isobelmtl

Writing under a Montreal sky

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about

Isobel Cunningham has published short fiction and poetry. Her book, Northern Compass is available on Amazon. She was born in Wales but Montreal is her adopted home. She speaks French, Modern Greek ( it’s a fun story) and a little Spanish…oh, English too, of course. She welcomes comments on her blog and looks forward to chatting with you over cyber-space.

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  • First things

    This is the very first bloom of a clematis that I planted last year.  I have anger one that makes very deep purple flowers and I put something lighter would be nice next to it.  I searched all over for a white one but had no luck.  This shy little one will be fine, I…

  • Today I’m ready

    so am I I’m not!

  • Only when I am ready

    Everything  in turn in the garden. How quickly have we forgotten daffodils or snowdrops. Tulips wiped out by one very hot day, their seedpods clipped and discarded. Out come the stars of the show even as lilac has crumbled to a brown cone, unsightly but daring the gardener to clip.  Let me alone or no…

  • If you live near a cemetery, go there!

    You’ll see stuff like this because people plant beautiful trees and shrubs to keep their loved ones company.  I went yesterday to see that was happening to a rose bush I had planted on my mother’s grave.  Alas, the harsh winter had finished it off.  I planted another one, a white one and since I…

  • Hope is a hard taskmaster

    Or or perhaps I should say task mistress.  There is something feminine about this business of constantly returning to see if life can triumph over death, love over callous indifference.  No it is not acceptable to keep on inviting, to keep on approaching something or someone who offers no encouragement.  Why keep on submitting those…

  • Pink Lilac

    Everything is  early this year.  Here comes the pink lilac.  Remember when we were supposed to wait until Victoria Day ( oh, sorry, a British Queen shouldn’t be mentioned ) I mean Dollard Day ( oops, he turned out to be a rogue and we mustn’t talk about him) so let’s say May Bank Holiday…

  • Comparison

       it’s a very beautiful evening in Spring.  Everything alive was constrained for months by cold, darkness, fatigue.  Now, it’s hot and sunny for days on end and nature seems unleashed.  Flowers are blooming, leaves are coming out and people are walking around in shorts and sleeveless tops.  There’s a sort of benign hopefulness, an…

  • Montreal buildings

    R These are two decorative panels I spotted in the McGill ghetto area. They are set into the wall on either side of the front door of a big old apartment house. I am sure hundreds of students have hurried in and out of that door running to class or to some party, football game…

  • New tenants

    Here is a picture of the evening moon over my little apple tree. Can you see the red and white. birdhouse in the apple tree? For the first time since it was put up two little birdsare making their nest there. Just two little sparrows who are bringing dry grass and twigs and mating quite…

  • I really didn’t mean to look

    it was just a casual glance out of the kitchen window but to my bashful delight I caught a pair of cardinals mating.  The ecstatic moment took place on my newly repaired grape arbour…what an inauguration!  I could hardly believe my eyes and although it didn’t take very long( you’ll have to work on your…