If you light a lamp for somebody,  it will also brighten your path.

Buddha

 

It is during our darkest moments that we must focus to see the light.

                                                                                                     Buddha

No one saves us but ourselves. No one may.  We ourselves must walk the path.

Buddha

 

You can search throughout the entire universe for someone who is more deserving of your love and affection than you are yourself, and that person is not to be found anywhere.  YOU yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe, deserves your love and affection.

Buddha

If you truly loved yourself,  you can never hurt another.

Buddha

 

on February 14th we will be celebrating Valentine’s Day.  It is a day about love, chocolates and flowers.   It is a day for everyone and when we think of all the people we care about.  Husbands, wives, parents, children, teachers and friends.  Everyone is included.  Even our four-legged friends.     I like to decorate with flowers and cards around the house and have a nice meal with the people I love.   Even Tina, my beloved dog, will have a special home cooked meal of steak and carrots.

an angel sits in front of the house with a bouquet of flowers

cards around the house

an angel with a chocolate box

One of the best love stories ever, written by GRAHAM GREENE.  A story about love and jealousy with a tragic ending.   One of my favorite books.

 

HAPPY ST. VALENTINE TO TINA

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Since Montreal is surrounded by many islands, we also have many bridges to cross, some small and some very long.    I love the look of the waterfront and I went this week to take some pictures of the little islands near where I live.  Of course in winter it does look different and it looks as if the rivers and lakes have gone to sleep.

one of the longer bridges crossing over to another island in Laval

There are still ducks brave enough to face the winter

standing on the bridge and looking over to the island houses

 

 

a house next to the bridge overlooking the water

HAPPY FEBRUARY

Tina enjoying the snow

and even more the soft cushions….

Since Winter is still around…..yes, it is snowing again today…. I can only look at snowy  places and houses and all the pictures I can take at the moment are about snow.   Walking around I look at houses covered in snow, children playing in the snow, snow shovels leaning against the front door and still a lot of Christmas (winter) lights.  In a way it looks really very beautiful, like something out of a story book.  

a house hiding behind the municipal park

a castle in the snow

one of my favorite houses in a suburb of Montreal

late in the afternoon

front steps covered in snow

Winter lights all around the house and garden

the little house in the garden

at the end of the day

 

Today I went for a walk in Vieux St. Therese, which is a suburb north of Montreal.  It is a very old little town where you see lots of old houses with staircases outside.  There is also a very big college and that is why you see lots of students walking around.    In the center of town there is a big church and along the main road you will find lots of little cafés, restaurants and shops.   I love the look of the last century and hope that this little town will just stay the way it is.

houses of the village

the famous outside staircases which can be seen in many Quebec towns

walking along the main street

children crossing the street with the “lollipop lady”

lots of traffic in the afternoon

another beautiful old house on the waterfront in nearby Rosemere

and here is Tina looking happy sitting on her favorite sofa near the window

Now the holidays are over, we have welcomed the new year 2017, and we are in the midst of winter.   As a matter of fact winter has just started.  There are many people who do not like winter.  They don’t like the cold, the ice and the slippery roads.   Not to forget that we have to dress with heavy coats and boots and shovel the snow.   However, there is something very nice about winter.   The look of snow covered trees and houses is something out of a story book.  Especially after a snow storm, when the roads and lanes are completely white and the snow is glistening  in the sunlight.   Children love to play outside and build snowmen, while other are getting ready to hit the mountains with their skis.   It is also lovely to go for long walks and to admire  the scenery.

Here I took some pictures of the last snow storm and how it has transformed the neighborhood

looking across the road

walking along the road

looking across the river

 

Snow covered tree branches

 

like a Christmas card

looking out the window

Tina loves the snow

Silver Christmas decorations matching the snow

another lovely winter house

coming back from the evening walk…

 

MERRY CHRISTMAS        JOYEUX NOËL

Wherever you may be during the holidays, whatever you may have planned (some people will be working during the holidays) may your Christmas be blessed with peace and joy.

Que Noël soit l’occasion de vous retrouver avec ceux que vous aimez.

switch on the lights

invite friends and family for dinner

light the Christmas tree

decorate your trees and windows

a little Christmas in the sunroom

HAPPY HANUKKAH     CHAG CHANUKA SAMEACH   

to all my Jewish friends

HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO ALL OF YOU

from Tina and me

Tina and me.    Best friends forever.

For me Christmas season is one of my favorite times of the year.  Why?  Because of the lights.    This year Hanukkah,  the Jewish eight-day festival of lights, begins on the same day as Christmas.  Every evening during Hanukkah, the family gathers to light a candle on the menorah until, 8 days later, all of the candles are burning.

Hanukkah is celebrated with prayers, good food and exchanging gifts.  It is also a time of reflection.     I like to decorate around the house with strings of lights and candles and I think it is very nice to combine both holidays.

Here I put a small Hanukkah book under the Christmas tree

I placed a Hanukkah menorah next to Christmas decorations and I think it looks very nice.  Once all the candles are burning it will look very festive.

Strings of lights everywhere

going to Christmas markets in the evening.  Here the Christmas market in Vieux Terrebonne, Quebec.

                                                                                                                                  source:  LaMetropole.com

bright lights from houses can be seen in the darkness of the night

sitting next to the Christmas tree

Instead of a Christmas tree other plants  or pine branches can be used to hang decorations and to place strings of lights.   Lights around windows or around paintings look also very nice.   I keep my lights all winter long.   I call them my winter lights.

Here I placed a painting next to some branches.  

Winter paintings,  white skates, Christmas tree decorations, stars etc . all make good objects to use as decorations for the season.

A PICTURE OF THE BIG SNOWSTORM TODAY

Tina deep  in the snow

 

 

It is this time of year again  when we start to bring out the lights and the Christmas decorations and looking for trees and we just want to get into a festive mood.  Whether we are celebrating Christmas or some other holidays we all enjoy looking at decorations   and sparkling lights.   It is fun to decorate around the house.  Just a few pine branches or candles or a string of lights will transform the house.

A painting standing next to a little Christmas tree

the picture on a gift bag makes a nice background next to a small pine tree.

I like to put Christmas tree decorations in baskets on a table

Tina sitting in front of a decorated window.

The garden is covered in a white blanket of snow

The bohemian Christmas look

 

Singer: NEEMA      Song:  Elsa’s Lullaby                                             from: youtube

This video is one of my favorites.   The dog “Elsa” looks exactly like Tina and the video was made in Montreal.    It is a song of love and companionship.   Elsa was her best friend.  Unfortunately Elsa is no longer with her but they had a happy long life together.    When I watch this video it makes me cry.   I hope you will like it as much as me.

Last week we had our first snowstorm here in the Montreal area.   We got up in the morning and the whole garden and streets were white and it looked really nice.  In the meantime the snow has already melted again and we have lots of rain.

However, I did take pictures of this day when everything was white and it looked really nice.

my little angel in the garden

another little angel walking towards the house

one of the streets in the neighborhood

Tina looks surprised

looking from the inside out

Time to bring out the Christmas decorations

Tina is pleased to be back inside in a warm house, sitting on her favorite sofa.

Another angel getting ready for Christmas

The West Island is a region at the western end of the Island of Montreal, consisting of several boroughs, cities and suburbs.  Some of the nicest boroughs are those which are bordering onto the lake, Lac Saint Louis, which stretches all the way from Lachine to Senneville and further.

Last weekend I went to visit friends in Baie d’Urfé which is one of the towns overlooking the lake and I took some pictures.

Here pictures of Lac Saint Louis

The municipal park of Baie d’Urfé

The town hall of Baie d’Urfé

A view up from the lake to the road

Driving along the lakeshore from Baie d’Urfé to Beaconsfield you will see beautiful houses, small and big, and really romantic little streets to go for a walk with your dog

One of the big mansions on Lakeshore Drive

The view on the other side of the street

Another picture of the lake

 

It’s time to have a nap !!