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Poster, Kindness and A Poem

One of my pupils with whom I have stayed in touch makes beautiful pieces with her delicate painting and immaculate lettering. Each of the phrases touches me and is part of my philosophy.  She has given me permission to share this lovely work with you.

Thank you, Rachel McCann, artist

Someone down our street very kindly put out a bucket of Narcissi for people to help themselves to – so I did and they are gorgeous, scented and full of colour.

There were so many flowers in the bucket that I imagined their back garden to be bursting with daffodils and that brought to mind the much loved Wordsworth poem, I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud.

I wandered lonely as a cloud
That floats on high o’er vales and hills,
When all at once I saw a crowd,
A host, of golden daffodils;
Beside the lake, beneath the trees,
Fluttering and dancing in the breeze.
Continuous as the stars that shine
And twinkle on the milky way,
They stretched in never-ending line
Along the margin of a bay:
Ten thousand saw I at a glance,
Tossing their heads in sprightly dance.
The waves beside them danced; but they
Out-did the sparkling waves in glee:
A poet could not but be gay,
In such a jocund company:
I gazed—and gazed—but little thought
What wealth the show to me had brought:
For oft, when on my couch I lie
In vacant or in pensive mood,
They flash upon that inward eye
Which is the bliss of solitude;
And then my heart with pleasure fills,
And dances with the daffodils.

 

 

John Passmore Edwards in Redruth

Today is the bicentennial of the birth of John Passmore Edwards who was born near Redruth in Blackwater, in 1823, He was a chartist and philanthropist, and  a life-long champion of the working classes and is remembered as a generous benefactor.
Over the relatively short space of 14 years, 70 major buildings were established in Cornwall, London and other places in the UK, for the benefit of local communities.  One of these is the old Redruth Library building on Clinton Road – now re-opened as The Ladder and today we joined a wonderful celebration, the Human Book Chain!

The library is now  nearer to the town and about 100 people including children from two local schools formed a chain between the two buildings and passed books along. Everyone looked at the titles as the books were passed from hand to hand.

Part of the human chain passing books along, photo taken by Ladder photographer

Puppet Passmore Edwards on his way back to The Ladder
The following poem and film were shown at The Ladder  and are a wonderful tribute to a remarkable man. Your Space and Mine – A Passmore Edwards Poem by Ben Rowswell.
 

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Fabric, Raindrop and Venus

Among the fabric I collected yesterday to make veggie bags for Community Roots was a long strip of beautifully embroidered linen. I’m using it for the gusset of the bag and it’s gorgeous!

I love how raindrops collect at the end of the little blooms of Muscari.

Tonight there is a delicate crescent moon shining below Venus. Somewhere below the moon is Jupiter but it’s hidden behind the branches of the tree. The edge of sunset can be seen over Carn Brea.

 

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Yarn Humour, A Shard and Daffodils

I called into Make A mends again this morning to collect some fabric and spotted a wonderful piece of yarn work. How I wish I had had these crutches when I had my new hips fitted!

On the pavement in town today was a tiny bit of pottery.

We drove through Tresillian this afternoon and I just managed to get a shot of half of Tregothnan Gatehouse and the hundreds of daffodils, nodding away in the breeze.

Ramadan Mubarak! May this blessed month bring peace and happiness to our dear family and friends.

 

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Street Art, Dinner and A Poem

After an enjoyable writers’ workshop this morning where I was introduced to a poem from Thich Naht Hahn that I didn’t know, I had shopping to do in Redruth. In one window was a charming Seagull, further along, an amusing and  unique hanging basket and along the lane to the car park, another delightful piece of street art, a huge vase of sunflowers. Of course, that reminded me of our dear Ukrainian friends to whom I send love in this post.

I’m experimenting with more and more veggie meals and tonight tried an Aubergine, Tomato and Halloumi bake. It was as delicious as it was pretty.

And here is the poem, “The Good News”, to which we all responded positively. We then each wrote our own version and they were a joy to listen to as well as to write. It’s World Poetry Day too….

The good news
they do not print.
The good news
we do print.
We have a special edition every moment,
and we need you to read it.
The good news is that you are alive,
that the linden tree is still there,
standing firm in the harsh winter.
The good news is that you have wonderful eyes
to touch the blue sky.
The good news is that your child is there before you,
and your arms are available:
hugging is possible.
They only print what is wrong.
Look at each of our special editions.
We always offer the things that are not wrong.
We want you to benefit from them
and help protect them.
The dandelion is there by the sidewalk,
smiling its wondrous smile,
singing the song of eternity.
Listen. You have ears that can hear it.
Bow your head.
Listen to it.
Leave behind the world of sorrow,
of preoccupation,
and get free.
The latest good news
is that you can do it.

by Thich Nhat Hanh

 

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International Day of Happiness

“The International Day of Happiness is celebrated throughout the world on 20 March. It was established by the United Nations General Assembly on 28 June 2012. The International Day of Happiness aims to make people around the world realise the importance of happiness within their lives.”

On another grey day here in Cornwall,  here are lots of  spring flowers in our front garden to hopefully contribute to happiness for you, dear reader.

This makes for very happy reading! https://www.cornwalllive.com/news/cornwall-news/quiet-anarchy-ridding-redruth-deprived-8257349?fbclid=IwAR0vOOXbZh0agEabtUPcQqoqQdpLKmMq60rymbMw5UIu4Fz4WKOSOidSA9w

Have a happy day!

 

Patchwork and My Mum

When I realised that today is International Patchwork Day, I knew how I wanted to honour my lovely Mum on this Mother’s Day. Mum loved craft things, she sewed, knitted, crocheted and made beautiful patchwork. Here are two of her greatly treasured pieces. I also have the miniature chest of drawers where she kept all the accoutrements needed for the making and have kept the pretty templates.

Here’s love in the form of hyacinths from our Suffragette garden for Mother’s Day –  to the Mother in us all and to the Mother of us all –

– and especially to my dear daughters who have dear daughters of their own.

 

Sewing, Earrings and A Jacket

I almost made us a new shopping bag yesterday, just had to sew on the handles today which I did first thing and we are very pleased with it.

We popped into Make A Mends to say Hello this morning while in town for our bread and veggies. I was very taken with how they were displaying earrings – how inventive!

While in there, a fabulous black and silver jacket caught my eye, just the thing for wearing in Truro Cathedral in a couple of weeks when my choir, whose ‘uniform’ is black and silver, will be performing.

 

 

St Patrick’s Day

I’ve been sewing all day and not been outside at all to take photos so here is an  Irish toast for you for this Saint’s Day – for all my friends, those I know virtually through this blog and those I know in real life, love to you all.

 
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Posted by on March 17, 2023 in Uncategorized

 

Patterns, Colours and Last Bloom

I love the patterns that came on the aubergine as I was softening it for tonight’s Aubergine Parmigiana.

Layering up the aubergine, the mozzarella, the tomato sauce and the basil made a very pretty dish. I stuck a few yellow pepper slices in too.

Our pretty winter flowering clematis, “Wisley Cream ” started flowering in  mid November and dropped its last bloom today. That is very good value.  I took this photo yesterday.

 
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Posted by on March 16, 2023 in Food, nature, photography, Postaday 2023

 

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