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Category Archives: America

Peace, Plate and Peppers

In these troubled times, Lao Tzu’s words, written two and a half thousand years ago, can still point the way for us all:

If there is to be peace in the world,
There must be peace in the nations.
If there is to be peace in the nations,
There must be peace in the cities.
If there is to be peace in the cities,
There must be peace between neighbours.
If there is to be peace between neighbours,
There must be peace in the home.
If there is to be peace in the home,
There must be peace in the heart.

We have a beautiful plate that we bought in Atlanta on our first visit to America about 40 years ago. It shows Stone Mountain, Georgia and we love it. It takes a central position on our kitchen dresser. The potter is named on the back as Chappelle and, looking them up (as you do!) I discover that they are still around! If you look at their gallery, you will see a similarity with our plate so I think, and hope, that I have found the right people. http://chappellegallery.com/pottery/

Stone Mountain plate

I have stuffed two peppers with mushrooms, garlic, sun-dried tomatoes, chopped Brazil nuts, pretzel crumbs and Halloumi cubes for our supper tonight. It looks good so I hope it tastes as good as it looks!

Stuffed Peppers

2 Comments

Posted by mybeautfulthings on April 15, 2018 in America, art, Beauty, Food, Peace, poetry, Postaday2018

Tags: Bloggers for Peace, Bloggers4Peace, Chappelle, http://chappellegallery.com/pottery/, Lao Tzu, pottery, Stone Mountain

Bouquet, American Pick-up and Cutter

10 Mar

A gorgeous bouquet was delivered this morning ready for Mother’s Day tomorrow.Thank you KJ, perfect colours for the year and our celebration of your Great Great Granny!

Mother’s Day bouquet in Suffragette colours

I was late to town this morning so decided to drive and was pleased that I did given that I was behind this amazing old American pick-up as we crept towards the traffic lights. Everyone who walked up West End stopped and smiled at the sight.

1959 Ford Ranchero

I made some Cheese pastry today and used my Mum’s fabulous cutter that just rolls through the pastry creating circles. I needed circles for a starter for tonight’s Birthday meal for our eldest daughter who is here for the weekend.

Circle cutter

5 Comments

Posted by mybeautfulthings on March 10, 2018 in America, antiques, baking, Beauty, Photography, Postaday2018

Tags: 1959 Ford Ranchero, Purple White and Green, Suffragette colours

Onondaga Nation, Tomatoes and Sand Dollar Earrings

14 Aug

In The Heard Museum in Phoenix last year, I found a beautiful 53″ long wall hanging entitled “Greetings and Thanks to the Natural World, a daily thanksgiving inspired by the Onondaga Nation, Haudenosaunee’. I’ll show you a piece a day for the next ten days.

A Daily Thanksgiving inspired by the Onondaga Nation

Special thanks today go to three of my friends with whom I sing for a lovely hardworking afternoon and to J for a share in his wonderful tomato crop.

Mixed tomatoes

Still sorting! Today I came across such a little treasure in a box of forgotten earrings. I have shown you Sand Dollars before but these are tiny and so perfect and I have never worn them.They measure just over 1cm in diameter. Click here and here to see earlier mentions.

Sand dollar earrings

I am loath to break one of my Sand Dollars to find the ‘five perfect doves’ mentioned but am very tempted. Watch this space!

6 Comments

Posted by mybeautfulthings on August 14, 2017 in America, art, Beauty, nature, Photography, postaday2017

Tags: earrings, Greetings and Thanks to the Natural World, onondaga nation Haudenosaunee

Stamps, Mists and Beans

11 Aug

Still sorting! Today I found some stamps dated from 1980, one of which brought a wry smile – the one on the right with the words, “America’s Light Fueled by Truth and Reason.”

“America’s Light Fueled by Truth and Reason”

We went to Marazion Bay again today to find a few stones for our fountain. It was cold, wet and windy and the wind-surfers were have an exhilarating time.

St Michael’s Mount in the mists

We’ve harvested a few Broad Beans for supper tonight.

Broad Beans from our garden

2 Comments

Posted by mybeautfulthings on August 11, 2017 in America, Beauty, Cornwall, Food, garden, nature, Photography, postaday2017, St Michael's Mount

Tags: stamp collection

Bee, School Reports and A Sand Dollar

31 Jul

I spotted a Bee on the Marjoram this morning. It had collected so much pale yellow pollen it could hardly fly off.

Bee on the Marjoram

More sorting today and a great deal of pleasure! I found school reports for two pupils from many years ago, both of whom I thought might well have a career in writing so I saved their reports to be able to say later, “I used to teach this young man/young woman!” I managed to track down one of them and we had a delightful conversation about his career so far. It pleases me so much to hear from ex-pupils and to hear their enthusiasm. His report contained phrases such as, ‘S has an enviable talent for original writing,’ ‘an intuitive feel for language,’ and ‘S writes fluently with imagination and skill.’ Plenty of time yet to fulfil his dreams.

Among my treasures to sort is this sand dollar which we picked up over 30 years on our first visit to America to see my brother and we discovered the delicacy of sand-dollars on the beach near Savannah. Isn’t it beautiful?

Echinodiscus tenuissimus test (Astriclypeidae)

3 Comments

Posted by mybeautfulthings on July 31, 2017 in America, Beauty, nature, Photography, postaday2017

Tags: Echinodiscus tenuissimus test (Astriclypeidae), marjoram

A Winter Poem and A Pink Hat

20 Jan

A good friend sent me this poem and I am delighted to share it with you. Thank you, L. There is something very special about winter evenings when we can literally snuggle against the cold and seek shelter in the wrap of winter as our souls seeks solace. It makes me think too of how lucky those of us with this privilege are.

Winter’s Cloak by Joyce Rupp

This year I do not want
the dark to leave me.
I need its wrap
of silent stillness,
its cloak
of long lasting embrace.
Too much light
has pulled me away
from the chamber
of gestation.

Let the dawns
come late,
let the sunsets
arrive early,
let the evenings
extend themselves
while I lean into
the abyss of my being.

Let me lie in the cave
of my soul,
for too much light
blinds me,
steals the source
of revelation.

Let me seek solace
in the empty places
of winter’s passage,
those vast dark nights
that never fail to shelter me.

I have spent the evening knitting – this time for myself. I have made a hat in pink! Tomorrow we are joining in solidarity and in support of the *non-partisan* women’s march occurring in Washington D.C. and other cities, in a march being organised in Cornwall on St Austell’s beach at East Portholland Saturday January 21^st. We will gather on the beach from 4pm – 5pm in solidarity.

The following words from the official Women’s March on Washington’s “Guiding Vision and Definition of Principles” explain further.

The Women’s March on Washington is a women-led movement bringing together people of all genders, ages, races, cultures, political affiliations and backgrounds in our nation’s capital on January 21, 2017, to affirm our shared humanity and pronounce our bold message of resistance and self-determination.

“It is not our differences that divide us. It is our inability to recognize, accept and celebrate those differences.” – Audre Lorde

“We may have all come on different ships, but we’re in the same boat now.” – Martin Luther King Jr.

I’ll let you know how it goes. Before that gathering on the beach in St Austell we will be at the Rally in Truro to show support for our NHS.

Here is my hat! #pussyhat project and its pink visual statement of resistance and solidarity,

8 Comments

Posted by mybeautfulthings on January 20, 2017 in America, Beauty, knitting, poetry, postaday2017

Tags: Joyce Rupp, pussyhat project, Winter's Cloak, Women’s March on Washington

Rumi, A Library and Blogging

06 Nov

One tree can start a forest,
One bird can herald spring,

One smile can begin a friendship,

One hand can lift a soul,
One star can guide a ship at sea,
One word can frame the goal,
One sunbeam can light a room,
One candle can wipe out darkness,
One laugh can conquer gloom,
One hope can raise our spirits,
One touch can show you care,
One voice can wake up everybody,

One life can make the difference.

Be that one.

What beautiful words and sentiments from Rumi.

How is this for a library? It is in Kansas City, Missouri. Thank you, Rachel, for showing me this.

I have been blogging for FIVE years! Most days I have found three beautiful things, things that have made me smile and warmed my soul. There have been 1975 posts making about 5900 beautiful things and there are 1500 people who are following and, I hope, enjoying all the beauty in our lives. Thanks to all my lovely readers. 🙂