GUESS what I forgot...

  after a frantic hour and a half the other day of searching through ALL our bags and clothes...I still couldn't find it.
I forgot my SD CARD in England which I had loaded with pics and edited them all ready for posting...can you believe it?
I just called Dad this morning and he confirmed that it was there, still sitting in the docking station of their lap-top.

Where is my head?

On another note I am going to show you a couple of sneak peaks from the book I am working on with Shelly.

                           

I really didn't have as much energy as I had hoped to work in the evenings over in the UK on the book...it was more exhausting than I imagined...but great to be there through my Mama's operation and see her recovering SO well.

Thank you ALL for the wonderful support and kind words and well wishes for her...you really are SUCH an important part of my Life...the encouragement and energies are bountiful and I am SO THANKFUL...

We're back in Canada and enjoying the HEAT...friends who I haven't seen for a while, and the girls are so happy to see their buddies.

Trips to my homeland are always wonderful...and I will miss my dear family and friends who I saw...but here is my home and it is a delight to be close to my Soulmate,my husband...Mr.R.
Today is a THANKFUL day...
thanks for passing by...I will be by to say hello to you all later.
OH, and THANKful...SO THANKful for this marvelous internet connection I am fortunate to have here.
HAPPY FRIDAY!


HUGS
Char.x.

MOO said the cow.

Happy Friday to you!
Here's a commission of my very first Cow watercolour...I loved painting her...
It's for an old family friend who has cows on her Farm...hope you love it Jane!

I can't believe 3 weeks have passed over here already...3 more days and we're flying home to see Mr.R and little Jazzie cat.(very looking forward to seeing Mr.R...OH...and not to forget the HIGH speed internet we're spoiled with in Canada where I live!)

I have been extremely blessed that 4 of my bestest friends came to see me during the weeks I have been here...So lovely to see them all...THANK YOU girlies for the chats!

We have been picking black currents today...building forts in the woods...I went running with little M in his running stroller...and cleaned...again.
Am exhausted and ready for sweet Dreams...
HUGS
Char.x

Happy Birthday big Sis!

Happy Birthday Big Sis...it was SO wonderful to spend the day with you, your little M and your Hubbie M...

wishing ALL your Dreams come true.

love ya!

HUGS

Char.x.

sugar-free SWEETNESS

Hope you're all enjoying the start of another week...it's gorgeous weather here today, the girls have been cartwheeling and forward rolling for hours this morning...
Here are a few pics (if I can upload them...) of pure sweetness from these past couple of days.

smiles from Mama...

little Miss J enjoying taking care of the horses...

little Miss A tending to her Fairy Garden...

Tea and cake with Sis and Tam...I changed the recipe a little from the traditional Apple cake I make for my Dad's B-day last year...I will post later....PROMISE!!! It's hazelnut and Macademia apple cake.

Sunset is sweet here...we can treasure the views with all the deer grazing every evening...

I'm SO happy I have been able to FINALLY post some pics...and whilst they were loading...I cleaned the entire kitchen!

Patience...that's all I needed...haha...

what sugar-free sweetness has entered you day today???

Until tomorrow...

HUGS

Char.x.

WE bloggers...

yay...FINALLY this VERY SLOW computer....has given me a break...it ONLY took 20 minues to load the first image...and 10 minutes the second.

AND...LOOK who it is!!!!

YES...TAM!!!!

She so sweetly passed by my Sister's pad today on her way back from Brighton. It's always SO,SO,SO...wonderful to see her, she'll be posting this week if she has time,she's in the transition of moving Home and will be without the internet for a few weeks...it's amazing how dependant we are to this linked World of technology.

She was wearing the prettiest dress...I will post further pictures of our few hours together when I get a faster net connection.

That's little B in the forefront of the pic...and boy has she grown into the most adorable of toddlers...SO pretty and coy...but very aware of every happening surrounding her.TOO cute!

I HOPE YOU CAN IMAGINE HOW HAPPY I AM TO FINALLY HAVE BEEN ABLE TO POST A PIC!!!!

YUP...and another one...this is a day after my Mama came back from hospital...she looks pretty good for having a double Hip OP at 67 yrs of age...don't you think???

And these are her 3 gorgeous grandaughters...the 2 on either side of little O you probably recognise...they were all VERY excited as they were about to spend a day celebrating Little Miss O's 4th Birthday...whilst I stayed home with Baby M and Mama...

They went to Hever Castle..some of you may know of it and if you don't it'a where Henry VIII lived with a few of his wives for part of his Life...it's open to the public and the gardens are spctacular. The girls particularily loved the water maze!

She does rest during the day but comes downstairs and walks around(with crutches),has meals downstairs and then returns to putting her feet up...I think she's getting bored already and it's only been 1 week.

SO very proud of her recovery so far...WELL DONE MAMA!!!!

Oh, I have SO many pics to show you that I have been snapping up of our daily going ons...one more week and I'll be back with the girls in Canada. Mama is NOT looking forward to me leaving...and says "what am I going to do without you here?"...but I'm sure she'll be fine.

I can't believe it's Sunday already...thanks for passing by,I am looking forward to also sharing sketches which I have been working on...BUT now I'm off to check what you've been upto...

HUGS

Char.x.

being away has it's pros and cons

oh...and yet again I am un able to upload any pics...how frustrating...dial-up really is awful.

So...here's my list ::
CONS
not seeing my hubbie
having SLOW internet connection (I will have to go upto my brother's or sister's place to blog any pics)
the girls are missing their little buddies
not being able to just get up and drive
English roads scare me, especially in my dad's LARGE truck

PROS
being over here with Mum and family
the girls being able to hang out with their cousins every day
the English Countryside is GORGEOUS (I wish I could show you pics...)
time to relax
being driven every where
the girls learn to live with less (very important lesson)

almost the same amount of pros as cons...but I do miss Mr.R lots.

Going down to see Mum this afternoon, she's doing absolutely amazingly!
She's on crutches and walking...slowly, but she's walking and says "look, I'm not hobbling anymore!"
It'll be a while before she can move freely...but it will be SO worth it!
She'll be home in a couple of days and then I'm going to get her on a SUPER healthy diet...fish, salads and fruit...take care of her and feed her herbal Teas and take her for strolls...

I WILL figure a way to post pics...
But until then...I hope all is well with YOU.
HUGS
Char.x

The Netherlands VS Spain...

Who will win?
0-0 is the score with 10 minutes to go...HOW many of you are watching this game? 2 Euopean teams in the Finals of the FIFA 2010 World Cup Finals...
I'm sitting here with a bowl of Vanilla Ice Cream and spoonfuls of honey not really caring who wins as I love both Countries...
Just came back from seeing Mum...she's SUCH a star...wow, really an incredible and very strong woman...
Anyway, more about that tomorrow...back to the football/soccer.
Good luck to whomever you support!!!!
GO GO GO!!!!

HUGS
Char.x.

right now

right now this very moment... Mum is in the hospital having her operation...she's such a rock star...she never complains, she struggles to get from one side of the room to the next...and stairs have been an ever increasing battle.
 This past week has been spent hanging out with family. It's gorgeous weather here in the UK...and the girls are enjoying being with their cousins, cooling off under sprinklers and watering flowers and veggies for Mum.
I'm sending her positive thoughts and well wishes for a safe operation,Dad and I will go and see her later this afternoon.
I'm missing my Mr.R but have been so busy here that time has flown by...and know he has been busy too.

I had all intentions of blogging daily, but there have been times the internet has been down...I'm now using our Orange toggle...but would love for the internet Angel to work her magic on the regular connection down here because an image only took 20 mins to load!

I'm a bit nervous not knowing how the operation is going...will update this post as soon as possible.
Hope you're all well...I know you understand my lack on being here and visiting you all.

UPDATE:: Mum had her op today, everything went well...they did both her hips.
THANK YOU for ALL your prayers and thoughs.


HUGS
Char (in the UK for a little while)

Across the Ocean we go...

a belated Happy 4th July to all our friends in the US...sorry if I haven't visited your Worlds recently!

I have been packing for our trip to the UK, we leave this afternoon...

Mum goes in on Saturday for her double hip OP...

the girls are excited about seeing their Mormor and Morfar, Aunt and Uncles and cousins...

there will be lots of berry picking and riding little Shetland Ponies, making camps in the woods and going for walks...

I,amongst cooking,cleaning and looking after Mum...will be working on illustrating a book a friend has written....my FIRST one...

the above painting is a snippet of what's to come...

I am excited about it...

I will miss Mr.R lots...and am hoping that my parents internet connection will enable me to blog and check mail.

check back tomorrow...I'll be sharing lots of English Countryside...it's been a couple of years since I was there in the Summer...SO different from Winter there...the days are extremely long and the flowers and fauna are beautiful and luscious.

I better catch my wings...cheerio!

HUGS

Char.x.

I *HEART* painting...

I finished this the other day..I know...very different to my animal illustrations...

but this is me, this is what I LOVE to do....paint big paintings...with LARGE brushes.

So, when a commission comes my way...I jump all over it and enjoy the challenge.

It's for a friend who recently went to Corsica with her man...and asked if I would paint her this painting to give to him for his Birthday this year.

YOU have 24 hours before my BOGO Free SALE on all my Prints in my BLUESHINE Baby Etsy store is over...then I will be shutting up shop for 22 days.

This weekend I will be posting pics from our CANADA Day...

HAVE a wonderful weekend.

HUGS

Char.x.

10 YEARS...thank you Mr.R!

yup...10 years today. I love Mr.R to bits...we get on SO well.
THANKS for being the GREATEST husband Mr. R!
It feels like yesterday when we were sitting on that beach in Spain and you proposed to me *SMILE*...

I'll be back tomorrow with pics from our Canada Day trip today.
What did you get upto today?

HUGS
Char.x.