In A Vase On Monday - Hello Spring!

The flowers of late winter and early spring 

occupy places in our hearts well out of proportion to their size.

~ Gertrude S. Wister

This week's In A Vase On Monday offering is the tiniest of posies. There's miniature daffodils, Narcissus 'Tête á Tête', cowslips, Primula Veris, and the last of the winter jasmine, Jasminum nudiflorum. Because they are all so tiny, this amber glass jug was the only one I had small enough to hold them. 

And so I say, hello Spring! Surely it won't be too long before I'll be picking the bigger daffodils, followed by celandines and then the bluebells. I can't wait.

And now an update on the second vase I posted last week.

The red stemmed dogwood, Cornus Alba 'Siberian Pearls' has, after being in the red and white polka dot jug for two weeks, has provided me with quite a surprise by not only putting on leaf but also by bursting into flower!

Enjoy your week,

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.

What's On Your Desk Wednesday - The 400th WOYWW

Morning Everyone,

Here we are at the 400th episode of the weekly snoop around the desks of so many crafters brought to us by our Head Desker Julia of What's On Your Desk Wednesday fame. Although I missed last week I just had to join in today to celebrate, together with all of you lovely peeps who regularly show all - deskwise of course - for others vicarious pleasure, such an amazing achievement!

On my desk this week I have the beginnings of a scrapbook layout and I've only just realised that the photo is very Julia too. Her profile pic over at the Stamping Ground has clearly had a subliminal effect!

I've pulled out some very old, but much loved, Graphic45 papers as seen in the basket at the back. The colours are just right for an autumnal photo even though it's a Christmas themed paper pack. Underneath the layout that's my 69 to 70 year album - there has to be a better title for that album but I've yet to think of it. So far I've printed up several weeks worth of photos but otherwise there's been little progress on it - I'm easily distracted.

Talking of distractions, I'm now off to check out all the 400th desks,

Have a very happy WOYWW and a great week.