Snapshot: Winter is the new spring in Quebec

In light of what seems to be the "new"spring around here, we've collected a handful of images that show the scenic side of wintry Quebec.

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Snow and sub-zero temperatures characterized the first few days of spring. In fact, the 5th annual Quebec City Saint Patrick's Parade took place last Saturday during a not-so-minor snow storm.  

What could we do in Paris in the winter?

Most likely, we'd go to a museum or three.  

New Year's inspiration from a donkey...

Hi there!  This post is taking a quick "break" from our typical style.  This is an opportunity to contribute to a great initiative AND get a unique bilingual calendar to inspire you in 2014 (complete with quotes, eco-tips, recipes, and fantastic pictures).

Click here to jump straight to the "get my calendar today" part.  For those who would like a bit more info, keep reading.  Thank you all for your support!

Snapshot: A glimpse of pro cycling in Vieux-Quebec

A year ago, I'd never thought twice about professional cycling.  A year ago, Lance Armstrong still had all his accolades, and the Tour de France was as unfamiliar as Quebec City felt when we first moved here.  Then, last September, I received an assignment to cover the Grand Prix Cycliste de Quebec, one of only three world class pro cycling races held in North America.  

Snapshot: Behind every glass of wine...

There is definitely a story....

That is most certainly the case for three special glasses of wine I sampled recently.  Thanks to a tip from a fellow writer at the QCT, I made contact with a fellow whose business it is to navigate the complex regulations governing how wine, beer, and other spirits make it into Quebeckers' glasses.

Sometimes...spectators have all the fun.

 

 They say it takes 10,000 hours to become the best at whatever it is you want to do.  I have no idea how much time military musicians spend rehearsing, but upon close inspection, there's no question they start at a young age.

Maple Water, Eh?

In the northeast, the sap is running...

L'eau de l'érable (maple water)
The nectar of maples (with the best said to come from the sugar maple - Acer saccharum),
maple water is the result of residual starches developed during a growing season. These
starches are retained over-winter in tree roots and stem tissues, and diluted by water
released as the trees respond to warming temperatures in the spring. As water in the tree
tissue warms, it expands, causing pressure to develop, and the "maple water"to flow.

Snapshot: Like riding a bike

During the winter, with snow piled high and falling often, our bikes rest downstairs, on a several-month break.  There are people who persist through the bad weather, biking alongside traffic with studded tires and ski goggles. But, we just aren't into it - higher potential for a bad accident than in the summer time, too many changes of clothes, and we would both need to upgrade to different bikes.

Jerod, Bethann, and Bertille, a friend from France
on a bike tour of an island upriver from Quebec City.
Photo courtesy of Mathieu Basille.

We bike most of the year, though - to work, around town, out exploring the countryside near Quebec City, and of course, Jerod bikes all summer chasing bison.  Snow was still falling here last week, but the roads have begun to clear.

I took my first bike ride today, and felt like a giddy kid again.  I am eagerly looking forward to another warm biking season.  To tide all us snow-stymied bikers over, here's a snapshot of one of my favorite bike moments from last season: the Grand Prix.

Snapshot: Way beyond 'Jingle Bells'

The 59th annual Quebec City Winter Carnival (of the modern version) is over.  

It ended with thundering hooves and cheering crowds.

Urban...what!? A donkey and goat in the heart of Vieux-Quebec!

Meet Aldo.  He's an urban donkey, at least half of every year.  He winters in the Bishop's garden at the Anglican Cathedral of the Holy Trinity.  Along with his companion goat, Alli, Aldo has made quite a splash in this historic district.  

Just a few feet from the Château Frontenac, these two gregarious critters have made friends out of nearly every neighbor, along with the regular cathedral visitors.  They have also inspired a fledgling 'green' ministry at the cathedral, and I've been swept along on the tide.

'Merrily on High'

Ding Dong!  Merrily on High, 

in heav’n the bells are ringing . . . 

(from a classic Christmas carol from the 1500s)

"Many of the most beloved holiday traditions involve bells — ringing to accompany carolers, playing seasonal melodies, and pealing out to summon celebrants to church services. Quebec City is part of a unique heritage, change-ringing, which dates back to the 1600s in England.  Today, more than 6,000 bell towers around the world ring in this style." View rest of article published in the Quebec Chronicle-Telegraph (12.12.2012).

'Performance Art': Sketching opera in the dark

Click on images to view a larger version.
All sketches done during the opera; color added later.

Thursday was another press pass night at the opera - dress rehearsal for La Traviata this time. The lighting and sets were really interesting, the live orchestra (music by Verdi) was exquisite, and the story line was suitably tragic. 

As we are in Quebec, the Italian score is still in Italian, but subtitles posted above the stage are in French.  Now, imagine making sense of it all in English!  Happily, I was not on assignment, but rather in the company of the writer who was.  As a result, I was able to indulge in the details in my own way, and there was no pressure to get a perfect photo in a darkened theater.

When Artists Cook: Harvest Abundance (and what to do about it)

This post is part of "When Artists Cook," a series in which I am a guest writer.

My previous posts in the series: "Coming of age in kitchens"

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Harvest season always fills me with ________________________ .  

How would you fill in that blank?

. . .

I’ve been mulling this over for the past month or so, as the garden peaks, the farmers markets flood with produce, and I write and rewrite the list of things to preserve for the winter. [ . . .]  I tend to get a little ahead of myself when it comes to harvesting and preserving.  By that I mean, there’s no limit for me.  It’s never enough.  As long as there is a nook or cranny in the house that is reasonably stable in temperature, and not exposed to much light, I am interested in filling it with food that will keep through, or at least into, the winter.
[ . . . ]

Having a hands-on relationship with our food is one of my absolute favorite things about the mayhem that is harvest season. The kitchen is aswarm with fruit flies, which one cheeky friend describes as “indicators of abundance,” and the occasional stow-away earwig always shows up in the least expected corner. But, even when I’m busy picking snails out of the beet greens, or scrubbing tomato splatters off of...well, everywhere, this is still about as real as it gets.

. . . Keep reading - - >

Equinox...generally speaking

Does autumn fill you with energy and cheer, 

or do you resist it with every leaf that falls?  

For us, it is a landslide of harvest, returning to the office, 

and trying to notice all the changes happening outdoors. 

Simply 'plummy'

 

We didn't even notice the trees when we moved in, nearly two years ago.  In the spring, though, a profusion of flowers caught our attention, and our curiosity was piqued.  A few small, hard, green orbs left us less than satisfied at the end of last year.  In fact, we wondered then if the trees were just ornamental.

But, the 'jammy' sweetness of spring blossoms raised my expectations again this year.  And, what a year it was!

Short shorts, tight tights, and roller skates, oh my! An inside look at roller derby, Québec-style

We have a friend here who skates in the local roller derby league, and I have to admit I'm intrigued.  It sounds like a lot of fun, and the retro elements of the sport - costumes and four-wheel skates - really appeal to the vintage side of my style.  On the other hand, I have never roller skated or roller bladed before, and only ice skated a couple of times in my childhood.  The idea of learning how to do it at high speeds on a concrete track is more than a little bit daunting.  And, they practice "in the middle of the night," because that's when they can get time in the sports centers otherwise dominated by off-season hockey practices.

So, I resisted pulling yet another "Oh yes, I'll do that too!"  Instead, I caught up with Stephanie, watched a derby match, asked a lot of questions, and even conned her into posing for a portrait sketching group that I participate in.  Keep reading for pictures and a recently published QCT article.  Living vicariously can be so much fun!  

Looking from the harbor at an epic race: the TRANSAT Québec Saint-Malo

Adapted from article published in the Quebec Chronicle-Telegraph (07.25.2012, pg. 8)

One of my favorite things about living in Quebec City is that the St. Lawrence River is big enough that we see boat traffic more typical of a seaside port.  Being a landlubber born in the dry, landlocked inner mountain West, watching big container ships, cruise ships, Candian Navy and Coast Guard ships, and sail boats on the river can entertain me for hours.

Even better, several times a year there are big events directly associated with the river and various aspects of Québec's nautical heritage.  Last weekend was a prime example - the TRANSAT Québec Saint-Malo started right in front of Vieux-Québec, and it was really something to behold.  I spent several afternoons at the port, poking amongst the sail boats, snapping photos and making quick sketches, and gleaned some tidbits about this signature transatlantic sailing race.

Sketching Jeanne d'Arc's park

Jeanne d'Arc is immortalized in countless mural, sculptures, and writings around the world.  Here in Quebec City, this iconic girl also known as Joan of Arc has her very own park.  In keeping with the city's fascination with battles, and tradition of transforming old battlefields into public leisure areas, Joan of Arc's park is across the street from the embattled Plaines of Abraham.  

During the 36th Worldwide SketchCrawl, a group of local sketchers gathered here for Quebec City's first ever.  I will admit, I could not fully tell you Joan's story, though I probably learned it in elementary school.  I wonder if any of the others, mostly Québeçois(e), could fill in the blanks.  

A not-so-secret garden in Quebec City

Thanks to long hours of hard labor, and a grand vision, the gardens of Domaine Cataraqui will soon be restored to their former productivity.

I just found out about a really neat urban agriculture project here in Quebec City.  Interestingly enough, it is the only publicly accessible urban ag (aside from community gardens) in the city, according to the project director.

I tried to think of a clever title. In the end, though, this post is about some pages in a sketchbook.

Click on any image to view a larger version.

It seems I have caught the sketching bug hard...again...finally!  It has been a long time, nearly two years, since I really sketched anything, and I missed it.  Since starting the nature drawing class, and gaining momentum with two days' sketching at the naval rendez-vous, I've been on a roll.