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Monthly Archives: January 2026

SallyBoots, Fun and Storm Warning

I haven’t made SallyBoots for quite a while but started knitting today having heard of a new arrival yesterday. Mutual friends will be visiting this weekend so I had to get busy and here they are. I’ve made the second size this time as the last baby I knitted for grew out of the little ones so quickly!

Here is our lovely friend, the new Father, in 2012 in the Blue Bar, Porthtowan, with LiveWire no 2 who is now 17, playing together with the froth on the top of a hot chocolate. Photo taken from the blog of that day.

Yet another storm is coming and our sailor’s barometer is overflowing again and splashing the tiles.

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Posted by mybeautfulthings on January 21, 2026 in friendship, Grandchildren, knitting, Postaday 2026, Uncategorized

Daffodils, Coat Hooks and Knitting

20 Jan

It’s just over 18 years since we came back home to Cornwall and Cornish daffodils fill our kitchen again. I love how Cornish daffodils flower so early. They were to be seen several times at the side of the road on our way through to Gylly on Sunday.

While re-decorating after the new window, we took down coat hooks and pictures etc. The little elephant hooks will go back soon.

A very dear friend has made me the warmest of ponchos for this cold weather – all in suffragette colours! It’s both gorgeous and very cosy.

Thank you P.

People all around us have seen the Aurora and i still hope to catch a glimpse later!

Growth, Choir and A Story Chair

19 Jan

The growth on our Amaryllis is amazing. I’ll try to remember to post a photo every Monday.

Monday 12th January

Monday 19th January

I went back to choir today and absolutely loved it. As Claire, our choir leader suggested, my chest felt much better by the end of the session. One of the songs we are learning is a South African one, Azikatale, arranged by Peter Hunt. The harmonies are gorgeous as each part joins in. I’ll try to get a recording next time.

Penzance Library has recently acquired the most glorious Story Chair. https://freerangingdesigns.com/collections/storytelling-chairs-collection

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Posted by mybeautfulthings on January 19, 2026 in art, Cornwall, nature, painting, Penzance, Postaday 2026, Uncategorized

Tags: amaryllis

Filigree, Gorse and Sun on Water

18 Jan

As we set off to drive to Gylly for a walk, I noticed two tiny filigree leaves stuck to the side of the car.

Walking along Cliff Road, the gorse was a beautiful bright gold.

As we left the sun was lighting up the water in the bay.

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Posted by mybeautfulthings on January 18, 2026 in Cornwall, environment, Gyllyngvase, nature, Postaday 2026, Uncategorized

Little Book, Tips and Earrings

17 Jan

I have a delightful little book for knitters that gives some really useful advice. I need to share it with the young friend I am helping to learn the craft.

This page amuses me.

I recently rediscovered some lovely handmade earrings that I bought in South Africa many years ago.

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Posted by mybeautfulthings on January 17, 2026 in friendship, knitting, Postaday 2026, Uncategorized

Tags: lanternmoon.com, pocket posh tips for knitters

Photographs, A Good Read and A Poem

16 Jan

I have been given two beautiful little framed photographs of a Fritillary and Poppy. They are by a local artist, Paul Sanders who has a studio at Krowji..

Today i have finished a jolly good read, a thriller by Ann Cleeves that I have been lent by a fellow reader. It’s the latest in the series spreviously et in the Shetland Isles, but this time on Orkney and featuring the detective Jimmy Perez. So many twists and turns, the final outcome took me completely by surprise. I love the characters and the setting just comes alive.

Thanks H. xx

The poem for the day in one of my books made me think of my Suffragette Great Granny. It’s by Nikita Gill

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Posted by mybeautfulthings on January 16, 2026 in art, flowers, Postaday 2026, Uncategorized

Tags: Nikita Gill, Paul Sanders

Cornish Saints and Sinners and A Song

15 Jan

Another of Mum’s books that I have always loved is “Cornish Saints and Sinners” by J. Henry Harris, a quirky and entertaining look at the stories of places and people who feature in Cornwall’s history.

It amused me today on looking at it again after many years, that there’s a whole chapter dedicated to Dolly Pentreath about whom we sing at choir, a song written by Claire and Anna Maria Murphy.

You can listen to the song here, sung by Femmes de la Mer, Claire’s all female shanty group.

The Call of the Sea

14 Jan

For some reason today, I remembered a beautiful little book, The Call of the Sea, and found it. It was printed in 1907 and is in a very delicate state. It fell open at the page, Night in a Cornish Port so I’m thinking, since this book was my Mum’s, she must have loved this excerpt about Newlyn from Eden Philpotts.

Leather cover

Painted frontispiece

End leaf

I love the thought that my hands are touching something loved and touched by my beloved Mum.

3 Comments

Posted by mybeautfulthings on January 14, 2026 in antiques, art, books, Cornwall, nature, Newlyn, painting, Postaday 2026, Uncategorized

Tags: Fishing in Newlyn text

Good Read, Amaryllis and A Tote Bag

13 Jan

I finished the latest book from the ShelterBox Book Club just in time to see the wonderful Q&A with the author Melissa Lucashenko. What a novel that was – two timelines set in Australia, in 1854 and in 2024, that meet each other towards the end of the novel. The whole story is beautifully crafted and draws the reader in despite much Aboriginal language the meaning of which one just picks up from the context. I can’t recommend this book highly enough.

I was given an Amaryllis bulb in a beautiful pot for my birthday and it has grown several inches already. I’m looking forward to seeing its glorious bloom.

Thank you, Sue

Post arrived from family in Atlanta today, a delightful little tote bag with the name of the bookshop, Books Are Magic, and the best answer to a question. I absolutely love it.

The tote comes from an independent bookstore in Brooklyn called Books are Magic, owned by the author Emma Straub.

I find poetry can ofter be of assistance, hence so many on my blog. 🙂

Remembering my lovely Dad today too, on his birthday. If you’d like to know more about him, put ‘David Wiseman’ in my search bar.

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Posted by mybeautfulthings on January 13, 2026 in books, friendship, nature, poetry, Postaday 2026, Words

Tags: ShelterBox book club

Buffet, Cake and Games

12 Jan

Still catching up about my birthday

1/1/2026
All catering for the whole week has been taken on by the family and tonight there was a wonderful buffet for my birthday celebration.

Yet another cake!

Delicious roulade

The games I had found turned out to be a real hit – excitement, learning of strategies, shrieks of delight and just the happiest of evenings.

Magnetic chess, strange name but compelling and great fun to play.

There was present giving too, gorgeous stationery, delicious chocolates, a subscription to National Theatre at Home and an “Adventure Fund!” Aren’t I the lucky one?! Now to dream up the adventure – what shall I do?