Chipmunk Eating Colorful Rainbow Grapes Watercolor Illustration
By Charlie

Something To Treasure

Written by Charlie O'Shields

Thought I’d jump in for the prompt of “Grapes” today, with a little chipmunk eating some ripening ones. While I’ve always celebrated April as my birthday month, today is actually the official day of my birth (and I was even born on a Tuesday!). Also, it’s a bit of a milestone as I’m turning 50 years old today. This was the number that came with a lot more of those extra little wishes of things I’d love to accomplish by this time. But truly, it just feels sort of great that I’ve lived a happy life for 50 years. Things haven’t always gone as planned and there’s a lot on that massive list that I wasn’t quite able to DO, but I did manage to check quite a few things off. My dream since childhood was to write and illustrate a picture book, and I just received proof copies of both the paperback and hardback versions of my book today! So that was a fun first gift, and those will be available to purchase in the next couple of weeks. I’m really proud of this new book as it feels like the start of a fun new journey. And I’m excited to keep right on sketching stuff all the way through this next new decade!

Tonight, however, I’m most excited to have a glass of champagne and enjoy a lovely dinner with Philippe. And my dog Phineas, of course, as he’ll be right next to us begging for treats the entire time as usual. This weekend, one of my best friends is having a tiny little outdoor party for me so that will be super fun. It’s not quite the same without the hugs, but those will be returning later this year I hope. My last birthday was right after everything went into lockdown and so I didn’t really end up doing anything particularly special for that one. I didn’t even request any presents from Philippe. So, this year, I told him that I DO want presents! Nothing excessive, mind you, but a little something that I could unwrap. There’s not really much that I want, but my inner child just had to have a little something extra this year. I like little happy surprises. They sort of balance out any of the unhappy surprises that crop up in life.

This has definitely been a wildly different sort of year. But, it’s also been a wonderful reminder of the importance of those little things that mean the most in life. There’s not much I need to make me happy when I really consider it. And, as it turns out, I have everything I could want. Well, okay, I do hope the softening butter that I saw on the counter when I left for work this morning means Philippe is making cake later. I could use a bit of that as well. Sure, I also really want hugs again, but I know those too will return in time. Beyond that, I have my wonderful husband and our little dog who is super persnickety, but equally adorable. No matter how stressful the day might become, they are always there to make it all better again each evening. Home isn’t just a place, it’s where a heart feels the safest. And to me, that’s definitely something to treasure.

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Da Vinci Paint Co.:  Hansa Yellow Medium, Vermilion, Quinacridone Red, Opus (Vivid Pink), Leaf Green, Terra Cotta, Phthalo Blue, Cobalt Turquoise, and Indigo. Lamy Al-Star Safari Fountain Pen with black ink in an A5 Hahnemühle Watercolour Book. Want to purchase a print of this doodlewash?  Send me a note with a link to this post, and I’ll add it to my shop!
 Chipmunk Eating Colorful Rainbow Grapes Watercolor Illustration Sketchbook Detail

Charlie O'Shields

Creator of Doodlewash, founder of World Watercolor Month (July), World Watercolor Group, and host of the Sketching Stuff Podcast. Sharing watercolor illustrations and stories while proudly featuring talented artists from all over the world!

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37 thoughts on “Something To Treasure”

  4. Hey Charlie Happy Birthday! The 13th was my aunt’s birthday too (1913, a year before the Titanic sank on that date if I got that right). Here’s a hug from Canada’s hot spot! Take care and tell Philippe you get two big pieces of cake.

    Take care!

    Reply

  5. HAPPIEST BIRTHDAY EVER!! How grateful I am that we are all here to celebrate you🤗👏👏👏 Numbers are just numbers but some are really cool! When I hit the ‘5-O’ I told people, “See! I’m not a quitter!”💁‍♀️ And five years later I started my art journey over☺ You are cooking with gas my friend! Of course your newest book is only one more in a long line of successes-and we’ll all cheer that!! EVERY blessing is my birthday prayer for you (and yours)! PS:Don’t forget to tell us how to get signed copies of that book🤗

    Reply

    1. Thanks so much!! 😃💕 hehe… I love the idea of simply not being a quitter! So true! Thanks SO much for cheering me on. I really appreciate it. As for signed copies… I hadn’t even thought about that. hehe… so I’ll have to think about it!

      Reply

  9. Happy 50th birthday!

    I got my 2nd shot on Monday!! I’m juked up about it! Part of the herd.

    Are you back at work?

    I hope you do another paint/blog tomorrow so we can find out what little gifts you got. Like me, we don’t need stuff, but a little thing is much appreciated!

    Reply

    1. Thanks so much, Lisa! 😃💕 I go into the office a couple days a week and it’s just me and my art director in masks at this point. And yay for your second shot! I just got my today actually. I’m only doing posts every few days as I’m working on the next book, but I got a Lego Bonsai Tree that was sold out everywhere and that make me so happy. And… a couple Star Wars Legos and a Nintendo Switch game. Literally nobody would think the person receiving these things was turning 50! lol 😉

      Reply

  10. Happy birthday, Charlie! Hoping all your wishes come to pass! I celebrated my birthday on Friday, the same day of the week as the day I was born. On that occasion my Dad brought my Mom a huge bouquet of daffodils. This year they were out in full glory (not always the case here in Ontario), so I was able to do that, too!

    Reply

  11. 🎉🎉🎂🎂🍨🍨🎉🎉 Feliz Cumpleanos, Charlie! 🎉🎉🎉🎉I hope that on this special day and birthday that your eyes and heart are opened to one major realization: YOU ARE LOVED. 💕💕💕 The best is yet to come. Many happy wishes, my friend. 💜 Felicidades💜

    Reply

    1. Muchas gracias, Marisela! 😃💕 You’re too sweet. Sending you much love back my friend. I’m rather excited for all of the crazy things I’ll do in this decade! hehe… It’s going to be even more fun!!

      Reply

  14. Un bel et doux anniversaire pour vous, ici c’est mercredi – soyez heureux ! je pourrais obtenir vôtre livre, il pourra être livré en France ? bonne journée !

    Reply

  15. Hello Charlie,

    Happy Happy Birthday!! I love the Doodlewash! The squirrel looks content and some of those grapes look like jewels. I do hope you get to cut and eat a big cake. Congratulations on the book. Can’t wait to see it. 🙂

    Love,
    Mugdha

    P. S. Thanks for the encouragement on the stories. If nothing else, I’ll write them to be able to share them with you some day. 🙂

    Reply

    1. Thanks so much, Mugha! 😃💕 Glad you enjoyed this one! And I DID get cake… just a little bigger than Philippe normally serves it, but I still think it was rather small by American standards! hehe And YES! I’d love to read your stories some day!

      Reply

  17. Hi Charlie, Happy Half Century!! Hope your book proofs look super, but we are all sure they do. We can hardly wait! Enjoy your birthday cake and hopefully a surprise gift for you to unwrap. May God grant you many many years!

    Reply

    1. Thanks so much, Bob! 😃💕 hehe… yeah, I think a half century doesn’t make me feel old at all. It just feels like quite an accomplishment! And I really hope folks enjoy the new book series. I’m loving writing and illustrating them! Wish you all the best as well!

      Reply

  20. Happy 50th Birthday, Charlie. You’ve done so much with the years you’ve been afforded, bringing much joy to your followers and obviously, special affection to those who know you personally. Looking forward to seeing where your imagination and grit takes you next.

    Reply

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