My Inspiration

We are in the 2nd week of my honey's cancer treatment...

6 are scheduled, hopefully that's all he'll ever need again besides regular scopes.

The first week was horrendous but this 2nd week went way better.  Hopefully they get easier!

I'll tell you about it more soon but I have to first talk about how much I admire his attitude.

This was before his first surgery...

He was tired because the night before we had a very sudden & completely unexpected rescue!

He was scared shitless, no need to say that of course!

and he woke up with a really bad migraine BUT he here was smiling, holding my hand,

making conversation, being patient even though the surgery was like 3 hours late...just being him.

I am looking to him to set the tone & mood of all this & he's been nothing but an inspiration to me.

My Gorgeous Guy

Today, My Gorgeous Guy turns 39!
Happy Birthday Babe.  Love Love Love you.
I am sending this song out to you today my love XXXOOO

 



 (However!  Birthday celebrations are being put off for a few days this year for

my poor babe is not feeling so hot
as he had dental surgery yesterday to get his naughty wisdom teeth out...poor guy).

21 Years

I unequivocally believe in soul mates....absolutely...
and we recently had a ball celebrating our 21st....
21 years so far in this life atleast.

 
 

 

I am so honored and lucky that I get to make & share my life with this awesome gorgeous guy...
He is beyond words and just beyond amazing.

 

(XXXOOOXXXOOOXXX to infinite times 2 babe XXXOOOXXXOOOXXX)

Back To The Office

Well my honey's telework application was not renewed so it's back to the office full-time he goes...

There's no sense in being upset about it...

We had him here with us working from home 3 days out of a 5 day work week for the past 13 months and it was so awesome but we knew it wasn't going to be a permanent schedule.

Still, all that being said, I've been partly dreading September for this reason.

 

 

I've been keeping my fingers crossed...waiting with baited breathe.

I've loved having my love home with me so much, I've treasured it & the rabbits loved it too.

I'll have to dote on Frenwyck for abit for he's going to miss having his daddy home the most...

he was always quiet and despondent when Jon went into the 'real' office Thursday & Fridays.

 

 

But it's all about attitude & perspective right...

Having him home for the last 13 months has, like I said been heaven & we appreciate the experience.

And he does goes back to the office full of lovely people & great co-workers

and to a pretty spectacular view of the skies and lake.

So a new shift of schedule is upon us and we're gonna embrace it the best we can.

The Sweet Things are the BIG Things

It's so often the small sweet things in life

that end up feeling like the really big important stuff.

 

 

Like coming in from the kitchen to find your honey fast asleep with your bunny.

(They were both fast asleep like this for 30 minutes, ha ha)

 

 Happy Heart Sigh.

Happy Day For My Honey

Things have been slightly chaotic around here...more on that later.

But today I had to hop in for a post because...

Today my amazing honey turns 37.

This guy of mine deserves the biggest of big birthday bashes...

but every year he prefers to pass his special day quietly with just his family.

So a couple of awesome birthday gifts are awaiting to be unwrapped...

A homemade lasagna will be lovingly made and a red velvet cheese cake will be enjoyed.

The bunnies are ready to sing happy birthday to the best bunny daddy ever.

It'll be a good day.



But today will be hard for us too.

For today our Ella Luna would have been 9...

We always celebrated her birthday on Jonathan's birthday.

So, I can't let today go by without sending a Happy birthday to our angel in the beyond...

we miss you every day baby girl.

And Happy Happy birthday to my honey.

Love ya babe.

19 Years

My soul is captivated by him...

My body addicted to him...

My heart nourished by him...

We met in a strawberry field...our souls entwined instantly...

but life would have us go our separate ways just abit longer, just a couple more months, until...

19 years ago on this day we went on our first date...

a hike in the forest.

We've been happily tied at the hip & heart since.

To celebrate, we treated ourselves to another trip to the big city, just us 2...

For good food, shopping, playing, an awesome hotel suite & an amazing Cirque Du Soleil show...

I can't express how insanely lucky I feel to go through this life with this man.

My Love.

My Heart.

My Soul.

Love you baby.

Birthdays...

Today I am hopping in because it's a special special day for today two of my dearest and most favourite peeps are celebrating the day they came into this world....

...HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my Jonathan, who gets more amazing which each new year...

 ...and to our Ella-Luna, our little black beauty is turning a most brilliant 7...

....if you put your ear to my heart you would hear it thumping...'Jon, Ella, Jon, Ella, Jon...."

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MY LOVES.

XO

Your M.

Warm Whispers...

The sunset set everything on fire last night, the warmth of the colour spread out like warm whispers...whispers telling me to take a moment to pull in the beauty, to be still in the beauty of life...I was pulled to the beach with my camera in tow...with my favourite person beside me, we sat in the frigid November evening air to breathe in & slow down... 

I was all tired and scared from a doctors visit that morning...I am glad I listened to those warm whispers because being near water, near the sounds of waves, near my Jonathan next to that brilliantly setting sun stilled my jumbled nervous soul...ahhhh....Life is never perfect, but with some cultivating and habit, it's very easy to always find the beauty...I am learning to be in this life fully and I am so very very grateful for that.

Psst...This beach is about a 5 minute walk from our house...lucky, yes I know, ha ha...

Love and Support and Everything...Everything....

I am feeling very full and buoyed and I have to share...bear with me for some heartfelt gushing coming out of nowhere perhaps to you all but definitely from somewhere for me...

I know I am a handful...this creative biz and artistic journey that I am in is one that I've been heavily involved with for well almost my whole life, but definitely the past 20 years...it's incredible and I am beyond lucky to be on this path, I know this everyday but that being said, it's not easy by any stretch of the imagination...The ups and downs I experience as a very sensitive and very creative person take their toll, in bad ways such as much stress & migraines but also in beautiful delicious good ways...

Today I have to express how so so grateful I am because I have a partner who lifts me up when I spin and spin my rusty wheels into what I fear is a hole I'll never find my way out of! He picks me up, dusts me off...polishes my wheels till there shiny and inflated and than puts me down again to watch me and love me as I go either in the same direction, often back into that same hole, ha ha or in a totally new direction...

I am working so hard on growing my creative biz, I think I am burning myself out on some levels a bit but at the same time, that is my routine, it's how I work best quite often and I think I know I can work this way safely and come out on the other side even better because I have the unflinching support that I do.

I am feeling so overwhelmed, so fully fully supported in my creative struggles and successes...so utterly full of love and strength because of one person, and that amazes me...

It's almost unfair that one person could be everything...that one person can believe in us even more than we do in ourselves some days...there is no doubt in my mind that most of us creative types are incredibly strong, we have to be, to keep putting our hearts and souls into work that quite often is not wanted or used or sought after, etc, and we usually don't give ourselves enough credit...but today I send out thanks to one person...I am giving credit where credit is so incredibly due....

I feel like I am in constant warmth and care, that my obsessive tender little heart has the best home that it could ever possibly have outside of my body...I feel that my hand is always held and my worries & dreams always supported...

I am feeling so lucky...unbelievably lucky that all the craziness and creative uniqueness that is me, that all my insecurities and ego, that all my blissfullness and all my tears, and that all my demands and needs make me quite the hand full to deal with and shoulder...but you know, all of this, all of it is just turned back around to me to be seen as part of the magic that is me.  That the 'crazy' is loved just as much as the 'sane' lends to such a security...one that nutures even more creativity & dreams...

...'Wow'...I must shout out a big big 'WOW' and many many heartfelt happy heart sighs and the biggest ever and constant 'Thank Yous' to one unique artists dream, who knows who he is....XXXOOO

This Emmy Rossum song often hits close to home for me & never fails to strum on my heart & always reminds me of the unflinching support I have.

Some Thoughts On Life and Favourite New Photos...

My heart feels so full these days, so warm and content... ...sure, not everything is perfect, but whose life is... ....sure, there are things I crave for like being able to travel. It feels like ages since we've gone anywhere exciting. I'd even be content with little trips to the city (which is 4 hours away) where I can take in some jazz, indulge in vegetarian restaurants, visit my friends, spend happy hours in Chapters and Starbucks and real art supply stores! BUT I know I wouldn't trade the buns for a trip around the world... ...and sure, I crave a 'normal' existence without all the pain I have, I don't know really what it's like to walk around without pain in my head, not for long stretches anyways BUT I also know it could be much worse... ....and sure, I wish I had more success with my work, it's not at all going the way I planned, BUT at the end of the day it doesn't matter what level of success I find myself at because what does matter is that I create and keep making things despite that..and that is success of it's very own merit. And, okay sure, I do feel a bit of a disconnect with people lately. It does have to do with my own sensitive heart and expectations of what friends/family/ acquaintances should do to keep even the most basic of connections flowing. BUT, I do have a small group of wonderful people around me, friends and family who are just so lovely...so I can look past all those who do disappoint to all those who lend kindness and light. And I love that some of the people I now consider lovely friends are kindred spirits scattered around the world and people I've never even met in person, but through my blog, my art and my love for animals...I am also so thankful for those people who reach out through the miles and make me feel as though we've been friends for ages. I say all of this because I am feeling reflective but also because today as I work from my studio in our cozy home filled with beautiful furry souls and my wonderful and unbelievable guy about to get home from work well I just feel like I could do this life of mine exactly how it is forever and ever and I really just need to express my joy...(and this is all with a pounding head!)... ....I confess all of this today because well who knows, tomorrow might suck... Anyhoo, ha ha most of you guys know that I love taking pictures and these new ones of my Jonathan and our Apple-Jaks are some of my new favs:D... I joke and call them 'My Two Furry Boys', ha ha...

...whiles most of the other buns are slightly more partial to me (only cause I am the one home with them constantly however) Jaks is very partial to Jonathan....

Oh I just love these shots. They capture the soft sweetness of Jaks so perfectly and the beautiful gentleness in that sweet guy of mine:D...

I feel so lucky to have a partner whose as in love with our bunnies as I am, whose just as nurturing and sweet to them and who loves them completely. As a young girl, I always knew the guy I'd end up with had to love animals and also be very very kind....well I've found that...and guess what, he doesn't eat meat either, bonus:D ha ha. I am told all the time how lucky I am with Jon and today since I am confessing, I send out a big loud "Don't I know it...":D Anyhoo, thanks for visiting, thanks for listening and I truly hope your all able to navigate your days with cozy and comfortable hearts too.

Happy Birthdays...And "The Party Pooper"

Today I send out a big giant Happy Birthday to my Jonathan...HAPPY BIRTHDAY BABY...and to our baby of babies, our beautiful Ella Luna...who turns 6. We don't know Ella Luna's exact birth date but it's defiantly sometime in December and Jonathan said he wanted to share his day with his favourite bunny girl. I usually do a new birthday image every year and this year Jonathan's aversion to celebrating his birthday inspired me, ha ha....usually for me, the more hoopla and people to help celebrate the better, for Jonathan the least amount of celebration the better...so, ha ha, in coloured pencil on illustration board I conjured up this grouchy little birdie whom I affectionately call "The Party Pooper". This one won't be available as a print but will be available very soon in greeting card format at my members space at the wonderful Art On Main and later on through my new website and possibly etsy shop.

Our Ella Luna...6 years ago in the month of January you were a few weeks old and we saw your big beautiful feet sticking out of a log house at a pet store that didn't deserve your precious spirited little heart...we weren't looking for a new family member...we just lost our first bunny baby and we're still heart broken...but I couldn't take my eyes off those feet of yours and I found myself saying without even thinking "Can We See That Little One Under That Log House" and the sales person pulled you out and put you in my arms and into my heart and you haven't left them since:D We brought you home and you were the light in our darkness...our Moon...our Luna....Our Bella Luna....one of the best decisions we've ever made and one of the best little souls we've ever had the pleasure of knowing.

Happy Birthday to my love. Happy Happy Good day to you my sweet...If anyone deserves birthday wishes coming true, it would indeed most certainly be you:D XOXOXOXOX

Happy Birthday our little bundle of craziness and sweetness, laughs and joys...We love you you perfect little furry person, we love you.

My Brand New Website Is Ready and Up....

I am beyond excited and proud to announce the arrival and completion of The New Home to "Bijou's Whimsy" my brand new website ...it's up and ready for your visits and viewing.

It's been a year in the making. It's been a big job for me. It's been an insanely huge job for my partner and web-maker supreme, Jonathan...who besides extreme talent also showed immense patience, as I know I was a very difficult and demanding client, ha ha!

And I can't think of a better day to finally launch it, than today, on my 32nd birthday:D...wow! I've yet to see another artist's website with the search capabilities that Jonathan has built in for me on this beautiful site of mine...wow, it's all mine:D...WOW!...

Well back to my birthday festivities:D It has indeed been a wonderful and amazing day...and again, please do leave your comments and feedback about the site and also please do pass the link around if you think it's as fabulous as we do:D, ha ha. WAHOOOOOOO!!!!!:D

Happy 16th To My Love and Light...

I can't let today go by without one speacil shout out, for it is 16 years ago on this day that Jonathan and I went on our first date and 16 years from this date that we've officially and happily and blissfully been tied at the hip:D Happy Anniversary to my Jonathan, my bunny daddy, my love and my light...Happy Anniversary my love, XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX Your Bijou & Bella.

An Afternoon On The Cranberry Trail

So I am going to do things abit out of order here and share with you today some of our afternoon out on the Cranberry Trail last Sunday(a newly discovered location which is currently one of my favourite places). Ready with our bikes, backpacks, camera, my amazing guy, a very sore throat, some dizziness and a slight headache! we ventured out for a lovely afternoon...

This pond was so beautiful and cozy to me...it brought back childhood memories of growing up wild and carefree in the forest and spending hours upon hours by a pond much like this one watching a family of beavers do their beautiful natural thing...

...Jon likes to get up close and personal when the lens is in his hands, ha ha...and usually it irritates me but I quite like these two shots he took of me...

...though I could have laid down in the cat-tails and happily dozed and watched whatever might transpire...we had to move onwards so back on our bikes we went...

...but first a shot of my honey...

...this little thicket caught my eye and my heart leap and I must admit to believing the slight possibility of faire folk hanging out in this cool delicious little spot, ha ha...

...the first look out was a calming and serene view which doesn't quite come across in the photos. There was a 2 tiered deck where one can the natural beauty and I am quite sure spot a black bear, moose, or raccoons make their way across the vast fields...or perhaps a giant porcupine which Jonathan and I happily met slowly lumbering across our path when out at the trail the weekend before...

...at this location was painter/artist Nancy Dewar Stenning...I really liked her colours and textured paintings...

...and Jonathan waited patiently as I photographed this and that, sat in awe of our beautiful land and chatted with the artist...

...before long we were back on our bikes zooming along to this gourgues point...

....and to these lovely creatures...Jonathan will atest to the fact that I am obsessed with ducks! and I could sit for hours just watching them...they are so very very peaceful and somehow knowing....

...at this beautiful spot were two more local artists at work...here you see Edna Scott working on a watercolour of the vista...

...and Robert Smith, a talented wildlife artist...

...working with charcoal to create this lovely little squirrel...(both artists being my fellow Art On Main Members).

It was indeed a beautiful day, very relaxing for the soul and defiantly uplifting for the creative spirit....

Thanks for sharing some of our day with me...come back and visit again soon as I have shots to share of the Art By The Bay Sale, my Nubbins and of course some new work from our little rabbit warren in the North:D...

In non-artistic ventures...yesterday my mom and I went to see 'The Proposal' and I loved it, it's the best romantic comedy I've seen in quite some time. We saw 'Ice Age 2' the week before and to me, it is by far the best installment yet. I've been craving to buy the 'Twilight' series, but don't know if that will ruin the movies for me, hmmm...and Tonight is SYTYCDance...and if it's in anyway as good as it was last week, we're all in for a treat tonight...hoorah:D...now I am off to enjoy the rest of this sunny day and to make a puff pastry-asparagus-goats cheese-tart! wish me luck! and Be Well all, Be Well....

Art By The Bay Gallery Exhibition

Hi everyone...I've missed my blog and posting over the last week...but now things are calmer, our little 'stay-cation' somewhat beings...and I have time and lots to catch yous up on...firstly being the juried gallery exhibition called "Art By The Bay" which I am currently in at the Dufresne Gallery, a little gem of a gallery somewhat hidden in the sweet town of Callander. Here are the two pieces I put into the show..."Weather Patterns", an older coloured pencil... ...and "State of Mind", a newer coloured pencil...both in beautiful frames that my honey made for me, thanks Jonathan, your a life saver.

The exhibition opening was two Saturdays ago and the turn out was good and the exhibition wonderful in my opinion. Every piece in the show was strong and it is an excellent representation of some of the local talent. I thought I'd share a few shots...

...and here's me with my mom outside of the gallery... ...and my honey with my mom...two people I can always count on for support.

Well that's all for today...more in a day or two. Thanks for popping in and again I am sorry for being away so long...but I am back and though still pooped, the creative spirit flows strongly and surely...Be Well all and Happy Creating...