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Monthly Archives: June 2015

The Garden Year, Carrots and A Village Marker

All around the scanning department at our hospital are beautifully crafted verses from The Garden Year. June is etched into glass and couldn’t be photographed but here is October – and the whole poem.

The Garden Year

Sara Coleridge

January brings the snow,
Makes our feet and fingers glow.

February brings the rain,
Thaws the frozen lake again.

March brings breezes, loud and shrill,
To stir the dancing daffodil.

April brings the primrose sweet,
Scatters daisies at our feet.

May brings flocks of pretty lambs
Skipping by their fleecy dams.

June brings tulips, lilies, roses,
Fills the children’s hands with posies.

Hot July brings cooling showers,
Apricots, and gillyflowers.

August brings the sheaves of corn,
Then the harvest home is borne.

Warm September brings the fruit;
Sportsmen then begin to shoot.

Fresh October brings the pheasant;
Then to gather nuts is pleasant.

Dull November brings the blast;
Then the leaves are whirling fast.

Chill December brings the sleet,
Blazing fire, and Christmas treat.

October

October

2   I called in at The Old  Market Chacewater,  on our way home from Truro. It is a delight, a treasure trove of beautiful vegetables, delicious bread and pastries – I bought a Pain-au-raisin and a Chocolate Croissant as well as the gorgeous carrots.

Multi-coloured carrots

Multi-coloured carrots

3 Singing tonight  was, as always, so good for the soul and lifted my spirits – a boost that I brought home to share with the lovely Mr S.  The village that we sing in has put an eye-catching little treat on the roadside as one enters the village.

A delight to see

A representation of the iconic engine houses that are all over this part of Cornwall

 

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A Morning in Porthtowan

What a  lovely way to spend Father’s Day! The morning at the beach and then in Blue Bar for Brunch was just perfect. We enjoyed watching some people rowing in the waves and it was only when looking through the photos that we realised I had caught the moment when the tiller-man went overboard and then climbed back in. At one point later on, when I looked up from playing with Littlest Live-wire, I realised that the boat was empty – they had all fallen out!  They swam to shore as the waves brought in the boat.  Click on any photo for detail and the caption.

 

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Potatoes, Hair-Band and Focaccia

A friend dug up these beautiful potatoes today.

Stacey's  beautiful potatoes just out of the veg patch!

Stacey’s beautiful potatoes just out of the veg patch!

I finished a new head-band for our Littlest Live-wire just in time for her return tonight. She and her Mum will be here for Father’s day in the morning – a very welcome distraction just now.

Daisy head-band

Daisy head-band

I baked a Focaccia to go with our colourful Chicken, Peppers and Butter-bean stew for tonight’s dinner.

Focaccia just out of the oven

Focaccia just out of the oven

 

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Photos, Texts and A Poem

Our Littlest Live-wire is with her other Grandparents for a  week and these photos came our way tonight – very cheery and good for the soul.

Littlest Live-wire at Sheepwash

Littlest Live-wire at Sheepwash

Water heaven in the Mussel Brook. —  in Sheepwash.

Water heaven in the Mussel Brook. — in Sheepwash.

My beloved brother and my bestest Sister-in-law have travelled to Cornwall today and we will see them tomorrow. Exchanging texts all day has been restorative too.

And a lovely poem for you, Hope is the Thing by Emily Dickinson

“Hope” is the thing with feathers –
That perches in the soul –
And sings the tune without the words –
And never stops – at all –
And sweetest – in the Gale – is heard –
And sore must be the storm –
That could abash the little Bird
That kept so many warm –
I’ve heard it in the chillest land –
And on the strangest Sea –
Yet – never – in Extremity,
It asked a crumb – of me.

 

 
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Posted by on June 19, 2015 in Beauty, family, photography, poetry

 

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The Kiss, English and Love

We have had a very odd and trying day so just a couple of beautiful things that came my way via friends. The first is very beautiful in the face of war and destruction. It makes me both tearful and hopeful. The second will make any English speaker smile and any learner of English wince. With love to you all, my dear Readers.

Syrian artist Tammam Azzam and his personal Gustav Klimt's %22The Kiss%22 on war-torn building in Syria >>> http-::loves.domusweb.it:freedom-graffiti:

Syrian artist Tammam Azzam and his personal Gustav Klimt’s %22The Kiss%22 on war-torn building in Syria >>> http-::loves.domusweb.it:freedom-graffiti:

Why English is so hard

Why English is so hard

 
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Posted by on June 18, 2015 in Beauty, photography, Uncategorized

 

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First Beans, First Sweet Peas and Books

We have had our first Broad Beans tonight and they were truly scrumptious!

First crop in Mum's trug

First crop in Mum’s trug

2   The Sweet Peas are getting up the arch and the first ones have flowered today. I am hoping for the arch to be covered before my beloved brother and SIL leave in early July. They will arrive on Friday and I am very excited!

First Sweet peas going up the arch

First Sweet peas going up the arch

3   Julia Donaldson is the author of many books for children including the wonderful Gruffalo . These are her words and I so echo them.  I wonder which books have lived on most in you, dear Readers.

I opened a book - Julia Donaldson

I opened a book – Julia Donaldson

The crazy characters of Under Milk Wood, the beautiful and zany Pippi Longstocking and The Scarlet Pimpernel are among some of the many that are inside me for ever.

 
 

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Hair-Band, Reflection and Chive Flower

I managed, just before they left yesterday to knit a new hair-band for Littlest Live-wire to stop her hair getting into her dinner. I copied the design of the one she already had but made it in purple, white and green to start her early on knowing her heritage. For new readers, my Great Granny was a Suffragette so Granny Wiseman, imprisoned and force-fed for her actions is Great Great Great Granny to Littlest Live-wire.

Purple, White and Green hairband

Purple, White and Green hairband

2   Sitting in the garden over supper tonight, the poppies were reflected in the windows. They looked like an Impressionist painting.

Painted poppies

Painted poppies

3   Chive flowers are both pretty and tasty!

Chive flower

Chive flower

 
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Posted by on June 16, 2015 in art, Beauty, photography, postaday2015

 

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Stories and Silence

Littlest Live-wire loved ‘My Cat Loves to Hide in Boxes’ and was joining in after only two repetitions. I can’t recall how many times we read that this morning!

Reading "My Cat Like To Hide In Boxes"

Reading “My Cat Like To Hide In Boxes”

Grannymar posted this poem today and the last verse seemed so appropriate as  L and the Littlest Live-wire left after lunch today.

Silence

Silence in joy and silence of sorrow
Silence to help through the cares of tomorrow.
Silence in pain and in frustration
Silence in coping with a new limitation.

Silence as I watch each new day dawn
Silence of long evenings when the blinds are drawn.
Silence when tucked up all cosy and warm
Silence before a violent winter storm.

Silence for when someone refuses to listen
Silence when engrossed in a project or mission.
Silence of persistence to learn something new
Silence when struggling with a rusty old screw.

Silence of a day when the phone has not rung
Silence of satisfaction when the beads are strung.
Silence returning home from a day of fun
Silence sipping coffee just made for one.

Silence of ageing ears needing turned up sound
Silence when you find yourself lying on the ground.
Silence when the washer stops before the work is done.
Silence as you wait for workmen to come.

Silence of my world with a first fall of snow
Silence as I mix a new batch of dough.
Silence of expectation at each new destination
Silence watching a child in deep concentration.

Silence of special hugs when loved ones arrive,
Hoping they don’t say “We are leaving by five”!
Silence, long silence when the foot-falls fade.
Silence of thanks for the love they conveyed.

and this is what was left on the lawn…..

Abandoned

Abandoned

 

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Playing and Discovering – In the Garden and At the Beach

Just a gallery of a lovely day for you today. Our eldest daughter came  to join us for lunch at The Blue Bar and then home for the afternoon. Only another half day with L and the Littlest Livewire……

 

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Femmes de la Mer, Stone and Fireplace

This weekend sees the fabulous Sea Shanty Festival in Falmouth and we went over this afternoon especially to see Femmes de la Mer who are a bunch of wonderful women with whom I sing on Thursday mornings. Their singing was  just fabulous with lovely harmonies and drew the biggest crowd we saw all afternoon.

Femmes de la Mer singing sea shanties

Femmes de la Mer singing Sea Shanties

Here is a snippet of them singing before my battery died and I moved to my other camera.

 

After watching and listening to them we called in at a delightful little cafe, Ragamuffin, for coffee and the most scrumptious cakes. They made us very welcome and accommodated the pushchair with great courtesy.  The table markers were charming and ……

Table markers at Ragamuffin

Table markers at Ragamuffin

3   ….. the fireplace  just lovely.

Fireplace at Ragamuffin

Fireplace at Ragamuffin

 

 

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