What's On Your Workdesk Wednesday - Week 474

Hello Everyone

It's Wednesday again and that means only one thing, it's time to drop in on Head Desker Julia's Stamping Ground to reveal what's on our desk today.

Yet another scrapbook layout in progress. I've been experimenting with paint and been none too successful so far - only the most eagle-eyed could detect the brushstrokes of Blue Hawaiian paint under the photo so far. A bit more work needed there. That container of stamps is out because, shock surprise, there are the beginnings of two card toppers on the desk today. They're accidental rather than intentional though. I was experimenting with the Mr Huey Heirloom Blue mist - looking for the best colour for the layout - and the result seemed too good to waste. I've no idea why the stapler is out except that I should have put it away when I'd done with it last. The layout is lying on top of the really useful box I use to store the papers, embellishments, etc., for scrapbooking. Truth is, it's one of a few and part of my organisation strategy - an ongoing struggle!

It's rose season here in our garden and, as many of you know, I love my garden and love to have it full of roses. It could be seen as an obsession by some - up until recently I could count 26 rose bushes spread around the garden - but now, thanks to three wonderful WOYWW ladies, there are two more.

Thanks to Julia (our revered Head Desker) and Jan (aka LLJ) who, after I lost my beloved brother, sent me this appropriately named Douglas rose. It's stunning and this photo does not do it justice - red is a difficult colour for my camera to deal with. I wish, too, that we had smelly vision as there's nothing quite like the scent of a rose.

Here's the other scented rose - another stunner - this one from Annie (aka Wipso), together with her husband, who, kind friends that they are, traveled all the way up to Scotland to spend some time with us and brought this fabulous rose, Eternity. Also red, but very different in shape from Douglas - you could not mistake one for the other. Annie had a favourite seat in our garden, now forever referred to as Annie's seat, so we've placed Eternity there to remind us of the truly lovely time we had together.

Two caring gestures from three lovely ladies, not forgetting Annie's lovely hubby, and all because of What's On Your Workdesk Wednesday. Without it I would never have met and struck up a very special friendship with them, first online and then for real. Some say we shouldn't trust friendships made in cyber world but my experience is that you certainly can and it doesn't always have to remain 'virtual' - Julia, Jan, Annie and I are proof of that!

It's a few weeks since I shared any of the books I've been listening to recently and, indeed, there are far too many for me to write about today but here's a wee roundup.

Most of it is light listening - it's summer after all - but all were fun and kept me interested right to the end. The Hating Game came highly recommended, as did The Stolen Marriage but the others were just chosen because I like book shops, camper vans and genealogy.

And that is that for me today. I'd like to say that, like everyone else here, I'm off out into the sun now but it wouldn't be so ... I wilt in the heat and I'm covered in freckles! Instead, I'll stay cool indoors and check out the desks on the Stamping Ground.

Thanks for popping by and take care everyone - oh, and happy Independence Day to all of you in the USA!