The journey has begun !

Let me introduce a new member of the family - her name is "Mini-Top". She has 4 wheels and she carries "Le Car" behind CCTop. Mini-Top is also dual function since she has a bike rack to carry our bikes. Welcome Mini-Top !!!

So the journey has begun.... my last week in Canada was spent visiting friends and family and also sewing up some curtains and pillows with help from my aunt Betty for a restaurant in Old Quebec City. Bidou stayed behind in LaSarre since he had some last minute business to attend to. We met up in Gatineau.

We left Gatineau, QC on November 18 2009. We made our way threw the Adirondacks (NY State), visited with old friends in New Jersey and even got to see my favorite Fodder. We've been parking CCTop in the parking lot of Walmart's. Hey... it's free!!!

Tonight, we are staying at our first "Flying J"in Maryland. It's a huge chain of truck stops accross the US.

Blogging has been hard task since we do not have permanent internet access. Hopefully it will be soon.

A date as been set.

School is almost finish and I am leaving for Gatineau, Quebec next Friday (November 6) to spent some time with dear old Mom and Dad before hiting the road. Aunt Betty will also be at Mom's to help me sew some curtains and pillows for a sewing contract tht I have pending with a restaurant in Old Quebec City.

As for school, we've decided (well it's more like I've decided) to finish up the DEP diploma on the road - the schoolboard offers this option and I am taking it!!! There was just still too much to do... and honestly, I've been more interested in surfing the internet on planning our itinerary and things to see/visit than schoolwork.

After spending some time in Gatineau... we would like to leave approx. the week of November 15. The goal is to be in New Jersey sometime during Thanksgiving week.

Recaps for October 2009

Me and the Moose!

Our niece - Marilou

Born on October 16th, 2009

Camille enjoying the fall weather

Walmart

If you have a Walmart within a 10 km radius from your home … this post is for you!

For all the times I been into the Walmart in Morristown, New Jersey, or in Gatineau, QC or yet in Quebec City… I never thought that one day I would miss a Walmart like I do now. Take yesterday morning for example, my "To Buy List" consisted of toilet paper, Mr. Clean, baby yarn (to start crocheting yet another baby blanket), some walnuts (to make the delicious Nantucket Cranberry Pie that Bidou adores), a birthday card and Bidou needed some mechanic stuff for CCTop. Therefore, my first thought was to go to Walmart. However, when you live in Abitibi, you have the choice between two Walmarts – there is one in Rouyn and the other in Val D'or. In other words, you need to plan a minimum of hour drive each way whenever you need basic household supplies. So basically we haven spent our entire Sunday shopping at Wallmart!!

So please every time you enter your local Wal-Mart (you know the one that when you leave home at 9 a.m. and you get back at 10 a.m.) please think about the people in Abitibi… because the people here can spend their entire Sundays just goings to Walmart to pick up some everyday stuff!

Snow… yes there was snow!!!

`"Bidoouuuu!!! Unhook the water, the electricity and close the pull-outs of CCTop we are leaving!!! "… those are the exact words I said to Bidou this morning when I saw the snow coming down. I can't believe that we live in a great big home on wheels and we are still stuck in Abitibi. I guess I can't really complain because it is a bit my fault. I really must finish this DEP before leaving… or else I will never finish it. I am really working hard to finish this course in a record time.

Another editon of the Gratitude Journal

Since in the last week, I've been completely neglecting my blog - I will try to recap by writing an edition of my Gratitude Journal

• I am grateful for the great afternoon and evening that Bidou, Camille and I spent at the "Auberge" last Saturday
  
• I am grateful that my "belle-maman" has been cooking all the meals and that supper is on the table when I get home from school
  
• I am grateful for the great hike (well it was more a walk but hike sounds more adventurous) we did on Saturday at the "Grand Héron"
  
• I am grateful that I have been very busy with school work
  
• I am grateful that we can use the "bo-parents" restroom since the toilet in CCTop is no longer where it is suppose to be.
  
• I am grateful that I passed an exam and that I only have 6 more to go
  
• And I am very grateful that Bidou start seeing a chiropractor and that he no longer has a sore back.

It is update time

This morning while I was laying in bed thinking about "Blogging Ideas" it occured to me that maybe just maybe some of you - meaning you my faithfull followers that reads my blog regularly would like some updates in regards to some previous posts...

So here are some updates :

• My "bo-père's" surgery went well. He was released from the Sherbrooke, QC hospital yesterday. And they will be home tomorrow... so tomorrow, I will no longer be home alone.
• The Jacket has never been found. However, I now stare down any female that I see in LaSarre wearing any sort of beige jacket... just it case it's The Jacket.
• Reading a book every 2 weeks - well I haven't touch a book in the last month. I think I am now obsessed in reading other people's blogs instead of books.
• Bidou installed without hesitation some great fake toenails a month ago for his cousin's wedding. They were a hit... well in my eyes they were (okay, no one noticed!!!)
• No change to my brother's kid-like-in-a-grown-up-body sense of life;
• And finally on a sad note, Theresa Pelletier, friend of the family passed away on September 11th.

And by the way... comments or suggestions for posts ideas are always welcome!!!!

Living the life of a Chazeloisienne

Definition of a Chazeloisienne : female resident of Chazel, QC

Today, I decided to do exactly what every girl living in Chazel, Qc does on a Saturday afternoon and that is to run errands in LaSarre, QC. However, I did the impossible, I stayed in town for a whole 5 hours.

To better understand why it is a hard task to complete, let me draw you a picture of LaSarre, QC -

Imagine you are driving into town... right before arriving on Main Street, there is a small strip mall where you can find the IGA (the grocery store), a Aubainerie Concept Mode (mode? ya right) and the Canadian Tire (Bidou's favorite hang-out). If you continue your way a bit further, you hit the major intersection. On each corner of this intersection you will find the Tim Horton's (at least there is a Tim's) the Jean-Coutu, the bowling alley and the Subway (and I am not talking about the public transportation). And there you have it... a picture of LaSarre, QC. Oh ya.. I must not forget the stores on the Main Street : the video store, the dry cleaners, Deschênes (where Bidou buys bubble gum for $8.00 - long story let's not go there), the Catholic Church, the hairdressers/beauticians, and the thrift store where The Jacket once lived!!!

So I hope you now get the picture why it is a hard task to have spended 5 hours in a town like LaSarre, QC !!!!!

A letter to Bidou

Dear Bidou,

Being home alone in CCTop last night was great. After school, I was craving some sushi but in La Sarre you talk about sushi and they think you are from outer space so I stopped at the IGA (the 1 of 2 grocery stores in town) and picked up some olives, a slice of Brie and some very spicy Mexican salami. Trust me the combination was delicious.

When I got home, Camille was very excited to see me until she noticed that you were not around. She then spent the next hour searching in the garage, in the in-law's house, in CCTop, in the wood shed, in the car, then back in the house... poor thing, she really thought you were hiding from her.

I had a list of things to do last night but ended up doing well... not much!! Read the magazine you bought me (thanks by the way!), had a nap, watched some tv then went to bed for the night. Well that was pretty much my evening!

Love, Kouisse

P.S. You know that chocolate bar that your mother left in the pantry - well please tell her that it was delicious!

Recap of the week

TGIF – I only had 3 days of school this week but they were indeed long days. I am trying to give my best at school since finishing this DEP course determines when CCTop & cie. hit the road.

Since last Tuesday evening, CCTop has been parked at my in-laws in Chazel, QC and will be until the end of October. We actually have a great set-up. My "bo-père" installed a 30 amp plug-in to his garage so CCTop has enough power when I blow-dry my hair, brew the morning coffee and have the small heater by my side. We also have running water and my "bo-père" even installed a small step so I don't fall when coming out of CCTop. How nice is he? I think he really likes having ME around!!! Next week, Bidou will be fixing up CCTop to the sewer system so we can start flushing out... if you get my drift.

Have a safe Labour Day weekend!!!

Is it fly mating season??

We left Bon Vent Camping in Duparquet, QC last Saturday and since then we've been camping at The Bannick in Ville-Marie, QC. It's a lovely campground with alot of mature trees and a great view of the Temiscamingue lake. On the campground, there are also small individual very romanting looking cabins. Bidou and I looked through one of the windows during our walk (and yes! they were indeed vacant) and fell in love with the interior. Some of them even had spas. If you are into that kind of romantic escape...I highly recommend one of the cabins:

http://www.bannik.ca/

On the first and second day, the weather was rainy and cold. But today - Wow!! - it feels like summer.

One thing we noticed since we arrived in Ville-Marie, QC - the flies - there are tons of them and they are always in groups. Bidou suspended a sticky-ruban-that-catches-the-flies thingy and in a matter of minutes there were already 22 of them stuck on it!! It is fly-mating season for sure!

Tomorrow...will be another story since we'll be returning to Bidou's parents' place for a bit. We have to get ready for a big wedding this weekend. Bidou's sister, Julie, is getting married to her neigboor...Abitibi is very small indeed!!!

Bidou in front of Lake Temiscaming

CCTop at campsite #103 at The Bannik

Recap of the weekend!

Last Friday evening - I got my hair colored plus a small trim and I am satisfied (that's rare!). Stéphanie – Bidou's niece – slept over.

Saturday - After pancakes at my in-law's, there fifth wheel is at the same campground as us, Bidou and I went to Rouyn to run some errands. Friends, Eric and Sylvie, came over for hamburgers and corn on the cob. Stephanie slept over again and the day ended with a great game of cards with "bo-père and belle-mère".

Sunday – Got caught up with my laundry, cleaning of the motorhome and Sammy – Bidou's nephew – slept over.