beyond the shop window

last weekend i took a blogger friend that was visiting for the week to montreal. What was so different about this visit to montreal is that it was purely for site seeing, browsing and eating. not seeing my family while i was there was difficult, but i must say the places we visited had great feel to them and quickly became part of a "must visit again list".  we rented a flat from Air b&b and it was perfect, the view of the montreal skyline was dreamy and the gourmet shop under it was brilliant. while Josephine shopped ( a lot :)) i took pictures, there was mi & co on Laurier  a clothing shop,  what caught my eye was the cafe at the back of the shop, many montreal boutiques house espresso & tea bars this shop included a light fare menu. the girl that worked the cafe quickly caught my eye, adorable was she.

a little later we walked into citizen vintage on rue st-laurent, a beautiful array of florals and plaid filled  the shop. one of the lovely owners wore a flowerary dress and others hung beautifully from racks, josephine even found one that fit her perfectly. i liked this minimilast approach to the shop.

We stopped many times through out the day at different cafes, i had my share of mochas best three where at Olivier Poitier, Olive et Gourmando and the Le Petit Hotel. that evening we returned to la rue Laurier fro dinner at Lameac , it was bustling there after ten menu was exceptional and reasonable, i had the grilled calamari tossed with zucchini and onions with a delicate sauce and a Saumon Pot de feu, a poached salmon in a delicate broth with turnips carrots and brussel sprouts leaves i am still thinking about it. Sunday morning we strolled after the most incredible brunch at  Le Cartet.

more from mtl soon. ( broken computer, it was time. although i now realize i bought my camera, computer and car all the same year and all have chosen 2012 to say goodbye, but i am lucky that they have seen as much as i)

(the hill is almost all green, i have been working hard all week mostly clearing. the next few days the sun and warmth will make working outdoors a joy.)

waterlily

it was sunday i was in porland maine to meet up with k who was working. portland was celebrating it's old port festival. a big festival with foods from around the world, half a dozen music stages, artist of all kinds. I had arrived midday, tempature was hotter then expected dogs in tow and a crowd bigger then i could have imagined. I was tuckered before i even started. Somehow i regrouped listened to music, walked along the cobblestone streets and peeked threw many of Portland's finest shops but then i came across water lily. before i knew it my whole body was pareusing this gorgeous shop. I was in aw of how well the shop was put together, the colors, the furniture in which the beautiful textiles were housed had me spell bound. i started taking pictures and talking to the owner rene who was as lovely as her shop. everything hand picked and ethically made and bought by rene herself who travels to thailand, combodia, india... Rene describes on waterlily web site how while on her first visit to the hills she learned how the color indigo was made, pounded out of leaves till it becomes the perfect shade. It is evident in everything in her shop from local handmade to her vintage red shoes( i know) she loves what she does and that is a great thing for us. my only regret is i did not put my camera down and purchase extremely reasonable priced scarf or two.

Jephry's

do you ever go to an event, a hotel lobby, a reception, a shop, a dinner and drool over the flower arrangement more than anything else. You find yourself studying it and wonder where it came from? well i do that a lot, especially here in Providence but i never wonder who created it because only one man can make me drool like that. Jephry's and his gorgeous flower arrangements! Jephry's floral studio is around the corner from my home, yes i drive by it a few times a day, with every drive by comes a big sigh and a run of the imagination. the shop itself is lovely, the green is one you could write a novel about, large antique windows and stone floors. I have known Jephrey for sometime, he has sent clients my way and i have sent him all who remained in the dark about his work and his shop. I even opened my shop down the street from his and begged him to part with three red stools, i tried to get the fourth with no success:) I used to purchase flowers for the shop from him and once and a while my husband would bike ride home from the train, make a stop and surprise me with my favorite white tulips!

a few weeks ago while craving some peonies i stopped into his shop and before i knew it i was asking if i could come back and play and so i did. I must confess that photographing his shop was difficult because i could not stop inhaling the sweet scents and looking at every petal and every bud around me. Jephrey was preparing for an event that evening that would be held in his shop, a company decided instead of taking their staff out for an elaborate non- echo friendly dinner they would host a green cocktail party instead and give each of the guest an arrangement as well as a demonstration. Loved the idea!!!



I enjoyed chatting with Jephrey and found out that he is really not that "grumpy" (shush don't tell anyone) he is also modest when it comes to his work i also found out that the shop had celebrate it's tenth year in providence a few days before! happy tenth year Jephry's, rhode island would surely have missed out if you had not left california!










Jephrey's flower choices are incredible, as well as the few items he carries for retail. all those filled my lungs with the sweetest smells, i carried that scent with me into the evening! oh and one confession, can-you believe i never received one of his arrangements that is right!? when you are in the flower "business" people don't bring you flowers but i say "just because you have the brushes does not make you in artist:).."

Take your fears out of the drawer!

I watched a movie recently " milk" starring my future husband in heaven sean penn. in it his character harvey gets a life thretening drawing. He takes it and puts it on his fridge, his partner asked him "why" and his reply " if we put what we fear in a drawer it will grow bigger bigger..." that phrase stuck with me. So the other day i decided to put a few things i feared on my fridge and i invite you to do the same, you can send me photo and i will post it, of course anonymously if you wish. then i will put it on a postcard and hang it outside till the writing fades and then i will notify you when it has so you can fear it no longer...silly maybe but why not. The other day i got to play in a flower shop i adore, i will post all about it soon, but the more surprisingly thing about it is, i asked the owner(who i had once feared) if i could and his reply was "sure i have nothing to loose" my sentiments exactly!

Breakfast at Tiffany's(not), seven eleven and windows

we decided to walk into the city for an outdoor showing of Breakfast at Tiffany's, with a baguette, cheese, grapes and juice in tow. when we got there it turned out to be a showing of "Monty Python the quest for the holy grail"so k. ran to the seven eleven and brought back junk food which was more apropriate !!!then on our way back home we did some window shopping and i happen to have my camera on hand!