RSS

Monthly Archives: November 2013

Email, Card and Mural

1 I received a lovely email from one of the Cor Serenata thanking me for the book I sent and looking forward to The Inglehearts’ reciprocal visit to Port Talbot next year.

2 This card has been on the dresser for a few days brightening my days. It came from a very good friend left behind in Yorkshire when we came back to Cornwall nearly 6 years ago and it was a real joy to receive. A is one of those special people who you might not be in touch with or see for months but the moment you are together, the time falls away and there you are again, warm, happy and safe in each other’s company.

Inside it says, ‘…the way thoughts of you brighten mine!’

3 At the hospital today (just for Visual fields tests as my Dad had glaucoma) I found the other delightful mural by Peter Wright. This one is called, ‘Falmouth Working Boats’ and is about 3 meters long. To see the first one if you missed it, click here.

‘Falmouth Working Boats’ by Peter Wright

Detail of the mural

NaBloPoMo

3 Comments

Posted by mybeautfulthings on November 12, 2013 in antiques, Beauty, ceramics, mural, photography, Postaday2013, Uncategorized

Tags: Cor Serenata, Falmouth Working Boats, friendship, NaBloPoMo, Peter Wright, Port Talbot

Lest We Forget, Poppy Fields and A Poem

11 Nov

It’s November 11th, Armistice Day, and we remember all those who died in all wars, soldiers and civilians, in the past and those ongoing. We continue to support those who work for peace.

Poppy field in Doncaster June 2010

Poppy from that field

I find this poem by a German poet, Georg Trakl, very moving. The waste of war, the tragedy, the dreadful contrast with natural beauty are all here, affecting all those involved, whichever side they are fighting for. The last line gives me shivers.

Grodek

At evening the autumn woodlands ring
With deadly weapons. Over the golden plains
And lakes of blue, the sun
More darkly rolls. The night surrounds
Warriors dying and the wild lament
Of their fragmented mouths.
Yet silently there gather in the willow combe
Red clouds inhabited by an angry god,
Shed blood, and the chill of the moon.
All roads lead to black decay.
Under golden branching of the night and stars
A sister’s shadow sways through the still grove
To greet the heroes’ spirits, the bloodied heads.
And softly in the reeds Autumn’s dark flutes resound.
O prouder mourning! – You brazen altars,
The spirit’s hot flame is fed now by a tremendous pain:
The grandsons, unborn.

Georg Trakl

You may also like this post from Remembrance Day last year where there is another beautiful poem. Click on the red link.

NaBloPoMo

14 Comments

Posted by mybeautfulthings on November 11, 2013 in Beauty, flowers, History, literature, nature, photography, poetry, Postaday2013

Tags: Armistice Day, Georg Trakl, German poet, NaBloPoMo, poppies, remembrance, veterans

Weekly Photo Challenge: Habit

10 Nov

It has become our habit to walk around the fields at the National Trust’s Trelissick Gardens on days when we don’t have time for a longer walk. We can combine the walk with a visit to the Art Gallery and a coffee in the cafe should we choose. The views over the creeks and the Carrick Roads towards Falmouth are very beautiful and always uplifting.

From Trelissick over The Carrick Roads

Out to sea

Closer to the water

7 Comments

Posted by mybeautfulthings on November 10, 2013 in Beauty, Cornwall, environment, nature, photography, Postaday2013

Tags: carrick roads, National Trust, Trelissick Gardens

Winter Dawn, Catkins and Cornish Hedge

10 Nov

1 I really enjoy being able to see the dawn at this time of year without having to get up early! I love the dark grey clouds here contrasting with the sky blue and the orange with the horizon still black.

Beautiful dawn sky

2 We had a delightful walk around Trelissick this morning with L and Grand-Baby B and I was surprised to see Hazel catkins so early.

Hazel catkins

3 The Cornish hedge had a Spring-like feel to it too with the young green Fern fronds and the Pennyworts in abundance.

Cornish hedge greenery

Follow this link for lots more interesting posts in the NaBloPoMo Challenge.

4 Comments

Posted by mybeautfulthings on November 10, 2013 in Beauty, environment, nature, photography, Postaday2013

Tags: Cornish hedge, NaBloPoMo, winter dawn

Goldfinches, Gift and Rainbow Vegetables (and Cor Serenata)

09 Nov

1 I managed to catch a couple of Goldfinches at the feeder this morning.

Goldfinches

2 Today I have posted off a copy of one of my Dad’s books, ‘Moonglow’, to Cor Serenata, the Welsh choir who visited us last August, as a small thank you present for such a lovely weekend. I’ve only just realised that I didn’t post about the concert! See below for a gallery.

‘Moonglow’ and ‘Lleuwedd’

3 The vegetables all chopped for Roast Veg with Halloumi looked so lovely, almost all colours of the rainbow.

Rainbow Vegetables

The visit of Cor Serenata which was such fun!

Friday rehearsal

Flowers for the tables

Warm up on Saturday afternoon

Claire teaching Cor Serenata one of our songs for the evening concert

Cor Serenata

The buffet

Caramelised Onion Galette

Lime, lemon and violet cheesecake for buffet

The Ingleheart Singers, thanks to Cor Serenata, thanks to Beady Bean Davies

Cor Serenata, thanks to Beady Bean Davies

NaBloPoMo

2 Comments

Posted by mybeautfulthings on November 9, 2013 in Beauty, Food, nature, photography, Postaday2013

Tags: Cor Serenata, David Wiseman, goldfinches, NaBloPoMo, Rainbow Vegetables, Welsh choir

Beads, Weather Vane and Xylophone Playing

08 Nov

1 I discovered a shop full of brightly coloured beads today….

Beautiful beads

2 Just about to leave Truro, the last rays of the sun illuminated the weather vane on top of the Cathedral. As I turned round, there was a peachy sunset cloud with a crescent moon above.

Truro Cathedral

The waxing crescent of the moon

3 Grandbaby B took to the xylophone very quickly and with obvious delight!

Grandbaby B playing the xylophone

NaBloPoMo

2 Comments

Posted by mybeautfulthings on November 8, 2013 in Beauty, Grandchildren, music, nature, photography, Postaday2013

Tags: NaBloPoMo, phases of the moon, waxing crescent of the moon, weather vane, xylophone

Find the Time, Bikes and South Crofty Sunset

07 Nov

1 Being too busy for our own good became a topic of conversation after singing this morning and then I found this in my inbox – perfect timely advice!

Find the time

2 Near the cafe is a Bike Workshop where I keep meaning to bring my bike for an overhaul.

Bike and tandem outside the workshop

3 I caught the headgear of South Crofty Tin Mine looking very dramatic with tonight’s glorious sunset behind it.

Golden sunlit puddles

NaBloPoMo

2 Comments

Posted by mybeautfulthings on November 7, 2013 in Beauty, Cornwall, environment, nature, photography, Postaday2013

Tags: Bike Workshop, NaBloPoMo, South Crofty Tin Mine

Misty Flowers, Toffee Apple Buns and Anniversary

06 Nov

1 Walking back from town in the mizzle today, the Hydrangeas and the Pink Geranium still look beautiful.

Hydrangeas in the mist

Geranium

2 I spent the afternoon baking Spiced Toffee Apple Buns for choir tomorrow as The Suitcases will have been together for four years this week……

Spiced Toffee Apple Buns

3 ……and I’ve been blogging for two whole years – 798 posts, 821 Followers and 67,889 Readers in 144 countries! Thank-you to you all for your continued support, your comments and your friendship.

Happy Anniversary from WordPress

NaBloPoMo

12 Comments

Posted by mybeautfulthings on November 6, 2013 in baking, Beauty, environment, flowers, Food, garden, nature, photography, Postaday2013

Tags: anniversary, NaBloPoMo, Pink Geranium, Spiced Toffee Apple Buns

Garden Birds, Doorway and Memories

05 Nov

1 The birds are back! There was an enormous crowd of Long Tailed Tits taking turns at the feeder today, in skittish mood and impossible to photograph. There were also Goldfinches and Great Tits. It’s lovely to have them all back again.

2 We went back to Penzance today, albeit briefly, and this open doorway was very inviting but we were in a hurry….. Next time.

Open gate

3 We went past a tree with a purple ribbon tied around it so I stepped over the grass to find out what it was all about. I have never before seen a plaque so worded and I found it very moving.

Be-ribboned tree

Memories

My Mum would have loved this blog. She had such a lovely positive attitude to everything and today, her birthday, is Bonfire Night. Mum loved that everyone celebrated her birthday with her!