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Monthly Archives: September 2013

Rose Hips, Papaya and Superpowers

1 Coming away from my piano lesson today (where I played that phrase properly and have moved on some more!) , there was a whole hedge of beautiful rose-hips ranging from yellow to orange to pink to deepest red. I really ought to pick some and make rose-hip syrup.

Rugosa hedge

Rose-hips, raindrops and webs

2 I love the inside of the Papaya, the contrast between the pale golds of the flesh with the dark, glossy seeds within.

Inside a Papaya, for the Photo Challenge

3 We’re going to see Grand-baby B at the weekend and I am busy knitting to order a few pairs of the next size up Sally-boots. I’ll show you the finished articles tomorrow.

I knit! What’s your Superpower?

27 Comments

Posted by mybeautfulthings on September 13, 2013 in Beauty, Humour, nature, photography, Postaday2013, Weekly photo challenge

Tags: papaya, rose-hip syrup, super-power, Weekly Photo Challenge: Inside

Lunch, Jelly Babies and Ragtime

12 Sep

1 After singing this morning, a long and lovely lunch by the sea with good friends. What could be better?!

Gylly Beach

2 Just sometimes I have to have Jelly babies! These are the last three as I was rewarding myself each time I cracked the following bar of music!

The last three Jelly Babies

Ragtime rhythm

3 This music will look very easy to those of you are musicians. I’m on Grade 2 and getting that rhythm right has been really hard. Tonight I did it, over and over again – hence no Jelly Babies left!

13 Comments

Posted by mybeautfulthings on September 12, 2013 in Beauty, Cornwall, music, photography, piano, Postaday2013, Sea

Tags: grade two piano, jelly babies, piano lessons, ragtime

Pink Garden, A Bench and Jacques Prévert

11 Sep

1 Our September garden has a delicate pinkness about it which has taken me by surprise as pink is not my favourite colour. However, each flower is just beautiful.

Japanese Anemone

Wall Daisies

Kaffir Lily

2 I love owls and was delighted to be sent this photograph. How I would love a bench like this! I think there are 15 owls…….

Owl bench

3 Commenting on El Guapo’s blog recently, I was reminded of an exchange visit I made to Toulouse when I was seventeen. I spoke a few weeks ago of first meeting The Little Prince on that trip. I was also lucky enough to be introduced to the poetry of Jacques Prévert and loved this one though the falling of the horse always concerns me. I love the alliteration of the L sound and am very fond of the sound of soleil and feuilles. Just a beautiful poem.

L’Automne
Un cheval s’écroule au milieu d’une allée
Les feuilles tombent sur lui
Notre amour frissone
Et le soleil aussi.

Jacques Prévert

Autumn
A horse collapses in the middle of an alley
Leaves fall on him
Our love trembles
And the sun too.

Translation by Lawrence Ferlinghetti

PS As I’ve looked at the preview there seems to be space for an advert. It seems I have to pay more to have these removed………

11 Comments

Posted by mybeautfulthings on September 11, 2013 in Beauty, environment, flowers, French, literature, nature, photography, Postaday2013, sculpture

Tags: French exchange, French poetry, Jacques Prévert, Lawrence Ferlinghetti

Exeter, Cow Parsley and A Surprise

10 Sep

1 We had a delightful sunny day out in Exeter today. There are some very beautiful buildings, interesting alleyways, poems on the pavements, paintings by Year 1 pupils from a local school in the car-park and a intriguing mural. Click on any photo in the gallery to see more detail.

Exeter Cathedral

Timbered building

Parliament Street

Paintings by local children

Pavement poetry

Flower filled lane

Looking up at lovely buildings

Another timbered building

2 Swapping drivers on the way home, I just had time to catch some Cow Parsley seed heads against the lowering sky before jumping into the driving seat.

Cow parsley against a darkening sky

3 A lovely surprise was waiting for me when I picked up today’s post – a card picturing a pair of our favourite birds thanking me for mybeautifulthings! A perfect end to a very enjoyable day.

Beautiful surprise – thank you Ti

5 Comments

Posted by mybeautfulthings on September 10, 2013 in architecture, art, Beauty, environment, mural, photography, Postaday2013

Tags: cow parsley, Exeter, Exeter Cathedral, seed heads

Soup, Sunflower and Singing in Harmony

09 Sep

1 We have so many Runner Beans! The freezer is nearly full and so are we but today we found many recipes for Runner Bean Soup on the internet so I made up my own adapting several of them and it was delicious. We had some for lunch and have 2 pints frozen. More tomorrow!

Runner bean soup

2 Coming home from town today we saw some glorious sunflowers peeking over the fence about 8ft above us.

September sunflower

3 The new term has started at The Ingleheart Singers and it was so good to get back to singing in harmony again. Apparently singing in harmony is very good for the heart and the brain as well as for the soul. I certainly always feel better after a singing session. If I feel good before I go, I feel brilliant afterwards. On those occasions when I feel low, if I go to choir, I feel better in no time! I’ve taken the following quotation from an anonymous essay based on Imperfect Harmony: Finding Happiness While Singing With Others by Stacy Horn, Algonquin Books. I’d love to give credit to the essay writer if anyone knows who it is. Thanks, anyway!

“Singing might be our most perfect drug; the ultimate mood regulator, lowering rates of anxiety, depression and loneliness, while at the same time amplifying happiness and joy, with no discernible, unpleasant side effects. ”

PS The butterfly I was trying to identify yesterday seems to be a female Chequered Skipper. Thanks to lots of you for the help.

10 Comments

Posted by mybeautfulthings on September 9, 2013 in Beauty, flowers, Food, garden, growing, nature, photography, Postaday2013, singing

Tags: Algonquin Books., Imperfect Harmony: Finding Happiness While Singing With Others, runner bean soup, singing in harmony, Stacy Horn, sunflower, The Ingleheart Singers

Arch, Agapanthus and A Butterfly

08 Sep

1 We were only away a week and the garden has grown and grown! There are so many beans to harvest and the arch is almost completely covered. You might just make out the new horse that is being kept in the field at the back.

Clematis over the arch

2 The Agapanthus are opening at last.

Opening Agapanthus

3 This pretty little creature was around the garden most of the afternoon but was very hard to catch on camera. I love its furry little body.

Moth or butterfly? Can anyone identify this one for me?

19 Comments

Posted by mybeautfulthings on September 8, 2013 in Beauty, environment, flowers, garden, nature, photography, Postaday2013

Tags: Agapanthus, butterfly, moth

Weekly Photo Challenge: An Unusual POV

08 Sep

This is not your usual view of Truro Cathedral but one which caught my eye yesterday. I like the way the trees partly obscure the building and how the light stone of the Cathedral is both caught in the sunlight and framed by the shadowy buildings of the narrow alleyway.

Truro Cathedral

To see other entries for this Challenge, visit

http://dailypost.wordpress.com/2013/09/06/unusual/

19 Comments

Posted by mybeautfulthings on September 8, 2013 in architecture, Beauty, Cornwall, photography, Postaday2013, Truro, Weekly photo challenge

Tags: Truro Cathedral, Weekly Photo Challenge: An Unusual POV

Cornish Crabs, Shoes and A Staircase

07 Sep

1 The Farmers’ Market was in full swing in Truro this morning and I just had to photograph the enormous crabs on the fresh fish stall.

Cornish crabs

2 I love gorgeous shoes but the Docs are more my style than the ones with heels, lovely though they are.

Shoes I would love to have!

Red Doc Martens

3 I love this colourful staircase in one of my favourite shops., all decorated with tiles.

Beautiful staircase

13 Comments

Posted by mybeautfulthings on September 7, 2013 in Beauty, photography, Postaday2013

Tags: Cornish crabs, Doc Martens, farmers market, hen crabs, spider crabs

Measuring Jugs, Lime, Yogurt and Rose Petal Cake and Allotment Party

06 Sep

1 I found some delightful little measuring flasks while shopping yesterday.

Tiny new measuring jugs

2 It was our lovely neighbour’s birthday while we were away and today I baked her a Lime, Yogurt and Rose Petal Cake for the party this evening. Recipe coming soon and it is both easy and dee-licious!

Yogurt and Lime with Rose Petal Cake

3 The party was at the Allotments and it rained all evening but we had a lovely time. The barbecue was kept dry with big umbrellas and everyone had fun! The staff at the Lost Gardens of Heligan staff had made Sue a birthday cake in the shape of the Heligan Giant that she and Pete sculpted.

Giant Cake

Barbeque in the rain

Party in the pouring rain

Going home in the rain

9 Comments

Posted by mybeautfulthings on September 6, 2013 in baking, Beauty, photography, The Lost Gardens of Heligan

Tags: allotments, birthday cake, Lime and Yogurt Cake, rose petal cake

Moroccan Treats, Speedboat and Home

05 Sep

1 D&A’s lovely Moroccan neighbour brought round some more sweetmeats for us, this time to take home as a goodbye present. They have dates inside and are delicious little mouthfuls!