Friday Smiles 2026 # Week 38

Well here we go for another week and sadly I am still housebound, and currently on a second, longer course of antibiotics, and still coughing enough to drain my energy. But although I don't feel up to going out yet, I am trying to do a few useful things, so I have spent some time working on my laser cutter. I can't show the results as some will be given as gifts at Christmas.

I have also tried a little crocheting and am currently making poppies. Oswestry Town Council want to make a cascade of textile poppies at the guildhall in November and have asked our kniting group to help. We are aiming to make ten each but so far I have only managed three. I have experimented and now decided on a pattern which is simple without being boring to make, so I will get a few more made next week.

It is surprising what a difference a little bit of rain makes. We have had one thunder storm and a few showers, but no torrential rain, yet the park has gone from brown to green, and looked lovely this morning with the rising sun sending tree shadows across the grass. All the trees are still green with no 'Autumn colours' yet.

The garden has perked up too. Two of my planters at the front of the house have died off but the centre one is in full bloom again. 

Out in the back garden, next-door's rose is having a second round of flowering.

This fuchsia shrub is stunning, especially when the sun shines on it. My dad would have loved this. He grew several varieties of fuchsias and as  child I was often in trouble for popping the buds before they were quite ready to open!

And I needn't have worried about my helianthus (see week 35). It is now in full bloom making a lovely show just as so many others are dying.

And with that I will close for this week. Hopefully The meds will make a big difference to me this week, and I will be bouncing back next week.

Friday Smiles 2026 # Week 37

Sorry I haven't done much visiting this week. I am still functioning at around 50%. I will be a lot better when I can shake this cough. My grand-daughter did take me to a routine doctor's appointment last Friday and amongst other things, he gave me a five day course of antibiotics for a chest infection. It helped but hasn't cleared it so I may have to go back. So this is the first time in a fortnight that I have ventures up to my craft room to use my computer, and, of course I have little news to report. But a couple of things have made me smile. 

Early this week I received a parcel from my youngest son, Ben, and one of the things in it is this stone. It looks grey and dull and you are probably wondering what is so great about it. 

But I knew it was a palm stone, (i.e. it fits into your palm), and is a piece of labradorite. It is said to ward off negative energy, and make the mind more alert. Ben knew I like it and here is the reason. Holding it in sunlight, or a good artificial light, and all the flashes of blue and gold shine out from inside it. It took me a while to get it just right for the photo, but isn't it beautiful?!

My second smile came from a little order I made from Amazon. A rainbow coloured umberella, bound to brighten up a dull wet day. I am not very good with an umbrella, especially if I am carrying shopping as well, but this will keep me dry on my short walk to church on a Sunday morning, and make me smile as well.

And lastly I thought I'd add this for those who are interested. My eldest son is a vicar, and I know many people have preconcieved ideas of what a vicar is like. Well Jim is probably untypical, a mixture of traditional faith and more free way of life and fashion choices, which he combines so well. I don't know the details of how it came about, but he is one of several clergy who were interviewed about their life and their beliefs, for a series on youtube. I am proud to say this is my son.

I hope the link works for you. It isn't cooperating for me right now, but I will publish early so that I can test it. I will visit if and when I can this week. I need to get back into my normal routine.