What's On Your Workdesk Wednesday - Week 781

Hello Everyone,

It's all change for WOYWW today. Julia has handed the baton over to Sarah at Sarah's Craft Shed after 15 years of keeping her wonderful blog hop going. I remember being delighted to discover WOYWW almost 14 years ago. It was a joy to 'meet' so many crafters, like myself, who were willing to show the spaces where they craft, be it on desks or floors, and all because Julia had the idea we could all get together virtually through her blog, the Stamping Ground. So it may be the end of an era with Julia retiring, not to mention her able assistant, Lunch Lady Jan, but I'm sure Sarah is a worthy successor. 

And this is what's on my desk today. I wasn't able to travel down this year to the 15th Anniversary Crop but Jo (aka Twiglet) and Annie (aka Wipso) sent me their ATCs so I don't feel completely left out. I've seen some of the photos taken at the crop and I can see it was great fun for everyone there. Maybe next year I'll make it. 

Over recent weeks, if nothing else, I've managed to revive my enthusiasm for scrapbooking. It's good. It's an improvement. Participating in the Scrap-a-Sketch Rainbow Challenge helped enormously. That's seven pages completed for seven colours! With renewed interest, I've not stopped. Here's two more made from the remnants of kits put together from stash before we moved house in 2022.

Crafting Keeps Me Sane

This page is about crafting being therapeutic for me. The crochet blanket is progressing slowly but it helped get me through the worst of winter weather.  I love the quilted knitting bag I made a few years ago at the quilting classes I attended in Prestwick. Sadly, the pandemic led to the closure of the classes. 

I don't often remember to take a photo of leftovers when a kit is done but there was so little left of this one that I just had to take a pic for the record. 

Zillenials Doing It Their Way

Another page that uses up the tail end of another homemade kit. The two photos show my grandchildren, Shari & Josh (hands and phone only) ordering our food online even though we were in the restaurant at the time. It's showing my age I know, but I was gobsmacked! When did that become a thing? Clearly, I need to get out more! Not my usual style of scrapping. It's inspired by one I watched Shimelle create in an old video of hers on YouTube. It was done from memory so probably not anything like the original at all, but the base is much the same and the mixing of many colours and use of many layers reflects Shimelle's very individual style. Much to my surprise, I like it!

Now, the cat bit:

Not Silver, as you might have thought, but her brother, Taz. If it wasn't for the black smudge on his nose, he'd be her double. Love the pose!

And finally, I'm even later than ever today but I have the best of reasons so no apologies. Shari brought my very grown up 12 year old great-granddaughter, Rhian, along to see me and we had a lovely time chatting over lattes and chocolate brownies. 

With that I'll finish here.

Take care, everyone,

Elizabeth 

Saturday's Smiles

Hello Everyone, 

I did intend joining in with Annie's Friday Smiles yesterday but, sadly, it wasn't to be. That being so, I thought I'd come in late with what has had me smiling this week. 

First up is this photo of my son-in-law, Graeme. 

He's had such a hard time of it recently with a really nasty case of infection in his spine. He was first admitted to hospital with it earlier this year and discharged on treatment seemingly on the mend. Then he got so much worse and had to be admitted again to be told he was going to have to stay in hospital being treated with intravenous antibiotics for three months. You can imagine how we all took that. Happily, after six weeks of this his doctors decided that as long as he goes in every day he could be treated as an outpatient. While none of us likes to be in hospital even for  a short stay, for Graeme it's much more difficult because he's deaf and usually communicates with sign language. This makes everything about hospital all the more difficult for him but everyone soon worked out that they could write him notes to help him understand. So, as you can see, he's now back home and just going back for an hour every day for treatment. He's got a big smile behind that mask. 

That was the main reason to smile this week but here's a few more from the garden. 

My one remaining hollyhock. The others have been lost to neglect - this last year neither of us has been well enough to tend the garden. I do what I can but it's become very neglected. 

One of our many clematis, this one is Hagley Hybrid, that has climbed through the roses and black elder. I thought I'd lost this one last year but it's just been in hiding.

The huge cotoneaster at the bottom of the garden is in flower again and the bees just love those tiny blooms. Every day I go and stand under its branches and just listen to the hum coming from all the insects feeding on it. Bliss!

And finally a funny,

Anyone who lives with someone hard of hearing, like my hubby, will identify with this. Conversations with Alan can be very quirky at times - so much so we just have to laugh at them. 

That's me done for this week. Hope what's made me smile has amused you too. 

If you are wondering why my signature isn't my usual one on some posts, it's because they are composed on my mobile phone and I don't have access to my PC from here. 

Take care and bye for now,

Elizabeth

Friday Smiles

Hello Everyone

It's been a few Fridays since I joined in with Annie's Friday Smiles posts. That's not because there's not been much to smile about here, of course there has, but there's not been a lot of photos to share with you - I so often forget to get my camera out.  However, today I have a few lovely family shots and some from the spring garden which always makes me smile.

Love this shot of my great-grandson, Callum, laughing with his other great-grandmother on her birthday. They look so happy together.

Here he is again. These three photos show him at the same tree taken over the last three years.

2017

2018

2019

They show just how much he has grown and changed - and he obviously loves tree-climbing too.

The next photo is of little Lacie, my youngest great-granddaughter.

She's very proudly showing us the secret stone she found in one of the big parks in Kilmarnock. After the photo was taken she hid it again for some other lucky little one to find.

And here's my youngest granddaughter, Shari-Ann - take one (nervously giggling) and take two (more composed) - she's such a lovely girl.

And she looks so grown up too. I can't believe she will soon be leaving school to begin studying art at college in the autumn. Her childhood years seem to have just flown by.

Finally, some shots taken in the garden this morning.

English Bluebells

Clematis montana rubra

Clematis 'Broughton Bride'

Allium 'Purple Sensation'

That last is a shot taken looking down the garden to the massive old cotoneaster and the rose trellis that marks the entrance to what we refer to as 'the woodland' where the bluebells grow.

Well, that's a lot to smile about and I've really enjoyed joining in with Annie again. Hopefully I'll remember to take photos and be back next week.

In the meantime I wish you all a very happy week ahead and a wonderful bank holiday too.

Friday Smiles

Afternoon Everyone,

Well, it's been a while! Most of you will know by now that I haven't been too well these last few weeks - not much to smile about. But I'm on the mend now and found I have a few smiley reasons to share with Annie at A Stitch In Time and you today. Here's a few photos taken this week.

Monday was the first day I was able to visit my youngest grandson with his birthday presents.

Not the clearest of photos but I hope you can see his happy grin which still melts this grandmother's heart. He's just turned twenty, moved into his first home and feeling a bit out of his comfort zone. Happily, he has plenty of family nearby only too willing to visit and be visited so he shouldn't feel too lonely for long.

Coming home on Monday afternoon we were surprised to see the moon bright and clear even though it was only 5.40pm and nowhere near dark. I wish I could have taken a better close-up but this is the best I can do with the camera on my mobile phone - better than missing the opportunity, I think.

The EM brought home these hyacinths a few days ago - the last pot found at the local supermarket and going very cheap. They've opened out beautifully and the perfume is stunning.

And finally, it's crocus time again. As soon as we see crocus in the garden we know it's time to visit Corsehill Park here in Ayr.

It's become an annual necessity because that carpet of crocus is breathtakingly beautiful and guaranteed to lift the spirits of everyone who sees it. It lasts only a short while, a week or two and it will be gone, but judging by the number of people in the park I'm not the only one who appreciates this gorgeous sight.

On reflection I've had a lot to smile about. I hope you have had a good week too.

Take care and have a good week ahead.

Friday Smiles

Morning Everyone,

And happy Friday to you all. I hope you've had much to smile about since last Friday. Our week hasn't been without event but one of them was hardly something to smile about, so consequently I found this morning that I'd very few smiley photos to share here. Seems I've been too busy to take photographs. When I realised this was the case, I nipped out to the garden to take a couple of shots to share with you.

But first the event that we all found so upsetting. That was that my granddaughter, her partner and my three little great-grandchildren were in a car accident. Fortunately it was the cars that came off the worst but Rhian and Lacie had slight injuries and their mum, as you can imagine, was shaken but not hurt.

Lacie had what she calls an 'ouchy' on her cheek - somehow she was knocked against the side of her car seat to cause this.

Rhian suffered a burn from her seat belt.

A trip to the hospital assured us that there was no permanent damage to either child and, as children do, they recovered very quickly. Family all fine now but what a way to celebrate Bonfire Night.

.

Now here's what took me out into the garden on such a horrid day

I remembered that this Christmas Rose had decided now is the time to start the festivities! Love the simplicity of the sparkling white petals - definitely smile worthy.

In Wednesday's post I shared my little trays of promise, now here's my first pot of promise.

Shoots of dwarf narcissus peaking through already. You can tell that despite some really nasty weather recently temperatures have been relatively warm for the time of year.

And then there's these little packets of promise.

They've just arrived in the post this morning. After having quite a bit of success with a pink variety of Cosmos this year I thought I'd try my hand at growing two more next year.





And finally,

Here's a little story about three year old Lacie, as told by her mum:

'She walks up the hall shouting Rhian. 

Then she walks into my room ... 

Lacie: where’s Rhian?
Me : she’s getting washed.
Lacie: in the washing machine?'

 She was deadly serious too. No wonder her mum calls her a firecracker!

As you can see, despite the accident there's been reason to smile too. To see many more reasons to smile do pop over to Annie's, at A Stitch In Time. I'm sure she will be delighted if you shared your smiley posts with her - the more the merrier!

Friday Smiles - On Saturday

Hello Everyone,

I meant to post this yesterday but this computer or, more correctly, my broadband had other ideas. Technology!!!

Anyway, here's some of what has made me smile this week.

I can't help chuckling at the look on my daughter's face while my grandson, Alun, poses for his granddad!

He had a fit of the giggles despite his granddad telling him to be serious! We were all in hysterics as he tried to stop laughing. You had to be there to appreciate how much fun we had.

Loved, also, this photo of my three great-grandchildren having some play time in the park on the way home from school. They are a lovely little family that get along nicely together most of the time but their mother tells me that ten minutes after this pic was taken they had a complete meltdown!!!

Spotted this red admiral butterfly on some asters in my friend's garden. 

With butterflies in general becoming a rare site it was great to see them still out and about as late as October.

And finally, a little gift I received this week which definitely makes me smile

It's a simple wee ... I'm not sure how to describe it ... it's a case, a cover for knitting needles. Not just any needles but this very small set of five double pointed needles that I'm using to knit, for the first time ever, socks!

Popping the needles and knitting inside the case prevents the stitches from slipping of the needles and the knitting unraveling.. Brilliant!!! Amanda, who runs the Thursday crafting group, made it for me. She's a very clever needlewoman who also teaches the sewing classes I attend.

As you can see, I've had quite a lot to smile about but to see many more reasons to smile pop over to Annie's, at A Stitch In Time.

I hope you are having a very happy weekend.

Friday Smile

Good Morning,

I hope you have had a very good week with plenty to smile about and share with Annie at A Stitch In Time. My husband's health hasn't been so good, necessitating a trip to the doctor, but despite that it's not been such a bad week. Here's a few photos showing what helped us smile this week.

Warning, yet another photo heavy post.

On Saturday we took a trip to Ballantrae to see Alfie at Craigiemains Garden Centre. He looked as pleased as any donkey could to see us ... the carrots helped :)

After Ballantrae we carried on down to Portpatrick where himself cosied up to this very fierce looking gorilla. Eat your heart out David Attenborough!

Also at Portpatrick was this display put on by the Dumfries & Galloway Blood Bikes. It's a charitable organisation set up by local volunteers to deliver essential blood and urgent medical supplies, in and out of hours, between hospitals and healthcare sites in South West Scotland and sometimes beyond. They were an impressive bunch, enthusiastic about what they do, and all for free!

This is my youngest grandson looking very sheepish as he shows me his sunburned arms, face and neck. This was after a walk with his college mates - they just didn't realise that you could get so burned while simply walking and not sunbathing. They are Sport and Fitness students!

Last photo. I just love this happy photo of grandson William and great-grandson Callum having fun in the sunshine. 

And finally - this sums up my spending habits perfectly :)

Hop you have a fabulously smiley week,