An Anglo in Québec

Day 1 - Flight to Vancouver

2012-02-09T12:00:00.001-05:00

The flight from Québec to Toronto was as expected,

in a typical Bombardier, twin propeller plane.

If you are unfamiliar with those, they are tight.... and I always seem to be by the window

staring out at that darn propeller!!

Hmmm....yes I am not a lover of the air!!

But, I expected the plane from Toronto to Vancouver to be a bit roomier...

nope, not really. Of course we had the prime spot, the very last seat on the plane...

you know the one before the lavatory?

But, it was a clear day and passing over the Rocky Mountains was spectacular.

So smooth flying until we arrived close to Vancouver where it was rainy with heavy cloud coverage...

so turbulence.

Anyway, picked up the car and headed into the city.

Oh and note to self.....just because it is -20 when you wake up at home and snowing, do pack a lighter coat for the other side of the country....even though you are going on a ski holiday....

That aside,

it has been so long since I last visited Vancouver it really felt like my first time in this city.

Driving along Granville Street towards downtown

I was struck by these amazing hedges everywhere but then even more struck by these homes...

these places are listed at 5 million and up!

Have a look...

Almost all of the houses we were passing had these amazing hedges in front of them...

This is a side view and yes the hedge is at the front of the house.

gorgeous greenery, can just imagine this in a few months time...

The British influence was very obvious in this area...

and I am told that this section of Vancouver is often considered as acting more British than the British...

I loved the moss growing on these trees ...

the rain took over and we headed on to the downtown core which is an amazing image in itself...

you cross a bridge and the scene changes from what you see above and becomes a

sea of highrises....

Anyway, on to Day 2....heading to the market for supplies and then up to Whistler!!!

à bientôt everyone!

Did I Already Mention Whistler??

2012-02-07T18:12:00.001-05:00

Next stop Vancouver for one night.....photos to follow of the lovely Fairmont Pacific Rim Hotel
and then on to Whistler for 6 days!

Wasn't sure if I mentioned that already?!
Did I??
Oh
I am getting so excited that
I may be losing my mind!!

Source: stophatingyourself.tumblr.com via Violeta on Pinterest

à bientôt from lovely British Columbia!!!

Poll for Header Changes

2012-02-06T10:19:00.000-05:00

So....what do you think?

Do I lose my lady that usually adorns the top of my blog.

She is very special to me but you know what happens in February in the dead of winter....

you get restless

and of course a quickly approaching trip to the Rockies has me even

more restless....

The poll is in the sidebar..... love to hear your impressions
and of course I did not forget...
<p>&amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;br&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;The numbers generated by this widget come from RANDOM.ORG's true random number generator.&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;br&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;gt;</True Random Number Generator Min: Max: Result: 2

Okay, for whatever reason....I could not get the code for the actual result so I have had to do some fairly basic cut and paste here..... yep...so number 2 which is Grace.
Congrats Grace! If you send me your mailing address I will put it in the mail to you asap.

à bientôt

Random February Notes

2012-02-05T13:10:00.000-05:00

I have been so busy at work and general "life stuff" that

I have missed blogging for almost one week now....

the weather here has been so beautiful,
and motivating providing these ideal winter sport conditions...

This week we are flying out to Whistler, British Columbia for some downhill skiing!!

so I do plan to post while there and share with you the beauty of the Canadian Rockies!!

In the meantime, I had to sneak away to the mall (have to admit, I am not much a mall person)

but with a trip coming up I had

to pick up a few odds and ends.....

and look at what I found!!

My daughter and I share the same shoe/boot size and

we have been looking at the Hunter boots and a few other brands but

I have been seeing the Hunters everywhere

so we were so excited when we found these Tretorns marked down 1/2 price with another 20% off!!

I love them!

That led to a trip to the dollar store to buy a thermal insole and

we found these....

adorable muffin holders!!

( I did say Random notes..... right?)

They had an amazing selection of various colour checked ones as well...

I always amaze myself when I head to a dollar store and find something like this!

Tonight I will draw for the maple syrup bucket and announce tomorrow the name of the winner....

until then.....

à bientôt

2012-01-30T18:05:00.002-05:00

My Road...
cold day for a walk but lovely just the same....

à bientôt

Creativity through Re-Purposing

2012-01-29T13:24:00.001-05:00

I love it when I come across images like this...

Source: junkmarketstyle.com via An Anglo on Pinterest

Antique Ironing Boards that apparently cost 1$ each at auction and now adorn the side of this barn as art! Love it!

Source: Uploaded by user via An Anglo on Pinterest

This would be fun in a laundry room space!!

Source: 2.bp.blogspot.com via An Anglo on Pinterest

Hmmm.... I have always wanted to establish a gate to my back yard... all part of the garden design plan but this would be interesting and I have a single iron headboard frame already.....

All these great ideas!
More snow has fallen so off to shovel.
Dreamin' of summer projects already....am I crazy?

You can still let me know if you would like one of these two sap buckets....

we use them for storage around the house and they come in handy...... Click here if you missed it and are interested!

à bientôt

Milestones and a Giveaway

2012-01-27T21:39:00.003-05:00

I tried to remember what got me started blogging...

and I realized that it was an experiment of sorts related to my work.

A look at social networking.

At first I just sort of dabbled, not really posting all that often but then I was hooked.

And now at least every other day I sit down and read all the posts of the blogs that I am following.

I have laughed at some of the humour that I come across...

I think the first one to make me laugh out loud was

Sarah from Modern Country Style

and Grace at Sense and Simplicity helped me out at the beginning with some basic blogging questions that every newbie struggles with....

there have been many of you that I cross blogging paths with every week!

It has been an interesting journey and I have enjoyed meeting so many

different people in this blog-o-sphere that I do feel fortunate.

I certainly have not been the one to jump up to thousands of followers overnight

but that's okay....because as somebody pointed out, I now have 101 of you

that have decided to drop in here from time to time

so thank you.

And as a way of thanking you I want to host a little give-away of my own...

you may have seen this in my last post and wondered what it was?

This is an old maple syrup sap bucket

that we've painted up and put to use for organization.

Matter of fact we have another version in chalkboard paint which is fun as well and available.

They work well for

flowers and large decorative branches etc.

So, here is how it goes...

if you are interested in having one of these...

then

leave me a comment letting me know which one you would like to have
Remember that they are not new but old and used in the maple bush to gather sap....
now blue plastic hose is used to collect sap with lines running from tree to tree.

Remember please follow me if you are not already.

I will leave this offer open for at least a week and then draw one of your names...

well you know how it goes.....
Mais oui!

à bientôt

Et Voilà ... Bookshelves

2012-01-25T14:38:00.000-05:00

Of course it all started with Pinterest

(you can see for yourself... on my board Bookshelf Love)

It all started back here if you are interested.... (just click)

After rekindling my relationship with our power tools

and

a new appreciation for Wood Filler

and

a lot of white paint

I can finally reveal that my dream of building built-in bookshelves
has finally come true
et voilà .....

If you like this Fleur de Lys bucket then you can check out its chalkboard version here

... and the built-in feature allow it to really just blend in to the overall space
and as you can see...
it is not a big space...
curious about the wall of art, that was a fun Saturday afternoon! You can read more about that here

The fun part of this project is that it cost under 50$
4 pine boards 1 X 8 X 10     30$
white paint    15$
wood filler   already had

à bientôt everyone.

Okay, it has been a long time since I was at a party soooooooo

I am sharing this one with the following great parties.
At the Picket Fence
Mod Vintage Life: mod Mix Monday
Nautical Cottage Blog Hop party
Be Inspired at Elizabeth & Co.
Transformation Thursday at the Shabby Creek Cottage
Open House at No Minimalist Here
Wow us Wednesdays at Savvy Southern Style
One project at a time at A bowl full of lemons

Motivated Monday at Be Colourful
Whatever Goes Wednesday at Someday Crafts
Whisperwood Cottage First project of the year

Genevive

2012-01-24T22:43:00.002-05:00

I am painting and painting and painting....

these bookshelves
but at the same time I am listening

to Genevive....

from the Gaspé coast of Quebec, Canada.

She is young,
her singing is raw and real
and I think she has talent....
she represents
everything that appears precarious
in youth
as they venture out into the world
singing the cover of their idols such as Adele....
oh to be at this stage in your life!
I hope you enjoy this
... but please do
tell me what you think?

à bientôt

Under Construction

2012-01-23T11:31:00.000-05:00

The weekend has come and gone...

and I have been very busy.

I am determined that in 2012 I will start projects

that I plan

and finish projects that I start

no procrastination around here in the Year of the Shift.

So, here is a sneak peek at what I worked on over the weekend...

Obviously not done but by tomorrow they will be!

See you then.

à bientôt

Living in Winter

2012-01-20T23:26:00.001-05:00

One week left until the Québec Winter Carnival...
and you know

it really does help to break up the winter blahs

by getting out the door and down to the old city

or even down the road to a local rink....
Once you give in to the
weather and decide to embrace the cold
it all seems to work....

you remind yourself as to what it is that makes winter so incredible.

I mean the adventure of strapping on your x-country skis to head off into that

or if you want to take it to an extreme

then perhaps you turn it into an expedition of sorts....
oh and no that was not me sleeping in that tent but rather my daughter and friends...
those days are over for me

or maybe you just head off to a local outdoor rink...

like this one...

the preferred spot by my teenagers.

...or here, the preferred spot of me....

wishing you a great weekend!!!

Warm just the same.

à bientôt

Symmetrical Balance

2012-01-19T01:00:00.004-05:00

My Pinterest boards seem to reflect a clear love on my part

for symmetry.

I see symmetry as pure balance...

that feeling you get when the last piece of the puzzle is put in place...

complete .... done .... fini....

but is it too predictable, too much of the stickin' to the rules approach to decorating...

I ask this because I am in the midst of designing our bookshelves for the living area...

I have a couple of possibilities, one which leads to a symmetrical look and another

that is purely asymmetrical.

Love the balance of those mirrors...well, actually I just love those mirrors!!!

Okay, that is just plain pretty... I want that door!!! ...... and imagine all the seasonal inspirations you could dream up for those two tables ....

talk about symmetry... and of course the subway tile to the ceiling is a big favourite of mine

okay, that is just too plain cute....
or rather, they are too cute!!

Ahhh....what little one would not have a good balanced sleep tucked into that bed!

Is this place following the rules a little too closely.... I do love those fun chandeliers!!

and I really do love all the elements but it seems to lack character or ....story?

I think rooms still need to tell us something about the people that live there....don't you?

yum...... such a simple touch of symmetry.....

So when does symmetrical balance just become boring?

or is it ever boring???

Do I wrap my bookshelves around the french doors
to attain symmetry.....

All these images are sourced on my Pinterest Boards. Just click on the image.

À tantôt

Sopa - Stop Online Piracy Act

2012-01-18T07:59:00.002-05:00

Today you will not be able to access Wikipedia as well as other

sites that are holding a blackout day in reaction to SOPA

we really need to understand what this means and could mean to all of us.....

I hope this helps you to become aware ....

À tantôt

Shift

2012-01-17T08:13:00.001-05:00

Well, I am putting my word right up top....Shift

I really love the thinking behind this idea of choosing one word that will help be my focus this year.

You can do a lot with this.

Last week I was listening to a woman share a great idea for establishing your 'shift'. She was suggesting that you create a postcard with images that

represent direction.

For instance, on her postcard she had a mosaic of 4 images.

One, was her cottage

it represented escape from the hectic pace of her life..

Another, was a symbol that represented a particular goal in her workplace...

Anyway, I think you see where this is going.

The point she was making was that we often get so scattered, lack focus

that we don't set our own direction.

I loved it when she said that these images were intended as markers for what you needed to

walk towards

and that often it just required a shift in our thinking

or a shift in our attitude

It didn't require a monumental change

as that is what often leads to failure....

that shift which allows us to adjust our vision slightly to the left,

or to the right or

perhaps even do a 180

may be all it takes.

So my word is SHIFT......

What's Yours?

Don't Worry I Got My Boots!!

2012-01-16T09:03:00.001-05:00

There are a few things you need to understand about life

in the snow....

You gotta love your boots....

they may not be that pretty but they sure are warm!!!

Happy Monday everyone!

À tantôt

Cottage Dreams

2012-01-15T09:56:00.000-05:00

Source: gypsypurplehome.tumblr.com via An Anglo on Pinterest

Okay, so it is -21C and with the windchill..... -31C (which means it feels like -34F)
I may be going crazy but
I am dreaming of this image...

I wonder what would happen
if I dug a large hole in my backyard?

À Bientôt!

Effects of Black in the Neutral Zone

2012-01-14T10:16:00.001-05:00

I love the feel of the room that is based on neutrals...

the whites, and the creams

really do it for me...

but one thing I always notice is that all of those images that I really LOVE

always seem to have a nice hit of black

thrown in...

I love the effect of the black zebra rug in this space....

And I believe that these black drum shades take this neutral space up a notch.....

And of course what is not to love about a black hutch with white dishes?

Love, love that over-sized black and white image.... imagine if that furniture was neutral?

A guest bedroom in Ellen and Portia's home gets a hit too...

Perhaps a bit too much black below for me...but don't you love the addition of those lovely branches for drama...... and of course in this case the white ceiling makes the black work....I think.

So, do I love an all-white room?

not sure, I do love the neutrals but I can't help but think

that a hit of something really makes it all work!

I will leave you with one more..

in this lovely little bathroom....

What do you think?

Can totally neutral work?

À tantôt!

* All images are found on my Pinterest boards.

Bookcases On My Mind

2012-01-12T00:32:00.004-05:00

Once the Christmas tree came down,

and the stacks of magazines and books scattered around the living room

became overwhelmingly obvious

I questioned the use of our living space on the main floor of our house.

We have almost completed the basement revamp which

means that our TV will be heading ....south.....

That leaves me with the realization that

I can now do something I have wanted to do for sometime now...

This bookshelf has haunted me for a few years now,
built by a good friend in his summer home
covering the entire end wall of their living room.
Yep, they love to read!
So, I have been on the hunt for ways to bring a bookshelf into my own livingroom...

Source: isuwannee.com via An Anglo on Pinterest

I love the incorporation of collections into the bookshelf....
lovely! oh and yup those "puppies" are too cute!!

Source: isuwannee.com via An Anglo on Pinterest

Some place more emphasis on the art versus the books.
If I had more space I could maybe go that way too!

Source: ciaonewportbeach.blogspot.com via An Anglo on Pinterest

Some are simple,
single column and attractive...
this is more realistic of my space.

Source: google.ca via An Anglo on Pinterest

Wow, I love this look, but problem is we read books so I need to know the actual book titles!

Source: forevercottage.blogspot.com via An Anglo on Pinterest

but they all leave me with this lovely warm feeling...
something that really comes from books...

À tantô

Kijiji Love

2012-01-09T19:05:00.007-05:00

Don't worry...

I am working on my pantry skirt

but the Canadian connection does not always seem to work!!

Anyway, in the meantime

I spotted this little gem on kijiji...

now I know some of you may be wondering...

what that is...but consider it the cousin to craigslist?

Is that popular in places outside of Canada....I wonder?

Anyway, more popular than craigslist in my part of the world

is kijiji...

so rambling....enough...

I found this!!

and since my daughter is slowly gathering some pieces of furniture for

next year when she heads off to university...

we snapped it up!

Beautiful condition and a piece she can hold on to!

For now it is at home in her bedroom sitting nicely between her two closets....

I love passing along the joy of hunting out a deal...

don't you?

melamine never looks like this!

Looks like a little blue lovin' going on in here?

À tantôt

Winter Pantry Skirt

2012-01-06T13:07:00.005-05:00

Winter Pantry Skirt??

Sounds odd doesn't it.

It is very hard to find a good selection of fabric

in the city of Québec

so I am looking on-line where the selection seems to be extensive!

In my last post I mentioned

that I would like to shake it up a bit with my curtain choice in the pantry....

well, actually it is a curtain that conceals the rather ugly looking washer and dryer.

TWO

ONE

FOUR

THREE

SIX

FIVE

EIGHT

SEVEN

NINE

These are all choices from Fabric.com and no this is not an advertisement for them...

although perhaps they want to send me a cheque???? ;)

doubt that...but anyway,

I want to make a decision before my real life....work that is

takes over!!

Any suggestions?
oh and cannot figure out why my numbers are being hidden by the image....annoying...sorry.

Are these choices too predictable?

À tantôt

Blue Satisfaction?

2012-01-05T23:07:00.003-05:00

So, you take down the decorations,

pack them away

and then

you feel a certain

sense of

satisfaction?

I love the Christmas decorations, I really do

but I also really love the act

of putting my home back in order....

What is that all about?

But, as I slowly put everything back in place

I end up in situations like this....

you see before Christmas I had this lovely yellow striped curtain

and during Christmas I had this very loved

red velvet curtain....

and now I am thinking I would like....blue....

Lately, I am just loving blue

just look at all this blue love out there!!!

Source: housebeautiful.com via An Anglo on Pinterest

hits of it in a white kitchen

really do make me happy!!

Source: brabournefarm.blogspot.com via An Anglo on Pinterest

Oh, yes, below that would be
love, love, love.......

Source: curatedstyle.tumblr.com via An Anglo on Pinterest

So, what do you think?

Would that be the best way to add in my hit of blue satisfaction??

Blue stripes.....blue check......blue pattern.....blue chintz????

À tantôt

Comfort Food

2012-01-04T16:32:00.000-05:00

Well, with these extremely cold temperatures

we have turned to our stacks

of recipe books

for the quick and easy...

and the real good....

comfort food that is.

This is from Barefoot Contessa, Family Style Cookbook..

I believe we have all of her recipe books now

and every holiday season we peruse the various stacks

looking for the right meal at the right time...

food is certainly a big part of the holidays around here....

so this one served us well with the cold temperatures

and it was quite easy to follow,

oh and to modify.....

For the Chicken Stew:

2 whole chickens ( we used two cooked rotisserie chickens for our local grocery store, that we picked apart for all that juicy good chicken meat)

5 cups chicken stock

12 tablespoons unsalted butter

2 cups chopped yellow onions

one quarter cup flour

one quarter cup cream

2 cups diced carrots

2 cups frozen peas

half cup of minced fresh parsley

Heat the chicken stock in a pot. In another pot, sauté the onions in the melted butter until they are translucent. Add the flour and stir for about 2 minutes then pour in the hot chicken stock. Simmer and stir until thick. Add pepper and cream, chicken pieces, carrots, peas, and parsley.

Place this into a rectangular baking dish.

Bake for 15 minutes at 375 degrees.

While baking, make the biscuits.

Biscuits:

2 cups all-purpose flour

1 tablespoon b. powder

1 teaspoon sugar

quarter pound of cold unsalted butter

quarter cup half and half cream

half cup chopped parsley

1 egg mixed with 1 tbsp water for egg wash

Combine the flour, b. powder and sugar in the bowl and cut in the butter, mixing until pea size. Add the cream and mix until you have a nice texture to your biscuit pastry. Roll it out on a floured surface to about one-eight inch thick. Cut out your circles.

Remove the stew from the oven and arrange the biscuits on top. Brush on the egg mixture and return to the oven to bake for 20-30 minutes until the biscuits are brown and the stew is bubbly.

Enjoy!!

This has been adapted with the salt being taken out of the original recipe....

we like to add our salt in after according to individual tastes.

À tantôt

The Night House

2012-01-03T22:15:00.003-05:00

On a winter's night

when it is minus 25
(with a forecast of minus 30 overnight)

you tend to search for a place to snuggle in

and find what works

best

for you....

In our home,

after a day outdoors....

for some it is the kitchen...
to discover the latest recipes of comfort food.

and for a particular teenager it

is the comfort of the livingroom....

with a few blankets tossed around.

and for me it is the club chairs

by the fire with a stack of books

and magazines at my feet....

because when it is minus 25 degrees celsius

or....translation....minus 13 fahrenheit for those of you in the US....

you just need to settle in and find what works for you...

oh, and

please excuse the mess

but this is real living...... ;)
in the cold!

À tantôt

Nature at Work

2012-01-02T12:10:00.004-05:00

One of the greatest artists

I know

works right outside my door....

tiny ice crystals that form the appearance of fine hair

greeted us yesterday morning...

lovely.

Happy New Year everyone

et Bonne Année!!

À tantôt
linking up to the Little Red House with Mosaic Monday

Christmas Snow

2011-12-28T16:43:00.002-05:00

Fresh fallen snow...

means

Snow Angels

and

Hearts....

and
snowball fights...

and

quiet evening walks
to simply enjoy the fresh falling snow.....

À tantôt