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Monthly Archives: February 2019

Estate Agent, Bud and Bee

Passing an estate agent’s office today, my attention was drawn to the pigeon (Thanks John!) apparently choosing a property. His mate was there too but went further in before I could get the photo.

House hunting

It was such a beautiful afternoon, I went to our nearest garden, Burncoose Nursery, for a walk hoping that the Magnolias might be in flower. They weren’t but the furry buds are looking very promising. I’ll go back again soon.

Magnolia bud

The Snowdrops were still pretty but in their last throes, the Daffodils had their heads bent, ready to flower soon and the Primroses were delicately lovely – but all were eclipsed by the Camellias which were in magnificent bloom. In one blossom, high up, I spotted my first Bee of the season. Not sure whether to be happy about that as tonight’s temperatures are forecast to fall again and I would hate it to be caught out.

Bee inside a Camellia flower

I’ll show you more photos next Saturday. To be going on with, here is one of the Camellias.

Grand Camellia

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Posted by mybeautfulthings on February 18, 2019 in Cornwall, environment, garden, Humour, nature, Photography, Postaday 2019

Tags: Burncoose Nursery, magnolia bud

A Letter, A Treasure and Honesty

17 Feb

This morning I received a message with an attachment – “Found this tonight at my mum’s house” and there was a letter I had written to a pupil in 1992. I used to write to each pupil at the end of our half-term Anthology project rather than ‘grading’ the creative writing into which pupils had poured their ideas and their energy. He tells me that he still has the Anthology too and is going to scan it for me.

Letter to Steven

Yesterday the lovely Mr S dropped his wallet in town and though we retraced our steps there was no sign of it. However, the woman in the charity shop said a ‘genuine looking’ couple had been in to ask if she had just had a customer who may have lost his wallet. They said they would take it to the Police Station, only there isn’t one in Redruth. The wallet had been a present many years ago and had inside a David Hockney painting, ‘Arrival of Spring.’ It was much loved and had cash and cards in it.

Arrival of Spring by David Hockney

Inside the wallet

This morning we re-traced our steps again, looking in windblown corners, up alleyways but to no avail. (All the cards were cancelled yesterday.) Then, just after lunch, we had a phone call from the couple who had found the wallet. They had tracked Mr S down through the telephone directory and we went off across town to pick it up and to say the biggest Thank you! It revives one’s faith in the honesty and goodness of our fellow humans.

Daffodils in P’s delightful pot

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Posted by mybeautfulthings on February 17, 2019 in community, flowers, Happiness, Photography, poetry, Postaday 2019, Uncategorized

Tags: David Hockney, Redruth

Six on Saturday – All Around Us

16 Feb

Spring is happening all around us, in little bursts that get bigger each week. In our own garden, the Crocuses, Snowdrops and Tete a Tete are coming into their own.

1. The Strawberry plants in our double wall herb garden have become a weed, choking off lots of little Spring bulbs. I spent a couple of hours stripping out the strawberries and their runners making room for more Spring to shine through.

Bulbs choked by Strawberry plants

After clearing

Crocuses and other bulbs freed from smothering leaves

2. Beautiful Muscari with Snowdrops behind. The green fencing is to keep cats off the soil. Whenever it is cleared, in they come. Does anyone have good (kind) ways to keep them off?

Muscari, also freed with room to grow

3. More Tete a Tete are coming through the Thyme in the herb garden.

Mini Daffodils coming up through the Thyme

In neighbours’ gardens I have seen Hellebores, Camellias and a gorgeous fully blossomed Cherry Tree.

Hellebore

Camellia

Cherry Tree

Single blossom

I am taking part in the Six on Saturday postings started by the Propagator. Go to his site to find the links to other contributions from all over the world.

16 Comments

Posted by mybeautfulthings on February 16, 2019 in environment, garden, nature, Photography, Postaday 2019, Uncategorized

Tags: Muscari

Heron, Verges and Protest

15 Feb

Look what turned up this morning as we were standing near a stream!

Heron

The roadside verges near Penzance were thick with Daffodils.

Daffodils

We managed to get to Truro in time to show our support for the hundreds of young people on strike from school to protest about climate change and the fact that not enough is being done to protect their futures. It was inspirational to see so many so committed to the cause.

A very small section of the crowds

12 Comments

Posted by mybeautfulthings on February 15, 2019 in art, birds, community, Cornwall, environment, nature, Photography, Postaday 2019

Tags: climate change, Greta Thunberg, school strike, school strike for climate change, strike4climate

Penryn River, Planters and A Valentine

14 Feb

It has been a glorious Spring day and after singing, I took this photo down the river.

Down the Penryn River

Walking through Penryn today my eye was caught by these delightful planters. The spot of pink on the left is a Fuchsia flower.

Penryn planters

I made a Valentine present for the lovely Mr S.

Stained glass heart

4 Comments

Posted by mybeautfulthings on February 14, 2019 in Cornwall, glass, nature, Photography, Postaday 2019

Tags: copper foiling on glass, Spring Flowers

Dad’s Book, Singing and A Discovery

13 Feb

A delightful surprise today when a friend rang to say that she had seen a poster for a musical play of one of my Dad’s books! The Fate of Jeremy Visick is to be performed in a couple of weeks and of course, we now have tickets. The book was first adapted by Judith Cook and we all came down from Yorkshire to see the Premiere at The Barbican Theatre in Plymouth in 1990! It is so lovely to know that my Dad’s work is still being appreciated. We love the poster and think Dad would have approved.

Stage Struck and The Fate of Jeremy Visick

Thirteen singers from my two choirs met at the building site that is The Hall for Cornwall to entertain the dignitaries who were being shown around. We sang in the stair-well and the acoustics were brilliant. The audience in their hard hats and hi-vis jackets were very appreciative.

Ingleheart Singers and Suitcase Singers

In the process of the building works, a beautiful gate has been discovered. It was buried inside a wall and dates from before 1914 so is well over 100 years old. The plans have been altered a little to make sure this discovery is integrated into the new building.

Delightful discovery

6 Comments

Posted by mybeautfulthings on February 13, 2019 in antiques, architecture, blacksmith metalwork, Cornwall, music, Photography

Tags: Jeremy Visick, Stage Struck Theatre Company, The Fate of Jeremy Visick by David Wiseman, The Hall for Cornwall, The Ingleheart Singers, The Suitcase Singers, Truro

Crochet, Beads and One Bloom

12 Feb

Our walk into town today took us past Evie’s Cafe where they had spread out onto the street with their colourful chairs and tables. It being quite chilly, they had thoughtfully provided crochet rugs for everyone!

Rugs to warm the customers

Since I started my glass work, I’ve been popping into each Charity shop hoping to find some pretty earrings, beads or bracelets that I can up-cycle. Today I found a gem, well, several gems in one bracelet and all for 50p. I’m very pleased. If any of my local readers have any such items they can spare, please let me know. You can find my first piece here.

Beady bracelet

The beautiful bouquet that the lovely Mr S received for his birthday 12 days ago have gone to be recycled – all but this one beautiful bloom which is in a special one flower display piece that we bought many years ago at Salts Mill in Yorkshire.

Single Gerbera

2 Comments

Posted by mybeautfulthings on February 12, 2019 in flowers, Photography, Postaday 2019, Uncategorized

Tags: Evie's Cafe, Gerbera, up-cycling

Glass Pebbles, Marguerites and A Crocus

11 Feb

I ordered some glass pebbles to go with my glass work and they arrived this morning to my great delight though there are no red ones which is a shame. I shall have to make another order!

Glass pebbles

The Marguerites just keep flowering despite the snow, the hail and the winds.

Marguerites

The Crocuses started to open up in the warmth of the sun this afternoon.

Inside a crocus

6 Comments

Posted by mybeautfulthings on February 11, 2019 in environment, garden, glass, nature, Photography, Postaday 2019, Uncategorized

Weather, Engine House and Skeleton Trees

10 Feb

We had to go to Truro quite early this morning and the skies were both black and blue prescient of the sunny day with heavy hail showers that was to come.

Black and blue sky

The road from Chacewater home takes us between the Wheal Busy site and the Killifreth site and this chimney which I can’t identify was on the left. I’m hoping that someone local who reads this will be able to tell me.

Wheal ?

It was lovely how the sun caught the tops of the skeleton trees.

Sunny tree tops taken from a moving car. I was not driving!

2 Comments

Posted by mybeautfulthings on February 10, 2019 in Cornwall, environment, nature, Photography, Postaday 2019, Uncategorized

Tags: clouds

Six on Saturday – Spring is on its way

09 Feb

Colour is appearing all over the garden. It pleases me greatly when the Tete a Tete in the Three Wise Monkeys wall planter burst into flower soon to be joined by Muscari. The planter was made just for me by a local sculptor and I love it in all seasons.

Tete a Tete

Crocuses are appearing around the wall garden, some orange and some purple.

Crocus

The Snowdrops please me the most at this time of year. They survived last week’s snow and are still going strong.

Snowdrop

The Marguerites haven’t stopped flowering since I planted them early last Summer. They really are troopers! I love the swirly pattern in the middle.

Marguerite

The Skimmia has had its bright pink buds all Winter and I look forward to the buds bursting into their beautiful pale pink. This glaring pink is definitely not a favourite!

Skimmia Japonica

Iris Reticulata are another favourite. They are so delicate and appear before their leaves so really stand out. They will soon be replaced by Muscari. We have them in a pot underneath a Cornus whose buds are showing already. I hope we have no more harsh weather or the buds may be lost.

Iris reticulata

Do visit The Propagator’s blog at https://thepropagatorblog.wordpress.com/2019/02/09/six-on-saturday-09-02-2019/ to find out how to join in and to get links to blogs all over the world with news about gardens.