Dear friends Marika Bordes and Dennis Martin moved from Seguin, Texas to Montreal last year. This is a welcomed report on their year in Québec. Ils nous manquent beaucoup ici mais c'est bon qu'ils sont là, n'est-ce pas?
| Marika Bordes in her studio in Seguin. |
Changing Seasons: Discovery and Renewal
Today
is already a year! Between our expectations and the realities in
adjusting to cultural differences, our journey to a life in Canada has
been quite intriguing. All things considered, it was smooth as silk.
Arriving
during late spring was a blessing. Just in time to lay the groundwork
for our new life and to get acclimated to the new environment before
welcoming the winter weather. It was challenging, adventurous and at
times tedious and frustrating. Our first months were busy with
governmental paperwork and, it turned out importing the vehicle was the
most time-consuming ordeal. Working with the friendly and supportive
government personnel was a sweet introduction to the people of Canada.
The
beauty of summer here resides in its cool mornings and the amount of
the daylight hours. Between the abundance of flowers planted to
decorate yards, houses and streets, people enjoy outdoor activities such
as bicycling, running, picnicking, grilling, and walking their dogs.
This is a period of unbelievable agricultural bounty that starts in June
and ends in October. The community and the government support the
micro-producers, small farms, artisans and crafts people. Everything
from fruits to vegetables, cheeses, meats, fish, bakery items, and
flowers is found at the daily farmers market.
As
summer rolls into fall there is an increase in activity. During this
time, we moved into our home and strolled through our neighborhood: The
vieux village of Mont Saint-Hilaire. Our home is located two doors away
from Paul Emile Borduas' home, who was an artist known for his abstract
paintings. He was the leader of the avant-garde Automatiste movement
and the chief author of the "Refus Global" of 1948, a manifesto that
advocated the separation of church and state in Quebec. A ten minute
walk brings one to the library, the fine arts museum and the commercial
district.
Winter
is a serious business because there is so much snow to deal with. The
City, in a military-like operation, plows the streets and the sidewalks
and hauls the snow away.
Yes,
incredibly it's been a year and we are doing as well as can be expected
during these turbulent times. We are grateful. Since we are spending
so much time at home, we feel fortunate that at the beginning of the
year we started music lessons. Spring found us outside planting the
garden and doing our part with containers overflowing with flowers. In a
few days, the first strawberry of the season will be ready. What a
delight!
We are sorry for all the turmoil happening throughout the world. Let us hope for better days.
We think of you often and miss you very much.
Hoping all is well with you and yours,
Dennis and Marika
On
a lighter note, the weather is really nice with lots of blue skies,
moderate temperatures (moderate for Seguin) and being this far north a
lot of daylight hours - from 5am to 9pm. And the garden is growing!
Sincerely,
Marika and Dennis
Marika is a sculptor of wood. Here is a link to only one of the internet articles you can find about her and her work.
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