Jan 2/10: Dining

Jan 2/10: Dining, originally uploaded by susanvg.

This is one of my favourite restaurants, one of the first Sechuan restaurants in Montreal. It originally opened in a depressed part of downtown Montreal some forty years ago. I first went there with my brother-in-law, George, who grew up in China. He was considerably older than I. Having been born in Austria, his family fled to China as the Nazis took over. George introduced us to dumplings and Peking duck. He held a big banquet there when his mother turned 75 - dish after dish came out of the kitchen, each a culinary treat.

Later the restaurant moved to a more affluent area. They still prepare food well, but have tempered their recipes to please North American palates. I learned to love spices here, but now I have to request spicier versions of my favourite dishes. My children learned to use chopsticks as we dined. Many memorable occasions have happened here from dinners with friends to lunches with colleagues. While I love to try new places, I am always happy to come back here; it's a bit like coming home.

Day 236: Pollinating

Day 236: Pollinating, originally uploaded by susanvg.

My garden is a riot of colour. I love to see the bright hues; the more colours the better. The bees agree and are frequent guests, darting from flower to flower and feasting on the nectar. These yellow rudbekia spread each year, taking their place and more. I don't have the heart to cull them as their sun-drenched hue is such a happy colour.