Cor Blimey! I am posting mid Wednesdays

Well, it is early morning here and I am posting this from my bed. Lazy lady!

Yesterday we had a day off from our nursing duties and family members came in and did shifts in being with Mary whilst we went to Chinatown, courtesy of Maria who suggested it.  Thanks to Carrie and Russ for organising the sitters.

The day was supposed to be wet so we set off with umbrellas and waterproofs but I thought it was warm enough, coming from Britain you are tougher than the Californian girl we were with, namely ex-Scottish Maria, so I went coat-less most of the day.

View from the station along the line

We did our usual walk along the street until we came to the market. I wish I had taken some photographs in there as it is like a warren with all the aisles making twists and turns, so easy to get lost.  Then it was up to my favourite supermarket, a few gifts bought and on to this lovely little square.

Me with Chas at garden

We first discovered this lovely little plaza two years ago when we were there for the Chinese New Year but we didn't remember this little area.

same spot but with Maria and the other side of the water

Us with Bruce Lee

Looking back over Chinatown from the station - bye for another year.

I did take a lovely photo on my phone of red lanterns adorning the Plaza with a lovely building in the background.  It is fine on my cell phone but will not download for some reason.  Ah well!

Must get up and at 'em - stamping day and things to do once I have got my patient settled.  If only I could stay in bed - Yawn .....

WOYWW 346 Changed my Name to Florence and CHA Pics!

Well, I am working in the kitchen at my friend's house because there is no room down in the stamping area and as my friend is in bed I am doing my own thing.   I am playing with my new toy - well it is Mary's really but new for me to play with and I WANT ONE!

In the foreground, left, you can see the MISTI (Most Incredible Stamping Tool Invented) and I will be dem'ing this at the Sincerely Shows for Oyster Stamps when I get back to the UK so I thought I would get some practice in and use Mary's whilst I am here.

We have a workshop day planned for the 30th, just before I leave so I have been prepping for that and this is what is on my workdesk today.  Those boxes at the back are full of samples and the bits and bobs ready for them to begin making their cards.

Now you did read correctly, my friend, Mary, is in bed.  We should have been living it up in a 2 bedroom villa at the Lawrence Welk resort in Escondido for the last two days, and now be on our way to The Hilton at Carlsbad ... but ... on Sunday Mary tripped in her 'retreat' and has broken her arm.  Until the swelling has gone down they cannot do anything but we are hoping and praying that she does not have to have surgery but that they do do something for the pain she is experiencing.

The family tried to encourage us to still go and said they would look in on Mary continuously but in all honesty, could you leave your friend and enjoy yourself knowing she was in pain?

So instead of treating you to lovely photographs of the ocean and those two beautiful places you will have to make do with a bit more of CHA.  I'll save the projects in the boxes until next week.

Love those figures from Art Impressions and they now have some tiny ones - ideal for A6 cards.  Do like these twister cards.

Not sure, think that this was on the Ideology stand

and the ones below

A lot of my friends think I am a Tim Holtz Groupie but to be honest I don't spend a lot of time watching him.  There are always crowds and this year I did not catch all he was saying so wandered off to see the wonderful Dyan!

So bright - so Dylusional

Love her new images and the pens

Another stand I always enjoy is the Penny Black one - they have some beautiful cards on display - love those poppies (my favourite flowers)

and want these blue birds

Can't leave without looking at Emma Lou and Richard - two lovely people and two lovely samples from Heartfelt Creations

To finsh off - Me with Dyan

Better leave it there or Julia will have my 'guts for garters' - sorry for such a long post - now off to the stamping ground to see what others have on offer (and have been up to).  If you are posting please please please put your number if you comment so I can visit you back easily without having to search for you.  Remember I am playing 'nursey' at the moment so am quite busy.

WOYWW 345

Well, it is over for another year for me.  CHA has been visited, perused and vetted by me and there are a few photos to share with you but no desk I am afraid.  Did make a card this evening (it is 9.30 pm here but time to post in the UK so no need to post Tuesday night and pretend it is Wednesday morning) but I have not taken a photo of it as yet.  Hopefully Julia will forgive me if I take you on a little stroll of CHA (which was smaller than ever this time).

Yarn Bombing - a big big display - fabulous!  Very cleverly done -

the end wall

OR - how about riding off in this

or wearing the outfit covered in crystals (ouch!)

you may have seen this till on Facebook (Swarovski (sp?)

here's its matching stapler

Sorry, cannot remember which stand had this dragon

Pebeo had this great big liquid picture

and Envirotex had these

two different products but similar results!

Below is Finnabair's clock I would have loved to have done this class.  Mary's friend, Carole, did it and her clock is gorgeous, but it was the day before we set off so out of reach for me I am afraid.

and here's a picture for her husband

Spellbinders had fantastic displays

Stacy's Romantic above

Becca Feakin's Wedding below

and to finish - my favourite - Stacy's Art Deco

That is it for tonight girls, just time to log off and try to link up to Julia on her blog and then have a rummage around before I fall asleep to see who else is blogging early doors in Britain.  Hopefully I will be back with more pictures as days go on but forgive me if I don't make it tomorrow - we are having a Mexican Feast tomorrow night and the week ahead is all planned with two parties and a trip out.  Talk about "feet" and "not touching" - it's all go here and I am loving it!

WOYWW 344

New Year - New Desk

I am actually working in the kitchen, but not my kitchen, my friend Mary's kitchen.  Yes, once again the time of year has come around for my annual visit to see my friend in America and here I am, not been here 24 hours yet and already trying something out.

Mary told me about these water soluble pastels that she had fallen in love with and when I saw her results I had to agree that they work so well, especially with the Rubbernecker Stamps.  I have had a little play and now want to compare them to the Caran D'Ache ones that I took with me.

In the meantime I want to experiment with them and see what I can do, what they can do - maybe see some being demonstrated at CHA at weekend - watch a You Tube video - but mainly have fun with them.  They certainly do seem creamy.

Well, will leave it there just as Miss Julia likes on a Wednesday.  Pop over to the stamping ground to see what she has to say and what others are doing.  Toodle pip!

WOYWW 343

For the better or worse?  That is the question.  See my post below (copied from our dear Shaz in Oz's blog) - I can only see it being of any use to them and not to us.  I have taken a photo of my friends as it stands on my page at present and I will be adding it to my side bar or something so that it is a reminder of what used to be.  Not sure if any have disappeared prior to this warning but will try to take photos of all the followers.

Still, there are worse things at sea as they say.  My heart goes out to all those people affected by the floods and I wish there was something I could do.  Just read that some of the homes in York have been looted whilst the folks were away.  What scum we have in society!

Nothing to show on my desk - it is exactly the same as last week so, as I did not show you the tree (read on someone's blog Julia wanted us to) am rectifying that today:

As I was so busy in the lead up (never again - churches) Chas decorated the tree so I suggested he only put the baubles and lights on - makes it easier to pull down as we are taking it down early this year.  

btw Jan/Annie/Jo I made those curtains when we first moved into this house.  The fabric is the same as the settee was made of and it took a lot of courage to cut up and match up - but I did it (after unrolling it and rolling it up again for about 6 months!)

This was the table just the four of us - we had crackers, fabric or knitted hats (the men had knitted ones because we ladies had ear rings in our bags) and gift bags which went down a storm with Andy's partner Sam.  Wish I had photographed the turkey, it looked really good, just a perfect colour (but I am sick of eating turkey now).

A nest of tables with nibbles on

and a trolley with sweeties. nuts etc

chocolates and biscuits underneath

In the goody bag there were moustaches amongst all the other things and so here we are all sporting them

Starting top left - Picasso, Chaplin, Hogan, Einstein.

Happy New Year to you all and may it be a good one for Julia and all WOYWW members past and present.

Thoughts and Prayers are with those who are suffering with the floods and those who are ill or nursing someone who is.

Losing Some Friends on Blogger

Copied this from my friend Shaz's blog - why can they not leave us alone?  Streamline Phooey!!! An update on Google Friend Connect Posted: 21 Dec 2015 03:02 AM PST In 2011, we announced the retirement of Google Friend Connect for all non-Blogger sites. We made an exception for Blogger to give readers an easy way to follow blogs using a variety of accounts. Yet over time, we’ve seen that most people sign into Friend Connect with a Google Account. So, in an effort to streamline, in the next few weeks we’ll be making some changes that will eventually require readers to have a Google Account to sign into Friend Connect and follow blogs. As part of this plan, starting the week of January 11, we’ll remove the ability for people with Twitter, Yahoo, Orkut or other OpenId providers to sign in to Google Friend Connect and follow blogs. At the same time, we’ll remove non-Google Account profiles so you may see a decrease in your blog follower count. We encourage you to tell affected readers (perhaps via a blog post), that if they use a non-Google Account to follow your blog, they need to sign up for a Google Account, and re-follow your blog. With a Google Account, they’ll get blogs added to their Reading List, making it easier for them to see the latest posts and activity of the blogs they follow. We know how important followers are to all bloggers, but we believe this change will improve the experience for both you and your readers. Posted by Michael Goddard, Software Engineer

WOYWW 342 Merry Christmas

Well, this has come around much quicker than I would have liked. Am I referring to WOYWW or Christmas?  Both really.  I think the latter is a surprise because of the mild weather we are experiencing.

Anyway, a quick blog today as I have a card to make and lots of jobs to do so here is my desk

A packet of biscuits and an elf's leg on the left.  Something we made with Lynne at Vicky Stampers last month (well everyone except those teaching did, so Lynne kindly gave me a completed one and a kit to do the other).  Next to the leg are some milk cartons as made by others with Karen (still to do mine) and in front is a pink parcel for my friend Mo who has a birthday coming up at the beginning of January.  Need a card for her yet!

Further right is the tag I made last week - an angel at a window.  I like to think there is an angel looking in on me, especially this Christmas.

Well, off you go, go and see what Julia has to show you.  Bet there is a lot of Christmas Cheer going on here and there.  Wishing you all a Very Happy Christmas and a Wonderful Year ahead.  My prayer is for Peace as always ... one day maybe there will be.

Take care all of you!

Had to do you a quick card so here is my card to you all (am sure you won't mind sharing) - Merry Christmas (again...)