I rather think I added too much brandy to the mincemeat mixture and, oops! It has boiled over! They are very sticky and they are delicious. I have only had one of the mini ones, honestly, just to make sure they are okay. One poor angel has lost her head and looks more like a ghost!
Some of today’s Mince pies
Clicking this link will take you to the other Oops photos in this week’s challenge
We sang our hearts out again this afternoon , all our favourite carols including the Cornish ones by Thomas Merritt. Claire put the tuning fork on the wooden table and I thought, that is lovely and symbolic of all our singing together.
I have started decorating our Christmas Tree and so far have only put on the Angels. I always buy one when we are on holiday and know where every Angel came from. This one was bought in 2005 while on a walking holiday in Morocco.
I read about these little apple pies, called Apple Pie Cookies, online and decided that I must give them a try. They weren’t as easy as they looked in the video and look a bit messy but they are truly delicious! I served them with extra filling that wouldn’t fit the pies and ice cream.
Last night we were in Plymouth at a fabulous concert by Caro Emerald. What a presence! What a band of musicians, playing at least 15 instruments between the six of them and Caro Emerald’s voice and songs – a truly fabulous evening full of music and dancing. What a thoroughly happy evening – and we stayed over in a hotel!
Driving home through the tunnel after crossing the Tamar back into Cornwall, I was taken with the lights reflected in the metallic sides of the tunnel.
Lights in the tunnel
We passed a cottage with a Bear over the door!
Bear Cottage
As I approached the Zed Shed for singing withThe Suitcase Singers this morning a truck pulled up with two seals aboard.
Every day I wish for Peace. When we sing we make some peace for each other and when we do concerts, and there are many at this time of year, we give the gift of peace for a while to our audiences. Singing certainly heals my soul. Thank you Claire for this gift.
There was a beautiful sunset this evening against which Carn Brea Castle and the Basset Monument were silhouetted.
Carn Brea Castle and the Basset Monument
Bright green moss is covering a nearby corrugated roof.
Moss
Tonight’s concert with the children of Troon School was delightful.
Tree outside Troon Methodist Chapel where tonight’s concert was held.
I spent a lovely morning with a friend, first in the Cornish Studies Library at their Christmas in Cornwall exhibition and later over coffee putting the world to rights! While at the library I was able to introduce her to the wonderful Tregellas Tapestries which tell the story of Cornwall in a unique pictorial way. I have written about these wonderfully intricate works before so if you would like to see others in the series, put Tregellas into the search option. 
The afternoon found us in Troon School rehearsing with the children, aged 4 – 11, for their Christmas Concert tomorrow evening. What a delight that was! In one of their playground planters was this richly velvety Pansy.
On the drive back we saw a brilliant rainbow, the end of which I just managed to catch as I arrived home.
I love how there is just a splash of blue sky and how the chimney stacks are being lit up by the golden glow of the evening sun.
People from 100 countries read this blog! Can I please ask as many of you  as possible reading today to leave messages of Peace for our friend, Paul, who is nearing the end of his amazing pilgrimage, walking from Rome to Jerusalem in the name of Peace and Reconciliation. (Last year he walked from Canterbury to Rome.) Please click on the link www.peacewalk2015.com to leave your message for peace. Know that Paul treasures every message of peace that he has with him, be it virtual or in the book he is carrying with him. They all add power to the message. Thank you very much to Patty B and to Nia for already doing so.
Paul’s information for you
We walked past a shop window today and the only ones in there were two delightful dogs! It was Pooch Perfections, a dog grooming parlour and they did indeed look beautifully groomed!  The little one took particular interest when I stopped to take photos!
Customers
What are you doing? Who is that with you?
There are delicately yellow and very beautiful Primroses in our garden. Â It was so warm as we walked back up the hill from town that I had to take my coat off!
Primroses in December
The magic of the human eye – our Granddaughter at three weeks old really looking at her book, Art for Your New Born Baby. Scroll through for the reflection in her eyes of the images she is concentrating on.
If you are interested by this, do read the article in the links below under Baby Eye.
I bought our first Daffodils of the season yesterday, locally grown of course, and they are a beautiful bunch of brightness on a gloomy day.
First Cornish Daffodils
I have taken the glass grown Hyacinths out of the dark and into the daylight as they have very good roots now. I had hoped they might be in flower for my birthday in just over three weeks but I think that is unlikely. They will be with us in January brightening up those short days.
Hyacinth roots
We are going out to an evening with friends and music and shared food tonight and I have made a Tomato and Two Cheese Torte. Click the red link for the recipe. The evening is to raise money for Paul’s chosen charity, Children of Peace, and for which he is walking from Rome to Jerusalem.
Tomato and Two Cheese Torte
Walking through town today I could hear the sounds of a violin playing Christmas carols and then saw the Violinist near the Tinners Hounds, or Welly dogs as we call them. 
We met friends for lunch to celebrate J’s birthday and as we left I realised that I had lost a favourite scarf, black, brown and white silk which I have had for many years. It wasn’t in the restaurant nor in the car so I concluded that it must have slipped off as I walked up from the beach car park to meet everybody. We decided to have a quick look on the beach in case it had been blown in that direction and saw it, pinned down by a rock. Some lovely stranger had saved my scarf for me and I am very touched by their kindness. 
What a pleasure to have a beach like this so close and to be able to sit in the restaurant with this view. 
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