ROCKING YOUR WORLD FRIDAY - 32ND OF 2026

 Morning all, I'm sure these weeks are speeding up, let's pretend it's 24 hours ago time to clock the silver linings and positive moments for 

So last weekend we had quite a relaxed weekend, I couldn't believe we were in the eighth month of the year already but August has arrived and the weather has remained with very little in the way of rain up to now. 

On Saturday we decided to revamp the door wreath again, I've now got a good collection of artificial flowers, so as well as the new sunflower additions I managed to locate the purple roses amongst my own stash and this was the finished product. 

I also added some ribbons to the bottom

and it is a lovely sight to come home to, very much a joint effort as the wires are taxing on my hands, but hubby was there to assist and we had it done in super quick time. 

I've also been reading some very different reads that I've found on my travels or picked up second hand.

This was one that hubby read that he found interesting, so I had a read, it proved an enlightening read, I've enjoyed clocking the seasons this year and really noticing the differences in our world outside so that definitely resonated but other elements, not so much, but hubby expected that. 

This was one I picked up in a National Trust second hand bookshop a few years ago, it is a children's book and I have to say I purely bought it for the way it looked, however, thought I'd give it a whirl as a lighter read and it really is a splendid story, so very detailed, I can imagine the author mapping the story for the set of 7 books that she has written for the series and yes having read book 1 I went off in search of the remaining 6, which weren't quite as cheap as the original. 

Then this absolute gem of a book, short stories and another by Gervase Phinn and written with such wonderful humour. 

I've read 62 books this year so far and still counting, I read 77 last year so not sure if I will read more or less than that, but I'm just enjoying reading which I think is the main thing if I'm honest. 

Hubby also had a baking day, he made the 50/50 granary rolls which were light and fluffy as always and a first for him a proper loaf in his new loaf tin which creates bread fit for a toaster (totalling square), which again was a roaring success.  I'm very lucky to have a hubby who enjoys embracing a non-UPF diet in the way he does including baking our own bread. 

and with the warm whether we've been enjoying some beautiful salads, this a watermelon and radish salad with rice noodles was mighty tasty. 

The rest of the week has tripped along, work was busy as always but I'm feeling better prepared for the audit which is good. 

I also enjoyed a wonderful catch up with my sister and niece with hubby at Ikea which was delightful. 

I hope you've had a wonderful week. 

Hugs

ROCKING YOUR WORLD FRIDAY - 12TH OF 2026

 Morning all, I appreciate that this is definitely not Friday but let us pretend that it is, time to clock the silver linings and positive moments from the last 7 days. 

So I've had the week off (hence the lateness of the post), not that we've been on holiday away or anything, we've just had a lovely week around the home and thankfully the weather has been relatively kind to us. 

Last Friday was the 2 year anniversary of my Mum passing away, it felt harder this year, as the difficult months before she passed away diminish and I remember the better times, I just miss her more and more.  I was grateful to have time with family during the day, it was very much needed.  

Last weekend we mooched into town and had a wander around the shops I was in the need of some material (which I failed to find) but also on the look out for some more books.  We popped to Grimm and Co and their beautiful café, they are a children's literacy charity and I love all that they do and that they stand for. 

Here is some of the magic on their menu - read the descriptions. 

Me and hubby shared a cake, how pretty is this lemon and blueberry cronut. 

We managed an assortment of books it has to be said, most from charity shops, but there is also a second hand bookstall that we found a few books on too. 

Hubby bought me these from Grimm and Co as a 'Mother's day gift' bless him and the book is a wonderful read, a children's tale it definitely ticks the boxes for imagination and the notelets have 3 different designs (from the book) which we will frame and pop on the stairs.  The peg was used to seal the paper bag they came in to stop the magic escaping.  

I completed some pages from a recent kit I put together, these are the layouts achieved and I only used loose sheets of paper from my stash in a bid to reduce this down. 

These are all from 2023, my son and d-in-law's dog Poppy enjoying snow for the first time

One of the RSC plays we went to see

Autumn wreath class with family including my Mum, I so miss her. 

Quentin Blake exhibition at Compton Verney in 2023

Exploring on holiday

Another night at the theatre 

Sezincote garden

Holiday hot tub 

Llandudno

Penrhyn castle

Sheffield Cathedral's digital light display Christmas 2023

Conwy Castle and the wall walk 

Great Orme mine

RSC play for Christmas 2023

Meal out with hubby with his calzone (which looks like a giant pasty)

My Mister Finch moth from my son and daughter-in-law Christmas 2023 - blown away by this

Wentworth Woodhouse light trail around the garden

Christmas wreath class with family again 

Daughter-in-laws 2nd graduation when she became a teacher

Christmas at Hardwick Hall

Christmas meal out with hubby, Mum and sister

Mum's last theatre trip before she passed was the panto at Sheffield. 

My niece's graduation when she became a teacher

My Mum and sister at the wreath class. 

My son, daughter-in-law and grandson came over on Sunday which was Mother's day and brought me these lovely gifts, a cup, a new plant pot, a yarn bowl for when I'm knitting, chocolate, a heart for my heart wall, flowers and a cushion which I didn't include on this photo as it was already on the sofa.  I was utterly spoilt by them and feel very blessed. 

Aforementioned cushion and another completed scarf, this one is a crocheted scarf which I struggled with initially before undoing and setting to again before the penny dropped and I was apparently able to crochet - who knew that was even a thing. 

Hubby made some beautiful hot cross buns. 

I printed a pattern, it is many many years since I last made anything so I'm eager to see how I get on with this.  

We had a blue skies day, pressure washing the decks, hubby cleaned the top of the arbour and we painted all 4 decks with new deck paint. 

We ordered a copy of a book by hubby's old work colleague that she has recently published, so excited to have a read. 

My yarn bowl in action, as I'm using such thick wool the hole feed for the yarn hasn't come into its own yet. 

Another crochet stitch, this one half double crochet

I met up with my sister, d-in-law and Grandson with hubby for an Ikea breakfast on Thursday.  My grandson was adamant that he wasn't going to make eye contact with my sister, only ever on his terms. 

The pattern pieces all cut out, I've already made this task much harder for myself. 

Enjoying the deck the day after, reading, crochet, drinking tea and coffee absolute bliss.  

And then receiving this photo of grandson, how joyous does this make you feel. 

I hope you've had a wonderful week. 

Hugs