April – May 2012 Misadventures

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Vlog 2: Dear Emily: Thoughts from places: The little St. Lazare rural airport

Click here for the full Emily and Natalia vlog playlist.

Low Point by the Argyles; what we did in an abandoned building 2 weeks ago

Our friend Greg has a band. Check it out here. We were filmed for one of the songs off of his new album.

Redpath Museum Soirée – Celebrating 130 Years

Things are getting crazy with me working at Redpath museum. This week we finish the grant application to see if we can get me part-time funding from the university for the next year or so. I’m really thrilled to have this opportunity, I’ve never had so much fun at “work!”

Two weeks ago I had the opportunity to present at
the Redpath Museum’s 130th Anniversary, being celebrated along with the book launch of the Redpath Museum Club’s first ever journal. I wrote for it when they were starting to collect submissions for the book last year, so they asked me to do a presentation on what I had written about. It was fun, although I was really nervous about speaking! A number of other students presented, and there were spiels from a variety of museum workers, even some dressed up as the ancient (dead) Dawson, Redpath and the mayor. There were all kinds of university folks there, including the Deputy Provost who gave me a big grin after my presentation. Here is my speech, although the audio is terrible because Stephen was recording it on my little camera. It makes me nervous watching it because I was so nervous getting ready for it! The clip starts with Jared, the current Redpath Museum club president introducing me… “And now, we’ll hear from someone else. She’s wonderful, been helping us out with the club for a while…” (such a sweet intro!)

I also was interviewed by the McGill Tribune afterwards, and they took my picture! And then there was more wining and dining on appetizers, but Stephen and I skipped out on that and went to a cafe. We’re rather introverted — it’s wonderful being married to someone that’s like you that way! I was so happy and so thrilled that evening. I really love that Museum and am so honoured to get to volunteer there (and soon work, if the grant goes through) as well as to have presented at the anniversary soirée!

Early summer thoughts

Well I couldn’t help myself, I am thinking and wishing for summer. We had a fantastic blast of summer and everyone’s pants came off (ha ha) and flip flops were out… and now we’re back below 0° again! Anyway, so I tried out Polyvore for the first time today, since I’m seeing it everywhere. It’s pretty fun! Almost as fun as making Etsy treasuries!! I might try to do a wedding collage with it at some point. Could turn out kinda neat. One thing I don’t like about it is that you can’t put Etsy photos on it, and if you can’t do that, then really, what’s the point?

I have ordered a ton of seeds and am planning my balcony garden, with the help of these inspirational photos. My favourite container that I’ve planned so far will have French beans growing up corn stalks with arugula at the bottom. Other features will include blackberries, morning glory, cucumbers and pumpkin. Doesn’t that sound amazing? Also, if I’m allowed to garden on the roof I will also do blueberries! You are allowed to keep bees in my city (adjacent to Montreal) but I don’t think we will be here longer than another year, so it won’t be worth it. Certainly at our next apartment though! It’s kind of my dream to keep bees, a couple sheep, and a big, wild garden. In the meantime, I will be more than happy with my little, wild balcony!  There are going to be a number of vines to give us privacy, but I’m mostly growing food, thanks to this fabulous book. Happy gardening!

Mount Royal fox

A fox on Mount Royal was spotted this month! Very exciting. I think this is one of the fellows from my novel, although he looks quite scrawny!

This week on “The snuggle family at home”

The past couple weeks have been absolutely bonkers! I have a lot of news about the Redpath museum but I will save that for another post. My favourite time of day is around 5:30pm when my best guy gets home.

Today we went to the Coptic Orthodox mission church St. Peter and St. Paul’s with our dear friend Sam. It was a really fantastic sermon, although I didn’t realize that the Copts are one week behind the Eastern Orthodox. I guess the Copts are on the Alexandrian calendar, while the Eastern Orthodox are on the Julian. Whew, it’s no wonder they say that Orthodox Christians are three things:
“Holy, late and confused!”

After the service we had a great brunch together and then Sam dropped us off at the market where Stephen indulged me in flowers and I indulged him in 3 types of cheese (we’re not skipping cheese this Lent). Plus the delicious German Haribo candies that are everywhere in Montreal now. Also strawberries.

The rest of the day has been studying here. And so will the next, and the next, and the next…