This week's smiles....week 457

 Happy Friday to one and all.  I have lots to smile about this week because I am now feeling more myself and have had lots of sewing to do to keep me busy....and it's so lovely to feel up to doing it all.

We had a visit from a young lady that 30 years ago I childminded at just 6 weeks old from 8 in the morning to 6 at night....she really was part of the family.  She very proudly came to show us her gorgeous baby boy and it was so lovely to see what a lovely little mummy she has become.....special memories were made.

I'm sharing the gorgeous flowers we have in our living room window now.  The Amaryllis has now bloomed....its over 30" tall and there are 4 huge blooms...aren't they stunning?

One of my orchids has decided to bloom too...it has lots of huge white blooms too.

The garden is full of promise...lots of bulbs are shooting up now.  I love this time of year.

Finally I saw this funny on Facebook and it made me chuckle....I hope it does you too.

That's my lot for this week.  Please share your smiles by linking up below and have a great week.

Hugs,

Annie x

WOYWW...

 Here we are back at our Wednesday sharing of desks from all around the world and looking at what I have to share this week says I must be feeling more like myself now....there's lots to share so I will quickly do it in photos for you.

I've finished the baby blanket I was crocheting.  I found a neat edging stitch that was new to me [and I love to try out new stitches] and I really love it.

The little lap blanket and cardigan I knitted left part of a ball of yarn so I....

....knitted a little hat with a top knot to match.

The 6 Advent calendars that I started before Christmas have sat idly draped over one of my machines since Christmas because I was just too poorly to feel like wadding, backing and finishing them off....but Monday I set to and have now finished them all off ready for selling next Christmas.

The one on the right at the front with trains on is for the next little Grandson :-)

This is what is actually on my desk today...it's a pile of Tshirts that were favourites of a much loved Grandad.  I have to make 3 Memory bears for his Grandchildren, today using these so I have to work out how to fit some of the dragons, eagles and wolves on the panels that make up the bears....quite a challenge for me.

As you can tell it's been a much busier week for me [a bit more like normal for me] so I'm glad to be feeling rather better....apart from my deep sexy voice from time to time.

Hugs,

Annie x

This week's smiles....week 456

 Here we are at another Friday's catch up with all the smiles from the week...and there's been many although we are both still fighting off the Winter bugs....a day at Colwyn Bay on Tuesday does seem to have helped so we're keeping everything crossed. 

Kate asked last week if I was winging my crochet baby blanket to here's the proof I am actually using a pattern....It's one I found on Pinterest Kate.  I must be honest and say I am making my own version in parts but I'm loving it and am now working on the edges.

My daughter-in-law Gina has really become hooked on her crochet and is going from strength to strength now with a new 'make' on a daily basis.  I'm so proud of her.

Theo was allowed to go back to school on Wednesday having had two negative Covid tests...it's so good to see him looking better.

Finally I saw this on Facebook and it made me chuckle...hope it does you too.

Please leave me a little message so I know you've called by and if you can please link up to your own smiles below....we really can't have too many joining in the fun and everyone is welcome.

Hugs,

Annie x

WOYWW...

 We are both still working hard to shake off these Winter bugs....I've coughed so much that it's left me with a sore throat and a croaky voice!! ...I think I have actually damaged my vocal chords so healing will take it's time I guess.

Yesterday we took our motor home for a run out and had a day at Colwyn Bay....my Dad always said the sea air was good for coughs and colds so lets be hopeful.

Milly really enjoyed her run on the beach too.

I think it's a cormorant that's threatening to eat my hubby but of course it could be a shag.

I've had a lovely week making more Memory bears....this one was made using a Grandad's favourite shirt and.......

....these two were made from a Grandad's scarf for a customer who had 4 made before Christmas.  When the family saw the others 2 more family members decided they wanted bears....I love repeat orders.

The other thing I'm quickly sharing are these two photos...as you can see Gina is completly hooked on her crocheting and really has made me very proud at what she has made already.

I hope you have enjoyed your visit this week and will leave me a little message to let me know you've called in.  I will do my best to pop over to yours to see what you've been up to this week.

Hugs,

Annie x

This week's smiles....week 455

 It's been another week of slow progress in our recovery from this awful Winter bug but thankfully my workload has been steady and I have managed to get it all done allowing for R and R each afternoon.

I have a couple of pics to share with you because there is always something that makes me smile....

Although Theo is rather pale faced he's not been too bad in himself having tested positive for Covid this week....just look at the mischief in that face.

Gina has been isolating with Covid this week and I have been having a few on line lessons with her while she has been following U-tube instructions on how to crochet.  We have had lots of giggles while she worked on getting her tension right but I'm so proud to say she has persevered and has mastered the art of crochet....onward and upward from here I feel.  I really love the flowers she has made.  I think the idea is she will crochet some hats and baby booties next so watch this space.  :-)

I'm sharing my pic of the Amaryllis Jo bought me.  It really didn't start off looking very healthy as the leaves came through looking really scabby but just as we were thinking of returning it to the garden centre it decided to send a flower shoot up.  Jo's plant has 2 flower shoots and 9 blooms all looking stunning now but my flower shoot is still reaching for the stars....it's now 28" from the top of the bulb and I'm really hoping it decides to flower before the it reaches the attic.

That's all from me for this week.  I hope you're all managing to stay well and happy and have lots of smiles to share with us this week.

Hugs,

Annie x

WOYWW...

 I'm sure some of you will be pleased to hear that we are slowly winning the fight with the Winter bugs....it's slow but hopefully it's going in the right direction at least.

I've been doing some of this this week. It's a crochet baby blanket for Theo's little brother when he arrives in April.  It's slow progress but I am enjoying all the rows of different stitches and the colours I've chosen to work it in.

Gina is off work with Covid and fancied learning how to crochet so I sent her my crochet hooks and some wool to learn with and we have enjoyed a good giggle over the internet together while she's learning.  I must say she is doing very well and managing to get the tensions right already.

Sadly Theo has now tested positive too and has been enjoying 'having a go' with some wool and a hook but says 'it's really tricky Nanny'.

He really loves having a go at anything creative but maybe we need a session together when he's out of isolation :-)

The only other thing on my 'desk' for today are these two men's coats.  The navy one on the left I've had to shorten by 7" but it was all top stitched so was a really tricky job [especially when you're not feeling 100%].

The brown one is here to have a new zip put in but I had to order the zip [I order from Cari Crafts on line...they are brilliant and always very quick and reliable]. The new zip arrived yesterday so that's the job I will be working on today.

I also have fabrics coming through the post to make 2 memory bears and another one coming on Friday morning so I'm guessing I will be busy this week [busy enough for now anyway :-) ].

That's all from me for this week.  If you leave me a little message I will do my best to pop over to yours to say hello.

Hugs,

Annie x

This week's smiles....week 454

 I'm back again to catch up on the smiles of the week.  Firstly I must apologise for not visiting last week....I was just not well.  I'm still not 100% but I'm hoping things are moving in the right direction....we've both tested regularly and are negative for Covid so I'm thankful for that.  It's been an awful Winter bug and I've coughed so much that the muscles in my tummy are painful and I've damaged my vocal chords so life is pretty quiet here still.

I'm sharing this pic today because it was our treat for New Years Day.  It may be a little dated now but we both really love a prawn coctail as a treat....I'm sure we're not alone.

We took the decorations down early because neither of us could cope with all the clutter but I thought I would share this photo with you....these were knitted by my Mum many years ago.  They were all knitted using the same pattern but as you can see all 4 are very different,,,,this makes me smile every year when they get put on the tree.....happy memories.

Just look at the concentration on Theo's face.  He was painting a volcano and occupying himself while he is at home.  His mummy has Covid and Theo has to stay home from school until he has a negative PCR test. So far both Mark and Theo are negative on all their LFT tests.  We are all hoping that, as Gina is fully vaccinated, she will recover quickly.  There seems to be so many folk everywhere with Covid now.

Phoebe and Lulu have been enjoying a lot of fun crafting and creating since Christmas.  We bought them some fat quarters, felt and a first sewing book as part of their Christmas present and they are really enjoying learning to follow the patterns and have made several things already.  They are both doing a x stitch piece too.....I wonder who they take after :-) :-)

This is my final pic to make you chuckle today.  We have both used so many tissues since Christmas that we panicked a little when we couldn't buy any tissues at the supermarket this week so my darling hubby ordered some on line for us.....I think 12 boxes should keep us going for a day or two  :-)

That's all from me for this week.  Even in the most difficult weeks it's surprising how much has made me smile.  I hope your week has been better and you have smiles you can share with us by linking up below.

Hugs,

Annie x

WOYWW....

 Hello all.  I've been missing in action really since Boxing day.  We have both had a ***** Winter bug and are still struggling to fight it off but for the first time today I am daring to say that I maybe it is on it's way out....we have done many Lateral flow tests, all negative and as in the middle of it all I was bullied into going to see my Dr [you know who you are ;-) ]it was suggest that we both did PCRs....the results took 4 days to get back but thankfully those were negative too.  The Dr said she was sure it was just a virus and although I was coughing day and night my chest was clear.

Enough about all that!!  It's a New Year and I must wish you all a happy AND HEALTHY 2022.  Lets hope these viruses all move on and we can return to a little nearer normal life.

I have very little to share with you today as I havent even been up to being creative [not the holiday I had planned!!].  

I spent yesterday printing off new fliers with the first price rises for 10 years....I thought it was about time :-)

I also shortened these tweed trousers by 3" with turn-ups.

I have many jobs promised this week but will be taking it all in and pacing myself slowly to get it done as and when I feel up to it......lack of sleep is just so exhausting!!

Hugs,

Annie x