Who you gonna call?

Morning All !

I'm writing this post up - putting it out there - and then I'm deleting it -
It's bad enough that everyone thinks I'm not all " there " this is seriously going
to have you wanting to see me committed.

I painted a couple of end tables last night ( I'll post them tomorrow )

And it was time to photograph them................

I placed one of them against a small hallway wall - as far away from any windows as you can get in this house - lifted the camera up to my face - looked through the lens.................

OMG - I'm so embarrassed to tell this story - really I am - when other people have told me things like this I've inwardly rolled my eyes...............and I can swear to you, nothing like this has ever happened
to me before.

Ok - as I looked through the lens - a figure walked by.

A. FIGURE. WALKED. BY.

Not once, not twice - but three times.

After the first time - I put the camera down and cleaned the lens thinking there had to be something creating that effect.

Put the camera back up to my face - and it walked back from the other direction.

This " apparition " was NOT in the room - or not visible whatsoever - except through the camera lens.

The last time it happened - walking from the opposite direction once again - I got up - barely able to move - and very very slowly walked into the room where John was sitting watching the hockey game.

Suzan says - This house is haunted
John says - Oh don't start with your ridiculousness
Suzan says - A figure walked in front of the camera lens when I was trying to take a pic of the end table
John laughs.............
Suzan says - I'm serious John - this is one time I AM NOT joking
John laughs
Suzan says - I'm calling the real estate agent.  If someone died in this house they have to disclose that by law
John yells something at the T.V
Suzan says - YOU'RE NOT EVEN LISTENING TO ME
John says - Yah Yah - I heard you - there's a ghost - better call the Ghost Busters

Now I don't know how I know this - but I know it was a man - and though I couldn't make out a face I know he was smiling ................

Do you see why I have to delete this post tonight?
It's happened - I've snapped - I've done gone and lost the last little bit of intelligence I've ever had.

I'm putting this out there - because I need someone to tell me -
" Oh that happens with digital cameras from time to time - it's just an optical illusion "

PLEASE?

If there's something strange
in your neighborhood
Who ya gonna call?
GHOSTBUSTERS

If there's something weird
and it don't look good
Who ya gonna call?
GHOSTBUSTERS

I ain't afraid of no ghosts  ( yes I am - I'm terrified ) 
I ain't afraid of no ghosts

If you're seeing things
running through your head
Who can ya call?
GHOSTBUSTERS

An invisible man
sleeping in your bed
Who ya gonna call?
GHOSTBUSTERS

I ain't afraid of no ghosts
I ain't afraid of no ghosts

Who ya gonna call?
GHOSTBUSTERS

I'm not ready to have an affair with one of them either

My daughter tells me I'm going to have to burn all the vintage and antique pieces I bring into the house because there's spirits that are coming with them and they don't want me painting them................LMAO

The first comment is from her - check out the link LOL

Ok - someone - anyone - tell me it's my camera

Much love,
Mrs Muir

Montreal Staircases !

Good morning everyone !

I thought you all deserved a break from my crappy reno's - how about a visit to Montreal?
We haven't done it in a little white now -

Come - let's check out something Montreal is quite famous for
Our staircases !

Every time you see a tour bus go by in the city you see people frantically snapping photos of them lol - so even though they are second nature to me ( after 55 years ) I decided to look at them through a " tourist's " eyes.................

I used to run up and down some of them with roller skates on as a little girl - can you imagine?
My girlfriend and I went to a party once and may or may not have had a little too much wine - and it was in one of these " flats " - I was TERRIFIED to go down the stairs - absolutely terrified.

Here we go...............btw - these are exlusive to CITY neighborhoods - you won't see any of these in the suburbs..............
Ranked in the top 5 " recognizable " Montreal features................

The South may have duelling banjoes - we have duelling staircases !

SOURCE: ASHLEY GASPERINO

It's pretty strange that this would have been a building feature in a city where the winter's can be brutal with snow and ice..................

Hence most of them are wrought iron - with open risers - allowing for easier snow removal

There are several theories on their beginnings in our city..................

Apparently they were first created by British builders newly arrived from Europe and bringing inspiration from Edinburgh and New Castle.................( although I've also heard that the Iron on the stair cases and balconies were influenced by the Irish - of which we had a huge population )

To help adapt to the rapid growth of the city - causing a density in population - multi storey flats were built - hence the staircases...............

Building the stair cases on the outside of the building allowed for more space on the inside for living
Again several theories exist -
Another one being that the Clergy reinforced the use of them to deter adultery - LMHO - because you would be SEEN slinking into someone's else's home !!!

Some are straight

and some are beautifully curved
http://www.savvysouthernstyle.net/

We had one like this in our back garden 2 houses ago - flowers and all - wish I'd been blogging then lol

Some are colorful

Some have a wonderful Patina

Some lead up from Stores....................

and some grace where we shop and eat

We love them so much we even have stairs leading up to Mount Royal Park ( Montreal's version of Central Park - in fact designed by the same man - Frederick Law Olmsted - ours rests on top of the mountain in the middle of the city - MONTREAL - derives from MOUNT ROYAL -  )

So we can gaze at the city below while reading a book or having a picnic

although my favorite is the view at twilight

(Hmmm - maybe my next Montreal post will be on our Mountain Park :)

And then of course there are perhaps Montreal's most famous stairs

The ones that lead up to St. Joseph's Oratory - all 283 of them.......................

( if you love Churches - I have a post on Montreal Churches - which we are also renowned for HERE )

What makes your city/town unique?  I'd love to know !

Ok - I'm going downstairs now to do some more painting - wasn't this a nice distraction from all my reno's, lol ?

All of the above photos can be found on my Montreal Pinterest page HERE

( Most of us that have lived in this city's neighborhoods have a horror story ( or 2 or 3 ) of moving days.
Montreal movers should have medals - without a doubt !!! )

Have a great weekend
Much love,

I'll be partying here!

Three Mango Seeds                             I should be mopping the floor               Uncommon Design
Savvy Southern Style                          The Charm of Home                            My turn for Us            French Country Cottage                      My Romantic Home