It’s Thursday and that should mean doors, however I’ve been absent from this feature for a while and blogging in general this summer. As this day is drawing to a close – at least in my part of the world – I’m offering something different.
I’ve had the pleasure of meeting Norm Frampton 3 times this year and this week I’ve had the added privilege of being a guest in his home with him and his charming wife.
So while this post does contain a couple of doors, this is less about the doors and more about wanting to thank the man behind this weekly event. It’s been such a great week getting to know Norm’s wit and humour.
You may remember that back in June I was cycling for 4 days on the TransCanada Trail north of Montreal and Norm joined me for the last day of riding.
When he learned I was planning to return in August for 4 more days of riding on the urban trails through Montreal, he offered to host me in his home.
I couldn’t have asked for two kinder, warmer hosts than Norm and his wife.
The weather was very hot and not exactly ideal for cycling. Norm was unable to join me on my bike rides, but that didn’t stop us from having lively conversations at the end of the day about everything and anything.
Two days of riding in 35C (95F) heat was enough to kick the stuffing out of me, and when Norm suggested a day of kayaking instead, I jumped at the chance.
We couldn’t have asked for a more perfect day.
So while this post is rather light on doors, it’s full of gratitude to the man behind the weekly photo feature … and to his wife who is simply a treasure. This visit has been more than simply meeting up with a blogger in real life.
This has been about something far more valuable – friendship.
Ohh, this is lovely, Joanne. I’m so glad to hear you all had a wonderful time, three time no less. I just hope Norm won’t expect any such boat and bike ideas around here. 😉 And that photo of him inside the train is magnificent. 😀
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I don’t think you have to worry Manja. On this last trip, we joked that I may in fact be bad for Norm’s health 😉
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It’s so wonderful that you got to spend time with Norm! The cow definitely has me scratching my head! That old stone farm house looks inviting. I love a tin roof. 🙂
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What surprised me was that there were just SO MANY of these old stone houses with sloping tin roofs. Sadly, not a single photo I took really captured the beauty of them.
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Sorry I missed that get together.
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Are you in the Montreal area too?
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Not certain if this question was asked of me, but in case it was…no, I’m in Mexico.
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That is wonderful! I am so glad you got to meet the man behind the legend 😛 I’m delighted to know he’s warm and funny in person as well.
The cow, oh the cow! Haha!
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Norm is every bit of warm and loveable as you’d expect … and more. Add in his wife, that they are absolutely delightful people 💕
My only regret is that the hot, humid weather prevented Norm from riding with me – but yes, the cow was priceless!!
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😀
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What a sweet post and tribute to Norm and your friendship, Joanne. I love the pictures and the narrative. It’s not surprising at all that blogging turns into friendship. Wonderful post.
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Thanks Diana. It’s been such a busy summer sometimes I’ve felt like I didn’t have time to breathe. This particular trip was certainly one of the most highly anticipated events of the summer. Now that the end of August is closing in, I feel both a sense of sadness that it’s almost over and relief that I can stop and rest a bit 🙂
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You’ve been a whirlwind this summer with a wedding and other adventures! Resting is what winter is for, Joanne. 🙂 I love autumn and hope it brings you some more glorious days outside.
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Thanks Diana – and for you too 🙂
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To my delight, I have discovered that making new friends is a wonderful part of retirement. I think it has to do with actually having some time to have a life.
Jude
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I would not trade this stage of my life for more of my youth! It’s wonderful – even better than I imagined in so many ways 🙂
I’ve often heard it said that it’s harder to make friends as we age, but thanks to blogging, I’m finding the opposite is true. It’s so much easier now than when I was working.
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Joanne, this is a marvelous uplifting post! Your photos are gorgeous… such a beautiful area. The pic of norm in the play-train is great fun. Hugs!
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The blogging community I’ve connected with continues to delight and surprise me, even after 5 years 🙂
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This is fantastic!!!!!
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It was!! I heard that you also met Norm when he was visiting the East Coast. They are just delightful people!
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I did!!! And they are!! The visit wasn’t long enough.
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When you are left wanting more you know it was a good visit 🙂
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A triple delight! It really is awesome meeting up with people you have had an online connection with…even better when the relationship is one that inspires multiple reconnection.
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Right! On both counts!! 🙂
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How utterly marvellous. There is nothing like meeting a fellow blogger and discovering that you gel together in real life..
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That is the truth, Jude 🙂 I’m confident that you and I would definitely gel 🙂
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What an amazing opportunity for you and Norm to get together again. Biking, kayaking, good food, fun conversations – sounds like a great time was had by all. 🙂
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The photo of Norm in the childrens’ play train tells me a lot about the man – fun loving and perhaps a little goofy (I say that in a nice way because I find goofiness to be an attribute). It’s so awesome to actually meet a blogging buddy in person, to make the connection a more personal one and to cement a friendship. Good for you both!
You and I…one day, biking sister…
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Norm definitely has a strong streak of ‘goofy’. I too consider it a positive attribute 🙂
I’m counting on a biking adventure together biking sister. Counting down the months until you retire 😉
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Yay for blogging friendships. I’m so glad you got to meet Norm and his wife and that you’re having such a great (if hot) summer. 🙂
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Thanks Su. I am not going to have any regrets at the end of this summer that I didn’t try hard enough 🙂
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🙂 And hopefully, there is still more summer to come.
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Fingers are crossed!
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oh how nice to have blog friends and glad you had three chances to connect.
and the Mill doors are my fav here – but I also love the tip of the kayak in that shot – 🙂
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The funny part is that the previous year Norm and I tried 3 times to get together and the Universe kept conspiring to prevent it. This year has been golden 🙂
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oh that is really funny – sometimes fate has its way – eh?
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It certainly increased my anticipation 🙂
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Wow, what a neat experience! I can feel the joy reading your words. How fun to have been able to spend more time with Norm and his wife. You saw some great doors, and do some kayaking too! It sounds like a great trip despite the heat.
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It’s been a special week 💕 The people we meet in our lives that make experiences truly remarkable.
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Wow! How wonderful to get to know the man behind the doors and spend time in one of my favourite cities. Where did you paddle? Is that the St. Lawrence River? It looks fabulous. We were in Montreal on the August long weekend – flaming friggin’ hot it was – and rented Bixi bikes in Old Montreal and cycled down a path that followed the old Lachine Canal. We bailed at Atwater Market because I was about to spontaneously combust. I marvel that you lasted two days in that heat!
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I agree that this summer has been ‘flaming friggin’ hot’!! Holy Hell. On my 2nd day of cycling, I was downtown cycling the Lachine Canal trail from the old port to the Rene Levesque Park at the end. It was a hot one but not nearly as bad as the previous day when I felt like I was in an oven.
We went paddling at Parc de la Rivière-des-Mille-Îles. It’s about 20-30 minutes north of Montreal. What a treat! Touring around all the little islands was a lot of fun. If you ever get a chance to go, I think it’s worth the visit.
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Thanks for sharing sights and thoughts from your visit. What a great opportunity that was. I can’t thank Norm enough for hosting this weekly event. It’s fun, it’s educational and the people in the Doors Community are the best, starting with the founder of the feast.
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Amen! If you ever get the chance to spend some time with Norm and his wife, I HIGHLY recommend it!
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I saw them once, as they passed through Connecticut. I hope they come south again. I also hope I get a chance to come north at some point.
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I think you should be planning a trip north into Norm territory 🙂
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I have loved hearing about your meet-ups with fellow bloggers!
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Thanks Tracey. It’s interesting meeting up with bloggers. They are instant friends 🙂
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Thanks for the “bit more” about Norm and his wife. You saw some lovely sights, too. I love meeting fellow bloggers and have become friends with several. It’s one of the great things about blogging and I hope to meet more in person as time goes on.
janet
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You’re right Janet. We have a great blogging community and although non-bloggers don’t ‘get’ it, these are real and meaningful friendships.
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How wonderful Joanne! Can’t say I blame you for choosing a day on the water over a day on the bike in this heat!
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No contest there, Lynn 🙂 When it comes to summertime activities, water will always top the list!
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Great post and wonderful pictures. You had a good time and it shows. Glad you are alright.
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Thanks Bridget! It was so nice to talk to you 🙂
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A truly wonderful post, Joanne. How fun is that to meet a fellow blogger?!
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I had the best time on this trip. It definitely wouldn’t have been the same if I had been alone.
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Excellent post, Joanne. The warmth and ease of your friendship with Norm comes through in every word. And I’m glad you made the switch to kayaking on day three. Very self-preserving of you 🙂
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It was definitely a no-brainer, Karen. Given a choice between bicycle and kayak, being on water is going to win 🙂
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Awe shucks… *blushing*
Thanks a bunch for the shout-out and most of all for sharing such a fun week with us my friend.
We had an absolute blast.
I’m glad the heat and humidity broke enough for me to join you on the water: it was a magical day.
Inside joke: Hé Celine!!!
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bwahahaha! It never gets old! 🤣🤣🤣
Best week of the summer!! You and Louise made it super special! 💕
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Wow, biking in the heat is tough, glad you got out on the water for a little break. How fun to stay with your friend Norm and his wife and get to know them better. Scratching my head about the cow – can’t remember that being part of my Catholic upbringing. 🙂
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hehehe! Mine either 😏 … but I still giggle every time I think of that cow with the shrine.
Cycling in the heat and humidity is not fun. I’m in the mountains now and it’s been raining all day. It’s blessedly cool!!
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What a great way to say thank you. You are a gifted writer
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Thank you Jacquie. Some posts are easier to write than others 🙂
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How wonderful, Joanne! So glad you got to spend time with your friend Norm and his wife. Blogging friends are wonderful. I love those sloping roofs in Quebec.
Deb
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Quebec architecture is quite different from Ontario and is one of the things I love about this province … and the food, and yes, even the language 🙂
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Such fun! I like your photos and think it’s wonderful that you two have had the opportunity to meet in real life. Blogging takes us all in so many different directions.
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That is definitely both the attraction and addiction to blogging 🙂
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What a lovely way to thank Norm and his wife for their friendship and hospitality. I have never met Norm in person but I’m not at all surprised that he is every bit as nice as I had imagined. I love the picture of him in the train… definitely a kid at heart.
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My favourite people are those who haven’t forgotten how to embrace goofy fun. Norm definitely falls into that category 🙂
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This is such a wonderful, and well-deserved, tribute! Thank you for sharing this, Joanne.
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I would have been seriously remiss if I had failed to recognize how warm and welcoming Norm and his wife had been to me this past week. They made my experience here in Quebec that much sweeter!
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Wow Joanne, riding your bike at 95 degr. – you ARE a trooper! Nothing is more heartwarming than reading about good friends!
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I admit that being out on a bike for 3 or 4 hours in those temperatures isn’t exactly fun – but I’m glad I did it. It would have been so easy to wimp out.
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Sounds wonderful . . . except for the 95 degree temps. That’s hotter than here!
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I’m not a fan for hell-hot temperatures but after the winter we had, I’m not going to complain (yet) 😉
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There’s nothing like good company to make a summer outing fun.
I like that old, stone farm house.
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Good company makes everything better 🙂
If you like old stone farm houses, you would love Quebec 🙂
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We’re planning a brief visit to Quebec next month. We’re going to visit the Mont-Megantic National Park. So maybe we’ll see some stone farm houses too. Or perhaps stoned farmers.
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Cool!! I hope you have a great time. I’ll be looking forward to photos 🙂
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you have so amazing post and blog….enjoyable!!
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Thank you! I appreciate that!
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