tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-62215253810997543032024-03-19T09:48:32.626+01:00Kate's adventuresmamapez5http://www.blogger.com/profile/16882819450456050281noreply@blogger.comBlogger849125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6221525381099754303.post-578711981952542402024-03-15T09:24:00.005+01:002024-03-15T09:29:05.837+01:00Friday Smiles 2024 # Week 11<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Well here we are again at the end of another week. We have enjoyed some lovely sunny days so I am starting with another photo of the garden flowers. The little winter violas that I planted months ago, are still flowering and looking so sweet, and they have a surprisingly strong perfume. Of course the fresias in the pot next to them also smell lovely so I have a fragrant garden. The jasmine is over on the front wall and these two sit near the front door, so I can enjoy their lovely perfumes every time I go out, or open the window.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXxczwlf20RQkNljGuGdY2A8zkwlTSXuZ2j1TJ2O6ajVWRdLq90fBFVoHmkysFzQg8OLQiJgXNRYlRVJQEfB-gJszgW9tK6pynthAonOsapNSMltuVJG_KlFDpz8v1sXLoA03_GAnu1XWjAhkTKLgNM4Q1T3mwUhjCYf_YjHWuzx2jFVGB5Y_MyMRQiy95/s698/1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="698" height="274" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXxczwlf20RQkNljGuGdY2A8zkwlTSXuZ2j1TJ2O6ajVWRdLq90fBFVoHmkysFzQg8OLQiJgXNRYlRVJQEfB-gJszgW9tK6pynthAonOsapNSMltuVJG_KlFDpz8v1sXLoA03_GAnu1XWjAhkTKLgNM4Q1T3mwUhjCYf_YjHWuzx2jFVGB5Y_MyMRQiy95/w383-h274/1.jpg" width="383" /></a></span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Chris gave each pot a gentle water using a can this morning. They are used to me waving a hose around out there, but we cannot be seen to be so wasteful right now, so we give them just enough to stay alive. We did have a very little bit of rain here this week. Saturday was quite wet, but there was more just up in the hills which has helped to raise the level in the reservoirs a little, and they are hoping that when the snow melts at the top of the mountains, more will flow down to us. But in the meantime, we have to be careful.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">I am very lucky to have a new 'toy' to play with in the kitchen. I know I am a sucker for kitchen gadgets. I buy anything that I think will make life easier for me and assist my weak hands, but I found I had far too many appliances taking up space, so I have replaced them with one that should do everything that they do, and some more. So here is my Ninja. </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR9S_qmG0P_6AwdWoQ7NXU0-VjhPrX4DDLgEtVljbZXBhffpckAx5Eq8RvDvjrj5XLwrwklQGo9a69nBcYEegA0JVsACorZlgej0XSiTqDOfzyKOhv6z7ONy1bRGKK9CxFQjvjdlssuo1XIOFEmwPEeX2XB4pg7lxstYfAIs2DLHlAxn2A0eJWQhuGUc3i/s970/3.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="970" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR9S_qmG0P_6AwdWoQ7NXU0-VjhPrX4DDLgEtVljbZXBhffpckAx5Eq8RvDvjrj5XLwrwklQGo9a69nBcYEegA0JVsACorZlgej0XSiTqDOfzyKOhv6z7ONy1bRGKK9CxFQjvjdlssuo1XIOFEmwPEeX2XB4pg7lxstYfAIs2DLHlAxn2A0eJWQhuGUc3i/w492-h228/3.jpg" width="492" /></a></span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">It has a lot of accessories, but I needed them to be the right size to fit in the pot comfortably. I can now use it as an electric pressure cooker, an airfryer, a steamer, a dehydrater and yoghurt maker. It will prove and bake bread, make cakes and roast a whole chicken, and although the timing for each is much the same as the main oven, (except for the pressure cooker of course), it takes far less power, and does not make my kitchen so hot.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">There is a lot to learn before I can realise its full potential, but I have started practising. Yesterday I cooked individual meat pies in it, and today I made a chicken satay for dinner, and then made a batch of cupcakes, and a loaf of bread. My cupcake tray has small, deep holes, so the cakes are a bit oddly shaped, but they will have some lemon curd put in the middle and I am sure they will taste fine. Hopefully the next batch will turn out more even.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOdZsOifeRYPC38_3CowpNtCMYPpxROCtNt70i9Gf1vFNWnkXEP3ZtgOKgi7CoEv4CphdW1xrsznAPVj1qQkHRIJAKnYhQM19JTHEiKY3TXPbMJoPscmZYFB0_2ExIgjzi4sOBdP9VlsTzPeHnxUBgaJquPJtOSJeC_UT5rwudrcpuYR4_hMjNrs1VBy44/s666/4.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="666" data-original-width="500" height="381" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOdZsOifeRYPC38_3CowpNtCMYPpxROCtNt70i9Gf1vFNWnkXEP3ZtgOKgi7CoEv4CphdW1xrsznAPVj1qQkHRIJAKnYhQM19JTHEiKY3TXPbMJoPscmZYFB0_2ExIgjzi4sOBdP9VlsTzPeHnxUBgaJquPJtOSJeC_UT5rwudrcpuYR4_hMjNrs1VBy44/w286-h381/4.jpg" width="286" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">I had fun one afternoon when I went to put away a little pot of glitter glue. I pulled the drawer just too far and the whole lot spilled all over the floor. I hadn't realised how many glitter glues and pearl drops I had accumulated! So I spent a couple of hours collecting them all up, sorting them into colours, and trying each one out. I threw away any that had dried up and now have a neatly arranged selection that I know are working and a test sheet to show how they look. Now to keep it that way...!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmdYIAPD6ebfTeUP2ZRHmZmv-D1CPK5UGwfrhmPHR5vy5uSXK1PCiKqdt7ANWEhyGRle6k4RwOM09rx_x77dVST2ojdE7UZ5EDHxp_TvV2OUo41phZSwUiOQmfHvDtipzljXUMoNrudy90CXzPHb9JBlJd4aeFY6qMLOb5CEFH14771JfNMSICjPDoowtn/s826/20240315_090911.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="826" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmdYIAPD6ebfTeUP2ZRHmZmv-D1CPK5UGwfrhmPHR5vy5uSXK1PCiKqdt7ANWEhyGRle6k4RwOM09rx_x77dVST2ojdE7UZ5EDHxp_TvV2OUo41phZSwUiOQmfHvDtipzljXUMoNrudy90CXzPHb9JBlJd4aeFY6qMLOb5CEFH14771JfNMSICjPDoowtn/w396-h240/20240315_090911.jpg" width="396" /></a></div></span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">We have had a busy time with hospital appointments this week. On Monday Chris had his first treatment for macula degeneration, which went smoothly and wasn't too traumatic for him. And yesterday I had a follow-up to my hand biopsy, and they have decided to remove some of the troublesome tissue from around the scar. I have to wait for them to ring me with an appointment now, but it will only be a quick trip to the day surgery unit. It will be good to get it sorted.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Yesterday I walked up to the farmacia to collect my prescription and I saw two swallow-tail butterfies having a great time flitting from flower to flower on a lantana shrub. Needless to say they weren't stopping to pose for me so I grabbed what I could and managed these two. It was like being out on a summer's day in England.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPvNCyJVVRdI6bQ3D3vyMPLDQ8L592WmHFX_PYVlsfzkTwX_zKgZ373VkZPv7IBQun8lsAM0tVa5r2tunHzsE8I6eK45b-mcT2Hv4j2YyIj8jaY6UuG8LOjIkFhWfB9iXRbtH5JqyELOXpU8eev_4YRDPgyr90QurX0qcsEOSXdYAoGqLUdN9fNj8S0qO0/s888/2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="888" height="247" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPvNCyJVVRdI6bQ3D3vyMPLDQ8L592WmHFX_PYVlsfzkTwX_zKgZ373VkZPv7IBQun8lsAM0tVa5r2tunHzsE8I6eK45b-mcT2Hv4j2YyIj8jaY6UuG8LOjIkFhWfB9iXRbtH5JqyELOXpU8eev_4YRDPgyr90QurX0qcsEOSXdYAoGqLUdN9fNj8S0qO0/w439-h247/2.jpg" width="439" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><div style="text-align: justify;">I spent a couple of hours on the phone with Ben last night, helping make a few tweaks to <a href="https://www.totallysound.co.uk/">his webpage</a>, and it is now up and running. He has worked hard on it so I hope it generates some work for him.</div></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">And with that, I will link up with <a href="https://wipso-astitchintime.blogspot.com/">Annie's Friday Smiles</a> and do my best to visit you all.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p>mamapez5http://www.blogger.com/profile/16882819450456050281noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6221525381099754303.post-42271900415074101462024-03-08T09:25:00.002+01:002024-03-08T09:26:33.679+01:00Friday Smiles 2024 # Week 10<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Today is known in this area as Día de Vieja, or Day of the Old, when families go to somewhere out in the fresh air for a family picnic. Some say this originated from the time when all villagers worked for the monastry and the monks realised that fasting for the whole of Lent meant that they could not work well, so they designated this day (Lent break) when everyone could eat what they wanted and renew their strength to work until Easter. It is also the day when the children make or buy 'puppets' of old women, and occasionally men, built around a wooden cross with tissue paper clothes, and a head like a piñata which contains sweets or small toys. After their picnic, the puppets are stood in the ground and the children throw stones at them or use sticks to beat them until they break and their treasures can be retrieved. Here are some children about to have some fun!</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8o7uWZDQqpj5haoW6REFpx-QMYrAxYe66OMtHPLQqqcl0ZILdyQVINh0gP14lIcDNYji1N8yaUUDXhPpXdb9uSTiaanr5UTxVmONo98h3g30Ku4AThrp62gVRqniabFTsAxTAgjQILD09VHps3WKCyWEmzrBAkkRUXLSjTAntZNcMvb6t8VALWXJMPi2_/s889/1..jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="889" height="232" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8o7uWZDQqpj5haoW6REFpx-QMYrAxYe66OMtHPLQqqcl0ZILdyQVINh0gP14lIcDNYji1N8yaUUDXhPpXdb9uSTiaanr5UTxVmONo98h3g30Ku4AThrp62gVRqniabFTsAxTAgjQILD09VHps3WKCyWEmzrBAkkRUXLSjTAntZNcMvb6t8VALWXJMPi2_/w412-h232/1..jpg" width="412" /></a></span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">There has been a big building project ongoing in Mojacar for the past year. It includes a new bus station with seating and shaded waiting areas, and also a new medical centre which is much more accessible than the old one, and convenient for those who travel to it by bus. It is built adjacent to the main road between Mojacar Playa and pueblo, and on the road side it presents as a very large plain concrete wall. As the work is nearing completion, the Town Council employed an artist called Nicolas Rodriguez, who together with his wife, a photographer called María Angeles "Maki" Fernández, created a huge mural to disguise the wall. They collaborate together under the name Makinico. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">We drove passed to see it today but because the road is very busy it was not possible to park to take photos, so these came from articles about it on the internet. The mural is in setions, the first one depicting two Mojaquares (or woman of Mojacar) as they would have been many years ago when they fetched water from the town fuente in pitchers which they carried on their heads.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMARMVkdFLVE7PxNmQCvS76xPgFwV1RyeSNmmP7o9TSnP9HEOPzRXSAkJawIASew4-g1VvLwWVwDol3k3y73YOXzoGGhwRDf2JHxsPjHkhqZ2oJJMhQ5dk0tQZXCrvMC9QIWPSCCxbtqmsZxoLSZUO0Qub8fe3c_b4rU7RHXpDoKfKbzmeFpRU5Z4iU8ZG/s889/2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="889" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMARMVkdFLVE7PxNmQCvS76xPgFwV1RyeSNmmP7o9TSnP9HEOPzRXSAkJawIASew4-g1VvLwWVwDol3k3y73YOXzoGGhwRDf2JHxsPjHkhqZ2oJJMhQ5dk0tQZXCrvMC9QIWPSCCxbtqmsZxoLSZUO0Qub8fe3c_b4rU7RHXpDoKfKbzmeFpRU5Z4iU8ZG/w396-h223/2.jpg" width="396" /></a></span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">This moves into a stylized picture of the pueblo, famous for all its white buildings, and then a more realistic picture of it. The town council wanted this as they felt the full view of the village was hidden by the mountains for people approaching it from the beach.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjk8vKH9Uo5BcqyPcvve-xtZdP1hIFiVT4oWJOsOTm4zunt7KsjfF46F7zn4jCj0bg7n9dm_U6bBHEVSZoKkAt1Q7Q84uPrEcHkZoa6GSUKm8CnB84DUbeYEhbAIFD00lPTi0fhvYVisvjrD64FOV2E6tGJgtDZIKUMJtGujsg1Utv9Zp3y3-mt5Y2pGAW/s758/3.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="758" height="246" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjk8vKH9Uo5BcqyPcvve-xtZdP1hIFiVT4oWJOsOTm4zunt7KsjfF46F7zn4jCj0bg7n9dm_U6bBHEVSZoKkAt1Q7Q84uPrEcHkZoa6GSUKm8CnB84DUbeYEhbAIFD00lPTi0fhvYVisvjrD64FOV2E6tGJgtDZIKUMJtGujsg1Utv9Zp3y3-mt5Y2pGAW/w373-h246/3.jpg" width="373" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkKSxGDObAM7E1v4ZE_BRoE29c694UIgJEK9LC7ah9TClmBduQw89rkcvl9jGlTffFMJJhnjZK2mJgEBf2rARosmuZjGERaApHe2EjTcybnTRwIt5_1b-TnRBdK96B1BRNZkYutt4r7jlvMmkN-atrRod53ahafRGqjd6fPlLpTLjMlzP608jAqG2v8qRH/s912/4.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="912" height="184" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkKSxGDObAM7E1v4ZE_BRoE29c694UIgJEK9LC7ah9TClmBduQw89rkcvl9jGlTffFMJJhnjZK2mJgEBf2rARosmuZjGERaApHe2EjTcybnTRwIt5_1b-TnRBdK96B1BRNZkYutt4r7jlvMmkN-atrRod53ahafRGqjd6fPlLpTLjMlzP608jAqG2v8qRH/w373-h184/4.png" width="373" /></a></span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Slightly set back from this some more white buidings lead onto a stretch of the beach, and the final piece has the town name in large white letters, with the 'O' carrying the symbol of Mojacar, 'the Indalo Man'.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRrWyTYxWT2WXBrbGjhVPm-rNUb-oeSJlX_4JBqEXx2XaUcVtaDmr1_4PA2AAIIVQEwvjsfaTC0a-s9-UN_i0iyM0J2xXQz1vztcZIxiKfkkrwbjDp0psI-fFOeN3S0iNv5ckDFAm0Od0nTm2dwLIBSzjnWOlgyZ7unUXY9tw290xGkBsvOn4WuNyl08yp/s912/5.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="463" data-original-width="912" height="185" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRrWyTYxWT2WXBrbGjhVPm-rNUb-oeSJlX_4JBqEXx2XaUcVtaDmr1_4PA2AAIIVQEwvjsfaTC0a-s9-UN_i0iyM0J2xXQz1vztcZIxiKfkkrwbjDp0psI-fFOeN3S0iNv5ckDFAm0Od0nTm2dwLIBSzjnWOlgyZ7unUXY9tw290xGkBsvOn4WuNyl08yp/w365-h185/5.png" width="365" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg27zB5IJnGwD23VTPBFOfwr5URNrYfNRYsCDyecij-ejEpXZJflFedIwXadoa9IGjyPk5mJZAtso7t0lCyQi9Jt0U4mE85ZkrKKeGHC13d6Vl3O_YrR2l_arivd6zjAOEBJybreMZgD_xB4aRg7fOF047-UP8StVhBb7vp5X34_EBuHhbonkM39kwqXjqS/s912/6.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="912" height="184" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg27zB5IJnGwD23VTPBFOfwr5URNrYfNRYsCDyecij-ejEpXZJflFedIwXadoa9IGjyPk5mJZAtso7t0lCyQi9Jt0U4mE85ZkrKKeGHC13d6Vl3O_YrR2l_arivd6zjAOEBJybreMZgD_xB4aRg7fOF047-UP8StVhBb7vp5X34_EBuHhbonkM39kwqXjqS/w373-h184/6.png" width="373" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">I hope these show you how they each run into the next one to form a huge display. It is a very impressive piece of work, and a vast improvement on a plain concrete wall.</span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">We have been warned of a sharp drop in temperature from this afternoon, and possibly a little of the much needed rain, but this week has been mainly warm and sunny during the day and my garden is loving it. It is mostly red and pink right now, with the poinsettia continuing to turn colour, a geranium that has had head after head of flowers, a kalenchoe that was almost dead, and is now full of flowers, and my first fresias opening up today.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivfHXpxY9Nlk9rxTTj8G_4Lb7noyKPoLrQrXBOjMRhvQZmOioe8DnYLQ6raJDgHc7ToO_ia_CMpNg5ZCBAosp4vTEsdgAsLlZ_hKDsd9CkAOajdXLDiJBWk8QmSQ8WWkEMPrZS1v1LCOw1DCDhNEiiukY2jCwsa-kjalXlCU8SYt73gfUmQ05mrKBP_7X2/s667/7.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="667" height="282" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivfHXpxY9Nlk9rxTTj8G_4Lb7noyKPoLrQrXBOjMRhvQZmOioe8DnYLQ6raJDgHc7ToO_ia_CMpNg5ZCBAosp4vTEsdgAsLlZ_hKDsd9CkAOajdXLDiJBWk8QmSQ8WWkEMPrZS1v1LCOw1DCDhNEiiukY2jCwsa-kjalXlCU8SYt73gfUmQ05mrKBP_7X2/w376-h282/7.jpg" width="376" /></a></span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd_xiX3prqYQrkWpFPYnzOXrd4lNpLYs0kvuy7-AoB9zlU9hZt75b6EWd5_ExxZr6O-DH9Ja0hrf2_kjZYkBH2gfGLq2GWK9IiyqjnAOGaA9zDEuAK_yPOglJswx7kQhsLeGusa7TTL0EEDK4qt65_u2pRcESt4ZEyfhp_y9Z3onwnoMly_556LePABQIO/s667/8.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="500" height="335" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd_xiX3prqYQrkWpFPYnzOXrd4lNpLYs0kvuy7-AoB9zlU9hZt75b6EWd5_ExxZr6O-DH9Ja0hrf2_kjZYkBH2gfGLq2GWK9IiyqjnAOGaA9zDEuAK_yPOglJswx7kQhsLeGusa7TTL0EEDK4qt65_u2pRcESt4ZEyfhp_y9Z3onwnoMly_556LePABQIO/w251-h335/8.jpg" width="251" /></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><div style="text-align: justify;">Over on the wall our jasmin continues to thrive. There are still some buds though it is hard to see where any more flowers can fit in. It has been in danger of collapsing with the high winds we have had, but so far it has survived, and once the flowers die off, we will prune it back hard for next year. Everyone who passes by, comments on its lovely perfume. It is particularly strong in the evenings.</div></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">And I am really pleased with this little suculent plant. I bought it last year when the flowering plants were almost over, and it has lasted through the winter and now has its new spring colours. It is as pretty as any flowering plant. It was quite large when I bought it so I split it in half. The other piece is also doing well but is less colourful, and I have just read on the internet that it like full sun as long as it is not hot enough to scortch it, so I think it is too shady where I planted the second half. Its name is Crassula Ovata but is also know as the Jade plant, and sometimes the Money plant. It is a good one for the garden now as it only requires a drop of water when the soil is dried out.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7D26vQKjBcDF1ATfWHY-AN06RBPPtqpKH5OPZVtiVU_2Yb-zUIeZ4awGEwVm1e9DCYQpKcwd4NVn6-xXK54KB1wWC9jYp4G9aaKemzvD7CqLeDd1WXs_-WyKMbPemzlM_khQJ6trDo70FvbyH06KDO_BUYcssHJ-aQsbi4Tu9jIoEfYMXL4pon51nDKuK/s667/9.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="667" height="273" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7D26vQKjBcDF1ATfWHY-AN06RBPPtqpKH5OPZVtiVU_2Yb-zUIeZ4awGEwVm1e9DCYQpKcwd4NVn6-xXK54KB1wWC9jYp4G9aaKemzvD7CqLeDd1WXs_-WyKMbPemzlM_khQJ6trDo70FvbyH06KDO_BUYcssHJ-aQsbi4Tu9jIoEfYMXL4pon51nDKuK/w364-h273/9.jpg" width="364" /></a></span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">I have been busy in my craft room making a run of Christmas cards. I started by making a stencil of a starry background with mylar film that I cut with my Silhouette Cameo machine,and then I used sections of it to add some colour to the corners of my cards. Next I cut out elements using vinyl and weeded out all the unwanted bits. I am good at losing these when I cut a lot so I have them all safely in a tin until I find the time to get them all assembled. I can't show the finished card yet as it will used for my monthly Christmas card challenge on 25th.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPpw3wJxRbeMJO6fQ7ormZunGLpu_XZ5LXWfxUhEiP5Dm1-ywcW-czzeuuJcEUnopZZrMx6Ak88ueGtnnNXZWsnUHuFywf_Fgumbi96OT1M7wfdUSFIS7CR5q361_arKXCtGp8IfQudQ0S6eQaId5LcKmD58MGI7xswppffzx1jT5qPUB-3J-0Qjw6iky2/s667/20240307_113443.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="667" height="281" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPpw3wJxRbeMJO6fQ7ormZunGLpu_XZ5LXWfxUhEiP5Dm1-ywcW-czzeuuJcEUnopZZrMx6Ak88ueGtnnNXZWsnUHuFywf_Fgumbi96OT1M7wfdUSFIS7CR5q361_arKXCtGp8IfQudQ0S6eQaId5LcKmD58MGI7xswppffzx1jT5qPUB-3J-0Qjw6iky2/w375-h281/20240307_113443.jpg" width="375" /></a></span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Apart from that, I have spent the evenings crocheting or chatting to one or other of my boys and my sister on the internet, and the week seems to have flow by. So now I will link up with <a href="https://wipso-astitchintime.blogspot.com/2024/03/this-weeks-smilesweek-364.html">Annie's Friday Smiles.</a></span></p>mamapez5http://www.blogger.com/profile/16882819450456050281noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6221525381099754303.post-34990097728954178792024-03-01T09:11:00.001+01:002024-03-01T09:11:24.862+01:00Friday Smiles 2024 # Week 9<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Well the forecasters were right and we did have a significant drop in temperature this week, but in sheltered areas the sun still meant it was often warmer outside than in the house. But the main downside has been the wind, so fierce that some days it was safer to stay indoors. The garden is full of dead bracts from the bougainvillea, even though Chris has been out several times to sweep them up, and the covers blew off the barbeque and cane furniture. But there has been no major damage for us.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">We had to go down to Garruchs on Tuesday. It was a lovely sunny morning but only a few folk had ventured out. I took these photos looking across the main road at the barge moored at the port for loading, while I waited for Chris to come along to collect me, but looking at these tranquil scenes you would never know that it was blowing so hard I could hardly stay on my feet. Only the swaying palm trees give any indication of how rough it was.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzKdC0Nr6UaWKLGdGZHUVJoYBssUShrQkPfYELJoVXOhXfJLCozUEcOoh4dXKb-RBQ5hDIgupaDcSD7ry89_2PK6kDOODk6mnnTEeWKqV0bUVcePQfXI6rAbx5EHFpUNbamuMEe9BvK8oPQU2Lo6SET4gwOyxefxRCksVTjd64Fw8Po6n3koUJQiCszo3K/s667/1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="667" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzKdC0Nr6UaWKLGdGZHUVJoYBssUShrQkPfYELJoVXOhXfJLCozUEcOoh4dXKb-RBQ5hDIgupaDcSD7ry89_2PK6kDOODk6mnnTEeWKqV0bUVcePQfXI6rAbx5EHFpUNbamuMEe9BvK8oPQU2Lo6SET4gwOyxefxRCksVTjd64Fw8Po6n3koUJQiCszo3K/w353-h265/1.jpg" width="353" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiio9r0bEwzQvg9ztN5HVE8_f2ablQn_h9yptuFe3KeyaJGbtj9frZrfsPJpe9t67PNEUq_NvKqHHPKTIMeJeqcLqXXYLoH6lF5DxGy5_s1gNWAS9wszoNp8Cm6I0M_NcKUDgHILTcs8MOC1_Iv8oKylfVhgf13Iw9NVzk0AQpakUI4CjkcKucQN01xMtjN/s667/2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="667" height="269" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiio9r0bEwzQvg9ztN5HVE8_f2ablQn_h9yptuFe3KeyaJGbtj9frZrfsPJpe9t67PNEUq_NvKqHHPKTIMeJeqcLqXXYLoH6lF5DxGy5_s1gNWAS9wszoNp8Cm6I0M_NcKUDgHILTcs8MOC1_Iv8oKylfVhgf13Iw9NVzk0AQpakUI4CjkcKucQN01xMtjN/w359-h269/2.jpg" width="359" /></a></div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">On Tuesday night I put the sheets in the washing machine over night so I could peg them out on the line before I went to sewing group. I put several extra pegs in each piece and they did hold, but the sheets were billowing out like giant sails. Of course they dried well and by lunch time I was able to take them in again. I have nowhere indoors to dry washing exctept on an airer by the fire in the evening, so I am always happy to get it dry outside.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">The wierd weather has given us some stormy skies but the dark clouds brought little rainfall that had no impact on the water shortage here. This was the sky at teatime on Tuesday.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlpV2vwFQcpp1YWIED8fqZJ8AUqb42ehpA6Lzq0cv7PBSMmjBKEwMD6mUI808CgUKuxIuchAYOZxLnRsczgAtDB6UQQ4EDqULtGZtCxv9BqOLOhr13gbBxfAtpVEXmpWttGd9yW-XEq4y2zriTeAvupLHxEzCfFJKYgPfjpcCAJ5sqnwnGhIYoIJyB9Sxm/s667/3.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="667" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlpV2vwFQcpp1YWIED8fqZJ8AUqb42ehpA6Lzq0cv7PBSMmjBKEwMD6mUI808CgUKuxIuchAYOZxLnRsczgAtDB6UQQ4EDqULtGZtCxv9BqOLOhr13gbBxfAtpVEXmpWttGd9yW-XEq4y2zriTeAvupLHxEzCfFJKYgPfjpcCAJ5sqnwnGhIYoIJyB9Sxm/w355-h266/3.jpg" width="355" /></a></span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn7mduIWa7bDkAcxmG76cTKrSz2HqxBz15MWddzuvaDLmXBh_UIkyvZ_DwWQAFOwlPvzVav80ZDsauRPJgfhD_nYKx41F5AmgZM27bBXYK0DVycCaJkw9aUzKESqjjPP-ZJjPAk0_KTJHzOIYySHZaXqumN616h6q68wuzihb_iwaN7s07LQINYSgY8ABG/s667/4.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="500" height="362" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn7mduIWa7bDkAcxmG76cTKrSz2HqxBz15MWddzuvaDLmXBh_UIkyvZ_DwWQAFOwlPvzVav80ZDsauRPJgfhD_nYKx41F5AmgZM27bBXYK0DVycCaJkw9aUzKESqjjPP-ZJjPAk0_KTJHzOIYySHZaXqumN616h6q68wuzihb_iwaN7s07LQINYSgY8ABG/w272-h362/4.jpg" width="272" /></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Wednesday was Día de Andalucía which is a very important celebration for the local folk. It does involve sitting in a marquee listening to several long speeches by the mayor and other officials, so we decided to give it a miss this year. It is followed by a communal lunch of cold meats, cheeses, bread and raw broad beans! Then there is music and dancing that continues through the evening until midnight. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPelmayPUpXVDidxEiPybiD3d1R3dUr39C-rNjDSV2a4i_JO70XrHZZVRW0eDGwgUsFUI7Uft_uogwCNQnSKO2eajc7IlHho8cn6OkRknD1yDjBg3Z74q3pCn4rr85hVO3mrlrLGzx3LxfrmhBMxNYlv-h6hm15V9oXdhpIp6vPM9SMGM6hSbR_1HKyDGr/s1614/Dia%20de%20Andalucia%202024.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1210" data-original-width="1614" height="282" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPelmayPUpXVDidxEiPybiD3d1R3dUr39C-rNjDSV2a4i_JO70XrHZZVRW0eDGwgUsFUI7Uft_uogwCNQnSKO2eajc7IlHho8cn6OkRknD1yDjBg3Z74q3pCn4rr85hVO3mrlrLGzx3LxfrmhBMxNYlv-h6hm15V9oXdhpIp6vPM9SMGM6hSbR_1HKyDGr/w376-h282/Dia%20de%20Andalucia%202024.jpg" width="376" /></a></div></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">I went to my usual sewing group in the morning but when I heard the music in the afternoon I decided to walk across to the marquee to stretch my legs. Sadly most of the green and white bunting had blown down and was tangled around lamp posts etc. <br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">But they did manage to raise the Andalucian flag on the plazza and that was fluttering somewhat madly. </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAa10ogfz9UzmbxW4oyU-2Goda7zHbO2dwXtHccojULiWzse5Ee45OGSykNzdJQncL5kZjDyAJN9c3mYz9i8JkgjIoHO9G8q1ietXeaJn_tiXgXv2C_ZBJ3fRHMlT2sSuMf1wgg-JhpYzl6glFIQN1WecRqmV0FL1BK40m4QUel-jOKXHwQjVNVyoH0WFx/s782/5.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="782" data-original-width="500" height="353" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAa10ogfz9UzmbxW4oyU-2Goda7zHbO2dwXtHccojULiWzse5Ee45OGSykNzdJQncL5kZjDyAJN9c3mYz9i8JkgjIoHO9G8q1ietXeaJn_tiXgXv2C_ZBJ3fRHMlT2sSuMf1wgg-JhpYzl6glFIQN1WecRqmV0FL1BK40m4QUel-jOKXHwQjVNVyoH0WFx/w226-h353/5.jpg" width="226" /></a></span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">The marquee was full of people chatting and enjoying the music, and out on the car park they managed to secure a large bouncy castle securely as well as having several 'fair-ground' style stalls selling sweets and toys for the children. It was too windy to make walking around very pleasant, so I soon returned home.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Our little tree is dripping with lemons and the new blossom is starting to appear on it, so I thought I should use some of them. So on Saturday I had a baking session making a lemon meringue pie, some little lemon shortbread bites, and two jars of lemon curd.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjFTtFKiyP2befLInclwvL5q1Fm024EoITr2T97064oGfMpz8s-F9XJ-ureKeN1Atq7QS5b2BkPcTASffkr_ToDZW4VGKxBHutASkCeAEiNCrBFE5cgaYM8P74bXpl_HbLx6NidXcH1DP_yGqzIb5wntxzcFI38cqMFv3IjcVBcfBFLyUXy-RwjVT7LOEv/s667/6.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="667" height="279" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjFTtFKiyP2befLInclwvL5q1Fm024EoITr2T97064oGfMpz8s-F9XJ-ureKeN1Atq7QS5b2BkPcTASffkr_ToDZW4VGKxBHutASkCeAEiNCrBFE5cgaYM8P74bXpl_HbLx6NidXcH1DP_yGqzIb5wntxzcFI38cqMFv3IjcVBcfBFLyUXy-RwjVT7LOEv/w372-h279/6.jpg" width="372" /></a></span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Today I had another session in the kitchen and was quite pleased with my multi-tasking. By lunch time I had cooked chicken thighs in the instant pot, made puff pastry chicken slices with half of it, and frozen the rest for another day. I also made a loaf of bread, a lemon curd and raisin slice, a lemon drizzle cake, (it is dark because my recipe uses dark brown sugar), and several jars of lemon marmalade.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRtwc-6tlC-GYi2A9jWqhXTLpq_t7nGcEZljrDTOCo3uyG02sCNJPYFrGg0qmfe6eBesTANL2hxtHPaKPOCjbA9UTfHBCx5sW3nRVwMFIgo_ospSLaut4Y67cIMhk6THQMxdFM_0wQvOJ0pZqvY-x57A7Jz9e1VeWkwzVKrkFeKkhb1KPqiN1BoO9Oh4AO/s667/7.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="667" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRtwc-6tlC-GYi2A9jWqhXTLpq_t7nGcEZljrDTOCo3uyG02sCNJPYFrGg0qmfe6eBesTANL2hxtHPaKPOCjbA9UTfHBCx5sW3nRVwMFIgo_ospSLaut4Y67cIMhk6THQMxdFM_0wQvOJ0pZqvY-x57A7Jz9e1VeWkwzVKrkFeKkhb1KPqiN1BoO9Oh4AO/w357-h268/7.jpg" width="357" /></a></span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">I did promise to show the project I was working on with the laser cutter my friend has loaned me, so here it is. I have said in a previous post that my son Ben has started his own business and has organised a new studio at home for playing and recording his music, so I<i> </i>made him this wall plaque. His new biusiness is called 'Totally sound', and this is the font he has used on his information cards etc.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirkp-ugG_YhhZPC5RiqobDtUm4GCU5c7dU_FD8jW7SXSXyotjTF1zrEzXOLK4o_exZJ5iK4EA2xiIYGsT2YspdLQjGt1D_81GdIiyvHM43CBWhM12CF-B0y7ss9w8YAHMsZHYqgPy_rrgOAffn3m6J1VA-npMWG9FiYfr8lxkRlqShabr7Rpn5NyorA-Iy/s679/10.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="679" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirkp-ugG_YhhZPC5RiqobDtUm4GCU5c7dU_FD8jW7SXSXyotjTF1zrEzXOLK4o_exZJ5iK4EA2xiIYGsT2YspdLQjGt1D_81GdIiyvHM43CBWhM12CF-B0y7ss9w8YAHMsZHYqgPy_rrgOAffn3m6J1VA-npMWG9FiYfr8lxkRlqShabr7Rpn5NyorA-Iy/w388-h286/10.jpg" width="388" /></a></span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">For the photo I used one he had sent me a few weeks ago which I made into a black and white sketch in gimp, and then engraved onto the base wood. If you are interested is knowing more about how it was done, there is a detailed write up on my craft blog which you can find <a href="https://manualidades-mamapez5.blogspot.com/2024/02/we-are-never-too-old.html">HERE</a>. (Apologies to those who have already seen this on Facebook). </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj38CYt9rWH2vMHk3vTsCEcMohM7RHRC5uQq54vWwP9egrzuL-M8Zp3bizDtlPT_C-f0lTZAsMmFykUERAM6e8cJf-XD_AKiC8PLkwoJXxC9eABkQc8aB8-JKN_7LqUlp_bGmFSLE7aciC9oa105FU2GqtEoY92dZjyd4vG43ZRnnx4x0xay7NJMjSd_iZt/s1019/11.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="1019" height="170" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj38CYt9rWH2vMHk3vTsCEcMohM7RHRC5uQq54vWwP9egrzuL-M8Zp3bizDtlPT_C-f0lTZAsMmFykUERAM6e8cJf-XD_AKiC8PLkwoJXxC9eABkQc8aB8-JKN_7LqUlp_bGmFSLE7aciC9oa105FU2GqtEoY92dZjyd4vG43ZRnnx4x0xay7NJMjSd_iZt/w386-h170/11.jpg" width="386" /></a></span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">I only posted this to Ben last Friday so I was really surprised to hear it had arrive on Tuesday! Of course Ben loves it as I knew he would.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">We are supposed to only take rubbish out to the big bins on the street after 7.00 but last night I went just before that as the sun was setting. The light was catching some of the mountain peaks at the bottom of the village making lovely light and shadow patterns. So I hurried back to grab my phone but by the time I got out again it had faded, but I still managed to take this shot. </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTckI5SSL81_jiPY0B2EqcOqJQva9d3Yiq2l49HMQCtWdnrSgfqh7L1GpAioVGj1O6LPnqVg__Qio_0zMIHTQ8Zw-9uH01nVzdi9ZhnX9fVGtmEjSIjhB0tgnr6CkXxUedse0afvPlcMuPeeiWGPUV_M-iWf5gf3ZJ0RR7pPfePLrfpAblY_ukOyITbUPb/s667/8.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="500" height="361" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTckI5SSL81_jiPY0B2EqcOqJQva9d3Yiq2l49HMQCtWdnrSgfqh7L1GpAioVGj1O6LPnqVg__Qio_0zMIHTQ8Zw-9uH01nVzdi9ZhnX9fVGtmEjSIjhB0tgnr6CkXxUedse0afvPlcMuPeeiWGPUV_M-iWf5gf3ZJ0RR7pPfePLrfpAblY_ukOyITbUPb/w271-h361/8.jpg" width="271" /></a></span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Back at home, out the other side of the house this rather dramatic sky was rapidly fading too.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIZxvQjMzXH3AjXbCeCow_K7FqQplMHaM_vxPVvk6IkvTVy5QXdx-ueZjpaqgC8YDpWEMhFGIAoVsnluJgTFoqXfxdCZHXKXxyWaY1prQ9KDrfDZbQMkJAb35pPbbr5wt9Rxa6p6erly3zsNnEVDRTBuwZ5NOqLBR1e9ks8HTC70dIo8Vg8DvCAVG8ts5Y/s667/9.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="667" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIZxvQjMzXH3AjXbCeCow_K7FqQplMHaM_vxPVvk6IkvTVy5QXdx-ueZjpaqgC8YDpWEMhFGIAoVsnluJgTFoqXfxdCZHXKXxyWaY1prQ9KDrfDZbQMkJAb35pPbbr5wt9Rxa6p6erly3zsNnEVDRTBuwZ5NOqLBR1e9ks8HTC70dIo8Vg8DvCAVG8ts5Y/w356-h267/9.jpg" width="356" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">So now it is time to link up with Annie at her blog, <a href="https://wipso-astitchintime.blogspot.com/2024/03/this-weeks-smilesweek-363.html">here</a>.</span></div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p>mamapez5http://www.blogger.com/profile/16882819450456050281noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6221525381099754303.post-33081464020717160802024-02-23T09:12:00.002+01:002024-02-23T09:12:51.654+01:00Friday Smiles 2024 Week 8<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Friday again and the sun is still shining, despite orange and yellow alerts on the forecast page for rain, storms and a deep drop in temperature. So we will wait and see what the weekend brings. But in the meantime we will continue to enjoy the warmth and sun. I have even shed a layer of clothes because it was so warm sitting outside to eat lunch yesterday, though I know I will probably need it again in a day or two.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">The garden is enjoying the sun too. This morning I noticed several buds on my fresias out in the front yard. It is way earlier than I usually see them. Also the jasmine is again bursting out with more flowers every day. You can see here just how many buds are on it. The lovely perfume fills the house when I open the window in the morning.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS54G0fKyb0SP7IL_vECcunUx-dPCIMM4smy7mckifwbl7EuHIAy9il7U4_XAcAQDKUElU9T-dlzWsHyq03USaY9iMP9tKc-7PZyY79u8Gq-g8kHtkUEf_u9wc_ZwUIx4_gOBIGOS04IzP0iCtixnSkcheWwW7Fv8jJgQOG4vUpNkqmVPJWYQJWplUTvw_/s667/20240218_114838.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="500" height="370" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS54G0fKyb0SP7IL_vECcunUx-dPCIMM4smy7mckifwbl7EuHIAy9il7U4_XAcAQDKUElU9T-dlzWsHyq03USaY9iMP9tKc-7PZyY79u8Gq-g8kHtkUEf_u9wc_ZwUIx4_gOBIGOS04IzP0iCtixnSkcheWwW7Fv8jJgQOG4vUpNkqmVPJWYQJWplUTvw_/w277-h370/20240218_114838.jpg" width="277" /></a></span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">This is the poinsettia we thought we would plant out after it had sat in a pot all through the Christmas season 2021. It hasn't grown a great deal but it still looks really healthy and now some of the leaves are turning red. I am hoping it will continue to grow and thrive.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcUSZDhdly-hH27vKu8WTrGwISTy9xNvNSnJwqRJcL4WZyxLuG7hYGJdzdma2ljcAfZkG_CVt8cTRXqgnLNrfn0SIemPyAfOLfQpztHepJu0FsKfrJN5VHA8NaXXxOmeDr4dafBRZCersLbQO-YeOowq00v3_E4bZz95TNzn7MbRO6x6wF1xTB3QBcVwz4/s667/20240218_114820.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="500" height="367" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcUSZDhdly-hH27vKu8WTrGwISTy9xNvNSnJwqRJcL4WZyxLuG7hYGJdzdma2ljcAfZkG_CVt8cTRXqgnLNrfn0SIemPyAfOLfQpztHepJu0FsKfrJN5VHA8NaXXxOmeDr4dafBRZCersLbQO-YeOowq00v3_E4bZz95TNzn7MbRO6x6wF1xTB3QBcVwz4/w275-h367/20240218_114820.jpg" width="275" /></a></span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">I have been having fun getting to grips with the laser cutter a friend lent me. I bought some 15mm bass-plywood and a few A4 sheets of 3mm birch-plywood. Here are just a few of my trial runs. I cut a small square from the thinner wood and then engraved a picture of Leo. This started out as a photo so I had to learn how to use Gimp to change it to a black and white line sketch and remove the background before I could engrave it. One thing I learned is that it was a mistake to cut this against the grain of the wood, so next time I will turn the base around first.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0AgHAB6rjBIVeOuIVSVvyS5P_JapgQO0uvQHJkUyCnhsW_fYIome0vQp9nM5dCAwnM9zlGF2TtDBnyLAuJb3zUpkqdJ80DdhUUmPj_1-1jEVdKV_fSd0LK2thMIorLCCt528ritjqKKogtfngdyEv0fjaYsAAmbhIrDrmyXIfuueVOwtz4tvXqCHvOiBc/s646/20240222_114308.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="646" data-original-width="600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0AgHAB6rjBIVeOuIVSVvyS5P_JapgQO0uvQHJkUyCnhsW_fYIome0vQp9nM5dCAwnM9zlGF2TtDBnyLAuJb3zUpkqdJ80DdhUUmPj_1-1jEVdKV_fSd0LK2thMIorLCCt528ritjqKKogtfngdyEv0fjaYsAAmbhIrDrmyXIfuueVOwtz4tvXqCHvOiBc/s320/20240222_114308.jpg" width="297" /></a></span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Next I tried cutting out a couple of plain shapes. It took a lot of passes and the 'smoke' and fumes were not very pleasant, but fortunately I was able to work with the window wide open. You may just notice that I lost the tip of the music note tail, by being too impatient. Another lesson learned. Hopefully I will have a completed project to show in a week or two.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb03f_2sWlq15ajiePgLhakBDbHKo2x6b9Rx2BxfhF0BwYru-1u7g_klpgObgp45ITs4q0RRgFHG6rnFCNYapcTwgPu6M-6xFkTLqniLvpeDlxG-dAc1S9Xnex6-m1qNYW_YAsNaOOtFwiWz7qx43DFYG5MY0FNDxcoi-nGp7Mv9UtzDZDNtEEljfzem33/s500/20240222_114351.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="473" data-original-width="500" height="303" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb03f_2sWlq15ajiePgLhakBDbHKo2x6b9Rx2BxfhF0BwYru-1u7g_klpgObgp45ITs4q0RRgFHG6rnFCNYapcTwgPu6M-6xFkTLqniLvpeDlxG-dAc1S9Xnex6-m1qNYW_YAsNaOOtFwiWz7qx43DFYG5MY0FNDxcoi-nGp7Mv9UtzDZDNtEEljfzem33/s320/20240222_114351.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">It really made me smile when I took in this parcel from a courier yesterday. I had ordered the wool for a new project and the only place in Europe I can order it from is the Netherlands. The postage was high, but as it was a big order I decided to accept that. They always send their orders in these boxes. I wonder how many others have smiled at it as it travelled across to me?</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCleNpccXYlC5GJJXw1tNQ7RqYFyO_PMWuxLvVyrUw5Q9lp3zogPAJyehpwWKap5qByIDKQIIy6-figZw6DsacIZl1_XFUfzEnX-4Q3VvU_0nHiJQ7OIcJnzKgEy42wo4boUamFZj98a1_Z_ayrsNZ8j1hNmKjJwK1FT6Sv-Sxe2MaMdvC8pHFLnblZGiN/s667/20240221_120439.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="667" height="276" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCleNpccXYlC5GJJXw1tNQ7RqYFyO_PMWuxLvVyrUw5Q9lp3zogPAJyehpwWKap5qByIDKQIIy6-figZw6DsacIZl1_XFUfzEnX-4Q3VvU_0nHiJQ7OIcJnzKgEy42wo4boUamFZj98a1_Z_ayrsNZ8j1hNmKjJwK1FT6Sv-Sxe2MaMdvC8pHFLnblZGiN/w368-h276/20240221_120439.jpg" width="368" /></a></span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">And of course, what was inside made me smile even more. I took this photo in bright sunlight but although the blue and grey are pretty close to their true colour, the third one is not orange as it looks here. It is a shade called 'tomato', and has a much pinker/redder hue with just a hint of orange.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ6tuLhRCDPhnZ0rUfOLNM_9pIsXBzW5HZszOmPPXyQ2uCaTqMIcSOZ6wDVjhVIz86EucB2crB_F1rYPxMudlJZGS_4x-YAkYPg1UR4wYri2j_QTmZlvFio6Q7D-oFCVSxK0x136Iu2O3B7zhksT3jIpaMgntQn3buHE-HToxi61IITFQK7yRlZgt3qZ1n/s667/20240221_120639.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="667" height="277" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ6tuLhRCDPhnZ0rUfOLNM_9pIsXBzW5HZszOmPPXyQ2uCaTqMIcSOZ6wDVjhVIz86EucB2crB_F1rYPxMudlJZGS_4x-YAkYPg1UR4wYri2j_QTmZlvFio6Q7D-oFCVSxK0x136Iu2O3B7zhksT3jIpaMgntQn3buHE-HToxi61IITFQK7yRlZgt3qZ1n/w369-h277/20240221_120639.jpg" width="369" /></a></span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Right now I am busy working on my Tunisian crochet hexagons. I chose a much better contrast colour for the second one and the pattern stands out well. Here it is on my blocking boards, to make sure it is the same size as the first one.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfsXalrOE0IEmya8DLrE07fY42WHhy4VhnmZeav5o1L1K4Bu9Mzn4ZB5ALILGtxpxMAc5Dpg9JuHnuC9_G68GLeiAYSHi9MQpner3uERGaLZa_-oIHrDlyFQF7Ex2eZCyzpLqD-__jMirqE303C3eXxhjLBQAvrWpB2xN4rSciO_8Xplm1ZnNCwbGhW5Mk/s616/20240222_103822.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="616" height="312" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfsXalrOE0IEmya8DLrE07fY42WHhy4VhnmZeav5o1L1K4Bu9Mzn4ZB5ALILGtxpxMAc5Dpg9JuHnuC9_G68GLeiAYSHi9MQpner3uERGaLZa_-oIHrDlyFQF7Ex2eZCyzpLqD-__jMirqE303C3eXxhjLBQAvrWpB2xN4rSciO_8Xplm1ZnNCwbGhW5Mk/s320/20240222_103822.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Tonight I will finish the third hexagon. I used a varigated blue wool for the contrast this time, and it has worked well. You can see why I need to block them. </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKRXaToimGrYRMWIgH3o-Ts66S6DjIU844yJ90UM7wrfAa_ZAF_L5JFtdOovdNarhrrEqx78fyM-mIeouWDhKF5jP2AxLhVB8dm-ZbsAwu9DgkyT1zxKB9FUc-D5r-wEc7sIcIIjIloOWcWSCN1TPfCFtJ3SmR78Ok8GTxT3GxWbGo18PIY5OOqGCIYc2b/s600/20240222_103955.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="507" data-original-width="600" height="270" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKRXaToimGrYRMWIgH3o-Ts66S6DjIU844yJ90UM7wrfAa_ZAF_L5JFtdOovdNarhrrEqx78fyM-mIeouWDhKF5jP2AxLhVB8dm-ZbsAwu9DgkyT1zxKB9FUc-D5r-wEc7sIcIIjIloOWcWSCN1TPfCFtJ3SmR78Ok8GTxT3GxWbGo18PIY5OOqGCIYc2b/s320/20240222_103955.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">I am happy to have got the hang of this technique, but the blue main colour splits very easily, which is a nuisance. Also these are made with 4ply wool and I much prefer to work with Double Knitting weight, so I will be having a go at a motif with the new wool in a day or two.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Today is my 'baby boy's' birthday. He is actually thirty seven but he will always be my baby. Born when I was in my fortieth year, (which was considered unusual in those days), I was always grateful to have such a healthy and happy baby. He completed our family and has brought lots of joy to many people, with his music.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmMUCa1V29cwgz_zOPIw7IszqfArmhQ1Y8o6AuIHkDxnXzRciM60LUz8hT7uHI8yMRIgUhl13Qmeas0ZAQ22x9eBiSWMSqz4S88Rz_Rf5eCYE0BfJjrRN_ECA7eEBS0Qh6eYNaGmu15wO6ezCVXERyWYxs3TWhyphenhyphenif8y6v0n8_mZN746hr-xOWDR8ZSp2zn/s768/Ben%20is%2037.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="768" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmMUCa1V29cwgz_zOPIw7IszqfArmhQ1Y8o6AuIHkDxnXzRciM60LUz8hT7uHI8yMRIgUhl13Qmeas0ZAQ22x9eBiSWMSqz4S88Rz_Rf5eCYE0BfJjrRN_ECA7eEBS0Qh6eYNaGmu15wO6ezCVXERyWYxs3TWhyphenhyphenif8y6v0n8_mZN746hr-xOWDR8ZSp2zn/w390-h229/Ben%20is%2037.jpg" width="390" /></a></span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">It was also my sister's birthday yesterday and she was eighty-nine. So a very happy birthday to both of them.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Now I will get ready to link up with<a href="https://wipso-astitchintime.blogspot.com/2024/02/this-weeks-smilesweek-362.html"> Annie's Smiles</a> in the morning, and get outside in the sun for a while.</span></p>mamapez5http://www.blogger.com/profile/16882819450456050281noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6221525381099754303.post-16394699527211942712024-02-16T09:10:00.005+01:002024-02-16T09:16:42.133+01:00Friday Smiles 2024 # Week 7<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Another lovely week has flown by and we have had a few smiles along the way. There was lots to smile about on Saturday as it was our village carnival day. This is always a happy occasion with lots of folk, old and young alike, dressing up as part of a team, a family or an individual. The parade goes all around the village and folk line the streets to cheer them on. We are lucky as they pass our house so we can watch from our own doorstep. Here is a jumble collage of some of the people who were involved. (There are much more elaborate and larger parades at the towns around here, but we do pretty well for a little village).</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-KQdSYbCI1YRAw1jeF9JxOFSzjdUizxwr_M6TaXFjrUmck8wF4l_y12_eeOdlosjxcBakC47MDqk0d3zdFkU6VSWlP-S0VMNWyrVeEhJNWVXc8DRoTjvQC0pygoLQ1gHoLBufYd0Ourzv3rsJUO6mIoSo8ZQMxvtLok_6F1I6ey1cOTll5pfWrOINE_c3/s4800/Carnival%202024-TurboCollage-Exported-Image.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3600" data-original-width="4800" height="338" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-KQdSYbCI1YRAw1jeF9JxOFSzjdUizxwr_M6TaXFjrUmck8wF4l_y12_eeOdlosjxcBakC47MDqk0d3zdFkU6VSWlP-S0VMNWyrVeEhJNWVXc8DRoTjvQC0pygoLQ1gHoLBufYd0Ourzv3rsJUO6mIoSo8ZQMxvtLok_6F1I6ey1cOTll5pfWrOINE_c3/w451-h338/Carnival%202024-TurboCollage-Exported-Image.jpg" width="451" /></a></span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Leo decided to sit beside me on the path to see what was going on. He never likes to miss anything, and he got lots of admiring comments which he accepted with his usual rather fierce stare!</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglbSIjszTnQ3z7n5pJC2378Kx8dw_Vxa9zzqqzgQt7ohzZcydlu2AynQlqB-eBCoyFBSYQWOaddTSHQurEcjaZlO4Si4uNa2iCuvbF8k30rDlXl5dWakxUm6DnFyqCzRBmeljL-mmW8mzmuVO3CicHcUNcATJWFGzhKJdFQhHG8iYWZhM0MJuOsgM-VR4y/s599/20240210_175738.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="599" data-original-width="573" height="353" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglbSIjszTnQ3z7n5pJC2378Kx8dw_Vxa9zzqqzgQt7ohzZcydlu2AynQlqB-eBCoyFBSYQWOaddTSHQurEcjaZlO4Si4uNa2iCuvbF8k30rDlXl5dWakxUm6DnFyqCzRBmeljL-mmW8mzmuVO3CicHcUNcATJWFGzhKJdFQhHG8iYWZhM0MJuOsgM-VR4y/w338-h353/20240210_175738.jpg" width="338" /></a></span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Fortunately the sun shone on the revellers though, as usual, they were a bit slow getting started so the sun was going down by the time they got back round to the big marquee on the carpark where there is music and dancing for anyone who wants to join in.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">I had some happy photos from the family including this one of our great/grandson Alfie who was awarded with a Gold certificate from his teacher. He has had the teacher's award for the week on several occasions, but apparently he had set his heart on winning a gold award this term, hence the big smile. Well done Alfie.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3XtRoTQcyQZx8RM_tTz7kK54nr85cQBx6mMNsVZZhiozRCk2cA2ZUZE9dmENsLXVl5z10YCrZ5GhfXEOgTiDvSaGHgfG0DOSfGPZzt33NFYrwrHnvEtEZROjYMA9xRmF2zbqQop3DwtrKAfS0VTOME4bDQkN93r5YQDrC52CijQz0XhWDjhitDa1pwj0u/s625/421961102_10159661206621464_4127569371181060959_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="625" data-original-width="500" height="368" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3XtRoTQcyQZx8RM_tTz7kK54nr85cQBx6mMNsVZZhiozRCk2cA2ZUZE9dmENsLXVl5z10YCrZ5GhfXEOgTiDvSaGHgfG0DOSfGPZzt33NFYrwrHnvEtEZROjYMA9xRmF2zbqQop3DwtrKAfS0VTOME4bDQkN93r5YQDrC52CijQz0XhWDjhitDa1pwj0u/w294-h368/421961102_10159661206621464_4127569371181060959_n.jpg" width="294" /></a></span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">And here is our little grand-daughter Aisling helping mummy make pancakes, and having a wonderful time. At Christmas she had one of the high step-stools like Annie's Louie had, so she could reach the table top to join her mum cooking, painting etc. They are such a good idea.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ2qCjxUAjqwbtAagZne88aLguFZgw3Q9mIZ1kaprM_WRSFR4AnQYJ8iNApTnwZgo__GQxjkZhoY4sZXUQAMcOCZiqBBf15L_LNlmkDqzlbavQ1BEK-BRW8lS4kS42UVOQJbPhyphenhyphentZOqWVl3lbnG7_GkZK3Te5cHsLWq7SyhcJSkjllIqLWEpVU6MhL39hR/s665/Aisling%20making%20pancakes.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="665" height="290" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ2qCjxUAjqwbtAagZne88aLguFZgw3Q9mIZ1kaprM_WRSFR4AnQYJ8iNApTnwZgo__GQxjkZhoY4sZXUQAMcOCZiqBBf15L_LNlmkDqzlbavQ1BEK-BRW8lS4kS42UVOQJbPhyphenhyphentZOqWVl3lbnG7_GkZK3Te5cHsLWq7SyhcJSkjllIqLWEpVU6MhL39hR/w385-h290/Aisling%20making%20pancakes.jpg" width="385" /></a></span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Our youngest son Ben is setting up his own business offering to sing and play the piano at functions, but also to have local artists come to his studio at home to record and master their songs, and to help them improve their productions. He can make films of occasions using his drone and set the videos to music, and as a sideline he likes making soap to sell! This is his studio with his new wide screen monitor.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLgTlcQarw8Oe_h7aaE7edVn_e4BPW7skC_R5Dsis2Pi9-I3yf95aTvMwrTPiNeB1ijfc0rE9F7SfF20ojcpcG2FkyetdHeydSO4FnE3Cq-gPkAMwi8ynFF7bZSMdqRsXnSD3ARzb6Z0wsLqARjIk8F-JLE-ivIm1idIFXvs9fQzsc7OAVXc9vlKtarOp6/s667/421895382_122109542036193145_895106714878992128_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="667" height="283" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLgTlcQarw8Oe_h7aaE7edVn_e4BPW7skC_R5Dsis2Pi9-I3yf95aTvMwrTPiNeB1ijfc0rE9F7SfF20ojcpcG2FkyetdHeydSO4FnE3Cq-gPkAMwi8ynFF7bZSMdqRsXnSD3ARzb6Z0wsLqARjIk8F-JLE-ivIm1idIFXvs9fQzsc7OAVXc9vlKtarOp6/w377-h283/421895382_122109542036193145_895106714878992128_n.jpg" width="377" /></a></span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">We have had some lovely warm days with Almeria region breaking records again for the highest temperature for February on record, but we have also had some gale force winds, and some very grey days. Today we had a very gentle rain fall around tea-time, but it wasn't enough to do the garden any good. All the reservoirs are even lower than they were last year, and we have not had any significant rainfall all winter. So this week we are all on water restrictions, with an allowance of 200litres per person each day. This is actually higher than the average household uses so it isn't too bad, but we are not allowed to water the garden beyond just 'sufficient to keep it alive', and no filling or topping up of swimming pools, so we will be sad if the restrictions stay in place through the summer as we usually top our pool up every week June-September. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">I had a hearing test this week which confirmed that hearing aids would be a good idea. They are very, very pricey out here so we are looking at options for now. I also had laser treatment on my right eye to clean the cataract lens, and everything is clearer and brighter today. Now I will get tested for new glasses.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">The wood I ordered for the lazer cutter arrived this morning so I will be having a play again soon.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">I have ordered a big bundle of wool for another pattern so I have something else to work on in the evenings. I get bored with one pattern all the time so I like to have a few projects on the go at the same time. This one will be very challenging as it is worked mainly from charts and I like to have a written pattern as well. But I have done a little test piece so I think it is worth a try.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">We had to be up early for our eye clinic appointment yesterday so I saw a lovely red and orange sunrise. It cast a rosy glow on the white houses round at the back of us.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIiHOfz1xVttcrbmr42-yijy_nzJxAY6mo4ryZPaQin73qLUDCKMoDv0_y9kk5RP_HpmYDxtsy4bqSNeXd9c5kTKtsoXe97qAm5VulyKedLWTRLaz1J4eCWstNohwpIgGUQTwAsGjBwjrzuY2HfThwg7l1XNv7T35cdvByklaEIPgDklgzqvmTcEveIN35/s667/20240214_075507.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="667" height="269" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIiHOfz1xVttcrbmr42-yijy_nzJxAY6mo4ryZPaQin73qLUDCKMoDv0_y9kk5RP_HpmYDxtsy4bqSNeXd9c5kTKtsoXe97qAm5VulyKedLWTRLaz1J4eCWstNohwpIgGUQTwAsGjBwjrzuY2HfThwg7l1XNv7T35cdvByklaEIPgDklgzqvmTcEveIN35/w359-h269/20240214_075507.jpg" width="359" /></a></span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimkCDHn6JUKILX4ddNbdvz-_rQWpBcKIf8ua9MZIxvFd3B37P3JqwsAeCClLUfBKpZuJE7vH5XWjf59sRNpqlBIYBs-0bLbRQhTQ_wADQqHdAkQ5n6m_ASNNBAGeSPr7SbFjyhwCKlTGgQ4UBhEOtqwvbG2qJ-GTUJ1k9tQTJ9h7NQctbF_97T6APgv_w3/s667/20240214_080158.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="667" height="269" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimkCDHn6JUKILX4ddNbdvz-_rQWpBcKIf8ua9MZIxvFd3B37P3JqwsAeCClLUfBKpZuJE7vH5XWjf59sRNpqlBIYBs-0bLbRQhTQ_wADQqHdAkQ5n6m_ASNNBAGeSPr7SbFjyhwCKlTGgQ4UBhEOtqwvbG2qJ-GTUJ1k9tQTJ9h7NQctbF_97T6APgv_w3/w359-h269/20240214_080158.jpg" width="359" /></a></div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">The night before had given us a strange funnel shaped sunset. Both were beautiful in their own way.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR8id6DSE-da0e7nMbySzf5CJIphw3_827mafTCQWskELf-fMmo4Xb2_cMBgu-RalzQMSLLiIDKBwmm1IKNnfmB0CEmSnN-7Jp5R1GgXlPoaymYgd8rqlGD0m6TRqUUUGKC8DudhdOgdUvvTOlLthfmWetZslma7S2pqj1RREScePF_wwURR3N28-mfsSS/s667/20240212_185431.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="667" height="279" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR8id6DSE-da0e7nMbySzf5CJIphw3_827mafTCQWskELf-fMmo4Xb2_cMBgu-RalzQMSLLiIDKBwmm1IKNnfmB0CEmSnN-7Jp5R1GgXlPoaymYgd8rqlGD0m6TRqUUUGKC8DudhdOgdUvvTOlLthfmWetZslma7S2pqj1RREScePF_wwURR3N28-mfsSS/w372-h279/20240212_185431.jpg" width="372" /></a></span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">So now I am off to polish this up ready to publish and link up with Annie's Friday Smiles in the morning.</span></p>mamapez5http://www.blogger.com/profile/16882819450456050281noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6221525381099754303.post-26059905434943374942024-02-09T09:29:00.001+01:002024-02-09T09:29:21.075+01:00Friday Smiles 2024 # Week 6<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">My how the weeks fly by, and here we are at Thursday already, and time to look back at what we have enjoyed over the past few days.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">For a start I have enjoyed the weather which has been mostly sunny, with a little hazy cloud, and one grey, damp day. But on Sunday it was lovely so we again decided to take the opportunity for a walk along the coast. We went down to Mojacar, and because we decided to go before lunch this time, it was very quiet there. (The Spanish families all turn out for a late lunch and walk on Sunday afternoons).</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM1X2aoUA8kf5KLTdHmOKeyQHeKKMpdmHFWY5157eYKlDAjGTjhMf-SH6wd-pfxHrYNDVmR1XYzWyQXsQhVg6mYVCgVwd54XQfVpCkdumjyj9E1c64FoXe9mVvyjfz6hK8SVgp26HU-DbKjOSStMLoVoKEXfXUuMnIJruoN71t3y94QVmCdSIWaO4Jmvge/s667/20240204_113815.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="667" height="291" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM1X2aoUA8kf5KLTdHmOKeyQHeKKMpdmHFWY5157eYKlDAjGTjhMf-SH6wd-pfxHrYNDVmR1XYzWyQXsQhVg6mYVCgVwd54XQfVpCkdumjyj9E1c64FoXe9mVvyjfz6hK8SVgp26HU-DbKjOSStMLoVoKEXfXUuMnIJruoN71t3y94QVmCdSIWaO4Jmvge/w388-h291/20240204_113815.jpg" width="388" /></a></span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Just below the water line at the start of Mojacar beach, there is a large rock where most mornings the cormorants come to spread their wings and dry them in the sun. They always make me think of a group of old ladies gathering to have their morning gossip.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga6xbDI0wEMJD7ocTlRZ4L0yuMuBdTuL5ZEZ843H8pAZdK9FnY21Y4HNlDdgcFcib99nCPg9sYj6uS5SHjEDNoiM-G9K3wnFdR8bPdX2rkywvV5GeVM5V8MED2iUP3omw9ol9LQXhz6aRpMhil5w8qIQnjyoyKXm-oLOR5FPGe46NJa1JTJmBVclZRZdrA/s667/20240204_113646.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="667" height="294" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga6xbDI0wEMJD7ocTlRZ4L0yuMuBdTuL5ZEZ843H8pAZdK9FnY21Y4HNlDdgcFcib99nCPg9sYj6uS5SHjEDNoiM-G9K3wnFdR8bPdX2rkywvV5GeVM5V8MED2iUP3omw9ol9LQXhz6aRpMhil5w8qIQnjyoyKXm-oLOR5FPGe46NJa1JTJmBVclZRZdrA/w392-h294/20240204_113646.jpg" width="392" /></a></span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">I could stand and watch, and listen to the waves rolling in and breaking around the stones for hours, but we were there to walk!</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOgjHJYRmOmM-HJrcpooHtXy4ZGDDdVMX_AcIdBPaAacuz5B7rVFA9CbwyC9afI7P0vt1YeR7iVa7e__vCqECR948tmWcf-EZwOKybkLieXS1DND91cjlw2gCL77bdG_jpgKc863QCfukv2G-WmHzxjkPbcqrzyj3GB8BNlMVuXvFVx7MiSjydiN16XK3V/s667/20240204_113330.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="667" height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOgjHJYRmOmM-HJrcpooHtXy4ZGDDdVMX_AcIdBPaAacuz5B7rVFA9CbwyC9afI7P0vt1YeR7iVa7e__vCqECR948tmWcf-EZwOKybkLieXS1DND91cjlw2gCL77bdG_jpgKc863QCfukv2G-WmHzxjkPbcqrzyj3GB8BNlMVuXvFVx7MiSjydiN16XK3V/w396-h297/20240204_113330.jpg" width="396" /></a></span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">I don't know how far we went but it was a little further than usual as I had clocked up 8,000 steps when we got home - well over my daily target of 5,000</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">We passed this building which houses the beach 'facilities', and it is always kept freshly painted as it is one of the features along with the children's play area just near it, that help to keep our blue flag award each year for that stretch of beach.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqYsYtJj6j3t8-gC-Xra0i5byUuG8yIVz1SgzLpfhji90jkmm6prO68o3sWXBmMIvQ8Gz9JYDpmIGQ8MOIGXHLAiWWQAE0hrXPc4swI-kqzeRlxLUBsYuk78qYeqtrrdyRdjIr_lwuJ_BokOZKlh2ynMKfovVkj0TTVE9ZOB0gxmGn4P3cgD9eaK607QiM/s667/20240204_113957.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="667" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqYsYtJj6j3t8-gC-Xra0i5byUuG8yIVz1SgzLpfhji90jkmm6prO68o3sWXBmMIvQ8Gz9JYDpmIGQ8MOIGXHLAiWWQAE0hrXPc4swI-kqzeRlxLUBsYuk78qYeqtrrdyRdjIr_lwuJ_BokOZKlh2ynMKfovVkj0TTVE9ZOB0gxmGn4P3cgD9eaK607QiM/w384-h288/20240204_113957.jpg" width="384" /></a></span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">I had to smile at this angle of the end of the building. At first glance the only thing I saw was a face of a man with a droopy moustache. Of course I soon realised it was a whale's tail, but it still made me smile.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii4JP8D5Tdb4masH72fw83h-jXkjJOOD3jrpus2-9rxEPycyB0ai8DT9WliI7DZVTo2mK8RGvwBAra7LdQeoaD7rfK7o-veIjWYBP_LWRHTipEmWrlkQol2j0C9vsezC7KbkX-BPv3gnY-oGxZWBXYM2FlUIFmR9NtgqICeXqYeTf2xA5nzNhyphenhyphen0TG-HNMv/s600/20240204_114003.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="545" height="363" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii4JP8D5Tdb4masH72fw83h-jXkjJOOD3jrpus2-9rxEPycyB0ai8DT9WliI7DZVTo2mK8RGvwBAra7LdQeoaD7rfK7o-veIjWYBP_LWRHTipEmWrlkQol2j0C9vsezC7KbkX-BPv3gnY-oGxZWBXYM2FlUIFmR9NtgqICeXqYeTf2xA5nzNhyphenhyphen0TG-HNMv/w330-h363/20240204_114003.jpg" width="330" /></a></span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">We stopped at one of the beach cafés for refreshment before walking back to the car.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4Em8mvPwELpYQzZMldpQjzeoCVZHtM3fq25VdCrWK2y9se25TybMjtmk6v8_X0mksdGOIRX4gPMoyyv0171Jtm-arJsYmQKPGXiJNURl_3x-zjJKW2-EmxDcSJUpxzU-wygCa1E8mSs5FbRijOa7Gx0UwSp0zE7KGhn4Dz4fKiPJdWlNlgs0N1p7zszEL/s627/20240204_122746.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="627" data-original-width="545" height="336" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4Em8mvPwELpYQzZMldpQjzeoCVZHtM3fq25VdCrWK2y9se25TybMjtmk6v8_X0mksdGOIRX4gPMoyyv0171Jtm-arJsYmQKPGXiJNURl_3x-zjJKW2-EmxDcSJUpxzU-wygCa1E8mSs5FbRijOa7Gx0UwSp0zE7KGhn4Dz4fKiPJdWlNlgs0N1p7zszEL/w292-h336/20240204_122746.jpg" width="292" /></a></span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">As we passed the rock on the way home I saw one bird was still there. It had a very white chest and I thought it was something different, but looking back at my earlier picture and zooming in on it, I dicovered that all the cormorants had white chests. I was surprised as I thought cormorants were all black, but when I looked it up I found that most of them are, but there is also a sub-species known as white-breasted cormorants, so my walk was educational as well as healthy!</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPFuFbYMB4h393XII_dyTGqytO0H9fO5tV7xW4KtNobzFbJcu67OtmrW9tPHX30deUAGsYSFYGlOVLXHpicUyYXU6fPgRqOOUwNJAYID3mep32xZFvKG5J1pA9VTkluogoSF1h6LSb8JCRih81GYWBpV5gUYh6epVFEUrEWmxUslEZpxQfXkldAXWicJB3/s663/20240204_131152.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="663" data-original-width="545" height="346" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPFuFbYMB4h393XII_dyTGqytO0H9fO5tV7xW4KtNobzFbJcu67OtmrW9tPHX30deUAGsYSFYGlOVLXHpicUyYXU6fPgRqOOUwNJAYID3mep32xZFvKG5J1pA9VTkluogoSF1h6LSb8JCRih81GYWBpV5gUYh6epVFEUrEWmxUslEZpxQfXkldAXWicJB3/w284-h346/20240204_131152.jpg" width="284" /></a></span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">I mentioned last week that a friend was introducing me to the craft of laser cutting, and it turned out to be a bit more of a chore than he had expected. The first machine he lent me wouldn't work at all, so he swapped it for another one which only partially worked! When we returned that one he had got the original one fixed so I now have that one back, and Yay! it is working. But it is not a straightforward machine to use and needs a lot of trial and error to find the right settings for power and speed, for each material, so I have had plenty of failures, but I am learning. I needed a good silhouette image to play with and the first one that showed up on my computer was a treble clef, so I went with that. And I have managed to cut one out from medium weight card, and have engraved a larger one into the surface of some MDF plywood. </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3C-lqnAjz3_ljMPPOruOz_n5FKPkLzaTYunoFF6CBdFt8B-3n4CMxl6ifV4gRrjSUTAN-7CJbSnWYsWmYxzzEvmgsLzzFGiQOJYRaklBv4nPpQWA3me6BGSXYY7vIOxPuWzTPE2PzUHowLmQIrqURdWmN4YCfcmR0qBKpZWmZUp9X5ClzktTLqgZzOiS1/s650/20240208_161450.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="650" data-original-width="573" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3C-lqnAjz3_ljMPPOruOz_n5FKPkLzaTYunoFF6CBdFt8B-3n4CMxl6ifV4gRrjSUTAN-7CJbSnWYsWmYxzzEvmgsLzzFGiQOJYRaklBv4nPpQWA3me6BGSXYY7vIOxPuWzTPE2PzUHowLmQIrqURdWmN4YCfcmR0qBKpZWmZUp9X5ClzktTLqgZzOiS1/s320/20240208_161450.jpg" width="282" /></a></span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">So now I have to plan a project and work out what materials I need. I do have some thinner sheets of plywood and some birchwood ply on order from Amazon but it won't arrive for over a week. In the meantime I can try some other images from thinner card - too thin and it will burn. I can also try to learn how to edit a photo to give me an image I can engrave with shadow-fill, rather than just an outline. So plenty to keep me busy. This photo shows it in action, but I have to wear dark green goggles when it is in use to protect my eyes from the laser beam.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYgGP9mkD8tsExfFBUV7SuI5ZUDsqW4mcFssbAuWdlnqA8feNUmRTf3VYtb0dMM8WOXAjmegl3ITaS679ADMS-nJ2MELQ-Fs_57nx0WQd13DcX4vwxIH21Tb70HrGGYTyu9PXZLpGtyWHBx0a4l6Daz9yPPg0AmTpHDCpt-SgbrvId8CioUI1_yNScCGjv/s667/20240206_145606.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="500" height="356" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYgGP9mkD8tsExfFBUV7SuI5ZUDsqW4mcFssbAuWdlnqA8feNUmRTf3VYtb0dMM8WOXAjmegl3ITaS679ADMS-nJ2MELQ-Fs_57nx0WQd13DcX4vwxIH21Tb70HrGGYTyu9PXZLpGtyWHBx0a4l6Daz9yPPg0AmTpHDCpt-SgbrvId8CioUI1_yNScCGjv/w267-h356/20240206_145606.jpg" width="267" /></a></span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">It is a long time since we had a nice sunset, but on Tuesday evening I was just in time to catch this one before it all went dark.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjChr27RPGIiqXxnjtTBARee2BB0735_3ja_ZwqSzJUcAW7blaNwLNuqmrwHa5HvYOvqm6YcKsiqBSWsKpdo3x35unZN1zXnQJ8Zhom5tcZ-pBi_44NVrwQ2X4TOmKo-KKVRTbZpJwqVbMC4qqTCrLcZZlqG4Bd02LpGGt8yOiOgrHMcYXiBbfJN9AAyYOQ/s667/20240206_182301.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="667" height="269" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjChr27RPGIiqXxnjtTBARee2BB0735_3ja_ZwqSzJUcAW7blaNwLNuqmrwHa5HvYOvqm6YcKsiqBSWsKpdo3x35unZN1zXnQJ8Zhom5tcZ-pBi_44NVrwQ2X4TOmKo-KKVRTbZpJwqVbMC4qqTCrLcZZlqG4Bd02LpGGt8yOiOgrHMcYXiBbfJN9AAyYOQ/w359-h269/20240206_182301.jpg" width="359" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">One more little 'happy' is that this morning the bandage was removed from my hand. It is not completely healed but is no longer infected so doesn't need to be covered. I am hoping it will now continue to heal and the scar will fade and settle down a bit more. It is not a pretty site but at least it isn't sore any more.</span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">And finally a funny little tale of a wee pixie. He is one of many that I made with my boys thirty years ago. We sold them at the primary school fete, and this week our home town local newspaper ran a feature called "A trip down memory lane", with the caption "Can you spot anyone you know?" Well sure enough, there was a photo of my son Tom holding up a Santa which we had also made, and the young girl beside him is holding one of the pixies. It was of course, a photo of the school fete, Christmas 1993. (Tom was 10). But back in December Tom had posted a picture on our family chat page showing his pixie being hung on his tree this year with the caption "Mum made this in the 90's". So I am not the only sentimental one in the family. Who knew that a bit of felt and a ping-pong ball could last so long.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9NBq0pMONzQ1Kme2AqAk3HWvf7Xr2a7pcYXjui4N7ri38rdA5zGqf8hesc_te85wViqz1SBnUg-pOoH9zrEKY1nm0AfawKV-g4eGI9Dv_aMpWyXhUgwzq_v9ddSNURZjUSyiECIrCUD2bRMu4pN4C3Fm_YZ8Op3SByRXM8xMo5xAJnPuvogFj-pbIhsrU/s600/Pixie%20fun.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="455" data-original-width="600" height="275" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9NBq0pMONzQ1Kme2AqAk3HWvf7Xr2a7pcYXjui4N7ri38rdA5zGqf8hesc_te85wViqz1SBnUg-pOoH9zrEKY1nm0AfawKV-g4eGI9Dv_aMpWyXhUgwzq_v9ddSNURZjUSyiECIrCUD2bRMu4pN4C3Fm_YZ8Op3SByRXM8xMo5xAJnPuvogFj-pbIhsrU/w362-h275/Pixie%20fun.jpg" width="362" /></a></span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">And now I am ready to post this tomorrow on <a href="https://wipso-astitchintime.blogspot.com/2024/02/this-weeks-smilesweek-361.html">Annie's Friday Smiles.</a></span></p>mamapez5http://www.blogger.com/profile/16882819450456050281noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6221525381099754303.post-75085161733819146162024-02-02T09:19:00.002+01:002024-02-02T09:19:57.627+01:00Friday Smiles 2024 # Week 5<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">We have had a mixed week of bright sunshine days, and cold grey days, but last Sunday was one of the sunny ones so we decided to go for an afternoon walk around Vera Laguna. We never know whether there will be lots of birds there or none at all, nor what they will be. It is dependent on the weather a lot as the lake is entirely natural, so wild life is free to come and go, and also it is only a short stretch of sand away from the high tide line, so on really stormy days it just becomes one with the sea. However, on Sunday it was crowded with seagulls, plus a fair flock of moor hens. The more usual ducks and geese were nowhere to be seen.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-XaL7Y0tlgN-acqC6hmGrvHP19N-qiv_JXujJ0fRMeDGFbi9Al7WAM47GeSOrDVNkfMF8KXum3KCr1NWpaFp_ceAXUo5fwZXOoE9z5dsPY3_wAZcpsodRfA-_P2vPDOQuOJUMg5UAkF-lsu4NsrR44Yffcr6PWJFlfnQCZYM7OLmzd0wmWsHMe3y16PPJ/s667/20240128_154321.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="667" height="283" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-XaL7Y0tlgN-acqC6hmGrvHP19N-qiv_JXujJ0fRMeDGFbi9Al7WAM47GeSOrDVNkfMF8KXum3KCr1NWpaFp_ceAXUo5fwZXOoE9z5dsPY3_wAZcpsodRfA-_P2vPDOQuOJUMg5UAkF-lsu4NsrR44Yffcr6PWJFlfnQCZYM7OLmzd0wmWsHMe3y16PPJ/w377-h283/20240128_154321.jpg" width="377" /></a></span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">The lake is lovely with its backdrop of reeds, at this time of year swaying with feather flower heads, and beyond them, the misty mountains. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqUFsr8vtNXdIlIVMca79GnNdobANIZA92yG2Hs4WQvU9kCGfbdCJkx5PvBHrQRO-TvPLXmo88vk5uI1S2xlLB72E2-4VWFyXMSkA4mte1eJLXkbVVCQFSJ1z5Jhgv6b2rfN62RBXnYEVy1QIH93ZJ5xRPdAEtYl3zomnGNynQzymA2KNHlj3NZMiQ_ve7/s667/20240128_154403.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="667" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqUFsr8vtNXdIlIVMca79GnNdobANIZA92yG2Hs4WQvU9kCGfbdCJkx5PvBHrQRO-TvPLXmo88vk5uI1S2xlLB72E2-4VWFyXMSkA4mte1eJLXkbVVCQFSJ1z5Jhgv6b2rfN62RBXnYEVy1QIH93ZJ5xRPdAEtYl3zomnGNynQzymA2KNHlj3NZMiQ_ve7/w356-h267/20240128_154403.jpg" width="356" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Looking the other way, you can see the sea, and if you look closely at this rather blurry photo (blurred because I cropped and enlarged one section), you can see a further row of seagulls sitting along the edge of the sea.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhra59oU3gtFYqbApglRCChwmkuCBras0DEHeuw7iOEF9oc0meKazPGx4pWO-jvzczlOb7Ng9zhfeOaWY5EQitMkTbi9rD99ZxF7dM4CFHuUlcrnxVg8xkoFUfKFiAkHJLR-71xND2YyMG1ZIu3KCa5_6N1H9Jsx47XdbflyKQx2-LYr87qccX_Cl-7Qqkp/s835/20240128_154316.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="835" height="230" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhra59oU3gtFYqbApglRCChwmkuCBras0DEHeuw7iOEF9oc0meKazPGx4pWO-jvzczlOb7Ng9zhfeOaWY5EQitMkTbi9rD99ZxF7dM4CFHuUlcrnxVg8xkoFUfKFiAkHJLR-71xND2YyMG1ZIu3KCa5_6N1H9Jsx47XdbflyKQx2-LYr87qccX_Cl-7Qqkp/w383-h230/20240128_154316.jpg" width="383" /></a></div></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Every time a child ran passed shouting at the birds, or just playing, the gulls all took off, and then settled again a bit further away. I have never seen this many gulls at the lake before.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijscxZ30way-uLEvBQWMMFXgWoGTtU1xjHlR0nCzjTzlU5ccP6Zzs6u_Wdm9E_uEIMi6xosblNWwJyHkMCGm5KXyFgVs0-6DMlMFWPUu9vSCH-RHM35myMs-VB0HIB2kx0pw_WaJEmt_4GTm-t9X9e0G1LptKkfL4LwyPZib27NChxk2AFurNdzOK3oTeu/s667/20240128_154410.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="667" height="281" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijscxZ30way-uLEvBQWMMFXgWoGTtU1xjHlR0nCzjTzlU5ccP6Zzs6u_Wdm9E_uEIMi6xosblNWwJyHkMCGm5KXyFgVs0-6DMlMFWPUu9vSCH-RHM35myMs-VB0HIB2kx0pw_WaJEmt_4GTm-t9X9e0G1LptKkfL4LwyPZib27NChxk2AFurNdzOK3oTeu/w374-h281/20240128_154410.jpg" width="374" /></a></span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">The moorhens must be used the children because they continued to bob around near the shore.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">It was a lovely walk and blew the cobwebs away for us. We should do it more often while the weather is sunny but not too hot.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">We only have live TV to watch but the programms are quite good at this time of year, so we usually spend our evenings with the fire on, comfy on the new settee, and I do a little bit more of my crochet each evening. So I have now finished the first motif of the blanket I am making. It was a case of two steps forward and one backwards. I don't expect to have to do as much unpicking as I have with this, but I am comfortable with how it works now so hopefully the next motif will go better.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">I don't think I made the best choice of wool for my secondary colour for this first one. It was sock wool and it changed colour too frequently so the pattern is not very clear, but it is alright. Here it is on my blocking board. I have steamed it and when it is quite dry I will store it away until the next one is done. By blocking them I can make sure they are all the same size. There are twenty altogether and they will all have the same blue yarn for their main colour, with various secondary colours using up oddments from my stash.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVgRJT7a1tzy0WNHD5rilblE-4mn_ZvZ7ghMtNb8lcxQDhtsU-e6iDRw6Mkvobfuh5GWx4PZa1LzSGu5QMl_APwJbCL7nG42Tgl1hpFART1rX7zwZs1KqYLhajt5_Jxh12Nmo4Wx136reDIqX9bYgyX_eyccCPVOrZABda7Eu1o-gYudoA40eUBakRJvT8/s664/20240201_150654.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="664" data-original-width="600" height="376" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVgRJT7a1tzy0WNHD5rilblE-4mn_ZvZ7ghMtNb8lcxQDhtsU-e6iDRw6Mkvobfuh5GWx4PZa1LzSGu5QMl_APwJbCL7nG42Tgl1hpFART1rX7zwZs1KqYLhajt5_Jxh12Nmo4Wx136reDIqX9bYgyX_eyccCPVOrZABda7Eu1o-gYudoA40eUBakRJvT8/w339-h376/20240201_150654.jpg" width="339" /></a></span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">The warm weather is confusing the garden again. I noticed as I came in from shopping, that my bright pink geranium is looking better now than it did a couple of months ago. It even has two more heads of buds coming up for when these ones die off. I have normally brought them in under the porch for shelter by now.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKuzUOaY8G38BbkBb9-gGiN30geyHx41uNq9_ZoZgmvo85zkGX8xnDF4dGRcCJIOdGTBR4MmKc4DJIW6_GqAbvFf5pLS9R35z168RripPzNI2yhJv-NxcLOMYPyTOHxAhwKif7IWJn8UXwwDVWeSG7dKW2ZQ_bros-3E9cliUjPPZCeiNFBzbwEVebuNJV/s673/20240201_161002.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="673" data-original-width="600" height="348" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKuzUOaY8G38BbkBb9-gGiN30geyHx41uNq9_ZoZgmvo85zkGX8xnDF4dGRcCJIOdGTBR4MmKc4DJIW6_GqAbvFf5pLS9R35z168RripPzNI2yhJv-NxcLOMYPyTOHxAhwKif7IWJn8UXwwDVWeSG7dKW2ZQ_bros-3E9cliUjPPZCeiNFBzbwEVebuNJV/w310-h348/20240201_161002.jpg" width="310" /></a></span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">I have a friend who has been a crafter ever since I first knew him, but he is now limited to only leaving the house on his mobility scooter so he spends a fair bit of time at home. To keep busy he has developed his skills with laser cutting, 3-D printing and other technical wizardry. He has a lot of knowledge in the field of electronics and on Tuesday he invited me up to see his machines in action. I was very impressed with his set-up. There were four laser cutters, and a computer to control them and an amazing array of wires and switches, all in a small garden 'shed'. And behind that, in what I think would be called a narrow storage room he had three 3D printers all set up ready to use, and another machine that I have forgotten the name of. (Of course I was too interested to stop and take photos!)</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">He talked me through the software for the cutters, and I did manage to cut one image out of 400gm card. Then he gave me the smallest cutter to have at home on 'long term lend'. So yesterday we set it up in my craft room and installed the software, but we could not get it to read the files. Chris spent ages trying to sort it out for me but we had to admit defeat. So we are going back to Steve's probably tomorrow afternoon, and he is going to swap it for a different machine that he thinks may work better for me, and give me a few more tips for using it. So maybe by next week I will have something to show.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">It was cold and grey when I set out this morning. I had an early appointment with the nurse to have the dressing on my hand changed. I hoped to have it uncovered by now, but although it is no longer infected, it is very slow to heal properly, so I am again well wrapped. But never mind. I can do most things I need to, and I have silicone gloves for washing, and in the kitchen.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">It has taken all day for the sun to finally break through, so I am hoping for a brighter day tomorrow so I can wash the sheets and get them dry outside.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">So now I will just finish this off ready to publish and post on <a href="https://wipso-astitchintime.blogspot.com/2024/02/this-weeks-smilesweek-360.html">Annie's Friday Smiles</a> tomorrow.</span></p><p><br /></p>mamapez5http://www.blogger.com/profile/16882819450456050281noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6221525381099754303.post-31165695652489673122024-01-26T10:09:00.002+01:002024-01-26T10:30:01.189+01:00Friday Smiles 2024 # Week 4<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Hi everyone. I didn't get around to preparing this yesterday as I usually do, but I am sitting here on a beautiful sunny morning catching up on last week.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">I am very pleased to say that although the nurse has again wrapped my hand up well, she says it is no longer infected, and I have finished my antibiotics, so hopefully when I go back on Monday, I will be able to have it uncovered, which will make life a lot easier.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">I cover it with a silcone glove in the kitchen, but I did manage to mix up some dough and cooked it in the slow cooker. This is so easy and you don't have to let the dough prove because it rises as it cooks. It takes two hours on high, and it made a lovely loaf. It is rounder and flatter than I would have chosen, but my loaf pan is milllimeters too big to go in my cooker pot, so I will look out for a smaller one when I go shopping. The bread was lovely and stayed usable for a couple of days which is all it needed to!</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi56j8uHHBXzXo0ZHBr7c1SNAvoxuIkIeSKoPGiK2xjqDITfkG3opZU_VXz4d1vtA3T7WfKceUsqBayUbgLVguEHbFwFoMXcLO8DmdG9uJzFD0Ew7wcqp0B9orTV8vu0kZrst-b8xF1KPb2x2KchCQd-mKBb-1SMusvdb43s2RcW9SAO-krFrTUdOwoPyKl/s667/20240122_183434.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="543" data-original-width="667" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi56j8uHHBXzXo0ZHBr7c1SNAvoxuIkIeSKoPGiK2xjqDITfkG3opZU_VXz4d1vtA3T7WfKceUsqBayUbgLVguEHbFwFoMXcLO8DmdG9uJzFD0Ew7wcqp0B9orTV8vu0kZrst-b8xF1KPb2x2KchCQd-mKBb-1SMusvdb43s2RcW9SAO-krFrTUdOwoPyKl/w369-h301/20240122_183434.jpg" width="369" /></a></span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">As I walked into the village on market day I spotted something that always gives me a lift. There is an old almond tree on the car park and it had its first flush of blossom out. A sure sign Spring is on the way.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsTcXR_M1cm6XR5lOWumDCvM9UjGzeB5Og1CxF-u2AWJcrbqwO6k30TAvvaBjXWjhMMQ-ogDX-uuNGuxQoh7lyK0w2DRRrF1_R_tfGen__1LvSBdLz2MPJPAhvhPvk0ZVRxV2BVN35Sc_RXLYehVrwykBGR2gi9zHCOUOQrdTLvX9NLCIxlpcxgyx5vbIR/s667/20240125_110922.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="667" height="272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsTcXR_M1cm6XR5lOWumDCvM9UjGzeB5Og1CxF-u2AWJcrbqwO6k30TAvvaBjXWjhMMQ-ogDX-uuNGuxQoh7lyK0w2DRRrF1_R_tfGen__1LvSBdLz2MPJPAhvhPvk0ZVRxV2BVN35Sc_RXLYehVrwykBGR2gi9zHCOUOQrdTLvX9NLCIxlpcxgyx5vbIR/w363-h272/20240125_110922.jpg" width="363" /></a></span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Our weather has been very unprdictable, but the past few days have been sunny and yesterday it was warm enough to be an early summer day. It is cold enough for the fire by tea-time but we have enjoyed eating our lunch outside. The high winds of last week have dropped too but I did get one photo of a very wind-swept sky.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgptDDU-k__WfwQ-wB_M-SobVypLd0lol_lyR0gVANjSySqgxgQBxm4dSZ_wKxWUC0J_kuwT0fak6D-CJWqN_CzQKYqgMThm1zG_3NRa2QeXSLOay6nZxj7RXeKQ6PeCODtMClG7s-YcEORsA6oqSDx8Y6hNLj5bmceH-099dKeYCWtbuKMsTdZAmZ4iAEe/s667/20240118_174833.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="667" height="278" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgptDDU-k__WfwQ-wB_M-SobVypLd0lol_lyR0gVANjSySqgxgQBxm4dSZ_wKxWUC0J_kuwT0fak6D-CJWqN_CzQKYqgMThm1zG_3NRa2QeXSLOay6nZxj7RXeKQ6PeCODtMClG7s-YcEORsA6oqSDx8Y6hNLj5bmceH-099dKeYCWtbuKMsTdZAmZ4iAEe/w370-h278/20240118_174833.jpg" width="370" /></a></span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">I have sat round the back of the house and watched the starlings flying over the green zone. There are not enough of them to be a true murmuration, but they are still fascinating to watch as they swoop and swerve yet never collide.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">I had a long chat with Ben again this week, discussing his play list for his first official gig, playing the piano and singing, on Valentines Day. He is now self-employed as an entertainer and music technician.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">I also had a long email from my oldest sister who is 94. She is spending a couple of months with her daughter who lives in France. I need to answer it and also write my annual letter that I normally send out with Christmas cards, but couldn't manage this year. So I am half way through dictating it on my computer, and I am surprised at how well it hears and understands my voice. I will have to edit it a bit at the end, and tailor it to each person, but fortunately all but one of my friends use the internet so I can e-mail to them all.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">I also made my first Christmas cards this week for the challenge I enter each month. Sadly the lady who hosts it is 'retiring' for health and life reasons. I am hoping someone else will offer to take it on. A few years ago I might have done, but I am not in the position to make that committment now. But it was a great incentive to make a few cards each month so I was prepared in plenty of time to send them out.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">So now I will link up with <a href="https://wipso-astitchintime.blogspot.com/2024/01/this-weeks-smilesweek-359.html">Annie's Friday Smiles</a>, and go out to enjoy the sunshine.</span></p><p><br /></p>mamapez5http://www.blogger.com/profile/16882819450456050281noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6221525381099754303.post-23269853747328688882024-01-19T10:50:00.003+01:002024-01-19T10:50:34.388+01:00Friday Smiles 2024 # Week 3<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">I am starting off today with an interesting cloud formation I saw when driving home the other day. It was like a small door opening into another world. Certainly someone had their eye on us.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl6SC-3Js16hpAzLw0F60GuPGNdWqq5QHzKx8AD9i1pugBUJVzkdUIgdbfIy1nsYD67ZPmvhHiOuZeRWAQdlPazY2kRd3l0gw0zAQ_O1H48Xviv1x6OFplqUUvlSMHDeJbNzsD8kbvaiUTtm5h0hEb_qKr0U7dkDoMj9N4LwOCg09JS_7F4vFv9BnAoq2V/s667/1..jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="501" data-original-width="667" height="274" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl6SC-3Js16hpAzLw0F60GuPGNdWqq5QHzKx8AD9i1pugBUJVzkdUIgdbfIy1nsYD67ZPmvhHiOuZeRWAQdlPazY2kRd3l0gw0zAQ_O1H48Xviv1x6OFplqUUvlSMHDeJbNzsD8kbvaiUTtm5h0hEb_qKr0U7dkDoMj9N4LwOCg09JS_7F4vFv9BnAoq2V/w365-h274/1..jpg" width="365" /></a></span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">But when I zoom out, what do you think it is? A fairly benign frog or something more sinister peeping out over the hills?</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCCv85PIWNr2uMLJ-ZcPGMpmZaEU-KyAKnlF5KfCVfUWSR0xwOV2q2I2WPYH_RI0XjbQfi6F1IQ8e2hRKib1jxcnfjnm0hXh41j3c13MjZKxQahKN60J1xdMm4SUCwKIKVVUR9VNbZJI_4JAwrItCc5Tpls3vUmMj-O5z95GErCzMMWcQ1vmPwjmVZd3ze/s667/2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="667" height="274" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCCv85PIWNr2uMLJ-ZcPGMpmZaEU-KyAKnlF5KfCVfUWSR0xwOV2q2I2WPYH_RI0XjbQfi6F1IQ8e2hRKib1jxcnfjnm0hXh41j3c13MjZKxQahKN60J1xdMm4SUCwKIKVVUR9VNbZJI_4JAwrItCc5Tpls3vUmMj-O5z95GErCzMMWcQ1vmPwjmVZd3ze/w365-h274/2.jpg" width="365" /></a></span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">The other week folk shared the odd positions that their dogs rest in, so here is one of Leo. He still loves to run up his scratching tree to the platform at the top, and at first he curls up on it. But as he relaxes you can see he is far too big for it now so he just hangs off each end. He was asleep like this but he heard me get my camera and opened his eyes to give me a baleful look.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWWN5jXirGZ7JUR8dyhlUu4zW8N3z_laG2rlq-4Kkuqa2sf5jr9Dnq146SQ1YlkFpS2-M1Lv6bFiYGVs1WlRfVCYenPl8r6VoUhy0Ayl_rUhUNKcoIZ97R99-wmNS8pM_ih2y4jqc2cuamZkv0ZEF_bVzeJNG3q8AIERiBahFnUjCNu0e6rGGhyphenhyphen7bnhU_2/s667/3..jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="667" height="287" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWWN5jXirGZ7JUR8dyhlUu4zW8N3z_laG2rlq-4Kkuqa2sf5jr9Dnq146SQ1YlkFpS2-M1Lv6bFiYGVs1WlRfVCYenPl8r6VoUhy0Ayl_rUhUNKcoIZ97R99-wmNS8pM_ih2y4jqc2cuamZkv0ZEF_bVzeJNG3q8AIERiBahFnUjCNu0e6rGGhyphenhyphen7bnhU_2/w383-h287/3..jpg" width="383" /></a></span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">However he has got the sense to realise that stretching out between dad's legs is a more comfortable bed!</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh79SsFCBc6S2rO2CRNOTA5QbLFFYeHIhN9fICPtNa3UweuDmT_kZXUh1FU-LLfDTWgT8plRKAsfy11pq4sM2SdYW-XPGzkp0sp2aw3IeeKL-IBSqpYNx3DIqrdR3P8ut37OPlTEqKqbdJaxghWoZpaLpHgO3Bo2HHTi8yXQ3KLHeWsALHT0KC1ov1DUq7m/s667/4..jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="667" height="287" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh79SsFCBc6S2rO2CRNOTA5QbLFFYeHIhN9fICPtNa3UweuDmT_kZXUh1FU-LLfDTWgT8plRKAsfy11pq4sM2SdYW-XPGzkp0sp2aw3IeeKL-IBSqpYNx3DIqrdR3P8ut37OPlTEqKqbdJaxghWoZpaLpHgO3Bo2HHTi8yXQ3KLHeWsALHT0KC1ov1DUq7m/w382-h287/4..jpg" width="382" /></a></span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Just before Christmas our son Tom was on a work trip from Denmark to Portugal, so he stopped off with us for a few days on the way home. He brought me five lovely original tiles, two of which make nice big, easy-clean coasters on our new sofa tables. But as I am trying to introduce some blues into the room to complement the new furniture, I chose the two tiles with the most blue in them to frame. They fitted nicely into these shadow box frames, and for now they are up on a shelf, but I hope to wall mount them soon.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF_zTfg3d5mIxjcfRZM8a36MXGoX1rmBTKPzy-Y2Hnmr-EyYzu0gGDP7Nqy7Uf65YzCQ4FB5Sw6SUUGxa3optz8spM815C8QKRNkdzpnKfrlWNkHbO3Q3mWpr4Ty_CpT1j2aA6nXBn9XhQVCSgBMlXpsQFqbrAgwQKP8JVJ3hOeWgp87Wqh2T701mxtiPs/s846/5.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="846" height="192" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF_zTfg3d5mIxjcfRZM8a36MXGoX1rmBTKPzy-Y2Hnmr-EyYzu0gGDP7Nqy7Uf65YzCQ4FB5Sw6SUUGxa3optz8spM815C8QKRNkdzpnKfrlWNkHbO3Q3mWpr4Ty_CpT1j2aA6nXBn9XhQVCSgBMlXpsQFqbrAgwQKP8JVJ3hOeWgp87Wqh2T701mxtiPs/w407-h192/5.jpg" width="407" /></a></span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">I am also getting into doing a bit of crochet again. I don't like sitting twiddling my thumbs in the evenings, and as long as I don't do it for too long at a time, I find it is okay. Always up for a challenge, I am trying a new technique called Tunisian mosaic crochet. It is worked with two colours in alternate rows, using a double ended hook. (I had not seen these before and had to buy one specially). The motifs are hexagons and you work one edge in the main colour, turn around and work back in the second colour. Then do the same for the next edge and so on. The pattern included a basic practice motif to work to learn the new stitches of which there are five. I did a lot of unpicking at first, but I have got the hang of it now, so here is my practice motif in two shades of green. The hexagons for the main blanket are much more complex designs but I think I know what I am doing now.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqSeCmnY2Pf-3ArEK_8mIjM0uMGV_TA_OBy24g8MqCSQfgHIi_9sbA3rlDgLYYucwdkuqnF1JK0RES-ZaOz8hA-cFCzH2eMbNZG1kCct7XbQ4Em30Dwv_seS1b0CsMmrr83EM4nCwl4bEv1ee-bEp5nIjj1GjoZP39XC4MGXVUVjoHpmVmIOsErkhOYmf8/s643/6.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="643" height="339" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqSeCmnY2Pf-3ArEK_8mIjM0uMGV_TA_OBy24g8MqCSQfgHIi_9sbA3rlDgLYYucwdkuqnF1JK0RES-ZaOz8hA-cFCzH2eMbNZG1kCct7XbQ4Em30Dwv_seS1b0CsMmrr83EM4nCwl4bEv1ee-bEp5nIjj1GjoZP39XC4MGXVUVjoHpmVmIOsErkhOYmf8/w363-h339/6.jpg" width="363" /></a></span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">A couple of pictures from the garden. We have had very strong winds this week and as I said to one of my boys, it is raining oranges. I collected up another twenty yesterday, so I must remember to juice some. But the lemons are not quite ready yet, and so far they are hanging on tight. We have a bumper crop on our one little tree this year. There are at least forty fruits on there. I have no idea what I will do with them all.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL54mFFtKOl9dwmCtUznrF7PyKmV_FMu0Tm2ayKa1w6VyRfvhjOILiI4_Itex5ksH2I4b_tI-URRSuEcRpdM5B0gcRHxqyrh8EvmJJNInxQMRITZHpj6bfJTRZC-MKzY3-2USZ7wJuiczh2qpR09Kdt2naN8UcJowEeVUrt1JiVa70t1g9N_43pCjlXJdV/s667/7..jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="667" height="281" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL54mFFtKOl9dwmCtUznrF7PyKmV_FMu0Tm2ayKa1w6VyRfvhjOILiI4_Itex5ksH2I4b_tI-URRSuEcRpdM5B0gcRHxqyrh8EvmJJNInxQMRITZHpj6bfJTRZC-MKzY3-2USZ7wJuiczh2qpR09Kdt2naN8UcJowEeVUrt1JiVa70t1g9N_43pCjlXJdV/w374-h281/7..jpg" width="374" /></a></span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">And lastly our pink bougainvillia is still looking amazing, so I wnet out when the sun was on it, and took a few pictures. That would brighten up anyone's day.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijliKu3t6VXf430J3TZOKnoSH-xl2AJmuvPLLROYAY87AmYokTSnCKl7_baBk_8hZUD-Wrjk2D-mVtHbnczDvO2O1fD2wX-DXyYGccHUcIdrlPcZlitfJBFbH8lZl9JtkEJSqKHTqoFxHJZv1kCVksn6cYXXdDiJJXi9uGbiXgeWXaNNudo0fdyH_OOb6l/s767/8.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="767" data-original-width="500" height="366" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijliKu3t6VXf430J3TZOKnoSH-xl2AJmuvPLLROYAY87AmYokTSnCKl7_baBk_8hZUD-Wrjk2D-mVtHbnczDvO2O1fD2wX-DXyYGccHUcIdrlPcZlitfJBFbH8lZl9JtkEJSqKHTqoFxHJZv1kCVksn6cYXXdDiJJXi9uGbiXgeWXaNNudo0fdyH_OOb6l/w239-h366/8.jpg" width="239" /></a></span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">One good bit of news this week is that I have finally had the biopsy on my hand. The hospital phoned me on Monday and said "You have an apointment at 4.00 tomorrow". It didn't take long and the anaesthetic worked well, but it was quite different from how they do it in UK. There were no screens etc, so I sat and watched. I am not sqeamish and I find it interesting, but I have to admit I was a bit surprised at how much they cut off the wound for testing. I now have to keep it dry for a week or so until I have the two stitches taken out. Hopefully they will find out why it is reluctant to heal completely, and be able to do something about it.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">I spent a lovely afternoon with two very dear friends. We drank tea and caught up on our news, put the world to right, and really enjoyed ourselves.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">But now it is time to link up with <a href="https://wipso-astitchintime.blogspot.com/2024/01/this-weeks-smilesweek-358.html">Annie's Friday Smiles.</a></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">A bit delayed! I am late posting today because when I woke up this morning I knew that the wound on my hand was infected again, so I went round to the medical centre to have it checked out. Now I am double bandaged and back on strong antibiotics, but hey-ho - hopefully they will get it sorted in the end.</span></p>mamapez5http://www.blogger.com/profile/16882819450456050281noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6221525381099754303.post-41603346032785826922024-01-12T10:39:00.002+01:002024-01-12T10:39:19.328+01:00Friday Smiles 2024 # Week 2<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Well today's post is, of course, mainly about the Three Kings Fiesta which is a big occasion in our village.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">On the eve of three kings, Friday 5th January, we walked over to the plaza to see the arrival of the kings at the marquee where they distribute gifts to the children. These colourful characters were keeping the children entertained while they waited.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkrEdRo_PIzbU80Iy4K8DkqjyfTVnqcbf9wefRZM44ON_5x5W9UeuOXszxwRkZZ2SiIeAO-eUWuMsQfii66fZeuZ5WwlyIuiCt-aUVLbB2YDZ1XEyirMuj5tuQ2VH2gPIE5uNEzLUAURyxyeT7EW52W01ogi75iwrLHuRaqUNp104IzLd3TIZibp6pE5GD/s667/2..jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="667" height="278" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkrEdRo_PIzbU80Iy4K8DkqjyfTVnqcbf9wefRZM44ON_5x5W9UeuOXszxwRkZZ2SiIeAO-eUWuMsQfii66fZeuZ5WwlyIuiCt-aUVLbB2YDZ1XEyirMuj5tuQ2VH2gPIE5uNEzLUAURyxyeT7EW52W01ogi75iwrLHuRaqUNp104IzLd3TIZibp6pE5GD/w370-h278/2..jpg" width="370" /></a></span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Soon the float arrived carrying the kings and there attendants who were throwing handfuls of fruit jelly sweets into the eager crowd along the way. </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihn8FI_etBin5KBVL2_95D7VsbgbIgG8qe2B7pFrL2DuWjaXtpE6v5bHGf2OtJYA6SIdM-dEbEAkz1Ck0MJ47TpyVOFqU_P-pmkXQp4Ty-CrtbrZAJTfFTHL1FhT79JTiZR_hEQFPoEEqhoZXdHJlTYkskstXKDzI-FFqFY6jykNnhVg3T9Y4Jst4B1dD9/s667/1..jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="667" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihn8FI_etBin5KBVL2_95D7VsbgbIgG8qe2B7pFrL2DuWjaXtpE6v5bHGf2OtJYA6SIdM-dEbEAkz1Ck0MJ47TpyVOFqU_P-pmkXQp4Ty-CrtbrZAJTfFTHL1FhT79JTiZR_hEQFPoEEqhoZXdHJlTYkskstXKDzI-FFqFY6jykNnhVg3T9Y4Jst4B1dD9/w395-h296/1..jpg" width="395" /></a></span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Then they climbed down and walked to the thrones on a platform at the front of the marquee and started to give out the gifts (Left at the Town Hall on the previous day by their parents). But it was a chilly night so we didn't stay around for long. Soon the children would have hurried home to, where traditionally they polish their shoes and leave them out for the Kings to place a small gift from each of them, during the night.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijoNO12VJCqdd9fgtCrp6sR-acbMVc12iYDQunqDSe9ACZJBmMmzDEYJtzBLXMhmm4qIwln_JhQ3twoFSgyonk-40rpHK5IbhN1BIhQRlEEm334FkPV9Y2EbqWANPV9lIi33YZcM7ih1gtlIbYZwAmDZYolzq276K4kkDJ_5XidzDU2WKh8Vzh93Wycoqe/s667/3..jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="667" height="273" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijoNO12VJCqdd9fgtCrp6sR-acbMVc12iYDQunqDSe9ACZJBmMmzDEYJtzBLXMhmm4qIwln_JhQ3twoFSgyonk-40rpHK5IbhN1BIhQRlEEm334FkPV9Y2EbqWANPV9lIi33YZcM7ih1gtlIbYZwAmDZYolzq276K4kkDJ_5XidzDU2WKh8Vzh93Wycoqe/w364-h273/3..jpg" width="364" /></a></span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">The next morning dawned quite sunny and we walked up to the top of the village from where we could hear music from the town band. There was a quite a crowd there and they were being entertained by a juggler balancing on a large ball.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn9xbBYB7qsUaBHDKs8iQvI5Agvb3YVdjAdjnChEwCkQ77mzRcOsoDXadI1LPeEe7KBGpoRbdqm0fAar6lWOTnv2X1ue1LbnH8qLw5IXfgh42O5PE1h8Y7Hm_3SRlLnil1jgrfhAkYg9s5ena9wNoydDWyMhyphenhyphenV2meRVEIhqwhsXtCPFPjbEis255EleVPy/s667/5.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="500" height="362" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn9xbBYB7qsUaBHDKs8iQvI5Agvb3YVdjAdjnChEwCkQ77mzRcOsoDXadI1LPeEe7KBGpoRbdqm0fAar6lWOTnv2X1ue1LbnH8qLw5IXfgh42O5PE1h8Y7Hm_3SRlLnil1jgrfhAkYg9s5ena9wNoydDWyMhyphenhyphenV2meRVEIhqwhsXtCPFPjbEis255EleVPy/w272-h362/5.jpg" width="272" /></a></span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Along the road side there were tables where we could help ourselves to delicious crisp shortbreads and other traditional biscuits, and cups of wine for those who wanted it.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNPLswlUyM0CQ2gRLRJLk5Z182bKJZdw7C1X-pfCK0-Ul7iKOdjaDeHILNTfrNzPRBdzjQVzSuZ3Ys-iKid83GHfPRBYFud5X5MReARtl962TVJgRGfcQhPSUy7jFxvNnqyL9ZL-RAXukJaigQrxifkQMc-bzABJgiO7eCUxCTGlqEl1vEG6pYT0VLicoW/s667/6.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="500" height="371" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNPLswlUyM0CQ2gRLRJLk5Z182bKJZdw7C1X-pfCK0-Ul7iKOdjaDeHILNTfrNzPRBdzjQVzSuZ3Ys-iKid83GHfPRBYFud5X5MReARtl962TVJgRGfcQhPSUy7jFxvNnqyL9ZL-RAXukJaigQrxifkQMc-bzABJgiO7eCUxCTGlqEl1vEG6pYT0VLicoW/w278-h371/6.jpg" width="278" /></a></span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">We stood and waited while the procession passed us, led by the women from the village choir, playing instruments and singing with great gusto. </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi29pyFG-qIahqapXEq3rtbnHs5OvSYHBJkyBpbb6B4rI4Is8aYtfxROd-DxCJJDEbplq7gzC8rhVu7btdfUXiq2VYlCnUbxynOhn0hIdfa5o16LZpPQ1Fn2vmp0eKrGAMa6gsHLEPRq_xCvSToz30SWtTiaRW42aexwOsawUeNBYtejUlHCBClV2-xtPlh/s667/4.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="667" height="276" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi29pyFG-qIahqapXEq3rtbnHs5OvSYHBJkyBpbb6B4rI4Is8aYtfxROd-DxCJJDEbplq7gzC8rhVu7btdfUXiq2VYlCnUbxynOhn0hIdfa5o16LZpPQ1Fn2vmp0eKrGAMa6gsHLEPRq_xCvSToz30SWtTiaRW42aexwOsawUeNBYtejUlHCBClV2-xtPlh/w368-h276/4.jpg" width="368" /></a></span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">At last the kings also passed us on their horses, each with an attendant walking alongside and carrying the gifts on velvet cushions.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmTzMdo9yo38vYmwV3CJ_px_6OK5JOGL5A3MylFKSKG7wd7oRmaUq9bwR4sDk2R2boAAMu-kBCFghQzKZrvdSTTZ03hJg2c3jQ03AGw9c9TnAyUxEg0uEO0OJBBoBdC9aAFmh9CJRhYRj5ykZ9HDevZT7hNHLYX8SQmKzWN3xN0uIm3C_VoDaVXbbUlXAC/s667/7.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="667" height="275" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmTzMdo9yo38vYmwV3CJ_px_6OK5JOGL5A3MylFKSKG7wd7oRmaUq9bwR4sDk2R2boAAMu-kBCFghQzKZrvdSTTZ03hJg2c3jQ03AGw9c9TnAyUxEg0uEO0OJBBoBdC9aAFmh9CJRhYRj5ykZ9HDevZT7hNHLYX8SQmKzWN3xN0uIm3C_VoDaVXbbUlXAC/w367-h275/7.jpg" width="367" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSQ5FwrmhCptdKWPnD2M1sCyEjuYWaaPRly6cGnujvD51BJ13PLNemJynvyqyKd8qRACUSw0ypA2079anTBjDjm4RQieB83-hyT0dUui7WDzT22VDMTFJE3kV8BWFfHr1htMl6fvYL3HT-V9r3JknkwcLtc4G5wnpi2S-YMCI4EIy0qtbR-ddCw3NBFHyr/s667/7a.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="501" data-original-width="667" height="276" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSQ5FwrmhCptdKWPnD2M1sCyEjuYWaaPRly6cGnujvD51BJ13PLNemJynvyqyKd8qRACUSw0ypA2079anTBjDjm4RQieB83-hyT0dUui7WDzT22VDMTFJE3kV8BWFfHr1htMl6fvYL3HT-V9r3JknkwcLtc4G5wnpi2S-YMCI4EIy0qtbR-ddCw3NBFHyr/w368-h276/7a.jpg" width="368" /></a></span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">We followed them down to the plaza where there was a large crowd waiting to watch the usual re-enactment of the Kings visit to King Herod's palace to enquire the whereabouts of the new king.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNtm-AMfZYJPw7IXepRpHWRgt51Jy5_AiYzZm6pObp62m38wvcryy7vt64SD_eii9CUqLbWePtkVHuxGV2zh9D1xQBiN_SSvkW43rsvY1TE9slColls7C1_QMjpZqzITaa-PLAS84vxRh7J_KXoYwwq5NVL3Ig08YLY32xz6vtUA5J25pVgnN3bGjBkBtI/s750/8.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="750" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNtm-AMfZYJPw7IXepRpHWRgt51Jy5_AiYzZm6pObp62m38wvcryy7vt64SD_eii9CUqLbWePtkVHuxGV2zh9D1xQBiN_SSvkW43rsvY1TE9slColls7C1_QMjpZqzITaa-PLAS84vxRh7J_KXoYwwq5NVL3Ig08YLY32xz6vtUA5J25pVgnN3bGjBkBtI/w363-h241/8.jpg" width="363" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">As you cn see, the sky ws clear and it was lovely and sunny so the kings must have been pretty warm in all their layers of clothes.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4AAfLqBDgwg42JUbK6xS8MhEIBd-BzMc3GNdbztlADPMt-6DSfXAksmcdLCBkUVwfW8ej8OJE4GjPqxE5_DsTB9s76e6OVzXKOnLfu8IO0QElojiymfCWwWFuF6pPNrBRQhrSn1W5_UOQhALR9Moo4jb1QfK0JCDLD5Z6FGzTwNz3IPt0zMHzXjKf3-dU/s666/9.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="666" height="276" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4AAfLqBDgwg42JUbK6xS8MhEIBd-BzMc3GNdbztlADPMt-6DSfXAksmcdLCBkUVwfW8ej8OJE4GjPqxE5_DsTB9s76e6OVzXKOnLfu8IO0QElojiymfCWwWFuF6pPNrBRQhrSn1W5_UOQhALR9Moo4jb1QfK0JCDLD5Z6FGzTwNz3IPt0zMHzXjKf3-dU/w368-h276/9.jpg" width="368" /></a></div></span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Then we wandered round the medieval market where there were stalls like this one selling loose herbs, spices, coffees and teas, and infusions for all manner of ailments.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1J_6upAABS22JZm_FROd8oYxlWvBEMhz3m41gTnSb4XW0iJ3KPk0cXUV-HGNwJnDjulnuWPltvLK_14gn748w1r1uFu2g2higYk9RDLZJF-BBPf45T21kVYg4hHAadZ9O75PXnvYr6JuZhMuEiDmaZ1nHhkXzsBn-lCz16P7uAuhfM86v4v1gTJ6OSpav/s750/10.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="750" height="242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1J_6upAABS22JZm_FROd8oYxlWvBEMhz3m41gTnSb4XW0iJ3KPk0cXUV-HGNwJnDjulnuWPltvLK_14gn748w1r1uFu2g2higYk9RDLZJF-BBPf45T21kVYg4hHAadZ9O75PXnvYr6JuZhMuEiDmaZ1nHhkXzsBn-lCz16P7uAuhfM86v4v1gTJ6OSpav/w363-h242/10.jpg" width="363" /></a></span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">We decided we would get some lunch while we were over there, so we shared an open wrap with a range of fillings, and washed it down with a rather good mojito.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJwC4IQRrqoc37fzJ8lwbFKLSvkYXqtWu_Ujzfzx8pcXSTbfTvgdhoy4Up_0IHQhRJdHeXPlx_o00gMo69pIR7TWuUr-LJ7en4N2b12Dt8PNwbaWlluxvTlltGmn0m6G_-Hz5o_YTK0N1f4AcmK3CfOmrKbouB0BNYuxUIBYKumONoCIOI0vYT7uWCV_6n/s667/11.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="667" height="275" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJwC4IQRrqoc37fzJ8lwbFKLSvkYXqtWu_Ujzfzx8pcXSTbfTvgdhoy4Up_0IHQhRJdHeXPlx_o00gMo69pIR7TWuUr-LJ7en4N2b12Dt8PNwbaWlluxvTlltGmn0m6G_-Hz5o_YTK0N1f4AcmK3CfOmrKbouB0BNYuxUIBYKumONoCIOI0vYT7uWCV_6n/w367-h275/11.jpg" width="367" /></a></span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">We went home after that but we could hear the music in the marquee from our house, going on well into the night. The Spanish folk do love to dance!</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">As for other news this week, I haven't done much else, though I did go to my sewing group yesterday and I managed to crochet one tiny square. It made my shoulder ache but at least I was able to do it.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">We had a delivery from Amazon which pleased me. Our new sofa has higher arms than the last one, and we both struggled to reach our side tables where we put a cup of tea, our phones etc, so we ordered two higher ones and they are just right. Slightly narrower and longer than our old ones, there is plenty of room to put what we want on them, and there are two drawers that are handy for storing the remotes, our tablets, headphones, speakers etc. There are also two electric sockets and two USB sockets on the lower shelf so everything can be kept fully charged.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj724fbNdcbqwK852wdU5I6A9xxDJ22vDyKE2nX_9ArDowEugZ5pUP9aYtA47R8FWKp2lQHMGqTqLlGCFOWyIMYSeCU9tE8B9_S2Qr-Kp1M7qezLHdja6RfYQjQjRbHCEeqJISLcA5gvyQ5guxBEYWNNgUD2uuozRogs6plR60gzOUNNWTP6BePfIuYCnY/s667/12.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="500" height="365" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj724fbNdcbqwK852wdU5I6A9xxDJ22vDyKE2nX_9ArDowEugZ5pUP9aYtA47R8FWKp2lQHMGqTqLlGCFOWyIMYSeCU9tE8B9_S2Qr-Kp1M7qezLHdja6RfYQjQjRbHCEeqJISLcA5gvyQ5guxBEYWNNgUD2uuozRogs6plR60gzOUNNWTP6BePfIuYCnY/w274-h365/12.jpg" width="274" /></a></span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">The temperature has dropped a lot in the passed few days, so I am very grateful for our wall fire that heats the room quickly and efficiently, and makes a nice cosy space to settle down in for the evenings.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsnqb7vx5oKEbvT3M5COl6meek1ejePstvsSORpUjflDMAXz_YsppVKg-ESNjvijrGhFg4jBam66WUMWczepxVfredeL5jYHLEJGBKWuD6lfVjBiZ8Ue4W-VzHFSMs8Xy5quh0YkDM3q2vcA2xA25tvUN48W8Vdw_88dFxRAvObNjGKVGyahczb-o_gdho/s667/13.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="667" height="276" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsnqb7vx5oKEbvT3M5COl6meek1ejePstvsSORpUjflDMAXz_YsppVKg-ESNjvijrGhFg4jBam66WUMWczepxVfredeL5jYHLEJGBKWuD6lfVjBiZ8Ue4W-VzHFSMs8Xy5quh0YkDM3q2vcA2xA25tvUN48W8Vdw_88dFxRAvObNjGKVGyahczb-o_gdho/w368-h276/13.jpg" width="368" /></a></span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Tom, our son out in Denmark, sent us videos of him out for a walk with his friends, through a forest white with frost, and on beaches where the rocks were covered in ice, and half the harbour was frozen over. Makes our chilly days seem quite mild!</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Last night I had a long chat with son Ben, who I was happy to hear, is now free of Covid. He is bursting with ideas for what he hopes to achieve this year, so it is good to see him so happy and positive.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">And on that happy note it is time to close this and get it ready to link up with <a href="https://wipso-astitchintime.blogspot.com/2024/01/this-weeks-smiles-week-357.html">Annie's Friday Smiles</a> in the morning.</span></p>mamapez5http://www.blogger.com/profile/16882819450456050281noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6221525381099754303.post-6705362839895524332024-01-05T09:50:00.002+01:002024-01-05T09:50:39.835+01:00Friday Smiles 2024 # Week 1<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"> A Very happy New year to you all. It will take a bit of getting used to, to write 2024 now!</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">I hope you were all able to see the new year in, in whatever way suits you best. We were busy with video calls from all our boys through the evening. Tom lives in Denmark and they seem to have fireworks going off randomly all evening. His flat is quite high up in a block, so he has a good view all around, and usually shows some of it to us live.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">We weren't particularly impressed with the TV programmes on offer so I read with my Kindle and Chris did whatever he does on his laptop, but as midnight approached we turned on to a Spanish chanel that was featuring the celebrations in Madrid's main plaza. There is a domed roof with a large gold ball on a chain above the clock, and at midnight it slowly lowers until it reaches the clock which then chimes . </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOOHidw35N8kRra0dy9s6iEy-nkvc9nAAzphzyqDdDWILbX5C-VC8OGoChFgM84Oj6Zw5a_3hkpEyFP_4C6PkkbAt7GMuQBhrsDCgrK6G0m4znPDcIdjfytXzWUGCJ6o2WlaKNENW2_M73m7c3WhrbuvAYwK-FgcUdaI8HwgQdRDzBpFCvtPr1IEUgbBOD/s714/20240101_000251.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="714" height="290" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOOHidw35N8kRra0dy9s6iEy-nkvc9nAAzphzyqDdDWILbX5C-VC8OGoChFgM84Oj6Zw5a_3hkpEyFP_4C6PkkbAt7GMuQBhrsDCgrK6G0m4znPDcIdjfytXzWUGCJ6o2WlaKNENW2_M73m7c3WhrbuvAYwK-FgcUdaI8HwgQdRDzBpFCvtPr1IEUgbBOD/w414-h290/20240101_000251.jpg" width="414" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVy7GXPKLps-Wa3N2jPsDm9kh1fnWYr_MOeboTIUcKxxnZGsaEOn1eoPyiLnjcyLU_shJLbS54tXVUKZ__3iVmg061vzI2h592g4wD-PKKgx_tFVNaE2wX7fEfYEDloO2OD0Q8MOZJbh0Y0bWExSEsUXDFVUNxkPWwM4Td76d0ZZrH4_1B7Ce8asKlrW_d/s714/20240101_000255.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="714" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVy7GXPKLps-Wa3N2jPsDm9kh1fnWYr_MOeboTIUcKxxnZGsaEOn1eoPyiLnjcyLU_shJLbS54tXVUKZ__3iVmg061vzI2h592g4wD-PKKgx_tFVNaE2wX7fEfYEDloO2OD0Q8MOZJbh0Y0bWExSEsUXDFVUNxkPWwM4Td76d0ZZrH4_1B7Ce8asKlrW_d/w411-h288/20240101_000255.jpg" width="411" /></a></span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">The tradition here is that everyone has a glass of cava and twelve white grapes, and for every dong of the clock, you eat one grape. Believe me it is almost impossible to eat twelve grapes, even small seedless ones, in the time it takes for the clock to strike twelve times, but that is the custom, and it is fun trying! Some supermarkets even sell little plastic dishes with twelve grapes on them for the occasion, but the fruit counters also carry huge amounts of grapes in bunches to divi up among your guests etc.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">After that we half watched TV for the next hour, and at 1.00 our time, which is mid-night in UK, we tuned into the BBC, raised a glass to family and friends over the waters, and watched Big Ben strike and then the fireworks. </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8IzdmZI1ZqBIMDPoe80KaBFr17g0LMELpf6r8FxQBkuJ_hn9e3oaa8gyBK2OWXPtzExTirT8CTbIzXBozeZxyW4YwSg0BKDNSkv4ELadqig-17POHmmA9HjXJ4_QpK3Y80JWPngLma6sxW1vjRzwG_x0N7G2sBc0XzAak3qehJt1n-yfXS_Gngd0a-_jk/s782/20240101_010851.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="782" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8IzdmZI1ZqBIMDPoe80KaBFr17g0LMELpf6r8FxQBkuJ_hn9e3oaa8gyBK2OWXPtzExTirT8CTbIzXBozeZxyW4YwSg0BKDNSkv4ELadqig-17POHmmA9HjXJ4_QpK3Y80JWPngLma6sxW1vjRzwG_x0N7G2sBc0XzAak3qehJt1n-yfXS_Gngd0a-_jk/w437-h280/20240101_010851.jpg" width="437" /></a></span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">I am always torn by this as I love the pyrotechnics, but am also uneasy about all the money going up in flames at a time of financial hardship for so many. I know it is sponsored, and a lot of funding comes from the sale of tickets, and as a country we really do do it very well, but all the same, I felt from what I saw on world news, that other countries had toned down their displays a little this year, while ours was possibly more spectacular than ever. Certainly there were more colours in the sparkles, and I admire the pictures they can create with drones. Here are a couple of shots I took of the TV screen.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAqymTrR0ybaEVBFsNGnPcjIb8Q7PMdjZBr3vWzzbx7SCdOg2SrVUzT5PuLQv-TTLGzi8ojE9eBymAY1sF4FjWzsEndNvS_i8JQKr-kyl26BRAKrjO86EVEKv8T3v5oqpjWiYlFRkyFfQ56x7xEIdT8ep74D-_fJdt9bvwzKPWqepArKnu6wxH9BtmHwqz/s714/20240101_010541.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="503" data-original-width="714" height="275" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAqymTrR0ybaEVBFsNGnPcjIb8Q7PMdjZBr3vWzzbx7SCdOg2SrVUzT5PuLQv-TTLGzi8ojE9eBymAY1sF4FjWzsEndNvS_i8JQKr-kyl26BRAKrjO86EVEKv8T3v5oqpjWiYlFRkyFfQ56x7xEIdT8ep74D-_fJdt9bvwzKPWqepArKnu6wxH9BtmHwqz/w391-h275/20240101_010541.jpg" width="391" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZSLS_NNkelDs8oRD9zUd4lHOBD3otEQdQMz3ar8qE18XFJIPNzujLbtYcrgkfITUCJUZhnwsGCQt2h28fqYU84tlF8SH07SZ_ltJXvfGHJOIv6R4AznHUKp_FuJnKdSZ-p9Xf58q0geifVbPN7prNOxXl5UapmZLX1-2FoB6Z-bEH5XgXYq7jgze-4PUn/s650/20240101_010729.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="650" data-original-width="639" height="363" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZSLS_NNkelDs8oRD9zUd4lHOBD3otEQdQMz3ar8qE18XFJIPNzujLbtYcrgkfITUCJUZhnwsGCQt2h28fqYU84tlF8SH07SZ_ltJXvfGHJOIv6R4AznHUKp_FuJnKdSZ-p9Xf58q0geifVbPN7prNOxXl5UapmZLX1-2FoB6Z-bEH5XgXYq7jgze-4PUn/w357-h363/20240101_010729.jpg" width="357" /></a></span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">As for the rest of the week, nothing very exciting has happened. I have had several chats with our son as both he and his partner are Covid positive, which messed up some of their holiday plans.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Last Friday we passed a small shop that has a very small garden centre attached to it, and I bought these winter pansies - well they are violas really I think. Aren't they pretty? And also one red and white mini-carnation, or pinks as we always called them when my dad grew them, which I bought because it smelled so strongly or cloves.They are now planted out in some of our front pots and add a spot of colour to all the greenery.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5VjGGD7EO5N7Ay-9OuOJ_Pxa124uQlx5ofNad8oP972_-21sLxjLRGXyBesZe1RWzrVA7dqTM3Jym4KaE-TA1FvJvk4mV5hN_sQFiPFDfD5gS9-zrq0AQ5gJcrfPVbBF9odx10Duh3bMN12jbWlNW9T-Zr4aCWeUjZIqRMNMlxINXFl5Um_0r24uEhYRc/s702/20231229_143909.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="702" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5VjGGD7EO5N7Ay-9OuOJ_Pxa124uQlx5ofNad8oP972_-21sLxjLRGXyBesZe1RWzrVA7dqTM3Jym4KaE-TA1FvJvk4mV5hN_sQFiPFDfD5gS9-zrq0AQ5gJcrfPVbBF9odx10Duh3bMN12jbWlNW9T-Zr4aCWeUjZIqRMNMlxINXFl5Um_0r24uEhYRc/w404-h288/20231229_143909.jpg" width="404" /></a></span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">My arm continues to improve and only really hurts now if I try to do too much with it, so I must be patient. One big improvement is that I can now push myself up from lying flat so I am able to sleep in bed again, instead of in the recliner chair. That is very positive.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Also this week we met a lovely Spanish lady who is coming to do some cleaning from next week, (after the Three Kings weekend). We had been talking about it for while, and right now I can do with a bit of domestic help. She doesn't speak any English so it will be good practice for me to use my Spanish, which is another positive.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">The weather has changed today with quite a significant drop in temperature, which is a shame as we want to walk up through the village for a little event this evening. We will just have to wrap up well!</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">As a follow up to that, we had steady rain all afternoon, much needed but not wanted that day, but by the evening it was dry again and we donned our coats (first time this year), and walked up to the small plaza at the top of the village. Here we came to what I would describe as the Spanish version of Santa's grotto. There were three thrones set up under the awning, and soon the three kings arrived, and a queue of excited children soon formed, waiting their turn to sit on the knee of one of the kings, and tell him what they were hoping to get on the night of 6th.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw32zRHhgjfyJUIZNAziJkLj-7k4bMtmrx-o5sSFo_zo2qBbbWzgJUU_xJ8vUTKWxUxXe2edl5TIrkahtzSWjdgASDlNtxvLAvpw0XObnlMGdLsaXAUWO2WYPHu_5k-YMhAW2YW1uE7vJm8V9FUQx4VgLOFzn0ptGLVYLGCodiUulnNfqXJ34mfWZRwfWp/s850/20240104_190357~2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="850" height="219" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw32zRHhgjfyJUIZNAziJkLj-7k4bMtmrx-o5sSFo_zo2qBbbWzgJUU_xJ8vUTKWxUxXe2edl5TIrkahtzSWjdgASDlNtxvLAvpw0XObnlMGdLsaXAUWO2WYPHu_5k-YMhAW2YW1uE7vJm8V9FUQx4VgLOFzn0ptGLVYLGCodiUulnNfqXJ34mfWZRwfWp/w414-h219/20240104_190357~2.jpg" width="414" /></a></span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Meanwhile, in the side road that runs alongside the plaza, there were trestle tables set up with 60meters of roscon on them! This is the soft, brioche style bread shaped into a doughnut ring , surrounded by a gold paper crown, and topped with a sweet, sticky glaze and big pieces of glacé fruit for the jewels, traditional for this festival. Although these can be bought plain, they are usually sliced through the centre and filled with lots of cream. This huge one was organised by our local baker, Noella, (seen in this photo), and with some helpers, she soon had it sliced into generous portions, plated up, and handed out to the waiting crowd. We had our slices and they were delicious.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwjfiYL5ojbNXsQT8vbi_TVE7qOaClwvVHCk3X1JuogNR74laHiSrffthAQQ6a-3wYEAKj0-AV-5Tw8I4X05AzKHvjEXl5Wzdsz4JxVoFg4NMfRr7KqKS9qlMb8MUPBtXFZF0BGr9v0VicLqx5ilacJkxvMjp4Yg4ApWNDp6mxxQU1QNkE040h-vimA9VM/s667/20240104_191045.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="667" height="289" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwjfiYL5ojbNXsQT8vbi_TVE7qOaClwvVHCk3X1JuogNR74laHiSrffthAQQ6a-3wYEAKj0-AV-5Tw8I4X05AzKHvjEXl5Wzdsz4JxVoFg4NMfRr7KqKS9qlMb8MUPBtXFZF0BGr9v0VicLqx5ilacJkxvMjp4Yg4ApWNDp6mxxQU1QNkE040h-vimA9VM/w385-h289/20240104_191045.jpg" width="385" /></a></span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Back on the plaza, as the kings were preparing to leave, and every one was satisfied after eating their roscon, the artificial snow machine turned on. It was on a balcony of the flats above the shop that fronts one end of the plaza. Soon we were all covered in soft, foamy flakes and the children were gathering it up to throw at one another. It was all great fun and we really enjoyed the evening.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNbj5JqpzwCb5P7BZY-HlmoSEBZ73-SKP4LZFCbhklWrGwd_i0b8nsTxoCFU8k3z9SjFL4M1OjQy0j8BYJ4ZpDdZ-FM0O49x0OeQYkD_wR09KEP_aQKTyjksTc_EoEx2QG8fHoXbVpd2RVFPKq1V7FVn2pcd2ovERehDl1AIQWJlphI820Y3a_8sQrqbZZ/s667/20240104_195446.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="500" height="381" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNbj5JqpzwCb5P7BZY-HlmoSEBZ73-SKP4LZFCbhklWrGwd_i0b8nsTxoCFU8k3z9SjFL4M1OjQy0j8BYJ4ZpDdZ-FM0O49x0OeQYkD_wR09KEP_aQKTyjksTc_EoEx2QG8fHoXbVpd2RVFPKq1V7FVn2pcd2ovERehDl1AIQWJlphI820Y3a_8sQrqbZZ/w286-h381/20240104_195446.jpg" width="286" /></a></span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">And that is really it for this week. We will have a busy weekend with the Three Kings celebrations, but after that, the decorations will come down and everything will get back to 'normal' whatever that is. So I will now link up with<a href="https://wipso-astitchintime.blogspot.com/2024/01/this-weeks-smilesweek-356.html"> Annie's Friday Smiles</a>. See you over there.</span></p>mamapez5http://www.blogger.com/profile/16882819450456050281noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6221525381099754303.post-48480029605491632112023-12-29T09:19:00.004+01:002023-12-29T09:23:05.418+01:00Friday Smiles 2023 # Week 52<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">I haven't a great deal to write about today, but I couldn't let the last Friday of the year go past without writing something.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">I hope you all had a fabulous day last Monday, however you spent it. Ours was relatively quiet as it tends to be once the children have 'flown the nest', but we had video calls with our boys, and enjoyed videos of our grand-children and great-grandchildren opening their presents.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOnTMsuwTRVcZQGkR5-V6KT9l-d6LxJX2XgHVhkGMwoG0y6acHUBpYPWkauKpIxXhhwIOPGoCU2GXZnuNqB7uY9jpxHyvcHjfhoCwWNmX6pnL1zQueK61_3-MQZc_6x9JpEw50CSh6K5xEXHZQzzCZyoPeWnCIfpEfIFezPpg4Gr9LzqmmOZi71vd7eetQ/s667/IMG_20231225_112255507_HDR.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="500" height="368" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOnTMsuwTRVcZQGkR5-V6KT9l-d6LxJX2XgHVhkGMwoG0y6acHUBpYPWkauKpIxXhhwIOPGoCU2GXZnuNqB7uY9jpxHyvcHjfhoCwWNmX6pnL1zQueK61_3-MQZc_6x9JpEw50CSh6K5xEXHZQzzCZyoPeWnCIfpEfIFezPpg4Gr9LzqmmOZi71vd7eetQ/w276-h368/IMG_20231225_112255507_HDR.jpg" width="276" /></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><div style="text-align: justify;">We had a liesurely start to the day, but once we were dressed and my hair had dried after a shower, we took our usual selfie together, which we then post online to all our family and friends, wherever they are. Our lovely pink bougainvillea still has lots of flowers on it this year, so we stood in front of that to take our photo.</div></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Some time ago we booked to eat our dinner at a local bar, and I was glad I didn't have to prepare and cook it. They are fairly recently reopened with new folk in charge, though we knew them from their previous venue, but sadly they did not announce their Christmas Day menu in time to get that many bookings. But there were enough folk there to give it some atmosphere and the food was well cooked. Also we knew some of the other diners so we were able to chat with them. There were fun Christmas glasses on each table that we put on for a photo. We pulled our crackers and Chris wore his party hat but I settled for the little finger hat that held our cutlery when we arrived.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-ekiVluNRIs9VRyMuB2KtRgUnBZEB9TgqKRC9cO7-xvRsNSQqRfzGCIgwbHqAH4NEy1Be0fSI_QGibndtkhOxOrr-k_hNTjJu3u9FCGjVaVfFGehWza3d0DS7Y3Mu_7hMQteY-ZSiKtYWdKEtih24Tb7A6J487Swt8n8WncP2HAbcrciQmvRPKNJgjnzf/s667/Christmas%20dinner%202023.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="513" data-original-width="667" height="290" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-ekiVluNRIs9VRyMuB2KtRgUnBZEB9TgqKRC9cO7-xvRsNSQqRfzGCIgwbHqAH4NEy1Be0fSI_QGibndtkhOxOrr-k_hNTjJu3u9FCGjVaVfFGehWza3d0DS7Y3Mu_7hMQteY-ZSiKtYWdKEtih24Tb7A6J487Swt8n8WncP2HAbcrciQmvRPKNJgjnzf/w378-h290/Christmas%20dinner%202023.jpg" width="378" /></a></span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Boxing day, (Dec 26th if you are not familiar with the concept), is not celebrated in Spain so it was business as usual on Tuesday. We wandered into town for the market and I took this photo of the sky. I thought it was so pretty. Every morning for the past few weeks, has dawned hazy, but before long the sun has broken through to give us a lovely warm day until around 4.00 when the evening chill comes in.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbDo8KRncz5y_6tV0gniRi-JaVLgxL0nlWglwjSWXsSJbkvKRlGN3UGVCvsImezmA4otc2xm0nhR7uiO-AvzwQeQ8oxE_K_RgJe_sLuiY7duTPPCm67Oh1smlj0tqkk-W1RBZ5JAG89VU0Q7FxpfN5k9UjaJuo4vmfaObyKjVi-XUEi9UwtGbiyPnFdrMj/s685/20231226_092412_inPixio.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="685" height="278" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbDo8KRncz5y_6tV0gniRi-JaVLgxL0nlWglwjSWXsSJbkvKRlGN3UGVCvsImezmA4otc2xm0nhR7uiO-AvzwQeQ8oxE_K_RgJe_sLuiY7duTPPCm67Oh1smlj0tqkk-W1RBZ5JAG89VU0Q7FxpfN5k9UjaJuo4vmfaObyKjVi-XUEi9UwtGbiyPnFdrMj/w380-h278/20231226_092412_inPixio.jpg" width="380" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">We stopped for a coffee at Simon's bar, a local that has a large clientele of Spanish families, but also makes all the English folk feel very welcome. In my opinion they have the best decorated window in the village this year. I love all the little animals and birds, as well as the snow and bright red poinsettias. One of the things I like about village life is that this all sits/hangs on the outside window ledge all day, and no-one touches it! There is a safety shutter that comes down over it at night once the bar closes. My photo is not the best as it shows the lights inside the bar, and a reflection of a delivery lorry in the srteet, but it is so unusual to find a moment when no-one is sitting in front of the window, that I had to grab the opportunity when it did occur.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEwsoPwRShoeveZkvXWf-Ip2xSYqGdYqBDjhYTvepBbvRXzUN6PLG0_7rQw9SV7t3ubjHWJUOw5amIulPYt23M3MFsU2f9gt1b07jJpsnQbpHdR2iVUFJoqZn0QHAemy42IZXzXwzBA05CZ8qsQkdyUoZhuhXUUyWkpJ-EGhcb_9e47gEFO0wfpE7Lk9rX/s912/20231226_100715.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="912" height="232" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEwsoPwRShoeveZkvXWf-Ip2xSYqGdYqBDjhYTvepBbvRXzUN6PLG0_7rQw9SV7t3ubjHWJUOw5amIulPYt23M3MFsU2f9gt1b07jJpsnQbpHdR2iVUFJoqZn0QHAemy42IZXzXwzBA05CZ8qsQkdyUoZhuhXUUyWkpJ-EGhcb_9e47gEFO0wfpE7Lk9rX/w470-h232/20231226_100715.jpg" width="470" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">I am very happy to say that my arm is improving well now, and I am able to do more things for myself. It is still very weak, and lifting is not allowed, but it is good to be able to get dressed unaided (most days), make a cup of tea and fill the dishwasher. It will be a while before I can reach up to peg washing on the line etc, but every small step is worth a celebration!</span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">I am sure some of you are gearing up to a party at home or away for next Monday. I think we will be spending the time quietly at home as we have done for the last few years. But we have our big, most important celebrations to look forward to at Epiphany on 6th January.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">So I will link up with <a href="https://wipso-astitchintime.blogspot.com/2023/12/this-weeks-smilesweek-335.html">Annie's Friday Smiles</a>, and for now I just wish you all what you wish for yourselves - Health, Hapiness, Peace and Love for 2024.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p>mamapez5http://www.blogger.com/profile/16882819450456050281noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6221525381099754303.post-79547711532696523392023-12-22T10:04:00.001+01:002023-12-22T10:04:55.793+01:00Friday Smiles 2023 # Week 51<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Just a quickie today. This left-hand typing is tiring. But there is not long to go now to the big day, and only one more week of blogging before we move into 2024.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">The village lights are looking pretty. The LED lights really do sparkle. We have Christmas trees in our street this year. I braved a chilly night to step outside and take these pictures. As you can see, they start a few meters up from us, and are repeated at regular intervals all the way up to the top of the village.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD08ak1mOlyYZw4TPemgzkSWnDVrhmrh8c05Cn_qezPPig_-VwskYsfWVy3AVJWkkysEWFdyysCouT0zLXuv6yK843zyx1KGxZoPtEHtMPMzft12I1-RYIFHuDAAsWkuze8D0g8oQSwoCPW5yKKdvtImZQxSAYbVRHsoa8eOrHqq-fPxjo5dVfsyA5TSRt/s698/20231219_184544.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="698" height="277" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD08ak1mOlyYZw4TPemgzkSWnDVrhmrh8c05Cn_qezPPig_-VwskYsfWVy3AVJWkkysEWFdyysCouT0zLXuv6yK843zyx1KGxZoPtEHtMPMzft12I1-RYIFHuDAAsWkuze8D0g8oQSwoCPW5yKKdvtImZQxSAYbVRHsoa8eOrHqq-fPxjo5dVfsyA5TSRt/w387-h277/20231219_184544.jpg" width="387" /></a></span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Then outside our house there is a telegraph pole which holds the first of the golden angels, and these are repeated regularly down to the end of the road at the bottom of the village.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-rN3Bto0n3wX3ydUvp5nNyKE_l3FmaUJVp2p-uKXR1avAIjTiuR2BqcPuTrkKCPgZXG1RKb-BEN2BJFfSgxPWleb1Y05w7bNvzmEjqL6LKhfihFxuCqnUhpikXedRTA0tt907gAzgbbSK1O3QBLEDmgws8CnlJaQcFcV3rQ03Z5_VOUsKrrddNS5JDiv0/s667/20231219_184444.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="500" height="349" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-rN3Bto0n3wX3ydUvp5nNyKE_l3FmaUJVp2p-uKXR1avAIjTiuR2BqcPuTrkKCPgZXG1RKb-BEN2BJFfSgxPWleb1Y05w7bNvzmEjqL6LKhfihFxuCqnUhpikXedRTA0tt907gAzgbbSK1O3QBLEDmgws8CnlJaQcFcV3rQ03Z5_VOUsKrrddNS5JDiv0/w262-h349/20231219_184444.jpg" width="262" /></a></span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">I made an interesting cake this week. The recipe was sent to me so I thought I'd give it a go. It was basically 500g of mixed dry fruit soaked for 24 hours in 2 and 1/2 cups, (American cups), of chocolate milk and around half a cup of Baileys (cheap Lidls version). The next day you add 2 cups of S.R. flour, mix well and turn into a lined slow cooker. Cook on low for 6 hours. I should have known it would be a bit odd with no fat or eggs, but it really didn't hold together very well and is decidedly 'puddingy'. That said, it smells and tastes great, so we ate some warmed with custard/icecream, and no doubt we will have more soon. It was a big mix and I can't waste that much dried fruit, so I have put three big helpings in the freezer to make sure it stays good until we are ready to eat more.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_I4fyPlXhxBGD3F5iJCYQnD6nRFQbh1BleKmi4sYIYc9LRKj0SsMkGxeIckQ5TyWssfRvyOyj2eicmc5sMCjOjUsWGws4ngVdVjgzEtGUXzSrF4VKHLE7z_DIxOQityJJBC-7bYy4kFG4NrdNE_heDCmtcRL3wioQ2BfaJ1MQqkbWWZdDVxuX44xY8G3U/s590/20231219_235751.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="590" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_I4fyPlXhxBGD3F5iJCYQnD6nRFQbh1BleKmi4sYIYc9LRKj0SsMkGxeIckQ5TyWssfRvyOyj2eicmc5sMCjOjUsWGws4ngVdVjgzEtGUXzSrF4VKHLE7z_DIxOQityJJBC-7bYy4kFG4NrdNE_heDCmtcRL3wioQ2BfaJ1MQqkbWWZdDVxuX44xY8G3U/w351-h298/20231219_235751.jpg" width="351" /></a></span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Yesterday afternoon we got out a couple of crates and picked the oranges that hung over our wall from next door. The house is empty for most of the year but someone may turn up next week to pick the ones on their side. But they were starting to fall each time there was a little wind and I couldn't just let them all spoil, so I will be eating some and juicing the rest over the next few months.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEsmjDa0BP6gB7mL-Sih6Z2IIPZKmCXaCzocOkvsDOb58iAh_iZ8CpvgqsBRAKA1tu77oj94DqqONAfRFawEogTiGXq74Cugf0Lhk4hiq2P4T4VJChvdAzZemIHqfSrxS9gQz0buQPiGQUSXSwvYu0Oa1vlhTZ4Xnc5hJRnRREJjrTz9a0go5ZCfVMHSce/s644/20231220_155136.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="644" height="283" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEsmjDa0BP6gB7mL-Sih6Z2IIPZKmCXaCzocOkvsDOb58iAh_iZ8CpvgqsBRAKA1tu77oj94DqqONAfRFawEogTiGXq74Cugf0Lhk4hiq2P4T4VJChvdAzZemIHqfSrxS9gQz0buQPiGQUSXSwvYu0Oa1vlhTZ4Xnc5hJRnRREJjrTz9a0go5ZCfVMHSce/w365-h283/20231220_155136.jpg" width="365" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">So all that is left is for me to wish you all a Very Happy Christmas. May youir homes be filled Joy, Peace, and Love. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">See you all over at <a href="https://wipso-astitchintime.blogspot.com/2023/12/this-weeks-smilesweek-334.html">Annie's Friday Smiles</a> in the morning.</span></div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p></p>mamapez5http://www.blogger.com/profile/16882819450456050281noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6221525381099754303.post-88039295634620356402023-12-15T09:32:00.002+01:002023-12-15T09:32:42.634+01:00Friday Smiles 2023 # Week 50<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Well here we are at week 50 already. I have had quite a busy week though I only have a few photos to show.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">On Sunday my friend Ann popped in on her way home from church and brought me some Christmas cards from my friends there.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">We finally managed to finish putting up our decorations. I have only used about half of my usual ones but it still looks nice and cheery. Of course our tree is my favourite bit as it has so many sentimental decorations hung on it. Look closely Annie and you may spot one of your little dolls hanging there. The second one is round the other side. I must have had them for a few years now. Certainly since pre-brexit when we were still able to post such things freely without worrying about import duties etc.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9xoliBpp_WBSf2J0SkaHB75R3FBsO8qDpff9LdXDjIOWeoy4dTZUKg_S0KcW-94H62AWWEl1SnveBZMkRxnvOCt7JxsYR138YM1cmMPCwMr3FVDc_eohu-sPOCWu6WvH147DPjSZPGidCRyIS8OtNRYTN3c1wNrc_5BDJhAcbVqOkI-4oKEHuVL8XDuPZ/s689/20231211_205948.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="689" data-original-width="500" height="373" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9xoliBpp_WBSf2J0SkaHB75R3FBsO8qDpff9LdXDjIOWeoy4dTZUKg_S0KcW-94H62AWWEl1SnveBZMkRxnvOCt7JxsYR138YM1cmMPCwMr3FVDc_eohu-sPOCWu6WvH147DPjSZPGidCRyIS8OtNRYTN3c1wNrc_5BDJhAcbVqOkI-4oKEHuVL8XDuPZ/w271-h373/20231211_205948.jpg" width="271" /></a></span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">My Willow tree Nativity has pride of place above the fire, and so far Leo hasn't jumped up to investigate it. But looking around many of my decorations are hand made. I have a lovely cross-stitched angel inside a gold star that I sewed and framed while I was still living in England, a red and green crocheted mandala, an intricate cut nativity shadow box, and this year my new macrame wreath and shooting star light box. But I still really love my "white Mary and Joseph". They must be around twenty years old now but every year they come out. I was inspired to making them after watching a demontration of some beautiful crinoline ladies being made at a craft show at Birmingham's N.E.C. They are formed on a wine bottle with a chiken wire and newspaper ball stuffed in the neck for the head. Then they are covered with strips of cotton (I tore up a cotton sheet bought at a charity shop), dipped in polyfiller and left to dry. They are very hard and white, not needing to be painted etc, and they have certainly withstood the test of time.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgcJcvxZtcrt3AGvm3benYDKaUg35rE7t-r57fDwTc59pm6L96XcFpWo5WqCMLgFOADEHansQ2_uQgQLxI7xJngh9ZaRM6T29ql80TIuMdFDXMguBB6Rx3DoBmy7YDJ52jUj81gxtPj3enbodDZc8ZLe8tyIYhVIYFk2guCLqtTjyb9ErvGueJr_FXWIfk/s2993/20231213_125250~2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2993" data-original-width="2452" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgcJcvxZtcrt3AGvm3benYDKaUg35rE7t-r57fDwTc59pm6L96XcFpWo5WqCMLgFOADEHansQ2_uQgQLxI7xJngh9ZaRM6T29ql80TIuMdFDXMguBB6Rx3DoBmy7YDJ52jUj81gxtPj3enbodDZc8ZLe8tyIYhVIYFk2guCLqtTjyb9ErvGueJr_FXWIfk/w328-h400/20231213_125250~2.jpg" width="328" /></a></span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">On Monday we waited in for a parcel that didn't arrive, but on Tuesday it came early, and then we wandered into town and sat outside a little street cafe for a coffee and it was nice to be out of the house for a while. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">On Wednesday we were up with the larks as I had my hospital check-up. The appointment was for 9.00, but then they messaged me to say I also had an appointment at 8.00 for an x-ray. The hospital is about 40 minutes drive away so reluctantly we had to set out at 7.15. Normally neither of us drive in the dark now but we had no choice, and it was just fully light by the time we arrived. The consultant was lovely. He explained that it was a bad break because as well as going round the arm it went up into the ball that goes into the shoulder socket. He said that although it would be painful, I must start moving it a little each day, or I would never move it! He gave me some simple exercises to start with, and said I could ask to see him again if it still very painful after another three weeks. He took my sling away and said it was not good to keep using it, but I persuaded him to give me a new one to wear at night, and I did wear it when we went to do the big supermarket shop this morning, mainly so that I was less likely to get knocked. So it is a long slow journey, but I am beginning to do a few small tasks around the house, but no lifting at all - doctor's orders.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">I have just put another set of books on my Kindle as I am reading a lot while I can't do my usual hobbies.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">I have two lovely sky photos to finish with. We have had such a lovely week with early afternoon temperatures reaching almost 30º, so we have eaten our lunch outside most days. But the evenings draw in quickly and I just felt this was such a lovely peaceful dusk.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI1f46qRkna2BdWcvOSZqrqq0gg_5dkS3XIeN7InR4SKNYjBMn5wb5SM9iLviGknaB7y3fyQD26DG8TJdRnD-NphX9UTys7m2AqlAh0SDKK1YDVjFIHfGPNThPtOZDJewQtG3Z08FNxpErZvea22ZJE7KjFcZ3ppcr5ejIJUEDwUgasXFDOazhwAotw3gj/s1197/20231211_175314.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="550" data-original-width="1197" height="197" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI1f46qRkna2BdWcvOSZqrqq0gg_5dkS3XIeN7InR4SKNYjBMn5wb5SM9iLviGknaB7y3fyQD26DG8TJdRnD-NphX9UTys7m2AqlAh0SDKK1YDVjFIHfGPNThPtOZDJewQtG3Z08FNxpErZvea22ZJE7KjFcZ3ppcr5ejIJUEDwUgasXFDOazhwAotw3gj/w428-h197/20231211_175314.jpg" width="428" /></a></span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">And another evening the sky raced through pinks and purples before fading away, and I was able to catch this moment on camera.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4g4XTuduqfoR4gKV0KtEKIiXKK65R6Ly-PRW4qbJwk-swq_vf1_hoJeL7tVkKRnwxR81uVhOqmLqd9KNrvZkNC9WgkQPc2fxzdh4wPpUIcwIvr1gn3az85gxdHdQKd_2snTFDWthz147J87wqH25M5arwuhagYQ6wnjQfPx31TBMuiDLqFeD-hV01lkTk/s667/20231208_181055.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="667" height="292" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4g4XTuduqfoR4gKV0KtEKIiXKK65R6Ly-PRW4qbJwk-swq_vf1_hoJeL7tVkKRnwxR81uVhOqmLqd9KNrvZkNC9WgkQPc2fxzdh4wPpUIcwIvr1gn3az85gxdHdQKd_2snTFDWthz147J87wqH25M5arwuhagYQ6wnjQfPx31TBMuiDLqFeD-hV01lkTk/w389-h292/20231208_181055.jpg" width="389" /></a></span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">So now it is time to get this ready to link up with <a href="https://wipso-astitchintime.blogspot.com/2023/12/this-weeks-smilesweek-333.html">Annie's Friday Smiles</a>, and publish it in the morning.</span></p>mamapez5http://www.blogger.com/profile/16882819450456050281noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6221525381099754303.post-78348315645144698742023-12-08T09:49:00.001+01:002023-12-08T09:49:47.556+01:00Friday Smiles 2023# Week 49<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"> I am late starting this today so I will probably be late posting it too.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Last week I prepared my post on Thursday afternoon and that evening we had a splendid sunset. I just about managed to take this photo with my left hand.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSa5YytJKZ1Rftu6bPuUbWUSJVaxtANBIbGBsqMs3vqseGpWGOKn23I4-1BRdEvfF2xZjypbkZwZYmlGMlxkR7XQBQ-3FxpgklazRr5yOxHxtx3i4VFNbQ_QjFTczqR2B_AbdFVDnRUWf7agRjmjd7rdMIubUNJ6vKlLicZ4f15IKMsGZf6GflFgbxz94Q/s667/20231130_180448.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="667" height="283" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSa5YytJKZ1Rftu6bPuUbWUSJVaxtANBIbGBsqMs3vqseGpWGOKn23I4-1BRdEvfF2xZjypbkZwZYmlGMlxkR7XQBQ-3FxpgklazRr5yOxHxtx3i4VFNbQ_QjFTczqR2B_AbdFVDnRUWf7agRjmjd7rdMIubUNJ6vKlLicZ4f15IKMsGZf6GflFgbxz94Q/w377-h283/20231130_180448.jpg" width="377" /></a></span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv9Ntbr26Jx8_NaEevB-Nh0hEInFFyCZ_7Q-CWdyUijGZNQYGoi9OgSfbDWF5xanNiVt0Quyw-XOSjmTVJtMi_s9ppS12Sm5KOAR1Es8pDTK42e3AaV5GTn99t-3h8Xt8OE2PwGugJtnkacdSs_asmJOiY88NH-FdiIEy-EuAQmXNM2_xepIFecrWNUdJF/s664/IMG_20231203_105717310.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="664" data-original-width="500" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv9Ntbr26Jx8_NaEevB-Nh0hEInFFyCZ_7Q-CWdyUijGZNQYGoi9OgSfbDWF5xanNiVt0Quyw-XOSjmTVJtMi_s9ppS12Sm5KOAR1Es8pDTK42e3AaV5GTn99t-3h8Xt8OE2PwGugJtnkacdSs_asmJOiY88NH-FdiIEy-EuAQmXNM2_xepIFecrWNUdJF/s320/IMG_20231203_105717310.jpg" width="241" /></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><div style="text-align: justify;">My hair had been bothering me since the accident as lazing in a chair all day meant it got rather tangled. So I talked Chris through a new skill - how to do a plait. First attempt didn't stay in for long, but then he got the hang of it.</div></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4sUNGVxmolvghXxBwQN_tqUdr-rEnuyFnx4Wimfbbf5DAGTM60n7g8lM9bA9urJtg5K0UqTyMr7P3BAXKWMTd73H69-r6XQ2PXkKfODVDRKk6LYqFxFxajKbCDOxCJFeOsyQDoknJTmIcflALmSf0XDIg2vC6bMzK999kL2dT6fI2hP6do8hq9PstMom8/s667/20231206_123511.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="500" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4sUNGVxmolvghXxBwQN_tqUdr-rEnuyFnx4Wimfbbf5DAGTM60n7g8lM9bA9urJtg5K0UqTyMr7P3BAXKWMTd73H69-r6XQ2PXkKfODVDRKk6LYqFxFxajKbCDOxCJFeOsyQDoknJTmIcflALmSf0XDIg2vC6bMzK999kL2dT6fI2hP6do8hq9PstMom8/s320/20231206_123511.jpg" width="240" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><div style="text-align: justify;">However on Wednesday I wanted to go to my sewing group Christmas dinner and I knew something drastic was needed. So I did some ringing around and eventually found a lady who could come and cut it for me. So we got up early and Chris helped me take off the sling for the first time. Then he hosed me down in the shower and washed my hair. (The word pantomime springs to mind!). Then he helped me get dressed and soon I was ready to party!</div></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">After I saw this photo I got Chris to rescue our falling angel.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">The meal was lovely. Everyone was so pleased to see me, and I had plenty of friends to help me with cutting up my food. I was worn out after such an eventful day and I slept well that night.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5_8f6xOrXY2tVMgRuQZq1ccIjOHK5tI6Ej5Wncxfxb2z1R5HoZfpcXdsb5oso0sLPq7GDu-322UL55T-i_m9Dtn0TwthPOTN3_8bWJeLqc4Qx0nJdqr8amViX1LqxG2dzLLAZAMQJt7geR-X1aaEE9zqB0Ujx-D_joecLNqLWHrXL86zKifBb9cxz7lOJ/s667/20231206_142329.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="667" height="272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5_8f6xOrXY2tVMgRuQZq1ccIjOHK5tI6Ej5Wncxfxb2z1R5HoZfpcXdsb5oso0sLPq7GDu-322UL55T-i_m9Dtn0TwthPOTN3_8bWJeLqc4Qx0nJdqr8amViX1LqxG2dzLLAZAMQJt7geR-X1aaEE9zqB0Ujx-D_joecLNqLWHrXL86zKifBb9cxz7lOJ/w363-h272/20231206_142329.jpg" width="363" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5V07aLEau1ZgAOUiYShW_g96W_HfMOduOy7oL8rrI4-QbOZkMX-o-Aow4_7TrcfNS0BXJMBUAynm9RU96ck9Btkp3McMV0eXkbAk-OyhOxo8M2JoyD_SIuQaUAyqZOkzvn2BYmFPsxo4JmGen9iCinHbymTqGNXhV2Tw1myn9kkBs6l6rOJG7A4D9D5VD/s667/20231206_142340.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="667" height="275" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5V07aLEau1ZgAOUiYShW_g96W_HfMOduOy7oL8rrI4-QbOZkMX-o-Aow4_7TrcfNS0BXJMBUAynm9RU96ck9Btkp3McMV0eXkbAk-OyhOxo8M2JoyD_SIuQaUAyqZOkzvn2BYmFPsxo4JmGen9iCinHbymTqGNXhV2Tw1myn9kkBs6l6rOJG7A4D9D5VD/w367-h275/20231206_142340.jpg" width="367" /></a></span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Today we ventured an outing to the artisan/Christmas market at the local camp site. We went early before too many people arrived and just stayed long enough to see all the stalls. There was some lovely work on display. I bought a turned wooden snowman, some chrystals in shades of purple, and a slice of Christmas cake which is double wrapped and stored away for a couple of weeks.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsmE2-Ypsv4D-W1FPgc7QMX3JDg6Quy2wMnNDImGkBa5-UVfj1Y0z0DCwffUn2I6atYAECAaSyF6YcPdg85sfjpar4rhVbcVARBKQ4jD1ySp7naQO8lHUgaGVy-4RYQHPUKyP5lhcE3GHkq_xWVTEITxtu20e1SIToF-skUyowwj_ha45MZNLJXuRPXYtn/s667/20231207_110855.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="667" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsmE2-Ypsv4D-W1FPgc7QMX3JDg6Quy2wMnNDImGkBa5-UVfj1Y0z0DCwffUn2I6atYAECAaSyF6YcPdg85sfjpar4rhVbcVARBKQ4jD1ySp7naQO8lHUgaGVy-4RYQHPUKyP5lhcE3GHkq_xWVTEITxtu20e1SIToF-skUyowwj_ha45MZNLJXuRPXYtn/w355-h266/20231207_110855.jpg" width="355" /></a></span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">The lady who sells the clothes I like was there and I bought a pair of grey trousers, but I won't be able to wear them until I can shorten them.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0ARrKcf9umKI6ADG-rduzycAf80-5F3P8gENVZpvDZ7QcyRhThL_CdBz2ph0YXiY5ugP3egX3b9SCe85DkWppKaiUcBy6gBrrXBJ1rE6RgeOpmcBAU83gzZ93Ur2eEqkmzZm7OQ4pZpaO2nq1VkHEw6waht-6lZ0p6z-swYmmBlSqZH6Dm31k1HQQO8Ps/s667/20231207_110857.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="667" height="283" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0ARrKcf9umKI6ADG-rduzycAf80-5F3P8gENVZpvDZ7QcyRhThL_CdBz2ph0YXiY5ugP3egX3b9SCe85DkWppKaiUcBy6gBrrXBJ1rE6RgeOpmcBAU83gzZ93Ur2eEqkmzZm7OQ4pZpaO2nq1VkHEw6waht-6lZ0p6z-swYmmBlSqZH6Dm31k1HQQO8Ps/w377-h283/20231207_110857.jpg" width="377" /></a></span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Poor little Leo is sick again. He didn't come in one day but that evening he appeared and was very jumpy and wouldn't touch his food. The next day he was drooling and smelled real bad so I managed to get an emergency appointment and Chris took him to the vet, She thinks he had licked something very caustic and all inside his mouth and his tongue was covered in ulcers. He is on anti-biotics and painkillers and is now eating a bit, but he has a long way to go. He is back to four and a half kilos again, but once he is better I will hopefully get him back over five kilos again.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">And finally, who doesn't love to see happy smiling chilren's faces at Christmas, so here is photo my granddaughter sent me of my three gorgeous great-grandsons. Credit for the photo goes to professional photographer Nesta Lloyd. She is friend of my granddaughter and once or twice a year she does a photo shoot with them.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAbbefQN49XU4qcydmotJtODAuLBnrqGFBblOW0VpOoh-1AT-TzvYBL9q9ktNASPkxozKnwoAtM5Uyjvcr5eSpZJTT6eM_BgwFMqHRbMbl189nhrircDQsgWpCRfLkE3_i7bQox9zR8hd1nUnBfp9FVnPbGEndQIJNjm67TcrCMao45JfQxGNV_J8OvbWA/s667/408734914_10159575910061464_24908942758687588_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="667" height="285" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAbbefQN49XU4qcydmotJtODAuLBnrqGFBblOW0VpOoh-1AT-TzvYBL9q9ktNASPkxozKnwoAtM5Uyjvcr5eSpZJTT6eM_BgwFMqHRbMbl189nhrircDQsgWpCRfLkE3_i7bQox9zR8hd1nUnBfp9FVnPbGEndQIJNjm67TcrCMao45JfQxGNV_J8OvbWA/w380-h285/408734914_10159575910061464_24908942758687588_n.jpg" width="380" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">So tomorrow I will publish this and link up with <a href="https://wipso-astitchintime.blogspot.com/2023/12/this-weeks-smiles-week-332.htm">Annie's Friday Smiles.</a></span></p>mamapez5http://www.blogger.com/profile/16882819450456050281noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6221525381099754303.post-52720266086847767012023-12-01T09:07:00.001+01:002023-12-01T09:07:07.829+01:00Friday Smiles 2023 #Week 48<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Well I have had one week of convalescing and am able to walk around and manage a few simple left-handed tasks but it is still to painful to move the broken arm at all. So I have little to show this week, but here I am settled on my 24 hour home for now, with all three cats wanting to keep me company. I think it has something to do with my blanket, but with all of them on me, I don't really need the blanket.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrIbliV2pifG3W6hyvfi_YWWYy2VgsyOHvI7K-0HCEUxBuujbFLTqC1U5bJhg-Kvy1riHHPYtVFByN0EDf1LAchxrgyVeURJ9h40y_-s1ZSIqL5pW54NzJxLRhb0VWUdD7UO0YFw-LmA_Rct2uoB4juWSrRGqCLS9bc3EV-xk9j3s37Rbc0f9yVng3-nwo/s667/IMG_20231127_225116901.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="667" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrIbliV2pifG3W6hyvfi_YWWYy2VgsyOHvI7K-0HCEUxBuujbFLTqC1U5bJhg-Kvy1riHHPYtVFByN0EDf1LAchxrgyVeURJ9h40y_-s1ZSIqL5pW54NzJxLRhb0VWUdD7UO0YFw-LmA_Rct2uoB4juWSrRGqCLS9bc3EV-xk9j3s37Rbc0f9yVng3-nwo/w395-h296/IMG_20231127_225116901.jpg" width="395" /></a></span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">When I looked at last week's post again, I realised I had mentioned my latest project, but forgot to add the photo. So here is my macrame Chtistmas wreath.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir4NLz3oyd-Nc7ZpyrktH7WWcKD5wKM5j0uVbS15stpwmUoJu_QUpDq8zPkcjlic-FxIZMda2UQzIt1o1xhfnLkxmbGkJ5-RXowVEaW5cNS595mp3ezHRkMrWTYZEio77iBulRW_FkU6volPlfgCjcLKvvjNqGmpFgI0U_WQctZv_A45MLucQUraIHQ3Xv/s703/20231121_155737.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="703" data-original-width="500" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir4NLz3oyd-Nc7ZpyrktH7WWcKD5wKM5j0uVbS15stpwmUoJu_QUpDq8zPkcjlic-FxIZMda2UQzIt1o1xhfnLkxmbGkJ5-RXowVEaW5cNS595mp3ezHRkMrWTYZEio77iBulRW_FkU6volPlfgCjcLKvvjNqGmpFgI0U_WQctZv_A45MLucQUraIHQ3Xv/w302-h424/20231121_155737.jpg" width="302" /></a></span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">I am so glad I got it finished before my accident. Sadly no more Christmas crafting for this year, and even more sadly, no mince pies this year either!</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">I am incredibly grateful for all the concerned messages and love I have received from blog friends and Facebook friends. Thank you all.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><span> A<span>nd that is my limit for this week.</span></span> Hopefully I will get this linked up to <a href="https://wipso-astitchintime.blogspot.com/2023/12/this-weeks-smilesweek-331.html">Annie's Friday Smiles</a> in the morning.</span></p>mamapez5http://www.blogger.com/profile/16882819450456050281noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6221525381099754303.post-66249449958266614482023-11-24T09:59:00.001+01:002023-11-24T09:59:58.886+01:00Friday Smiles 2023 #Week 47<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">A very short post today. I have spent much of the day in A&E following a fall down our two front steps. I have broken my arm/shoulder , my right one of course! So I am doing this left-handed with one finger.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Here are the photos I had prepared for today.</span></p><p></p><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Christmas is coming and our angel is back</span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHuEbzOHcbm38loQiHztYAg8kUxPumw3nKoP6E1Mbl4G5Xo8iF7lpudIkWjLrhwC0J7G8LlsklU9_m96i7ojGrpVXKjBlnBsUHIQQXXkFduOPcdy1jPw5N9OIxYE9O9WxULLL6BEXAscDD4CtOZr6QJgPENWigtMQB_dJuF85JatT4D1dFchaBnEEJ3yFU/s741/20231117_172904.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="741" data-original-width="500" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHuEbzOHcbm38loQiHztYAg8kUxPumw3nKoP6E1Mbl4G5Xo8iF7lpudIkWjLrhwC0J7G8LlsklU9_m96i7ojGrpVXKjBlnBsUHIQQXXkFduOPcdy1jPw5N9OIxYE9O9WxULLL6BEXAscDD4CtOZr6QJgPENWigtMQB_dJuF85JatT4D1dFchaBnEEJ3yFU/s320/20231117_172904.jpg" width="216" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Our new furniture has arrived and we love it.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9cPRcTwmzb8bXsuMafWkxpYzljpVCs797fg10SzsNNeLhSRMn6IIhYuNAuCGtXKmDKkseVMyVOWRxmvP_tiTP_DBoyCwIlW_Nli4jujFf1j19DXjqtG_DJhbD-dE8QfUso4e1zyLKgQrleFztNscIKV5Z3ZkTul5GVkLEsUw5GFdBI6TmGeEnvbmFsd9z/s755/20231118_122853~3.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="755" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9cPRcTwmzb8bXsuMafWkxpYzljpVCs797fg10SzsNNeLhSRMn6IIhYuNAuCGtXKmDKkseVMyVOWRxmvP_tiTP_DBoyCwIlW_Nli4jujFf1j19DXjqtG_DJhbD-dE8QfUso4e1zyLKgQrleFztNscIKV5Z3ZkTul5GVkLEsUw5GFdBI6TmGeEnvbmFsd9z/s320/20231118_122853~3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs4n5G4C4EGpHKVJ4YUOeiKy87u223QkmGOMUG8Z54e0OeTBebQh4i-0vsYHDQ_Ej3rlsd1oPCPjD44n6JZIPeU_Gtw_JdpByX9ksNN8_SsTGbjTfMbJP3Qg4ANhbjHNxxlZBMj6K2ksG2EOoh_x9MdJKTzlhnKt7VC9uaF0LYC0hAQ4mNQAxQ4749lmg1/s667/20231118_122936~4.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="667" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs4n5G4C4EGpHKVJ4YUOeiKy87u223QkmGOMUG8Z54e0OeTBebQh4i-0vsYHDQ_Ej3rlsd1oPCPjD44n6JZIPeU_Gtw_JdpByX9ksNN8_SsTGbjTfMbJP3Qg4ANhbjHNxxlZBMj6K2ksG2EOoh_x9MdJKTzlhnKt7VC9uaF0LYC0hAQ4mNQAxQ4749lmg1/s320/20231118_122936~4.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0wP6-L0C7GDkgG62CfPlmpftYbHpyXpisJoYWBE-9WEbwLcG76V8RX6-axTwVjgLQtWfYdH4IOiEGTHnKJaL-ns9sYC4GNPBq97VVFZXdwymdNg5DXo5rNzrDCBEaeNuyqWWuJJiK_0yaUFEvLN5985IvXc-07ziDWu-RBSG5EUBq459Wkrg1-TTaWqR7/s732/20231118_122954~2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="732" data-original-width="500" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0wP6-L0C7GDkgG62CfPlmpftYbHpyXpisJoYWBE-9WEbwLcG76V8RX6-axTwVjgLQtWfYdH4IOiEGTHnKJaL-ns9sYC4GNPBq97VVFZXdwymdNg5DXo5rNzrDCBEaeNuyqWWuJJiK_0yaUFEvLN5985IvXc-07ziDWu-RBSG5EUBq459Wkrg1-TTaWqR7/s320/20231118_122954~2.jpg" width="219" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">The cats approve too so we had to add some covers.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuLXjsWG99mjMWGbOeQ6unNDJPJOaq8HNQuUXpKTP7f1z0k1P4mfuW-mHi9CbYdTLEGCWj-3_mA7WjJGhfhRHGWufdgY1b_EwhK07KrEKGPtMK9P-82yJDZG4JzKZ0qr8yGpNRcJ0r7rYlN7zu9MN6gtoWUXPlAuSYzLhWIw4c-Wvo1Vvl_RqlKp_Lvvsx/s700/20231123_114641.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="315" data-original-width="700" height="194" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuLXjsWG99mjMWGbOeQ6unNDJPJOaq8HNQuUXpKTP7f1z0k1P4mfuW-mHi9CbYdTLEGCWj-3_mA7WjJGhfhRHGWufdgY1b_EwhK07KrEKGPtMK9P-82yJDZG4JzKZ0qr8yGpNRcJ0r7rYlN7zu9MN6gtoWUXPlAuSYzLhWIw4c-Wvo1Vvl_RqlKp_Lvvsx/w431-h194/20231123_114641.jpg" width="431" /></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">My latest craft project - a macrame wreath, complete with red and gold beads. Glad I finished it before I hurt my arm.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">More new clothes. Lucky me!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcw0B1NRC396cI7I9puy2qYgGG4W7r0Uv1DI-VWPlcuOWBioQMCT3e3aX6aTPtOB9XJWnBxhyPM2TE1CTqspaWiY4CyZqvch37sBHAT9oTA0FHgdtJwdxyeiR12_z5XSHkJeP3mNponoKJR9vOieS2R6-MZLTYqGXsDBFcgo2hcQm8pLXYN0XKCZRL0FyM/s990/NEW%20CLOTHES.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="990" height="183" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcw0B1NRC396cI7I9puy2qYgGG4W7r0Uv1DI-VWPlcuOWBioQMCT3e3aX6aTPtOB9XJWnBxhyPM2TE1CTqspaWiY4CyZqvch37sBHAT9oTA0FHgdtJwdxyeiR12_z5XSHkJeP3mNponoKJR9vOieS2R6-MZLTYqGXsDBFcgo2hcQm8pLXYN0XKCZRL0FyM/w454-h183/NEW%20CLOTHES.jpg" width="454" /></a></div><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">We were loading up the car to take two bags of discarded tops and jumpers to a charity shop, when I fell!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">A kind Spanish lady who was passing helped us call an abulance and they helped me up and drove me to our medical centre where they cleaned and dressed the cut on my head, gave me painkiller injection and did temporary strapping on my arm. Then Chris drove me to the hospital where I was wheeled between x-rays, consultants and nurses, and sat in the waiting room while a furher painkiller and then a saline drip flowed through me.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnvZ1WT_8KL9gmhL8QCsF64GiVZsJ13QkbCA_H32hcvJKqo9u1qHgrnp-d8LosCAnxZ9UZuW1JQ7y5anDXNdQeBRGaSdBBIbWzj9UddmHiK27oyUqujsGIZpE7ZAwNVLSF_gZcX4N29VK8f3ORscl8qcqPhMDP3Fo4EdqCyUeu_GTYv2LQcQKEmL9uPWJV/s667/IMG_20231123_133738186.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="500" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnvZ1WT_8KL9gmhL8QCsF64GiVZsJ13QkbCA_H32hcvJKqo9u1qHgrnp-d8LosCAnxZ9UZuW1JQ7y5anDXNdQeBRGaSdBBIbWzj9UddmHiK27oyUqujsGIZpE7ZAwNVLSF_gZcX4N29VK8f3ORscl8qcqPhMDP3Fo4EdqCyUeu_GTYv2LQcQKEmL9uPWJV/s320/IMG_20231123_133738186.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Now I am rocking an immobilising sling with strict instructions not try to move my arm at all. I have a good prescription for analgesics which hopefully will see me through some uncomfortable nights, and I return to see the consultant again on 13th December.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaFai4PATtaud9f6ny-NI-ynjBJwcDeqgNxH1xGGWbibG1cN6yp1kz3V8WTDL1BnvtSHn3xioe-rC8MDhab9jTey0ObeNlnhyAI7Wal49-YBKVwmmW7jF4nKEt20wuo0b-G9JfGIPYu4OnlqKwgWbPFeWcq_TAG6f9vu5OdLbIZG5P-43mv-bf4Ua84UkE/s664/IMG_20231123_160450444.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="664" data-original-width="500" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaFai4PATtaud9f6ny-NI-ynjBJwcDeqgNxH1xGGWbibG1cN6yp1kz3V8WTDL1BnvtSHn3xioe-rC8MDhab9jTey0ObeNlnhyAI7Wal49-YBKVwmmW7jF4nKEt20wuo0b-G9JfGIPYu4OnlqKwgWbPFeWcq_TAG6f9vu5OdLbIZG5P-43mv-bf4Ua84UkE/s320/IMG_20231123_160450444.jpg" width="241" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Well I made it through the night ..... just, most of it in my reclinrt chair, so now I am linking up with <a href="https://wipso-astitchintime.blogspot.com/2023/11/this-weeks-smilesweek-330.html">Annie's Friday Smiles.</a></span></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /></div><br /><p></p>mamapez5http://www.blogger.com/profile/16882819450456050281noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6221525381099754303.post-59438201025895207702023-11-17T08:36:00.002+01:002023-11-17T08:45:52.982+01:00Friday Smiles 2023 # Week 46<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">This week starts early because last Friday afternoon Chris drove me over to my friend's house to deliver her birthday card. She lives near my church so it is a good half hour's drive from here and I had intended driving myself over the next day, but Friday afternoon suited me better. Neither of us like driving after dark these days but we reckoned we had just enough time to get there and back. There were some interesting cloud formations as the sun was going down, and I tried to photograph them through the car window.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB7wZMRfOM27IDdfgb8g4s1QESoEbtqx703lxzRNV0ZYqWhOtektPqY4Pu22hFc9CDZRSJx9fXopzJ4AelGiU5KARuLxlmAv-R88-Qo-QQ9Dz4ZIB0r0wRtrcV3wklZLnnPOccsfmjTzOTvYKDuVV1f2VWjfeaF9fxO4bGGW3jI4U0bS81-SOiz2YldiGF/s667/1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="667" height="270" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB7wZMRfOM27IDdfgb8g4s1QESoEbtqx703lxzRNV0ZYqWhOtektPqY4Pu22hFc9CDZRSJx9fXopzJ4AelGiU5KARuLxlmAv-R88-Qo-QQ9Dz4ZIB0r0wRtrcV3wklZLnnPOccsfmjTzOTvYKDuVV1f2VWjfeaF9fxO4bGGW3jI4U0bS81-SOiz2YldiGF/w360-h270/1.jpg" width="360" /></a></span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">They got darker and more distinct, and I think these would class as lenticular clouds.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSrpsiUII5Yp1vGpiCSMW-oxEMsUWbniU5AEE-zL-o9YBLELOrB0WC3ISqbdj3o1IyrmZoCmy4QB36_YgjGong2YtsQMma-2JNhUfYCjd-ZePmF31jnOprHagHJCYN9XxMN4-TYxIhtDoxPTgCZKqE0_T5YqUyj9jAdZEWx90LnaJ-d2AXG5o04sANcoyk/s667/2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="667" height="278" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSrpsiUII5Yp1vGpiCSMW-oxEMsUWbniU5AEE-zL-o9YBLELOrB0WC3ISqbdj3o1IyrmZoCmy4QB36_YgjGong2YtsQMma-2JNhUfYCjd-ZePmF31jnOprHagHJCYN9XxMN4-TYxIhtDoxPTgCZKqE0_T5YqUyj9jAdZEWx90LnaJ-d2AXG5o04sANcoyk/w371-h278/2.jpg" width="371" /></a></span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">And by the time we had got back home, this is what was left of them.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvB_IRCrfXQRusGUqH8TOO7PIYw-iqGMuOjkV0x1ff2Yc2N-MeqMdplveBwnpv1BJxU0tpHt7ffb4ItGwrX9gYuSiOzm1orDX7ySfIivNpPZXX6cnS9-m6J1S2Ejk8kHd1nLaUiJ266LjoTeCLRpx5bwv9Qc6eLOQc-H0kX6HmFtEHIRnW7eyH4XAJMCT_/s667/3.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="667" height="277" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvB_IRCrfXQRusGUqH8TOO7PIYw-iqGMuOjkV0x1ff2Yc2N-MeqMdplveBwnpv1BJxU0tpHt7ffb4ItGwrX9gYuSiOzm1orDX7ySfIivNpPZXX6cnS9-m6J1S2Ejk8kHd1nLaUiJ266LjoTeCLRpx5bwv9Qc6eLOQc-H0kX6HmFtEHIRnW7eyH4XAJMCT_/w369-h277/3.jpg" width="369" /></a></span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">I have been working on a macrame Christmas decoration and I needed some gold and red beads. I had trouble finding any the right sizes, and in the end I bought an assortment of sizes in plain wood from Amazon. So on Tuesday, when we went to to do some food shopping, we stopped at a hardware store and I bought cans of red and gold spray paint. I was thinking of a way to spray them without getting paint on everything else as well and I remembered my old 'spray cabinet', aka an old cardboard carton with lots of ancient newspapers in it! I used this a lot when I was into mica sprays for my card making, but it has sat unused on top of my high shelves for several years. But dusted off it was the perfect solution. I threaded my beads onto rough string that was hairy enough for them to stay separated, and pegged them across the box, and I soon had the coloured beads I wanted. Maybe by next week I can show you what they were for.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0yLDcuB6TcP_invlcXMOIIs9p2YSHL9FE6v789L-JpbrjX1IEVFV5znSJFkbYVl4VNgKUl3ySdd8Mjam_sMh4NLIpKK4HweN4I7Hcfhs2WMFPtEXKXi5qtDmoMAM-5dyYFrlfsr5dVvzICQWbZ82-w9efFYZM0uOUSvA8Cc2uhTh2N_q2gWbYInkPQMsi/s667/4.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="474" data-original-width="667" height="270" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0yLDcuB6TcP_invlcXMOIIs9p2YSHL9FE6v789L-JpbrjX1IEVFV5znSJFkbYVl4VNgKUl3ySdd8Mjam_sMh4NLIpKK4HweN4I7Hcfhs2WMFPtEXKXi5qtDmoMAM-5dyYFrlfsr5dVvzICQWbZ82-w9efFYZM0uOUSvA8Cc2uhTh2N_q2gWbYInkPQMsi/w381-h270/4.jpg" width="381" /></a></span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">The Town Hall put this photo up on Facebook today showing the progress on a road near us. <br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigpKROTpnKFUkn32EwhFFmnQK87J8nhfgTNHh-Hig0wdlDECfN5yZ_WqennhRG4HOUSgF5_F698skULT-VYNIbFMFkwiBlU1hO2rw9nXp1oVHeoSXylOvWlKVV20NsMNcaGLya0HwPG9RJ-ciAqBC6ZSlSZTApRsUa0adfdRagZN7NXU9U3sL4WpI-I4xt/s667/5.jpg" style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="667" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigpKROTpnKFUkn32EwhFFmnQK87J8nhfgTNHh-Hig0wdlDECfN5yZ_WqennhRG4HOUSgF5_F698skULT-VYNIbFMFkwiBlU1hO2rw9nXp1oVHeoSXylOvWlKVV20NsMNcaGLya0HwPG9RJ-ciAqBC6ZSlSZTApRsUa0adfdRagZN7NXU9U3sL4WpI-I4xt/w353-h265/5.jpg" width="353" /></a></span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">They started digging it up several weeks ago and then dug deep and we thought they were replacing old sewerage pipe. Apparently they have also</span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"> repaired water pipes and telecommunication lines, and at last they are starting to resurface it. We are hoping there will be a narrow edge for pedestrians too, and it will be so good to have it back in use as it is our main route out of the village. At the minute we have to use a narrow one way road with seating outside a bar taking up half of it, or drive to the top of the village which means taking a very sharp corner with a steep hill round it, that I avoid at all costs! So fingers crossed, we will be back to using our usual road again very soon.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Saturday was little Leo's first birthday. That year has flown by!. He is doing well though is still only gaining weight very slowly. Every few days I persuade him to sit on these scales so I can record his weight, and as you can see, he still hasn't quite hit the 5 Kg mark that I was hoping he would reach by his birthday. But he eats very well, and I buy him the best food I can afford, so hopefully he will continue to make his slow progress.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDn485L7RS4axvQjk3MnuBW9bzMyVkb-MuV6CYzGLW_jTe8l5tLYXQqvEPtxwlzrue8UTx_fK2TQo3mcJsRi3A4DeYhyTjSYRO55-97yo5dmqxP0wGI03nuVeuuNhbHKvYDrE_Nb1aNutGbXsyYcPINdu6SnLPJLurCB2c72xH6qPbUVP7r9GIUQ3DC5nG/s648/5a.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="648" data-original-width="600" height="381" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDn485L7RS4axvQjk3MnuBW9bzMyVkb-MuV6CYzGLW_jTe8l5tLYXQqvEPtxwlzrue8UTx_fK2TQo3mcJsRi3A4DeYhyTjSYRO55-97yo5dmqxP0wGI03nuVeuuNhbHKvYDrE_Nb1aNutGbXsyYcPINdu6SnLPJLurCB2c72xH6qPbUVP7r9GIUQ3DC5nG/w352-h381/5a.jpg" width="352" /></a></span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Meanwhile Tolly has been my shadow this week. Some days we don't see him from breakfast 'til tea time, but this week he has followed me around, sitting on the kitchen chair to watch me, or climbing on me when I sit down in the evening. He is a big boy and heavy to hold, but he is fully grown now, and really Leo should be catching him up, but I am not sure that is ever going to happen.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieDr7-4w13UmWDF0GEdm_AVdXWVgx9zlfoP7KlixLpbfmey55NWl4yUVt573o6AUGGudP0AAPmojLfvcXhd2KADxUooZhvj7b39uklTzBNz6lgnDPvtWlFqk5IqHvQF39D31IoxncLoWrdMXalZ_m8DaMDiwixPuh-FU1C2RnBWwW__mMI61VlwE8RYYXY/s667/6.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="474" data-original-width="667" height="244" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieDr7-4w13UmWDF0GEdm_AVdXWVgx9zlfoP7KlixLpbfmey55NWl4yUVt573o6AUGGudP0AAPmojLfvcXhd2KADxUooZhvj7b39uklTzBNz6lgnDPvtWlFqk5IqHvQF39D31IoxncLoWrdMXalZ_m8DaMDiwixPuh-FU1C2RnBWwW__mMI61VlwE8RYYXY/w344-h244/6.jpg" width="344" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">It is difficult to get a good photo of any of the cats because as soon as I call them to look up at me, they start walking to wards me!</span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">And finally some more skies that I saw yesterday evening. The wind was blowing the clouds every which way, high up, so we had this interesting formation.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKKn63em8IgwLdFLQbsBGBbUDlpzRcR5aiqTXE7WInEMfhd8PIHySgliJRuCQZm5XZGc45YN3rH7zChiz3G-JIAKClluysTlWBFffou-T1BjHS1_BKNqPUeQ6teoWFQk_8XiKARKaNBszsdP3XfZYkqKskap_AjvkFGQFEpnzM2w7W5y063YLxv9ueL5FW/s667/7.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="667" height="258" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKKn63em8IgwLdFLQbsBGBbUDlpzRcR5aiqTXE7WInEMfhd8PIHySgliJRuCQZm5XZGc45YN3rH7zChiz3G-JIAKClluysTlWBFffou-T1BjHS1_BKNqPUeQ6teoWFQk_8XiKARKaNBszsdP3XfZYkqKskap_AjvkFGQFEpnzM2w7W5y063YLxv9ueL5FW/w343-h258/7.jpg" width="343" /></a></span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">It cast a lovely soft pink glow on the mountains opposte it.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8dMRAKtywu2j85MNTiufMdYkAoOHR6RFDf9JL7rNDgwqBx4Srlfxz-f2A3reEUmInGG3AfENN_PCTe7V3eq9ieDQhzwMuCuFZcEeMP6GO0xcVc69By71S6DfIveFdeBCVJzeyO58bs_G74aQvDcyGJYRZoCxYcnG5oToRv_z95d6MhuTY7drAeXyuPJo9/s667/8.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="667" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8dMRAKtywu2j85MNTiufMdYkAoOHR6RFDf9JL7rNDgwqBx4Srlfxz-f2A3reEUmInGG3AfENN_PCTe7V3eq9ieDQhzwMuCuFZcEeMP6GO0xcVc69By71S6DfIveFdeBCVJzeyO58bs_G74aQvDcyGJYRZoCxYcnG5oToRv_z95d6MhuTY7drAeXyuPJo9/w373-h280/8.jpg" width="373" /></a></span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Then later it darkened and got bigger and it made me think of an angel swooping down with an evening blessing for us all. (She even has a faint face!). </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0xaQiwIRsiq8AeeCO-NRaycqb8Oh0WF5VnY1wG-SzOJ1deRtnytEbwUTI7j6vYazd-zYgxJxZd51mVEfzrHbYKHhLGNgRCKfVgp_a4VGQbZj603nTISjGqhIOJID_HRrWp03yiNqbgn3cIEnZ9mjHlNbhkNoZXaLDG74C2CJsXY63TpX1-5pdKmsCtK6-/s667/9.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="667" height="275" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0xaQiwIRsiq8AeeCO-NRaycqb8Oh0WF5VnY1wG-SzOJ1deRtnytEbwUTI7j6vYazd-zYgxJxZd51mVEfzrHbYKHhLGNgRCKfVgp_a4VGQbZj603nTISjGqhIOJID_HRrWp03yiNqbgn3cIEnZ9mjHlNbhkNoZXaLDG74C2CJsXY63TpX1-5pdKmsCtK6-/w366-h275/9.jpg" width="366" /></a></span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">And that is all from me today except for this little meme that caught my eye. A way to teach rhythm and notation to small children. </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4tuzeBRFydvyzNWIj6hIKZ61-ybUnVA3I6DOAm1tfn1Ud3IdaLSQc9oKniDN2n245fNQtR6lBDcoUCNKvA1n1Rvx2xvx7r4tRXX9EhEWRO-GkHlw4heMTNRJKFL10aKnQIylQe4MDaqnaXRbAKCVK2rcCyahx-4t6Uvln47uo7O0PSnEixF5jZLRG-zAs/s667/10.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="490" data-original-width="667" height="251" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4tuzeBRFydvyzNWIj6hIKZ61-ybUnVA3I6DOAm1tfn1Ud3IdaLSQc9oKniDN2n245fNQtR6lBDcoUCNKvA1n1Rvx2xvx7r4tRXX9EhEWRO-GkHlw4heMTNRJKFL10aKnQIylQe4MDaqnaXRbAKCVK2rcCyahx-4t6Uvln47uo7O0PSnEixF5jZLRG-zAs/w342-h251/10.jpg" width="342" /></a></span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">It reminded me of an exercise I used in my nursery where the children suggested food stuff and we chanted them faster and faster to the rhythm of a train on the tracks. e.g. Chocolate pudding, chocolate pudding, suasage and mash, sausage and mash, crackers and cheese, crackers and cheese, SOUP SOUP! (I hope you had a try).</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Now I am off to link up with <a href="https://wipso-astitchintime.blogspot.com/2023/11/this-weeks-smilesweek-329.html">Annie's Friday Smiles</a> ready to publish in the morning.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p><br /></p>mamapez5http://www.blogger.com/profile/16882819450456050281noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6221525381099754303.post-2219998703543418812023-11-10T09:05:00.007+01:002023-11-10T09:11:39.820+01:00Friday Smiles 2023 # Week 45<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Another fun week has gone by in a flash so here are some of my highlights.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Starting with Sunday when I suggested we make the most of a beautiful morning and take a stroll along Mojacar sea-front. The sun was out, making the sea sparkle, and it was just the right temperature to feel comfortable in summer clothes still.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzjWe0i9_gG7wD21TNDchqAZ09MKmbJGRW7S7rBtSSkhcB8HtKYI5QrQI2qG6QqM17JnwfvwCZsbxASrwFA1CVFnefQJxJXtdiRomb6Mu3a0miRvMzeo_Jo7QCFYShaT8HDiJH21wW_05eJSHivI74YStEq4BNN0hpv_r4yR6yK-RA3iB2fQKo13SoAR_A/s667/20231105_121040.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="667" height="269" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzjWe0i9_gG7wD21TNDchqAZ09MKmbJGRW7S7rBtSSkhcB8HtKYI5QrQI2qG6QqM17JnwfvwCZsbxASrwFA1CVFnefQJxJXtdiRomb6Mu3a0miRvMzeo_Jo7QCFYShaT8HDiJH21wW_05eJSHivI74YStEq4BNN0hpv_r4yR6yK-RA3iB2fQKo13SoAR_A/w358-h269/20231105_121040.jpg" width="358" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">We never remember to take a selfie together, but I did catch this one of Chris.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVJwPFQJFYhhJ_2MGJPYX0M0hfL-M7NmOpK8wCe7K6NgVYEZVyR9aAhZBvAOUDKS7d1RwuHXO9fxYQZJtduOKpZuFaeSUBUCLcFxkSblq0BUsSVaj4S5lxDaL6W1ao_vAM4T3quOAI-QPQZOJK5RXRE-DfXUqYLfY6S6TbW8mhxbEiF4pR1WKyGJ-BfWj8/s667/20231105_121100.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="667" height="282" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVJwPFQJFYhhJ_2MGJPYX0M0hfL-M7NmOpK8wCe7K6NgVYEZVyR9aAhZBvAOUDKS7d1RwuHXO9fxYQZJtduOKpZuFaeSUBUCLcFxkSblq0BUsSVaj4S5lxDaL6W1ao_vAM4T3quOAI-QPQZOJK5RXRE-DfXUqYLfY6S6TbW8mhxbEiF4pR1WKyGJ-BfWj8/w376-h282/20231105_121100.jpg" width="376" /></a></div></span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">We walked along about two-thirds of the coast, and then stopped for some refreshment at a lovely bar. I ordered "Té ingles" and was brought a pot of hot water and a box of PG tips tea-bags, plus a small jug of cold milk and a huge tea cup. Much better service than I usually get, and just perfect for me.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicp9EzFUXU2MEPbkdg-qD8sRsjrxpcvehj9jHE7iE1HXdv88vi9YRg9VwfJa1ZhAePaNY9KxY3XsnfhBNTXO98HUb1UFNYpgSIzKEbf-WGeAoKDefAYt8g8BTsOGHwxDK6PFGER96j7BKgOqk_bHFYLktiRcvzFrhCPbrbZcuJGfT4irJ0HsMpJtzooYa-/s663/20231105_124726~2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="663" data-original-width="500" height="361" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicp9EzFUXU2MEPbkdg-qD8sRsjrxpcvehj9jHE7iE1HXdv88vi9YRg9VwfJa1ZhAePaNY9KxY3XsnfhBNTXO98HUb1UFNYpgSIzKEbf-WGeAoKDefAYt8g8BTsOGHwxDK6PFGER96j7BKgOqk_bHFYLktiRcvzFrhCPbrbZcuJGfT4irJ0HsMpJtzooYa-/w272-h361/20231105_124726~2.jpg" width="272" /></a></span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Refreshed, we walked back to the car and I found I had done over 8,000 steps. My daily target is 5,000 so I was very pleased with that.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Some areas around here experienced dangerously high winds and a fair amount of rain early on in the week, but we escaped most of it with just a few showers in the evenings. Though I did need to double peg the sheets on the washing line so that they didn't end up in our neighbours garden.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">So, with the evenings drawing in, I find myself making our tea earlier and settling down to watch TV sooner, and the cats are happy with this. Leo has taken to jumping on me as soon as I sit down. He has a 'wise' little face, quite different from the other cats, and a way of looking at me that demands my full attention for head rubs, and cuddles. He objects to me doing my crochet, and either puts a paw on my hook to stop me, or chews my yarn!</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhITnbxBcLf3nN1FA7w1LafjUbmTOJI3TMjkGRtEZPsx2y-hdNptGKt6Ag1rjjNwSn67cYz222nKyLTWJploFHynNbqBYSBSp-sZdAgFdNQmnpwM8si8c53-oufGcsuvCr1jI7FXZnhmr2Ujak32SZwYezEAG9V_Uzf8CZ0qppiUc7AqldZb7Q26xsBe1z_/s667/20231104_222736.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="667" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhITnbxBcLf3nN1FA7w1LafjUbmTOJI3TMjkGRtEZPsx2y-hdNptGKt6Ag1rjjNwSn67cYz222nKyLTWJploFHynNbqBYSBSp-sZdAgFdNQmnpwM8si8c53-oufGcsuvCr1jI7FXZnhmr2Ujak32SZwYezEAG9V_Uzf8CZ0qppiUc7AqldZb7Q26xsBe1z_/w384-h288/20231104_222736.jpg" width="384" /></a></span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Sometimes Tango joins him, though he is not as agile as he used to be for jumping up, and often choses to creep off into a quiet corner to sleep. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDA4eg4e6X5CRUyChGgaLWUCtEgE4VpqYXgPK_rvZi_49Sf9VZahTEzMdSUZqNCDQsE7yjobpCsO72NSYYJVTJqdxYN2LaamysXIgsNXSvBn1R9__LMNjMvkrOGi_3WRtN1W3ErsQtd4Wqs7apoxXl0dalIHgIkX59MUXbUPA3eFmmw8W4nL_9sfn7CXFy/s667/20231105_193125.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="667" height="302" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDA4eg4e6X5CRUyChGgaLWUCtEgE4VpqYXgPK_rvZi_49Sf9VZahTEzMdSUZqNCDQsE7yjobpCsO72NSYYJVTJqdxYN2LaamysXIgsNXSvBn1R9__LMNjMvkrOGi_3WRtN1W3ErsQtd4Wqs7apoxXl0dalIHgIkX59MUXbUPA3eFmmw8W4nL_9sfn7CXFy/w402-h302/20231105_193125.jpg" width="402" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">Two cats are my limit and Tolly is not one to share, but occasionally he gets there first, which is equally overwhelming because he insists on sitting right up high in my chest. He is a big boy so I cannot see round him, and he is too heavy, but he never stays for long.</div></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">One day when I realised I had only managed about four stitches all evening, I went to the garage and found Foxy's old bed. (I only kept it because it will fit in the washing machine. Kim's was too big so we threw it out). I put Leo on it and he immediately settled down and didn't move all evening. Now it is his go-to bed.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXJoRIdxKbArV0YPePyaEiz5rl7Mu2gTiOPSfsPKLUgOLI35CC8hBoxhWmM_SrJEGiCPRS-S-I2BfWwh5mx_45THbMdj6jHhyKn-5ckaO8fJNl0Z2vaszzdZFE7RtbhXZRQD8UbtBrGqm4rY9hgzh-08oMVIlQCz9p169O3Deyl33LNnsWnd5Z9P5s24SR/s650/20231108_212143.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="550" data-original-width="650" height="312" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXJoRIdxKbArV0YPePyaEiz5rl7Mu2gTiOPSfsPKLUgOLI35CC8hBoxhWmM_SrJEGiCPRS-S-I2BfWwh5mx_45THbMdj6jHhyKn-5ckaO8fJNl0Z2vaszzdZFE7RtbhXZRQD8UbtBrGqm4rY9hgzh-08oMVIlQCz9p169O3Deyl33LNnsWnd5Z9P5s24SR/w368-h312/20231108_212143.jpg" width="368" /></a></span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">At the start of October I wrote about us ordering some new furniture and we are hoping it will be ready in another week or so, so we needed to make some space for it. When the new ones are delivered, they will take the old ones away, but they will only be discarded and I thought my big recliner was too good for this. So I contacted my friend who works with the Lions Charity in Vera and asked if they could use it. They were very pleased to accept it and on Monday two strong men pulled up in the Lions van and loaded it on. So for now there is a big space in the sitting room which is an ideal spot for Leo's bed...for now anyway. The slogan on the side of the van says "In collaboration with the Lions of Vera and district, and their Platinum supporters." It is used mainly for the Vera food bank but occasionally it does furniture collection too.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtdBp_tbh_2CTytcL0gaiTwLm1vC1gMoVBMqMjSOphe5P9xlCMwRNYTRQeYWcpY9kY39KLZ7k3R32gJ2Tjeo9LuAbp4L_abmJfqFc5BpjPkOX9nROnGrdNxwPIPD_h6GbpKv2Vbv6AwySjDaKnDqLMOZIKXOgMBv7CqMoSvbTO22IA0GrsS1c4wUZl_wD1/s667/20231107_125328.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="667" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtdBp_tbh_2CTytcL0gaiTwLm1vC1gMoVBMqMjSOphe5P9xlCMwRNYTRQeYWcpY9kY39KLZ7k3R32gJ2Tjeo9LuAbp4L_abmJfqFc5BpjPkOX9nROnGrdNxwPIPD_h6GbpKv2Vbv6AwySjDaKnDqLMOZIKXOgMBv7CqMoSvbTO22IA0GrsS1c4wUZl_wD1/w355-h266/20231107_125328.jpg" width="355" /></a></span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDtveOSewoD4fyYaMW_oyzjrVtYwXVVT1MJ_ijVlof03lpqdnwlQ52pHbJzpC0kwEMffQnnl7ssYU0CKR5I8OPyN4d_JGEztUN3HlI0PAyvOLLcRIMOHjSRhSpZPVwQNxDURO3cHGi02pon4TpIZzRwtLu4B9sCzN-D9UspOj54ZybotUhvq-de4KqrTWC/s750/Landscape%20shawl.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="571" height="396" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDtveOSewoD4fyYaMW_oyzjrVtYwXVVT1MJ_ijVlof03lpqdnwlQ52pHbJzpC0kwEMffQnnl7ssYU0CKR5I8OPyN4d_JGEztUN3HlI0PAyvOLLcRIMOHjSRhSpZPVwQNxDURO3cHGi02pon4TpIZzRwtLu4B9sCzN-D9UspOj54ZybotUhvq-de4KqrTWC/w302-h396/Landscape%20shawl.jpg" width="302" /></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><div style="text-align: justify;">And I have managed to get some crochet done. For one I have finished the shawl I was making before I went on holiday. It was a 'stash buster' using only wool I had in my store. It is done in Tunisian entrelac crochet, meaning each little block is worked individually but is worked into the previous one from the row below, so there are not loads of ends to weave in. There is one strand at the end of each row, but these are hidden inside a double border. The pattern was called Landscapes and the colours represent the sea and sky, the green hills on the campo, and the lilac and purple for the wild flowers.</div></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">I also had a bit of fun making this tiny Pooh Bear. These little critters are very fiddly to do, but I saw the pattern and wanted to have a go. </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTAhAvvcCf18UB-gPKauBfHhz9598so7bDtyOadt1yYWBAQm_xnh7Obmb6W4_Lxbdmuc_3lqZa0iY6jfeD0qK6O91Tp919pM1_tWANzOooRZpzutA4paCHRS5N5pgTVVJLbVH-VCW1bsyhL-hoOJjWo8McgksHqyBlOeaoGDeO01PKptegI8Bi1oTIvoN1/s633/20231107_151154.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="633" data-original-width="500" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTAhAvvcCf18UB-gPKauBfHhz9598so7bDtyOadt1yYWBAQm_xnh7Obmb6W4_Lxbdmuc_3lqZa0iY6jfeD0qK6O91Tp919pM1_tWANzOooRZpzutA4paCHRS5N5pgTVVJLbVH-VCW1bsyhL-hoOJjWo8McgksHqyBlOeaoGDeO01PKptegI8Bi1oTIvoN1/s320/20231107_151154.jpg" width="253" /></a></span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">I have donated him to a lady at our sewing group who is co-ordinating carrier bags of small gifts for all the children of the families who use the food bank we support. There are over a hundred of them, with ages ranging from a few months to around fifteen. We have collected items throughout the year with several of us knitting or crocheting soft toys, hats and gloves, while the sewers have made wash bags and filled them with flannel, soap, toothbrush and tooth paste, and cases filled with crayons and pencils. We have added hair accessories and small stocking-filler type toys that we have bought, and we also bought new paper carriers which one lady has brightened up with cut out characters cut from cheap wrapping paper. It is good to be able support these children who otherwise might not have anything to open on Christmas day.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTTDc7QjaFi0pSfxoBIeuWkeGqBsRQx0IAW0ZZr5QNqCQk1kQwxPqO1BjAZs_cJqxX21ba2ixFUX-w4Pcjp6TelRbiEdoREOpWaFWbGCD7YHYAZPvPwSwuLi-dobVPj_IN1TDtOQAupme8dWM2PO2GBl2oBnX9dKfO93KfRtRpPm0osK4y0PFMzNMxrhRF/s730/20231107_115400.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="730" data-original-width="450" height="382" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTTDc7QjaFi0pSfxoBIeuWkeGqBsRQx0IAW0ZZr5QNqCQk1kQwxPqO1BjAZs_cJqxX21ba2ixFUX-w4Pcjp6TelRbiEdoREOpWaFWbGCD7YHYAZPvPwSwuLi-dobVPj_IN1TDtOQAupme8dWM2PO2GBl2oBnX9dKfO93KfRtRpPm0osK4y0PFMzNMxrhRF/w235-h382/20231107_115400.jpg" width="235" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><div style="text-align: justify;">My fruitbowl sits on the kitchen table and I go to it for my snacks during the day. It changes at this time of year, and now citrus fruits are the most readily available. But I did get one more lot of plums which I love to eat raw, and there are still a few grapes around. Pears and bananas ripen very quickly so they have to be eaten first, and I also bought one pomegranate, or granada as they are known here.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div></span><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Today there was a small artisan market at the local camp site that I wanted to go to. Unfortunately it was the only day our mechanic could service our car and take it for its ITV (MOT) test. The camp site is just too far for us to walk so in the end I booked a taxi. It is the first time I have used one since we came here fifteen years ago. But it was worth it as the lady I have bought clothes from before, had a stall there and I was able to buy the brown trousers I wanted. I have never been able to find any that are a comfortable fit before but these feel just right. I also bought a soft wool and viscose mix tiered dress in teal. (It is a much prettier colour than it looks in the picture and is a good style for me). Then I was tempted by a couple of very reasonably priced tops and bought a soft knitted purple one, and a cotton orange one, both of which go well with the brown trousers. Take no notice of the trouser legs. One has been pinned up to where I need to shorten them. So it was good morning's outing. I am almost hoping to need warmer clothes soon!</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkXjkTGAuRgP5AcSFP8EryyxT_QAoY61EOPfVA7kW_KL8aJ9iMs0JWd__JjTXXCaCF1G7Kcok0_YEr2cHSqeuLzvjkgL_oy4hP6B-yn_9QiFvns8Vs5FZYh1ZFCBtvdpy6NEfR7MhNOietft1b9xd_zXY4HySLXP-nRJjb8o0B69bgQbykXLr0-DEWYVxp/s879/Todays%20buys.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="879" height="236" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkXjkTGAuRgP5AcSFP8EryyxT_QAoY61EOPfVA7kW_KL8aJ9iMs0JWd__JjTXXCaCF1G7Kcok0_YEr2cHSqeuLzvjkgL_oy4hP6B-yn_9QiFvns8Vs5FZYh1ZFCBtvdpy6NEfR7MhNOietft1b9xd_zXY4HySLXP-nRJjb8o0B69bgQbykXLr0-DEWYVxp/w415-h236/Todays%20buys.jpg" width="415" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">After I finished writing this last night, our mechanic friend rang to say our car had passed its test which was a relief. It is showing signs of age but hopefully it will see us through our last few years of driving.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Then I went outside to gaze at the 'Tiger stripes' in the sky while they lasted.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXr39QEc57_wEr_gel4mmCTCySJOm06nagICdSABBMx-8KAso77_rG8GAa7pjF4I514nA_nJ0tzvtKBQ29c43X72MG8Nmj500f3VJ7OvORMqfqHCeJ2DED4IHD0X8-brocDHDcpSMJjC0ThuKoV3DTpc4Lsca9hakf_GIKbJRjfxUWl8P4_DMW7eXw1i7R/s4000/20231109_181250~2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="284" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXr39QEc57_wEr_gel4mmCTCySJOm06nagICdSABBMx-8KAso77_rG8GAa7pjF4I514nA_nJ0tzvtKBQ29c43X72MG8Nmj500f3VJ7OvORMqfqHCeJ2DED4IHD0X8-brocDHDcpSMJjC0ThuKoV3DTpc4Lsca9hakf_GIKbJRjfxUWl8P4_DMW7eXw1i7R/w379-h284/20231109_181250~2.jpg" width="379" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ6mj9J92g5e5LD-hz4Q9BY7_udojxfQW1cyB8t8Bly7FXzngayReYAJDh6h7hjTPDAttY-c_MOSQFoGobPccEANhnSi3HLEFB-d904IhDzX3Ort0kv382rvoNxWdvq6fgdePYiBNq2SzGbk3V0x2fINBoCtN4ngb7sdpj3sfOFXhAcCLsb81FwwoqH0Fi/s4000/20231109_181308.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="284" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ6mj9J92g5e5LD-hz4Q9BY7_udojxfQW1cyB8t8Bly7FXzngayReYAJDh6h7hjTPDAttY-c_MOSQFoGobPccEANhnSi3HLEFB-d904IhDzX3Ort0kv382rvoNxWdvq6fgdePYiBNq2SzGbk3V0x2fINBoCtN4ngb7sdpj3sfOFXhAcCLsb81FwwoqH0Fi/w378-h284/20231109_181308.jpg" width="378" /></a></div></span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Now I will finish with two memes I saw this week. It would be cruel to call the first one a funny, but I did give a rueful smile when I saw it, though I am sure the car owner is not smiling! </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc6AhPvTgVgt4i-Z3gmWEFRlGfJS1-QrOEtY0rf7AhEvbQkaJ4LDXU87M7bcNPwrTWQn5EDqmhGrky115unCbPdnNvpfVCvvkq4N9kbzKBcmKPJCyL_gyJW-eQiu3ZNflCEpOYgi2uQiwq-Z5-1Ryi0ahVlJ4nke1UF2J8zHQrhQd0UlpNQsyzjQ6ynf6d/s619/396928045_792638372871065_5529170335085369198_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="619" data-original-width="500" height="365" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc6AhPvTgVgt4i-Z3gmWEFRlGfJS1-QrOEtY0rf7AhEvbQkaJ4LDXU87M7bcNPwrTWQn5EDqmhGrky115unCbPdnNvpfVCvvkq4N9kbzKBcmKPJCyL_gyJW-eQiu3ZNflCEpOYgi2uQiwq-Z5-1Ryi0ahVlJ4nke1UF2J8zHQrhQd0UlpNQsyzjQ6ynf6d/w294-h365/396928045_792638372871065_5529170335085369198_n.jpg" width="294" /></a></span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">The other one caught my eye because I am busy making Christmas decorations, and my cards are all done.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZDPI0mB3EoLSgWEx2Avczng4t_G018yD0mspOzjmbHdC4TAN_qt5ZnaJEoYcmwN2JQt6ySh0eICJYIooH1XcBo6C9E1TG6UgcxY9_o-st2hekBtv-CW9kH5-V8VBxh6PPPwRaowatEQrN1UD70SseNR9K9VXb4v43j1WR8zRSpHsQ_lS7vycJadx-uxhB/s600/74434409_1767469176727902_8275555114920443904_n.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="600" height="346" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZDPI0mB3EoLSgWEx2Avczng4t_G018yD0mspOzjmbHdC4TAN_qt5ZnaJEoYcmwN2JQt6ySh0eICJYIooH1XcBo6C9E1TG6UgcxY9_o-st2hekBtv-CW9kH5-V8VBxh6PPPwRaowatEQrN1UD70SseNR9K9VXb4v43j1WR8zRSpHsQ_lS7vycJadx-uxhB/w346-h346/74434409_1767469176727902_8275555114920443904_n.png" width="346" /></a></span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">So now I will publish this at <a href="https://wipso-astitchintime.blogspot.com/2023/11/this-weeks-smilesweek-328.html">Annie's Friday Smiles,</a> and I hope you will join me there.</span></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>mamapez5http://www.blogger.com/profile/16882819450456050281noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6221525381099754303.post-61083595533047477302023-11-03T09:38:00.011+01:002023-11-03T09:51:49.660+01:00Friday Smiles 2023 # Week 44<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Lets look back at the week and remember what made us smile. This was a trip back to my childhood. As a child I had a few dolls and I loved them all, and often knitted or occasionally crocheted clothes and blankets for them. A Spanish friend of mine called Cati, collects dolls and still makes extensive sets of clothes for them, and this week she had a exhibition of them on the ground floor of the new library, so I wandered up to have a look. On the left were rows of dolls dressed in various national costumes.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjufnob2bLkoHEY868fkIApmctNIUklkQUmCsOQoEXn4WglDkeVfYyz91FtGfzh5FwnCkzv3d84n0GjJoct8CmlCwwKwFOkJK5jeAXoVi8EaadkkD9QQiA6NoHaHLH6QT_2Fe1m5NawQ2PhdwtFeLCZ_gcC5rWeAjVErcsSUZA2paGiFPboyD8YES8-1l5m/s667/1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="667" height="278" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjufnob2bLkoHEY868fkIApmctNIUklkQUmCsOQoEXn4WglDkeVfYyz91FtGfzh5FwnCkzv3d84n0GjJoct8CmlCwwKwFOkJK5jeAXoVi8EaadkkD9QQiA6NoHaHLH6QT_2Fe1m5NawQ2PhdwtFeLCZ_gcC5rWeAjVErcsSUZA2paGiFPboyD8YES8-1l5m/w371-h278/1.jpg" width="371" /></a></span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">On the right many dolls, mostly of one kind which I understand was the most poplular one for little girls in Spain back in the day, were dressed to show the changes in fashion over the year.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivn_dGKMW_lqoS6vHVNL6g11fumyjnaXaG10LT55wEnf2XAx_GzUAHVANKE1Tid_f6ys1ObAqSB4tmKWyPim7mCzIts-ivTJUv-hpUAltHURQTOEhG17clD6ftDafgNTmaZa1XgrH5vjY8GQuSMriBTeIt3OjTuJqsiKgOTmawQS5I0F1G9fX9uwe7pCJX/s667/2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="667" height="275" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivn_dGKMW_lqoS6vHVNL6g11fumyjnaXaG10LT55wEnf2XAx_GzUAHVANKE1Tid_f6ys1ObAqSB4tmKWyPim7mCzIts-ivTJUv-hpUAltHURQTOEhG17clD6ftDafgNTmaZa1XgrH5vjY8GQuSMriBTeIt3OjTuJqsiKgOTmawQS5I0F1G9fX9uwe7pCJX/w367-h275/2.jpg" width="367" /></a></span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Through the centre there were a selection of dolls with a disability. You can see one with a hearing device, one that is blind, one in a wheel chair and one with Downes Syndrome. These reflect the work Cati had done for many years through her charity to support 'special' children, including her own, now adult daughter who has Downe's Syndrome.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhffk2amsOvpZEOf3Xb7UN_2TjMLbcs_qM35ljETDZ7LbA3C8FAcKiAFjQjxo46iYH2mRtgSHgPia3ilMmMF0oD09ima0r1c0NXZkzB93Z7z0KNEBz9acWuG9ljCzzvYYULwWHcBcJVZA8t8USPlWsWjct-VhRmALuN6q3YTdcwvl2ASbHeVNdr9iKLWpM0/s646/3.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="646" data-original-width="500" height="350" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhffk2amsOvpZEOf3Xb7UN_2TjMLbcs_qM35ljETDZ7LbA3C8FAcKiAFjQjxo46iYH2mRtgSHgPia3ilMmMF0oD09ima0r1c0NXZkzB93Z7z0KNEBz9acWuG9ljCzzvYYULwWHcBcJVZA8t8USPlWsWjct-VhRmALuN6q3YTdcwvl2ASbHeVNdr9iKLWpM0/w271-h350/3.jpg" width="271" /></a></span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">There was so much work on show here and I am glad I found time to go up and see it.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">I spent one morning making a small start on my efforts to declutter. I chose the garage as my starting point as it is a depository for anything that needs a home, and once it goes in there, much of it is never used again. All my friends save their glass jars for me and I had accumulated far too many of them. I have decided to cut right back on jam making as I do not have the markets for it that I used to have, though I have promised to continue making picalilli for my sewing group friends who buy as much as I can make. So my jars are now sorted into bags of ten, along with their correct lids, and I kept around fifty of them. All the rest went to the glass recycling bin. I then sorted out the cat food bins, the pool towels and a few other boxes, and it is amazing what a difference it has made already. There is a long way to go, but with me it is slowly, slowly, and I will get there in the end.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">We had some pretty rough weather mid-week and I spent the day in my craft room, making this light-up decoration for Christmas. It was a bought cutting file that I cut on my Cameo machine, and then assembled with sticky foam between each layer. A string of tiny LED lights were fixed around inside the base layer with glue dots, and when they are turned on it really shows the layers of shadows.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJlmakQ7FkR9P19SicdS4mFGjGRFo2VJ0b9pYp3GuPk9LlgmyUVOO-zKsrKmV45OIdHx2WZ148-U1sl3F8Y3eZlinYLuXvxc9fawZWYNJgR1-gpZpAWGwvSf903QTdDp75Y_Rj7K7_sW1jRg_lSgsTo-q8ZGn67vQ3mliwmzL6bVavzYI72twnSRbRXAlD/s800/4.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="434" data-original-width="800" height="203" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJlmakQ7FkR9P19SicdS4mFGjGRFo2VJ0b9pYp3GuPk9LlgmyUVOO-zKsrKmV45OIdHx2WZ148-U1sl3F8Y3eZlinYLuXvxc9fawZWYNJgR1-gpZpAWGwvSf903QTdDp75Y_Rj7K7_sW1jRg_lSgsTo-q8ZGn67vQ3mliwmzL6bVavzYI72twnSRbRXAlD/w373-h203/4.jpg" width="373" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">As a family we have never celebrated Halloween, though now it is almost as popular in UK as it is in America. Here the children have a communal celebration on the plaza, with a Haunted house and some games, and the adults man stalls selling snacks and drinks. After that, some of the children do go around the village 'Trick or Treating' but we only had three knocks on the door this year.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">But the next day (Nov 1st) is All Saints Day and that is very special out here. The street outside each village cemetery is full of flower sellers, and from early morning folk come to buy flowers and take them in to decorated their loved ones graves. (Here the coffins are 'buried' in tiers of stone shelves, as the ground is too hard to dig graves). The marble pathways are swept clean, and candles are lit, and some families even gather to eat a brief meal as they visit each grave, which is intended to keep memories of their loved ones alive. Here is a photo, (it is not mine as I did not walk over there this year), of our village cemetery on the evening of All Saints Day.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4coz4ZzB6RWff7ohk8MwGTX8cSZO1lFrd35KJY5xQRoPr-ezPTpNoZWF5ejsWoNGFCJpedRUlQFmEIwYavMQl2duEnDkqr2VwnB7fKzIwSDp9k3LrZRYsyGEjfaAAbVckK_zPQYxoGPw-NEHyyEB_Pm9V0MO0cclYMva4xfSAKibNGffTvSTI-7uypMrq/s667/5.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="667" height="281" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4coz4ZzB6RWff7ohk8MwGTX8cSZO1lFrd35KJY5xQRoPr-ezPTpNoZWF5ejsWoNGFCJpedRUlQFmEIwYavMQl2duEnDkqr2VwnB7fKzIwSDp9k3LrZRYsyGEjfaAAbVckK_zPQYxoGPw-NEHyyEB_Pm9V0MO0cclYMva4xfSAKibNGffTvSTI-7uypMrq/w375-h281/5.jpg" width="375" /></a></div></span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">I was late starting to prepare this because I had a video call with my son Ben that lasted for over two hours! We were joking about which one of us did the most talking and decided it was fairly even this time. He always makes me smile, and we enjoy our weekly catch-up.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">We had another gorgeous fiery sunset last night, and I caught these doves resting on a TV aeriel, before flying home to their roost for the night. </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_CRXQodpz8MBo94aDu9QjqCb7CRGSeQ8c-NCXN-HxPhYZtDahDenOuf_yCFw5K5XCWb0hTF3az-re7n3vrbQ3UO8tNpKjQZP-Sx1ACZpMgXu2zK3hBvgAUJETy7-B9JX46n4dWxQxq2ax4c-wW-iHrPb75dz9oCM0NzznlhIfVlxzSUoPHjWdJd0AAgWE/s642/6.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="642" height="299" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_CRXQodpz8MBo94aDu9QjqCb7CRGSeQ8c-NCXN-HxPhYZtDahDenOuf_yCFw5K5XCWb0hTF3az-re7n3vrbQ3UO8tNpKjQZP-Sx1ACZpMgXu2zK3hBvgAUJETy7-B9JX46n4dWxQxq2ax4c-wW-iHrPb75dz9oCM0NzznlhIfVlxzSUoPHjWdJd0AAgWE/s320/6.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Once again the colours moved swiftly through the orange and red and faded to pink and purple, and because I couldn't choose which ones to include here, I made another collage so I could use more of them.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivaEOmCLTdx5QSnZZIWi_Kx9KTXwa_qKYBuwoYUUUXLCW6oGyDx58Ps2_nKtF6QOh7HWofmzV8GIZ87_MVpO-ZEDowzMbIYbD7MKGexaUjITtViCKiWcNLQtPJqvrLGibEADxzaDKoWfeF69gud5HTrI0iEkEXp_qlzRDMj5xK_38EpZZaF-K8iB3mbnZv/s800/7.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="314" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivaEOmCLTdx5QSnZZIWi_Kx9KTXwa_qKYBuwoYUUUXLCW6oGyDx58Ps2_nKtF6QOh7HWofmzV8GIZ87_MVpO-ZEDowzMbIYbD7MKGexaUjITtViCKiWcNLQtPJqvrLGibEADxzaDKoWfeF69gud5HTrI0iEkEXp_qlzRDMj5xK_38EpZZaF-K8iB3mbnZv/w418-h314/7.jpg" width="418" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Now I am all prepared to publish this in the morning and link up with <a href="https://wipso-astitchintime.blogspot.com/2023/11/this-weeks-smilesweek-327.html">Annie's Friday Smiles</a>.</span><p></p>mamapez5http://www.blogger.com/profile/16882819450456050281noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6221525381099754303.post-14738664242027974452023-10-27T08:45:00.002+02:002023-10-27T08:45:35.998+02:00Friday Smiles 2023 # Week 43<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Well our birthdays may have been almost two weeks ago but we had another little celebration on Monday when we had some 'Happy Birthday' post. I think there was a blip in the Spanish postal system as I knew two of my sisters had posted cards for each of us, well in advance, and they hadn't arrived. But on Monday we had cards from three of my sisters, Jean, Dorothy and Brenda as well as some from our eldest son and his family. (I also had an internal letter from Alicante, Spain but I couldn't read the post mark to see how long that had been travelling for). It was a lovely surprise, and we enjoyed opening them while we had our 'elevenses'. My sister Jean makes beautiful hand-crafted cards which are always a joy to receive, but this year I was particularly inpressed with this beautiful black-work rose sent by my sister Brenda. She will be ninety-three in a few week's time, and I just hope I am still as creative when (if) I ever reach that age.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrFOo7cdDGnhfHAnaZd1jxxiaNbyei7K_0r-QbINWUlZGPjp1XmxBuFfYl4MS9UJDBHYr435sEl7qt4jCsKHCtfSPrDJyfPcfpL3mQ6X_ysEzDhbJRQtJpsXHrlhcsEYSKxf7N3vwSlCIiZvO-P5N1_B-xauj2orOfp_BtAwQnaJng-UEquMMabI9chKCW/s623/20231024_095559~2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="623" height="352" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrFOo7cdDGnhfHAnaZd1jxxiaNbyei7K_0r-QbINWUlZGPjp1XmxBuFfYl4MS9UJDBHYr435sEl7qt4jCsKHCtfSPrDJyfPcfpL3mQ6X_ysEzDhbJRQtJpsXHrlhcsEYSKxf7N3vwSlCIiZvO-P5N1_B-xauj2orOfp_BtAwQnaJng-UEquMMabI9chKCW/w366-h352/20231024_095559~2.jpg" width="366" /></a></span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Now the nights are drawing in I usually find myself settled in front of the TV in the evenings, and as I am no good at just sitting, I am again tackling some crochet projects. I am determined to finish at least two of them by the end of the year. The green cardigan is back on track, and for now I am saving that to do at my sewing group as it is fairly easy to carry with me, and I can work on it and chat at the same time. At home I am trying to complete a shawl that I started before my holiday. There is no urgency as I do not need another shawl, but the pattern intrigues me, and it was a good stash-buster that didn't require me to buy any new wool. Hopefully I will be able to show it off soon.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">However, I have, of course, got a new project in mind. Again it is a pattern that caught my eye. Although it is intended as another shawl or coat, I thought I could adapt it to cover the back and seat of my new little chair that is coming next month. I think we will mostly be sitting on the new sofa, so the chair will likely be sat on by one or more cats and I want a throw on it to protect the fabric! The pattern looked complicated so I decided to do the test swatch they provided with the pattern to make sure it was sensible to even attempt it, as I will be buying new yarn for this once the chair arrives and I can match the colours better. So here is my test piece.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0OK62Ev8qqmWTZ39Ntolh9hpbDcDqNq8aIUsZ9lN40mBoZqlBcXuIFQK3t8icSm4NqF3ClttESZLnryHL4jvlKE3j1FaCOZPAOYleThaSFAY6MVzvDMR5jQwgYrmTQBF07nN0v843LEa_i8_Hb8lO0p0Z8hg8_IvKfeRYNgR2FZ4LEYrN69ddJ5GXyTDO/s751/20231023_163152.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="751" data-original-width="650" height="370" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0OK62Ev8qqmWTZ39Ntolh9hpbDcDqNq8aIUsZ9lN40mBoZqlBcXuIFQK3t8icSm4NqF3ClttESZLnryHL4jvlKE3j1FaCOZPAOYleThaSFAY6MVzvDMR5jQwgYrmTQBF07nN0v843LEa_i8_Hb8lO0p0Z8hg8_IvKfeRYNgR2FZ4LEYrN69ddJ5GXyTDO/w320-h370/20231023_163152.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">The actual throw will be rows of vines of leaves and berries running across it, with the wide border running down both sides. It looks a little misshapen here because I should have changed hook size for the border and I didn't bother for the practice. It also is a pattern where the yarn is cut at the end of every row, hence all those tails. I can hear you say "I couldn't face sewing all those in". Well you don't have to. You work a simple double border as I have on the right side of my piece, encasing the ends between the two sides of it. So I have tried all parts of the pattern and know it is do-able, so watch this space. It will take me at least all winter to do, so the chair will have a different throw to start with, but it will be nice to have one that blends in. These colours are very similar to the acual furniture and the red berries highlight the tiles on the floor. I may even decide to make the red the main colour for the border too.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">On Sunday Chris drove me to church and we are now able to use a section of the new motorway that opened this month. It cuts a big corner off our journey and is a faster, better road. I am very impressed by the engineering skills of the Spanish workers. They build excellent roads, and this one involved the construction of two new bridges across the existing motorway, and a complex system of entry and exit roads. Here is the view as we approach the new bridge, (the blue railings). As you can see, at least on a Sunday morning it carries very little traffic, but it is busier when the marble lorries from Macael come down to the harbour.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG0SVCLxXBolWqFb2d9SSaDb1GYHCsgccIP3Pnt9ZEtJGRAmmpFFTvB_29hT7VhqEdYENklRW2pkDdO-nIOU3HoIWir1Bctf9OYtBdoVhw4gsjnSfO1C1eta2FE6r2k7sDa5uCEZkkVXeSaKodtw36GLVnr8Dy6I9UWzVgHhwcmtp2G0bjPecz6kg-8j0U/s667/new%20road.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="667" height="274" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG0SVCLxXBolWqFb2d9SSaDb1GYHCsgccIP3Pnt9ZEtJGRAmmpFFTvB_29hT7VhqEdYENklRW2pkDdO-nIOU3HoIWir1Bctf9OYtBdoVhw4gsjnSfO1C1eta2FE6r2k7sDa5uCEZkkVXeSaKodtw36GLVnr8Dy6I9UWzVgHhwcmtp2G0bjPecz6kg-8j0U/w365-h274/new%20road.jpg" width="365" /></a></span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Sunday was warm enough but the sky was covered by multiple layers of light cloud, that all moved at different speeds so it was constantly changing. Needless to say I could see faces in it everywhere. But in places it was just lovely to see, with the sun's rays trying to break through, then small blue patches appearing, the contrast of sun on the hills with dark clouds behind them, and on the way home, the rain falling on top of the mountains while we remained in semi-sunshine,</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">So this first collage is just interesting skies, all taken through the window of a moving car so not perfect.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1YrpKxTD9zTiQaXNshkWCPZ5kP5qQHdPHkj8gaLhUtNWxchx2Jb9WzQiYYxNvN4GbBXOdYnWaFSkDN1aJtELwsQ34_5Aso_SINnJhJbyjCZCaWv9oW2ODOjLT39KeKV4qUDLVLDpxUtb_c3nUZ5lub8wnVCZ8xKwHa41vQMRsQWvjDUuvDjC9vHIqzU8v/s1067/Sunday%20skies.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1067" height="310" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1YrpKxTD9zTiQaXNshkWCPZ5kP5qQHdPHkj8gaLhUtNWxchx2Jb9WzQiYYxNvN4GbBXOdYnWaFSkDN1aJtELwsQ34_5Aso_SINnJhJbyjCZCaWv9oW2ODOjLT39KeKV4qUDLVLDpxUtb_c3nUZ5lub8wnVCZ8xKwHa41vQMRsQWvjDUuvDjC9vHIqzU8v/w414-h310/Sunday%20skies.jpg" width="414" /></a></span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">This set are all skies where I could see a face, (and one that looks like an eye with strands of dark cloud as the eye-lashes). Some of the faces are more human and some animal to me. Some of you will see them and some won't, but they fascinated me.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFzPLhl9v9xyeFF5R3iJ8cWHePuUZPcpQ7vcs3DpnqGNbqpo7scrn8Drqq8oz-UTgR30DEjdBkskLPW7WrmLsMzFAGWF2EEHy9Q-cYSFB_OxnLXg6zYtWr07bZV67Dh-Tc2IQAc-43Wsw92CsbI5RAlANFa55DisDo6bmhd1uE_NafOLTmj-ASQ_tZiCdM/s1200/Faces%20in%20the%20clouds.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1200" height="315" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFzPLhl9v9xyeFF5R3iJ8cWHePuUZPcpQ7vcs3DpnqGNbqpo7scrn8Drqq8oz-UTgR30DEjdBkskLPW7WrmLsMzFAGWF2EEHy9Q-cYSFB_OxnLXg6zYtWr07bZV67Dh-Tc2IQAc-43Wsw92CsbI5RAlANFa55DisDo6bmhd1uE_NafOLTmj-ASQ_tZiCdM/w420-h315/Faces%20in%20the%20clouds.jpg" width="420" /></a></span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Last week I saw this meme on facebook and thought "That is for me". </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLOZfsO_e-9aRB9VHR7yfWlJtbJ2IyA-ABoNcU9S7zz1Muyq2bh5MQpFVeREOAgGQ8VWea6wtAPFHtEn5EaBs9pzLITjb6NYhIxcvEqVCbdPzmwNTHRtR8Pd_SMicJFAB29PRX16Zcf4tt2_Whk6a4d1r6SMhVl8QoLOz-zPItdPBZVhFd8jwMBL6SKKSL/s645/391639315_637957518493084_4775992032836110129_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="645" data-original-width="550" height="356" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLOZfsO_e-9aRB9VHR7yfWlJtbJ2IyA-ABoNcU9S7zz1Muyq2bh5MQpFVeREOAgGQ8VWea6wtAPFHtEn5EaBs9pzLITjb6NYhIxcvEqVCbdPzmwNTHRtR8Pd_SMicJFAB29PRX16Zcf4tt2_Whk6a4d1r6SMhVl8QoLOz-zPItdPBZVhFd8jwMBL6SKKSL/w304-h356/391639315_637957518493084_4775992032836110129_n.jpg" width="304" /></a></span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">And then last night certainly got me excited. Apologies if you saw this on Facebook yesterday but I had to share it straight away. It is a collage of photos taken over about a quarter of an hour, as the sky started golden and turned a firery red, and then faded to pink and purple.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkYq5XTBmtcwTDOBLcPT_8IrTIYzwzn_12Ta2XAOy7Q2MDgdjSecf2YXZNhgKwSqUyd9bpg_2w7pY901kpRHBYJi24_C20dl-Ra4_fhuR7kvCAh7wABblzuaDy8Z_1gYA3z9Q4rr_NgyEhMcf03-3jF30Vo-hpjQWR3NZctfp-iHUsdH-NUaqSzNyHp9nK/s667/resized.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="667" height="306" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkYq5XTBmtcwTDOBLcPT_8IrTIYzwzn_12Ta2XAOy7Q2MDgdjSecf2YXZNhgKwSqUyd9bpg_2w7pY901kpRHBYJi24_C20dl-Ra4_fhuR7kvCAh7wABblzuaDy8Z_1gYA3z9Q4rr_NgyEhMcf03-3jF30Vo-hpjQWR3NZctfp-iHUsdH-NUaqSzNyHp9nK/w408-h306/resized.jpg" width="408" /></a></span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">I am pleased to say that Tango seems to have rallied again this week. He still wanders around looking a bit lost, but that is due to being completely deaf, and having very poor sight. But he is no longer hiding in a corner and sleeping all day, and he is eating well again. Here he is watching the sunset with me. Even if he can't see very well, (I don't even know whether cats can see in colour), I am sure he is aware of the changing light.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz-KCHQlm-D_0Z3JSqRO2dtrXkc_Ucg5sdJAbOjJ-A7E-QbYF2rK08VK3H172biNtcr3idALkBJ43YSWK4e7GM_BEVuWt9C4rUCe7p8A8OCdJ2KHa9SHjDM9r0Zc9i4QPOU9Fdg46iejG0ESgYTXWek2ScFE6VrC0KnDnW9zsvUCAp7WTWSjy5obcwnGfi/s623/20231025_192803.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="623" data-original-width="500" height="342" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz-KCHQlm-D_0Z3JSqRO2dtrXkc_Ucg5sdJAbOjJ-A7E-QbYF2rK08VK3H172biNtcr3idALkBJ43YSWK4e7GM_BEVuWt9C4rUCe7p8A8OCdJ2KHa9SHjDM9r0Zc9i4QPOU9Fdg46iejG0ESgYTXWek2ScFE6VrC0KnDnW9zsvUCAp7WTWSjy5obcwnGfi/w275-h342/20231025_192803.jpg" width="275" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Apart from that I have had long chats with some of my boys, written e-mails to folks who are not so keen on using the internet, and read a lot on my Kindle.</span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">I also finished making a set of ten more Christmas cards, to use locally.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">So now I will prepare to link this up with <a href="https://wipso-astitchintime.blogspot.com/2023/10/this-weeks-smilesweek-536.html">Annie's Friday Smiles </a>and publish it tomorrow morning.</span></p><p><br /></p>mamapez5http://www.blogger.com/profile/16882819450456050281noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6221525381099754303.post-8796951724654126132023-10-20T09:27:00.008+02:002023-10-20T09:32:24.289+02:00Friday Smiles 2023# Week 42<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Although I have had a very pleasant week, I have been very lax about taking photos and hence have very little to show you.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">The week has been warm and sunny without being too hot, and the autumnal turn that was forecast did not really reach us. However we have now been warned of a 'polar jet' of cold air sweeping our way and bringing very high winds, colder days and heavy rain. They warned us to tie down any outside furniture etc that could be blown around, and not to leave the house unless we had good reason too. Well so far the sun is still shining but the wind is getting up and I can hear it rattling the doors and whistling round the corners of the house.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Fortunately I had an 'appointment' for a face call with a dear friend in UK this morning, and we chatted for a couple of hours!</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">On Sunday it was my husbands birthday so I made him his favourite roast beef dinner. He declined my offer to make him a cake, as he would rather have a chocolate biscuit than a piece of cake.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">On Monday I had arranged to visit a friend a half-hour drive away, and we spent a lovely afternoon drinking tea and chatting in her garden. (Again no photo I am afraid).</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Tuesday it was my birthday, and I had happy face-time calls from all my boys. We then decided to go out for a joint celebration lunch. We are used to having our main meal at mid-day and neither of us can cope well with a big meal in the evenings these days. We had a lovely meal sitting on a sunny plaza down by Mojacar beach and it was very pleasant. I had asked Chris to buy me some of the new Sketchers Slip-on shoes and I wore them that morning. They are so comfortable, like walking on clouds, and will be ideal footwear all through the coming winter.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">When we got home I did bake some cakes. First I made my favourite which is Canadian date cake, (also known as matrimonial cake?). It is a layer of oats, flour, butter and sugar followed by a mushy layer of cooked dates, and topped with more of the oat mix. Then I made a very moist triple ginger cake using a recipe I found online. I cut a small piece of each to keep at home for us, and cut the rest up to take to my sewing group the next day, and they all loved it.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">There have been a few clouds each evening as the sun sets so I was hoping for a nice colourful sky on Saturday, but the clouds deepened and I just got this lovely golden burst as the sun tried, and almost managed to break through.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgNvKI_SqqJXLebXIpU0Ker2fEX6dQ7Ui9TTVBQAesenmUXoeP4-ftl6Hhk2r1OWj8jRcmJiJcnkWMwe3KjGs9WGL79quondAxlGo0bJnnKDqBElbLXUFwbVVWdjKsXJPgn0Vo_-EJArupWAF5f3J5xfGuio3AzLxYQWwbHDb2VMMtbtF6R-_08AKldpcw/s667/20231014_192116.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="667" height="271" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgNvKI_SqqJXLebXIpU0Ker2fEX6dQ7Ui9TTVBQAesenmUXoeP4-ftl6Hhk2r1OWj8jRcmJiJcnkWMwe3KjGs9WGL79quondAxlGo0bJnnKDqBElbLXUFwbVVWdjKsXJPgn0Vo_-EJArupWAF5f3J5xfGuio3AzLxYQWwbHDb2VMMtbtF6R-_08AKldpcw/w362-h271/20231014_192116.jpg" width="362" /></a></span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Last night I was sitting out on the porch at sun-down; It starts to set around 7.00 now. I can't see the hills it sets behind from there but I did notice some little fluffy curls of pink in the opposite direction, where whispy clouds were reflecting the late sun rays. So I took this photo and then went round to the other side of the house to see if there was a colourful sky.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhopBOwcuaeAsdTkA_avxB6FYKpuTwwEqgkXFQtrRQfrjbSgndBnPAQdcxKJ3ltNADKJt4pDD1Wnh3LERQhtn9jNoA6Qey34cMhrkj2zwROHhx0yTXeRiMA4RTA5DqMfFQmY2EcA6zQHwwbeWs0yNiAslDSKh67EZaXxopO39nDKDSR-VtZRekfXA4uQoJ4/s667/20231018_192542.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="667" height="291" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhopBOwcuaeAsdTkA_avxB6FYKpuTwwEqgkXFQtrRQfrjbSgndBnPAQdcxKJ3ltNADKJt4pDD1Wnh3LERQhtn9jNoA6Qey34cMhrkj2zwROHhx0yTXeRiMA4RTA5DqMfFQmY2EcA6zQHwwbeWs0yNiAslDSKh67EZaXxopO39nDKDSR-VtZRekfXA4uQoJ4/w388-h291/20231018_192542.jpg" width="388" /></a></span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">But when I got round there all I could see were these few puffs in an otherwise clear sky. I thought it was fun because I immediately saw a face so I took a couple of photos. Then I realised there were two faces depending on how you look at it. In the first I have zoomed in and it is almost a female face with heavy eyes and a cigarette between parted lips. </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho922wnHvX5h6P3o3Rxtp6vWxaxy9KL0DmSDew_yFbBIp1nIpSdvvZXKY7mkrbJNVO5iF-2TJD-eIi_cIzsz4P3SxNHYw5XnbD0GKVH3DDl9jNP0Z_mbX-nDUuBxJSjPeMXqmkdXY4MIQjTl09NYS1FYoHjmXueLfJHenNfXp0hmj9d95C61RXile5bGav/s12000/20231018_192532.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="12000" data-original-width="9000" height="376" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho922wnHvX5h6P3o3Rxtp6vWxaxy9KL0DmSDew_yFbBIp1nIpSdvvZXKY7mkrbJNVO5iF-2TJD-eIi_cIzsz4P3SxNHYw5XnbD0GKVH3DDl9jNP0Z_mbX-nDUuBxJSjPeMXqmkdXY4MIQjTl09NYS1FYoHjmXueLfJHenNfXp0hmj9d95C61RXile5bGav/w282-h376/20231018_192532.jpg" width="282" /></a></span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">In the second one when I moved out further, the woman's eyes become a moustache and the two extra white wisps become the new eyes making an almost 'Santa' like face. Its probably just my imagination, but I will leave that idea with you.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc5sFqajDbvZcChJYdYSFcemTghsSEtvHFzaWddAjeiTyZNqD72wmKi5mBcz5Quq29OrZ_WmawwvEIrsVm3zj8QUnOtIMUY63gkQ8DkAxJoKkindoeW6YjgtLz13h-6nLsUskgW4Y0ghEeqz84fesjgGAMdhhLYfjY2bZpkpH6Ck6Rh_MzpCFKQ3oLIDPO/s12000/20231018_192522.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="12000" data-original-width="9000" height="380" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc5sFqajDbvZcChJYdYSFcemTghsSEtvHFzaWddAjeiTyZNqD72wmKi5mBcz5Quq29OrZ_WmawwvEIrsVm3zj8QUnOtIMUY63gkQ8DkAxJoKkindoeW6YjgtLz13h-6nLsUskgW4Y0ghEeqz84fesjgGAMdhhLYfjY2bZpkpH6Ck6Rh_MzpCFKQ3oLIDPO/w285-h380/20231018_192522.jpg" width="285" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">And finally, as we are talking skies, each morning there has been a layer cloud at sunrise which soon burns off, but it gives us some very pink and orange skies for a short while which we can see as we lie in our bed. (We still sleep with the windows wide open). The view is seen through the fly free netted area but I am rarely up in time to photograph it and we do not have a very good position in the yard to see it from. But our local radio station, Spectrum FM, has its office right on the sea front at Mojacar and sometimes the presenter puts a photo on Facebook that he has taken from their balcony. So today he called it a 'Rather Moody sky' but I think it is lovely. Here is his photo.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6WUKiZwUhNbbE2vNPVn_mN3C1WUshSnxgh2fVCidMU0bveDODDt30KVQ4oWWGlAkv5_Y0bdNJKvlSk4HR3TKbB7yeqpXCQQXWchrTwg4UfddgR8O6LgJjmw3kEr3RU05Q02VVvNzUBgaA-B9gc4zYWLSA8T6xuDimIVPQR6XsGip9u9VTffSdPEl7SGte/s588/393910068_1229227131357242_7060146371967933140_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="588" data-original-width="500" height="341" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6WUKiZwUhNbbE2vNPVn_mN3C1WUshSnxgh2fVCidMU0bveDODDt30KVQ4oWWGlAkv5_Y0bdNJKvlSk4HR3TKbB7yeqpXCQQXWchrTwg4UfddgR8O6LgJjmw3kEr3RU05Q02VVvNzUBgaA-B9gc4zYWLSA8T6xuDimIVPQR6XsGip9u9VTffSdPEl7SGte/w290-h341/393910068_1229227131357242_7060146371967933140_n.jpg" width="290" /></a></div><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">The black clouds rolled away but we are watching for them to roll back in now as the sun prepares to set, and maybe they will bring that promised rainfall. Meanwhile I will </span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">prepare this to </span><span style="font-family: verdana;">link up with <a href="https://wipso-astitchintime.blogspot.com/2023/10/this-weeks-smilesweek-535.html">Annie's Friday Smiles </a>ready for publishing in the morning.</span></span></div></span><p></p>mamapez5http://www.blogger.com/profile/16882819450456050281noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6221525381099754303.post-9179062980546258172023-10-13T08:45:00.005+02:002023-10-13T08:49:53.796+02:00Friday Smiles 2023 # Week 41<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Well, we have just waved 'Good-bye' to our son Tom as he drives off to Alicante airport for his flight to France. He is meeting two friends there, and they have tickets for two of the rugby quarter finals matches this weekend, before they all fly on to home in Denmark. He is very independent and makes an easy house-guest, and we always enjoy having him here to stay, even when, like this time, it was not an official holiday and he had to 'work from home' most days. He did work hard too, and seemed to spend most days in zoom calls to various people, but he finished around 4.00 when the Danish workers go home, and usually drove down to his favourite strips of coast to sit on the beach for a few hours before coming back to us for his tea. Then he set up his 'office space' out in the porch, with a cup of tea, or a glass of beer or wine, and his lap-top, and worked again to do all the things he hadn't managed all day because he was in meetings!. But he always stopped in time to sit and relax with us for an hour or two, before we all went to bed.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy8RWOraRG5DDovr_EyZjwB_IiOjElO7oPz8LT6Mb97M7IpEzvecexdInZlFN-BLrn6kKxfPo5L4UQlZWiPQqJhprXyHcLdfDSy9T818QebVo1Kg7ob0qowMTY4o5o0A7ZCAUWQcju5Whx4USMF_PvKifbubnyvDA0GONUOyHE66_HOLygp0FppCwtbEDE/s667/1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="667" height="284" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy8RWOraRG5DDovr_EyZjwB_IiOjElO7oPz8LT6Mb97M7IpEzvecexdInZlFN-BLrn6kKxfPo5L4UQlZWiPQqJhprXyHcLdfDSy9T818QebVo1Kg7ob0qowMTY4o5o0A7ZCAUWQcju5Whx4USMF_PvKifbubnyvDA0GONUOyHE66_HOLygp0FppCwtbEDE/w378-h284/1.jpg" width="378" /></a></span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Of course, he didn't need to work at the weekend so we had two lazy days in the sunshine, sitting outside chatting and listening to music. He is used to the cold water in Denmark and found our pool very comfortable, but although I stood on the first step with my feet in the water, it felt decidely chilly for me! On Sunday we had a typical Sunday roast dinner, eating out on the porch under a warm Spanish sun. Lovely!</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHWSA0jNYCAJMWa969VpgW-T_pC4oGiCVcUkUtemzAK-ZGZvNK9nQkPbFL7HDZBu66WsOoA4G1lA0s1a5MbwRZMWhloX36yooGUbCmKHYuOnldUz6uoXjPn9F6k7-bKJf0OE7Rv-ctXUi0hmuZGTRtZP1PFhxsadpfxbeOVph5LgYqIyj95VcUvnZbg6a7/s888/2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="888" height="220" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHWSA0jNYCAJMWa969VpgW-T_pC4oGiCVcUkUtemzAK-ZGZvNK9nQkPbFL7HDZBu66WsOoA4G1lA0s1a5MbwRZMWhloX36yooGUbCmKHYuOnldUz6uoXjPn9F6k7-bKJf0OE7Rv-ctXUi0hmuZGTRtZP1PFhxsadpfxbeOVph5LgYqIyj95VcUvnZbg6a7/w391-h220/2.jpg" width="391" /></a></span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">He had booked today off for packing and travelling, so before he left we walked up to a little kiosk that opened up on the top plaza a few months ago, selling only churros and drinks. The churros was delicious, made freshly for each customer as they ordered, and it was a nice way to end his time with us. (For anyone who isn't familiar with it, churros is a simple batter, piped into very hot oil and served well sprinkled with sugar). It is an option to buy some very thick chocolate milk to dip it in but we didn't bother with that today.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdoHEX2mjaMnMX2CKyjgFRCmm4YVUTkeqXr-LBn8-EhSaDQLp2wgf3shKxGQtoX_hScJvW1FcatyMEuw2xQgkq4JOQ62pnIsGvxShilv7gf8WMs9VpGBWR8YdmJQLyFriDYUO0D735XFpfQ8zKfSvAh2CYjp913Mkc1mzD3aaTyo09AdviGpXaCWElx_Jr/s714/3.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="714" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdoHEX2mjaMnMX2CKyjgFRCmm4YVUTkeqXr-LBn8-EhSaDQLp2wgf3shKxGQtoX_hScJvW1FcatyMEuw2xQgkq4JOQ62pnIsGvxShilv7gf8WMs9VpGBWR8YdmJQLyFriDYUO0D735XFpfQ8zKfSvAh2CYjp913Mkc1mzD3aaTyo09AdviGpXaCWElx_Jr/w401-h280/3.jpg" width="401" /></a></span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">I have been busy while Tom was working, and I almost finished the first sleeve on my green cardigan, but when I tried it on I knew it wasn't right. The raglan shapings are much too long, making the whole garment too long, and the sleeves feel uncomfortable. So I made the huge decision to undo all the sleeve and body, and now I will decide where to stop the raglan and set the armholes at the right level, and then I will work it up again. I am not going to waste the wool, nor all the work I did to make the yoke section, but I would rather get it right so I end up with something I will be happy to wear. I am in no rush for it so I am going to work on finishing another project I started before my holiday, and keep the green piece to work on at my sewing group session. I am sure it will be worth the extra effort in the end.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">I have also been working on my second owl and this one is done in Macrame. (Knotted string). Here he is finished. He is my first proper macrame project and although he is not perfect, I am pleased with him. He will be hanging on my wall alongside the paper-crafted one I showed last week.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6DpY8s0IpewQkauLsUOcDHdNnly0UvmKcEXjj9v1ZTbgjvGvbmM79nQhtnd8d4MWaRD2NuqLG-ImtDEJTHz7r-eqkE9t2scqw6rIHidJU9PSUBGyth8e6PiLixTghqhyphenhyphenWXuBkt2Zbpb7Ttsa9e41zXovOg1jUM9QsyK4pCvc-c19UMJ7-9wQUT_iZhqI3/s697/5.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="697" data-original-width="500" height="406" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6DpY8s0IpewQkauLsUOcDHdNnly0UvmKcEXjj9v1ZTbgjvGvbmM79nQhtnd8d4MWaRD2NuqLG-ImtDEJTHz7r-eqkE9t2scqw6rIHidJU9PSUBGyth8e6PiLixTghqhyphenhyphenWXuBkt2Zbpb7Ttsa9e41zXovOg1jUM9QsyK4pCvc-c19UMJ7-9wQUT_iZhqI3/w291-h406/5.jpg" width="291" /></a></span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Leo is continuing to improve, becoming more lively and eating everything I give him. He is only gaining weight very slowly, but at least he is gaining. He has discovered his talent as a hunter and this week has brought in a little bird, and cicada and countless large grass-hoppers.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Tango on the other hand has been declining. We have noticed this for some time, especially since he bacame stone deaf, and we now think partially sighted. He doesn't move around much and is eating very little. But he is thirteen years old, going by the three years the vet estimated was his age when we rescued him, and he had a very rough start to life. He also has had a special diet for most of his life because of a urinary tract condition, and I think his kidneys are not working too well now. But he is not unhappy and doesn't seem to be in any pain, so we are letting him slip away at his own pace, unless he starts to show signs of distress. In fact today he seems a little brighter, so maybe he will be with us for a while yet. I hope so anyway.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">He tends to chose a spot to sleep in for a couple of weeks and then moves on to somewhere different. Last week he spent most of his time in the bottom shelf of the TV stand. Leo took it upon himself to keep watch over him.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmAdDBNc3r5ZfUSPNysxjQL7IcH6SgrlDB6h0FT8zOr1Aqnw9ltwoMB7QHGHqL5nBVJot-IRJcky_2rGSKLWRrfy93TBpMCXEb3a9J_aNzvakHN6N25LgUMoeo9w3ADwutZMWvNwewn_pORh-pWh48ndA9pofBhQeJ8px1yl3ZFy_KcQ45utTUSlYjll2Q/s667/4.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="667" height="330" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmAdDBNc3r5ZfUSPNysxjQL7IcH6SgrlDB6h0FT8zOr1Aqnw9ltwoMB7QHGHqL5nBVJot-IRJcky_2rGSKLWRrfy93TBpMCXEb3a9J_aNzvakHN6N25LgUMoeo9w3ADwutZMWvNwewn_pORh-pWh48ndA9pofBhQeJ8px1yl3ZFy_KcQ45utTUSlYjll2Q/w440-h330/4.jpg" width="440" /></a></span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">I was woken up on Tuesday by a very orange sky lighting up our bedroom so I got up to try and get a photo of the sunrise. I missed the brightest bit but it was lovely, and eventually the sun broke through the clouds.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiou7ROKP52a-lRGyub7i_EXG4FyU57O5e5jtsxWPZ6NzCmH18TTdt-dkdqLNxs6KhjLAY0tC4N_qxPibn50xfvvy4oCXpWJAKDUM4rSQIbwiyn24wXwIGQtUaQeW2l0zhx9S-XRo-ayW50n0nrbNBk6j-s6p3ZdyeiRrluulSRRk96v5MHIgKcauHQPt_P/s667/6.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="667" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiou7ROKP52a-lRGyub7i_EXG4FyU57O5e5jtsxWPZ6NzCmH18TTdt-dkdqLNxs6KhjLAY0tC4N_qxPibn50xfvvy4oCXpWJAKDUM4rSQIbwiyn24wXwIGQtUaQeW2l0zhx9S-XRo-ayW50n0nrbNBk6j-s6p3ZdyeiRrluulSRRk96v5MHIgKcauHQPt_P/w357-h268/6.jpg" width="357" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGwM6tb37OLCsF4ilz49PLYBHx1HfOxV8n1J_wOaaA346D9_MW6qoQSeZ0_Xr0wWpt595KVuJmLv13P8vbBSnwcUY00WALJZ7Jh4QWlnXmu8TJ04DGDBMpVF5nUx3U7QdFb9xPhf2rCjMPcQyY65R2oo9q6vavn27fWOoiDeI1g4KrJftfGtxmmEXBpbaP/s667/7.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="667" height="276" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGwM6tb37OLCsF4ilz49PLYBHx1HfOxV8n1J_wOaaA346D9_MW6qoQSeZ0_Xr0wWpt595KVuJmLv13P8vbBSnwcUY00WALJZ7Jh4QWlnXmu8TJ04DGDBMpVF5nUx3U7QdFb9xPhf2rCjMPcQyY65R2oo9q6vavn27fWOoiDeI1g4KrJftfGtxmmEXBpbaP/w368-h276/7.jpg" width="368" /></a></span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Later that day it set in a blaze of glory, and then a few minutes later it faded away.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHNQ9AZqc9CCTDnCqxQU5rZhjVLNJtyq_u-kOGnyL_5Bzqbf_8o2zk2sVWlQVa0e2OKHKQvzC-fS6F2xnHoCCrAobZ-pknIZlabRImzwqkJxaKUknrjtxYXAx0qq-3YGD2dQ3qk13QvQtAsL8Y-uKsCN3BFTnKJ5lrIO1BLCjHu6V5mI30Ps2KiLdQHMIe/s667/8.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="667" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHNQ9AZqc9CCTDnCqxQU5rZhjVLNJtyq_u-kOGnyL_5Bzqbf_8o2zk2sVWlQVa0e2OKHKQvzC-fS6F2xnHoCCrAobZ-pknIZlabRImzwqkJxaKUknrjtxYXAx0qq-3YGD2dQ3qk13QvQtAsL8Y-uKsCN3BFTnKJ5lrIO1BLCjHu6V5mI30Ps2KiLdQHMIe/w381-h286/8.jpg" width="381" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg4jxMJa8bjAVeBmStwVBgWK-IZuitGAMezJV8QVdxrAGBhvFhDMqjgwXXw-_ouL8WcfeD0kMnY7EJrDXD3Hadx2e5lSGkK4bb-7VQAIV5vDtqkOTxtN8_Jg_SUS5952hCrXENmxG2b6zJNSPr_XZyOImPKETUb-nUzoDUWBbmh2N4lDcZWIL7E5tL3yyx/s667/9.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="667" height="289" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg4jxMJa8bjAVeBmStwVBgWK-IZuitGAMezJV8QVdxrAGBhvFhDMqjgwXXw-_ouL8WcfeD0kMnY7EJrDXD3Hadx2e5lSGkK4bb-7VQAIV5vDtqkOTxtN8_Jg_SUS5952hCrXENmxG2b6zJNSPr_XZyOImPKETUb-nUzoDUWBbmh2N4lDcZWIL7E5tL3yyx/w385-h289/9.jpg" width="385" /></a></span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">And on that note it is time for me to save this to publish in the morning, and link it up with <a href="https://wipso-astitchintime.blogspot.com/2023/10/this-weeks-smilesweek-534.html">Annie's Friday Smiles.</a></span></p>mamapez5http://www.blogger.com/profile/16882819450456050281noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6221525381099754303.post-34099630965883393432023-10-06T09:30:00.004+02:002023-10-06T09:37:35.523+02:00Friday Smiles 2023# Week 40<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">The year is hurrying by and here at week 40 I have very little to write about!</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Thank you for all the thoughtful messages last week after my fall in the garden. I am almost recovered now. My knee bends again, most of the way anyway, and although my fingers are still sore, the bruise is fading and it doesn't hinder me from doing what I want to very much.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">We have had a lovely week of sunshine each day and I have spent time most afternoons, sitting outside to do some craft, or reading. I needed new books on my Kindle so I downloaded the one Lisca said she was enjoying last week, and also the first one in the series. (Lisca's was the second). I sat out on the porch until 2.00 in the morning to finish the first one! It was a bit blood-thirsty but a good read. There are several more stories in the series so I may try some more. We will see how the second one goes.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">With not a lot of news to tell, I thought I would show you my current "Work in progress". This was my holiday project. I was away for a month so I knew I would need something to do and I wanted a project that only required one colour of wool, and was not a too complicated pattern so I could crochet and chat to family at the same time. I am also trying to use up some of my yarn stash and I had enough of this one to make a garment, so it was an easy decision. I have finished the main body, so now I have to pick up stitches around those rather large armholes and work down for short sleeves gathered into tightish cuffs. Then there is a border to work all around the neck, bottom edge and fronts. It will all look a lot better when it has been blocked.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPh4Rs5-QWApUm_5PGas29hxhMzF-VkKkBt4EViKNSW3SMMq8LG6cuhnAYIa82h4-Juvv_9znGOhp8k8xYGhLA6z086rDibkuZRhcJPmFs3nqckhlnGoubET2XLBaxWh134kNNoFHRVi7lkS54XkOsudfWZZAi-xaO7TwDYnVzV6nJkCJ_9kNMhOZCdTnL/s650/20231005_145809.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="524" data-original-width="650" height="314" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPh4Rs5-QWApUm_5PGas29hxhMzF-VkKkBt4EViKNSW3SMMq8LG6cuhnAYIa82h4-Juvv_9znGOhp8k8xYGhLA6z086rDibkuZRhcJPmFs3nqckhlnGoubET2XLBaxWh134kNNoFHRVi7lkS54XkOsudfWZZAi-xaO7TwDYnVzV6nJkCJ_9kNMhOZCdTnL/w389-h314/20231005_145809.jpg" width="389" /></a></span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">We had an exciting shopping expedition early in the week when we went looking at new furniture for the living room. We sat on a lot of sofas! We finally settled on a wide two-seater settee with both sides electrically reclining, and also a small recliner chair in matching fabric, all in a light-teal tweed fabric. It won't be ready until mid to late November so no doubt there will be photos eventually.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">This morning I went to a little local market at the camp site, because a friend was holding her 'end of season' sale. She used to run a fashion shop, but now buys garments from outlets all around southern Spain, and sells them from her home and website. But at the end of each season she holds a sale to clear her stock and there are always some good bargains. Today I chose a bright orange jumper, (I do like colourful clothing!), a short bat-wing top in lime green, and some beautifully soft black tousers. The trousers need shortening, but that is not too difficult, and the fabric is fantastic. I forgot to take any photos while I was there.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNPgRJ5ixjjXw59j6on3O4XKxa8kblQWNfK0l_VhLK0vC8ltT7ufxiyiLcCf43PhlbxiY79G7IZ7ORS7h-9REUmZhlggYlXRsHaIVP3QVkSuUZIG8YoSkcqP700kKjMtQKitbjQwWhGsEhYsU5fRmYfvT87WnTfyQD2JdBfuPlBZ1Ndjqg-gjElWy2Y3ct/s667/20231005_154818.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="667" height="271" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNPgRJ5ixjjXw59j6on3O4XKxa8kblQWNfK0l_VhLK0vC8ltT7ufxiyiLcCf43PhlbxiY79G7IZ7ORS7h-9REUmZhlggYlXRsHaIVP3QVkSuUZIG8YoSkcqP700kKjMtQKitbjQwWhGsEhYsU5fRmYfvT87WnTfyQD2JdBfuPlBZ1Ndjqg-gjElWy2Y3ct/w361-h271/20231005_154818.jpg" width="361" /></a></span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">I did some paper crafting this week and made a set of eleven Christmas cards. (It's not like me to do an odd number of anything but it worked out that way this time). I can't show them yet as they will be my craft blog entry at the end of the month.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Look who has just come out from behind my big cork pin-board. I wonder how long he has been hiding in there. I love those little suction pads on his toes that enable him to run up and down walls at great speed. He is a welcome visitor as he eats all the pesky bugs, but he really needs to find his way out the window before one of my cats come down here and spots him.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeE0UJ0GiDhoskbz6U5if6LgH6WYIwNME6v5JLT-o7Nc3E9mJVDnAc96BWb_xWKJMo0C0CFCPow5oBiqBmR6_L8Tsz0TTPUe_l2pDsp8_c83BtVrhSR4zBeV8t2YCIjRrn5d_xpLZRXH8f1gd_pM_l1hoY9O1diGe3Pvv8ZYKjqQsqa9WtmO6E_UhkmhB6/s650/20231005_152157.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="464" data-original-width="650" height="272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeE0UJ0GiDhoskbz6U5if6LgH6WYIwNME6v5JLT-o7Nc3E9mJVDnAc96BWb_xWKJMo0C0CFCPow5oBiqBmR6_L8Tsz0TTPUe_l2pDsp8_c83BtVrhSR4zBeV8t2YCIjRrn5d_xpLZRXH8f1gd_pM_l1hoY9O1diGe3Pvv8ZYKjqQsqa9WtmO6E_UhkmhB6/w382-h272/20231005_152157.jpg" width="382" /></a></span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">And today I am closing with a photo of my mum in my garden back in UK. I took it when she came outside to say goodbye to a friend who came to see her. I think she was around 85 at the time. She is always in my thoughts, but today especially as it would have been her 119th birthday today! She sadly died in the June just before her 90th birthday, having lived with us for almost ten years. So we all have lots of happy memories of her.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaa9z_F8L11KDTufzRO-XaAWxF15ItfwXrp1Ht42E0lvojLLZbmuTm9E9a_fVJnnqF26UtpzUfWS4tXeaCEt8yIJQyjkUobFB1TI8beOKGb7B77EJ7xHUQmBn8b5V9KObQdU9CJL3ZCHx6AK5HQ_qDKbGqsH1SXsc4knMlpeLbi3c3now0pje0_y8LkuKE/s650/Mum,%20in%20my%20garden.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="650" data-original-width="650" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaa9z_F8L11KDTufzRO-XaAWxF15ItfwXrp1Ht42E0lvojLLZbmuTm9E9a_fVJnnqF26UtpzUfWS4tXeaCEt8yIJQyjkUobFB1TI8beOKGb7B77EJ7xHUQmBn8b5V9KObQdU9CJL3ZCHx6AK5HQ_qDKbGqsH1SXsc4knMlpeLbi3c3now0pje0_y8LkuKE/s320/Mum,%20in%20my%20garden.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Now I am off to the hospital at Huercal-Overa for an appointment with the dermatologist. The ulcer on my hand is reluctant to heal completely and is still often infected around the edge, so my doctor has referred me to the hospital. My first appointment came through for the last day I was in UK, so unfortunately I had to cancel it, but I didn't have to wait too long for a new one, so it will be interesting to hear what they have to say about it.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Friday-a brief update: The hospital visit was positive. A nice young doctor took a swab for testing and has ordered a biopsy. My translator helped me do the paper work so I am 'on the list'. I have no idea how long I will have to wait but at least they are doing something.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">And with that I will link up with <a href="https://wipso-astitchintime.blogspot.com/2023/10/this-weeks-smilesweek-533.html">Annie's Friday Smiles.</a></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p>mamapez5http://www.blogger.com/profile/16882819450456050281noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6221525381099754303.post-14268528392300512412023-09-29T10:27:00.001+02:002023-09-29T10:27:03.326+02:00Friday Smiles 2023# Week 39<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Unfortunately I didn't get this prepared yesterday like I normally do. I managed to take a tumble in the garden and ended up with some very bruised and sore knuckles on my right hand so I couldn't use my computer mouse, and a very painful left knee. So I spent the rest of the day in my recliner chair letting everything settle down. On the bright side, the damage is all fairly superficial, and at least I managed to keep my face off the ground. It is already a bit easier today so I am sure a couple more days will see me back to my usual clumsy self!</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Now it is a little cooler in the evenings we have started to take short walks around the village, usually ending with a drink at one of the local bars, before going home for a late tea. Here is a photo<br /> I took last week. It had been a sunny day and the evening stayed bright. This is the view as you approach the main road that passes the front of the village.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgedzY0mAA6Aw04zxkgR0UtvBfXix-GWPg0aDMVnVrE1GZxClMLUQfICJucgHanNCq8CHhIMkRIo3KqG2rafM1C0m1q5G4dqFTW0X51o7avpEAxJ5Ao3BvfuNGjEdGDKbyRWlFTXrrr4svjAO1narnz8EjGRM0UPhU7OoxhREKvTTXzANuFIVeFM2PnUdxM/s777/20230922_191608.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="777" data-original-width="500" height="384" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgedzY0mAA6Aw04zxkgR0UtvBfXix-GWPg0aDMVnVrE1GZxClMLUQfICJucgHanNCq8CHhIMkRIo3KqG2rafM1C0m1q5G4dqFTW0X51o7avpEAxJ5Ao3BvfuNGjEdGDKbyRWlFTXrrr4svjAO1narnz8EjGRM0UPhU7OoxhREKvTTXzANuFIVeFM2PnUdxM/w247-h384/20230922_191608.jpg" width="247" /></a></div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Compare it with the one we took this week. Admittedly we were alomost an hour later, but the whole atmosphere had changed and there was a feel of Autumn in the air. </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd6MNP8_Dz3XfDiKZH4ahUXeQDFRPE_fKWWyV2jtf-nIwbHZVkcolCk1V6CwDzhYpIGJnMl-zzvrXRS0WbFq-wAzFYVCjOln5FJp3N96qLZgK4xOYjMwDbUF0j1ZhMx9RpLo13fYMJHKEeuFnzpkw0wF4ByVZ_W2_ahHE3nNpIhEoX_44tUWcnpScPRP0U/s647/20230926_195849.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="647" data-original-width="500" height="374" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd6MNP8_Dz3XfDiKZH4ahUXeQDFRPE_fKWWyV2jtf-nIwbHZVkcolCk1V6CwDzhYpIGJnMl-zzvrXRS0WbFq-wAzFYVCjOln5FJp3N96qLZgK4xOYjMwDbUF0j1ZhMx9RpLo13fYMJHKEeuFnzpkw0wF4ByVZ_W2_ahHE3nNpIhEoX_44tUWcnpScPRP0U/w289-h374/20230926_195849.jpg" width="289" /></a></span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">As we walked up the slip road we noticed the jacarandas were again in flower. Early in the year the flowers come on bare branches, and when they die, the pretty leaves appear. This flowers are now the big brown seed-pods you can see in this picture. But we don't often get the flowers out at the same time as the leaves. They are so pretty and I just love their colour.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP4t2M5qLV24o-OcdHvWhvG7xxo3kQFKAnG4RszDu4-fNjO1aX6KhRDO7J7OZC8tHhBfXL3zq9LuiU3SYP_AgON3tQglmov3QOoZwzni7tSzySykdXkuqhNrxkTUCrLwzCyOBg8-Z_RDfmQjD45x7pO2D_Jg4vtBeJbRET3ZX4IjlxZFHETk9B7jiybkj8/s667/20230926_195944-EFFECTS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="500" height="371" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP4t2M5qLV24o-OcdHvWhvG7xxo3kQFKAnG4RszDu4-fNjO1aX6KhRDO7J7OZC8tHhBfXL3zq9LuiU3SYP_AgON3tQglmov3QOoZwzni7tSzySykdXkuqhNrxkTUCrLwzCyOBg8-Z_RDfmQjD45x7pO2D_Jg4vtBeJbRET3ZX4IjlxZFHETk9B7jiybkj8/w278-h371/20230926_195944-EFFECTS.jpg" width="278" /></a></span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Some people have an olive tree in their gardens and we saw that the olives look plentiful and are a good size. By the end of October the olive presses will open, and folk will take their olives to be pressed into oil. There is a minimum weight of olives that the press will take, so village folk with only one or two trees will join their harvests together and share the oil that is made.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPA0-eUwHOEzMvBzHyvRaQR2Nc9Yn9NJFbwiYi2SU_kHl2TawuJBhva44BEqBgavV4Yvcts-a-tKlg3Qtc_j1GDatF2ZiJQwuyEGD3fnw4DvHi7lZ6fBcaIMVHlfRghLkx3w2Kvre4fHqVQo2ljHUxtBlWKD_QsGf8lQYAiNkIBoUWmjOXu66qQ4mkZOiC/s667/20230922_192619.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="667" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPA0-eUwHOEzMvBzHyvRaQR2Nc9Yn9NJFbwiYi2SU_kHl2TawuJBhva44BEqBgavV4Yvcts-a-tKlg3Qtc_j1GDatF2ZiJQwuyEGD3fnw4DvHi7lZ6fBcaIMVHlfRghLkx3w2Kvre4fHqVQo2ljHUxtBlWKD_QsGf8lQYAiNkIBoUWmjOXu66qQ4mkZOiC/w373-h280/20230922_192619.jpg" width="373" /></a></div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">At the top of the village there is a lovely open view of the Cabrera mountains across the campo, and again, last week, the light was just perfect to get a good picture. Sometimes they are so hazy that they almost disappear, but occasionally, as on this day, they are as clear as a bell.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipQu4IiltC8FXUbFKjYaVGSHN6xe85Nl4mpUVyRKAS9TVQs530E6Fv_vMG2rcq41p3_vycjsufAOskxdL5C16NMv2tL95d3wqNlbwQIjOvy1AeJYGLheYBqEmORs0MjwpJcmHyrsCHAfcl0mqqcZlOZi_oLMB5Q3rfbVhusMjRs1vTl45wtAS42jDx4eSf/s4000/20230922_192018.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2252" data-original-width="4000" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipQu4IiltC8FXUbFKjYaVGSHN6xe85Nl4mpUVyRKAS9TVQs530E6Fv_vMG2rcq41p3_vycjsufAOskxdL5C16NMv2tL95d3wqNlbwQIjOvy1AeJYGLheYBqEmORs0MjwpJcmHyrsCHAfcl0mqqcZlOZi_oLMB5Q3rfbVhusMjRs1vTl45wtAS42jDx4eSf/w405-h228/20230922_192018.jpg" width="405" /></a></span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Leo seems to be making some progress in that he is eating well and has gained a very small amount of weight. But he is still well under what he should be, and we are struggling to find out why. However our vet has done some research and has found a genetic problem that occasionally affects Maine Coons, and can cause anemia and weight loss. So yesterday we took him back for further blood tests. One sample will go to the usual lab to check whether the anemia is any better after the vitimen and mineral tablets I have been giving him every day, and the other will go to a different lab for genetic screening. We won't get the results from that until around a month's time, but it would be good to have a reason and know a bit more about the condition, thought there is not an obvious treatment for it. But as you can see here, he is doing Okay. His fur is good and he is not quite so 'boney', and he does seem to be a bit more alert and playful, so here's hoping.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpAIo9iuBNuYOWdxlpsIeQ8QAy6SpsmVX9cQe3uhIdx8S0yrV6CrKqBASlVMIUnmtLXhFZbj7mZx1C2qLQZCTaXFbafsVL0fKFpY8riwsF8ntPbN3mPA2eQrp4qsie5lX83H6U6d7Xkb_xteZjOFbgsbQxBl-Nb1bxMxtycgr8Bt0yo46Th0VNZ6jSgkBo/s667/20230926_163405~3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="508" data-original-width="667" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpAIo9iuBNuYOWdxlpsIeQ8QAy6SpsmVX9cQe3uhIdx8S0yrV6CrKqBASlVMIUnmtLXhFZbj7mZx1C2qLQZCTaXFbafsVL0fKFpY8riwsF8ntPbN3mPA2eQrp4qsie5lX83H6U6d7Xkb_xteZjOFbgsbQxBl-Nb1bxMxtycgr8Bt0yo46Th0VNZ6jSgkBo/w350-h267/20230926_163405~3.jpg" width="350" /></a></span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">My memories on Facebook keep popping up with lovely sunset photos but it is a long time since we had a really besutiful sky. Last night I did see there was some colour outside, but when I went to look, it was almost a uniform orange because there were no clouds to break it up. Sunrises have been better as there has been some cloud most days until it burns off, but we do not have a good place to photograph the sunrise from our yard, and I am not up early enough to go somewhere for a better view, so here is last night's sunset.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizjiIw-HwXVKsO0QC06nfQU4-OCAmIloyR0458KheVja5Zr5VWQeDe5awGY-Ip6G0N_Ko4VVpAUX_Srr1_NmPNICMijtfIA1mzDjD5MMVmjbk3EpTRzQwzNDYHQ-SXwB6VrxpWzePx2VooMKBNn04_ckryCxmLJ7KzD603dvohtfCqcly_diX5S2eOVCH7/s667/20230928_201004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="667" height="273" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizjiIw-HwXVKsO0QC06nfQU4-OCAmIloyR0458KheVja5Zr5VWQeDe5awGY-Ip6G0N_Ko4VVpAUX_Srr1_NmPNICMijtfIA1mzDjD5MMVmjbk3EpTRzQwzNDYHQ-SXwB6VrxpWzePx2VooMKBNn04_ckryCxmLJ7KzD603dvohtfCqcly_diX5S2eOVCH7/w364-h273/20230928_201004.jpg" width="364" /></a></span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">And with that I will link up with <a href="http://wipso-astitchintime.blogspot.com/2023/09/this-weeks-smilesweek-532.html">Annie's Friday Smiles</a>. I hope to see you there shortly.</span></p>mamapez5http://www.blogger.com/profile/16882819450456050281noreply@blogger.com7