WOYWW #682

 Busy, busy, feeling ill, lethargy, busy, busy . . . . . what a week!!!

Fortunately, I made it here . . . . the most important place to be on a Wednesday!

The Desk . . . . .

Yes, I know . . . . messy!

And off to the side . . . .

I'm having a good time, oh! so good!

The aim is to make seven ATCs.

Yup! Seven.

Starting with Masterboards . . . . well, once you start . . . you end up praying your paint either runs out or dries up!!

I won't show you any more, that will all come in a separate post . . . . promise!

I am able to sit for the longest times at my desk now, the bruising and swelling is almost gone and the massive, awful pain in my lower back  . . . . kidney stones!  

Although I can sit at my desk for longer times, I have to keep getting up because I am having to drink a lot more to break down the stones . . . . and we all know what that means for ladies of a certain age!  lol

Which means that everything is hunkydory round here, for the time being anyway!

Such a pity that Blogger doesn't yet understand about font size being consistent!!

 The screen . . . 

Love that dress . . . .

WOYWW #681

WOYWW?  What's On Your Workdesk Wednesday of course!  The day I go travelling round as many desks as I can to see what other folks have been up to and, of course, my Thanks go to Julia at Stamping Ground for enabling so many desks and lifestyles to be shared each week.  Thank you. 

The desk

This is how it looked earlier . . . . . very much earlie!

I am creating Black and White ATCs for a swap.  I found a masterboard made some time ago, some die cuts with a vague idea in mind.

The last of my Cappucino pods so onto Latte Macchiato, I don't have a preference.

The screen

So very true . . . . 

UPDATED

This is current . . . . few minutes ago . . . . couldn't resist . . .

The yellow paper is being used as lights behind the windows . . . . . that's the idea anyway . . . ..

After the rain . . .

 Walking the estate this morning I was surprised at the difference a day makes.

It's not much but there is hope . . . . 

My vegetable patch circa 2020

After a couple of weeks digging . . .  hoe, hoe, hoeing actually! . . . . and planting . . . . April 2022

Under the Apple trees as well . . . .

Today I find there are signs of the results!

Broad Beans, Cabbages and Peas!!!

Two months!

Mother Nature is wonderful!

I also have Radishes . . . .

. . . . .they are not mine.  

They were seeds sown back in April by Dx. 

He tested them out in May . . . . .

and today . . .

harvest time is coming!

Hello cards

 While lying awake listening to OJ Borge on Radio 2, I had a thought on how to use up some of my stash of cards.  I quickly scribbled them down, in the dark so 'scribble' is the correct term, and then fell asleep..... Sorry OJ.

Next morning, I sorted out a very old paper pad and some cards from my stash.  I added in some card strips and really old alphabet stamps.....

I then spent a happy half hour, until I had to give up and go  lie down, making up some usable cards, if not by me then for the Church. 

Little bit different, simple but interesting . . .

New additions to the plant theatre.

This post was written up two days before Gardeners World  

I have removed the Heucheras ready to go to Tyseley Station in the Autumn and this left rather a large gap on the shelves. 

I went into the greenhouse to see if any plants in there were suitable to come outside.  Nearly all the bulbs were shooting away and also the geraniums.

Perfect I think. 

Looking good

Gardeners World 2022

 Well we arrived there eventually!  Every year we spend some time just driving around . . . . no matter who takes us, no matter who we ask directions . . . .

It was a warm day but overcast so not too bad.  We headed for the Floral Marquee to start so that we could look at all the floral displays.  I won't bore you with descriptions, you can probably see most of them on Gardeners World TV!

I think my Gladioli will be blind this year and my new bulbs are too small so I thoroughly enjoyed this display.

We started out very controlled, we had a list.  I wanted two Clematis and DDC wanted an Eryngium (go look it up).

Simples!!

Ha!  This is Gardeners World!!

We spotted a Heuchera stand!  So that was three we needed (to complete our collections!)

Then we came to the Fuchsia Stand . . . .a couple of these went into the bag . . .

Then we stopped for lunch, sharing a shady grassy space with others having picnics.  After lunch we decided to head over towards the market pop-ups.  DDC managed to find a Show Guide, (count the steps!), on the way . . . 

While we were sitting, I had noticed a stall nearby selling garden ornaments . . . . the love (after plants) of my life!

We had a look to see what they were selling, I would have loved the large stained glass windmill but, at £117, I thought it might be too heavy to carry round!!  lol 

We bought some novelties . . . . gnomes and such like . . .

Another solar light ?! . . . .

We did try to work out what he has been up to . . .

This reminded us of someone who enjoyed a glass of wine . . .

...... someone who enjoyed more than one glass of wine . . . .

It's Pink!

 

By the time we reached the Plant Market the clouds had cleared a bit so we moved a bit sharpish into the shade.

DDC spotted a gorgeous houseplant, and I bought a Venus Flytrap plant for the boys . . . . boys always seem to like that sort of thing . . . 

Then, after a while, DDC spotted her Eryngium and also a white one!!!   Bonus, bonus!

Not much to show compared to other years . 

While she was queuing to pay I carried on and then found another Heuchera stand . . . . This time there was Keylime (FYI brilliant green, especially at twilight) and  . . . .

. . . a bronze Fennel.  Happy memories there . . .Hover Flies can't keep away . .  seed heads on a bbq (takes away the smell of starter fuel) . . .In the bag!!

It was getting very hot by then, I was tiring and felt I was spending more time sitting on 'Walter' than walking . . .

We decided to head for home.

We sat for a while in the cool, cool walkthrough and chatted . . .  watching the fashions and the plants passing by . . 

A lot of dresses were about this year, some were stunning, some unusual, some 'what was she thinking!'

We couldn't decide which won the title of Show Plant, there was lots of choices . . . . . majority were in those little square trolleys, ones you buy and use then forget to bring the next year!!  lol

There were a fair few Calla Lillies.  Mostly shades of yellow and brown, maybe a few dark reds.

We did spot a few of the presenters, a cheer went up whilst we were in the Floral Marquee . . . . . Alan Titchmarsh on stage . . 

Several were mobile, stopping at the gardens etc. to point out flowers of interest.   Inside the Subscribers' Area, Monty Don was giving a talk.

I understand the 'girls' will be there today . . . . they will definitely need their hats!!

After I had had a rest at home, I unpacked my purchases and introduced the wee folk to their new home . . . .

My plant theatre is outside my kitchen window, it was built to house my Auriculas but I had a few vine weevils who took a fancy to the roots.

Now days plants 'to move on' live there and the wee folk live on the shelves and pots.  

The original fairies were given to me many years ago by a dear friend, I think you guess what century.

The plant theatre enables me to potter all year round, and nowadays, some one to talk to . . 

I blame Asda . . .  they started it!

. . .makes a change from the fish and/or the birds!  ha! ha!

I do have a couple of grown ups . . .

WOYWW #680

 Good Morning!  Bright, sunny and not too hot at this time of the day . . . . .

If you read my earlier post you will remember my desk looked like this . . . .

Well, said can of Stick Away turned up . . . . I was actually looking for something else at the time!!

So this  . . . 

 . . . . and this . . .

Turned into this . . .

 . . . and this!

Wonderful large clear desk space!!

All ready now to be crafted on during this hot weather.  Not tomorrow though as my Christmas Present matures and I'm off to Gardeners World . . . . . with Walter the Walker of course!!   Plenty of water and a gorgeous hat will be there as well . . . . and, for company, DDC who instigated it  . . . .

My screen now features this . . . .

Apt!!

Creeping Desk Mat

 When I moved into this room I inherited PJ's desk . . . . .which he had customised of course!!

The cutting mat was stuck . . . and I mean stuck . .  to the desk top, which was a shame as it is a good old fashioned desk.

Slowly over the months I have tried to detach said mat from the desk top . . . . . I am sure if I could find just one of the many sticky tape remover cans it would be quicker  . . . .  but for now it is inch by inch.

Today I managed to be able to remove the mat and move it six inches to the right . . . . . "so?" do I hear you say?  

Moving it six inches means I have a larger play area . . . . .woop! woop!

When you think of this in the great scheme of things, it may not be much but one thing I HAVE learnt is that the well known plasterers tape (you know  .  . for corners of walls not just for texture in mixed media!) is absolutely great at sticking!

Here's to the next move . . .  hopefully one of those cans will have turned up to help me . . . .

WOYWW #679

Just a quick pop in today I'm afraid.  The medication has hit in and I am trying to catch up with everything. . . . . .

The Desk

Yes, there is actual crafting going on!!  woop, woop!

These dies and stamps were a prize in a competition . . . . six years ago . . . . I have used the stamps but the dies,  well, they sort of got passed over.

Shopping my stash gives me all this 'new' stuff . . . marvellous!

Bully boy is my wallpaper this week.  The Birmingham Bull in the BullRing Shopping Centre dresses up for all sorts of occasions . . . . and we love it!

Short and sweet this week, if you feel the need to see more desks of mayhem, or not, Check the tab at the top of the page . . . . takes you to our Queen of the Desks - Julia at Stamping Ground.

Talking of Queen . . . . . just love the Royal Mail Platinum Jubilee Issue . . . . . couldn't miss this set!!

1st June 2016

 Ironic that this should come to mind at this time . . . .

Many years ago on a Paris visit, I had some exciting finds in the market.

See here to read all about it . . 

http://bishopsmate1.blogspot.com/2014/06/paris-5-at-market-again.html

I have been watching all the celebrations on the TV, no street parties in our road . . .  it's a busy cut through and the traffic has only one speed - fast!

I am also having some building work done . . . .

I was commenting on Faith's blog- http://daffodil-faitha.blogspot.com/2022/06/celebration.html -remembering how the Coronation was for me when I thought of this little memento.

One of my best days in that market - bricante - so many happy, happy browsing days there . . . . having the Charolais- https://foursquare.com/v/le-charolais/4c29cd0ee19720a10ffaf958/photos -close by was a big help . . . . I could leave PJ safely ensconced and browse to my heart's content!!

happy days . . . . .

WOYWW #678

Rushing in  . . . .  nah!  couldn't rush to save my life!

The Desk

I am not spending much time at my desk.  I still can't sit up straight for long so only the necessities are dealt with.                                                             

                

I am trying to catch up with my Vintage Trains work, I am a month behind and every one these days needs funds, steam engines are no different.

I am staying upstairs as much as I can . . . . . .

This work was pencilled in a long time ago . . . . should've been done years ago . . . .now is a good time!

My screen wall paper is a photo taken at one of our happiest times . . . . . I won't go into details but I was exceptionally proud of that man just then . . . . 

It warms my heart every time I look at it.