Friday Smiles

 Hello Everyone,

Rightly or wrongly I've decided to join in with Annie and her Friday Smiles this week. I say 'rightly or wrongly' because, given that I go nowhere and do very little outside the domestic sphere, to most people I must have little to smile about. Not true. I smile a lot and then, because I'm so old, promptly forget what made me smile. Anyway, here's a few photos that have gladdened this old lady's heart recently.

First up is this one of my dear husband doing something he shouldn't but having fun all the same. He really shouldn't be doing-it-himself in his state of health. He did overdo it and had to spend the following two days recovering, but he won't listen and doesn't learn. Oh, and I did help because that was definitely a two-person job.

I'm a great fan of the TV crime series 'Shetland' and never miss an episode, so I was delighted to discover that some scenes for the latest episodes were shot here in Ayr. We are very lucky to live on the coast and luckier still to have a beach that is made up of the promenade, with easy access, and the dunes, not so easy to access but well worth the effort. I'll be watching future episodes of 'Shetland' much more closely. 

We've been very lucky with the weather recently. It's been cold, -2 degrees yesterday, but the sun has been shining and skies have been this heavenly shade of blue. Even if I can't stay out long, I've enjoyed going out and just rambling around the garden while the sun was out. 

And when it's got too cold I've been watching these cheeky gulls from the window while they are taking in the air on our neighbour's chimney pots. 

And finally, what would life after Covid be if it wasn't for this cheeky little charmer. She never ceases to amuse me and put a smile on my face. 

Apologies for what might be to some a boring post - nothing exotic, no cute pics from my adorable family - they've all had Covid too - and no trips out either. Just normal everyday shots from a fairly normal everyday life but I'm sure you'll agree all good reasons to smile. 

Hope you've had equally good reasons to smile too this week. If you have, why not join Annie over at A Stitch In Time and make us smile too. 

Friday Smiles

Hello Everyone,

And happy Friday. Once again I'm joining in with Annie's Friday Smiles and sharing some photos taken on my birthday on Monday this week. 

We went into town to celebrate. Unfortunately, the place Alan planned on, one of the oldest pubs in Ayr, wasn't serving meals that day. They'd given the chef's a holiday which was nice for them, if not for us. 

Because Alan isn't able to walk far we decided to go to the best fish and chip shop in town which was nearby. 

We had a lovely meal there served by a very nice waitress who couldn't have been more helpful. 

Afterwards, I took the opportunity to take a few shots of the Christmas lights in the High Street. They're not as flamboyant as in previous years but still very pretty. 

The following day, the 30th - the date of his death - was St Andrew's Day. It's a Bank Holiday in Scotland, though when I was born in 1947 - yes, people, I'm that old - the day was celebrated by Scots worldwide but it was not an official holiday. It wasn't until 2006 that our government decided to make it official. 

Here's a wee funny to finish.

Hope you've had much to smile about this week too.

Take care and have a wonderful weekend. 

Friday Smiles

Hello Everyone,

Happy Friday. Despite the, mainly, atrocious weather I have had lots to smile about this past week so thought I'd join Annie with her Friday Smiles.

I really enjoyed a cuddle from Ebony on a recent visit to my daughter.

She's big, massive actually, but very affectionate and a complete softy.

I had a foot care appointment in town on Tuesday which necessitated another visit to the Book and Bun - it's tough but needs must. I spotted this lovely little quilt hanging on one of the walls.

It perfectly sums up what the cafe is all about.

Directly opposite the cafe is a newly opened alteration shop. Olga's Alterations. Olga, who has recently relocated from another part of town, has put together two striking window displays. Unfortunately, the reflection from across the street spoil these shots but I thought I'd share them anyway.

I loved the old sewing machines and the antique wedding dress is quite stunning too. The tailors' dress-form dressed in an outfit made from men's ties made me smile. Olga tells me she sourced everything in the windows from charity shops, including that wedding dress!

After we had our lunch at the cafe we decided to go down to the shore, The tide was in and it was wild there.

Bitterly cold too.

Seems like there's another storm on the way, Jorge. Like the everyone else in the UK, we are now heartily fed-up with these storms and hoping Jorge will be the last. Despite having plenty to occupy and entertain me, even I'm starting to suffer from too much indoors and not enough outdoors. Spring really can't come soon enough.

Almost forgot this:

Who's up for the challenge!

Take care and, for those of you in the flooded areas, stay safe.

Friday Smiles

Hello Everyone,

It's Friday again and so time to share some of what made me smile this week, but, first, I must welcome all my new followers, both here and on Bloglovin' - you're much appreciated. It's so nice to know that you are there and I hope my postings will continue to interest you.

Now, on to my week in photos. This first one isn't exactly something to smile about but the wildness of the sky and sea is amazing.

Taken on Sunday, just as Storm Brendan was about to hit our coastline, you can see how wild the sea was and how louring the clouds. Unbelievably, just a few minutes before, it was dry and sunny which is why we had driven down to the seafront. Our plan was a stroll along the promenade but didn't even get the chance.

Wild weather. Hailstones battered the windscreen.

Happily, once the storm passed over the weather improved and today it's been good enough to pop out into the garden.  It was the jasmine that drew me down to the woodland area.

The sky was a lovely blue.

I was hoping to spot some snowdrops in bloom but so far there's no sign though I know that further south they are already putting on a show. Happily, there are signs of spring is on the way.

English bluebells just showing through - shouldn't be too long now.

And a pot of hyacinths doing very well.

All the bad weather is the perfect excuse to curl up with a lovely cup of coffee and a good book.

Books bought with Amazon gift vouchers I was given at Christmas - definitely reason to smile.

And finally,

With some re-wording this could apply to many of us, I'm sure.

I hope you have enjoyed my smiles this week and will share yours too by linking them over at Annie's A Stitch In Time. Everyone is welcome to join in.

My Home Town

Hello Everyone ...

... from stormy parts today. It's wet, windy and grim ... such a contrast from yesterday's sun and bright blue skies.

I have a quick share today. It's the last of the layouts I managed to make at Mind The Scrap's recently cyber crop. In truth, I wasn't very productive - too many distractions that particular weekend. I'm not complaining though. at least there's a few more photos scrapped and now tucked away in the relevant albums.

This photo is of the High Street in Ayr where I have lived for the past eleven or so years. Like most towns up and down the UK, the High Street is suffering with lots of shops closing doors and very few new ones opening up. However, there's still a few nice shops, not to mention the ubiquitous charity shops. When I have time I like nothing better than a trawl round those. It also has, among the equally ubiquitous eyesores of the 60s and 70s, a few architecturally interesting and/or beautiful buildings including the Wallace Tower - named after Sir William Wallace, he of  'Braveheart' fame.  It is said that he was once imprisoned in the building that was previously on the site of the tower for setting fire to a barn with 500 English soldiers inside!!! There is a statue of him on the facade of the tower.

Most of the papers used are from Mind The Scraps October kit but I did use a pretty patterned piece of packaging for layering - the colours were just right - you can see it peaking out from under the photo. I fussy cut some of the flowers from one of the papers and punched some butterflies from a scrap of card that I'd brushed with turquoise watercolour paint. All the other embellishments are from stash.

I hope you are having a great Saturday, no matter what the weather is like wherever you are.

Take care,