Sweet Valentines...and Monday Mentions.

 To be greeted with these two gorgeous sweethearts makes everyday worthwhile...HAPPY VALENTINE's Day!!!

 Just thought I would show you a couple of sketches which I have been working on for the set of Alice up at our girl's school.

 I haven't met the director of the Show yet, so I'm not sure in which direction they are going with regards to set changes etc...

 BUT...at least here's something for them.

 I'm also working on another sketch for the Tea Party...which may be fun...so stay tuned!

I've never been involved with any set designing before...but thought I could lend a hand.

AND NOW....for our "MONDAY MENTIONS"...
Today we're looking at all those Valentine Celebrations...handmade LOVE...
THIS tiny book of LOVE is adorable,
 and the way it's put HERE...
THIS Mama has been baking lots of LOVE...
Check out these sweethearts(literally) over HERE.
2 POSTERS I would buy for my man!
AND finally...my favourite place to come when I want to see some beautiful Artwork dedicated to those who LOVE a stranger...HERE...


I really have to send MANY MANY *hearts* out to all of you...you're AWESOME, and I totally appreciate you stopping by and leaving such honest and heartfelt comments...
HAVE a wonderful VALENTINE's DAY...
I will be thinking of my sweet husband who makes everyday special...our girls who bring smiles and tears to my face daily...and thinking of my father who is going in for a biopsy today(follow up of last year)...

SWEET HUGS
Char.x

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.

to be continued...

do you remember this post about my Mum?

well, it's a little delayed...but I'm working on "My Dad" as a belated Father's Day tribute...

I'll be back tomorrow with a colourful rendition of the above...

Bon nuit...sleep well...OR...good morning and have a great day...

Off to catch some dreams...

Char.x

My Dad's OP went well....PHEW...

What a relief...my Dad called me yesterday evening...you can't think to imagine HOW great that call was.
THANK YOU all for all your prayers and well wishes, I'm sure every single one of them helped. He is home now and resting to gain strength and heal.I lost my voice this past couple of days...and truly believe it's all due to the worry.

BUT....on a happy note...we have a winner for one of you 14 which entered my TEA GIVEAWAY.
I did use RANDOM.ORG and my good blogger friend...who never fails to visit here each week...and sometimes everyday...won. She was lucky number 10.
(Thank you to all of you who entered...and the new faces I saw...I will visit you all in the next couple of days)

This is who won and what she said:
Char said...

have fun!!! and if I win - i want to be surprised! :)
March 16, 2010 11:15 PM

So...now I have to surprise her...
It's my first time visiting DAVID's TEA Store...up until now my Mr.R made choices and smelt the perfumes and scents of all these Teas...

What are you up to today?
Char,ON
(that's my Dad,my sister on the left and me on the right....ancient pic-but I love it, it was taken in my Grandparents house in Hellerup-Denmark)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY little Bro!

HAPPY Birthday Seb!!!

I love you...miss you...and am Happy and THANKFUL you'll be with Dad today.

.x.

CHAR, On

P.S. I hope you (fabulous readers) have entered the TEA GIVEAWAY in the post below....you only have until Thursday.

A CUP of TEA for YOU and ME :: GIVEAWAY!!!!!

GO HERE :: PICK a TEA :: LEAVE a COMMENT with your FAVE TEA :: MAKE SURE you're a FABULOUS reader of our Blog!!!

WIll it be Green? Ooolong or Pur'erh,White, herbal, black or Rooibos ??? You choose...

I am heading in to Toronto on Thursday....so you have until Wednesday at 12pm.
Check back Thursday to see if you've WON!!!!

I will ship ANYWHERE in the WORLD.
Enjoy browsing my FAVE TEA store!

OH...and even if you're NOT a TEA drinker...I promise you...these will change your mind. There is a Coffee Pur'erh which SMELLS like coffee...and has the beans in it!!!

Until tomorrow.
Char,ON
P.S A  BIG thanks to all your warm hearts out there...I appreciate your sweet and dear comments.
P.S.S No Tell ALL Tuesdays today...this week is a little wonky...sorry.
JUST spoke to Dad to wish him a safe OP tomorrow...it's REALLY hard being this far away :-(

Prayers and wishes...

A Mother's day Wish for my Mama in the UK...

a painting in progress for my Brother who has a Birthday on St. Patrick's Day...on wednesday(don't worry...I won't be showing you the finished painting...that would be giving it away:-)

Liss Miss A and Little Miss J joining me in my painting adventure today.

I love to see them enjoying painting and drawing so much.

my little Bro turns 33 on Wednesday...he's a farmer...and has those great green boots too!

A regular day for him would be feeding the deer and then working the rest of the day in the Farm Shop.

I really loved working on this painting...hope he loves it.

Ok...so on my brother's Birthday, Dad goes in for his Operation at 7.30 AM...so hard being this far away.

So I'll be praying that everything goes smoothly.

Tomorrow evening I am hosting a GIVEAWAY...so make sure you check back.

Thanks for all your encouragement and positive thoughts regarding my last post...I know it's not a lovely thought, and have come to conclusion that everyday is more important to love and cherish those around you than to worry about the future.

Mum...you're the BEST!
Bro...I miss you and your Family...and wish you a wonderful Birthday.
Dad...I'm praying for a GREAT St.Patrick's Day for you.

Until TOMORROW.
Char,ON

in the MIX...

my Mum's Swedish and my Dad's Danish...

I made a new Flag for them...

Danes and Swedes have a LOVE-HATE relationship...a little like the Brits and the French...

My parents are travellers...always have been...this year has been a hard year for them, as health reasons have haulted either of them being able to just pack up and leave.

My Dad goes today to his specialist to see WHEN and IF his operation will be soon...it's been too long of a wait. I really do feel for him.

Mum, well she needs a new hip...and she's seeing a specialist tomorrow.

They built this house 10 years ago...it's warm and welcoming...I know they love being there...but they need a rest, it's been a long Winter.

So...sending them this Bird of Hope and Travel...praying that their health gets better and that they can use those wings to fly again.

I fell asleep on the Sofa shortly after finishing this last night...so I will continue this evening to visit you all.

Have a great day...we're getting a snow storm today! YAY!!!!

Char,ON.

being honest...

...may make or break friendships...but you're left with the ones who care the most about you...
...makes me feel whole as a person...
...about what I want in my Life helps with daily struggles...
...to our children will teach them in being honest with others and to themselves...
...to MYself is also a daily chore...realizing I can't do everything...

Are you an honest person...to yourself and others?

Off to say hi to as many of you as I can...
HUGS
Char,ON

I would like...

-to wish YOU a FABULOUS 2010... (I'm BACK)

-that Peace on EARTH BE NOW...

-to rest assured that both my parents will have a year of good health and travel...they deserve it...

-to get out of our sticky situation at home here...(more of this another time-some of you know what I'm talking about if you have followed our blog since last May)

-to conquer my goals of success within my ART sales...(Angels are you watching?)

-to thank my husband for all his support...(but now I really have to pull my weight)

-to THANK YOU ALL for commenting,suggesting,supporting...critiquing,uplifting,inspiring and sharing with us...every day!(this means SO much to us)

-AND finally...I would Like...one of these:

have you seen them?

They're the Moleskine Colour a month daily/dairy planner.
A Moleskine for every month and they're all SO pretty...I think I may have to treat myself...Mr.R gave me some money to treat myself...most of it has gone on groceries for this week...LOTS of veg and fruit(on a cleanse after coming back from UK)...so I think I may have enough for one. I think they retail at $40.

CHECK this video out on the Moleskine site...(I adore their website...but then I have a sketchbook problem-like others have shoe problems-but that's another post too)

I have a mountain of plans for this NEW year...and thought a monthly planner would be AWESOME...especially this one...

What would you like?

.X.
Char,On.
(we had SUCH a wonderful time in UK...but there's only so much holidays one can take!)

Smoking traditions...

every year around Christmas our family has a "eel smoking" afternoon with friends.
Aren't they AMAZING looking...I love this image.
Dad drives up to the Fish Market in London a week prior to smoking and picks up eels.
He salts them and leaves them in the saline solution for about 24 hours...or a little more.
He then rinses them off and hangs them on hooks inside his smoke oven(as seen in the above image).

We invite the regular smokers down to the house and get the Schnapps out(again) and nuts to munch on.
The whole afternoon of drinking and smoking starts at 2pm and ends close to 7pm...
You know when the eels are ready when the skin folds back away from the flesh and the meat of the eel is cooked.

The girls hang out and play soccer on the lawn...eat nuts and get cold very quickly, so they soon disappear and play inside.

It's a wonderful tradition...the eel tastes SO good...we make a big saucepan of rice...a salad and serve the eel on the rice with a dash of sweet terriyaki sauce. YUM...so good...if you're a fan of Japanese cuisine...they eat eel a lot...and usually have it on their menu....try it next time you come across it...it's GOOD!

So...another year is coming to a close.
I know I said I wouldn't be back until the new year...but I really do enjoy spending these few minutes reaching out and then reading what you're all up to...gaining inspiration and seeing so much eye candy!

IF...I am not back before the New Year...HAVE a wonderful Celebration and I hope you'll come on our Journey with us in 2010...thanks for ALL your tremendous support this past year.

HUGS.
Char,ON

Weekend wonderland...

Snow sitting waiting for the Sun to melt it...although little does it know that the Sun is not rising over the hedge until probably the New Year...this was one of the coldest and brightest days since arriving in the UK...I think that the snow had a HUGE part to play with it being the brightest.

crisp white snow...untouched, untrodden...the Sun is low...the shadows long...

Happy 65th Dad!

I think our little girls and niece enjoyed the fact that it was a birthday more than anyone...these are images I treasure in my heart and mind.

We had finished a wonderful Lobster with salad dinner...and Champagne for drinks...no-one switched to red or white wine...

Ended the dinner with Birthday Cake...actually the same one that I made earlier in the week...cooked it for 10 minutes less...and it was divine with honeycomb vanilla ice-cream.

I opened my moleskin today(yes it's green) and sketched Little Miss A...must get my eyes or my camera checked out because I am noticing a slant to the right with many of the drawings I photograph...or perhaps I just need to wear my glasses?...lol...

my parents live in a Log House...and the heating is all under-floor heating...I can not tell you how cozy BUT how dry it is...this is my hand...dry and looking rather warn.

I was wondering (as you do)...because I have only noticed this on a few people and they are usually either artists or do something creative in their lives...

Look at your hand...is your index finger substantially longer than your ring finger? And does this mean anything?

Have a wonderful weekend.

HUGS

Char,On.

P.S. Tam, thanks again for coming down last week...did you get home ok?

Freezing Friday shocker!

This is what we woke up to this morning...and this is one of those surprise photos which you look back and say "how did this happen".

The girls are walking through a gated area...but I think it looks like a scene through to a magical land...like Narnia.

The frame of the gate cuts the trees in the distance so you don't see the tops, I love this picture.

Today was my Dad's Birthday...I will post more pictures tomorrow(this computer is just SO slow and it's nearly 1am)...we just finished celebrating. It's wonderful to be here with my family...and especially to be close to my Dad who is not 100% yet.

He looks better...and has a bit more energy...but still gets tired quickly.

He has his pre-op on Jan 7th and we're still waiting for his biopsy results...why does it take so long to get he results?

Thank you all for sticking by me...your comments keep my strength up...

On Monday my husband arrives and I know he has missed us...but I have missed him dearly too...he inspires and keeps me thinking about business...he's my rock he's my ear to be able to tell him everything.I can't wait to see him...I can't remember the last time I was away from him for SO long.

Please pass by tomorrow and see the photos...I have some amazing snow pics...it was the perfect day.

HUGS.

Char,On

WISHES...

Oh my...this frustrates me....I had written a long post and was so thankful just for the pure fact I could even post about today....and then the connection gets lost...and I loose my whole post! Other than the pictures thank goodness!!!!
This will be short...as it was long...and now I am sleepy....forgive me.
Above is the view from my parents kitchen window...my dad raised the Swedish Flag today.
My mother came from a town just North of Malmo...she grew up loving and working in the fashion industry and learnt how to weave...and this is how she came to leave Sweden....following her elder sister to Ireland, who is a very talented Textile designer.
My sister's son Morton, sitting on Mum's lap...aren't they a beautiful image. I love this picture.
My Mum is amazing...so creative and talented.Happy Birthday again Mum!
She's 67...needs a new hip....and will hopefully admit to needing one sooner than later!
Doesn't she look good though for 67!!! Well done Mum.
Dinner:: Stuffed Chicken wrapped in prosciutto with porcini and portabello mushroom risotto, green beans and a spinach salad on the side.
YUM.Can I say YUM even if I made it myself?
Boo was supposed to help but ended up going home early...she has a sick bug...poor her.
WOW...we sound like our family is not very well...

Dad's in today for his Biopsy...fingers crossed.
Thank you again for your prayers and kind comments.

HUGS...until tomorrow.
R, I miss you tonnes.

Char,ON

Hello England!

We arrived yesterday to a sunny forecast...which is always welcoming. Dad came to meet us at the airport...he looked well...a little tired, but said he felt better.

On Tuesday he'll go in for a scope and a biopsy to double/triple check everything and then get a date for his op.

I'm sure he's a little scared...it's wonderful to get to hug him and tell him how much we love him...the girls gave him big hugs too...it's been a year since we saw all my family...way too long.

I met Morton(my sister's little baby) for the first time...he's SO adorable. I'll get some pics of him up soon.

AND my brother's little Tristan and Olivia...they're so sweet. The girls just loved having another playmate to have fun with all afternoon.

I'm trying to upload a photo, I've been working on my *Fayre* box of goodies which I'll be displaying at a local Christmas Fair later today.The Internet connection here is so SLOW(how I appreciate back home)...as we're in the sticks...but OH...it's just finished uploading...yay!(that's my box of goodies above!)

I'll will be at The Ightham School PTA **Christmas Fayre** today, November 6th from 1-4pm...if you're in the neighbourhood, come by and say hello!!!**

My sister will be there too, which will be wonderful, so we can catch up on a whole year!!!!

We saw the Sun again today...raining out as I write but it's supposed to clear in the morning.

Although I saw the Sun, it barely rose above the tallest trees here...quite a different feel to the day.I will take lots of photos because there is definitely a moodiness about the days here in the UK...

The girls are loving seeing their cousins and all the horses, little miss J is impatient and WANTS to ride Hammi the Horse...Ash is quite content playing with our old Lego which Mormor(Grandma in Danish) so kindly dug out for them! See it pays to be a pack rat!

It's SO wonderful to be around my Mum, she's such a wonderful easy going person...who's Birthday is TOMORROW!

Boo and I are cooking her dinner.

Mushroom Risotto with Stuffed Chicken wrapped in Prosciutto with green beans and a delicious Salad...which I have to find a recipe for...

So...I am going to try and get into a routine...this will be my posting time from now on...unless the little ones are at a play date without me(hahaha...not likely!).

I will try and pass by your blogs too...as I have been SO awful and have been neglecting you all(not willingly)but have been thinking about you all and hoping that your start to December has been a good one...and hoping that you all enjoyed your Thanks Giving...if that was part of your Calendar.

I know time will fly by whilst we are here...so I will treasure each day.

Thank for visiting...

I'll be back soon.

HUGS

Char,ON

P.S. ANY ideas for a delicious salad???

I'm back and we have a winner...

small country fair...

linen for my lavender pillows... my table...

giggles...they're the best!

toes...toes and more toes...

sibling portraits...

I can hear all the cheer in the background...."Yay for Jen"...
Congratulations Jen...you can visit her here...if you would like to personally congratulate her. She has the most adorable family!
She commissioned(or rather her winning request) is for one of those Wild Things with her little nephew on it's back.

I am SO sorry I can't paint one for each and every one of you who entered the giveaway....but there will be more giveaways in the New Year!

Update (as I have been M.I.A for over a week now...or is it 2weeks?)
Dad is ok....didn't end up having a biopsy-but will probably very soon.(his kidneys needed to be at a better functioning state and his prostate has to reduce in side through meds.
He's out of hospital...and at home recovering from probably a few years of his body not functioning properly. Once stable he'll go in again for a biopsy and then probably a prostate reduction op.
THANK YOU so much for all your support...it really meant the World to me.
I have been walking around in a daze...not being able to function 100% and forgetting to do things.(sounds like I need to see a doctor!!!)
BUT...I had the show on Saturday and it went well, it was small...and I think maybe 150 people came through...
I'vebe posted a couple of photos in this post so you can visually catch up.

HOW are YOU?

I know....there have been sometimes days when I haven't even turned my computer on...so my apologies for not passing by YOUR World...and saying hi.
In a few days I will be in the Old Country and may get a little more time to blog!YAY.
I've missed you all...although I needed this time...downtime from thinking about anything other than my dad.
I DID:
-finish 23 Lavender tooth fairy pillows.
-paint those 2 pictures (3ftx3ft)
I've packed(almost).
Gotten ready for a Show in UK.
Had to deal with Canadian Immigration...(2 of the days)
Christmas shopped...probably FAR too much again. The bags are FULL and I haven't finished packing all the clothes.(we have a policy in our house that we ONLY buy gifts for the little ones-I can't imagine how many bags of luggage I would need if I was buying for all the adults in our family too!)

Ok...I'll be back tomorrow.
I have added the pictures to the top of this post.

Night Night .... sweet dreams....thanks for passing by.
Char,On.