This is flowering in my garden right now... maybe in Quebec City too.

Have you vacated recently?  I hardly ever do it myself.  It's hard for me cause it feels weirdly surreal. You know,  my life goes on hold while I go to this other place where I don't have a life and live in that new place for a few days even though I don't know what the hell I'm doing in that new place but it's new and there's lots to see so I get over it.  

It was hard leaving my garden and the canning that I've become so addicted to but I managed to pull myself away from the canner for long enough to go.  We drove through Quebec with hurricane Irene - cause that's how we roll.  That aside the trip was wonderful and Quebec City... well, what a city it is.  It inspired me:

a.  To do some french courses again 'cause DAMN I'm rusty.  

b.  To always remember that not all cities are cement monstrosities that have a short history.

c.  To trust that my kids (yes, small kids) can handle 'fancy' restaurants.

d.  To try to get away more often.

What can I say, there is art and beauty everywhere.  And there is no work to go to.  Unless you call getting up late and getting to the breakfast buffet before 10 a.m. work.  Oh yeah, and I did get to the gym each day.  Yeah... work.  Then we would walk.  A lot.  Take pictures of randomness that hit us and eat and maybe take an afternoon nap.  Bliss.  BTW, if you haven't taken an afternoon nap since you were about 4 yrs old then you might just want to try it again.  I wouldn't choose mine at 1pm like when I was 2 or so but given the choice mine happens at about 3:30 in the afternoon and lasts for about 40 minutes.  If you try it and don't like then let me know and I'll be sure to give you a full refund.  

So here are some random shots of the last 5 days of my life.

That's me holding Kid #2's hand going down, down, down the stairs

My favourite shot, courtesy of D.  Beautiful.

Of course we had to bring back large quantities of stuff that we can't get here...