Inspiration

“In spite of everything I still believe that people are really good at heart.”
- Anne Frank

If she could believe it, couldn’t we?

On a side note, I’m leaving bright & early tomorrow for this year’s Sisters on the Road Trip to NB. For a third year in a row, we’re heading out to Mom & Dad’s for a weekend of music, fun, and good ol’ r&r. I look forward to it. See you when I get back!

Quebec Pics Part II: Simplicity

To offset the ever-present stimulation of Quebec City's textures and colours, my sometimes overwhelmed senses sought respite:

après-latte

red hydrant

white grill

black grill

silver and red

Quebec Pics Part I: Colours, Layers, Textures

What struck me during my visit to Quebec City - Old Quebec in particular - was the dizzying array of colours, textures and layers. These few pictures are but a sample of the visual stimulation that sent me into a clicking frenzy:

rooftops

stone and sky

layers

épicerie of yore

contemplative colour

And a bonus pic for Cassie:

Dog's Lane

Quebec City Highlights

After visit number six or seven, Quebec City has yet to disappoint me. I am still smitten. Here are a few highlights from my weekend trip:

• Wandering the streets with D. with no plans or obligations, discovering treasures along the way
• Photographing the layers, colours and textures of Old Quebec’s historic architecture
• Stumbling upon the illuminated Potager des visionnaires at night, atop the Musée de la civilisation
• Walking along Dufferin Terrace with D. at night
• Le Moulin à images (a 0.6km projection of images of the past 400 years in Quebec City on the silos of Quebec's port - check out the video clips to if you have time)
• Discovering rue St-Jean with its cafés, shops and restaurants – épicerie J. A. Moisan, claiming to be one of North America’s oldest grocery stores (if not the oldest), was definitely a favourite with its wooden shelves, glass cabinets and jazz playing in the background, not to mention its scrumptious offerings of “produits du terroir”
• Enjoying cheap, good breakfast fare at Buffet de l’Antiquaire three days in a row – the “cheapest breakfast in town” according to the local couple sitting beside us on Day 2. Here's what the Lonely Planet has to say.

I'll no doubt share a few favourite photos in a later post. I already look forward to my next visit.

Quebec City or Bust!

D. and I are almost ready to leave for our Quebec City getaway - just one post and one pit stop away.

The forecast calls for rain or showers all weekend, but have raincoat, umbrella and Scrabble will travel. We're already looking forward to checking out our favourite pub and maybe a new coffee shop suggested to us by a local last year. We're staying here, just outside the walls of Old Quebec close to the port. It should be good.

See you in a few days!

ps - BTW, does anyone know where the term "or Bust!" comes from (see title)? D. thinks it's from the gold rush. It'll be a googler when we get back.

A Post On The Bright Side

I started writing a post about how I went to the mall today and hated it. About how I wanted to go back in time and recapture those two hours that left me cranky and drained.

But I won’t.

Instead I will write about how I found a duffel bag on wheels that’s eggplant with pink trim - girly yet functional, about how it will replace my embarrassingly worn out and creaky Moosehead Lager gym bag on those weekend getaways to boutique hotels.

Or maybe I’ll write about how I got my passport photos taken today, how I’ve started plotting my route to Squam Lake New Hampshire for SAW come September, and how much I’m looking forward to it.

Maybe I’ll write about how I’ve been crossing small to-do’s off my list - some there since April 2007, or how I’ve been hanging out and doing nothing, spending quality time with D. and Cassie.

Or maybe I’ll write about how I’ve been freezing local strawberries for a mid-winter’s treat, savouring fresh veggies and Laura Secord Maple Walnut Fudge ice cream - single scoop in a cone please.

And if per chance this look-on-the-bright-side post should not succeed in perking me up before the day’s end, tomorrow is a brand new sunny day. And THAT my friends, is a whole lot of two hours to redeem myself.

Replenish and Rejuvenate

After an amazing weekend kicked off by Fun at the Shanghai last Friday, I had what seemed like a very long and heavy week that left me tired and drained. Thankfully the timing couldn't be better - D. and I are on holidays for the next 11 days. It's time to replenish and rejuvenate. Replenish with sleep, movement and healthy food; rejuvenate with fun and spontaneity.

We've no firm plans except a four-day trip to Quebec City and right now that works for me. We've plenty of options to choose from to keep us busy - or not: museums, hiking, canoeing, biking, cleaning, de-cluttering, day trips, camping, travel Scrabble, writing, being, dreaming, loving, playing and just plain hanging out.

It feels good.