Turning over our perpetual calendar this morning, I found these words by Jean Jaques Rousseau. If only all governments could live with this philosophy.
Our walk into town today took us past a neighbour’s garden where, for just a moment, we were fooled by this owl! 
There are some pretty shop windows in our small town, decorated for Christmas. Our optician’s window is always a treat. 
The shadow thrown by our much loved quirky sculpture, by Jeremy Beswick, is pleasing this morning.
Man with a Dog by Jeremy Beswick
I have had a lovely afternoon away from the hoolie blowing outside curled up with books. I finished the very entertaining read, The Uncommon Reader by Alan Bennett, this afternoon. What a delightful concept – our Queen Elizabeth discovers the City of Westminster Travelling Library in the grounds of Windsor Castle and she starts to borrow books recommended by the Librarian. Just as for the more common reader, reading can transform one’s life!
The Uncommon Reader
Paul, our friend who is doing a pilgrimage for Peace and Reconciliation, and is walking from Rome to Jerusalem spotted this charming piece of graffiti in Nicosia.
From Paul, Peace Walker
Last night’s party was enormous fun – all those big hearted people who have helped us out in one way or another over the past year who came for a Thanksgiving dinner and laughed all night!
Last night’s party food – there were desserts too!
This afternoon we went to support a young friend who had organised a pop-up exhibition in aid of the refugees in Lesvos and there was some amazing art for sale!
Ruby’s Pop Up Exhibition to raise money for the refugees in Lesvos
Tonight was the Switching on of the Lights in our town, Redruth, and the two choirs I sing with combined to sing Christmas Carols to the queue waiting to see Father Christmas, who was dressed in traditional green I was very pleased to see! The rain held off until the very end.It delighted me to see Father Christmas with his umbrella!
Father Christmas and his brolly!
We are very busy getting ready for our Thanksgiving party tonight. We have invited all our lovely friends and neighbours who have been so supportive and helped to keep my spirits up over the last year when I have had my two hip replacements. This is a big THANK YOU to them all.
Today I give you two shots of the pool at the B&B we stayed in in Hawaii last year, just some calm beauty on a wild November day.
Happy Thanksgiving to all my friends in America!
It was lovely at singing this morning to see one of our growing-up Choir-babies knitting so carefully. It was a delight too to sing to her baby brother who found it very amusing and chuckled and chuckled in that fabulous way that only babies can.
Knitting
Newest Choir-baby smiling
Last night’s moon was big and beautiful. These photos were taken about 7pm and when I woke at 2am it was as daylight outside with the whole garden clearly visible in the bright moonlight.
Moon 25/11/15
Moon behind clouds
Big and bright
Going around the DIY store today, I liked how these pieces of wood looked so warm.
Blocks of wood
I’ve made the Corn Bread Dressing today and loved how yellow the little cubes are.
Corn bread cubes
I was reminded of this amazing wood pile today. What patience was needed to build this!
Owl wood pile
I’ve baked some Old Fashioned Cornbread from my American SIL’s recipe today so that I can use it in her recipe for stuffing (dressing as she calls it) for our Thanksgiving dinner which we will be doing on Friday.
Cornbread just out of the oven
November is properly with us. Yesterday we woke to a frost which was a big surprise after the warmth of the early part of the month. This poem by Theodore Roethke describes the cold and the coming of Winter perfectly though we are lucky here in England as the green stays with us throughout the year and we still have Fuchsia and Clematis in flower.
The Coming of The Cold – Theodore Roethke
The ribs of leaves lie in the dust,
The beak of frost has pecked the bough,
The briar bears its thorn, and drought
Has left its ravage on the field.
The season’s wreckage lies about,
Late autumn fruit is rotted now.
All shade is lean, the antic branch
Jerks skyward at the touch of wind,
Dense trees no longer hold the light,
The hedge and orchard grove are thinned.
The dank bark dries beneath the sun,
The last of harvesting is done.All things are brought to barn and fold.
The oak leaves strain to be unbound,
The sky turns dark, the year grows old,
The bud draw in before the cold.The small brook dies within its bed;
The stem that holds the bee is prone;
Old hedgerows keep the leaves; the phlox,
That late autumnal bloom, is dead.All summer green is now undone:
The hills are grey, the trees are bare,
The mould upon the branch is dry,
The fields are harsh and bare, the rocks
Gleam sharply on the narrow sight.
The land is desolate, the sun
No longer gilds the scene at noon;
Winds gather in the north and blow
Bleak clouds across the heavy sky,
And frost is marrow-cold, and soon
Winds bring a fine and bitter snow.
In flower still….
Fuchsia
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