Catch Up Post - Poppy/Sonny Jim gets Certified.

Jim visited the UK

Husband Jim went to the UK for 3 days and of course saw Poppy and Sonny, his Grandchildren in West Sussex. He took a few photos so here is just a selection:


She is getting so grown up now.

Poppy with her doll. She's rather petite so the trousers have to be rolled up!

Sonny on Mum Jenny's lap, Auntie Ali (Poppy's Mum) making him laugh.


Happy Sonny

Now these next two are funny - Poppy thought she'd quite like Sonny's dummy!


Look at Sonny's face!!

Hopefully I will be able to catch up with both of them soon.

Jim gets Certified!

You probably know that Jim volunteers to teach 'Silver Surfers' basic computing. He was invited to a 'do', which I thought was just a meeting, but it turned out to be a bit of a celebration. There had been a painting competition at the library in Ennis and the winners of that had to go up to the table and collect their prizes.

After that, the volunteers had to do the same and they each received a certificate. Jim said it was like prize day at school!

And, even worse, I made him pose with it at home!

The organisation running the courses, called 'Getting Started', is Age Action Ireland (For all Older People).

Jim's certificate reads 'Certificate of Appreciation to Jim Deen in recognition of the valuable contribution to the Getting Started Training Programme, 19th February 2010.

Well, how exciting! I think it's excellent that they take the trouble to officially thank the volunteers and show they are appreciated. Jim has been to Scarriff this morning for the start of the new course. The first course was in Ennis, but Scarriff is one of our favourite little towns, so he enjoyed going there too. Afterwards, the helpers went for a coffee and a scone. I think I'm missing out here somewhere.

A New Visitor to Our Garden

When Jim returned, it was snowing, as it still is, and we were watching all the birds fighting over the feeders outside my room. Jim thought one of the birds looked a bit different from our usual collection as it had a little russet red 'cap' on the top of its head. We have discovered it is a 'Common Redpoll'. Well, it's hardly common to us, as we've neither of us seen one before. We love our birds and it's exciting when a new one appears. Today there are:

Siskin, Goldfinch, Chaffinch, blue tit, great tit and coal tit. Robin, Blackbird and Magpie. And......... Redpoll!


Such a cute little thing. The male has a red chest too so ours must have been a female or an immature male.

ATC

We have reached 'G' in our alphabet of Artist Trading Cards and here is my effort:

G is for Gold (and a little bit of green). The colours aren't very true - it's full of 'bling', definitely a gaudy gold. I enjoyed making this collage ATC.

Postcard From Bea

Oh Wow. Bea from Dog In the Hole Studio makes fantastic fabric postcards. She sent me this one for Valentine's Day - I just love it. The heart is stuffed and squishy. Do visit Bea's Blog, it's full of wonderful things. She has an amazing studio and talent flows around in there as though it's built into the fabric of the building.

This is the other side:

It's amazing how well this fabric postcard has survived from the USA to Ireland. It wasn't in an envelope either. According to the back, it was delivered 'by ship's cat'.

Olympics

I've been a bit hooked on the Winter Olympics. This is all very well but it goes on until 5am here! Last night it was the free programme in the Ice Dance. I love the skating and some of the performances took your breath away. I also watched several Curling matches, but every time I watch either of our teams (well, Team UK), they lose.

Enough for today I think. I hope it's been a Top Tuesday for everyone.