Morin Heights, Quebec

It's a beautiful day in the Laurentians. The sky's a fierce blue, the river running behind Kelly's house gushing a song over the rocks, flowing under the bridge just down the road and continuing on into the mountains. There are fresh rabbit tracks in the snow and Rocky, half-Rottweiler half-Great Pyrenees, is barking to be let in. A crow landed on a branch just above the deck, which overlooks the forest and river. It's above zero, maybe three or four degrees, amazingly mild for this time of year.

Last night Kelly's mom gave us a gift certificate for dinner at a lovely restaurant in the village. We walked along the dark highway up the winding streets into town, careful to walk on the opposite side of traffic. The place was small and intimate and cozy and called "Le Petit Prince" of all things, named for one of my favourite books as a child--hell, even as an adult; we had lamb and mint jelly and red wine and perfect asparagus and squash and fruit dipped in chocolate for dessert and spent over three hours talking and laughing and catching up on our "deals" as Kelly has always called them.

Walking home the stars were amazing. Being out of the city even for a night I feel stronger, healthier, more alive. On the bus ride up here, listening to the layered, textured ambient down-tempo grooves of my old friend Michael Thompson (a.k.a. DJ Polyphonic, now residing in Taiwan), I could make out the shapes of mountains in the dark, like the curves of a woman sleeping on her side.

Soon, when Kelly gets out of the shower, we will be taking "one of those dodgy Laurentian taxis" to Le Spa Bagni (www.spabagni.com/), where for $30 we get to use all the facilities, including the Finish sauna, outdoor whirlpool, Turkish steam bath, swimming pool with sea salt, and if we're feeling brave enough, a quick dip in the river! We went in March and it was divine...oddly enough this weather makes it feel like March too, though more of a lion than a lamb.

My digital camera's on the fritz, but we're borrowing Kelly's mom's camera, and I have my little disposable with me, so pics will soon follow.

Happy Winter Solstice,
Lisa