Wednesday 3 September 2014

WOYWW 274

You show me yours – and I’ll show you mine! Desks, that is… To find out how, visit our hostess Julia’s blog by clicking on the WOYWW logo in my sidebar, and come on in and join the fun.

So – what’s on my workdesk this Wednesday? As you can see – not a lot!

WOYWW 274

As often happens on a Wednesday, I am between projects, so my desk is bare. Well, not bare – I’ve always got loads of clutter on it, but bare of projects. Dare I admit it, that water jar is STILL there! I think the level is going down by evaporation after 3 weeks. I wonder how long I can keep it there?

You may remember what a complete tip my ARTHaven was last week, being full of all my office stuff while the new shelves in my office were being reinforced with extra supports. I took advantage of having to take most of the stuff out, to put a different rug down, as the tiny one that was there wasn’t much good for stopping my office chair scooting all over the place on the laminate floor. Having cleared some junk out of the corner, I find I can now use my big comfy chair in there after all, which makes a lot more room in the far corner of my ARTHaven where it was taking up space. I’ve just got enough room to swivel on it!

Here’s my office now. I really like the look of the red rug which goes with all my red office accessories.

01 Office with Reinforced Shelf Supports and New Rug

For those of you who expressed an interest, I have at last finished the bereavement card I was working on, and it’s been sent off. Here’s a couple of pictures.

13 Finished Card - Overlay

14 Finished Card - Overlay Turned Back

For full details, please see my previous post.

Since there isn’t much of interest on my desk this week, I thought I’d go all foody again and show you what I cooked for our meal last night. It is a courgette gratin and I got the recipe off Pinterest. Here it is ready to go into the oven.

Courgette Gratin Ready for the Oven

And here it is just out of the oven – I have taken a scoop out for Mum for tonight. At 93 she has a very small appetite and I can usually spare a bit without noticing it too much!

Courgette Gratin Ready to Serve

I’ve made this before, and tonight’s was a bit wetter than it should be – I think I cooked the courgettes for too long before making up the gratin. It was delicious, though! I substitute plain yoghurt for the cream as it’s a healthier option now I’m on a diet.

Talking of which, I have hit a plateau with my weight loss, but I am not too demoralised because having visited the 5-2 Fast Diet website it appears that it is very common to stop losing weight after a while, but with perseverance, as one’s body adjusts, one starts to lose weight again eventually. I am very encouraged, though, because I have lost 1 st 1 lb (15 lbs for our Transatlantic cousins!) since I started towards the end of June.

One other bit of news – my hubby and I heard back from our local community college today, that we have both been accepted for our evening classes starting later this month. He is doing “improvers’ watercolour painting” and I’m doing feltmaking! I only hope I am up to it, because they say it’s fairly strenuous… I shall give it my best shot anyway, and let you know how I get on. I’ve registered for 2 five-week courses, one this autumn, and the other after Christmas. I’ve also just been given a huge quantity of lavender by our opposite neighbour who was cutting back her lavender hedge, and as it was starting to drop everywhere, I’ve stripped off all the flowers (mammoth job) and am planning to make some essential oil and maybe some natural cosmetic products which will be nice for presents.

Have a lovely creative week, everyone, and happy WOYWW.

24 comments:

  1. I love your red rug - it makes your office look very cosy and inviting. I also love the bereavement card - it's very beautiful and very special, you can see such a lot of work went into it, and I'm certain it will be treasured. Thanks so much for stopping by my blog hop blog post, I appreciate it as I had felt quite guilty at not nominating anyone. Hope you have a good week, and I'm glad to hear you are keeping positive about the 5/2 diet - most diets I've been on plateau after a while but that's usually when I give up, so well done and keep up the good work!
    Diana

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  2. What a wonderful card for a sad occasion. Like the look of your office. Thanks for sharing your workspace today. Hazel, WOYWW, #34 x

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  3. Your office looks great! I love the rug!
    Well done for doing so well on the diet. Don't worry about the plateau, as long as you don't give up, after a certain point your body will give in and start losing weight again. (I speak from experience).
    You courgette gratin looks great. I make one every time I have some cooked rice leftover. (Because I add a handful of cooked rice). The secret of the soggy gratin is in reducing the liquid when you are cooking the courgettes. Here is my recipe (I have been making it for 25 yrs at least so I have no idea where i got it from):
    450 gr zucchini, roughly chopped
    1 onion, chopped
    2 garlic cloves, crushed
    285 ml (1/2 pint) vegetable stock
    85 gr long grain rice (or use left-over cooked rice)
    2 eggs
    salt & pepper
    57 gr grated reduced fat cheese
    15 gr fresh bread crumbs
    oil spray

    - Put zucchini, onion, garlic & veg stock in a large saucepan. Cover, bring to the boil, boil for 5 minutes. Then uncover, reduce heat and simmer for 20-30 minutes until tender and syrupy with liquid absorbed.
    - Boil water, cook rice and drain.
    - Beat eggs with salt & pepper. Stir in (cooled) rice, zucchini and onion mixture with half the cheese.
    - Spray an oven proof dish with oil and spoon the mixture in it. Sprinkle with remaining cheese mixed with breadcrumbs.
    - Bake in preheated oven and 180 degree C (gas mark 4) for 25 minutes.

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  4. A wonderfully extravagant looking office area now, Shoshi. Fabulous rug.
    Oooooo - felt making. I LOVE it - you can do so much with it. I have - well, had, she died last year - a friend whop made a yurt - and made all the felt to go on it!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    Glad hubby is off on an evening class bonanza, too. All the best to him.
    Take care. God bless.
    Margaret #22

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  5. the card id stunning thanks for sharing..... beatiful to look at so i hope it helps with the loss.
    i intended to email you about the fruit lasagne but lost time last weeek ...dont know wherre it goes will do it when i get home..
    please do tell whatare you using thr electric drill for lol
    janet @18

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  6. Happy WOYWW. I love the red rug. So cosy. What a beautiful card. I would feel so blessed to receive it at a sad time. Thank you for sharing your recipe. I love courgette (as we call it!). Ali x #20

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  7. Hi shoshi
    I couldn't e mail you without downloading more stuff I would love the recipe... perhaps you could e mail me first on beadbaby58@hotmail.co.uk
    so I have your address. thanks
    janet

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  8. Oooh! A desk all ready to get to the next project! Love the red carpet in your office! Chris 46

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  9. Great pictures, and what a fab chair at your desk. the rug is beautiful. Helen 14

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  10. The newly sorted room looks great, and very cosy with the new rug.
    Good luck with the diet
    Hugs
    Debs 35

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  11. Love the new red rug it does go well with the accessories and such a tidy office now, good for you.

    Hope you have a wonderful week crafting.

    Hugs Eliza & Yoda 49
    Happy WOYWW

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  12. great looking work space and I love your fun card. THanks for sharing... :)

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  13. how lovely that your husband and you are both joining courses, my hubby isnt interested in crafting at all :(
    i would love the recipe for the lasagne you made last week! :)

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  14. Your crafty space looks such a cosy place to work, and I love that card - so positive and hopeful, but sensitive at the same time - brill! That gratin looks yummy too. I pinch small portions of things I cook, for Mum (90), too. She prefers her cooked meal at lunch time, so that often works well. Have a great week, Chris # 29

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  15. I love that rug. Not so long ago we went to a shop in Sheffield that sells just oriental rugs ( actually they sell camel bags, table cloths and massive floor cushions too) I could have bought them all, the patterns are so gorgeous.
    Have a great week and happy crafting, Angela x 38

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  16. I am very impressed by your weight loss! Haven't heard of that diet before but going to check it out. Your room looks great and comfy!
    Cheers
    Gabriele 65

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  17. Hi Shoshi,
    Your office looks great! Very luxurious with that rug!
    I did feltmaking years ago and loved it. Just try and use your arms rather than just your hands, if you know what I mean :)
    Thanks for dropping by earlier :)
    RosA # 6

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  18. You call that loads of clutter? That is so neat and tidy! I fear what my desk will look like on some Wednesdays!

    Beautiful bereavement card.

    Have a good weekend. Hugs, Kathy Jo #44

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  19. Oh, the clutter - NOT! It looks organized to me.

    Bereavement cards are so hard but you pulled it off nicely.

    I need to lose weight so badly.... it's hard to exercise when I'm in so much pain all the time. From what I've read everyone hits a plateau but it will come to an end and you'll start losing weight again.

    Not playing along this week but wanted to visit a few people.

    Happy belated WOYWW
    Peace,
    Kay

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  20. Not that card is different from the normal ones we all usual send. It's so nice & i'm sure it will be much appreciated. Sorry i'm a tad late this week ,Happy crafting Jill #11

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  21. Good Morning Sweet Shoshi, it is my pleasure to meet you and to follow your lovely blog. Love your creative space, but ever more your talent at card making. WOW!!! You do gorgeous work. So detailed and so absolutely perfect. I can learn a lot from a sister like yourself.
    I have to say that I love my UK sisters. I have always wanted to travel there, but I'm afraid that it will have to me done through blogging and dreaming. Your post on Plymouth was so much fun. I love those old narrow streets. Can you imagine meeting a wagon or carriage down one of those and having to be the one to back out and make room to pass each other? Our little cottage was built in 1905 and brought here by movers in the 1960's. that is because our town wasn't even started until around the 1920's. That's probably hard for you to imagine, and that's why I love the UK with all of it's history. That and the fact that my heritage roots come from your country.
    My mother's maiden name was Woodworth and my father's was Hardacer. Well, again . . . Happy To Meet You! I am going to enjoy becoming great blogging friends.
    Your newest follower and blogging sister,
    Connie :)

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  22. What a beautiful work of art your bereavement card is, so unusual and thoughtful. Love the look of that courgette gratin too - it's that time of year when we have so many to use up, but I love them! Sorry for the late visit :o) Annie C #45

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  23. great office space and tidy desk all ready for action.the rug looks fab too. As fro the felt making classes sounds like a great course I'm sure we will get to see the results. dinner looked yummy im a very lazy cook full of ideas never make it passed that stage ! hugs Andrea #18

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  24. Sorry you've not been feeling too good this week, hope you start to feel better. Sat typing this in sunny garden on day off - bliss!
    Dig out those stencils & have a play, I was really pleased with the result & the ladies in my class had a ball :-)
    Debs xx

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