The Annual

Every year I go to Quebec for a couple of days, because it is good for my soul. I stay with my friends Julia and Andre. We used to call this trip "the xth annual", but I have been doing it for so long that none of us can remember which "annual" it is, so it is now called simply "the annual". We usually get together with other old friends, Sue and Gaston (affectionately known as "Suepisgas") for dinner on one of the nights I am there.


They have this pond in the back yard (not like any back yard you've ever seen, and it is constantly expanding). The picture above shows only a fraction of the whole. Anyway, a lot of frogs and goldfish live in this pond, and one of the first things I do upon arrival is check in with the frogs and see how they are doing. Usually they are suspended in the water, with just their heads poking through and it takes a while to distinguish them from the lily pads. This year, this big fella was sitting on one of the rocks and just grooving. Seems to be smiling, doesn't he? I would smile too if I had his living arrangements.





For the last three years in a row we have gone to a pottery festival called "1001 Pots" (same in French and English) in Val David. It is held outside and runs for a month. Everyone should go there if they are in the area during the time it is on. See their website if you are interested. This year I got off easy, spending less than $100.00. The stuff is unique, and the atmosphere is serene.

We had dinner at "L'ange cornu", which is a charming restaurant in L'Assomption. The food is terrific, the decor is whimsical, the staff are amazing, and it also puts on theatre shows in conjunction with the arts centre next door. It is surprising to come across such an artistic vibe in a little town in the middle of farm country.

It was over too quickly, and I hit the road with my soul in good shape and some fresh veggies from one of Julia's many gardens.

A la prochaine.