What a Difference a Decade Makes

Ten years ago, I turned twenty.  I was a sophomore at Southern Illinois University, living in the dorms and enjoying college life.  For my birthday, my roommate Emily had wrapped my possessions (stapler, text books, shoes) and gave these to me as gifts.  I also received an odd collection of gifts from the thrift and dollar stores, which I am modeling in this picture from my twentieth birthday (notice the foreshadowing to my Canadian future?).  


At twenty, I knew that I would graduate with a degree in Interior Design.  I knew I would return to Chicago after finishing school.  I knew I would get a job.  Beyond that, I did not have a real plan and my future was wide open.  I did have this belief that I would one day marry a rock star.  Alas, I am a home body by nature, and my mom pointed out that this would make it very difficult to meet my future rocker husband unless his tour bus broke down in front of the house.


As my thirtieth birthday approached, I was not sure how to feel about it.  Should I feel sad, old, anxious, excited?  To be honest, I mostly felt surprised at how quickly time had passed.  But I can honestly say that I am satisfied with every moment of my twenties.


I have had a lot of great experiences over the past ten years.  I started working at my first real job.  I traveled all over the country.  I worked hard.  I met amazing people.  I made life long friends.  I made some money.  I spent some money.  I lived on my own.  I learned a lot.


Some experiences seemed less than positive - at first.  When the housing market started to crumble, I found myself unemployed.  That was a not so great moment of my twenties.  But that moment led directly to getting a better job at a better design firm.  It indirectly led to meeting a wonderful man (not a "rock star", but one who plays the guitar, so close enough).  I fell in love.  That was the best moment of my twenties.


Then my wonderful man began a new job in Montreal.  We made long distance work.  We got married.  I moved to Canada. We adopted a furry son that likes to bite us.  I turned thirty.  And I am happy.  :)

Puppy Proofing

There was a small miscommunication of when exactly our English Bulldog puppy, Rook, could come home with us.  Somewhere between French and English, the first week of October actually meant the first day of October.  Adam had understood this, but I insisted he was wrong.  Adam just kept insisting, "But I want my puppy now."  His argument held no logic, but obviously I lost this debate when Adam received a phone call from the breeder, Isabelle, and was told we could come pick up Rook this weekend.  Woohoo!/Eeks!  I am feeling excited and anxious all at once.  Thankfully we started our preparations while on a puppy high after picking him from the litter of pudgy pups a few weeks ago.  

We had grilled Isabelle on what we needed and she gave us a ton of great information on what items and brands are best for bulldogs.  As neither of us have ever owned a puppy/dog before, we would have totally screwed up were it not for her great advise.  After stopping at Ikea, where we debated dog names over hot dogs, we found our way to a nearby pet store.  First we wandered around, completely confused by the multitude of puppy products.  Then we got it together and went through the list and bought a collar, leash, food/water bowls, poop bags, toys, a crate, etc. - all per Isabelle's recommendations.  Adam talked me out of purchasing some adorable puppy hoodies (Isabelle hadn't mentioned those after all), and we loaded up our rental car with all the goodies.

On our way home, we happened to pass by a Harvey's restaurant.  Adam will have to be the one to explain why this fast food chain is so great.  I have tried to understand but I really cannot figure out what all the fuss is about (maybe it's something only a real Canadian can appreciate).  But we had worked up quite an appetite trying to decide which collar color and pattern best fit Rook's persona, so with a fancy u-turn action, we pulled into Harvey's for lunch.  I will say that the dill pickle on my burger was quite delicious.  We munched on our burgers, fries, and onion rings while consulting our English bulldog book on puppy proofing.


Which brings us to today.  With Rook's arrival only days (instead of weeks) away, we are in a mad dash to get the apartment puppy proofed.  We've done our best to crawl around trying to find and hide the things that may peak Rook's puppy curiosity, but I am sure he will have no problem showing us all the things we missed.  Not so secretly, I am excited that having a puppy around means Adam will have to keep his things a little less "scattered" around the house.  No more cords and game controls left out - Rook might eat it!  No more piles of random stuff left on the floor - Rook might poop on it!  I will probably have bad karma now for wish bad upon Adam's mess, and my things will be the first to be destroyed.  But as long as it is not my cat, I will try not to complain too much.  Bring on the puppy! :)

A Sunday Afternoon in Mile End

The annual Renegade Craft Fair was among my favorite fall events in Chicago.  It is a fantastic marketplace for the handmade goods of do-it-yourself-ers, indie-crafters, and much of the creative goodness you can find on etsy.com.  It started in Chicago's Wicker Park and has since expanded to Brooklyn, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Austin, London - but NOT Montreal.  I was considering writing a letter to demand that Renegade be brought here, when it occurred to me that Montreal is a pretty hip city and probably already has it's own indie craft scene.  A quick search, and I found a listing for Puces POP DIY & Craft Fair.  I immediately marked it on my calendar and patiently waited for the date to arrive.


Today was that day!  I was not sure what to expect - how big/small it would be, what the vendors would be selling - but it was a beautifully sunny afternoon so there was no harm in walking over to find out.  I meandered my way to Mile End, purportedly Montreal's hippest neighborhood.  Apparently the city's indie music, cultural diversity, and all things cool originate here so it seems like the logical place to go for a craft fair.

Puces POP was held in the basement of a church.  Although smaller than Renegade, it was exactly what I was hoping it would be.  The handmade goods ranged from edibles to wearables, accessories to home-decor.  Many of the items were gorgeous, some were a little strange, but all filled my need "ooh" and "aah" over people's creative wares.


After I wandered my way past all of the tables, still empty handed, I realized I had missed the vendors located on a stage in the back.  There I found a great collection of prints and posters. It only took me a few minutes to find what I just had to have - a city scene of Chicago and one of Montreal.  I can't wait to get these framed and hung on our walls.

I finished up my visit to Mile End with some freshly baked sesame bagels at the original St-Viateur Bagel Shop.  Forget New York style bagels - Montreal bagels are the best!  Especially if you get one just out of the giant wood-burning oven.  Warm and chewy, these bagels are wonderfully tasty, even without any spread, when fresh.  The perfect snack for the walk home.  And great sandwiches for dinner with Adam.  :)

Apple Picking Season!

Fall, in my opinion, is the best season.  The summer's heat and humidity are replaced with a crisp breeze that transforms the trees into a colorful backdrop for all the fun fall activities.  Near the top of my list for "Things I Can't Wait to Do in the Fall" is apple picking, which is closely followed by apple pie making.  Since Montreal is an island, and to my knowledge there are no orchards on the island, I was not sure how we would go apple picking without a car.  Luckily, AMT offers a fall orchard excursion with transportation over the river and through the woods to orchards in the Lower Laurentians.  It even includes a ten-pound bag of apples we would pick ourselves.  Voila!

Ditching the city on a
train to the orchard.

As we headed out with a group of friends last Saturday, I was very excited about the whole thing.  Adam was less than thrilled about apple picking.  On our way to the train station, we saw an unusual number of people dressed in costume.  As Halloween is more than a month away, I thought this was odd until we realized that Montreal's Comiccon was happening that very weekend.  If we hadn't already purchased our train tickets, I'm certain Adam would have ditched the orchard for Comiccon.  He sulked, listened to some Metal on the train ride, and then proceeded to enjoy being at an orchard.

Scotty & Adam at the orchard.

We started with a picnic lunch, then got busy picking apples.  The rows of trees were not labeled and I am not well versed on the variety of apples, so I have no idea what kind of apples we picked.  Some are red, some are green, and some are a combination of both.  They are all delicious.  And a trip to an orchard is not complete without purchasing some fresh apple cider and delicious apple donuts.  Miam! (That is French for yum!)

I need more apple recipes!

On Sunday, Adam (finally) made it to Comiccon, while I tried to figure out what to do with 20-pounds of apples.  I started by making a delicious apple pie and discovered that KitchenAid mixers are great for making pie pastry.  I had tried once before, laboring with a pastry cutter to make my own pie crust, and decided it wasn't worth the effort.  Since I am in love with our KitchenAid mixer, I thought I would try again and let the mixer do all the work.  It was quick, easy, and came out perfect.  No more store bought pie pastry for me!


I also tried making applesauce for the first time - which I discovered was incredibly easy and delicious.  I barely made a dent in our stash of apples.  There is an apple crisp recipe I want to try, but if anyone has delicious apple recipes please send them my way! :)

I ♥ Montreal!

Having lived in Montreal for two months, I have become acquainted with some of the city's unusual quirks.  Being a quirky gal myself, Montreal's oddities make me love it all the more.  Here, I submit to you, a few of my favorites:


Sidewalk Cleaners of Unusual Shape and Size

A sidewalk clearner on the loose.

If you happen to be out during a street cleaning, you may be lucky enough to spot one of these fine creatures.  They have been observed on the sidewalks of Montreal in both a red and a white variety.  These cleaners are modified tractors with an elephant trunk to suck up all the gum, paper, and litter that didn't make it into the trash bin.  They are incredibly noisy, but delightfully unusual looking.  Perhaps these are common in other cities around the world, but this Chicagoan gawks every time one comes her way.  I have decided this behavior is acceptable while I am here on a visitor's visa and will continue to shamelessly act like a tourist and snap photos until I am granted residency.


An Abundance of Telephone Booths

Three telephone booths - all
under one tree!

In most North American cities, the phone booth is an ancient relic from long ago found mainly in old films and nostalgic stories of a pre-cellphone era.  Sure, you may find a payphone here and there.  But I am referring to a real, superman-style telephone booth.  Because Montreal has one of the lowest rates of mobile phone use in Canada, it is one of the few places where telephone booths can be found in great abundance.  I am distracted by the unusual presence of phone booths everywhere I go.  Telephone booths can be found near most major corners, on top of Mont-Royal, and even right outside our front door.  I have never had a reason to use one, but it is yet another thing at which I like to marvel.


Exterior Staircases in a City with Snow Five Months of the Year

Staircases wind and curve their way
down to sidewalks all over Montreal.

Wrought iron staircases winding down from balconies and twisting over gardens can be seen in every shape and color on multi-story buildings.  They are an iconic characteristic of Montreal architecture.  Having yet to experience a Montreal winter, I find the staircases charming.  But I had to wonder how they could be so popular in a place with so much snow.  Of course the explanation is a story with many twists and turns.  Around 1890, residential buildings were required to have a setback from the sidewalks.  So staircases were pushed out into this mandatory band of land to preserve the amount of livable space inside.  Landlords liked that this created more rentable area.  The church liked that neighbors were able to keep an eye on one another.  As aesthetics changed, the elites decided the staircases were ugly and brick archways were built to hide them - creating nice little nooks for unwholesome activities.  The church did not like that at all, so in the 1940's a new bylaw was passed preventing the construction of outdoor staircases for "safety reasons".  The rule was repealed in the 1980's, and Montreal's staircases and charm are now protected.


On a side note: My two months in Montreal also mark a full two months of living with Adam (the most consecutive time we have spent together in years!).  Adam has his own set of quirks, which I happen to still find endearing, but that is another story for another day. :)

Searching for a Perfect Pickle Recipe

Spices and cucumbers
ready to be pickled!

Have I ever mentioned how fond I am of pickles?  Some might call it an obsession.  I believe it is just good taste.  Adam and I have agreed to disagree on this point.  I consider Claussen's kosher dill pickles to be the epitome of the pickle perfected.  So delicious that I could easily finish off a jar as soon as it is opened.  Then I moved to Montreal - and horror of horrors - they do not sell Claussen pickles in any store!  This has prompted me to get serious about making my own refrigerator pickles.  I've tried in the past with various pickling spice packets, but I was never really happy with the outcome - if I am going to make pickles I want it to taste like a Claussen.

Ready for the
refrigerator!

I found what seemed to be a reasonable recipe online for copy-cat Claussen pickles and began my search for the ingredients.  Most were either already in our pantry or easily found at the store.  Except for the illusive dill seed.  Every store has dill weed, which I researched and found is not the same thing.  Tracking down dill seed took several days and an intense search guided by my iPhone and google maps to every market in the Plateau.  It took a while, but it was also a great opportunity to explore the neighborhood.  I finally tracked a jar of dill seed at a store near the mountain, picked up some mason jars, and quickly headed home to give the recipe a try.  The pickles had to sit in refrigerator for an entire week before they would be ready, so I didn't want to waste any time.

Okay, I forgot to photograph
the finished product.  Pickles
don't last very long around me.

It was a very long week, and I will be honest with you and admit I opened the jar a half a day short of the full week (I did better than I thought I would).  But the anticipation was too great.  I had been slightly suspicious when putting everything together because the combination of spices smelled nothing like a jar of Claussen pickles.  I was hopeful that after a week of chilling in the refrigerator it would transform into the great pickle taste I was after.  Sadly, it did not.  I am not saying these pickles were bad. They certainly had the crispy crunch of a Claussen pickle, but they didn't taste Claussen-esque at all... and actually were rather spicy.  But do not fear, for I did not let these impostor pickles go to waste.  I promptly ate the two jars I had made in about a week.


Thankfully there are always more recipes to try.  I am excited about a food blog I found in which another Claussen fanatic actually strained out the contents of their pickle jar in order to identify and quantify each ingredient. I have much more confidence in how these pickles will turn out - so it's back to the markets in search of some additional spices.  I'll let you know how the next batch goes!

Surviving a Tropical Storm with Homemade Pizza

A smoker will put up with
anything for a cigarette.

As Hurricane Irene was downgraded to a tropical storm, she decided to visit Canada and brought severe storms to Montreal.  We woke up Sunday to the downpour of rain and umbrella breaking winds.  It was clear this would be a day for staying indoors, comfortably seated on the safety of our sofa.  When Adam asked what movie to put on, I told him I wanted to watch something that was "kind of serious, quirky, with a bit of drama, and some comedy."  Adam quickly deduced that this meant we should watch Dr. Who (he's good like that).  I had yet to watch the first half of this season and the new episodes of the second half are just beginning, so this was the time to catch up.


With a marathon of Dr. Who on the agenda and Irene creating havoc outside our door, it would be important to have delicious food readily available.  We decided it would be the perfect opportunity to make a pizza from scratch.  An ambitious decision, because we have the worst luck making pizzas together.  Whether using a pre-made dough or a frozen pizza, something always seems to go wrong.  Things get burned, crusts meld to the pan, and we end up with an inedible mess.


I was able to quickly mix together a pizza dough with the help of our KitchenAid mixer (hooray for wedding gifts!).  We multitasked and let the dough rise during an eventful episode of Dr. Who, then Adam got to work punching down the dough and chopping up the toppings.  Adam gets very serious about his pizzas, so I was only allowed to grate some cheese and document the process with photos.  The pizza went into the oven and Adam carefully monitored its progress while I tossed together a caesar salad.  With high hopes and fingers crossed, the pizza was ready in twenty minutes and we sampled our hardwork.  Nothing had burned, the pizza lifted easily out of the pan, and it tasted delicious.  Our pizza curse had been broken - it was the best pizza we have ever made!

Compared to our friends on the east coast, we experienced limited destruction from Irene.  In Montreal, falling branches damaged cars, high winds brought down windows from a downtown high rise, and many were without power.  We were lucky and only experienced two power outages.  Both times, power immediately came back within seconds.  But nothing that could keep us from eating well and getting caught up with Dr. Who.