What's On Your Workdesk this 470th Wednesday: the D Day edition

I know Julia, at Stamping Ground, our desker Queen and WOYWW host, likes things short and sweet.  However, this is the only chance today I'll get to remind the entire WORLD that this is June 6, also known as D-Day.

Not as used in military lingo denoting when an operation will take place, this specific D-Day is synonymous with June 6, 1944, the day more than 160,000 American, British, and Canadian troops crossed the English Channel and landed along a 50-mile stretch of heavily fortified French coastline, to fight Nazi Germany on the beaches of Normandy, France, thus beginning the liberation of Western Europe from Nazi control during World War II.

As a bit of history, British troops were sent to Sword Beach and Gold Beach, while Canadian troops were sent to Juno Beach.   American troops landed on Omaha and Utah Beaches. Juno and Omaha Beaches suffered very little damage from air strikes because visibility was so poor. This made the amphibious landings far more difficult and dangerous. 

More than 5,000 ships and 13,000 aircraft supported the D-Day invasion, and by the end of the day, Allies gained a foot-hold in continental Europe. The cost in lives on D-Day was high. More than 9,000 Allied soldiers were killed or wounded.  The fight was not in vain, though.  Within three months, the northern part of France was freed and the invasion force was preparing to enter Germany, where they joined Soviet forces moving in from the east.  D-Day is the day that started what is considered the single greatest battle of WWII.

It's been 74 years since Operation Overlord as it was officially called, but I suspect those brave men (and women) still alive who lived through this invasion will remember it like it was yesterday.  Please remember these brave British, Canadian, and American souls who gave everything to keep us safe from Hitler.

 Now it's time for me to remove my history hat and put on my voyeur hat.

I waited until after the mail had arrived, hoping Neet's ATC would arrive.  Sadly, it is not here yet.   Here are the ones I made for Julia and Sarah, my PIF.  Both have received theirs.  The one at the top is my prototype.

I can't seem to get motivated, so my desk has seen absolutely no activity this week, except my ICADs and 365 something collages which I've already scanned, shared, and filed away.

But I'm really in LOVE with my newest rocking horse, which I received for my bEARTHday.  It came all the way from Austria, and I love it.

It was part of a huge gift from Susi, my friend and co-administrator of Art Journal Journey.   I realize you shouldn't show favoritism, but I can't help it.  This is the most unique rocking horse I now can call my own.

As I was putting my beautiful new rocker back, I noticed how horrible my "tool" caddy was looking.  I was actually ashamed to show it in the photos and Wendy wasn't looking too happy, either.

To make a long post even longer, 

I bit the bullet and took time to clean it.

I'm glad I did, because I found a few things I had forgotten I had placed in this caddy.  Even Wendy can now hold her head high.

Thank you for joining me today.  I appreciate your visit, and if you are here from Julia's, I guess you know to leave your number.