Sunday, August 3, 2014

I know a charming neighborhood when I see one....................

We went for a stroll yesterday afternoon - to take photos of our new ( to us ) neighborhood

Although it's only 15 minutes from Downtown Montreal - this area ( and a lot of these houses ) used to be summer houses for people that lived in the city.....................over time they've all been winterized - added on to - updated and upgraded but whenever I walk around here I can imagine how it must have been - back in the day when 15 minutes away would have taken well over an hour to get to ...................some are traditional - some are quirky - some are showing signs of wear - most are charming and no 2 are alike - Each house is as unique as the people that built them once upon a time  and they all seem to tell a story.
You can imagine where each generation planted this or that - or added a storey - or a den - or in some cases had the house lifted to accommodate a basement.................

Here's a few photos I took around the new 'hood -

Loving the deep blue veranda - and the red flowers against it


Red door - teal siding - would have never chosen them but I love them now that I see them together - the flower box under the window is red as well
I even love the broom resting against the wall !


Beautiful flower box


A pretty heart wreath adorns the front door - with a heart mail box


That screen door reminds me of my childhood - love it - and the closed in porch too


Another enclosed porch - this one looks like the windows may be original - which means beautifully wavy and dimpled !


So cozy and welcoming looking !


Charming


I just adore these 2 wicker chairs facing each other instead of the street ( although John and I would probably sit there and make faces at each other LOL )


John says - GET BACK HERE - WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING ???
Suzan says - I HAVE to get a close up of this -
John says - Ok - I'm walking away
John says - What the hell are you going to say if they open the door?
Suzan says - I'm going to tell them how beautiful I think it is !!!


and wait - there's more !!!


I HAVE to find one of these - and then I HAVE to paint it yellow !!!

I wanted to ring this doorbell and ask them what color they used - it's exactly what I want -
I won't tell you what John said -
Suffice it to say I did NOT ring their bell -


Doesn't this look like an English cottage?

I've always wanted to make one of these - they're called Inukshuk and they're all over the place in Montreal gardens - ( I'm sure all over Canada - not sure about the States )


An inuksuk (plural inuksuit) [1] (from the Inuktitut: ᐃᓄᒃᓱᒃ, plural ᐃᓄᒃᓱᐃᑦ; alternatively inukshuk in English[2] or inukhuk inInuinnaqtun[3]) is a stone landmark or cairn built by humans, used by the InuitInupiatKalaallitYupik, and other peoples of the Arcticregion of North America. These structures are found from Alaska to Greenland. This region, above the Arctic Circle, is dominated by thetundra biome and has areas with few natural landmarks.
The inuksuk may have been used for navigation, as a point of reference, a marker for travel routes, fishing places, camps, hunting grounds, places of venerationdrift fences used in hunting [4] or to mark a food cache.[5] The Inupiat in northern Alaska used inuksuit to assist in the herding of caribou into contained areas for slaughter.[6] Varying in shape and size, the inuksuit have longtime roots in the Inuit culture.
Historically, the most common type of inuksuk is a single stone positioned in an upright manner.[7] There is some debate as to whether the appearance of human- or cross-shaped cairns developed in the Inuit culture before the arrival of European missionaries and explorers.[7]The size of some inuksuit sugge[4]
st that the construction was often a communal effort.
At Enukso Point on Baffin Island, there are over 100 inuksuit. The site was designated a National Historic Site of Canada in 1969.
if you're interested - MORE HERE WIKIPEDIA
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This is such a beautiful garden - does anyone know what these blue flowers are?  Neither John or myself have ever seen them before !




A beautifully rustic fence is also on my wish list
And I'll  take an antique carriage complete with coach lights while I'm at it 
We spent far too much time trying to figure out what this is
Suzan says - OMG - they have a portable outhouse
John says - Don't be ridiculous !
Suzan says - YES - there's even a vent pipe in the roof ( and I was dead serious ) 
But John figured it out in the end - it's an ice fishing house !!!
These people also have the cutest little vintage camper - but they must be on holiday because it's missing from their driveway :(
And that was our walk....................
Oh and by the way, as small as the houses are - the trees are massive and dense - some areas almost feel like little forests

Before any of you ask me if it feels like " home " yet - it really doesn't ...................it actually feels more like my Home away from Home - .but I do know charming when I see it :)
And I happen to love Itty Bitty...................
You know it's coming, right?


Have a wonderful Monday everyone
Much love, from me
to you ♥

Partying at these fabulous parties - come along !!!
Coastal Charm                              Between Naps on the Porch            My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia
A Stroll Thru Life                          Stone Gable                                    Kathe with an E
An Extraordinary Day                   Elizabeth & Co.                       Savvy Southern Style
French Country Cottage               Shabby Art Boutqiue                       Too much time on my hands
My Turn for Us

Saturday, August 2, 2014

Very strange noises in the backyard..................

Today I started working on another hutch ......................as you can see here ( proof - I need to show you proof )


When all of a sudden I heard some kind of commotion outside - like people arguing - the weird thing is it was coming from my back yard..................

I sent John out to investigate but he came back saying I was " nuts " - that there was no one out there

But the arguing persisted - so I ran to a window to check myself


Nope - nobody there -
I came back in and picked up my paint brush - but now I could clearly here someone calling my name !

I ran back out just in time to hear this


You're right - I whispered - nervously looking around - ( I don't need my neighbors to know I talk to floating mattresses )
And then just to shut them up - I plopped myself down on it - I really didn't want to - I have things to paint.

John says - Hey - what's going on - I thought you wanted to get that hutch done?
John says - Why'd you make me help you move it ?
Suzan says - I'm keeping the peace - leave me alone.................

My son made a DIY paddle for his float - using a broom handle, 2 pieces of wood and crime tape - yes - rednecks live way up here in Montreal too ( y'all )
I don't particularly want to know what he was doing with crime tape.................


While Johnny Cash blasted in the background - lamenting that he was stuck in Folsum Prison...............
I was stuck in the pool - I'm telling you - it's always something.

Hope you all had as great a Saturday as I had..............
Now I seriously have to get painting
Oh and Cecilia?  I tried - I really did try to get a decent shot of Soda - but she looked like a rug rat - so I gave her a bath last night - photo will definitely be coming now LOL
( Y'all )
Hugs,