacques..

And I with he..

The boys were shy ..and I told them the story of how he and I met..and that that was  what he always said..I could tell they were uncomfortable at the beginning and I wanted them to know to always be kind..they are taught this every day in their home..but this was a different situation..anyways we were able to talk..he told them a bit of his story..

the boys were so nice.. shook his hand when we left..

Oli still reserved..but he's 4..

Geesh sometimes..he's reserved with anyone!:)

I loved them even more at that moment..then  we went home and we talked about him..

and it was nice the feeling in the car..

The boys said what a nice man he was.

Two days later Lucas came over and said to me..:

"Whatcha Got Cookin Good lookin ?"

With a big smile..his handsome young  face..

And I thought of how in a heartbeat a life changes.. and another starts..

Rhubarb loaves from Canadian Living~

I added toasted coconut..a very good idea~

A sesame seed oil  and seasoned rice wine vinegar spiraled salad:)

I got mine at Amazon..less $$

The idea came from Linda~

Thanks Linda!

We made curly baked fries too..

A binder I put together when we moved here and planted the gardens.. I don't think I would remember all the names of the clematis and roses..

If you are starting a garden..may I recommend this?:)

A simple binder..keep tags etc..

Some..are still here..some are long gone or recently lost.

I had high hopes for so many..Ramona.. HF Young..Julia Correvon..Nelly Moser..La Comtesse De Bouchaud..

Ville De Lyon to name a few..

Some were gangbusters for 2 or 3 yrs and then went away:(

I must tell you..in my climate ..sometimes the prettiest are the least dependable..

I am going to adopt  another Comtesse..she was great and still blooms..but less..

And then there are the proven winners..

Huldine..Willy..Jackmanii..Etoile Violette..Arabella..Blue Angel.. Durandii..Pagoda..

It's a little addiction you see..♥

The We Lived Happily Ever After Graphics..~ are what I used on two of my photos..her blog explains so much about how to use these things with even free photo editing programs.

And Oli ..at 4 riding a 2 wheeler..no training wheels..

It seems the youngest one..because he wants to be with his brothers.. strives to catch up so he does things quicker.

No babies here..

Like Noah in his family~

He got his own rock star  cyclist  helmet..♥

My son-in-law took that cute pic..mommy's toes are to the left~

Noah was my little star when he performed in his dance troupe's show.. Hip Hop.. he was the beginning MC.. had his hip hop moments and then stole the show for me again in the finale♥

  With a wave and a "Hi Nana:"♥

From The Stage~

Be still my beating heart~

Bon Weekend~

Garden Talk ~ A Movie~and 2 lovely recipes~

We had a touch of gloom Saturday..

In between primping..and sun

Sunrain I call it~

To me.. after our winters..well I can tell you this is nothing but a miracle.

Everything goes away..

and every Spring..it comes back with such vigor!

I love how the forget me nots have totally adopted the front of the curved   peony /rose area.

And I love how the Alium announce the peonies..:)

The Japanese lilacs are about to pop..and the apple trees are losing their blush..

Our white lilacs are sparkling in the gloom..the ants are busy..:)

I love how  Jack In The Pulpits grow so well along Astilbe and Japanese Anemones..

Having herbs outside our door..

Bleeding Hearts♥

The way the Goddess Of Oy relishes the shade..

It just feels quite heavenly to be amongst flowers.

It's still all sparkling new..

But it happens at the speed of lightning here you see..

So you stop..and take it all in..

All the time..

from every angle ..every window..

In the Kitchen..  Marie has been at the forefront with 2 new desserts..For Jacques..

Those   Apple  Crumble Tray Bake  bars ..are FANTASTIC..

And her Donut Muffins?

Oli's little beautiful lips were sugar coated..

The boys loved them too.

I have to add we saw a most charming movie..

It amazes us that the reviews are not so great~

It is utterly charming..endearing..beautiful.!♥

You can see the trailer here..

Just looking at the trailer agian I get tears.

Jacques did a little research afterwards and it seems to have been filmed in St-Rémy- de -Provence.

A little place we would love to go to next time if ever in Provence.

Le Vieux ~Québec~

It had been so long since I had been..

I was 10..the first time..with my mom..

Then a few years ago,outside of the main attractions ..to Pont Rouge we went  to visit Marlene and Derek~  their ferme laitière.. their beautiful home..and a sweet garden..

So since I have been talking about going back....for YEARS..40... I would say..:)
We went..  Left on  Monday back on Thursday..yesterday..

It's only 3 1/2 hrs away..

I highly recommend it to anyone..anytime.
It is charming..old..French..by the shores of the St Lawrence..
Up and down cobble stone streets..mostly feels like up..:)

A photographer's paradise..

The people are friendly..all shopkeepers seem to be bilingual..
They all spoke English and French..
It is a very touristy town...and rightly so~

This cruise ship had docked..I think it came from Manhattan..Oceania..
The tour guide had a marker with Oceania on it..


All languages are heard.. throughout le Vieux ~Québec..
All smiles..universal.

Beaucoup d'histoire..

Many terrasses..many..take your pick..so many and all charming!

We had one nice day..  weather wise..
  then...one  cold  torrential windy rainy day  ..
and another  beautiful nice day..
Although just that short distance from us..the gardening zone..is different..
Their gardens and leaves are a tad behind us..the leaves were popping..no annuals planted in the earth,and tulips just blooming..apple trees about to burst..I would say at least a 10 day difference..albeit that one apple blossom:)
And did I say WINDY?:)

The Promenade ..boardwalk.(la Promenade des Gouverneurs..).is magnificent in my biased opinion..  ap 1/2 mile long... of beautiful decking..wrought iron rail..and old fashioned gazebos line this famous boardwalk~ we walked it many times..the first time..we walked up the bezillion steps..to get to the very very top..I cannot even remember how many steps..

Wonderful wonderful walk..better than a treadmill any day.


Restaurants..shops..art galleries..abound.. Quartier Du Petit Champlain below..

From our hotel..we could walk down..and back up..or take Le Funiculaire~
It's a lovely ride~

I recommend comfy shoes..a raincoat..just in case..sun glasses..sunscreen..   a hat..Some were buying winter tuques that cold windy rainy day..I had my daughters fun black cute  raincoat..w/ a hood..
I looked so cute with the hood!  (Not at all ...not one bit..lol!)The coat yes..the rest not..
  .. and  a  point and shoot camera.
I was tempted with my  DSLR and last minute opted for the point and shoot..
Fiou..

Good idea!

Mind you..I saw high heels high boots high skirts..long skirts short shorts long pants..the whole gamut.:)

They have every popular store I am used to in Mtl....and boutique type shops..artisanal ones etc..

Restos  are varied.. as well as hotels..and a multitude of all!!

Le Chateau Frontenac is well loved and favored.



We opted for a neighbor ..a recommendation from a friend..
And I was happy with our choice..

Quiet little place..only 50 rooms.. facing the fleuve and a park.. and clip clop..calèches  go by..
I had a bay window with a writing desk to look out..

Old French windows..great views..Could set up and paint ..etc..
Our little meals varied..

I loved the French Onion soup..in a hidden little grotto style gem..

We munched at Paillard..and had coffees there..
One resto we looked at each other and actually took 2 bites and stopped..and we never complain..and didn't but I am certain that the plates were a give away.
We rarely eat out..
and we were reminded why..
A quiche by any other name is not a quiche:)

I had picked Le Lapin Sauté for our last night because I fell in love with the look..and the first time I saw it a guitarist was strumming such fabulous tunes right to the left of it..I bought one of his CDs on the spot..and vowed to eat there.:)

I had le lapin w/ honey and rosemary..
It was delicious..the night was cool ..we ate outside.. blankets are on the chairs..for you and heaters are mounted on the old stone walls..
Our serveuse..was as nice  as can be.. travels outside of the old city to Limoilou by vélo..and just graduated in Special Ed..doing a masters in Sept in Montreal..
She charmed us both..

Met a lovely..in love couple:)

W/ 4 children on a business trip..

True Foodies:)

Collected stubs etc..like I did in Europe..
I love looking back on things like this..much later..

Every where you look..up down..to the right to the left..
Sights and sounds..to please..

I fell IN LOVE with some pillows from the line above..but they were the kind of pillow..you cannot really buy for yourself..  a flap opens  with a poem inside..Be still my heart.
I have my thinking cap on..

Street signs..home signs..address signs..

Tout est beau!

From dawn till dusk~

Artisans..are easy to be found..like here at the Glassblowing shop..

I loved his tools~

If you love stone buildings.. the water..cobblestone streets..

Music..

Romance..

Then go..:)

A little getaway ..sure to please.

It is so charming..

And it's always nice to come home.

Bon Weekend..~