The Nutcracker blues

Back in 1987, for the 30th anniversary of Les Grands Ballets Canadiens, my Dad designed

the Nutcracker's costumes. Every year since then, in October, the costumes were pulled out of storage, refurbished and repaired for the new dancers.

Dad would attend all the fittings to make sure everything was up to his standards.

Here is a clip:

I saw this wonderful Holiday ballet, a lot of times....

But with Dad's passing I was sad at the thought of not seeing it EVER again.

To my great surprise, I was contacted by my Dad's agent earlier this month and it seems that as part of his contract I am entitled to tickets....and they are planning a special evening to honor his work....

So we are going to the ballet !

I'll tell you all about it!

Winter Art

On my lunchtime walk....

I had to go Xmas shopping....on my way, I was taken aback by this whimsical art installation.

It is at the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts.

Don't you think they look like cattails ?

Would like to drive by at night to see what they look like.....

 So these are the things I picked up at the thrift shop...

CORSAGES! XMAS CORSAGES!

WOOHOO!

 They were originally sold at Shopper's Drugmart a big drugstore chain in Canada

The owner before me had put some tie wraps to hang them in the tree...

 The green one isn't a corsage but an ornament....

 So 

take makes 3 corsages and one ornament. sweet for $2.00

 I am really happy with those finds since 2016 has been dismal in the 

thrifting area!

Be well my thrifty friends

Sooooo Cool!

Just a quick post!

there is a wee park near my house....

Last week as I'm walking by I see this..... 

 Did Santa actually park his sleight here?

Well, maybe not because there was only 1 reindeer!

and some wind chimes, lovely but not ALL THE REINDEERS!

I'll be on the lookout for them and Santa as well!

Sleep tight!

Seen Around

I have been busy doing an inventory of my Dad's HUGE Fontani Nativity.

I have cases and cases of palm trees, animals and people. And maybe 40 buildings....Maybe more.

I will be returning to work next Tuesday part time. Yippeee (NOT) . While I was off, I realized that I don't really like it there...Took me 5 years....

I will wait 6 months to see, if I change my mind and maybe look within the same company, different department.

In the meantime, I will share things I've seen around!

 This character is on the side of a building on St-Denis street.

He makes me smile!

 I love old water tanks on top of buildings.

They are a dying breed in Montreal.

 There is a lot of street art in my neighborhood.

Isn't this fish gorgeous?

This doll scared me and reminded me of that crazy 

character played by Kristen Wiig

Ewwwww!

When I saw this ceramic pizza shoe votive holder,

I wondered who was the person who dreamt this up!

Is that crazy or what?

Last but not least...I went to a big thrift last week and there was nothing good....

except this Pyrex bowl that had already been snatched up by a woman.

I hid to take the picture!

Have a great Sunday night!

The Magic Tree

We had so much to sort through with my Dad's passing....

The one hundred face cloths, the dozen stainless steel bowls, the plastic crates, the outdated lamp shades...

And more! like that crazy Fontanini nativity scene with hundreds of figurines and animals.....but we are not there yet!

I am just talking about day to day stuff, plates and bowls, cutlery...

I am just clarifying because I get a lot of flack from people (my Dad's friends, relatives etc...) that I should not throw away treasures....Yet they don't want any.....

First of all I did not throw away any national treasures...At one point you just don't know what to do with 30 glasses...

We did countless trips to the thrift shops...and eventually Dan said I am sick of going to the thrift shop, the gas spending , our time etc...

So I decided to just leave things by the tree, the tree in front of my Dad's apartment.

I left an ironing board, stainless steels bowls, lamp shades, floor sweepers, terracota pots, plastic crates....

 Yes that is the tree...

 It is the only tree on my side of the street...

and it is magic....because every time you leave something next to it,

It will magically disappear.

People in the Plateau are such scavengers it is crazy cool...

I am one! So proud!

I prefer to leave objects by the tree so people will take them, then to throw them away in the garbage!

Nighty Night!

  

AFK

If you're familiar with The Big Bang Theory you might know that this means Away From Keyboard!

I have been AWOL and AFK for quite a while.

Grief kicked my ass and I had several meltdowns (normal) and I went to see my family physician who

prescribed a medical leave....

I just could not cope anymore, I felt so overwhelmed and helpless....

I am told I looked like a deer caught in the headlights! And I felt the same as well.

I felt so paralyzed and lost.

all those books, dvds and cds! 100 facecloths , 70 obelisks , hundreds of eggs.....I just wanted to make it all disappear !

I have been cataloging, packing and cleaning...I sneeze all the time and everyday I have new zits....

Today I took a day off and we went on a wee roadtrip.

I really like the vintage Montreal tile but felt the $9.99 price tag was too much...

 Same here! Who pays  $24.99 for 3 dinner plates and a dozen salad plates...

It is Corning Ware after all not Wedgewood!

  Ditto! $14.99 for 6 saucers???

REALLY?

This was a bit better but I have all the lids I need!

 JAJ Pyrex, It is basically all I've seen lately

 From the Brockville, Ontario Sally Ann

 I nearly bought this platter...

It is so cute and a steal at $1.50!

Instead I got this adorable holly serving dish for $1.00

I have a couple of other pieces but I am so tired I can't remember the pattern name

for the love of God!

It was a glorious thrifting day and I will share

my other finds as soon as I finish cleaning them up

Sleep tight!

On this last day of March

I had 2 topics I wanted to share with you...

There is a Barbie Expo in Montreal!

FREE!!!

 I love Barbie and her wonderfully wild and crazy get ups!

This will be so much fun!

NEXT!

Do you know Modglass ?

I don't !

They sell some kind of 21st century Pyrex!

I have seen a blue and turquoise one too, I took pictures but never found them!

I have a witness too....

They are super cute, but a bit on the pricey side....

$25 each

Oh well....

Enjoy the last evening of March

YYYYUUUUMMMM!!!!

This is Mac & Cheese week in Montreal, Quebec and Toronto!

Of course they want us to celebrate mac & cheese and to fork up $20 for a plate!

Me? I decided to cook some homemade mac with the addition of Portuguese smoked bacon....

In Pyrex of course!

This recipe is definitely a keeper (I have to write it down!) 

Mount-Royal

Located in Montreal, Mount-Royal is believed to be an ancient extinct volcano....

It is more a hill than a mountain. As per Wikipedia it is part of the Mounteregian hills. The Mount Royal park  was designed by Frederick Law Olmsted who also designed Central Park.

It is known as the city's lung and a great place to enjoy the great outdoors without leaving the city!

 This is a view of Beaver Lake, a man made lake.

 We like to walk around it or snowshoe around it.

 The chalet was built in the 60's and is a great place to get hot chocolate.

There is an outdoor skating rink nearby too.

We like to go there to decompress after work. It is so peaceful .

It just hit me that when I was a wee girl, Dad and I would go for walks and to

pick wildflowers every Sunday in Spring and Summer.

Another sign Spring is just around the corner? Spring flowers are

out at the Dollarama!!!

I CAN'T WAIT FOR SPRING!!!

Local Vintage Flea

Who knew there was a monthly vintage flea market in a church basement 20 minutes from my house?

I sure didn't! Well we went last Saturday and it was really nice!

I was also able to deliver a Pyrex bowl set to a lady who bought it on Facebook!

 Does anyone remember those candy canisters?

 A great booth always has great vignettes!

 Okay,okay I regret not buying this trivet!

I hope to get it next time!

 A romantic vignette for Valentines

We bought this sunburst wall clock at a really good price.

Last time we saw some they were $250 and up.

Meghan is adjusting just fine...better than we are....

Be well and keep thrifting.

I really appreciated your condolences. 

They made me feel better.

When in Rome....

Or should I say when in Montreal...

One thing Montrealers do once in a while is go on Mount-Royal (aka The Mountain) and gaze at the city sky line on the Belvedere.

 That is the Big O (Olympic Stadium)

            The Jacques Cartier bridge

 The St-Lawrence river

And little ol' me!

It was a great treat to look at the city i love

but chilly and windy!

Have a great weekend!