images scanned via Côte Sud Fev—Mars'08 /photos by Nicolas Mathéus)

J. Here's another kitchen I could fall in love with...the chandelier...the mirror behind the stove, but most of all it's the sheer size of it that I love.

courtesy Haute Design by Sarah Klaussen

J.  This has to be one of the most beautiful kitchens I have ever seen.  The chandelier, french marble floor and backsplash contrasted by the soft billowy curtains.  And the size of this room!  I have often dreamed of moving my kitchen to take over the largest space in the house...it's where I tend to spend most of my time, so why not?  Ah well, I can always dream!

J.  So Cho Cho chose yesterday to end her time here. An auspicious day as it was our late Mother's birthday. Both Victoria and I choose to believe Mum was there to comfort Victoria (and me).  Some may say that the date was just a co-incidence...but that's not what I choose to believe and I feel richer for my choice.

Here's a picture of the boardwalk and golf course where I walked near my home in Ft. Myers this morning.  As I mentioned before, Mother Nature never lets you down.

Hope you are doing okay sis.

"to wake them to the beauty, the sacredness that is in their lives..... even when life can be at its most difficult."

J.  Your words V.  My sister is going through a particularly difficult time right now as her darling Chloe is facing the end of her time here on earth.  Chloe has been a loyal, loving companion for Victoria for the past 13 years.  And now it is her time to fade gently away.  Victoria has has a rough time of it since Chloe's diagnosis almost four weeks ago, but this picture shows this beautiful dog's unfailing spirit...it was taken yesterday, on the way back from the Vet's after an especially bad night.  I know Victoria is taking this one day at a time, making sure Chloe is pain-free.  She is in a fortunate position right now to be able to devote all her time to Chloe...which means lots of walks, swims, cuddles and long talks.

J.  So here we are still trying to figure out how two people compose on a single blog...but we are determined women and we WILL succeed!

I have finally made it down to Florida to escape a little of the cold and wind in NOTL. Our home is on a golf course in Fort Myers. We have the good fortune to be situated on a lake and this is a typical view from my bedroom window. Stunningly beautiful birds come to visit every day as they wait patiently for their breakfast, lunch or dinner to swim unwittingly by!

Florida has seen some cold, wet weather this February, but for us it provides an alternative winter season with sunny, crystal clear, blue skies.

Last evening (one day late) we celebrated Valentine's Day and the beginning of the Chinese New Year of the Tiger, with friends from Toronto and North Carolina. For me both holidays blended harmoniously in the delicious luxury of dark chocolate and the reposing grace of the white tiger. We dined on delicious food which everyone shared in preparing, sipped pink champagne and laughed, and traded thoughts and ideas around the table. My ideal way of celebrating...around the table. We even managed to eat outside...albeit wearing jackets!

I am lucky to have been given the ultimate gift of love when our first child was born on Valentine's Day in 1977. I remember slowly unwrapping her when she was brought to my hospital room tightly swaddled in a soft pink hospital blanket, a tiny bundle all of 5lbs 13 oz and barely 19 inches long. She fit perfectly between the crook of her father's elbow and his fingertips. For the last 33 years she has, and continues to be a gift we unwrap.