Mini vacation

First weekend of July we kept busy at home mostly to get the house clean and tidy, and we also went to visit my mother in law for her birthday. I took 3 days off, starting Wednesday because we had my in laws come down for a visit. They showed up Tuesday around supper, so we cooked up a nice BBQ of an assortment of skewers, some potatoes and asparagus and we played cards.

Wednesday we went downtown to the market and walked around. We got some vegetables and fruit, and I was able to pick up a wide range of herbs and greens for my garden. Here's pictures of the box my dad, brother and I created for my herbs, along with pots for my greens.

Everyone helped me in getting this set up. My mother in law and I went to buy the dirt, and the round pots so everything would fit nicely. I do have an extra pot, it's for a plant, which wasn't doing so well so she cleaned it all up and now I'm waiting for new roots to take shape (it's currently soaking in water) and once they come out, I'll be able to replant it. The round pot in the middle is more to the side cause I would like to buy another arugula plant so I have more on hand, and I am missing some chives, which I plan to try to find some and add that. Right now I have Swiss chard, arugula, kale, parsley, dill, cilantro, basil, oregano, rosemary, sage and thyme.

On the way home from downtown, we also stopped in at Hogsback, and went to look at the waterfalls

Thursday was spent in Montreal. We left in the morning and made our way down there. We first stopped for lunch, which we were hoping to eat at Ricardo's cafe, but it was very busy! So we went to a buffet place near by. We then did some shopping at Espace Ricardo. After we went to old Montreal to walk around

We got thirsty and wanted to sit and relax for a bit, so we came upon this really nice outdoor patio

It was so pretty!  We also noticed inside the restaurant that you can reserve a table to side over on the side or right at the island and see the chefs work. The place is called James Rooster Esq.

I would love to do that someday. Would be awesome to see how it is in a kitchen. While we were having our drink, there were a few people already starting to prepare some sushi rolls.

Once 5:30 hit, we were at Le Garde Manger. Chuck Hughes restaurant. For my birthday we tried his other restaurant, Le Bremner, which was amazing! So I was curious to try his other one and it was just as amazing! Unfortunately he wasn't there, so still haven't had the chance to meet him in person. The other cool thing, this is the place they record his show, Chuck's day off, on the food network.

We started with an appetizer, and went with the tuna

The tuna was raw, with some fennel, tomatoes, capers and not sure what the sauce was, but it was delicious!  Just before our supper arrived, we picked a bottle of wine to share

It was a good pick, it was really good, and paired well with what he ate, which my hubby got the pork chop

He let me taste it and it was very good!!  My father in law and I went for the same dish, the Walleye

There was peas and gnocchi and it was very good! I had attempted to make gnocchi once, and it wasn't to bad, but this was way better! My mother in law went for the steak

We of course had to go for some dessert

They shared a profiterole, which they really enjoyed, and we shared the strawberry tart which was so yummy! It was an amazing day in Montreal, and we will for sure be going to Le Garde Manger again.

Friday, we didn't do to much, but my dad did come over for supper, which we cooked up a large turkey breast, with some sweet potatoes, some fresh corn on the cob and a delicious garden salad. Saturday we ended up visiting Gatineau, and went to the market, and stopped at a garden, which I got two new flowers to add to my garden

You can't see the girl watering an empty pot to well, but she's next to the green tree on the far right hand side, I now have a flower in there, and I plan to put the other in with the greenery on the side, to brighten it up a little more. We also stopped at another farm to get some honey and tomatoes, and I also got some homemade salsa which I look forward to trying. They left this morning to go visit her sister not far away, for a day or two, then they are headed back to Sudbury. We will see them again though this summer.

It's been a fun and amazing 5 days, but it all went by way to fast!!  Going to relax today since tomorrow is already Monday.  Hope everyone is enjoying their weekend.