I promised...

... that I wouldn't reveal the source of my inspiration for this one. But there's a few people that know. Ah, the travels that this one has gone on, the stories it could tell.

Impromptu Shoot

Went round to Katacake's Kreations last night to photograph a couple of her cakes, ended up, to my pleasure, finally being able to take some pictures of her darling daughter Emma with their new puppy Max! I'm determined to break this ice with this little girl! Looks like I've made a start...

You raise me up!

Literally!

Oops. Life got in the way.

Life has gotten busy all of a sudden, and it's great! It started here:

She's here, she looks great, and I just can't get enough of her.

I'm not sure when she grew up, but she's turning into a beautiful young woman.

And she sure loves her little brother...



See you tomorrow!

Here we are, on the eve of Maggie's arrival. We've just had our 'See You Tomorrow' conversation. I love that. Seven weeks from today and I'll be sobbing my eyes out as it will be all over. But I'm not going to think about that until it happens. I've got her back for the summer and we're going to rock it!

I miss her so much...

One for every week she's here!

Mr. Weatherbee, he's no prince, he's no pal.

Been a beautiful day today despite having a soggy back garden. It was nice enough for the bees though, and the sunshine has brought out the nectar sucking buzzers in full force. After about 40 shots, this was the one that I liked best. Go figure, it was also the last one and only one that I kept.

Supposed to get a month's worth of rain over the next two days. I predict this will be the last one of these shots I get for awhile.

Great weather for snails.

It's Thursday morning. I'm about to leave for work. I've come downstairs and glanced out the kitchen window. Lo and behold, what do I see? A snail sliming across my deck. Typical. I bet he's not complaining about the weather. Glad to see someone's enjoying the summer.

I hate you.

It's the Fourth of July

Today is a good day. It being the Fourth of July is really only secondary to what today is all about. Today is the day where we're no longer in weeks, and the countdown can only be done in days, hours, minutes and seconds. Just thinking about my trip next week to Manchester Airport, waiting at the gate for her to arrive, sends butterflies in my stomach. There really is no other feeling. I don't know how I did what I did 10 years ago. But that's in the past, and I can't change that. But I can appreciate what I have now. And it's great. I hope I haven't let her down, I've tried to be there in other ways, less unconventional I suppose you could say. Sometimes I'm surprised at how we've made it through and how strong we are. Everyday I'm surprised at how she never gave up on me. Maggie's 15 years old now, going on 25, has been for the last few years. I've tried to protect her from what I did, tried to make it sound not as bad as it was. But it was bad. I've had to accept that I made some bad choices, and I've had to live with those and make the most of them. Regrets? We all have them. Would I go back and change things? I might do things differently, but I don't know how much I could have actually changed things. It was a bad place for me, 10 years ago. Today is a much brighter one. I have two wonderful kids and two great stepsons. I have a husband who, I'm sure, in his own quirky way, loves me, as much as I love him. I have a cute dog. I have a fantastic job doing what I've always wanted to do. I have a hobby. And I have my life. So, if I could go back and change things, would I still have all this now? Probably not. But I'll still always be full of regret over the pain I put her through. But she's a tough nut. She pulled herself up by the bootstraps and carried on. Her and I, we're the same breed. We're always ok. As long as we've got each other.

See you on Tuesday, Magpie.

Let them eat strawberries

It's official. Summer 2012 is going to officially suck weather wise. If even there is the remote chance of there being any truth to what I read this morning, we're basically in for rain everyday for the next 60 days. Noah never had it so good. My blueberries, pretty much non existent. My grass is rotting. My flowers, covered in morning glory, which by the way seems to thrive in wet, damp, soggy, non-existent sun weather. But we still have the strawberry. Edible summer. Long live the strawberry.

Happy Canada Day .... whoop whoop

Every year down in London they have a Canada Day celebration for us Canadians. It usually involves back home food and beverages and some great music. So take my favorite place Covent Gardens and add in a good helping of fellow Canadians playing hockey and celebrating our country, and you've got yourself one great big kitchen party. Again, as much as I wanted to be there, I was not. One of these years... perhaps I should make myself a promise and say that next year will be the year. Beats the hell out of what I did this year, same as last year... nothing. But that's own fault. I accept that.

It's not been a great weekend, but nevertheless, in the true spirit of my nationality, Happy Canada Day. I miss you, Hot Vanilla Capachino and a plain blueberry bagel.

Oh... and I found a hair in my buns... Thank you Morrisons bakers. Just what I needed. Happy Canada Day encore.