gypsy soul, hippie heart, bohemian spirit...

We arrived home in the gentle Berkshire hills last night about 8:30 pm. We left sweet Montréal midday and took a slow visit to one of the small cities in the Eastern Townships: Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu. It is just one hour south of Montréal but a world apart. The "townships" - home to the Inspector Gamache series by Louise Penny - have become our favorite "resting" place. Truth be told, we ache to live there. Or, at the very least, to spend spring and summer, as they are rural, mostly très français (with key exceptions), eclectic, beautiful, and wonderfully restful. We have explored various places in the townships and continue to be attracted by their creativity and earthiness. 

Besides being on the Richelieu River, a sacred setting in my earth-centered
spirituality, two places grabbed us:

+ Gypsie Bohème: a small local craft store filled with art, herbs, jewelry, incense and more created by regional artisans. We chatted with the owner and the very helpful attendant in both French and English. One of the things that has saved us time and again is attempting to start a conversation in French and then, when confusion reigns, asking if we might go slower and/or switch to English. These two women were open, helpful, encouraging, and wise. We took home a number of indigenous goodies and can't wait to return. Indeed, their enthusiasm has us pondering how we might rent out our Berkshire home for the summer and head to the townships. How can you beat their mission statement: Ame gypsie, cœur hippie, esprit bohème (gypsy soul, hippie heart, bohemian spirit.) Please check out their site @ https://www.gypsieboheme.com/atelier-boutique/

+ Le Planc: a chill hipster pub with poutine, mac and cheese, and other local comfort foods in a very easy-going context. The young woman server was very gentle with us when we got lost in her French. She engaged us, however, and helped us make sense of the menu in both French and English. And the food was smokin' good! As some know, I pay careful attention to the "small threads of synchronicity" that pop up when I attentive and try to discern what deeper insights might be revealed. Di and I had been talking about music, various Rod Stewart songs in particular, and I was raving about "Every Picture Tells a Story." And what just happened to be playing in Le Planc? Brother Rod in his best incarnation... (OMG do I LOVE this song.) You can check them out here:

https://www.facebook.com/laplank/?fref=ts

And now we're home: I cut the way too high grass, gathered up Lucie from the kennel and reconnected with a spiritual direction friend. I made dinner, did some laundry, and sorted out my homily for Friday's L'Arche Ottawa community prayers. The world is freakin' crazy - probably always has been - and certainly will be for the foreseeable future. But the Spirit is still alive and nourishing if you take a little time.