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.

In A Vase On Monday - Warning

When I am an old woman I shall wear purple

With a red hat which doesn't go, and doesn't suit me.

                                                                                      Jenny Joseph, 'Warning'

The inspiration for this week's In A Vase On Monday was sparked by spotting this brilliant combination of purple crocus and the bright red foliage on our photinia Christmas Berry, photinia x fraseri Red Robin.

Red and purple are not colours I would ordinarily plant together, never mind wear, but on a dull day like today this combination is guaranteed to lift the spirits. It also reminded me so much of both Jenny Joseph's ode to nonconformity and my late mother - this was one of her favourite poems. Not that she could ever be accused of nonconformity but she did wear purple and red together - just not a red hat. The hat is mine!

Moments after bringing the crocus indoors they were fully opened like this. They are displayed in a tiny gold decorated jug that is part of a very elegant coffee service which was given to me by a dear friend when she left Scotland a few years ago to live in America.

Last week's daffodils have gone over but, because we have so many still in bud I'm able to replace them and so the display goes on, at least for another week or so. The temperature is rising here in Ayr and we've seen quite a bit of the old sun over the last week but today has been colder than yesterday and rain is forecast for the coming week so whether I'll be able to do much gardening is questionable. We shall see.

Enjoy your gardening week.

Friday Smiles

Morning Smilers,

I hope you have all had a very happy week with lots to smile about. As it's Friday I'm joining Annie at A Stitch In Time with this post showing just a little of what has made me smile this week.

First up is this little guy.

He's Clarence and he was in bits on Wednesday but I've had time to sew him together and give him a tail. Why Clarence? Well, he's just a little cross-eyed and those of you as old as me might just remember the popular TV series called Daktari (c1966) which featured a cross-eyed lion called, you've probably guessed, Clarence.

Next up are some photos taken at Corsehill Park & Gardens where the crocus are out in all their glory.

 There must be thousands as they have spread throughout the entire length and breadth of the park!

Crocus as far as the eye can see.

Just a few of the different colours/varieties I found.

Himself  enjoying a bit of a rest among the crocus.

Tip-toeing through the tulips crocus!

Finally, in the same garden these very gnarled tree roots.

When I was a child I played in a woodland that had many old trees with roots like these. I was a very imaginative child, head full of Enid Blyton's stories of fairies and pixies, so to me these roots were fairy villages. My favourite game was to imagine that they made their homes in the nooks and crannies the roots provided. I'm grown up now but I still can't see these root formations without hoping for a glimpse of the little people - you never know, Enid Blyton could have been telling us the truth!

No funnies today but I hope the above photos make you smile too.

Have a wonderful weekend.

Saturday Smiles

Happy Saturday,

Hope you are enjoying your day, and your weekend so far. I've been busy these last two days so not had much time and even less energy to post here. Even missed Annie's Friday Smiles but thought I'd catch up today, so here goes with the things that made me smile this week.

On Sunday we took a trip to nearby Bellisle Estate to see the recently restored Conservatory.

The first conservatory was built in 1879, it was rebuilt in 1955, closed in 2005, rescued again in 2010 and finally reopened in July 2016. It is now filled with beautiful flowers and plants and is looking fabulous. However, a new tiled floor, in the style of the original, is being laid so, unfortunately, it's temporarily closed to the public, opening again at Easter. Because of that, we had to make do with walking around it and peeking through the windows to see how the work is progressing.

This is one of the side doors to the conservatory - it has a very intriguing sign attached.

And here's the explanation:

Being under the flight path for Prestwick Airport we are used to all sorts flying overhead but this has got to be the most unusual to date!

We also spotted these very welcome signs of Spring.

Snowdrops

Crocus

Just what we need after all the bad weather we've been getting.


Yesterday I had to go into town and was delighted to discover this fabulous, newly opened, vintage shop,

I like nothing better than a good rootle around shops like these.

Looking at what the EM refers to as yesterday's cast offs.  I tell him that there's treasure to be had in a shop like this, and I was right.

I couldn't resist these beautiful hand embroidered cloths. I can just imagine the time it took to stitch all the lazy daisies, the roses and the bluebirds.

And having just rediscovered the pleasure of hand knitting I was delighted to find these three patterns in a stack of old books and leaflets. Now I just need to find time, and the yarn, of course, to knit them up :)

Finally, found online this seemed appropriate.

Wishing you a very happy week full of reasons to smile.