We were there!! First off, we danced and groved to the Le Gym pro's warm-up exercises!!Shufflin' along... bringin' up the rear 
Walked 10,000 steps ;D Thus confessing that we didn't walk to the Finish.
But, if three (3) wacky-crazy bus stories count for penance... we're FREE!!
(wrong bus, referred to wrong place; bus broke down; CU driver piled us all in & went to dinner!!)
We said, "Howdoo" to the University President... I think Toon was probably the "Most Chipper 85-year old participant ;D
We DID--eventually--get to Loyola Campus, though... Where Toon Van de Venbopped away to the screamin' "music". And Rhonda thoroughly enjoyed her annual wee corn-on-the-cob ;D
AND, we were home after 4 PM!! 6 PM, in fact ;D
GOOO, RHOTO

R & R at Le Chasseur B&B

I, RHOnda, got a prescription from several doctors !!  "Take time off and take care of Rhonda, too".

So, I stayed three days/two nights at "Le Chasseur" (The Hunter)  Bed & Breakfast in Montreal.  Calming, peaceful.  Time to remember/realize who "RHOnda" is, by myself.

My dear friend Ewa joined me for Breakfast.  Also for some shopping.

I went to Church in a Downtown Cathedral.  Cried really hard because my Dad died.  (Had the emotional/physical space to feel those emotions.)

The only negative:  it was 38C/100F with the Humidex :O  Nice to walk around 8:00 PM.  The rest of the time was spent INSIDE somewhere with air-conditioning :O(

And, in the meantime, TOny "did very well" at home, by himself!! ;D  This was a good, learning experience for us BOTH!!

Next up, schedule another retreat--when the temperature cools DOWN!!  And include the Museum of Fine Arts, a movie, facial, mani/pedi... ... ...

RHOnda

van de Ven Christmas FUN !!

Happy Christmas from RHOTO, Erik and some of the Kids :D

RHOTO

Peace on Earth 2011

This digital greeting generated with Smilebox

Vieux Montreal - Old Montreal

'Just a little "silliness" to distract from seriousness of life... Want to share with you a wee bit of the charm that is "Vieux Montreal", or Old Montreal.

This photo is of a "caleche", or a horse-driven carriage. They are mostly enjoyed by tourists, but are ever-ready for that romantic moment for those of us who call Montreal home...

This is the interior of the Notre Dame Basilica (Our Lady Basilica). It was built in 1829. For those who are French-speaking Catholic and others who enjoy architectural beauty, it is a special place. RHOTO enjoyed Handel's "Messiah" and "Hallelujah Chorus" here at Christmastide.

There are many cafes inside and outside in Vieux Port. Old buildings, full of European flavour and savours. Oftentimes you will see artists outside selling their paintings, drawings of Montreal.

City Hall is quite magnificent. The building was constructed in 1872. Although these dates sound quite "young" in European standards, the Canadian Confederation was only formed in 1867.

Skating at Vieux Montreal. At the Port. Daytime and nightime. So very fresh and fun. Close to the water. A real sense that you are skating with old relations of the past...

View Montreal Port. Where the ships come in and out. Such an important site for the early settlers of Quebec. Still is. Also the docking marina for well-to-do boaters.


Well, there are MANY more scenes to share here at Vieux Montreal. But I hope I have shared a bit of what is special about this part of our City. Perhaps you can come and visit us some day. You are always welcome!!

RHOnda

Park Picnic and 'Pontaneous Party!!

RHOTO and Tiger, too!! took advantage of a bee-u-tee-ful, sunny day to go on a Picnic in the Park !!
We packed a lunch in TOny's Concordia University backpack, settled Tiger inside, and off we went...
There were LOTS of people in the park... walking, bike riding, rollerblading. Lots of languages, too.
For lunch, we had leftover, cold Portuguese chicken, leftover olives, leftover cherry tomatoes, and leftover Easter chocolate... all yummier the next day, eaten in the sunshine.
We're gonna have MORE Picnics in the Park!! When the weather dries up... :(

Then, life-time friends John and Anna dropped by--with Easter goodies!! 'Stayed. We laughed, we danced, we had a wonderful 'pontaneous party!! Looking forward to the next time they "just ring" our doorbell!! ;)

RHOTO

"The Peace Garden"

Where Mom/Marina "is"... What beautiful flowers!! Even in March ;)

RHOnda

It's SPRING Up North!!

It's Spring!! FINALLY!! And "they're" predicting 10-15 cm (4-6 in) of snow tomorrow ;/. * We Northerners don't really "bother" with Calendar changes of the Seasons... They change when they're ready. AND they're not neatly divided into quarters, either... ;/

On another Spring subject... I, RHOnda, went to the Psychiatrist this week. Anxious to hear her proposal of removing me off all medication. (As posted recently, I am NOT bi-polar, as diagnosed 23 years ago. So, I don't need any meds ;) I was hoping for a reduction every month 'til "zippo"!! NOT to be :(. She says it's going to be a l-o-n-g process. Although not needed, my body is very used to this medication. "It's not water", she says. As for me, it's not the meds that "bother" me--it's the side effects. FAT, constipation, acne... :(...

Oh well, "Hope SPRINGS eternal", Alexander Pope

RHOnda

* TODAY'S UPDATE: We got less than 1 cm. (less than 1") of snow, after all ;)

"If You Fall, TOny, You Won't Get Hurt"

OOPS!! A few seconds later, I (RHOnda) tumbled over into the nicest, softest biggest puff of snow!! "See TOny, you won't get hurt!!"
We laughed!!

RHOnda

"Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow!!"

No, this isn't a "real" photo of our neighbourhood.  TOny was very anxious to get some good shots today, but our #$% camera was not functioning properly...
But, we wanted to share our enthusiasm for the snow and for the snow that will follow...
"Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow" is our favourite song these days...  How about YOU?  Do you enjoy four (4) seasons where you dwell?

RHOTO

Ten Tiny Bookmarks!!

Sew, the www.danslarue.com Christmas scarves are all delivered ;)!! These were gifted in the name of RHOnda's family members, eh. To give them an idea of what the originals look like, "Margaret" and "Rhonda in Montreal" got together again and made ten (10), tiny scarf-like bookmarks... The "collective theme" for this project is "Chimo, the Polar Bear", the mascot of our hometown, Cochrane, Ontario.

F-U-N, as usual!!

RHOnda

"Vivre le vent d'hiver!!"

We had our 1st snowstorm of the season... "Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!!" (We got 20 cm/8" today.) It's soft, beautiful, comforting--looking out the kitchen window. It's soft, beautiful, challenging--going out on the street...

SNOW is an integral part of Canada/Quebec, eh!! It "makes us or breaks us"!! It's invigorating and F-U-N!!

RHOTO

We're Being Held Hostage!!

Tee! Hee!! It's "been", it's "now", it's "gonna be"... Unbelievably HOT, that is!! Way up there. Especially with the Humidex.
Sew, RHOTO's only venturing out in the early mornings and evenings for walks. In the meantine, RHOnda has actually sewn some neck pillows and cut out paper pattern pieces!!
RHOnda

The...Good Samaritan??

RHOTO thought this was a HOOT!!

Thanks to our friend, Ruth!!

RHOnda

"All the Way Home I'll Be Warm!!"

What a "Winter Wonderland" we woke up to this morning!! A soft sprinkling of snow... But, now during our cozy supper time (warm soup!), we hear that 6" have fallen already!!

RHOTO thoroughly enjoyed our fresh walk to and fro to Choir Practice at Grace Dart!! We shared a pair of gloves. TOny fell--which was "scary"--but he landed in a marshmallow puff!! RHOnda slid a bit... There's black ice underneath--THAT puts the "fear" in many seniors to venture out, eh...

But "oh!", how the snow sparkles under the street lights. "Let it Snow!! Let it Snow!! Let it Snow!!"

RHOTO

Autumn in Quebec--Breathtaking!!

Autumn in Quebec is world famous... The breathtaking colours, the crispness in the air, the crunch-crunch of leaves underfoot, the smell of "les feuilles mortes*". The taste of hot apple cider and plain donuts, a tradition that brings us back to our ancestors' days. Picking "perfect" leaves (usually red Canadian maples!) to press between book pages; delightful to discover months later.

The enjoyment of the season--itself--and the messages it brings of...

-"This spectacle points us to a God who not only creates beauty in nature, but also in us."

-"Prepare for Winter. It's coming..." Yippy!

* "The falling leaves drift by the window. The falling leaves of red and gold".

--Les feuilles mortes/Autumn Leaves

not our home

RHOnda

It's 98 in the shade/90 in the house!!

The day before yesterday, we were still wearing jackets...
Today, we're hiding out in the basement (78 degrees)...
All windows are closed and lights are off...
What happened?? This heat wave caught us by surprise. And, unfortuately, our central air-conditioning system was not prepped for it.
We're melting... ...
RHOTO

On THAT Day...

“A Canadian was asked by a tourist, 'What do you do here in Canada in the spring?' After some thought, the Canadian replied, ‘Well, on THAT Day, we wear our “ever-new” SPRING coat and boots!!’”
– Mennonite joke

WELL, actually, RHOnda left this morning in her spring coat because it was 48 degrees. And it was the first WARM morning so far. However, at 4:00 PM, it was 80 degrees outside!!! So, here in Montreal, we had a half-day spring. AND, there’s still a two-foot drift of snow in the back yard!!

SO much for spring, eh!! Now, I’m melting, melting, melting ‘cos of the HEAT!!

RHOto

April Fool's??

Is it really April 1st?? APRIL FOOL’S!!
“They” are forecasting Spring will arrive here in Montreal by Mother’s Day!! But, until then, “If there’s snow on the land, there’s a glove on the hand!!” And a winter coat and scarf and hat and boots… …

RHOTO

Let it Snow! Let it Snow!! Let it Snow!!!

Oh, my!! We're having a record-breaking winter here in Montreal!! 'Means that we have been "missing" regularly scheduled activities. And, aside from wonderful romps in the fluffy stuff, we've stayed mostly inside...
Snuggling, philosophising, computer surfing, hockey games, feeding the birds, high tea & hot soups, singing, sewing, phoning, reading--did we say snuggling?
"But as long as you love me so, Let it Snow! Let it Snow!! Let It Snow!!!"

RHOTO