WOYWW #870 - This and That

Hmm couldn't sum up my week for the title this week! Curious. 

I have started the BB Bash but I'm not a messy kinda gal so I'm just taking what I like from it and leaving it at that. I love the style of the presenter so hoping something rubs off on me.

Sad to hear on the replay video that some participants hadn't been so nice to the presenter with their comments - some people eh!

On my desk is a impromptu "messy" accordion/concertina journal made whilst watching the BB Bash video last night. 

It's not on the agenda but was a good way for me to contain lots of different papers in my small work space.

I did do a "messy" kind of a page in my journal the day before. I had already started collaging bits and bobs on the page so just followed the instructions from there.

I did however have to finish off the page. I used the oftentimes forgotten scripture from the Old Testament about the crafter Bezalel who was one of the first to be filled with the Spirit of God to enable him to adorn the temple with creative arts. Exodus 31:2-3

I finished off my scrapbook pages from 2 geocaching circuits done last July.

The first an urban adventure in the village of Ewell (pronounced You-el). The second in deep Surrey countryside near Tandridge.

I then started August 2025 - depicting various memories of the long dry Summer we had! especially how the harvest was a month early!

Our first sighting of a frog on the garden and the iris leaves being as tall as me!

I followed this with a page of hubby's exploits cycling including the Basingstoke Canal and back to Tandridge to the DAD bench.

The latter which he did the day he cut 6 inches off my hair. 

And finally a quick 2nd anniversary card made from part of a watercolour I did a while back, it needed a home.

Happy WOYWW Everyone.

Geocaching 365 Grid - January 2026

On Boxing Day 2025 whilst pondering what cache to get for the end of year souvenir I happened to look at our statistics page and noticed a couple of days we hadn't got a cache on at the end of December - ever!

So we went out on the 27th December and then I got to thinking wouldn't it be good to fill in the whole grid, so we did the 28th as well whilst we were at it.

(on the way to Wisley)

So the Challenge was set for 2026 and about time too as we have been geocaching since 9th March 2009 so nearly 17 years! 

(Mill Lane Ewell)

Although now we are both retired it does make it a little easier.

(Oaks Park Corner on a very cold day)

Our only full month at the start of this challenge was August which was the result of a month long challenge back in 2013.

(A DNF from last July which has eluded many a cacher as hidden in a stick!)

Anyway we are going to take it a month at a time and see how it goes, we were 15 days short  for January...

This urban cache was hanging on by a thread in Carshalton

We visited railway stations in the sidetracked series namely Dorking.

We've discovered local gems like the Seears Park Nursery in Sutton.

Those found whilst out cycling for Chris.

Local history like the the original well for Epsom Salts. This was sadly a DNF (Did Not Find) so we had to go to another one that day.

Soggy logbooks - all part of the fun but we will replace if required.

Nature reserves between railway lines. I'd been here previously with our son a few years ago but the first time for Chris.

Woodlands in built up urban areas we never knew existed especially as google maps don't show the area as a "green" space.

Caches which have eluded even the most seasoned cachers. In this case I messaged the previous DNFer as I knew him and offered extra help which was gratefully received.

A DNF from nearly 2 years ago! YAY!

And finally a Church Micro in the the ever expanding series of caches related to churches.

So that's January all done, now we need 15 for February, can we.....?

WOYWW #869-Scrapping

Quick my desk and bedroom whilst scrapping...

Felt "safe" enough with my hand to get my Cuttlebug out this week so scrapping resumed.

There are still some things I go to do and "ouch" it hurts. Driving is getting easier though.

My desk has the last 2 pages for July 2025, 2 Geocaching days out one an urban wander and the other out in the countryside - more next week.

I did the beginning of July earlier in the week.

My hubby's 69th Birthday trip to Wisley.

Various other things in July last year.

The weather seems to have taken front stage with the wind and rain and sun and full Buck moon.

I dyed my hair on Saturday. Hand didn't go numb but prolonged holding of the mirror has made my hand somewhat sore this week.

It was the first time I have done it myself since April last year, as the Carpal Tunnel had made it near impossible before.

My son did it the last couple of times for me, in June and September.

The other thing I have got back to this past week is badminton. I celebrated by changing my racket grip to pink! Son got me the new grips for Christmas, he plays too.

Dancing next week and I've not done that for nearly a year!

Happy WOYWW Everyone.

WOYWW #868 - Yellow!

Here's my desk last Saturday (nice to see it in action once in a while don't you think?)

A huge thank you to Susan Renshaw for inspiring me last week with her Sunshine and Lollipops page.

I finished off my Advent Journal with it, adding a sewn pocket on the inside cover for my tag and spare wise man.

The lollipops became flowers for me. I used old clean up acrylic papers and added posca pen details. The cut off sun pieces became leaves.

Then made my friend a birthday card on the same lines...

The backing for both of those was using yellow tissue party hats I had stashed.

I then did a spread in my other journal using most of the pieces I had left. The backing this time was yellow acrylic paint with some probably too subtle stenciling.

I have one sun/flower remaining.

The penultimate page in my Advent Journal was another Hope scripture page.

I just went with the flow with this one and am really pleased how it turned out.

I can now report that I'm at last driving again. I worked it out that I hadn't driven for 2 months! My hand is still a bit sore inside but manageable. Whoop Whoop.

Happy WOYWW Everyone.

WOYWW #867 - Photos/Scrapping

Got the reprints of the not so good photos from Photobox this week using their voucher. 

I added the ensuing months as well so 256 photos covering July 2025 - Mid January 2026. 

They were slightly better but only marginally who knows....

I did the annual page in the little 8x8 album - easier to hold/carry than my 12x12's. 

Hand still recovering its strength.

Had son here over night on Monday as we were closer to his works day away venue. 

We could have a bit more fun now my hand is a lot better.

Added some pegs to my hand exercise box as my fingers aren't able to get my car into reverse nor release the hand break yet. 

Not driven for over 6 weeks - oh my...

Here's the hand - scar still very sensitive to touch despite the deep massage. 

It can cope with higher temperatures now though.

Not really wearing the little gloves anymore either, unless it's cold at my desk!

Did make some cushion inners from old pillows. 

I tried to cover with son's cut off curtain fabric but the blackout backing made it impracticable. 

Made an inner for my cherry stone hotty and a new cover for it and my wheat bag. 

Crocheted an angel for my friend - did the dress too wide initially so had to undo it and redo it.

Made my fingers ache a lot.

I did the January Challenge over on JOTW.  My 5 blessings are in capitals.

Three colours - Blue 💙 White 🤍 Grey 🩶

I had a shell from my diecuts - PROVISION

I used some of my stretch bandage for the gauze HEALING

My Scripture is Hebrews 6:19 on my word of the year HOPE, plus SECURE, PERMISSION TO ENTER.

Happy WOYWW Everyone.

WOYWW #866 - Brrr It's Freezing!

Oh my word it's been cold of late, even I'm feeling it.

My desk each morning is based on scar massage and gentle exercises at the moment. Most needing repeating 4 more time in the day too!

I finished off my Artistic Advent Course...

The penultimate session was on the wise men which took me a couple of days to complete, lots of drying time required...

I have a spare wise man to find a home for too. 

The presenter had folded a piece of paper into 4 concertina wise to make the shape for all the men and cut one off!

I painted him whilst I was at it - well you never know when you might need a wise man!

Whilst watching the process video for the wise me I made a collage of some of the bits and pieces left over from the course in my usual journal.

The little tag I made found a home there as well.

The final session was rather epic. I started collage in my pjs before getting dressed in the morning and ended up finishing way after dinner time.... 

What a super inspiring course, and they'll be doing another one this year too - can't wait LOL

This all left me with 1 single and 3 double pages in my Advent journal - what to add there??? 

As if I hadn't had enough on 2nd I did a page for my word of the year HOPE.

Monday we went to RHS Wisley to collect our members seeds, we got 4 sets of 5 packs.

Rather amazed by all the ice in the water features too. 

Here's a frozen parrot!

Happy WOYWW Everyone.