How did I miss World Poetry Day?
Here is an absolute gem from Brian Bilston to celebrate.
I love the colour of the anemone blanda.
anemone blanda
Such a lovely surprise today – Our eldest daughter came to visit – work problems last weekend meant she couldn’t be here for Mother’s Day so she’s been here today, brought lunch and cooked dinner. What a treat to have her company for the day.
I’ve done a bit more work on next door’s project, sewing the little clay creatures onto long strands of coloured fabric while Sue worked on the head. I thoroughly enjoyed my self. The opening night will be March 31st at Truro Museum and Art Gallery.
It’s only a few weeks since I shared the song, “Hold On’ which we sang in solidarity with the people of Minneapolis. Life is still very difficult for them and we sang again for them today.
https://www.facebook.com/share/v/17nRsPprFT/
In the market on Saturday there was a beautiful flowering cherry tree for sale.
I’ve been searching for a poem for today and came across this one written by an American poet, Angela Morgan, early last century. She had lost all her family and home in WW1 and wrote about finding hope in the darkest of times.
In Spite Of War by Angela Morgan
In spite of war, in spite of death,
In spite of all man’s sufferings,
Something within me laughs and sings
And I must praise with all my breath.
In spite of war, in spite of hate
Lilacs are blooming at my gate,
Tulips are tripping down the path
In spite of war, in spite of wrath.
“Courage!” the morning-glory saith;
“Rejoice!” the daisy murmureth,
And just to live is so divine
When pansies lift their eyes to mine.The clouds are romping with the sea,
And flashing waves call back to me
That naught is real but what is fair,
That everywhere and everywhere
A glory liveth through despair.
Though guns may roar and cannon boom,
Roses are born and gardens bloom;
My spirit still may light its flame
At that same torch whence poppies came.
Where morning’s altar whitely burns
Lilies may lift their silver urns
In spite of war, in spite of shame.And in my ear a whispering breath,
“Wake from the nightmare! Look and see
That life is naught but ecstasy
In spite of war, in spite of death!”
And I give you this song by Peggy Seeger again and how I echo her words.
Today at our choir rehearsal, The Suitcase Singers sang in solidarity with the people of Minnesota. With our singing we send love from Penryn, Cornwall to you all. Thank you so much Heidi Wilson for writing such a brilliant song, to Katy Rose Bennet and Sarina Partridge for inspiring our leader, Claire Ingleheart to teach it to us. Do click on the link and share the solidarity. The first video is us and the second one, the singing in Minneapolis.
https://www.facebook.com/share/v/17nRsPprFT/
https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1C6dfJFRNF/
The sun was shining on the far side of the river lighting up the coloured houses.
After singing on Thursdays, I go to the local fish shop.The beautiful arrangement of the Red Mullet caught my eye.
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.
It’s been a stay home day today as the wind howled, the rain fell and the temperature dropped so it was lovely to receive photos from my dear SIL of pumpkins in the Botanical Gardens of Atlanta, Georgia. Thank you V. perfect timing!
Pumpkins
More Pumpkins
It was very special too, to receive a gift in the post today of a beautifully knitted pumpkin which will take pride of place on our table through this Hallowe’eny time of year.
Thank you so much, Judith. I love how the knitted pumpkin is such a perfect replica of the ones in the photo above.
We are very sad to hear of the fire, Dragon Bravo Fire ,at the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. Here is a view of the canyon from near our cabin on the North Rim in 2016.
Two more views from that holiday.
We had a treat today as tomorrow my lovely Mr S goes into hospital for a TKR, total knee replacement, so we’ll be at home for a few weeks as he recovers. I may not post every day over the next few weeks.
The exhibition, Exploring Time, is the work of one of our favourite artists, Tony Foster, who travels from his home in Cornwall to remote places with his tent, his paper and water colours. He has painted, among other places, The Grand Canyon, Everest, rain forests, the Galapagos Islands and locally and I love how he adds a tiny map and little piece of nature to each painting – tubes of sand, a pebble or two, a shell or pressed flowers – truly beautiful work.
If you want to know more, just put his name in my search bar. Enjoy today’s photos. Click on each to expand to read his pencil notes at the bottom of each painting and if you are local, do go along and immerse yourself in these precious reminders of the fragility of this beautiful earth we inhabit.
Grand Canyon
Chapel Porth
Jurassic Coast
Cornish Oak
And this is his tent!
We have one of his Lockdown pieces at home. https://mybeautfulthings.com/2021/10/22/cottage-cygnets-and-meeting-the-artist/
Happy Thanksgiving to those we love in America – our family – my brother and SIL, my sister, nephews and nieces, grand nephews and nieces and friends, those we know and love and all my blogging friends
We always mark the day with a nod to Thanksgiving dinner. We just once had a proper one in Atlanta with family and it was lovely. Tonight we’ve had turkey steaks with sweet potato fries and baby onions in a white sauce – delicious!
I also made a mini Pecan Pie, absolutely scrumptious!
A slice with cream – 
What an emotional day this has been – waking to stunning news from America, going for breakfast with lovely friends and coming back to find a message asking me to call the husband of one of my dearest friends. I have lost another friend, a colleague, a sister – a young woman with whom I worked for 15 years, with whom I built the Training School at Hayfield Comprehensive and whom I loved most dearly. We two were a force to be reckoned with.
I have two quotations for you today, one taken from American substack writer Liza Donnelly’s daily email for which I thank her.
“In an interview years ago, Fred Rogers said that when he was a boy, his mother told him that if he was scared, “Look for the helpers. When you see the helpers, you will know that there’s hope.”
We have so many helpers! Become a helper, join them and let them help you figure out what your role could be. This morning, I am getting many messages from friends asking me if I’m okay. These friends are helpers, their comfort is soothing. We are not alone.”
And from my much loved choir leader, more positivity:
Instructions
Gather your helpers, your people, your community and find hope.
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