WOYWW 575

OMG what is this new blogger. Why change things that work? I am too old for change. Has taken me ages to get this far.

I saved the above and now it has taken me 15 minutes to find it again. Think New Blogger and me are going to fall out big time.

Well let's get down to business and the reason we are here. 

Ok now to try and load some photos 

Well success - this is my table Tuesday afternoon. Making some cards that can be used as anniversary or with friends like mine for birthday. After all champagne or cava as we drink in Spain can be drunk any time.

My trusted friend in his usual position.

Can I ask what does anyone use to stick inserts in cards I have been using double sided tape but notice after a few weeks it has dried out and left a brownish mark showing through. I have had to go through my stock and replace the inserts. Now I am worried that my Christmas stock I am building up will be the same before Christmas. Maybe I have trouble because of the heat here.

Also this week I have been sewing blanket squares together, a lady in the sewing/knitting group made them but wasn't keen on all the sewing up. The blankets will go to the local dogs home when finished.

Now to my over grown, over smelly plant in the garden. I used to love Lady of the Night and its delicate perfume, I have had this plant years but over the past four years (flowers twice a year) the perfume as become over powering. I cut it down low after each flowering but this makes no difference. Any gardeners out there - has it had its day, the older they get the smellier they get!!

 

Can you see the dog?

 

One for Annie you must have seen this but I thought of you and your face masks. 

Now for the final stage of this new blogger, to save and schedule for posting tomorrow to link up with Julia at https://stamping-ground.blogspot.com/

  

PS Can I get this to publish no way. Have gone back to the old blogger.

WOYWW 574

Hope all is well with everyone. Bliss here we have been released and slowly, very slowly we are returning to normal.

Our sewing group met last Wednesday only 5 of us but it was lovely to see and catch up with friends. Then in the afternoon our ladies group met, 10 of us this is the maximum number we are allowed to have together so had to book our places. On Sunday 6 of us went out for lunch and before we left were making arrangements where to go next Sunday. No stopping us now. Gosh did I have a dry throat after all the talking.

As well as all these outings I have been busy with orders for cards, possibly because shops that sell them haven't been allowed to open yet. All through lockdown I have been making card orders and leaving them on my gate for people to sneak out and collect.

So this was my desk Tuesday morning. Barney in his usual position lying at my feet.

 This was my desk Tuesday evening when work was done and about 20 cards made ready to have their inserts done.

How do you like my sunflowers, I found some old seeds when I was clearing out during lockdown and thought I would plant them and this is the result. I have about five more planted elsewhere in the garden waiting to flower.

I am writing this Tuesday evening and am going to try yet again to schedule it for posting in the early hours of Wednesday, I have tried before but never been successful.

So when posted will link up with Julia our host at https://stamping-ground.blogspot.com/ when I turn on the computer in the morning.

Stay safe all and remember there is a light at the end of the tunnel as we have found out this last week.

WOYWW 573

Good morning all,
Hope you all finished your 11th anniversary challenges set by our leader Julia https://stamping-ground.blogspot.com/

So what is on your workdesk to start the 12th year of WOYWW?

My challenges have been put to one side until I can order some more wools. Although before I could put the rug away I caught QC trying it out for comfort.

On the table this morning it is back to cards, birthday, Christmas, Thinking of you etc.

Still quite a tidy desk but just wait it's only been in action a couple of days.

Last Thursday the weather was so perfect some of my crafting found its way into the sun. It was so peaceful only the chirping of the birds and the sound of the waves could be heard.

The 2nd photo was taken at the end of the day the sea was so calm and I could hear the sound of a fishing boat in the distance.

I am still suffering with a swollen and painful foot and yesterday went back to hospital. The doctor said because of very bad arthritis I could have trapped a nerve, it is now strapped up for a week, then I have to go back to see the traumatology doctor to see what they can do for the arthritis. So watch this space. I am glad it is my left foot and I drive an automatic car so I can still drive!

Today is a very special day it's Wednesday, Sewing Group day, and this morning we are meeting for the first time, then this afternoon the LOL ladies  are resuming their get together. Things are beginning to get back to normal here in Spain. Apart from hospital visits and a visit to the vets this will be my first outing for weeks. Our beaches are now open and we can swim in the sea, not that I will be doing that for a few weeks at least.

Hope you are all well and to those who have been ill you are recovering. Please take care and be aware of your surroundings.

WOYWW 572 11th Anniversary

A very good morning the sun is shining and congratulations to Julia and all the other WOYWWs on this the 11th Anniversary.

Well here is my 11th Anniversary challenge - from this

to this

I did try but unfortunately ran out of wool, it can be still purchased only most online outlets have suspended overseas deliveries until after the crisis. But thanks Julia for the challenge as I will now finish it with so little to do I promise. Barney thought hurrah a lovely warm bed for me when I put it down to photo. I said no way it will only be put down when visitors come or I am sat there!

The other challenge was the tapestry and I have progressed but once again have run out of wool, fortunately the green and yellow shades are still available and from the same source as the rug wool. Can't promise I will complete this though. Did think I might unpick a row of green and do different coloured rows with some of the tapestry wool stash I have.

So how have you done with the challenges laid down by our great host Julia? 

Remember last week I was on the way to the hospital? I haven't broken anything but my foot is still very swollen and painful especially my toes. The doctor gave me a pain killing injection and it felt much better until the evening. I am suppose to rest it but not much chance of that. 

So thanks to Julia and all the other WOYWWs for your friendship I have never met any of you but feel I know you and who knows one day I may just make it to the crop.

WOYWW 571

Well our lockdown has gone into phase 1 which means we have a little freedom. Some of the bars and restuarants have opened but only with 50% capacity. I still haven't ventured out so don't know how busy the main beach road ia or has been.
I shall be going out today but to the hospital as on Monday I slipped when feeding the dog, his food went all over the terrace but that didn't stop him from eating it and my leg and ankle went under me. My ankle is still swollen and painful so thought it better if I sort professional help.

Now for my WOYWW not so much a desk but I have sorted out my UFO for the anniversary and here they are.

 The first is a 142 x 142 cmsrug I started making years ago but ran out of wool, have now managed to find some wool not an exact match but near enough. The pattern is one I put together on my computer with a cross stitch app. so must have calculated the amount of wool wrong. Oops. I took the pattern from a wall hanging that was behind the presenters of Bargain Hunt on TV.

Well that is number one and number two is a cushion tapestry another design I created from the same app, but once again I haven't got enough wool but have been on Wool Warehouse website and they still do the shades I need but aren't delivering to Spain at present. So will order and have it sent to my daughter who will post it out to me just hope it arrives as post is a little hit and miss here. (My daughter never received her birthday card although I posted it three weeks ago).

So that is my UFO's.

Talking of birthdays my daughter was 50 on Saturday and she arranged a zoom get together, the wonders of social media. 10 of us all joined her for an hour, sang happy birthday as she cut the cake her husband had made her and toasted her with champagne. She said the cake was lovely but we only have her word for that!

Well that is me for today off now to the hospital complete with mask and gloves I believe they take your temperature before they let you in. We'll see what happens.

Now to link with Julia our hostess of WOYWW at https://stamping-ground.blogspot.com/

WOYWW 570

Good morning ladies on this bright and sunny morning. Hope you are all well and keeping the Covid virus away.

Last weekend here in Spain we were allowed out for an hour a day for exercise as long as it is within 1 km of your home. I must admit now we can go out I haven't been out! On Saturday the paseo was packed with people and I am sure most of them didn't live within 1 km. The police were soon on it and Sunday morning only a few people were walking. Here in Spain we have to carry ID so the police can easily check where you are from. We also have set times for different ages to exercise.

Still no desk as such but I have finished the blanket with a few rows of crochet, it will now go in the charity box so I can post when lockdown finishes and postal services are resumed. I heard that there is a great deal of post held up in Madrid.

 The other thing I was doing last week is that pesky jigsaw I will not let it get the better of me. I am at the point now where I aim for 20 pieces a day. It's called Peanut Butter and Yummy I don't even like Peanut butter yuk. The jigsaw came from the local charity shop and I am sure there are pieces missing.

Wow that is some challenge Julia has set for the anniversary of WOYWW I know I can compete but just with what I have so many UFO. Yes think I have got it watch this space.

Hope you all have a great week and keep obeying the rules, remember it is for our own good and good wishes to those recovering.

Here we going a linking up https://stamping-ground.blogspot.com/

WOYWW569

Shhh don't tell anyone but the sun has come back to Spain and it has been told the borders are now closed and not allowed to travel to other countries.

After a month and a half of lockdown the Spanish government are in talks of the de-escalation phase and how things can get back to normal - if they will ever be normal again. Looks as if by the weekend we will be able to go out to exercise, children were allowed out last weekend for about 1 hour under parental guidance.

So for the reason we are here, my desk or lack of it again. On my computer table I am putting together some blanket squares. You can also see my morning coffee and tablets and behind them the blanket I was knitting this last week it is growing slower. Both will be donated to charities when finished.

Now to my other table seeing all the jigsaws that were being done I decided to find mine. A 500 piece one to start that would be easy  haha anything but. The pieces are all different shapes and sizes, it already looks as if one piece is missing, but then it did come from a charity shop.
Rooting in my cupboards I have found 2 x 2000 piece ones which seem to have more standard shape pieces. One of them I purchased in the UK before I left over 20years ago, it is still unwrapped

Doesn't look very appealing does it.

So that is me for this week, hopefully by next week we will be allowed out and I will have seen some other human beings!

WOYWW 568

Good morning from a sunny Spain at last. Yes the weather has improved and it does make a difference although looking at my 'desk' this morning you wouldn't think so.

I had got so fed up of having to stay indoors and sitting in this room looking at a pile of card, glue, scissors etc that at the weekend I packed all away. But.......

there is another table behind where I have been sorting my wool stash out, so all is not as it seems, possibly a change of craft. This is some dk wool in pastel shades and only a small fraction of what I have.

The knitting was my evening craft which will now become my daytime craft as I sit outside getting my vitamin D! (Jan notice your bag I keep scissors, sewing up needles, pins, measure etc in, just need to pick it up and I have all I need). The turquiose tub thing I place my wool in when knitting just to spoil the cats enjoyment of chasing it.

One thing I did do this week was spend a few hours on the computer looking into my family history. Very interesting and something I will continue. Skeletons in the cupboard??

So that is me for today, off now to shower, dress, breakfast and sit in the sun. Over these six weeks of lockdown I have maintained my routine as best I can, probably because of the animals they need feeding when their built in clock tells them it is breakfast or dinner time.

Joining up with other crafters to see what is on their desks this Wednesday morning. https://stamping-ground.blogspot.com/ come and join us and leave a comment to let us know you have visited.

WOYWW 567

15th April 2020 5th week of 'lockdown'.

I am late this morning as during the night I was kept awake by a thunderstorm, lightening and heavy rain, so this morning I thought why do I need to get up at the usual time.

So come to my desk this morning ....

Nothing only my nightly knitting. I got so fed up of seeing all the card making materials I have put them all away. (Then yesterday afternoon a friend said could I make a birthday card for her husband and an anniversary card.)

I have decided to continue with some other crafts but will have to wait and see just what.
This lockdown is getting to me after five weeks, we did hear there was to be some relaxation of restrictions but apparently this doesn't apply to us - the old and vunerable!! Never classed myself as old until this.

My daughters birthday card is all but finished just needs the sentiment.

Found the May paper in my stash and thought very appropriate the photos range from 3 days old right up to her wedding in May last year. Hope she likes it and the photos don't embarrass her too much.

 That is me for this week, off out now for the highlight of the week, food for me, food for dog and cat, rubbish to dustbins. Oh the excitement.

Have a good week everyone and keep smiling now to link with Julia our host. https://stamping-ground.blogspot.com/

PS for those of you that read about Barney and the dash to the emergency vets on Sunday he is now fully recovered. 

WOYWW 566

Good morning all you 'lockdowners'. One blessing here in Spain  we have some lovely weather, but only until Sunday apparently, so I am making the most of it. Yesterday I sat outside knitting then fell asleep and woke up with a slightly redden face!

In answer to the people who asked me about my amaryllis it has been in the same pot, with the same soil since I got it, also spends all its life outside. This week the other stem has opened so I have six flowers now.

Ok to my desk this was how it looked on Sunday, decided a good tidy was in order and I needed to make a start on my daughters card. I was also listening/watching to the morning service by the Bishop of Hereford.

Now fast forward to this morning.

It is slowly becoming a dumping ground again. The card is coming along good can't afford to make a mistake though as I have no spare pink card and no way of obtaining any more. Each section of the concertina will contain some photos of her childhood  was hoping for some from each decade but 'houston we have a problem' from 2000 most of the photos are on the computer and my printer has run out of ink. As no shops are open I have had to order online and although they promised delivery we will have to wait and see.

The knitting is a little nurse doll in scrubs, saw the pattern on fb and thought it would be good to knit as a reminder of the great work our Spanish health system are doing. Lockdown has been extended for another two weeks and roadblocks have been set up to stop out of town people trying to get to their second coastal homes over the Easter period, we have also been asked to report any activity in apartments that have been empty over the last four weeks. At present we have no cases of Covid19 in our little town let's hope it stays that way.

Please stay safe everyone and abide by the lockdown it has been put in place for a reason.
Am linking with Julia our host for WOYWW https://stamping-ground.blogspot.com/

WOYWW 565

Good morning - how are we all managing during these lockdown days. I found yesterday I didn't listen/watch any news and ignored items on Corona virus on facebook and I felt much better and more relaxed and at ease.

So what I have been doing this week well certainly not going out, I have enough food for me, the dog and the cat for 15 days. The only time when I see or hear other people is at 8.00pm every evening when we all go out on our balconies or in our gardens and clap to show our appreciation for all the emergency services that are helping to keep us safe. It started off by clapping and now it is making as much noise as we can. Whistles, wooden spoons hitting pans, anything that makes a noise.

I have managed to make some cards from ... now is it upcycled or recycled cards, these cards I put together into packs of 6 as I can sell them cheaper. People like to buy Christmas cards in packs.

In the evening I sit watching television and have been knitting,  only small things that I can actually finish in a night or two. Also using up some of my stash.

4 pairs of fingerless mitts, 2 hats and 2 sets of bootees.

Even with all the rain we have had here over the last two weeks the garden is bursting into new life. 

Once again my amaryllis is flowering, and I notice from the dates of 2018 & 2019 it is about two weeks earlier this year.

17th April 2018

16th April 2019

31st March 2020

Well that is all for this week, thank you for all your visits, please stay safe and don't take risks.

If you want to know what WOYWW is then link up with Julia our host at  https://stamping-ground.blogspot.com/

WOYWW 564

Oh Ladies thank you so much for all your kind comments and thoughts. As we in Spain begin our second week of isolation you are beginning your first week. It really isn't too bad, we are allowed out to supermarkets (which are very well stocked and everyone is keeping their distance), chemists, pet shop, banks and of course the Spanish can't do without their cigarettes so tobacconists. We also don't have our own dustbins so have to take rubbish to communal bins placed along the beach road.
I have been in the house since last Tuesday and was going out yesterday but the weather was appalling and has poured with rain for days. Hopefully it is supposed to be sunny today.
So what have I been doing with my time well surprising very little.
This was my desk yesterday I am preparing to make my daughters 50th birthday card, have the plan in my head now to transfer onto paper. Then it will be looking through old photographs - no I am not going to embarrass her.

Found this old work mask in amongst the tools etc so have washed it and am going to wear it when visiting the supermarket. Everyone round here are wearing masks of some kind.

Then I thought I might make some out of pretty cotton material.
So watch this space.

Once again thanks for all your wishes and I hope you don't find isolation, lockdown whatever you want to call it that bad. It isn't really as long as you have plenty to do. Also thanks to social media and video calls I don't really feel on my own, well I'm not as I have a dog and cat to talk to!
Now to link up with Julia our host on her page http://stamping-ground.blogspot.com/

WOYWW 563 18th March

Well good morning from a 'lockdown' Spain. We have been banned from going out since the weekend (official since Monday) except for emergencies such as food, prescriptions, petrol, bank. Only allowed one person in a car if we go out. Thank goodness our police are strict here and respected, nearly everyone is complying and if you don't there are large fines.

 

These two photos were taken at lunchtime yesterday when I had to go out for some food and to the bank. Usually very busy as there is a very popular bar/cafe just in front of my car. All bars are closed, it was like a ghost town.

And this inside the supermarket as you can see all the shelves are well stocked.

So what does one do in these circumstances well crafting of course. With the help of my trusty companion QC. I am making Easter cards but wonder if there is much point, all our big Easter parades are cancelled of course. I won't be able to sell them if not allowed out. To the right is my Kindle set up (thanks to my daughter) with Netflix so I have been watching The Stranger and The Crown while crafting.

Here are a few other cards made in one morning.

Thank goodness for social media and my group of friends have decided to phone each other every day to check on each other.

Well that's me hope you are all being sensible. Now to join with the rest of the gang at http://stamping-ground.blogspot.com/