Ahhh yes ... the World's Cutest Baby Boy (that would be the big guy in the red shirt) reading to the World's Second Cutest Baby Boy (that would be the little guy in the yellow and blue shirt). My son Eric, and my great-nephew Ben, have some kind of mysterious and wonderful bond. This picture was taken in October of this year (2005), at my sister's (the grandmother) house in Victoria, BC. My son is in his third year of Political Science at university, and in this picture, had recently returned from four months on the French Riviera (Nice), lean and tanned and gorgeous (I'm completely objective, of course). Last weekend (the weekend of Nov. 19), my son was here with us and the rest of my family, celebrating my dad's 80th birthday (check out the picture of my dad on my blog). I'll have pics of the weekend posted as soon as they're available! Eric and I were able to spend an entire day together (click on the link to read his blog), which was a sweet and wonderful day. I can't wait to get moved back to Vancouver Island, then we can spend more time together, and he'll have a place to store his belongings while he's off travelling the world every summer (big grin here!). 

A diamond is ... well, whoever came up with that had never met my wonderful guy. This diamond could never be my best friend, but he sure is! Santa came early to our house this year, in the form of a 1.06 Carat Canadian Diamond. We designed the setting (I didn't want a "girlie" engagement ring setting) after we picked out this fabulous Princess-cut stone. My sweetie and I had decided that if we were going to buy a diamond, it would have to be Canadian, no blood diamonds for us (i.e., mined in Russia or South Africa). At the end of the day, we still have to live with our conscience; De Beers and the Russian diamond mines have absolutely repugnant labour relations, and force labourers to work in sub-human conditions. Canadian Diamond miners have legislated protection, many are unionized, earn excellent salaries as well as benefits. So far, the oppressive Canada/US so-called "free trade" agreement, (all part of the "manifest destiny" philosophy of the US), hasn't put Canadian diamond miners out of work, the way the US-imposed (and FTA-illegal) Softwood Tariffs have condemned Canadian softwood workers to unemployment and poverty. So with clear consciences, we chose this beautiful Canadian Diamond, and it's on my finger as I type! The setting is 14k gold, and the diamond is held in place by a "tension" setting, eliminating claws which wear out much more quickly, and as many of us know, snag our knitting! (ulterior motive for getting a tension setting !!). This is the diamond ring of my dreams, given to me by the man of my dreams! 

Bird's eye view of the ring. One day we'll have a dig cam and be able to post a pic of this beautiful ring that's clearer, but for now, this is just fine! Charm Diamond Centres are 100% Canadian owned and operated. The first store was opened in Nova Scotia several years ago, and run by a young couple. Charm now has many stores from Nova Scotia to Alberta, and are planning to open stores in BC and on the West Coast in the near future. No affiliation, but we are certainly satisfied customers!