Menu Monday

 

Another week of menus for the month and hopefully no changes. Already did one for today to make up for a change last week.

Monday

Porkchops, creamed potatoes, peas and carrots.

Tuesday

Soup and sandwiches.

Wednesday

Leftover pork roast made into a stir fry. Served with rice.

Thursday

Chicken Parma, rice, and corn.

Friday

Tuna Casserole and salad.

Saturday

Leftovers from Wednesday.

Sunday

Roast ham, mashed potatoes, leftover salad.

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

Quebec City Part Two

 After our drive around the old city of Quebec and the quicky tour of the Plains of Abraham it was time to have a quick lunch and get ready for the first of two optional tours.

We got to the front of the Hotel de Frontenac and waited for our tour directors. I say directors as our group got divided into two. Most seemed to go with the lady who was taking one group. That left very few of us to go with this gentleman.

This gentleman was portraying one of the first architects of the hotel as it now stands. He added one of the wings and had come back as a ghost to show us his pride and joy. So much fun, he was an excellent guide for this adventure.

This is what is called the Rose Room and was used mostly by the ladies staying in the hotel for their afternoon tea. But near the end of WW2 this room saw something totally different. Churchill and Roosevelt met to discuss DDay. All top secret of course. There is a story that I will let you in on. It seems that Churchill left some papers behind and a worker found them. He handed them in and then not too long after was taken and questioned. The various governments were worried he might have read them and let something slip that could disrupt or alter the plans.

The outer ballroom, which could probably fit my whole house.

This is the main ball room. There is a wooden floor that can be placed over the carpet after the feasting is done, for dancing.

If you look in the top photo, you will see that there are 10 identical chandeliers. One for each of Canada's provinces. Hmmm, wonder why they didn't have two for the territories.

 Our last visit was one of the "ordinary" rooms in the hotel. This room was anything but ordinary.

We were finished the tour and then had to find our way back to the hotel we were staying in. The walk would not have been too bad, but it had started raining. By the time we had walked the 10 or so blocks back to the hotel, we were sopping wet. Looked more like 2 drowned cats than tourists. 

Had a bit of a rest and then got ready for our next optional tour. 

We got on the bus and traveled to just outside the city. We got to see the Montmorecy Fall which are 274 feet high. Actually higher than Niagara Falls, but not as much water.

We couldn't get much closer in the length of time we had and walking up the side of the cliff did not appeal.

Then it was off to supper at Le Moulin de Saint-Laurent a restored 17th century flour mill. Here are some pictures of the outside.

Using the bathroom was an adventure as Harvey put it. It was more along the lines of the family toilet. Meaning you could walk in and see a man washing his hands as easily as a woman. Very different. 

We traveled home and had a lovely sleep before heading out on our last adventure.

Oh and yes lots of maple syrup was served at our breakfast. In fact there was a competition on which table could use the most syrup. We were told to put it on everything. I will say that maple syrup and eggs are not quite the treat one would think they were.

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

Quebec City Part One

Yes, I took so many photos this will have to be in two parts.

 Our first stop of the morning was at a Sugar Shack. The above photos are of the old set up. We didn't get to see the newer set up, but we did have a wonderful breakfast. They had added an eating establishment to the old sugar shack.

But first we had a lesson on how maple syrup is collected. This farm is done the old way with taps and buckets.

In the top picture you can see the scar from one of the bucket tapings. The bottom picture is the sugar maple forest. 

Here we all are waiting for the wonderful breakfast we were going to enjoy. So much food, we were all stuffed to the max.

Then it was off to the Old City of Quebec. Lots of cobblestones and squares. 

 This picture is of a mural that was painted on the side of one of the buildings in one of the squares we visited. All the painted pictures of the people are of those that were important in the building of the city. If you look carefully at one of the top windows you will see a cat. Everyday that the mural was being painted a cat would sit in a window in the building across and watch. The artists thought it would be a great idea to have a picture of the cat in the mural as well.

Many of you will probably have seen this picture before. Look at all the umbrellas in the cul de sac. It is probably the most photographed street in Old Quebec.

This is the first church built in the old city. Actually the first church in the city at all. 

We then took a very quick trip around the citadel (disappointed that we didn't get to spend more time). While there we got to hear the cannon go off at noon.

Our guide also took us past the place where the battle between the English and French took place. It is a football/soccer pitch now.

Oh and the reason this area was called the Plains of Abraham, was because a man named Abraham owned the land.

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

Thrifty and Frugal Thursday

Thrifty and Frugal

Well this has been our first whole week back home, and I am trying very hard to cut back on spending for the remainder of the month. Seems to be getting harder and harder to tighten the frugal belt, what with food prices rising, and bills rising. We will be doing our best though.

Along with the usual frugal habits we have managed a few extra.

1. Hubby tried planting carrots in a container this year. It made them much easier to thin and look after for sure, and we were completely surprised at how many and the size they actually grew. Planting more in containers next year as well.

2. Took the vehicle in for an oil change. This was part of a purchase four oil changes at the dealership get one free. They no longer do this so it was our last free oil change.

3. I found an old write on wipe off calendar that I turned around and will be using the back for my fridge freezer inventory. Used some of my magnets to stick it on the side of the fridge. Just have to purchase some dry erase markers.

4. For the inventory on the two freezers downstairs I am going to do an old trick I learned in Guides. I will take some thinner cardboard and cover it with clear mac tac. Then use some of the magnets on my fridge to attach them to the two freezers. I already have some clear mac tac and I am sure I can pick up or use some box cardboard. I will let you know how that works out.

5. Picking and processing garden harvest between rain showers or storms. The more we get into the freezers or dry storage the better we will control our costs this winter. 

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

Onwards Towards Quebec

 

On our way to Quebec city we stopped at Cap-de-la Madeleine for a visit to the Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary. This is a picture of the Basilica from the outside. 

It is a national shrine notable for it's stained glass. This is considered a minor Basilica which means Cathedrals are higher up as seats of the Bishop or Archbishop. 

The Basilica was given that designation in regards to two miracles that had happened here.

Back when the first church was built. Here is a picture of the small original rock church.

The congregation had grown so much that the priest said it needed to be made bigger. The stone to build was across the St. Lawrence river and the river had not froze that year. The priest asked the congregation to pray for the river to freeze. The next morning an ice bridge had formed and the rocks were able to be collected and brought to build the church.

The second miracle involves the statue of the Madonna and child. The priest and a friend were praying in front of the statue and saw the eyes of the Madonna move. Not too sure if anyone else saw this happen, but this was classified as the second miracle.

Here are some pictures of the inside of the Basilica. We said a prayer and then lit a candle for our daughter.

We spent a little time here and got to walk down to the river front as well.

Then it was back on the bus to continue our journey to Quebec City. Once we arrived we checked into the hotel and had a few moments before we headed out to our supper in the Old City.

Just a few pictures of our walk through the gate into the Old City and to the eating establishment we visited. 

Everybody have a wonderful evening. 

God bless.

Next Up Ottawa

Our first stop on our tour of Ottawa was at an Indigenous farm Madahoki. Here we were welcomed to unceded Algonquin land with a traditional welcome song. We then learned about the first people and how they lived. Also learned that the term Iroquois was a derogatory name given by another tribe to the Hanadois (pretty sure I spelled that wrong).

Our next stop was the Canadian War Museum.

This is the area where the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier lies. See that little window at the top of the wall. On the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, the sun shines through the sky lights and hits the window, the resulting shine hits the Tomb exactly.

Our tour did not include the whole of the war museum (something I would really like to get back and see), but we were allowed to walk around the Memorial Hall. 

This is the outside of the Museum. It was cloudy when we went in and then when we left it was pouring rain.

We next got to go and walk through the grounds of the Governor General's residence. It was very interesting as most of the trees planted there were actually planted by various dignitaries.

We saw the Rideau Canal but passed over it so quickly that I was unable to get a photo. There was some very informative information given to us by our guide. Here is a link to read about it. Rideau Canal - Wikipedia

Harvey and I during our free time later that evening took a walk to see the Parliament Buildings. The picture below is of the Peace Flame with the Center Block in the background. This flame never goes out. The Block is being worked on and so Parliament does not meet in this building right now. Instead it meets in the West Block.

This above is a picture of the East Block where the Senate resides and has their offices.

Another picture of Center Block with the Peace Tower.

While resting in our room after our walk about, I heard drums and chanting. Got to see a small Palestinian protest. Nobody really paid much attention from what I could see.

Our treat for the day was getting to sample a Beavertail. 

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.