In A Vase on Monday - Bluebells and Granny's Bonnets

Hello everyone,

It's lovely to be able to join Cathy over at Rambling in the Garden with my offering for her meme, In A Vase On Monday, once more. 

Unlikely as it seems, I was able to pick this little bunch of bluebells, hyacinthoides hispanica, and granny's bonnets, aquilegia vulgaris, from the garden. My much neglected garden. I don't remember where I found the blue and white jug but they look just perfect in it.  

The aquilegia is a reminder of the garden we left behind. It's a self-seeded bonus that sneaked here in a pot. 

As is the blue bugleweed, ajuga geneversis, found hiding in another pot tucked away in a quiet corner. I had trouble remembering this plant's name, the label has long gone, so consulted PlantNet which soon identified it as one of the many ajugas that can be found growing in gardens around the UK. 

Beside the jug is my collection of small books about walking, flowers and birds. I've been a hill walker most of my life, but now I'm in my seventies I stick to shorter walks on flatter ground. And, for fun, I take the time to photograph the many wild plants and wildflowers spotted along the way. PlantNet comes in very useful for naming those I don't know so well. 

To see the many lovely arrangements of gardeners more dedicated than I have been this last year,  just click on the link to Cathy's blog, Rambling in the Garden.

Take care, everyone,

Elizabeth 

What's On Your Workdesk Wednesday - Week 662

Hello Everyone,

And a happy WOYWW to Julia in the Stamping Ground and all fellow deskers everywhere. I hope you are well and finding plenty time to spend at your desks crafting. We're still enduring some wild weather here - wind, rain, more wind and yet more rain. We even had a flurry of snow on Sunday. I call it good scrapping weather. 

This is the state of my desk this morning after I'd abandoned it yesterday evening. As you can see, I'm working on yet another scrap layout so there's stuff everywhere. That rickety looking pile just visible on the left is needing sorted out - again! Though it does have to build to wobble height before I'll do anything about it. The page itself is surrounded by piles of ephemera that I've sorted roughly by size - large, medium, small. This helps with cluster building. Once the page is done, it will all be sorted by colour and returned to these plastic boxes.

There's two sets. I don't know what I'd do without them. Yes I do, I'd be working in an even bigger mess than I already do!

The kitten bit.

Silver joined me in the garden yesterday as I checked for snowdrops. She would be more than happy if I spent all day out there but it's bitterly cold even in the sunshine so fifteen minutes was more than enough for me. 

The book bit. 

The book I've been listening to this week is Elly Griffith's new book, The Locked Room. It's the latest in the series that has Dr Ruth Galloway, a forensic archaeologist, and her lover, DCI Nelson, always referred to by his surname, as the main characters. Set in Norfolk during the first Covid lockdown it has everything - mysterious deaths, domestic abuse, missing students and more. I did enjoy listening even though it did bring back the horror of Covid in vivid detail. 

And that, coincidentally, brings us to what is happening now. Alan is not too well at the moment with another episode of fatigue and breathlessness. There's nothing for it but to rest, something he doesn't do well as he hates inactivity.  In the meantime, I'm head nurse, cook and bottle washer so I'll hope you'll understand that I may take even longer than usual visiting and commenting. 

The funnies bit

And finally,

Take care and keep safe. 

Bye for now,

Elizabeth

What's On Your Workdesk Wednesday - Week 587

 Hello Everyone,

Late again! No good excuse except that my workload has either increased due to Mr W's Covid induced incapacity, my preferred excuse, or I'm just slowing down - hard to admit, but true nonetheless. Whichever, I'm still late to Julia's weekly WOYWW party over at the Stamping Ground. 

And before I reveal what's on my desk, I need to apologise to everyone I didn't manage to visit and leave a comment with last week. I did try, honestly, but I just ran out of time. I'm trying. When he's being flippant Mr W would say I can be very trying indeed :)  Enough of my grovelling! Here's what's on my desk today. 

Still scrapbooking - it's what's keeping me sane at the moment. (I won't go on, but there's an increased incidence of the dreaded virus in our area which means we could be back in lockdown imminently.) And just for my own entertainment, I'm working my way through a pile of mini kits I put together a while ago - last year, I think. The papers in this one look perfect for the wedding photo of my lovely cousin, Rachel, and her hero, Chris. 

And many thanks to Jan, aka LLJ, who sent the lovely notecard you can see lying on the keyboard. She, like many of you, has been so kind while we've been poorly, regularly getting in touch and asking how we're doing and sending best wishes. Needless to say, it all helped immensely and I am so grateful for all the concern shown. It's the friendships made through this blog, and especially through Julia and her What's On Your Workdesk Wednesday, that have meant, and continue to mean, so much to both of us. Our thanks go to you all. 

And now a sort of return to the book bit.

Note: not the usual audiobooks but real, have to pick them up and read, printed on paper books. When I was able to do not much more than just keep breathing these books kept my interest from day to day, and they continue to do so. It all started with the audiobook of 'Wonderland - A year of Britain's Wildlife Day by Day' by Brett Westwood & Stephen Moss. I thoroughly enjoyed listening to the authors taking me through the year on audio. But it didn't take long for me to realise that really what I needed was the printed version so that I'd be able to check out each daily entry on the date itself. And the search for the book online led me to 'Every Day Nature' by Andy Beer, which is subtitled 'How noticing nature can quietly change your life'. For me, that has proved to be so true. This book has beautiful illustrations throughout. I now know so much more than I ever thought I would about our native wildlife - from the Emperor Dragonfly to Woody Nightshade, Montagu's Harrier to Wart-Biter Cricket!  And the two bird books? They're old faithfuls that have been around for years!

That's it from me this week. As ever, I'm looking forward to catching up with you all, over at The Stamping Ground, 

Take care and stay safe.

Friday Smiles

Hello Everyone,

Happy Friday to you all - I hope you have had a good week with plenty to make you smile. It's not been a too bad week here - everything back to normal, including the weather! And, at last, I'm finding time to join in with Annie's Friday Smiles meme with a few photos taken over the last week.

First up, I had a foot care appointment on Tuesday and until now these appointments were held in a dismal building that didn't warrant writing about. However, with the new year comes a relocation for FootcAyr . It has moved from an industrial estate into a town centre location.  In fact, it's in here:

The Book & Bun is a social enterprise in partnership with Bookcycle, South Ayrshire Council and the NHS. It is also one of my favourite cafes in Ayr, not least because, as well as serving tasty snacks and good coffee the cafe is lined with shelves of secondhand books to browse.

Bliss!

As if all that wasn't enough, there's also a room at the back of the cafe, The Venue, where volunteers run classes in Arts & Crafts, Quilting, Knitting & Crochet, Tai Chi, Creative Writing, Sketching & Painting, Yoga - to name only a few. I can see I'm going to enjoy my regular visits there, and my feet feel all the better for it too.

Finally, last Saturday we were treated to one of nature's best sunsets.

Stunning!

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.

What's On Your Workdesk Wednesday - Week 528

Hello Everyone,

Wednesday again - amazing how it turns up earlier every week! - so, of course, I'm joining in with WOYWW over at Julia's Stamping Ground again. It's a weekly treat I really don't like to miss.

And, as usual, it's a bit of a mess. I joined Tilly Rose for her 'Secret Stitch-a-Long yesterday evening and everything is still where I left it at nine o'clock when I went of to watch the drama on television. That pile of fabric scraps, laces and ribbons are all vintage - all strokably pretty stuff. The sewing interrupted another project and that explains the stuff shoved to the back - stamps, embossing powder, etc. It's just as well I have a lovely big desk - it's probably the EM's best bargain find ever!

The lavender bag not quite finished. It's all sewn by hand, including the embroidered lavender flowers. The fabric is vintage Laura Ashley - from 1988. I'm thinking I'll add a few tiny pearls and maybe a bit of lace before I call it done.

Some new goodies that I need to find time to play with. It's a glue stamp pad, a star shaped stamp and some extra fine pink glitter. Seems the glue pad can be used with the stamp to add glitter, chalk, foil or embossing powder to a project - very versatile. I'll share the results when I get around to trying it out.

I did finally finish the layout that I was working on last Wednesday. The photo is of me and my late brother, Douglas, in full highland dress which he wore to every important occasion. With his unruly mop of curly hair and equally shaggy beard he was guaranteed to be a talking point and I got used to being asked who's the amazing highlander. I always enjoyed telling them that he was my brother. Can't think why that surprised so many - we were so alike!

And now the book bit. This week it's the complete Cormoran Strike crime series - you can tell I've been spending a lot of time in the garden.

All published under the pseudonym Robert Galbraith but written by J K Rowling, she of Harry Potter fame, the series is about Cormoran Strike, private detective, and his able assistant, Robin. I have to admit to enjoying binging on the series - I love a good whodunnit with plenty of clues to work on. Strike, though gruff and a bit tetchy, is a likable character, as is his very competent assistant, Robin, and the two together make an effective crime solving team. The scrapes they get  into, both in their personal life and whilst sleuthing, kept me entertained right to the end of the fourth book. Only four novels in the series have so far been published but the author plans at least another ten. Three have been adapted as a television series for BBC One. I can't wait to read the fifth as soon as it's made available as an audiobook.


It's just started to rain here - that's nature having a laugh of me for spending two hours watering the whole garden yesterday - so looks like I'll have to stay in and check out what's on your workdesks. Isn't it kind of the the weather to be so obliging! :)

Have a great day and a fabulous week ahead.

What's On Your Workdesk Wednesday - Week 493

Hello Everyone,

Well, it's a perfect day for WOYWW here - wet and miserable! I don't know about where you are but here in South Ayrshire the weather pattern seems to one of alternating between the perfect sunny but nippy autumnal days and the equally perfect crafting days - that's the ones where you dare not step outdoors without donning wellies and waterproofs! Much better then to spend those days creating a mess on the workdesk.

Although it's not so messy this week. Oh there's still the usual pile on the right. This one is all Christmas related - a box of scraps and a stack of paper pads. The pack of sticky-backed gems is still there after the latest card making session. Top left is my 'bullet journal'. It's coming on with an index, the month, to-dos and a of list of UFOs (unfinished projects) I'm working through. What it isn't is decorated and it's not overly ambitious either - I know myself too well for that. At the front is the Creative Palette I found tucked away out of sight, sad and forgotten - why? I recall enjoying playing creating with it once or twice. However, I've forgotten how to use is so I think a trip over to YouTube is called for. Not now. Not today. But soon.

Talking of UFOs. I'm on a mission to finish as many as I can before 2019. This is the Attic Windows  quilted cushion begun at the start of this year - before the EM became ill. There wasn't much to do to finish it so I got stuck in yesterday and got it done. The first item ticked of on that list.

And now for something a bit different in the book bit. Not an audio-book - though I'm still bingeing on thrillers - but a real book, a hardback in fact.

I spotted 'The Art of Coorie: How to Live Happy the Scottish Way', by Gabriella Bennett, during a visit to the garden centre at the weekend. The word 'coorie' took me back to my early childhood in a instant ... it's a word that conjures up feelings of warmth and comfort ... so for that reason alone, I had to have this book.

If you are, like me, a devotee of hygge - the Danish way of cosy living - you'll love this book. Forget the tartan and twee that is usually associated with Scotland, this is a beautiful written and illustrated book giving a fresh perspective on Scottish culture.





If you haven't participated in What's On Your Workdesk Wednesday before but fancy joining in the fun do pop over to the Stamping Ground where you can find all the information you need here. It's really too easy, post a photo of your desk, tidy or messy it doesn't matter, and add your link to all the others. It's fun, you'll see.

In the meantime, have a very happy WOYWW and a great week ahead.

What's On Your Workdesk Wednesday - Week 491

Hello Everyone,

Happy last day of October - so sad to see the best month of Autumn gone. I hope you are enjoying the same weather we are here - typically autumnal, chilly, blue sky and a low sun - making it another perfect day for joining in over at Julia's What's On Your Desk - where there will be, as usual, a lot more interesting desks on view then this one of mine.

I found it difficult to get a good shot this morning despite that low sun, and it hasn't improved much even yet, but I hope you can still see the mess on my desk well enough. That teetering pile is of paper, stamps and some speciality glittery sticky-backed film which I've been cutting out for snowflakes. I'd forgotten I had it but after watching this Jennifer McGuires video - prompted by Shaz's seriously distracting WOYWW post last week that ended with me viewing several more of Jennifer's very instructional videos -  I remembered I had just the right supply for glittery snowflakes. I got the two cards at the back made - well almost two, the pink one needs a greeting attached. That's the snowflake dies I used in front, just waiting to be put back in their packaging. On the far left is a Lonely Planet note book and behind it a book on bullet journaling - more later.

Here's the completed card. The glittery sticky-backed film was attached to some thin cardstock to make it easier to die cut but it took several passes through my machine to cut it well enough, even after adding a couple of pieces of card as a shim. I also used wax paper in the die - that did make it easier to release the snowflake. These thin dies aren't always the easiest to cut with.

Now to the book bit. One I have read, the other I've listened to. Both are about Bullet Journaling, or BuJo as it seems to be known as in the crafting world.

First up is the book I read,  'How to Bullet Plan: A Practical Guide' by Rachel Wilkerson Miller.  I've always, from as far back as I can remember kept a diary and/or a journal and also more recently a planner and a 'to-do' list. Not to mention even more recently the various digital systems I've tried out - never successful because I prefer the act of putting pen to paper! The idea of single notebook in which to write it all down appeals. However, it all seems a bit complicated and I'm thinking that there must be an easier way. I'd like to say this book makes it so, Ms Miller writes in a very readable way, taking the reader through various processes to create a journal as simple or as elaborate as wished, but when finished reading I wasn't still sure it was for me.

Which is why I got this audio book.

 'The Bullet Journal Method' by Ryder Carroll. It seems that Mr Carroll is, in fact, the creator of bullet journaling. His personal story, and why he came to develop this organisational system, is interesting. Like me, he has tried everything to get organised - countless apps, systems, planners, you name it. Nothing really worked for him. Until, that is, he created  his own simple system that required only pen and paper, which, like me, he found much more to his liking. 'He shared his method with a few friends, and before long he had a worldwide viral movement. Hundreds of thousands of Bullet Journal fans now spread the word ...'. (Quote from Amazon.) A comprehensive PDF file comes with the audiobook - it's 62 pages long and I'm still reading my way through it.

I'm still trying to work out how to adapt the system to my needs. I'm retired and I'm no longer juggling the demands of family and work, so much of what both authors describe does not apply to me. My life seems so much simpler in comparison until I think about what I need to do and, indeed, what I want to do. I still have appointments, a wish list, a to-do list, and a diary to keep so I'm hoping I can devise something very uncomplicated - it has to be uncomplicated to make the effort worthwhile - by taking ideas from both these books.  I'll give it a try and I'll let you know how I get on.

If you haven't participated in What's On Your Workdesk Wednesday before but fancy joining in the fun do pop over to the Stamping Ground where you can find all the information you need here. It's really too easy, post a photo of your desk, tidy or messy it doesn't matter, and add your link to all the others. It's fun, you'll see.

In the meantime, have a very happy WOYWW and a great week ahead.

What's On Your Workdesk Wednesday - Week 487

Morning Everyone

WOYWW again! All the excuse I need to post a pic of my desk and then go snooping, with the help of Head Desker, Julia, over at the Stamping Ground, around other crafter's desk. And, as promised last week, I'll make it brief - well briefer than usual!

Tidyish! Only because I was gone for the day yesterday so no time to craft and make a mess. I've been making Christmas cards for the last week so what you see are the materials needed - boxes of ProMarkers, Christmas themed stamps and paper pads. Under the pile of paper pads is a box of white scraps - essential for stamping. You've probably seen the stuff at the back - it's a more or less permanent feature, as is the latte ... my new addiction!

Before I go here's the book bit:

The Child by Fiona Barton. This book has very mixed reviews on Amazon but I found it a good read. When an old house in London is being demolished, the body of a small child is found buried in the garden. The story doesn't attract much attention to begin with until a journalist, Kate Waters, spots it and was intrigued enough to follow it up. And it slowly becomes clear that the story behind the tiny skeleton was a lot more complicated than anyone would have thought.

Murder Wears Mittens by Sally Goldenbaum is the 12th book in the Seaside Knitters Society series, but the first I've read by this author. I enjoyed  this book, not least because it is set in Cape Ann, Massachusetts, albeit a fictitious seaside village, an area I'm familiar with. The story centres round a group of knitters who are able to get inside the head of the deceased, a woman they barely knew, just by chatting together and exchanging experiences, as knitters do! The uncovering of the murderer was very satisfying too.

Heavens, I've somehow managed to finish this post before midday ... a first in a very long time! I'd like to say it means I'm turning over a new leaf but really it's a fluke and next week I'll be back to my usual tardiness. Nice while it lasts though!

Have a great WOYWW and a wonderful week ahead.

What's On Your Workdesk Wednesday - Week 479

Afternoon Everyone

Late again! Very late again! And for WOYWW over at Julia's Stamping Ground!!! The fact is that I haven't been anywhere near my desk since this photo was taken early this morning.

It's a mess! The EM and  I have been playing hooky, enjoying lunch out and a trip down to Alloway just for fun. But, I'm here now, refreshed and ready to get scrapping again. Photos, pretty papers, sticker sheets, Brushos and the usual detritus of the scrapper. The keyboard I'm typing on now was balanced precariously at the back there - I've yet to find a satisfactory place for it when not in use.

I've been shopping and thought you might like to see what new stuff I have to play with.

This is the mixed media pack from Mind The Scrap this month. BoBunny  Doubledot Pearlescent Gold drops - similar to Nuvo Crystal Drops I think -  rose coloured Zing embossing powder and American Crafts embossing pens in three sizes - broad, medium and brush tip. I can see I'm going to have to try these out - I'll post the results once I've had a play.

I was at a crop on Sunday. It was fun meeting new crafty ladies and I got a couple of pages made ... that's a bit of a record for me! There was a shop there - so tempting - I succumbed to a tub of textured paste and a pack of small stencil brushes - very useful. Something else to experiment with.




As I said, I had a lovely time at the crop.

Not only did I have fun getting to know these lovely ladies but I also spotted a clever trick for making lettering look extra special ... I'll be giving it a go on a layout soon.


Finally, just one book this week.

I found this book, Summer in Blossom Street by Debbie Macomber very entertaining  to listen to. The owner of A Good Yarn wool shop decided to offer a Knit to Quit class bringing together and interesting mix of people - all with something or someone they want to quit. This book is an easy and entertaining read and the characters were, with the exception of a two-timing ex-fiance, very likable. It's a perfect summer book.

Hope you've all been enjoying WOYWW and that you will have a great week ahead.

What's On Your Workdesk Wednesday - Week 478

Hello Everyone,

I almost missed that it's the first of a new month this morning. Almost! But then I was reminded that it's LLJ's birthday - Happy Birthday lovely lady!!! - and that brought WOYWW to mind too. Altogether a great day!

Here's what my desk looked like this morning.

It's changed a bit but only because, in order to get to the keyboard,  I've shifted the folder of stencils on the left - it's now on top of the RUB on the right. There's more plastic stencils in that brightly coloured pile - a real blast from the past. One of the requirement's of this week's MTS scrapbook challenge is that we use mixed media on our layouts so I'm thinking I might use one or other of them - after so many neglected years. The box I found the stencils in also contained several sets of decorative scissors -  bought in the days before there was any of the fabulous border punches I have today. I might give them a last hurrah before passing them on to my great-niece, Arihanna, who has decided that she wants to make cards just like Auntie - that's me, of course. :)

This challenge is working wonders for my scrapbook albums. Normally I struggle to complete a page in three days but this last week I hit my personal best with eight layouts. Clearly, all I need is a deadline to end my procraftinating. And it's making quite a dent on the pile of photos, both old and new.  There's four in this previous post and here's the last four of the week.

Wintertime

Here on the southwest coast of Scotland we get the most amazing skies, even in winter. These photos of our cherry trees show just how blue the sky can be.

Loved

These photos are from 1969 and that's me, the proud mother, showing off my firstborn - truly he was gorgeous! He will be fifty next year - really, I can hardly believe it myself!

Awesome

Unlike my scientist husband, I don't yearn to travel in space ... it's good old terra firma for me ... but I do think these photos of Scotland from space are fantastic and worth noting.

Daisyduck

My boy again. Here he is 9 months old and that is his much loved baby walker - a duck with a daisy in her hat - hence the name Daisyduck. He was so attached to her that I brought it all the way from Germany to Scotland on the plane, good old British Airways, for a visit of a couple of months at my mother's.

It's not been all scrapping though. I did manage to make this at the craft group on Thursday.

A handy zipped bag. We had a lovely time making these bags - it made a change from what we usually do at the group. For anyone who would like to have a go the instructions can be found on the Noodlehead blog - here's the link.

Finally, this week's books. I gave up on the Isla Dewar book at last and listened instead to these very much more enjoyable ones.

I was drawn to The Book Shop by Penelope Fitgerald after reading Hermione Lee's biography. And I'm so glad I was. It's set in the 1950s in a small Suffolk town where not much ever changes. The main character, Florence, opens a book shop against local, and powerful, opposition. The writing is full of humour and had me laughing out loud even when I was totally exasperated with the 'small town' attitudes portrayed.

I read Five Red Herrings by Dorothy L Sayers many decades ago and enjoyed it then but I didn't remember it as a funny book. This audio book had me chuckling away, sometimes for reasons not intended. It's a full cast dramatisation and, as it's set in the southwest corner of Scotland, many of the characters are Scots. It never fails to amuse me just how bad a job some actors make of the Scottish accent. Aside from that, I really enjoyed following along with Lord Peter Wimsey, as he gathered clues to identify the murderer of a local artist.

Another lengthy post today - it's a rare thing when it's not - I hope Julia will forgive me yet again.

Have a lovely day, what's left of it, and a wonderful week.