Friday, July 12, 2013

Friday Smiles

Here we are again, and it is becoming clichéd to say how fast the time has flown, but it is hard to believe that Friday is here already. So what has been rocking in my world this week? Not as much as usual. As the temperature rises, our activities diminish, so there is less to write about, but still plenty to make me smile. I apologise that my posts are quite long and rather more detailed that some, but this blog was started primarily as a new letter for friends and family back home, which it is why I use a larger font size (for older family members!) and more description. It is lovely to see more friends popping in to read my Friday smiles, so Thank you for persevering to the end.

1. Tuesday was a good day when the postman delivered not one - but three parcels for me. The first was just something practical. I bought a 12"x12" D-ring album for my Project Life because I knew there would be 50+ pages in it, but to keep the bill down a bit I only bought half of the page protectors. But when I came to buy the rest I found they were very scarce. I eventually tracked some down from a smallish company that I haven't used before. The invoice inside was topped by a personally written message and the two were clipped together with a paper flower and brad. Isn't that a nice touch! It brings a smile to the opening of even a mundane parcel.

2. I was just one of the many who regretted not buying the Couture Creations 'Tied together' embossing folder when it came out. They only do one release of each folder so when they are gone, they are gone. However Crafts-Too have now brought out a similar one, that is a very good alternative, and my dear friend Di sent me one. Isn't that kind? I shall get so much more pleasure out of using it, knowing where it came from. So that was my second parcel, which also contained a lovely hand-made card.


3. The third parcel was from another blog-land friend Jo,who made me a beautiful tag book. The cover is a delight, (made from recycled cereal boxes and backing paper, with her lovely stamping in the top), and inside there is room for several ATCs. I have put some special ones in it so you can just glimpse some from my WOYWW friends from our anniversary swap, my first ever ATC from my sister, one made for me by my then 12 year old grandson, and one of mine that won a national competition a few years back. The parcel also contained a pile of silk scarves, hand-dyed by Jo. There was one for each of my friends who had made a LillyBo quilt for her project. What lovely friends I have made on the internet. They are such a blessing.


4. In the summer we like to have a quick dip in the pool to cool us down, just before we go to bed. it always looks so inviting as the underwater light turns it all to a pale turquoise. So we were disappointed when the light failed this week. We thought we would have to drain a lot of the water away to change the light, but after a chat with a pool maintenance man it turned out that the light is a secure unit that unscrews and lifts out for replacement. So here is Chris removing ours. It only has a short cable so it was a real fiddle to do and in the end I jumped in to help him from below. It was really difficult to get it back in but we have light again now, so that gave us a sense of satisfaction. (It is a 300w bulb that gets very hot, so you can only turn it on when it is under the water, with fingers crossed that it will work and you won't have to remove it all again!)


5. That night we switched it on, but couldn't have our swim because there was a sudden and intense electric storm. I dashed out to catch the first drops bouncing in the pool, but then it came down really heavy. We were glad to see the rain though, especially when it falls at night.


6. The down side to the storm was that lightening started three wildfires in the area, but the positive side to this is the brave men who fight them, including the helicopter pilots who make endless circuits, dipping the big leather buckets into agricultural reservoirs etc and carrying the water to drop onto the fire. They always fill me with admiration. They had the fires under control by the morning and this man was just damping down the remnants to prevent another flare-up. It is a poor picture because I took it from a moving car and it was a long way off by the time I could focus on it!


7. One of my Wednesday sewing group friends celebrated her 70th birthday this week, so what better excuse for a lunch together. Good food, and good company, then home for a siesta to sleep it off!


8. And finally my beautiful hisbiscus is in flower again. During the storms of September last year, the water filtered the red from the center up through the petals and the whole flower turned orange! I am so glad it has returned to its original colour now. Just look at the detail in its beautiful stamens. I love it.












9. And Finally, finally! My lovely grandson has arrived
to experience first-hand, our fiesta this week. He has just got out of bed in time for me to add his photo here. And 'Yes, That is water melon for breakfast!' I knew he loves them so I made sure one of last week's was safely stored in the bottom of the fridge for him.

Right, I just have to link these up now to Virginia at Celtic House and Annie for her Friday smiles. And whenever I can fit it in around fiesta and visitor this week, I will visit you to see what is keep you smiling.

14 comments:

Annie said...

Oh Kate.....your posting always makes me smile so thank you sooooo much for linking up. Fab photos as always. Oh to have a pool to dip in just before bedtime....a cool shower has to sort us out here :-)
Have a lovely time with your Grandson....I could eat water melon at any time for the day and that looks so inviting too.
Hugs,
Annie x

Virginia said...

Oh wow a fantastic week, loving the parcels and glad you managed to get a similar embossing folder to the one you wanted - lovely thoughtful friends!

Well done for sorting the pool light, I wouldn't have thought they were in a secure unit either - I bet it looks lovely lit up at night.

Loving the hibiscus flower - utterly gorgeous and what a beautiful colour. Also loving the photo of your Grandson, it must be lovely having family visit.

I hope you have a beautiful and blessed week ahead.

Much love

Angie said...

It may be long but I love the post ....great read and thanks for sharing.
I love that little atc album from Jo.

Tracy said...

That watermelon looks delicious and I dont even like watermelon! Enjoy your grandsons visit.

Jean said...

I love the tag book you received, what a lovely gift.
Glad that you got your pool light to work again, sounds like it was a tricky job.
hope you have fun at the fiesta.
Jean x

Suzy said...

How lovely to get such fab post. Iove getting the wee floral decorated note from Chrissy when you order from Merly.

It's so hot here in Scotland just now I'd love a pool to have a night time dip in.

It must be great to have your grandson visiting and watermelon for brekkie, yum

Have a good weekend

Suzy x

Suzy said...

How lovely to get such fab post. Iove getting the wee floral decorated note from Chrissy when you order from Merly.

It's so hot here in Scotland just now I'd love a pool to have a night time dip in.

It must be great to have your grandson visiting and watermelon for brekkie, yum

Have a good weekend

Suzy x

JoZart Designs said...

What a lovely newsy post. so enjoyable to read and lovely how you really enjoy the life out there.
WE too are so lucky to know you through blogland and it was a pleasure to send you what little I did.
Love jo x

JoZart Designs said...

Oh, thanks Kate so much... I never ever noticed the smiling face on the door and I've been so often!!!!
Jo x

Caro said...

What a lovely post with plenty to smile about. I love your various parcels, especially the one from Jo...she is really special isn't she! Thanks for sharing. Caro x (#9)

Elizabeth said...

Hi Kate, lots to smile about this week. All those lovely goodies and your hibiscus are gorgeous. You grandson looks happy to be tucking into the watermelon too. Thanks for sharing, Elizabeth xx

Carmen said...

I don't mind at all the length of your posts - from one rambler to another ;)

What a gorgeous flower!

How frightening with the fires but thank goodness for brave people such as those dropping the water.

Loved reading about all your packages - don't you just love the people of Blogland? :)

Have a lovely week Kate.

The Scrapbook Lady UK said...

looks like a good week - enjoy having your grandson with you! jenx

Neet said...

Well, you made me smile reading all that has gone on around you. Apart from the fires that is!
Wish it would rain over here in the night (not storm I might add) but I fear when the weather does break it will stay that way and no more sunshine.
Love your pool, bet your grandson enjoys it.
Hope you post about the fiesta - what a wonderful place to live.

Hugs, Neet xx