Favourite Things Thursday

Favourite Things is hosted by Blue.

This is a short post, as I've not been able to get my brain properly organised - no fancy prose, no pretty pictures.

I just wanted to say that one of my truly favourite things is blogging.
And the very best thing about blogging is all the lovely friends I've made.

I've been overwhelmed at all the messages of sympathy since yesterday morning. Thank you all so much. Your kindness and friendship mean more than I can say.

If I'd never started blogging, I'd never have "met" so many wonderful people all over the world.

Favourite Things Thursday

Favourite Things Thursday is hosted by Blue, visit her for other favourites.

I missed out on last week's, as my daughters were visiting and I had no time for anything but talking. Family is my most favourite thing, but I'm not blogging about family right now.
No, I'm going to talk about something else - the pleasure I get from receiving packages in the post.
Recently I had a lovely surprise. Denise Nesbitt was giving away some of her hand-made cards, and I was the lucky recipient of one of them. An envelope came through my door, containing not one but two cards.

Even the envelope was pretty!

This is the "Thank you" card.

With such a sweet message.

Below is the card I won.

It has a cut-out window, a pretty design background paper, and a central raised flower.

Inside the cover is a lovely garden quote,

more pretty paper,
and the blank message pages which I haven't photographed.

This is the very back of the card.


I should think of someone special to send this card to, but right now I intend to be mean. I'm keeping this beautiful thing for myself, at least, for now.

Favourite Things Thursday

I had no trouble deciding on the subject for my Favourite Things post this week.

DUNGLOE is a friendly small town - rapidly growing bigger. It is the town that has given a home and friendship to me and my family.

It's Festival week here!

I'm starting with a photo I've posted before, but I like it enough to show it again.

Dungloe Lake, or part of it, where various gentle water-based competitions take place.

Main Street, before the Festival started. The ladders and scaffolding have now been removed from the building on the right.

This pump stands at the top of the street. There used to be a lot of these, but now every home has piped water. In spite of that, I believe this pump can still be worked!

This is the newly-named Cope Street. The Cope started life as an agricultural co-operative, and it grew!
On the right is the new food hall, on the left is the clothing section. Walking along Cope Street towards the distant car park, we pass the sports department on the right and the furniture shop on the left.

We also pass this decorated window.

And the now unveiled statue of
Paddy the Cope
or Patrick Gallagher, the man who gathered some friends to start the
Templecrone Co-operative Society.

Favourite Things Thursday is hosted by Blue.
See her for more to enjoy.

Favourite Things Thursday

This week I want to show you two very important
Favourite Things.
Without these my blog would look very plain.

First, my camera-phone.

My Sony Ericsson K800i
It has a Sony Cybershot 3.2 megapixel camera.
It goes with me everywhere, in pocket or handbag, whereas it's not always possible to take my larger camera.
It won't do detailed photography, but it does very well, and it means that I'm never without a camera.
It took these next photos.

This is my Fujifilm FinePix S5000.
It's an old camera now, as these things go. Stephen bought it about four and a half years ago. When he upgraded to an absolutely delicious (drool!) new model, he very kindly gave me this.
All my photos are now taken with these two cameras.
I'd be lost without them.

For more Thursday favourites, visit
Blue
who hosts this event.

Favourite Things Thursday

Thursday is for Favourite Things hosted by
Blue

I really like bells.
I showed you all one of my bells on Wednesday of last week.


So I thought I'd show you my other brass bells.

This is an Irish bell, bought locally several years ago. I was learning spinning at the time, so the depiction of the Irish lady with the large old-fashioned wheel was irresistible.

This windmill belonged to my sister. She gave it to me to join the collection.

Second daughter gave me this one, a Welsh lady knitting as she walks.

I have a couple of others, but my favourites at the moment are these brass bells.
I hope you like them.

Favourite Things Thursday

Here I am, late, with my entry for this week's
Favourite Things

I love flowers.
I love their colours and I love their smells.

I've put together a few pictures of flowers in my garden.

Crocuses,
the first to appear in spring.

Closely followed by miniature daffodils.

A foxglove.

Red mimulus and white alyssum.

A deep pink pot rose,
bought last year in Tesco, reduced in price because it had been on the shelf too long. I planted it outside, and it's rewarded me with a magnificent display this summer.

Those are just a few of my favourite flowers.

For more Favourite Things, visit
Blue
who started this great idea,
and enjoy!

Favourite Things Thursday

This is my first entry in Blue's new meme

Favourite Things Thursday.

Here are her rules.

The subject can be anything - person, animal, inanimate object! It can just be photo's, or written words or preferably both, explaining your chosen Favourite. All I ask, is you leave me a comment to say you're participating!!!

So I thought I'd start with

DRAGONS!

Yes, I'm sure that surprised you all!

I love dragons. I love dragon books, dragon films, dragon pictures, and dragon ornaments of all kinds.
To my mind, all dragons should have wings.

Here are two photos of my dragon nursery.

A dragon carved out of clear quartz crystal.

A fearsome red dragon made of glass.

My new fridge magnet that started life as a bumper sticker. This dragon appears not to have wings, but I'm assuming they're furled neatly away.
It works beautifully for me when people get on my nerves!

And I feel a bit like this.


Or this



And, just to round things off, this is my latest beauty, waiting to be hung in the perfect place.


That's my first Favourite Things post.
Go and visit Blue to read about hers, and anyone else who's joined in.