Sunday Smiles

Hello Everyone,

Hope your Sunday has been good so far. It's raining here - good for the flowers. Typically, I didn't make it to Annie's Friday Smiles again this week. Didn't make it for Saturday either so I thought I'd post what's made me smile this week today. 

First up, the following photos explain why I was really busy yesterday. 

As mentioned in my last post, Alan is learning to knit. He's been inspired by Tom Daley, the Olympic diver and talented knitter. 

It's not coming easy to him but, with the help of YouTube and me, I'm sure he'll master it eventually. I can't wait to show you his first knitted masterpiece. 

Next, our cherry trees have been attracting interest from a large flock of starlings. 

The crop has been amazing this year - so many we've invited all our neighbours to help themselves. 

The starlings must have spotted them, though, oddly, we haven't seen as many of the birds in our garden this year. 

Not a very clear shot but I hope you can spot all the starlings sitting atop my neighbour's roof. This was after they gorged on as many ripe cherries as they could. 

Again, not the best shot. I wasn't quick enough to get the full effect of the murmuration that followed. A fabulous sight. 

And finally, our most exciting family news. My daughter's rottweiler, Ebony, gave birth early this morning.

Six puppies in the litter, four male and two female. One of the females, puppy no. 3, was not doing too well but a quick visit to the vet for treatment and she's doing fine. 

That's it from me. It's not been a bad week with plenty to smile about. Hope you've had an equally good one.

Thanks for visiting - it's much appreciated. 

Have a great week ahead 

Elizabeth

WOYWW - 11th Anniversary, UFO and Covid-19

Hello Everyone,

It's more than a wee while since I joined all you lovely folk - actually it's 7-8 weeks - but when a little birdie (Annie) reminded me that today was a very special day, the 11th anniversary of Julia's What's On Your Workdesk Wednesday. Eleven years!  Eleven years of snooping with permission every Wednesday. Despite my recent absence, I'm delighted to be part of such a wonderful community of crafters - all the more important at this time of social isolation and lockdown. 

Not that there's much been going here. This desk has been much neglected of late. Julia suggested we might like to finish a UFO to mark this anniversary. Not difficult to find UFOs in this house. The difficulty was choosing the one that needed the least effort to finish. I chose this knitted castle.

Now don't laugh! I know, it's quite the most ramshackle castle ever knitted. Not unlike the many ruined Scottish castles that are dotted around our countryside. Hopefully, the little boy it's intended for will enjoy playing with it - together that is, the tiny medieval characters that still have to be knitted.

Here's a close up of the pile of stamps you might have spotted. Just received from Craft Stash yesterday. Very appropriate for the times we are living through. I may be recuperating from the Coronavirus but that doesn't stop goodies falling into those virtual baskets that seem to pop up everywhere online!!! 

I can't possibly finish without thanking everyone who have sent us all the wonderful 'get well' wishes. Too many of you to name but you know who you are. As already noted, I'm recuperating nicely now and getting back to the 'new normal'. However, the EM has been very unwell with the virus, gave us quite a scare for a while there, so much so he had to be rushed to hospital. He's still in the High Dependency Unit but has recovered so well that he's due to be transferred back to the Medical Ward some time today. We're hopeful that, after some physiotherapy, he will be allowed home next week.

And finally, this package of emergency rations was delivered today. A delicious surprise from my wee sister - yum, yum.

Happy Anniversary to you all and a huge thanks to Julia for taking the time and making the effort to keep us WOYWWing through the good and the bad times.

Take care and stay safe everyone.

WOYWW - Week 561

Hello Everyone

Wednesday again and, surprise, surprise, I can report it's another lovely day. We have wall-to-wall spring sunshine. Just what the doctor ordered! And so it's a perfect day to join in with Julia's What's On Your Workdesk Wednesday. Here's what's on my desk today.

Yet another scrapbook layout. Well, two, one complete and the other just waiting for a bit of tweeking and some journaling to explain the ancient (1966) photo. There's also a pile of scraps that didn't make the layout. I need to decide whether to keep or toss. Decisions, decisions! On my daily walk (now that the weather is better) I popped into Tesco's and discovered the two new notebooks - I think it's been said before, I'm a sucker for pretty covered notebooks. So that's two more to add to the collection. Perched, teetering, on top of the tray filled with embellishments, is this new set of stamps.

Clearly Besotted's April Showers - a magazine freebie - contains 25 stamps and a five piece die set. Not sure when I'll use any of it but they appealed to me, my resistance is low, so I had to buy. More stamps to add to the new filing system I've just made a start on. 

Here's a close up of the hidden layout.

The photo is of our very photogenic great-niece, Freya, enjoying a delicious but messy hot chocolate.The photo is a favourite of Tracy, her mum, and we can see why - it shows Freya's bubbly personality perfectly.

The hat I started a couple of weeks ago - mentioned in Week 559 is finished. The flower, a perfect match, was a gift from a talented knitting friend. 

And finally, not the book bit. It will be back soon but in the meantime:

Just a few images that made me chuckle - hope you like them too.

That's it from me this week. I'm off now to see what Julia and our fellow deskers have been showing us today.

Take care everyone and have a great week ahead.

WOYWW - Week 559

Hello Everyone,

What's On Your Workdesk Wednesday seems to come round a day earlier every week. I spotted some of you in my feed yesterday. Well done to all the early deskers but I just can't keep up - I'm like the coo's tail - always behind!

Photo taken yesterday evening. The craftroom sorting is still ongoing and it's the turn of the enamel drops which, up till now, have been kept in an absolute guddle in a pretty, but pretty useless, tin. So, I've found a better box - once an office index box - and created dividers with tabs made with a die from Crafter's Companion's Die'sire Essentials 'Just the Ticket' set.

Another pic from yesterday. I used markers in the nearest shades to the colours of those delicious dots.

And here's what's on the desk this morning! All dots filed and looking tidy. It's good but I'm thinking it's needs a bit more thought. However, it will have to do for now because there's a lot more sorting to do. Sigh.

And then there's this. The recent storms and the continuing horrible weather has me wanting more cosy knitted hats. One of the ladies in my Thursday craft group gave me this mammoth ball of yarn she no longer loved. Happily, I do love it. It's a lovely shade of purple with the added interest from random flecks of colour too. It's nice and chunky too - so quick to knit up. The pattern is a very easy one I've knitted a few times now - it doesn't require a lot of concentration so perfect while TV viewing.

And finally today ...

The EM has been busy. Daughter Juli was looking for a spice rack, admired the one in our kitchen, mentioned how expensive the one's she's been looking at are. Et voila! One custom made spice shelf for the use of. Delighted daughter, happy dad!

That's it from me this week. I'm off now to see what Julia and our fellow deskers have been showing us today.

Take care everyone and have a great week ahead.

What's On Your Workdesk Wednesday - Week 492

Hello Everyone

I'm betting a few other WOYWWers have said this too, Wednesday already! Where have the last seven days gone? What's On Your Workdesk Wednesday seems to come round sooner every week. Could be I'm feeling the pressure now that it's only a few weeks to Christmas - so much to do, so little time.

My desk this morning, There's still a teetering pile to the right. That's an unfinished scrap layout just about balancing on the top. I'm uncertain how to finish it so it's there to remind me that I really should. The set of stamps, alphas and patterned paper might possibly be of use. That's my bullet journal, a work in progress, to the left. I've put a leaf punch to work as a temporary paperweight. What made me choose this Lonely Planet notebook is that it has quotations sprinkled throughout - all travel related in some way. Today's is - 'Not until we are lost do we begin to understand ourselves.' - Henry David Thoreau

Still on the desk, at the back, is the card I was working on last week, and just to the left are the supplies used. 

It's finished now, of course. Very pink!

Sock knitting has had to be abandoned in favour of knitting this medieval castle. It's for a little boy who will, I hope, love playing with the little characters. Three towers done so far, two more to do and, of course, all those tiny people.

My little trays of promise! Clearing out a garden shed I discovered a box of old seeds and decided to sow them in the hope that some are still viable. Either they will grow or they won't but I figured I had very little to lose by trying. I could end up with a lovely lot of bedding next year.

Finally, the book bit. I've been bingeing on thrillers. After the Alan Turing book I needed something less academic although I can't call any of these light relief.

I can only describe David Jackson's 'A Tapping At My Door' as a grim read. A serial  killer in Liverpool is murdering his victims in the most gruesome manner, and it becomes apparent to the detective assigned to the case that the threat isn't to the people of Liverpool - it's to the police.

'Painting the Darkness' by Robert Goddard is a historical mystery set in the late 19th century. The audio book is read by Michael Kitchen, he of Foyle's War. He has the perfect voice for a Victorian tale. The story is full of the twists and turns and the ending is truly shocking.

Elizabeth Haynes' 'Into the Darkest Corner' is a chilling psychological thriller about an abusive relationship and it's aftermath of OCD suffered by the main character, Cathy. Elizabeth Haynes worked for many years as a police analyst and I think it shows in the way the book is written. 

I found this last book very hard to put down, as the EM would attest to should you ask him. It's the one that will stay with me for the longest time, that's for sure.

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 489

Hello Everyone,

I hope you are having a lovely day. Here the sun is shining and the day looks promising but that isn't stopping me from participating, bearing all, in Julia's What's On Your Desk. Actually, for reasons mentioned in previous posts so I won't bore you with repetition, not much has changed in the last couple of weeks so here it is in all it's messy glory.

Mainly it's covered in piles of festive stamps and packs of patterned paper. I'd like to say I've made a ton of cards but, truth time, I haven't. I've just been plugging away whenever I found the odd moment. Without the EM to take up the slack, domestic duties have had to take precedence. Not that I'm complaining - it is what it is!

However! I have managed a bit more knitting - something to do in the evening, on the sofa, in front of the TV. My very first sock, ever, is coming along very nicely indeed and I've just started to turn the heel. I have high hopes of finishing the pair before 2019.

Finally, here's the book bit.

Just the one today - Alan Turing: The Enigma by Andrew Hodges. This biography of the founder of computer science is a huge listen - almost 31 hours - so I assume that it's a long read too. A heavy one too - the maths is incredibly detailed! However, I have to say it is a fascinating account of an extraordinary mind and life. Given my background in military communications and computer operation it's just my cup of tea, but it may not be for everyone. Turing developed his revolutionary concept, as early as 1936, of a universal machine and this led eventually to the foundation for the modern computer - the very technology we bloggers rely on today. And his role in breaking the German Enigma ciphers at Bletchley Park during World War II is also fascinating. I'm still listening, I did say it's a long book, so haven't yet reached the part where he is  persecuted by the establishment for his homosexuality and, as a result, his sad ending ...

As I mentioned earlier, I've been working on cards recently and scrapbooking has been neglected but that's about to change. I have, a tad impulsively, signed up for the Mind The Scrap cyber crop taking place this weekend - yes, the whole weekend! It promises to be intense but fun. I'm looking forward it.

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.

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.

What's On Your Workdesk Wednesday - Week 486

Hello Everyone

It's been a while. I did try to write a WOYWW post the Wednesday I was in Wales but found it impossible to insert photos from my phone. There was broadband available in the cottage but only when the wind was in the right direction and stars in alignment!!! And then I got sick. It meant we had to cut our holiday short. Such a shame because we loved the hills, the fields and the hundreds of sheep, that surrounded us and there's so much to see and do around Llandudno too. Happily, I'm recovering and have started getting out and about once more. Feeling more like flexing my crafting muscles again too. Not that there's much sign of that on my desk, as you can see.

There's a pack of fine tip glue applicators and two new dies ordered from Amazon and only just arrived before we left for Wales. They are on my 'must try' list. Everything else at the back you've seen before - not much change there. The box at the front contains the pages made in the cottage - seven in total. Not bad considering the many distractions there were on holiday, including the sheep.

I can't claim that they were made at the WOYWW crop ... it's well documented that very little crafting is actually done on the day! No, most were made in the evenings on this tiny round table in the cottage. It's surprising what can be done with limited supplies and lots of determination. However, I did make a start on this page at the crop - it wasn't finished until the following day. .

The photo is of my father and his siblings taken at a wedding in the 1980s - the last time they all got together. Almost all are gone now - just one uncle, the one in the dark grey suit, survives. The photo brings back some lovely memories of the family and they look so smart in their wedding outfits too.






So it's obvious that there's not been much action in the craft room but I have managed to do some knitting.

I did start this little hat and cowl set while on holiday but only got around to finishing it yesterday. I was lucky to find the button in my stash. I think it will fit my youngest great-granddaughter perfectly.

On a role, I've started another hat. This mohair type yarn was a gift from a friend and it's lovely to work with - love the colours. Tempted to keep this one for myself!

And isn't this the most wonderful collection of knitting needles - some very old indeed. They were offered up free on a local Facebook site and because I have so very few sets of needles I snapped them up. I gave my daughter a very similar collection many years ago because I had lost interest in knitting and thinking I'd never use them again. How wrong could I be! My interest has been revived by the ladies at the Thursday craft group, many of whom are very experienced knitters.

And talking of knitting, needles and wool, look what came back with me from Wales. Well, it would have been rude to leave them there. These two kits are from a lovely little yarn shop, Find me Knitting, Betws-y-coed, that specialises in natural yarns like these. The pack contains Ada 100% Peruvian Highland Wool - how exotic is that - and the crocheted cowl pattern was designed by the yarn shop owner, Valerie, especially for this wool. The other kit of 4ply fingering, pattern and needles, is for socks ... yes, I'm going to attempt to knit my first pair of socks!!! Those needles are tiny - not sure I've not bitten of more than I can chew here!

And finally, because I know some of you like to read about them, two books I've been listening to recently:

'A Stash of One's Own' compiled by Clara Parkes. As crafters we know what stash is, it's our collection of paper, tools, embellishments etc. We take it for granted that every new purchase adds to our stash but I'd never associated the concept with knitting. After all you buy the yarn and knit up the intended item before buying more yarn for the next project Yes. No! Not so, as is evident from the the kits I bought back from Wales. I now have a small wool stash. And it's clear from the contributors to this book that I'm not alone. Shocking, enlightening and very entertaining.

'Walking with Peety' by Eric O'Grey. I loved this book. The subtitle 'the dog who saved my life' isn't an exaggeration. I quote, 'Eric was 150 pounds overweight, depressed, and sick. After a lifetime of failed diet attempts and the onset of type 2 diabetes due to his weight, Eric went to a new doctor, who surprisingly prescribed a shelter dog. And that's when Eric met Peety: an overweight, middle-aged, and forgotten dog who, like Eric, had seen better days. The two adopted each other and began an incredible journey'. This is a book that confirms the truism - a dog is man's best friend.


Well, I've gone on a bit today but I hope you and Julia, The Stamping Ground, will forgive me as it's been a while and I had so much to share with you all. Next week should be a lot shorter.

Hope you have a great WOYWW and a wonderful week ahead.