The Inevitable

has happened. 

Our yard, once again, winterized.

Pardon me if I do not rhapsodize.

Bonjour QC!

Let's back up a little to the day we drove into Quebec City a couple of weeks ago, after 9 1/2 hours on the highway.  Well, not literally "back up," although Quebec drivers are very fond of speeding in reverse to pretend they're going the right way down a one-way street when they really want to be going the other way, or spot a parking space in their rear view mirror that has suddenly been vacated.

Anyway, we are not reversing over the bridge as we head into Quebec City.

It's a bit of a rainy day and close to rush hour so I only have the chance to grab one quick picture.

But I do like how the Christmas lights reflect in the wet city street.

We are here to visit with my in-laws.  They have a beautiful view of the St.Lawrence River and there are often freighters sailing by, or cruise ships in the summer.  Do you see the freighter between the trees?

We're back on the road next day, heading to Montreal and, again, I steal a couple of pictures as we drive out of la ville de Québec.

An affectionate "Salut!" to the Château Frontenac perched atop the hill and we're off for another 3 hours of merging with crazy Québec drivers. I got a lot of knitting done on that leg of the trip; it was either knit or wear a blindfold!

Montreal Menagerie

While strolling along the streets of Montreal I happened upon some critters that were just begging to have their pictures taken.  I was happy to oblige them.

This pampered pitou was out shopping with his people:  Because of his extreme cuteness, he was allowed to wait inside the entrance to the shop.

This pooch wasn't quite as pampered but seemed resigned to waiting outside. 

I think he has the "poor poor pitiful me" look

down pat. 

This little minou was waiting to get back

 into her house. 

Once back in, of course, she would immediately want to go out again. 

This is the Universal Way of the Cat.

It seems as if a displaced dairy farmer, forced to move to the big city for financial reasons, and pining for his cows, decided to paint a nostalgic scene on the side of his building.  French cows say "meuh!" rather than "moo!" you'll note.  I believe it's a question of attitude towards life in general.

Although one is not allowed to keep cattle in Montreal, the city is much more lenient when it comes to unicorns.  I'm not sure what sound unicorns make, in any language.

(Please note:  No animals were harmed in the filming of this blog posting.)

FAITES DU BRUIT!

The ostensible reason for our recent trip to Montreal was for Pierre to take our daughter and myself to see one of the final games before the big whoop Grey Cup Game, which is being played tonight even as I type this.  At the game we attended, the Montreal Alouettes won big-time against the BC Lions, 56 to 18.  I was the only one in the stands to cheer the Lions AT ALL, EVER, throughout the game, and I only did so once, for fear of my life.  The rest of the stadium was silent the few times the Lions managed to score, silent being a relative term as the decibel level in the place was akin to that of an over-amped giant beehive full of happily buzzing (roaring) bees at all times.  I just could not believe the amount of noise in the place, but when you consider it was full of 54,000 people, mostly men (and by men I mean pumped-up, half-crazed, rabid sports nuts), I guess it's understandable.  And I'm just talking about the times when they weren't being encouraged by the guy with the microphone to "FAITES DU BRUIT" (make noise)...which I thought he was inexplicably saying "ONE TWO THREE" but as most of football seems inexplicable to me,  I didn't question it.  After awhile, though, I did notice the crowd roaring, banging empty seats, stamping, blowing horns, whistling whenever the 1-2-3 signal was given and I eventually looked up at the giant screen to behold the magic words "FAITES DU BRUIT" and all became clear. Well, at least that part of the game.

I don't think I was ever in a place with 54,000 people all at once before.  Here's a cross-section of what it looked like.  They actually got the "wave" going around the entire stadium a few times.  I was too busy with other things to participate...

Other things looking something like this

Well, no, it wasn't the hairy leg I was preoccupied with, more to do with not spilling my beer.  Truth to tell, I only consumed one.  But at least I did my part.  Here's what was attached to the leg

Beer Boy really got his exercise, carrying beer up and down the stairs.  Unfortunately, hot dogs weren't delivered to the seats but our dutiful daughter went and lined up for them for a half hour or so.   We ate them too fast for me to get a picture.

Of course there were cheerleaders to go along with the display.  They're more distracting than anything else but still inspiring enough for this aspiring little cheerette to get her groove on.

I have no clue who these guys are but they were pretty stoked about the Alouettes being Number 1.  At least, I think that's what the fingers signify.  It's all a mystery to me.

So now, gentle silent readers, I must hurriedly post this and dash off to join the men folk over at our buddy's house to watch the final game of the NFL season--the Grey Cup.  This is the game the Montreal Alouettes won the right to play in.  They have won that right 7 times in the past 10 years...but have not won.  Their reputation is on the line tonight.  I'm just in it for the half-time nachos and beer that promises to be served up.

Go Als!

UPDATE:  The Montreal Alouettes won the Grey Cup 28-27 after being behind at half-time 3-17! 

Swannee

Here's a little nod to those folks out there who are celebrating Thanksgiving this weekend. 
(hello Nashville!--you know who you are)

Rescuing the public yet again from an aggressive swan, Larry the zoo-keeper begins to plan his Thanksgiving dinner menu.
Maxim:

Time for somebody's swan song.

 

And speaking of swans...

 

Here's a window that caught my attention while I was swanning around Montreal last week.  But I've gotten ahead of myself here...see the post below to start our trip to La Belle Province.

The Québec Trail

A little over a week ago, we hit the highway to Québec.  Our traditional first stop is the Irving Big Stop (recently renamed the Blue Canoe but still the Big Stop to the locals).  Irving is a gas station/convenience store/sometimes restaurant/sometimes truck stop--the Big Stop variety being the epitome of all the aforementioned incarnations.  We were very pleased to meet up with these classic Canadian voyageurs stopping by on their portage.  Being true Canadians, they were very nice and posed for this photo.  I was so pleased to catch the Canada Geese flying over the scene as well. 

Inside the store you can buy all the latest designer hunting outfits as 'tis the season-- for shooting moose, that is.  If you have a license.  I hope our friend in the canoe we saw outside escapes unscathed.  I don't think it would be very sportsmanlike to shoot a moose that's wearing a Santa hat.  Kind of an easy target.  And still on the easy target topic, I don't know about you, but personally I'd opt for the bright orange get-up if I was going to go roaming around in the woods with a bunch of guys toting shotguns.  I may not be the only one to think this way as there seems to be a preponderance of camo duds and only a few of the obvious "I am not a bush or a moose so don't shoot!" variety left on the rack..

Our tour guide for the trip will be none other than Captain Canada himself! 

(Note the parking area for moose in the background.  A clever ploy by local hunters to lure the unsuspecting creatures into their trap!)