Placidity - Greta von Schmedlapp Tour the Townships!

Hello and Bonjour. We must introduce ourselves for this issue of LaTour. Your erudite and philosophical Editor Denis Boulanger has invited us to write a story of our colour and design obsessions for this remarkable newsletter. We have been sending our letters to the Westmount Independent weekly for almost 2 years now, and since Aurelien has been a part-time resident on Lowry (off of the Scenic) for over 25 years, He and I would like to share some of our special places and sources for our Design Friends and Fiends here in the charming Eastern Townships. I am his Muse, and Design Sleuth, so you elegant and cultivated residents –( both full-time, or those part-timers shuttling between Montreal and their place of Tranquility and Placidity) must remember that I am attempting to aid him in his search for resources for his Interior Design work. You may have noticed his announcement of his new Branch Office opening in the last 2 issues of La Tour. I have been assisting him since the mid 70’s when he started to teach Interior Design at the now-closed Saidye Bronfman Centre of the Arts. We have been asked to tell you, dear Readers, some of our interesting people and shops here in the region served by your newspaper. We also must remember the Theme of this issue: Placidity. I know without asking that Aurel’s favourite place for the Placid feeling is his house here. The big flat and design office in Montreal has so much happening usually that he and I really do plan our time in the cottage. Placidity was perfectly created for him at first with the old log cabin that was reputed to be one of the few remaining Empire Loyalist way-stations, and after restoring it, he and family and friends remained until he designed and built the multi-level and angled house in 89-90. I can’t believe it has been so long ago. The most special place of meditation is the Pentangonal Gazebo near their pond… First built in pine and plywood before the house in 1986; and then in 2003 re-built in sturdy Cedar (the porky-pics don’t think Cedar is tasty), Aurel has painted each of the five- 9’triangular ceiling panels with symbols of each colour: red,yellow,green,blue,violet. As he sways gently in the royal purple hammock from Merida, Mexico, he releases all the city stress and restores his vital energy…a perfect Placid place. More of us hectic city people are realizing the virtues of country life, and with the pervasive e-mail, the world is truly flat! Who cares where we are, if the virtual reality allows Aurel and all of us to continue our projects whether listening to the murmur of the pond, or the street noise in the city! Now, dear Design Friends, your Greta must apologize for the rambling, but I do feel that I must let you “newbies” know something about us before mentioning some of my favourite places here. So please do visit the following: Atelier Bouffe with the charming Catherine Handfield’s great style and taste for the home; Le Cafetiere for its suberb coffees and scones; both in Sutton’s “Downtown.” The amazing Ice wine at Henrietta Antony’s (and son John’s) Chapel Ste. Agnes near the end of Scenic past Aurel’s cottage; the best competition with apples(not grapes)at the Ciderie Pinnacle on the most lovely country road between Abercorn and Freighlichsburg. In the hamlet of F…, we find 2 super sources of 3-dimensional art: the marvelous colours and textures of Atelier Dupont, and the gallery of Architecture by Eden Muir. This is a short list now, I look forward to our next newsletter. Please do visit the web site of my “partner in crime”: www.colorsbyaurlien.com. I am also researching the Best Martini in the Townships. Let me know your choices! With hugs from your dear Greta von Schmedlapp.