September 19-25, 2022

Close to the end of the week I was worried I didn't have anything to write for this week's blog.  Now I'm afraid there's too much!

We taught the first Temple Preparation class on Tuesday.  One sister had Covid symptoms and didn't come.  Everyone else was late!  Everyone!  So we changed the start time to 7:30 and will see if that works better.  Once we got started, class went well.

Sister Smith has been moved from the hospital to a nursing home but it is also temporary.  She is still waiting for a space in a nursing home closer to her former home in Verdun.  We visited with her on Thursday and was surprised to see her in her own clothing rather than a hospital gown.  That blue gown is all we have ever seen her wearing!  We noticed that many of the residents had personal touches in their rooms - an afghan on the bed or family photos - Sister Smith has nothing.  I thought I could make a small quilt for her for Christmas.  That decision created another adventure for us on Friday.

We walk along this lovely path from the metro to the food bank each Friday.  The path runs parallel to the railroad tracks and we sometimes have to wait for a train to pass before crossing to the food bank.  We completed our service around 2:30, walked back to the metro and continued to a further stop in an area called Monkland.  The Montréal Ward chapel is across a bridge from this metro stop.  The bridge crosses a major highway.  Below is why we try not to drive in the city.

Traffic starting to build at 3:00 Friday afternoon.

We walked a few blocks to the Monkland Quilt Studio.  We arrived at the address but didn't see anything that resembled a fabric store.  We went into the office building and found it on the second floor.  The "studio" was one large room with fabric bolts lining the walls.  I wanted to take a picture but didn't feel like the owner would like it.  Maybe next time.  She was very nice and spent a lot of time helping me select fabric for Sister Smith's quilt.  I selected this place because I was looking for a specific fabric brand, which she carries.  I had brought a 2019 pattern with me from home and knew finding the design and colors suggested for the quilt would be iffy.  She gave me a lot of information about where to have the quilt machine quilted and about an upcoming quilt show north of Quebec.

I really liked the Monkland neighborhood.  There were a lot of shops and restaurants along the street.  Also small businesses and residences.  It was clean and well kempt.  We had heard about a fabulous pie place when we first arrived but none of the locations were close to us.  We found one of the stores down the street from the quilt shop.  Naturally we stopped on our way back to the metro.

Millefeuille and Fromage aux Pommes Croustade pies

The slices of pie were huge!  I had to take half of mine home to eat later.  They are famous here in Montréal but you have to really want one - they cost about $35 per pie.  I understood (from the waitress) that my apple crumble cheese was cheesecake so was a bit disappointed.  It was good, just not what I expected.

After our great apple picking excursion a couple weeks ago, we discovered there is an organic u-pick orchard right here in Châteauguay!

It is located on île Saint-Bernard.  You can see the island is between the Châteauguay and Saint Lawrence Rivers.  There is a wildlife refuge and ecological center, an art gallery and the organic orchard on the island.

Area as we entered the park

View of part of the orchard

We purchased the $10 bag which got us about five pounds or 20 apples.  There were several varieties at this orchard.  The first chart is color coded so you can look for the trees with the same color for the apples you want to pick.  The second board has a map of where to find the apples.

We picked honey crisp, mackintosh and delicious.  And ate a couple others while we picked!  They encourage families to come and enjoy the orchard and learn about apples.  We went about 9:30 am and found out that two other families in our ward were there later in the day.  After we picked, we found some Adirondack chairs by the river.

We relaxed in the sun and admired the houses across the river

The beautiful Saint Lawrence River

We saw a wind surfer in the distance

The island was originally a refuge for the Sisters of Charity of Montréal.  Sainte Marguerite d'Youville founded the charity in 1737.  It was not well accepted at the time by the men who ran the church and the government so they lived on the island for a time.  They came to be known as the Grey Nuns and have picked the apples on the island for decades.

Statue of a Grey Nun

Saint Bernard, whom the island was named after

We noticed a lot of daisy pictures and daisy photo-op cut outs around the property.  I found this gem on the Grey Nuns website:  Symbol of the "Daisy" (Translation for "Marguerite", also a flower)

Daisy is a pearl in the flower kingdom, greatly appreciated by all flower gardeners and florists around the world; and so too is our Foundress Marguerite d’Youville a pearl of great value for all the needy people of the world.

Daisy is a simple plant, thriving in any flower garden or flower pot.  The Grey Nuns try to live a simple life, to be happy where they are planted and to be ready to be of service to those in need, with a welcoming smile, a caring heart, a helping hand, a listening ear, and a word of hope.

Here's what happened to some of our apples

We had Zone Conference on Wednesday.  Our mission song is "Hark All Ye Nations" (hymn #264).  It has been one of my favorites for many years.  We learned that the original third verse was either removed or changed (if we were told, I don't remember the reason).  Here are the original words:

Honor the one and true living God.

Come and be baptized; hold to the rod.

Give him your heart with faith in his son,

Jesus the Holy One.

They split the Mount Royal and Montréal Zones apart again so we are a much smaller group now.  Highlights from Zone Conference:

• God does nothing save it be for the welfare of his children (2 Nephi 26:24).  As missionaries we should do nothing unless it benefits His children.
• Do you know why there are only three church callings (other than apostles and general authorities) that are announced in the Church News?  It has to do with Priesthood keys.  Each of the callings hold keys in certain areas: Temple Presidents hold the keys of exaltation of the dead and helps members receive covenants; Stake and Mission Presidents hold the keys of the salvation and exaltation of the members with in a certain area.
• Trifle not with sacred things (D&C 6:12).
• We can call upon the powers of heaven when we are obedient.
• Look to God and go forward.  Look sideways and we get distracted by the things of the world; thinking we can do it on our own.

We are approaching one of my two favorite weekends of the year.  Enjoy General Conference!