What's On Your Workdesk Wednesday - The 70th Birthday One

Evening Everyone,

This has got to be the fastest post ever because I have only a few minutes to spare. It's been a bit of a whirlwind day because, as many of you will know, it's my birthday, and there's been a lot of celebrating going on. But I just had to participate, however late, with Julia's WOYWW, over at The Stamping Ground, so that I could thank everyone who has sent birthday wishes. They've turned what could have been the most depressing day - 70 seems so ancient - into a not so bad after all.

So it won't take too much guessing to work out what was on my desk today.

These are the beautiful handmade cards I've received from some very talented crafters - many of whose desks frequently appear on WOYWW.

Not from a crafter but stunning nonetheless so I thought I'd share them with everyone.

Aren't they gorgeous? They're from my son, his wife and daughter. They know me so well because down the side of the box they arrived in was a little surprise.

Belgian chocs. A lovely treat for someone who really shouldn't!

That's me for today. I said it would be quick. The day is running out fast so I'll be along tomorrow to check your desks and leave as many comments as I can.

In the meantime, hope you've had a very happy WOYWW and I wish you all a very good week ahead.

In A Vase On Monday - Winter Jasmine

One of the gateways to the path that goes along the riverside in town is edged on one side with a very old winter jasmine, jasminum nudiflorum. Passing yesterday I spotted it was in full flower so, just as soon as we returned home, I rushed down to the bottom of the long border to see how our own, much younger, jasmine was doing. 

It wasn't exactly covered in flowers, only the one fully opened, but there along the stems was tiny yellow tipped buds ... the promise of more to come. Maybe I should have waited a bit longer but I always look forward to bringing this bit of winter cheer indoors so I clipped just a few snippets and, because they were short, the only 'vase' suitable was this tiny green snail jug.

To encourage the stems to stay upright, I had to put some glass pebbles in the base of the jug - that did the trick. I have great hopes that these stems will last until the end of the week - possibly longer.

I did intend joining in with Cathy's In a Vase on Monday last week but a family crisis prevented it so here's a few photos of the vase that didn't make it.

It's a tied posy made up of a mix of the expected and the unexpected for this time of the year. The unexpected - red 'Faithful', peach 'Simply the Best' and lilac 'Violet Cloud' rosebuds, white self-seeded miniature antirrhinums, deep pink escallonia rubra blossoms and even one last white sweet pea still in flower in November. The expected - rose hips, berries of skimmia, sprigs of viburnum 'Eve Price' and a few bits of osmanthus x burkwoodii for foliage. 

The little posy has lasted very well and this despite the very necessary central heating. The temperature plummeted to zero degrees during last week and we've had our first snowfall of the year already. This bad weather means that I haven't been spending much time in the garden - it's time to concentrate on indoor gardening up here in Ayrshire. 

To see many more delightful vases do pop over to Rambling in the Garden.

Friday Smiles

Hello Smilers

I hope you have all had a wonderful week full of reasons to join in with Annie's Friday Smiles. Mine has been a busy week with plenty to smile about and I have a few photos to share.

First up is this one of me modelling a scarf I've just finished knitting.

Not the most flattering of photos - I don't make a great model - but you can see the scarf which I'm really proud off. I used to be a prolific knitter but after developing very painful arthritis in my early thirties I was advised to stop. And I did stop - for 38 years! However, about a year ago I noticed that my arthritis was far less painful and discovered that it had either burned itself out or it was in remission. Whichever it is, I'm happy because I have been able to take up knitting again. It's a bit like learning to swim, I haven't forgotten how to do it but I do need a bit of practice. So I started with a simple garter stitch scarf - as can be seen in my last post - and moved on up to this asymmetrical scarf that involves a lot of increasing and decreasing. Another little success which makes me smile. Incidentally, I look so much like my mother this could be a photo of her and not me.

Next up, some photos from the garden, taken early this morning. Our first snow.

The last was taken looking down into what we call the woodland area. Front left is the bug hotel - hopefully it will keep lots of creepy crawlies cosy through the winter. Not that the snow will last long. It's already being washed away by rain but what little there was this morning was enough to get me excited!

Finally from the garden.

Simply beautiful and guaranteed to make me smile.

And finally, finally, the funnies.

That's my smiles this week. I'm off out to have lunch with my grandson now so I wont be able to visit your smiley posts until later but thanks for dropping in. I hope you have a wonderful weekend and a very happy week ahead.