Sunny California

Crazy weather. When I arrived on 20th of October, it wasn't too warm. It was actually a bit cloudy. The nights were a little chilly- I can definitely wear a sweater kind of weather. And then... it got warm and sunny. And a good thing because a friend invited me to go to the beach with her and a sister who was visiting from NY. This is one of the nearby beaches. Newport.

Click on the images to enlarge

The weather was lovely this day, wasn't hot and it wasn't cold, it was just right. This is the first beach I remember going to. My mom took me and my brothers to this beach on the bus. The bus that runs right by our family home and ends right at Newport Beach when traveling southbound. :)
Hope everyone is well

p.s. I admit that I do sometimes miss the colder weather. Sometimes.

Love Sandra.

Merci Montréal, Tu es Formidable!

Home sweet home

Riding on the bus

Looking out the window last Autumn

Look, our building!

Fun painted Metro Station. Next stop after ours going West

Walking along tree lined streets

He helped me organize my closet when I first arrived- heart him!!!

Tim Hortons!

I am so happy, and consider myself pretty darn fortunate to have been able to live in such an amazing (foreign) city. I will very soon be leaving it. I am going to miss it so much. I will miss it and all the friends I made here. I will greatly miss my wonderful congregation Viau. I will miss walking (remember my earlier posts? I was not a fan of the walking) to the local stores, riding on the metro, i will even miss traveling on the bus and just never having to sit in traffic- ever, Tim Hortons, Rue Mont Royal, Mont Royal park, the underground "endless shopping", La Grand Bibliotèque library, Sesame Snaps, the Vietnamese sandwich shop on Ontario close to the KH where Ab and I sometimes meet for a yummy sandwich-we did that yesterday :), I am going to miss our small studio apartment with its BIG view of the city- [tear], all the beautiful trees that line the streets of the city....hmmmm, it seems I will miss a lot, enough to give someone second thoughts about leaving- almost. I will miss you so much, place I called home for the first year of marriage- an awesomely wonderful year, and some change. I leave and will be back. I have to, there is still so much I haven't explored here in Quebec. To all my friends that are from here: Thank you from the bottom of my heart for everything! For being the wonderful people that you are. To have welcomed my in such a loving way. For sometimes being my French teachers, for helping me find my way in a strange city- it really never felt all that strange actually. For inviting and joining me out in Service { I think I will miss all the stairs ;) } For always being willing to lend a helping hand whether it was a ride to the grocery store, rendezvous for service, assembly... I even got the chance to make it to Spanish assemblies- that meant SO much to me, gracias! For including Abner and I in always fun-filled and encouraging times at get - together's and outings. I will never forget you guys- how could I? You helped make my move here so pleasant. I will make sure to always do my best to keep in touch. I will continue to blog and this way let you in a little on what goes on in my/Abner's life where ever I/we may be ~ Votre Soeur Sandra xxxxx

Our Central Park- kind of

I have some blogs that haven't been posted yet... I will get around to it. I haven't really been quite in the mood to blog lately. So much going on... Today Abner told me about this site where I can make videos with images and video clips. I like it. In this video you will see what I did today... I took a stroll (hike and frantic run) in Mt. Royal Park, a mini mountain located in the center of the city. It wasn't raining today, so I decided to do the walk up to the top. And then, while I was still up there it started to rain. It rained hard. I ran down that mountain so fast I don't know how I didn't fall and eat it on that bumpy, steep path. I mean, I wasn't quite prepared with proper running in the mountains kind of gear... however, I. Loved. It. What a cool little adventure. And this time I made it all the way to the top, where I found some amazing views! This is also where I spotted the rain coming. There I was taking in the gorgeous views when all of a sudden a runner- complete with fancy running gear- told me that the rain was coming, and how yesterday she had stayed up there too long and got drenched... Then she told me to look to the left...Yikes! The rain was coming! I got wet, but it was worth it.

Thank you self-timer for making pictures of me possible.

A Year Later, Still a Tourist?

Nance and Bounty a.k.a. Black Pearl

Yes, I live here, not visiting.

Jacques Cartier Square past and present. (picture on the left is from Wikimedia Commons)

It's been a bit more than a year actually. I think. I will have to go back to my "Old Montreal is Grand" blog entry to see just how long it's been. Old Port is so close, yet so far because we never seem to make it out there. And it's so nice. I told my friend Nancy, that went with us: "I've never been to Europe, but somehow I feel like I'm in Europe". The buildings so historic and the narrow cobble stone streets that I have yet to walk down... I will try to do that before leaving, or it may end up being just one more place to explore when we are back here visiting. While in Old Port, I can't help but picture it in the olden days with horse-drawn buggies, women in long dresses... And there we are, present day, walking around in jeans and sneakers and seeing cars, trucks, motorcycles, scooters everywhere causing all kinds of traffic. You can actually experience the horse and buggy thing the way you can in Central Park... I haven't done that yet either... but I will wait till when I visit... am not exactly a tourist right now. Of course if you ask my husband, he might say "She is such a tourist" hence the pictures, maybe? But I need them for blogging purposes. And because I like taking pictures... K, I'm a little bit tourist even after being here for a little over a year. Guess it must be a little weird and somewhat annoying to have your spouse wanting to stop everywhere to take pictures all-the-time in places you know so well. Sorry hun. But it's all good. This past weekend was an extra crowded weekend at Old Port because of the fancy Tall Ships event going on (Black Pearl was there). Later I will be posting about the many things I will miss of Montreal, Old Port is definitely one of those things I'll miss.

Have a great Wednesday, last day of Summer!

Sandra

Fun With Recipes

I found this cool site called They Draw and Cook. A blog dedicated to illustrated recipes- cute colorful drawings that each have a recipe to cook. I haven't tried any... but I do enjoy looking at them.


Is this how you make Sala Verde?  
(click on images to enlarge)

Next week I will be going apple picking with friends from my hall. Its something I really hope to do before I leave Canada. And with the apples I get, I would like to make this Apple and Cheese Upside-Down cake-- It does look like an easy breezy recipe. And also get a picture of myself  picking an apple high in a tree like one of my pal's pics. (Karinne, if you read this, I really like it! And I know it wont be as cool as yours, but it has inspired me.)  Oh and if that day could be a day like it is today(no rain), that would be super!  ;)

Have a lovely day,
♡Sandra

Mon Dimanche

My Google Reader. This blog is Cake Power Kids. Making of Betty Boop. Amazing.

Happy Sunday everyone. This day has been a pretty relaxing one. Football is in full swing, and I have to say, I kinda wish I was a (big) fan of the sports as I am married to one of the biggest sports fans I know. This means that the one  TV in our pad, at times, gets taken over by sports and now that sport is football. Its on now as I type this. I hear the crowd cheering and a commentator (is that what they are called?) Dallas is playing... some team. Did you notice that I wrote "at times" and not always about the TV being taken over? This is because my dear husband is a kind man. He lets me watch TV if there is something on that I "have" to watch. He just switches to the games during commercials and I am okay with this. There is nothing to watch now. So, I catch up on my Google Reader. I have subscribed to sooo many blog feeds.. yet some how I am always, always caught up on all the latest entries from the blogs I subscribe to, and there are many! Google Reader alerts and shows me right there in a window all the recent activity of those blogs(I pretty much love you, Google!). I mostly follow food and cake decorating blogs. Also, some design, fashion and craft blogs. Its kinda like subscribing to magazines, without all the paper.  I hope that you had a great weekend. 

This is me while online. Headphones so sound wont clash with the TV when I view videos online ;)

♡ Sandra

Autumn Sweater

I have a favorite season. It's Autumn. I know the popular one seems to be Summer. But I have loved it since I was a little Chana(my dads nickname for me) growing up on Beck Avenue. Playing with my friends outside during this time of year was the best for me.
The leaves are starting to change colors around here (I wonder if they are changing where you are). They are going from green to yellow on many trees, and some, a kind of orange.  I cant wait for that beutiful Autumn  foliage--  it's so pretty! And you get to really see it here where we live. Plenty of trees in this city, this is why the sidewalks are so busted on many of the streets..those darn roots take over. I hope everyone is doing okay. I can not wait to see my family and friends in California very soon.

Also, I was bored and so I grabbed me some scissors and away I chopped...the bangs

 

Lots of love, Sandra

BBQ 2010

This was my second time attending a bbq  hosted by the same lovely family. First one was shortly after I arrived here last year. They try to have one every year. This time it was somewhat bitter-sweet...as they will be moving to Lac St. Jean   (doesnt that have a nice ring to it?) area and well, we will be (hopefully) in the SoCal area. But we all had a great time. I want to say that Karinne and I whipped up a little cake, only, it was not little! It was a four tier cake! It was a true labor of love...much love and time went into that cake. I want to point out that Karinne baked the different flavor and size round cakes and made those stunning roses aside from other decorating and "building" things that went in to it. We work well together, yes, we make a great team.  Rain was expected  for that day..but it didn't, the whole day was nice. It rained the next night and it rained most of this morning-- with thunder  so loud it woke me up around seven or eight.
I will for sure miss all the fun get-together's that never ever exclude a great abundance of tasty desserts, I wasn't used to that...I love it! though really,  I wish I didn't.

Have a great day!
 ♥ Sandra

behind

Way  behind on the blogging. Here is just a little bit of how Saturday (yesterday) was spent: friends , food, some more food, some cake along with other tasty desserts and just all around good times at a mega BBQ at the Deigneault's family home.

On the Wish List

I have a very "short" wish list. I have a major crush on these: the victoria classic and  the studine classic vélos,  in every color. I would use it, really I would.  Ride it to work? When I have a job to ride it to, 'cause im green like that? Thats the message the bottom ad picture is giving me.

Viejo y Vieja

Embroidery reminds me of Mexico. Sleeping on grandmas' pillowcases...grandma in Durango had them, grandma in Jalisco did too, so did my aunts. They sure like knitting, crocheting, and embroidery. Sometimes the embroidery would be on fancy silky(ish)  bed sheets complete with ruffles. I remember a cousin taking me to a fabric store in Teca' Jal. to get me my very own embroidery kit-- all the cousins were doing it.  She showed me how. It was easy, fun and pretty! That was a very long time ago and that was the only time I did it. I should have kept it up. I will learn again and pretty-up  pillowcases and napkins of my very own...one day. Until then, I will let someone else make them. I will purchase. I love the Mr. and Mrs... pillowcases pictured above.  I found them online. They were, sold.  But thats okay...they serve as inspiration.

Viejo, Vieja (its what mom and dad call each other); Mi, Cielo; Buenas Noches, Buenos Dias; Dulces, Sueños... the ideas, they keep coming.


Hungarian embroidery is also very pretty. Found this one at Gingerbread Cottage along with many others.

Today I am missing my mommas picadillo. The Food Network is responsible for this craving as it is on while I blog...they are making cuban ropa vieja and other yummies. I have never made picadillo. I don't know how to.  Answer the telephone, madre, you're gonna hook a daughter up.

♥Sandra

Inspiration

Whisk Kid

Martha Stewart website, it inspires me.  I've been giving her website(s) a few visits lately (maybe more than a few) and this is mainly due to the fact that when I read recipes on blogs, they often credit Martha Stewart for  or at least part of their recipes. But I also like the cute craft ideas, tips and how-to's.  Many of the recipes are in video-- i like video how- to's. The other day I saw a rainbow layer cake on a blog. I wanted to know how it's made. I Googled "rainbow layer cake"... guess what the search engine came up with first...? A link to Martha Stewart's website. I tell you!  I want, want to make a cake like this, via Kaitlin of Whisk Kid... ha! Her blog is on my blogroll. One day I will make it. It will be different-- but now I know how I will get the different color layers-- for that, I thank you, Kaitlin. Probably wont be making it anytime soon. I'm pretty sure it would brighten anyones day.  Even non-cake eaters, they exist.

The Many Faces of Kitchen Ten Zero Five

 Old pots and pans, old toaster, old knobs.

 Stoked to receive my retro canisters! Thank you honey, again. But we needed more storage space. The coffe maker, had to hang out on the table where.. we dine.

 This was when we got our handy dandy magnetic spice containers. We started with six..we now have 12. I use them all.  And I need more. I arrange the spice containers to make shapes from time to time. Abner likes them to be in straight lines.

So this is now. You can see some of the pots that replaced the old ones. There are actually frijoles de la olla in that bigger pot. I talked about bean gorditas (yum) with my mom last night, so you know what I'll be making. But I need new Maseca because the bit that was left went bad. I kinda never thought it could go bad.  Look at the knobs. They look better this way.

Plan du Metro. I have a thing for maps, and metro's. Abner hasn't seen this as I framed this only a while ago while he was at work.  Surprise!!(he reads this at work).

The coffee maker is no longer on the dining table. And these storage units came in handy for other appliances and things that came after.

Its not a huge change and I don't want to do too much to change it since living here wont be long term...If everything goes well that is. We hope so.

Have a Great Monday.

Marché Jean-Talon

I am a bit behind on my posts. I will try to catch up. About two weeks ago, on a day Abner didn't have to work, we went to a farmers market, Jean-Talon Market. Aside from all the fruits and veggies, herb and flower plants, there were  foods being prepared, all kinds, from different places. We took out an extra $20 in case we wanted to grab a quick bite to eat. Ha! $20? What $20? It disappeared in minutes!  Everything smelled so good. And we would see people walking while eating things that made us crave the same thing they were having. So back to the ATM it was. That good. What a nice date with the husband. I wont forget it, so much yum and the weather was nice.

churros,gorditas,liquados,raspados...

La seño' nos habló en frances. ¿Que tal? And she sounded so cute!

Merci, señora.

Yes, bison. Yes, very delicious! That it's leaner than beef, a plus!