December 31, New Years Eve 2015,

   Well here we are again, the final day of the year 2015. We’ve had our first of probably many wintery storms. We are Montrealers though, so we are well adept to the handling of a shovel.

 We can’t really complain about winter so far, the temperatures have been very kind to us, much better than last year! Then again, truth be said, we all love to complain about the weather for some reason or another..lol. It’s the topic of many conversations.

   I hope that everyone had a nice Christmas, or Chanukah, or simply a nice few days off work to relax.  I always find that the holidays somehow find a way to creep up on me. Oh I know when they are, and we get busier the closer they get, but it’s always a matter of..” what, it’s Christmas eve tomorrow!!” Yep, run, run, run, lots of things that need to be done. So we go crazy with our last minute shopping, cooking and decorating, to have things just perfect for Christmas. Then it’s over, whew, and was it all worth it....Of course!! And we’ll all be doing it again next year.

    Then there’s Boxing Day. I personally feel that the true the meaning of Boxing Day, is not about the shopping and great deals (which usually are not quite so great), it’s the, I can relax now day. Let’s rename “boxing day” to “quiet day”, yep, works for me! Though I do apologize to those who work in the department stores, it is anything but quiet day for you guys!

   After all that we have New Years Eve. For some it is as big a day as Christmas. I know many who make it a point to go out and celebrate, or have people over to ring in the New Year. I say to all, go and have your fun! Let’s face it, we celebrate the fact we made it through another year, and we celebrate the hope that the next year will be better. What better reason to raise a glass and have some cheer!

  So I would like to take a moment to say thank you to everyone who has helped make this year as good a one that it has been, and hope we all have an even better one next year (there is always room for improvement, right?)!

Cheers to all!!

Happy New Year!

HALLOWEEN

  Well it's that time again folks, Halloween is but a day a way. I hope that you have all gotten your costumes ready and houses decorated for this ghoulish festival of the macabre.

  If you remember last year I mentioned that everyone should go out and have some good old fun, bring out that inner child. Well, since I can't repeat myself (though I have been know to do so on occasion), I had to come up with something else..... PUMPKINS... They are everywhere this time of year, mostly carved out to make Jack O Lanterns for Halloween. Have you ever wondered how this tradition came to be? Well let me give you a quick history lesson.

  It all started in Ireland with a man named Stingy Jack, who made several deals with the Devil. He seemed able to out wit the Devil himself, which quite annoyed the Devil. So when he died, obviously he wasn't going to go to heaven, and the Devil didn't want him in hell. So he was left on earth with only a burning lump of coal to light his way. Stingy Jack would place this and himself in any carved out, or semi rotten turnip, and has been roaming the earth ever since. Over the years, as stories are told, people took it upon themselves to ward off Stingy Jack, also know at that time as Jack of the lantern, by carving out beets and turnips, and placing candles inside, so he would not be able to go there. This became even more elaborate as time went by, as they started carving out ghoulish faces in the turnips and calling it a Jack O Lantern. Through time, immigration and travel, people took this   tradition back home with them to North America. As pumpkins were readily available here, we started to use this as a most common vessel for our Jack O Lanterns.

  So there you have it, the history of the pumpkins at Halloween. I know that some of you probably have never carved out your own pumpkin, so I have included a link so that even the most novice of pumpkin carvers will be able to create a perfect Jack O Lantern.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RUVNHh2hkGU

And for some inspiration, here are some pictures of great works of art!

Happy Halloween everyone!!!

                                    Beautiful Flowers

Here we are, nearing the end of October. The days are getting shorter and cooler, the nights dark and long. I wanted to post a new blog story, but simply couldn't come up with any ideas ( blaming it on the weather..LOL). So instead, I thought I would simply showcase some of our beautiful floral designs for you viewing pleasure. It was not easy coming up with only a few, but I did so enjoy the task of going through our endless pics to find the ones that simply made me smile. 

I hope you enjoyed the pictures, and that it made you smile as well.

Fall has arrived

  Fall officially started a few days ago, but today it actually feels like it is here. I personally love the fall season with all its beautiful colors.  And yes, I admit, the cooler temperatures also make me smile. Though I dislike the dark mornings, and early evenings, makes the day seem so short!

 This is the time of year that I love to take long walks. We are so fortunate to have an abundance of places that are great for doing just that. I mean it’s nice to walk in town, or even around the neighbourhood, but it’s nicer to walk in the woods, or someplace that feels more nature like.

So I thought I would share some places I like to go, in case you felt the urge to wander around some nice scenery. I know it is still a bit early to see the colors in the trees, but it’s still beautiful!

The Lachine Canal:

The Lachine Canal is a canal passing through the southwestern part of the Island of Montreal, Quebec, Canada, running 14.5 kilometres from the Old Port of Montreal to Lake Saint-Louis, through the boroughs of Lachine, Lasalle and Sud-Ouest. You get to walk alongside the water, and there are many places that are not far where you can stop in case you get thirsty or hungry.

 

Morgan Arboretum:

The Morgan Arboretum is a 245 hectare forested reserve, situated on the McGill University Macdonald Campus in Ste. Anne de Bellevue on the western tip of the island of Montreal. The Arboretum is open daily throughout the year from 9 am to visitors who can walk and ski its trails in season. The public contributes to the development and maintenance of the Arboretum through the Morgan Arboretum Association, a non-profit organization. 

This is a wonderful place to walk around! Lots and Lots of trees everywhere!

Campus Macdonald of McGill University 
150, chemin des Pins (corner chemin Sainte-Marie) 
Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue (Québec) H9X 3V9
514 398-7811 / Fax: 514 398-7959 
morgan.arboretum@mcgill.ca

Des Rapides Park:

Des Rapides Park is an urban park in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Located adjacent to the Lachine Rapids in the borough of LaSalle, Des Rapides Park is part of the City of Montreal's Network of Large Parks. The park is 30 hectares large.

This is not the biggest place to wander, but the view of the rapids are amazing. It is also a bird sanctuary, so sometimes, if you’re  lucky, you can see some amazing feathered creatures!

Lafontaine Park:

Lafontaine Park is Plateau Mont-Royal’s biggest park. A 40-hectare gem of traditional park landscaping, it includes two linked ponds with a fountain and waterfalls, soccer and baseball fields, beach volleyball, pétanque, a dog park, picnic areas and playgrounds, wading pools, several pieces of memorial statuary and many trees including numerous imposingly huge poplars. This park is beautiful and usually quite busy. Great place to do things and people watch.

Mount Royal Park:

Historic, 494-acre park with a large hill topped by a lit cross, plus trails, a lake & lookouts.  It’s nice place to walk around with your furry friend in tow. The view at the top is spectacular, and if you want a more challenging hike, it’s not hard to find off the main road. It is also a great place to go in the winter for tobogganing and skating on beaver lake.

Address: 1260 Remembrance Road, Montréal, QC H3H 1A2

Phone:(514) 843-8240

Cap- Saint-Jacques:

Cap-Saint-Jacques is a regional park in Montreal, located in the West Island at the junction of the Lake of Two Mountains and the Rivière des Prairies. Situated on a peninsula, three quarters of the park are bordered by water. You have a bit of everything here. Good trails for walking, very country like scenery and a beach too!

 20099 Boulvard Gouin West, Montreal, Québec H9K 1C6

So those are some nice places to go if you enjoy fresh air, quiet, and the beauty of nature. Hope to see you out meandering soon!

Say it with flowers!

Have you ever wanted to send somebody the perfect gift that is reflective of who they really are, or what they truly mean to you?  Well if so, have you ever thought of putting together flowers that can do just that?

  Yep, not only are flowers beautiful and can so wonderfully enhance your home, they also have meaning. Flowers have had a role in our lives since “forever”, from using their scent, or using herbs to heal us. But it wasn’t really until the Victorian age that we really put thought and words to them.  So much so that it became common place in upper society to put together a small bouquet of flowers (known as Tussie-Mussies), where secret messages were sent by combining the right flowers together. Doesn’t that sound so mysteriously fun?!  So popular is the idea of giving flowers meaning, that we have even given a name for this, “floriography”.

   Now there are many web sites that will give you the meaning of hundreds of flowers, and even the color of each flower can relate to something completely different. Some have common meanings, and some are totally different. So if you wish to send someone a secret thought, you may want to make sure you research it well. Or perhaps send along a link in the card message so that the one who receives your flowers will get the correct meaning and not throw them back in your face, LOL.

  So now that you have a little bit of history on the subject, I have compiled a list of a few flowers to start you on your way of secret messaging that someone special.

 Agapanthus – Immortality  

 Alstroemeria - Devotion, Wealth, Prosperity, Fortune, Friendship,


Amaryllis -Pride, determination, Dramatic



Anemone - Forsaken, Refusal, Abandonment, Sincerity

 Aster – love, daintiness

 Baby’s Breath - Pure heart, Happiness, Festivity

 Bells of Ireland – Good Luck

Calla Lily – Magnificence and beauty

  Carnation – Red – love, pride, admiration

                      Pink – a woman’s/mothers love

                      White – innocence, pure love

                      Yellow – disdain, rejection or disappointment

                      Purple - capriciousness (inconsistent)

                      Striped – Refusal

Chrysanthemum – Abundance, optimism


Dahlia – Inner strength, creativity, forever yours,

Daisy - Innocence, Loyal Love, happiness, Purity



Delphinium – big hearted, fun, infinite possibility





Freesia - Trust, Spirited

Gladiola - Sincererity, faith, Strength Of Character

 Heather - Admiration, Solitude, mystery



Iris -  Faith, Valor, Wisdom, Inspiration






 Larkspur – Levity, lightness of heart

Lilies – Pink –wealth, pride

           White – virginity, purity, Majesty

           Orange – hatred, dislike

            Yellow – gaiety, gratitude

Rose – White – Innocent, pure

             Red – Love, Romance

            Yellow – friendship, Joy, get well

            Lavender – enchantment, love at first sight

            Pink – Love, gratitude, appreciation

            Orange – Desire, enthusiasm, passion

Stock - Bonds of Affection, You'll Always Be Beautiful to Me, Promptness

Sunflower -  Tall – false riches, pride
                      Short - Adoration

                    

Tulip – General -Love, Symbol of the Perfect Lover

            Red – decloration of love, believe me

            Yellow – There’s sunshine in your  smile

            Variegated – beautiful eyes

Zinnia - Lasting Affection, Rememberance

Well I hope you found your favorite flower, and that the meaning was a good and positive one! Have some fun and see what combinations you can put together, then jot them down so that the next time you want to send someone flowers, make sure it truly means something!