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Monthly Archives: December 2025

Party, Knitting and Supper

Today is the 90th birthday of my very good friend and singing mentor whom I met in 2008 when I first joined The Ingleheart Singers. She took me under her wing then and has kept me there ever since! Her Family arranged a secret party this afternoon and asked for the choir to turn up as a surprise and to sing for her ,so of course we did! It was a delightful afternoon.

Jean’s beautiful cake, wish I could credit the maker.

Another friend from choir spotted a knitted crib earlier this week and sent me the next photo, knowing how much I would like it. I love the smile on Mary’s face and have to wonder why one of the shepherds is up on the roof!

A simple meal was called for this evening, Macaroni Cheese, comfort food at its best.

7 Comments

Posted by mybeautfulthings on December 11, 2025 in Celebration, community, friendship, Happiness, Kindness, knitting, Postaday2025, Uncategorized

Tree, Wreath and Sunset Sky

10 Dec

I’ve put up our first decorations, both fabric, both beautiful gifts from family. I hang them each side of the glass in the inner door.

Tree, a gift from family in Warsaw, Poland

Wreath of fabric hearts, a gift from family in Atlanta, USA

Walking home this evening the sky was lovely, gentle pastel colours in the sky behind the Bassett Monument and the castle on Carn Brea.

Kite, Candle Snuffer and Chocolates

09 Dec

We’ve been sorting out lots of the toys kept for LiveWires and have been deciding where they are all to go now everyone has grown out of them. The kite has been claimed by our son for his twins, LiveWires 5 and 6. It came to us many years ago from family in America and was much loved and well used. I even have the original instructions that came to us in about 1983, such an unusual personalised present that the kids all loved and which gave the whole family lots of fun.

Our old silver candle snuffer is being used every day when the advent candle has burned the day’s date away.

We have an advent calendar that gives us two little truffles each day – a calendar for couples!

P.S. The big storm that is battering Cornwall and much of the UK today has been named Bram. In Cornish, Bram means ‘fart’ which has amused many of us as we hear the howling winds.

5 Comments

Posted by mybeautfulthings on December 9, 2025 in Christmas, Cornwall, family, family history, Grandchildren, Happiness, Postaday2025, Uncategorized

Tags: The Natural High

Being Grateful

08 Dec

The following came my way today and .It reminded me of my blogging friend Ute and so this post is for her – and you all.

I’ve been able to help some special people today and that has been a beautiful thing.

2 Comments

Posted by mybeautfulthings on December 8, 2025 in friendship, Postaday2025, Uncategorized

Screenshot, More Singing and A Poem

07 Dec

My Dear Sister in Hawai’i watched the livestream as did family in Atlanta and blogging friend Nancy. My lovely sister took some screen shots and sent them through to me. Here’s one of both choirs, The Ingleheart Singers and The Suitcase Singers and Claire, our lovely leader. Sharing the concert was a very special way to feel connected with my sister when we live so very far apart..

The Inglehearts sang again this afternoon at the Eco Park’s Christmas fair with a delightful audience.

I’ve shared poems by Billy Collins before but not this one I think..Here are the first few verses which truly ring a bell with me. I hope this one appeals to you too – then you can look it up and get the last three verses.

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Posted by mybeautfulthings on December 7, 2025 in community, Cornwall, friendship, Happiness, poetry, Postaday2025

Gracie Briney, Mince Pie and Flowers

06 Dec

It was a Victorian Market Day today with lots of stall holders – and some shoppers – dressed up and there was a special blast from the past in the shape of Gracie Briney, portrayed by Sue Hill, a Redruth resident born in 1773 about whom you can read more here.,

We had our first mince pies of the season today and they were the best! They were home baked at HomeGround, our favourite coffee shop in town.

Last week, you may have seen, I made a birthday cake for a friend and today, a beautiful bunch of thank you flowers was brought round, much appreciated.

2 Comments

Posted by mybeautfulthings on December 6, 2025 in baking, community, Cornwall, Postaday2025, Redruth, Uncategorized

Singers, Cake and Full Moon

05 Dec

Tenors plus one soprano before the ShelterBox Christmas Concert in Truro Cathedral

Tenors in full voice! Thanks K for the photo.

Cake for tomorrow’s market

I wish I could have caught the Cold Moon near the horizon so that its super moon-ness could have been appreciated.

2 Comments

Posted by mybeautfulthings on December 5, 2025 in baking, community, Cornwall, environment, friendship, music, nature, Postaday2025, Truro

ShelterBox Concert, Truro Cathedral and River Birds

04 Dec

Just home from singing with my choirs at the ShelterBox Christmas Concert. .I hope some of you managed to follow the livestream.

Truro Cathedral at the end of tonight’s concert

This morning before our rehearsal, I was watching a couple of Swans and then realised there was a Grey Heron nearby and a Curlew. I didn’t identify the smaller birds.

5 Comments

Posted by mybeautfulthings on December 4, 2025 in Christmas, community, Cornwall, nature, Postaday2025, ShelterBox, Uncategorized

New Book, A Poem and A Reminder

03 Dec

I have just started reading the latest book from the ShelterBox Book Club which arrived on Saturday. The opening pages are drawing me right in and I’m looking forward to finding time to read.

I found this poem very moving and hope you do too.

Just a reminder about tomorrow’s Christmas Concert for ShelterBox that you can livestream if you’d like to. Here’s the link https://shelterbox.org/carolconcert/

2 Comments

Posted by mybeautfulthings on December 3, 2025 in community, ShelterBox, Uncategorized

Tags: Edenglassie, Gaza, Gaza Poets Society, Haneen Abo Ghrara, If I Must Vanish, Melissa Lucashenko

Posy, Thank-Yous and Advent Candle

02 Dec

I picked a little garden posy today for Sue-next-door to mark the birthday of her lovely Bill – rosemary for remembrance with the last of the blooms in our garden..

Bill Mitchell

At Community Roots today, I spent a while looking through a beautiful little book made by pupils from a local school who spent a day in our community garden recently.