Femineered

My in laws had this great fridge in their basement. At some point in the past the handle was broken off so you had to open it with this long bolt. The best part of the fridge was the label inside..."It's femineered!". The first time I saw the label, I was slightly offended, but loved the terminology. Femineered. What Mad Man came up with that catch phrase. Is the fridge more appealing and more reliable knowing that it is femineered? Anyways, it makes me laugh.

Well, I am not certain if sewing machines ever got the same label, "It's femineered", but today I ventured out with eager anticipation of purchasing a new to me sewing machine. The machine looks the same vintage as the refrigerator, so what woman wouldn't want it femineered? The sewing store near our condo is quaint and since I don't have a car, I thought this solution would be the easiest. Some of those old machines weighed a ton, but one cannot judge a book by its cover. If this machine can sew a straight stitch, that is all I need for quilting. Happily I purchased a Singer and carried it home. No time like the present. Time to start quilting. My walking quilt foot even works with it. With it set up and ready to go, I start sewing, sort of. It is not working seamlessly, it is causing me much grief, but I press on. I make little adjustments, however I am not certain I have the patience to deal with this. The afternoon has passed and I am finding myself more frustrated by the moment. I am afraid that this machine and I need to part ways.

Le chat noir 2

Tonight I was looking at some books on a bookshelf in our apartment and discovered a letter that was left behind. Perhaps it would be a love letter or a note from a friend or a grocery list. It was none of these. It reads as follows:

Stéphanie
Tu dois payer l'appartement!! S'il n'est pas payer d'ici Mercredi 20/juin tu devras quitter!

Translation: you must pay your rent!! If you don't pay by Wednesday June 20 you must leave!

Who was this Stephanie? Is she the one who had a cat living here? Why was she late with her rent? Did she leave behind some of the weird stuff in the cupboards & closets? Why did she leave the letter folded up stick between some books? I pretty certain I would have crumpled up the letter and tossed it out. Ask me sometime what I do with some of the Turnanich notices slipped under the door at the condo.

When we moved in here, we found some cat shampoo on the first day. Both of us were not impressed because the place was advertised as pet free and if you don't know Daryl, he is allergic to cats. We had a mini freak out, perhaps mostly due to the fact that we had just committed to a 7 month lease in a place far from home. Well the freak out has passed, mostly, and the discovery of this new place we call home continues.

le chat noir

I have been in Montreal for two weeks now and I am starting to normalize. We have discovered that many of the museums here are free Wednesday nights, so Wednesday will be museum day for us. Walked to the top of Mont Royal where the vista of the city is remarkable. Had poutine @ Bonquise. It was good, but wouldn't want to eat there more than once every six months. Last night we were invited out for a raclette meal. We were told that it is a must do, French experience. Wine, cheese, cured meats, what more could you ask for?

As for quilting, I have found one great tissus (fabric) store so far on St Hubert. I am looking forward to visiting it again. One block from where we live, I stumbled upon a vintage and repurposed fabric store where they sell sewing machines from the 1960s, fabric, salvaged buttons, zippers, & shoulder pads, among other sewing necessities. I think I will buy un machine à coudre because they said that they would buy it back from me when I am done with it. Seems like a fair deal.