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So happy am I that you have decided to continue on into my haven. I adore having you here! Here is the download again, for the Shelley Volante true type font. Enjoy!
src= _fcksavedurl="" SRC = "blueflow.gif">..src= SRC = "arbor3.jpg">..src= SRC = "blueflow.gif">I thoroughly enjoy gardening and would much rather be in my peaceful garden on a hot summer's day than at the beach. There is something to be said about being surrounded by nature~~nature that one has created with one's own hands. That brings me unspeakable pleasure. My garden is a thing of beauty which provides me with pleasure and serenity each time my eyes fall upon it. It is ever-changing, not only because of its nature to change, but also because I feel the need to move plants from one spot to another from time to time. That usually happens when there is nothing to do in the garden, therefore I create something to do, so great is my love for gardening!
 The above picture, which appears to be a watercolour painting, is actually a computer enhanced photograph of my house. My dear friend, Joey, presented this picture to me one night when we were talking online. It was a complete surprise..and just that fact alone will ever keep him in my heart.
It is in this wonderful house that I live with my dear husband, Rod, and two of our three children, Kaitlin and Brandon. Our eldest girl, Lauren, moved out on her own in January 1999. Together we have all helped to make our house a home.
I love our house. It reminds me of an english country cottage. Though the view in the picture depicts just one level, it is actually a two story dwelling. My decorating tastes include victorian and english country. I love the two styles so entirely that one will just not do in my house! Victorian and english country flavours abound throughout my house and I love each and every room. Interior decorating is one of my loves and, truly, if I am not renovating or painting at any given moment, to be sure, I am planning something in my mind.
 I create and sell Victorian pressed flower pictures, using flowers from my own garden. I select only the most suitable ones for pressing. Indeed, I have thousands of delicate blossoms arranged by size, type, and colour at any given time to choose from. I arrange each picture in the form of bouquets, wreathes, hearts, or swags. I include poetry on most, which I pen in calligraphy against a parchment background of the softest cream, pink, or celadon. When I am satisfied with the overall look, I frame them in beautiful gilt frames. I operate a small business from my home which I have called 'Cabbage Rose'~~cabbage roses are my favourite roses. I sell my pictures mainly through word-of-mouth. As well, I have sold several of my works in two local victoriana gift shops. Creating my pictures, and tending my garden are both very therapeutic for me, and I could not imagine a life without either.
 I simply love romantic poetry written by nineteenth century poets~~and classical music...well,...classical music virtually transports me to that gentler time. It brings tears to my eyes and causes an aching in my heart, a yearning, to be a part of that gentler time. I adore works by Vivaldi and Pachelbel, and enjoy Bach as well.
src= _fcksavedurl="" src = "afountai.gif">src= src = "smallmar.jpg">src= src = "afountai.gif">Okay, now let me see...so far I have revealed some rather personal information regarding my views on life. First of all, my feeling that I was born in the wrong century, and secondly, the implication that my life is directly affected by a person from the past, or indeed, I am that person from the past. Having bared my soul here, I am now not the least bit embarrassed to tell you something else rather bizarre about myself. Hmmm.....ready? I have an extreme fondness for none other than...................Queen Victoria! But, really, that is not the bizarre part. Okay, okay.......the bizarre part is I strongly feel that I must have been one of her daughters in another life. (I really do!).
src= _fcksavedurl="" src = "sconc1l.gif">�src= src = "victoria.jpg">�src= src = "sconc1r.gif">I have many books about Queen Victoria and Prince Albert...several about each of their children, as well. Their's was a romantic, emotional union. They loved one another to the fullest and, interestingly, Queen Victoria kept a journal where, daily, she recorded her undying love for her prince. Her undying love~~indeed, she never remarried after his death at the young age of 41, but more importantly, she never gave her heart to another for the rest of her life... She died at the age of 81.....
 I do not desire diamonds, or pearls, or furs...though I like diamonds, and pearls, and furs. And I do not wish to jet off to another country for lunch...though if the opportunity presented itself I would strongly consider it. I do, however, positively love exquisite lingerie. There is something almost wonderfully sinful about wearing a little wisp of faille or silk to bed at night..even when one is alone...
src= _fcksavedurl="" src = "kiss.jpg">Books are one of my many passions. I have an extensive collection, including some antique ones. Books abound in my house, filling boxes upon boxes, awaiting a special spot on the shelf of that perfect antique bookshelf I have been hunting for, in vain, for years. Books can be absolutely beautiful, and indeed, many that I own were purchased just for that reason. Their jackets are positively breathtaking and their pages are bursting with wonderful illustrations throughout. One day I shall come upon that bookshelf, I know I shall. My quest is not a fervent one. I can wait. I will happen upon just the right one when I least expect to find one.
 I love to write, as well. I have written the odd piece of poetry and have written several children's books which I have yet to submit for publication.
 The world would be
a very silent place
if no birds sang
except those
who sang best.
Bernard MeltzerI can sing, and have a powerful desire to one day perform on a stage for my Dad...(one day when I muster up enough courage to do so.) When I was younger I would sing my heart out to whoever cared to listen. But when I was sixteen I had a negative experience that stayed with me and I can now only sing in front of those people who I am most comfortable with.
 I have an affinity to cherubs and angels... Numerous angels in various mediums are placed artfully around my house. There is always room for one more angel. Of course, I have many books on the subject as well! Angels captivate me so...
src= _fcksavedurl="" src = "rdj521.gif">�src= src = "loveatfi.jpg">�src= src = "rdj524.gif">I love babies with an absolute passion. I wish I could have several more.... Nothing compares to the scent of a baby.. Nothing in the world compares to the love and adoration in a baby's eyes when they rest upon his mother. And no love compares to the love a mother has for her child.
I have three children who are now 22, 10, and 7. They are not babies in a physical sense any longer. But they are my babies, and always shall be. Each of my children is completely different from the others. And I love each and every one of them as though each were an only child. As mentioned, our eldest daughter, Lauren, has moved out on her own, to live with her girlfriend, Jenn. We all miss her terribly, but we do have the opportunity to see her once a week, and when we speak on the telephone, we share long conversations and much laughter. It amazes me how quickly children grow, and in a blink of an eye they have their own lives, apart from your own. When Lauren moved, I had bittersweet feelings of sadness and happiness. I knew she needed to be on her own, to experience life, but knew, also, that it would be a difficult adjustment for us all. Our relationship has grown since she has moved. She is my daughter first, and my wonderful friend, as well. I do love her so.
I sometimes find myself pining for my childrens' babyhood. I admit, that even though I love them so, for the people who they are now, I miss terribly the little people they were. I find that they were different wee people at each new stage of their lives. They need me less and less as they grow older, but they still need me...and it is my wish that they shall ever need me. Often I will dream vivid dreams of my children when they were babies. I awake the next morning, tears in my eyes, remembering...remembering...and inevitably, I haul out all of the old photo albums that day, to reminisce some more. And that proves always to be a mistake..for I spend the entire balance of the day, mourning the absence of my wee babies...(What can I say? It is a mother thing!)
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 The poem below is truly one of the most wonderful, romantic pieces of poetry I have read, and I have read many. And it is the most powerful one I know of which best describes the passionate love I have for my husband of 22 years, Rod...
How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.
I love thee to the depth and breadth and height
My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight
For the ends of Being and ideal Grace.
I love thee to the level of everyday's
Most quiet need, by sun and candlelight.
I love thee freely, as men strive for Right;
I love thee purely, as they turn from Praise.
I love thee with the passion put to use
In my old griefs, and with my childhood's faith.
I love thee with a love I seemed to lose
with my lost saints, ~~ I love thee with the breath,
Smiles, tears, of all my life! ~~ and, if God choose,
I shall but love thee better after death.
~~Elizabeth Barrett Browning
 Softly now, beneath the moon,
I strum the lyre's strings
Without a care in all the world,
Caressed by angeldreams...
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 Do you wish to do something positively uplifting for your soul? Then please do visit 'Angelic Artistry', a truly heavenly site. It is owned by partners Joan Kirk and Kendall Cardenas. Joan is very ill with cancer and I would be very happy to know that all of my friends would take a moment to visit and leave your well wishes for her. When doing so, an animated candle will be lit for Joan,in your honour, and placed at the site on one of the many prayer pages there...
The graphic which appears above the How Do I Love Thee verse, depicting Titanic lovers Jack and Rose in their embrace on the ship's bow, was created by the very talented Mark Kent. Mark has full and clear copyright to the work and has graciously granted me permission to use this stunning graphic here. He has created the graphic using Paint Shop Pro 5 (my absolute favourite program), in the style of Renoir. You can download it using the link here, but please do write Mark for his permission. I am sure you will agree that the graphic is positively beautiful..
This very lovely piece of music you are listening to does not have a title, that I am aware of. I found it whilst visiting Angelic Artistry and requested permission to use it on this page. I love this piece. Each and every time I come to this page to either view or edit it, my eyes fill with tears..especially during the last few bars. I hope you enjoy listening to it.. Click on the button to download it, should you wish to keep it.
The lovely animations and the sweet little baby booties and bunny graphics were created by Lady DJ, of Lady DJ's Graphics. The link to her marvelous site is no longer functional, alas. I have tried to search for her but have had no luck. Should anyone know of her new url, please email me. Thank you..
I have entitled this background set "Heart's Ease". As mentioned on the first page, I shall eventually be putting up a page of my background sets for your personal use, once I completely revamp the existing pages here.
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