Let’s face it, this year we are going to spend much more time in this cold northern land without any runaways to southern climates to warm up. That means more time snuggled up in bed too. So this would be the perfect moment to invest in a forever feather duvet.

Shopping at a local family business is the right thing to be doing during this pandemic. Ungava Duvet is located centrally, right off the Main and is a friendly helpful company which sells high quality duvets at fair prices ($49 & up). You can create a sleep sanctuary with Ungava Duvet. There are duvets made for winter, summer, and all seasons, to keep you warm when it’s cool and when it’s warm. Choose from: goose down, duck down, feather, 100% Australian wool, alpaca, 100% silk, and synthetic.

Feathers today are treated so differently than they were in the past when they weren’t sanitized. Today, they are washed several times with anti-allergen soap and sanitized. It is rare for anyone to be allergic nowadays.

The team at Ungava will help you walk through the many options. Duvets can be lighter or heavier, goose or duck, flatter or fluffier and even made extra warm for people who like to sleep in colder rooms. They sell Hutterite duvets which are made from a more rare and expensive bird feather or European Oslo ones for people who enjoy a heavier blanket weight.

Get a good night’s sleep with incredibly comfortable pillows to suit your preferences. Pillows are available in: goose down, duck down, feather, 100% New Zealand wool, buckwheat, Latex, microfiber and synthetic.

They can create made-to-measure sizes of duvets (even for cribs), feather beds, do special constructions like custom sofa seats and window seats and you can also buy wool, feather and foam mattress toppers.

Better quality futons (UFO) are made here too (with guarantees), as well as futon covers, bases and bolsters. To finish your decorating, there’s Egyptian cotton and bamboo sheets, bamboo towels and a large selection of ready made curtains (19.99 up).

Since 1981, Montrealers have always loved the fact that everything was being made right here in town so Ungava Duvet became a well-loved and trusted brand. Shop on line or at their outlet store. Free shipping for purchases over $100.

Location: 10 Pine St. W. suite 112, Montréal H2W 1P9
corner: boul. St-Laurent
Tel: 514-287-9276 or  1-800-363-3533
Hours: Mon-Fri 10-6, Sat 10-5
duvetsungava.com/
info@duvetsungava.com

There are hats, mittens, scarves and fur-trimmed capes but my new favorite thing at Dubarry Furs, is the luscious knitted fur scarf that you can see me wearing in the photo below.

Shopping in Old Montreal with snow dusting the Victorian buildings really gets you into the old-fashioned Christmas mood. Dubarry’s shop is in a beautiful exposed brick and stone atelier there.

The lovely husband and wife team are happy to help you in choosing ready-to-wear or custom-made jackets, hats and coats and especially the popular capes with fur trim. They also sell cashmere and Alpaca wear with and without fur trim and shearling jackets.  The family is able to maintain low prices by doing all the work themselves.

Don’t forget you can also bring in your old furs for an expert evaluation and to receive advice on the endless possibilities to revitalize the garments. They will gladly guide you when turning a older coat into something fashionable and wearable – they even have water resistant reversible ones. Trade-ins are accepted toward the purchase of a new coat.

Repairs, cleaning and storage are all available here. They have always been known for the quality of their products and their personalized service.

Location, 206 St-Paul Ouest, Old Montreal
corner: St-Francois-Xavier
Tel: 514-844-7483
Hours: Tues-Fri 10-6, Sat & Sun 11-5 & by appointment
www.dubarryfurs.com

My new favorite thing at Dubarry Furs, is the luscious knitted fur scarf in the photo below – but there’s also hats, mittens, and fur-trimmed capes and fur coats of course. the capes are really hot this season. The shop is in a beautiful exposed brick and stone atelier in Old Montreal and the family is able to maintain low prices by doing all the work themselves.

The lovely husband and wife team are happy to help you in choosing ready-to-wear or custom-made jackets, hats, capes with fur trim, and coats. They sell cashmere and Alpaca wear with and without fur trim and shearling jackets.

Don’t forget you can also bring in your old furs for an expert evaluation and to receive advice on the endless possibilities to revitalize the garments. They will gladly guide you when turning a older coat into something fashionable and wearable – they even have water resistant reversible ones. Trade-ins are accepted toward the purchase of a new coat.

Repairs, cleaning and storage are all available here. They have always been known for the quality of their products and their personalized service.

Location, 206 St-Paul Ouest, Old Montreal
corner: St-Francois-Xavier
Tel: 514-844-7483
Hours: Tues-Fri 10-6, Sat & Sun 11-5 & by appointment
www.dubarryfurs.com

Now that the holidays are over and we have more time to play, why not take a quick getaway with your family to Almonte, ON which is only about 2-1/2 hours from Montreal. The very first reason is that Ed Atwell of Healthy Food Technologies (hft) has figured out how to make low-fat donuts that are scrumptious. He “tricks” the donuts by frying them (in zero trans fat oil) for 1/2 the time and then baking them at the same temperature. Watch the video to see him explain the process he invented.

Now take a walk around the corner and pick up your to-go-with coffee at fair trade high quality Equator Coffee Roasters. They roast the beans right there, having bought them from small-scale farming communities and paid the farmers well. Do not  miss the Oh-so-Canadian maple-flavored latte. It’s worth driving there just for that! Kids can enjoy the hot chocolate.

Next you can pick up snacks for the car or yummies to take home at Dandelion Foods co-op before a 45 min. drive to Wheelers Pancake House and Maple Sugar Camp. D andelion Foods co-op sells whole, local and organic foods and some for specialty diets. Here you can buy the famous Hummingbird chocolate bars favored by Prime Minister Trudeau. Note the PB & Joy (with peanut butter) and the spicy Mayan.  Please bring back the Empire Cheese caramelized onion cheddar cheese for me.

For lunch and fun, at Wheelers Pancake House you can visit the Maple Museum and the Chainsaw & Logging museum and the kids can have fun in the playground. Handy men and women will be mesmerized by Mark Wheeler’s dad Vernon’s collection of hundreds of chainsaws. Everyone will enjoy his “largest collection of pure maple syrup artifacts” which help explain the history of the maple sugar industry. From First Nations wooden spigots to the plastic lines of today, syrup pour-ers, molds, pails, and everything else related to this sweet topic, it’s all here at this 38-year family business. Don’t forget to leave room for the freshly made pancakes and delicious syrup right from their trees.

For the grand finale, we visited Keith and Elizabeth Adam’s alpacas and llamas at their  Serendipity Farm. For retirement they decided to raise alpacas for the fun of it. The couple exudes their enjoyment of spending their golden years with these elegant, fluffy friends. They’ll chatter about the little quirks of each of the animals as well as the work associated with raising them.

Alpacas produce fiber that is as fine as cashmere, soft, silky and much warmer than sheep’s wool, while also wicking moisture away from the body.
In their little shop you can buy scarves, gloves, purses, as well as fiber felted sheets, alpaca and fiber rovings and handspun yarn.

Leave some time too for the local shops which wind their way along the downtown streets. Yes there’s plenty to do in Lanark County for a low-key interesting getaway weekend. We are not sure how this area attracted so many hippie/free trade/entrepreneurial types who seem to care for the planet. You can feel virtuous spending time and money in this town.

Equator Coffee Roasters, 451-A Ottawa St, Almonte, ON K0A 1A0, Tel: 613-256-5960
www.equator.ca

Dandelion Foods, 541 Ottawa St, Almonte, ON K0A 1A0,  Tel: 1-613-256-4545
www.dandelionfoods.ca

Healthy Food Technologies, 25 Industrial Rd., Almonte ON  Tel: 613-256-9900
(HFT) https://www.facebook.com/HFTinc

Wheelers Pancake House and Maple Sugar Camp, 1001 Highland Line, McDonalds Corners(Lanark Highlands), ON K0G 1M0 Tel: 613-278-2090
www.wheelersmaple.com

Serendipity Farm Alpacas & Llamas,  929 South Lavant Rd, Lanark, ON K0G1K0  Tel: 613-259-3304 or 613-222-6303
www.serendipityalpacas.ca

www.lanarkcounty.ca

Dubarry Furs, a 34-year-old shop, in a beautiful exposed brick and stone atelier in Old Montreal, maintains low prices by doing all the work themselves. You’d be surprised at the reasonably priced gifts you can buy to help make someone very cosy this winter. My new favorite is the luscious knitted fur scarf in the photo below – but there’s also hats, mittens, and fur-trimmed capes. Capes are really hot this season.

The lovely husband and wife team are happy to help you in choosing ready-to-wear or custom-made jackets, hats, capes with fur trim, and coats. They sell cashmere and Alpaca wear with and without fur trim and shearling jackets. I especially love the luscious little fur neck scarves.

Don’t forget you can also bring in your old furs for an expert evaluation and to receive advice on the endless possibilities to revitalize the garments. They will gladly guide you when turning a older coat into something fashionable and wearable – they even have water resistant reversible ones. Trade-ins are accepted toward the purchase of a new coat.

Repairs, cleaning and storage are all available here. They have always been known for the quality of their products and their personalized service.

Location, 206 St-Paul Ouest, Old Montreal
corner: St-Francois-Xavier
Tel: 514-844-7483
Hours: Tues-Fri 10-6, Sat & Sun 11-5 & by appointment
www.dubarryfurs.com

Dubarry Furs, a 34-year-old shop, in a beautiful exposed brick and stone atelier in Old Montreal, maintains low prices by doing all the work themselves.

Holding a “Pre-Season Restyling Event”, they are giving you a wonderful opportunity to refresh your furs before the winter.  Bring in your old furs for an expert evaluation and to receive advice on the endless possibilities to revitalize the garments. They will gladly guide you when turning a older coat into something fashionable and wearable – they even have water resistant reversible ones. Trade-ins are accepted toward the purchase of a new coat.

The lovely husband and wife team are happy to help you in choosing ready-to-wear or custom-made jackets, hats, capes with fur trim, and coats. They sell cashmere and Alpaca wear with and without fur trim and shearling jackets. I especially love the luscious little fur neck scarves.

Repairs, cleaning and storage are all available here. They have always been known for the quality of their products and their personalized service.

Location, 206 St-Paul Ouest, Old Montreal
corner: St-Francois-Xavier
Tel: 514-844-7483
Hours: Tues-Fri 10-6, Sat & Sun 11-5 & by appointment
www.dubarryfurs.com

Q: : I enjoy reading your shlog and was wondering if you would know where used furs could be made into fashionable outerwear. I had a mink sheared and then lined into a beautiful walking coat many years ago and am thinking about doing that again.

A: Dubarry Furs, a 34-year-old shop, in a beautiful exposed brick and stone atelier in Old Montreal, maintains low prices by doing all the work themselves. They will glad guide you when turning a older coat into something fashionable and wearable – they even have water resistant reversible ones. They have always been known for the quality of their products and their personalized service.

Ready-to-wear or custom-made jackets, hats, capes with fur trim,  and coats, re–modeling, repairs, cleaning and storage are all available here.

There is a line of cashmere and Alpaca wear with and without fur trim and shearling jackets. Trade-ins are accepted toward the purchase of a new coat.

Location, 206 St-Paul Ouest, Old Montreal
corner: St-Francois-Xavier
Tel: 514-844-7483
Hours: Tues-Fri 10-6, Sat & Sun 11-5 & by appointment
www.dubarryfurs.com

Maison Fusion offers mainly hand-made treasures from all over the world: gifts, accent furniture, niche perfumes, jewelry and scented candles, as well as Eastern sweets.

Every piece has been carefully chosen by the owner, Reem Owais, who had the chance to travel to exotic places where she collected these special products. This shop is a house of tales, where objects tell stories about those who crafted them, their traditions and cultures. They collaborate with organizations all over the world which assist rural women in generating income. This improves the standard of living not only for themselves but for their dependents and their communities as well.

For the month of November, they have highlighted some clothes, housewares and gifts and will be giving them to you at 25% discount if you use CODE: MFSB1115.  Look below for: alpaca wool cloaks, ponchos, gloves, hats and scarves, Egyptian cotton clothing, a re-cycled glass and pewter collection, Egyptian leather stools and Barbery fig oil

– Alpaca wool cloaks, ponchos, gloves, hats and scarves handwoven by skilled Peruvian artisans.  Alpaca is soft, lightweight, strong – and keeps you snuggly warm.
– Egyptian cotton/gabardine urban chic collection of Amina K, an Egyptian designer. The look is young in spirit, trendy yet elegant.
– Recycled glass and pewter glasses made by artisans in Swaziland (Fair Trade group)
– Stools made of sturdy Egyptian leather and wrought iron. There are two models and sizes available.
– 100% pure organic Barbary fig oil which is an excellent un-perfumed anti-aging and moisturizing product. Can be used instead of  night and/or day cream. A tiny drop is sufficient to keep the skin moist, nourished and firm all day.

Location: 328 Chemin du Bord-du-Lac, Pointe Claire QC H9S 4L7
corner: ave du Golf
Tel: 514-630-1190
Hours: Mon-Wed 10-6, Thurs & Fri 10-7, Sat 10-6, Sun 11-6
Sale dates: until Nov 30
www.maison-fusion.com
FB: http://on.fb.me/1MlQkJl

Dubarry Furs is now having a pre-winter sale.  In addition to their reasonable prices, shoppers spending $500 or more will be able to select a complimentary gift of either fur (mink, beaver or fox) earmuffs, leather or shearling gloves, or 100% alpaca scarf.  This offer extends to re-stylings as well.

This 33-year-old shop,  in a beautiful exposed brick and stone atelier in Old Montreal, maintains low prices by doing all the work themselves. Ready-to-wear or custom-made jackets, hats, capes with fur trim (and water resistant reversible ones), and coats, remodeling, repairs, cleaning and storage are all available here.

There is a line of cashmere and Alpaca wear with and without fur trim and shearling jackets. Trade-ins are accepted toward the purchase of a new coat.

They have always been known for the quality of their products and their personalized service.

Location, 206 St-Paul Ouest, Old Montreal
corner: St-Francois-Xavier
Tel: 514-844-7483
Hours: Tues-Fri 10-6, Sat & Sun 11-5 & by appointment
www.dubarryfurs.com

Dubarry Furs is now having a pre-winter sale for re-modeling older fur coats. You can make a coat into a jacket, a swing coat, another cut of coat, or a cape. You can get it sheared, dyed, or placed cosily inside an all-weather cloth coat

This 33-year-old shop,  in a beautiful exposed brick and stone atelier in Old Montreal, maintains low prices by doing all the work themselves. Ready-to-wear or custom-made jackets, hats, capes with fur trim (and water resistant reversible ones), and coats, remodeling, repairs, cleaning and storage are all available here.

There is a line of cashmere and Alpaca wear (scarves too) with and without fur trim and shearling jackets.  You may want to just pick up some fur (mink, beaver or fox) earmuffs or  leather or shearling gloves.

Trade-ins are accepted toward the purchase of a new coat.

They have always been known for the quality of their products and their personalized service.

Location, 206 St-Paul Ouest, Old Montreal
corner: St-Francois-Xavier
Tel: 514-844-7483
Hours: Tues-Fri 10-6, Sat & Sun 11-5 & by appointment
www.dubarryfurs.com