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Category Archives: America

Redruth International Mining and Pasty Festival

That was a cracker of a day at the festival!
Our town was buzzing – live music, delicious cakes and excellent coffee, some wonderful outfits, meet ups with friends, bubbles in the park and, in the afternoon, two fascinating talks.

Beautiful cloak in Cornish tartan

Bubble fun for the youngsters in St Rumon’s Gardens

Redruth Town Band with the yellow trombone

Bubble fun for the youngsters in St Rumon’s Gardens

Three Daft Monkeys

Busy Bond Street

The first talk, by Sharron Schwartz, was about the Cornish miners who went to work in Mexico and Wisconsin in the 1820s. Cornishman were experts in hard rock mining and their skills were called for all over the world. The other talk, by Dr Lesley Trotter, was about the women who were ‘left behind,’ The Married Widows of Cornwall.

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4 Comments

Posted by mybeautfulthings on September 12, 2026 in America, community, Cornwall, embroidery, festival, History, Postaday 2026, Redruth, Tin mining history

Tags: Dr Lesley Trotter, Sharron P Schwartz

Bulbs, Cake and Today

11 Sep

I’ve put some hyacinth bulbs in the special glasses today, put them in a dark cupboard for the roots to develop and in about 6 weeks they should be ready to come out into daylight and then hopefully be in flower for Christmas, maybe New Year.

Tomorrow is Redruth’s International Mining and PastyFestival.

So I’ve made a coffee cake for the cake stall.

On this day, 9/11, people have been remembering the nearly 3,000 people who lost their lives in the attack on the twin towers.
Here in Cornwall, hundreds of people attended a memorial service in Hayle this afternoon to remember Rick Rescorla, a Cornishman who died in the September 11 terrorist attack on the World Trade Centre.
“Today, twenty-five years after the attacks changed the world, the proud Cornishman from Hayle continues to be remembered on both sides of the Atlantic. Having already helped hundreds to escape, he bravely went back into one of the burning towers to look for missing staff members.
Last seen moving upwards as he sang songs from his beloved Cornwall, they echoed through the staircases as he urged workers to keep moving.”

2 Comments

Posted by mybeautfulthings on September 11, 2026 in America, community, Cornwall, Hayle, nature, Postaday 2026

Tags: 9/11, Rick Rescorla, twin towers

Borage, Shallots and Plastic Pots

19 Jul

I loved how a blue borage bloom had landed on a vibrant green courgette leaf and near the gold of a courgette flower.

We have harvested our shallots today, a bit earlier than expected but with the heat and dryness they had stopped growing. They are a lovely colour but rather smaller than usual.

Here we have two expandable plastic pots with lids, not conventionally beautiful, I agree but they hold wonderful memories. They have been to the North Rim of the Grand Canyon with us on each of our many adventures starting in 1998! We used them for our breakfasts in the cabins, for our picnics on the various trails and for desserts collected from the deli.

Sadly, we probably won’t be able to go again (the awful and very sad fire of last year destroyed so much that will take years to restore) though we do hope to be able to visit family and friends in 2028 perhaps.

1 Comment

Posted by mybeautfulthings on July 19, 2026 in America, environment, Food, garden, growing, nature, Postaday 2026, travel, Uncategorized

Happy Fourth of July!

04 Jul

Sending love and good wishes to all my family and friends and all my readers in America on this your 250th anniversary.

Here are two of our fridge magnets collected on trips to your beautiful counrty.

4 Comments

Posted by mybeautfulthings on July 4, 2026 in America, Celebration, community, family, friendship, Happiness, Postaday 2026

Tags: Thomas Jefferson

World Poetry Day, A Poem and A Flower

22 Mar

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.

6 Comments

Posted by mybeautfulthings on March 22, 2026 in America, environment, garden, Humour, nature, poetry, Postaday 2026, Uncategorized

Tags: Brian Bilston

Clay, Sewing and Solidarity

16 Mar

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/

2 Comments

Posted by mybeautfulthings on March 16, 2026 in America, craft, friendship, music, Postaday 2026, Uncategorized

Tags: Minnesota

Cherry Blossom, A Poem and A Song

02 Mar

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.

4 Comments

Posted by mybeautfulthings on March 2, 2026 in America, nature, Peace, Postaday 2026

Tags: Angela Morgan, Peggy Seeger, singing

Singing in Solidarity, Sunshine and Fish

05 Feb

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.

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.

Pumpkins, More Pumpkins and a Pumpkin Gift

24 Oct

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.