October 24 Home and dry and resting before Ben's 4th birthday

So we got back. A day late because I couldn't finish all the jobs I wanted to do. So, who cares? We can travel when we want. Just delayed it 24 hours which gave us time to protect the plants in DC's garden, build shutters for the 7 screened-in-porch openings, install a couple  of security cameras, pack up our kitchen and get on the road to Central to get credit for all the bits and pieces we didn't use. Then on to an evening with Anna and Conor (and Jelissa?) and Logan. Feel very old  talking to these 20 year olds... Then an easy drive to Notre-Dame-de-Portage where we had a solid but not spectacular meal in the Auberge de Portage (incidentally full of female clients presumably using the spa facilities during the day and scoffing by the fleuve at night...) Great to be back speaking French and in a room full of francophones...

Someone in St Peter's asked me if Quebecers were really different: the answer is yes. A big yes.

And how come we always have rain driving up the St-Lawrence? And a big storm in Edmundston too. Pottering along at 90 kph with the trailer-box behind full of tools.

The B and B looked like a 19th century cottage, but it's only 12 years old, made with recycled wood and full of elaborate  kitschy bric-à-brac. The owner, Yves Ponsard, comes from this bit of land. His parents are still alive and living just below him. Beautiful view of the fleuve.

Then back into Montreal and traffic and resting in a great bed and getting ready for the trip to Toronto and Ben's 4th birthday.

You can see the difference in the views from windows in the two places where we live. I like both. It's good to be back with a lot of people and their problems. Good not to be working in the chalet 8-hours a day.

Planning for next year and by Monday Wayne will have our security cameras working and we'll be able to see what we built.