Fishpond

Going out to the chickens has not been too bad today.  Everything is still frozen but most of the snow has gone, the little path to the bird feeders has patches of ice to be avoided but otherwise, it's not too cold.

I have given the chooks half a melon with their food today, just in case they were thirsty and couldn't wait for me to change their water . . . .  it was soon devoured!!

As I came back into the garden I noticed that the fish pond was a bit frozen over . . . 

There are some fish still in there, just about see them as they are at the bottom of the pond.  Thank goodness the pumps are still working so that the pond doesn't freeze over completely.

The ice itself is fascinating, I don't recall ever seeing the pond like this but . . . . I would not normally be out in this weather . . . . PJ's chickens, PJ's fish!!!

Close up there are weird shapes down this side, one can 'see' almost a fish dived into the water . . .  down there on the left, just its tail showing . . . .  wonder if it's a tiny mermaid!!

Looking at the ice from another angle . . . . .

such works of art . . . . beautiful . . . .

WOYWW #610

WOYWW - All the deets on how to link up etc. and, more importantly, why you should, can be found at the top of the page.  Thank you Julia for hosting another week of fun and mayhem.

This really is a WOYWW photo.  There are more but I don't have the patience to wait for them to download.  I have taken them this morning but to get them onto my laptop will take a good deal more time . . . time . . .  something that appears to be in really short supply.

The desk . . . .

Sorry about the photo, too early for the sun to rise, although it was the brightness of the snow shining through my curtains that woke me.

Well, the next one has downloaded . . . 

My new wallpaper is of the island just up the road from me.  It has several trees, bare and sparse, growing on the grassy knoll.  I found this photo of the trees in full bloom, yes!  not too long now surely!  I find that just the thought of Spring cheers me up!!

And another . . .  .On the right side of my desk are my printouts for some of this month's ATC swaps . . . . those insects just make me laugh and I hope the recipients enjoy them as much.

Wow! yet another!

These are some printouts ready for half term occupation . . .  good ideas are always acceptable in the grandee's household.  Apparently these are called Agamographs . . . . no idea how to pronounce it . . . English would stress the second syllable and American, which seems to be more popular nowadays, would stress the first . . . . the choice is yours . . . . 

Anyhow, I think the idea is that once coloured it is then folded to make two pictures . . . 

Keen eyes will spot the new toy slightly forward, it has had some good use this past week . . . still loving it!  

I wish you all a happy WOYWW, have a good week, don't fall over in the snow (if it's down your way!) . . . . . .

Filing!

I don't mind filing, it's one of those things that makes life easier when it's done.

I spent some time last week catching up on sorting out the piles of paperwork etc. that I keep accumulating . . . . . I don't do it on purpose, they just sortof appear!! 

One pile of stamps, a couple of folders and boxes, soon sorted so that the pile has gone and there is one folder which I can skip through to find my stamp.  I must admit that I didn't realise I had so many stamps!  

What's that??  

You know the feeling, right.

I do enjoy going through my folder when I need  . . . a bird? . . . . note down which box they're in and then find them, use them and put back . . . . well, maybe not always put back straight away!!!

WOYWW #609

 WOYWW - All the deets on how to link up etc. and, more importantly, why you should, can be found at the top of the page.  Thank you Julia for hosting another week of fun and mayhem.

It all seems so long ago . . . . now it's a permanent fixture on my desk . . .

I spent a great day testing it out, it being my Kit 'n' Caboodle Pro cut, slides out onto the desk for use and then slides back.  The plates just fit between Kit and the printer, perfik!

Since then it has been paperwork, paperwork, paperwork all the way.  

I did manage spend a short amount of time on the web, doesn't take me long to spend a bit of money . . . .

I don't know whether this will discourage or encourage folks to treat me like an idiot . . . .

On Sunday, I had a visitor for the day  . . . . 

a self proclaimed Ninja . . . .

then a Ninja in disguise appeared!!!

We had such fun . . . . . this piece of material was going to be used as pyjama trousers for the Polar Express . . . then came covid19 . . .

Nice to see it being used . . . .  lol

Just a review . . . . .

Having spent two, yes two, hours trying to get through to someone at HSBC, I managed to speak to wonderful Claire on the Bereavement Line.  When I first phoned for help, there was a 20 minute waiting time . . .  ok, understandable . . . . after 22mins the line cuts dead.  OK, maybe I touched a button on my phone, has been known . . . . ring again . . .  after 22mins the line cuts dead. A third time . . . Ohhhh! that's why there's a 20mins waiting time . . . .

Anyway after speaking with Claire who sorted everything out, I was still all huffed up and upset and then the Hermes man came .. . left a parcel in my porch . . . 

Most peculiar how a box can change your whole attitude, wellbeing even!!

So here it is . . . . . my Kit . . . I am not endorsing any product here, just saying what happened and what I used . . . . these products are my own personal choices . . . . . . 

She was upstairs into the craftroom and working like a good'un . . . .

She diecut and embossed like a dream . . . diecut big and small, embossed big and small . . .. 

Small old dies, large new dies  . . . .

   

Small embossing folders, large embossing folders . . . .

I just sat there, fed her and . . . .  felt so happy again!!

It's a very heavy machine (to me -  I'm a bit of a wimp!) so it will sit on my desk and not move much, I am also worried that I will forget the wire comes out of the side . . . . 

My OCD is just about coping with the die damage but as the plates are labelled, in a corner and clearly, I should only have the damage on one of them.

No complaints here, I am so pleased I bought it, so much backache from standing and turning the handle will now be averted . . . .  I may have to find a new home for my Embossing and Die Folders . . . . . somewhere nearer to hand . . . . in my viewline . . . .  know what I mean?!?!  lol

WOYWW #608

WOYWW - All the deets on how to link up etc. and, more importantly, why you should, can be found at the top of the page.  Thank you Julia for hosting another week of fun and mayhem.

Well, this will be a surprise so I hope you are sitting down . . . .

PJ and I were in discussion about whether to buy an electronic machine or not.  He was a "if you want it, buy it" sort of guy.  I was a "do I really need it - do I like it, want it or need it".  If it didn't come under the need heading it didn't get bought, so the machine remained under discussion.

I used my Vagabond the other day and I have to say that it was a real struggle and when I saw this machine (printout just showing on top of the pile), with a smallish footprint, on tv . . . . . I was sold!!  The colour is just right, won't clash with my hair if you know what I mean!  lol

So the desk is cleared ready for my new friend . . . 

The pile of papers are various 'in progress' projects: 6021 Magazine has an Obituary to PJ which I am scanning to send to my SIL, there are some 'in progress' cards all ready to put together, a couple of stamps bought by mistake which I am sending to a friend etc.

I shall no doubt be using my nice new dies and embossing folders to ensure that the machine works to my satisfaction . . . 

I think I'll make a start on that pile . . . 

Hope you all have a good WOYWW. 

Happy Post

 Doncha just love some happy post?

I especially love it when it's the only post!

Saw this and thought maybe folks (younger ones) will stop treating me as though I'm an idiot  . . .  or deaf?! 

I don't know why they think age makes one stupid .  . . .  it just takes a little longer to do things . . . 

Another case of saw this and thought of me!!!

Just a few stencils, I have bought a couple of dies and thought these stencils would be perfect.

As you know, I am a big fan of GiogioCraft and can't wait to use these.  I also wanted to draw your attention to the packaging . . . .  brill

A book page, which can be reused, stitched to fit the product . . . .