To Busy to Blog (or being a bad donut-poker)

I know I know... I skipped another week. But if you knew how often all my poor donut-poking/loving butt has been forced to move, you wouldn't blame me!

"Luckily" I have now bothered my back again, so I HAVE to take it easy for a few days, and I can return to my obligations to you all!

Since I last blogged, we have hosted Lynda's nieces and nephew (their parents tagged along) for 7 days, then had another guest the day they left.

There were Cabane à Sucre's (again- my poor clogged arteries!) and primary schools in Dorval to be visited. Poutine, buckwheat crepes slathered in maple butter at Jean Talon Market, and vegan gluten free deliciousness from Dugout to be eaten.

Yellow peace buses to be purchased in Old Montreal.

It was all go, go, GO.

Then I thought, seeing as I had so little going on.. why not just throw in a quick solo visit to Ottawa for 24 hours?

First, a little more ancestry research at the National Archives.

FUN FACT: Nearly more exciting than her connections to Hilary Clinton and Ryan Reynolds, Lynda has the first Irishman - not counting adventurous and un-documented sea farers of the Viking era - to set foot in New France/Canada as part of her family tree.

Monsieur Tecle (Tadgh) Cornelius AuBrennan (O'Brennan) arrived in 1661 from Kilkenny. In 1670 he married a Filles du Roi - Jeanne Chartier. A "Daughter of the King"- no royal blood, just a fancy name for being sold by your family, and had 8 kids. Their sixth child and third son Francois had 8 more.

The French apparently either couldn't cope with Tadghs accent or the converted "AuBrennan" didn't sound French enough, so the name became "Aubry" by the 1750's. The line marries into her paternal grandmothers family, the Decaries (or Decary, or Descarries, depending on which priest you talk to!)

See, even the Frenchies in her family have Irish roots!

No wonder she loves Guinness so much. ;)

Second draw card, Erika (ex-boss YWCA) was visiting Ottawa and I hadn't met 2 month old Dustin yet!

Then there was some Lindt-ball infused shopping with Constable Olsen. P for Purchase. Can't forget THAT!

Plus, you know I'm a sucker for a train ride.

I LOVE TRAINS!

All that exertion meant I had to go and have a nice lunch with one Ms. Amari Stark, also visiting family in Montreal, at our fav restaurant in Montreal- LOV. I think I can say it's our fav now that we have been 4 times in 2 months.

It's all vegan, so no bacon, but that's the only downside I have found so far!

Also about 85% wheat free.

Oh and they have real cheese for us diary-files you can sub in on everything from soupe a l'oignon to mac and cheese and grilled cheese, to the burgers, which are A-MA-ZING. Oh and then there's the quinoa fritters. Not to mention the cheesecake from Sophie Sucrée they happily serve. I'd have taken photos of the food, but I ate it all too fast.

Put a fork in me. I'm DONE!

Oh, did I mention that a few of the toilets have plants in them. What is one to do but pose with them?!

#LOVitall

So you see, there was hardly time to breathe, let alone blog!

However, moving forward I am committed to a new "Spring" plan. School is done, the weather is....... well OK it's not West Coast warm, but it's not in the negatives too much anymore either! So I have decided that every week, on a day with the best weather of course, I'm going to pick a street that is "off the beaten path" slightly, and document all the cool things about it.

Although I am still exhausted from all my eating and travelling, I have made a start.

Ave Coloniale runs parallel to the far more famous Blvd St Laurent. I "found" it walking from the Maison de l'Amité (the ESL school I volunteer at) to Sophie Sucrée,

purveyors of things vegan, gluten free and delicious!

The street is surprisingly quiet even though one block away from a thriving hub, however still bursting with colour and character.

Of course there are the murals, swirling dancing 3 story high ones. Also plants taking back mural walls. And one overlooking a still partly snow covered community garden, just begging for some hardy soul to dust off the last remnants of winter and get planting, had farm animals!

And while most of Montreal has a certain "je ne sais quoi" charm to it, this street had some of the most colourful approaches to architecture I have seen. Side by side terraces in bold, often contradicting, primary colours. Neighbours all clearly as house-proud as each other. I wish I had had more time to wander, but I had to get a cookie and get back to class!

Also this little place was for sale.

The skinny one in the middle, that looks as though a stubborn sibling said back in 1885, "what do you mean there's no room for my house too? Sure there is... LOOK, I'LL JUST SQUEEZE IT IN HERE!"

The housing market in Montreal is defiantly on the rise, no longer can you get a walk up for $250,000. Still most Victorians or Vancouverites would sell a first born, and throw in an option on the second to get this place for the asking price.