This week's smiles....week 500

 Another week and lots more smiles....thankfully.  I hope you've all had a week filled with smiles too.  I have lots of photos to share with you this week so I will make a start.

We had another walk around Attingham Park at the weekend and what a difference a couple of weeks makes....what was a hint of white the last time we went is now a beautiful blanket of white.

My boys went to watch Shrewsbury town play football on Saturday ...I love this photo of Mark and Stephen.  The men have decided Stephen should go every week because they always win when he goes :-)

Little Louie is growing so quickly.  He thought it was funny that he could stand up under our kitchen table and we all had a good giggle at him ordering his Chinese for tea off the menu.

I love how the sun has opened up this beautiful crocus in our garden and I even took a photo of our snowdrops using my phone but look how it came out.....

I'm not sure what happened but when you love rainbows like I do you you treasure happy errors like this one.

I normally keep the sharing of my Memory bears for a Wednesday but these two are rather special and it's far more appropriate that I share them here.  They are made in memory of Lisca's husband Graham and they were very special to make.

He was a lovely man and I felt very honoured to be asked to make them.  I really hope they bring lots of comfort to Lisca and her family.

Of course it wouldn't be a Friday without a few funnies...I hope you enjoy the ones I've found this week.

Hugs,

Annie x

This week's smiles...week 498

 Hello all and a very happy Friday to everyone.  It's been a busy one for me here at Sewing by Annie's but I'm not complaining [well, I'm not now I've finished the latest bag full of factory trousers :-) ]. Work has been very busy with a steady flow of customers bringing me their sewing and many of them have been ones that needed a chat and catch up too [cos it's not just a sewing business I run here lol.]   

Saturday we had our son, Mark and his two gorgeous boys here for a catch up and lunch then our son in law dropped Stephen off so that my hubby, Mark, Stephen and Theo could go to watch Shrewsbury Town play football.  Louie stayed with me until his mummy could pick him up and them Amy dropped Phoebe and Lulu off so all us girls could have a catch up before I had my afternoon of sewing with Phoebe and Lulu [photos on Wednesday's post].

Here's Stephen with his little cousin, Theo ready to watch the football.

Sunday, my hubby and I took Milly for a walk to see the snowdrops at Attingham Park...they are all coming out now but will be a better show by next week.

Tuesday morning we had a fun play time with Louie.....he's teething and was rather clingy with his Grandad but, as you can see, they did manage a nap together.  Louie is 9 months old now and wont be long before he starts walking.

Sam has been enjoying designing on his Ipad and really has a talent for it...this is his Grandad and their dog Reggie.  

It wouldn't be Friday without a few funnies...I really hope your find something to chuckle at.

Please leave me a little comment and then link to your own smiles at the bottom.

Hugs,

Annie x

This week's smiles....week 399

 Another week has passed and we are creeping closer to Christmas.  I wrote all my Christmas cards [and they are now posted] but I found I still needed more so have made another 6 this week and am now working on the tree decorations that I make for each of our 6 grandchildren [plus a few extra special little people] so I have been enjoying crafty time in between making more Memory bears and even another Memory elephant....we might have been in lockdown and are now in tier 2 [so very little different] but us creative folk can always find something to do and I'm sure it has helped during this mad time....and I can always find something to smile about :-)

Wednesday night saw my darling hubby and our son going to watch Shrewsbury town play football....they allowed 2000 supporters in to watch the game and they were lucky enough to get tickets.

They have really missed their football so this put huge smiles on their faces...even if they were hidden by their face masks.

Ever since the twins were born and could fit right inside their Christmas stockings Shell has sent me a photo of them.....boy how they have grown! I'm not sure how many more years they will fit their feet in but I'm sure they will try. :-)

There has been early signs that Christmas is on it's way here too.  The Christmas boxes are down out of the attic and, as you can see the tree is now being put together in the living room....we usually have Amy with her little elves to decorate the tree but I have a feeling we may have to do it ourselves this year...b******* Covid!!

Lets hope the news of vaccines on their way will mean life may return to nearer normality some time soon eh?

That's all from me for today.  I hope you will all share your smiles by linking up below.

Hugs,

Annie x

This week's smiles....week 390

 Well, that week flew by.  They say time flies when you're having fun and it's sure been right here this week.

Saturday saw my darling hubby attending his first football match [wearing his blue face mask I made him] for over 6 months.  Shrewsbury town was chosen to be a trial team to allow a limited number of supporters to attend to watch the match live and Dod was lucky enough to be one of the 1000 to get a ticket.

Sadly they have now changed the rules and there will be no more crowds allowed in the watch sports events for the foreseeable future....but they can't away what's gone so he was happy to be one of the lucky ones.

Sunday was Lexi, Sam and Gina's birthdays so there was a lot of celebrating going on.  It all luckily was able to fit in the 'only 6 in a group' and a wonderful time was had by all.

Who would have believed it was 9 years since the twins were born?

For those that didn't see on Wednesday this was the Luna Lapin rabbit I made for Gina for her birthday....she had forgotten she had asked me to make one for her so it was a surprise when she opened it.....what really made me smile was I had forgotten to take a photo of her and Gina and Mark had enjoyed posing her to get the right photo for me :-)

The other pics I wanted to share with you were a couple of funnies I saw on Facebook that made me chuckle...

....they just appealed to my sense of humour so I'm hoping they make you smile too.

That's all from me for this week.  I hope I've shared something to make you smile and you will do the same by linking up below....we really need all the smiles we can get at the mo.

Hugs,

Annie x

This week's smiles....week 356

Another week, same place and yet more smiles. :-)

The weeks seem to be whizzing by.  Here we are at the end of the first month already.  I always remember my mum saying how much quicker time passes as you get older and now I know what she meant.  Each week comes and goes so quickly but thankfully each one has something to make me smile....I'm blessed.

On Sunday our local football team, Shrewsbury Town, was playing in the 4th round of the FA cup against Liverpool so the family were very excited.  Here they are all dressed ready to go....and they were even happier when Shrewsbury held Liverpool to a draw and now they will be off to Anfield to play the return match.....exciting times eh?

Molly dog went to be neutered this week.  Everything went well and she is now wearing a vest this week to keep her from disturbing the stitches.  She's such a lovely dog and gets on so well with Poppy....when Poppy lies down Molly just has to be lying close enough to her that they are touching :-)

Theo is really in to make believe play now and here he is benefiting from the shop his daddy made for use in Gina's school.....he's growing up so quickly.

And finally...I saw this on Pinterest and think it will be my new motto.  I make such a lot of dust with all the fabrics I use so my sewing room is almost always in a state of needing cleaning.

I hope I have made you smile this week and you will leave me a little message so I know you've called by.  If you link to your smiles below I will pop over to see what's been making you smile this week.

Hugs,

Annie x

This week's smiles....week 335

Another week and I've had lots to smile about so I will share a few pics with you....and hope you will all leave me a little message to say you've called by and will hopefully then share your own smiles with us.

Little Theo has been on holiday this week with his Mummy, Daddy, Uncle and the other set of Grandparents so they have sent us many photos to share what a lovely time they've been having together.

While the cat's away.....as the saying goes :-)

While Theo was away we popped round to their house to fit the little curtains I made for his new play house and as you can see Grandad had to climb inside to fit them....it was a bit of a squeeze but I'm pleased to say he managed to get back out :-)

We had a few days away at the Welsh coast at the weekend in our Motor home.  Sadly Michelle, Brent and the twins, who were supposed to join us but on Saturday they tried and failed to get their tent up in the strong winds and ended up breaking one of their tent poles and going back home.  The weather was awful and I was so glad they weren't in their tent on Sunday night because in the middle of the night it was blowing a gale and we were woke by a very heavy rain storm.....I really wouldn't have wanted to be in a tent in that!

The middle photo shows how the sea was whipped up by the wind....and if you zoom in you will see in the bottom right photo that Biscuit bear, Milly and I  stayed warm in the motor home while my darling hubby took the photo.  :-)

The top two photos were taken on Monday at Aberdovey and it was a much calmer day and we actually saw some sunshine. :-)

The twins very proudly picked the peas they had grown from seed,  podded them themselves and added them to their pasta tea.....yum yum.

And last but by no means least here's the latest photos of our little footy star.  Steve's been going to football training each week during his school holidays and really loving it.....he was chosen to go for a full day's experience at Shrewsbury Town FC where he went on a tour of the ground/changing facilities, met the players and also played on the pitch at half time during the game.  His big sisters, and Mum and Dad proudly went along to watch him play.  

His trainers have requested that he also went to special training sessions for goalkeeping in Ludlow because they say he has real ability and skill for it.

He was given a skills award during his last session and they have now passed his details to the development team at Shrewsbury so watch this space....I'm so proud of him and love just how excited he is about it all.

That's all my smiles for this week.  I really hope you are all fit and well and have lot of your own smiles to share with us below.

Hugs,

Annie x

This week's smiles....week 310

Oh what a week filled with smiles it's been for me this week.  It's been half term holidays for my grandchildren so there's been busy, fun filled days for them and of course they share them all with me so here's a few collages of what they've been up to this week...

Lexi and Sam had a few days taking in the sights of London with their mum and dad and were so excited at all they saw....

• London eye
• Science museum
• National History museum
• Madame Tussauds

...to name but a few. 

Steve had been encouraged to attend a goalkeeper training day because the trainers at his after school sessions had seen real potential in his playing. So on Friday he attended a day of goalkeeper training ....and at the end of the day he was given yet another award for player of the day....he really loves his football and we are all so proud of his achievements.

On Tuesday night Steve went for his matchday experience at the Shrewsbury Town ground for the Shrewsbury v Doncaster match.  He was one of the flag bearers when the players came out onto the pitch and then, during half time interval, the children played a game on the pitch...Steve in goals of course.

He not only made several really good saves but the crowd cheered him when he did....trust me when I say there was a very proud Daddy and Grandad watching him play....he's a star.

Not only that but Shrewsbury Town went on to win their game too so a very happy hubby came home Tuesday night.

Lulu was really chuffed Tuesday night when she gained her Golden badge at Brownies....more sewing for Nanny now I guess.  :-)

We have a new family member this week too....meet Molly puppy.  Amy and family have been searching for a while now for another puppy, a friend for Poppy dog.  They searched and chose very carefully and managed to find the perfect litter bred with children in the house and fetched little Molly home on Sunday morning.

We popped over to see her on Sunday afternoon and she is simply adorable and as you can see has settled in very well at her new home.

On top of all that excitement we also went with Mark and Gina for a second viewing at a 4 bedroomed house they fancied and I'm really pleased to say they have now put in an offer and it's been accepted....please keep everything crossed for them.

So, as you can see it's been a really busy week for me and the family...and it doesn't stop there because  Sunday is 3rd March and my darling hubby will be 65....he will be retiring in July so there will be lots of smiles and celebrations up and coming.  Happy Birthday gorgeous man....love you to the moon and back.

Hugs,

Annie x

This week's smiles....week 309

Oh wow these weeks sure do seem to fly by.  Here we are at my weekly catch up of what's made me smile over the week....and although I'm still coughing, wheezing and having broken nights sleep I have lots to smile about.....that even includes grabbing a bottle of cough medicine in the middle of the night in desperation only to look the following morning and see it expired in 2015!!  I survived!!

So here's a few snaps of what's made me smile this week.....

We have more signs of Spring in the garden and that always makes me smile....warmer, sunny days to come now :-) :-)

Amy's youngest, Steve went on a football training day this week and was so chuffed at the end of his day to be chosen as player of the day.  He has now been given the chance to have a matchday experience for the Shrewsbury v Doncaster match....this means he will get to wave the flag as the players enter at the beginning of the game and play a game on the pitch at half time....he's so excited.

Lexi has chosen to have her long hair cut this week....it was quite a surprise to see it so short and doesn't she look so grown up now?

She will be starting tap and street dance classes after Easter and moving up to the junior musical theatre classes to start rehearsing for their next show...Madagascar! ...I like to move it...move it.

She's always doing her gymnastics or dancing around the house. :-)

Our little Theo has started potty training this week and is so proud of all the stickers he's got in his book for dry pants....they grow up sooooo quickly don't they?

Mark and Gina put their house on the market this week and it's sold in just three days....hoping to move to a bigger house soon.

So, as you can see, I've had lots to smile about.  please leave me a little message so I know you've called by and, if you can, then please link up to your smiles below.  Have a good week and stay clear of these nasty bugs if you can.

Hugs,

Annie x

This week's smiles....week 292

Another busy week here at Sewing by Annie's and it's been another one filled with smiles so I'm here to share a few of them with you....

Our little grandson Theo is starting Nursery one day a week and this week he's been having his induction sessions.  We looked after him for the day on Tuesday and he had to go for an hour and a half taster session in the morning.  As you can see his bag is nearly as big as him but he insisted in being a big boy and carrying it.

He had a lovely time and when we collected him he was playing very happily outside with all the other children and we managed to watch for a few minutes before he noticed we were there :-)

....one more step along the road he goes :-)

Another of our Grandsons, Steve is nearly 7 and last Saturday he went to watch his first Shrewsbury Town football match with his daddy...and loved it.  Here he is grinning from ear to ear wearing his new football shirt which is an early birthday present.

My dad always used to go to watch Shrewsbury play with my hubby and his dad and now our son, Mark goes and the next generation are catching the bug too....it's so lovely to see the love of watching our local team passing down the generations.

As you know we have recently bought a motor home and have been enjoying setting it up with all it needs but as yet haven't had a free weekend to go away in it.  We wanted to test it out so last Sunday morning.....

I filled a box with all the essentials....

....and we drove up to Cardingmill Valley, a local National Trust park, and I cooked us a brunch.  Yum yum it tasted as good as it looked and everything in the motor home worked well.

Our little Milly doesn't usually travel well but she really seemed to love the new life style and, as you can see, she enjoyed watching the world go by while we were up in the hills.

We enjoyed a walk up there before we left then drove on a little further before......

.....Stopping up by Wenlock Edge for a coffee and cake break and another walk before heading for home.

I love our new found freedom and I'm sure this is something we will be doing often.

I hope you have enjoyed sharing my smiles and will leave me a little comment to say you've called by before linking up to your own smiles below.

Hugs,

Annie x

This week's smiles....week 288

Happy Friday to you all.  It's been a really lovely week here with lots of birthday celebrations for little Theo who is two today so of course I have pics to share with you...

Happy birthday Theo.  As you can see he really enjoyed the celebrations...and the final pic just shows how much :-)

I really love this pic of Amy with her three enjoying their holidays. An afternoon siesta was insisted on  because of course it is 'French law' [isn't it? ;-) ]so it meant they were able to be happy and awake a little later in the evening.

Here's the twins with the Shrewsbury town football mascot.  They both went with their daddy to watch the match and even saw their first goal....even though I think it was an own goal!

And finally here's a pic for all you dog lovers.....Milly is having her manicure/pedicure.  I clip her nails then she has a cuddle and sits for me to file the rough edges off.  She's such a sweet heart.

That's all from me for this week.  I plan to be making more smiles this weekend as I am going to the crop in Llandudno to meet up with a lot of my blogging friends....some I've met before and some I've known for a long time but never met.....I'm soooooo excited.

Have a great week.

Hugs,

Annie x