Catkins, a sign of Spring on our bright and brisk walk.
A friend popped round on her walk today so that we could swap books and she brought me some beautiful sea glass too. So, I now have new red glass and some sea glass and I need to get back to work.Thank you so much, H, much appreciated. 
The following lovely story came my way today and I thought you’d like it too, Dear Reader.
What a day! We watched the inauguration of Biden and Harris and found it very moving and full of hope for the future and we loved the poem, The Hill We Climb, by 22 year old Amanda Gorman, a ray of sunshine, from her words to her yellow coat, as my SIL said. You can find out more about this remarkable young woman here. Another lovely thing was seeing Bernie Sanders in his wonderful hand knit mittens.
Since our first visit to America some 40 years ago, I have loved their breakfast of waffles with maple syrup and crispy bacon. Now we have a waffle machine and I can make us that delicious breakfast!
These strange days when we aren’t allowed to hug – and we saw lots of friends yesterday in the market and delivering Christmas cards whom I wanted to hug – this turned up and says it all. In our heads and hearts, we are hugging with delight!
On our walk today, we saw an interesting flag comprising of several different flags. From the top left we identified the flag for Wales, then Scotland but what about the black and white stripy one? I think it’s the Breton flag. From the bottom left is Cornwall’s flag and the Isle of Man but the orange, white and green one? Wikipedia tells me that it is the flag of Ivory Coast. Seen from the other side, it would be green, white and orange, the flag of Ireland. Should one read a flag from the pole? Puzzling. Can anyone help? It would make sense for it to be Ireland, all the Celtic countries. Not sure about the swirly bit in the middle.
We’ve spent several happy hours at our allotment today, weeding a bit more and planting some Osteospermum which we have had in pots at home over the summer.
The next door plot has some amazingly beautiful Rainbow Chard. I’m tempted to grow it just for the winter colour but neither of us like eating it so there doesn’t seem much point. We need to grow plants we like to eat!
These photos came my way today with the words: “Rosa sat so Ruby could walk, so Kamala could run. “So delighted by the election results in America, so relieved, so happy for all friends, family and citizens in the US. I especially love the last picture.
P.S. Nearly forgot, for Remembrance Day, knitted white poppies for Peace outside our favourite pub, photo taken a few days ago. 
YesterdayI learned from a friend that our town, Redruth, is twinned with Mineral Point in Wisconsin, USA! We knew that many Cornish hard rock miners emigrated to the states to take their much needed skills and I did a lot of research into that when I was part of the Perthi Kov team putting together our stories from St Euny graveyard for Until the Day Break. I think Wisconsin will have to be on our next US trip, whenever that can be. I wonder if any of my dear Readers are in Wisconsin. That would be really cool!
Our supermarket delivery came tonight. We have croissants for tomorrow’s breakfast! 
I am not alone among my friends in having the odd wobble emotionally during this strange period in all our lives and I send my love out there to any of my readers also feeling the strangeness. The following poem of Mary Oliver’s captures the essence of what we all need to do. Go out and sing!
I Worried by Mary Oliver
The following poem by Maya Angelou came my way today in remembrance and honour of Ruth Bader Ginsburg who died two days ago. She will be so greatly missed.
When Great Trees Fall – Maya Angelou
When great trees fall,
rocks on distant hills shudder,
lions hunker down
in tall grasses,
and even elephants
lumber after safety.When great trees fall
in forests,
small things recoil into silence,
their senses
eroded beyond fear.When great souls die,
the air around us becomes
light, rare, sterile.
We breathe, briefly.
Our eyes, briefly,
see with
a hurtful clarity.
Our memory, suddenly sharpened,
examines,
gnaws on kind words
unsaid,
promised walks
never taken.Great souls die and
our reality, bound to
them, takes leave of us.
Our souls,
dependent upon their
nurture,
now shrink, wizened.
Our minds, formed
and informed by their
radiance, fall away.
We are not so much maddened
as reduced to the unutterable ignorance of
dark, cold
caves.And when great souls die,
after a period peace blooms,
slowly and always
irregularly. Spaces fill
with a kind of
soothing electric vibration.
Our senses, restored, never
to be the same, whisper to us:
They existed. They existed.
We can be. Be and be
better. For they existed.
We have finished the painting and have put the trellis back in place. Next comes the planting after we have replaced all the soil.
We had tickets tonight for the latest WildWorks show, Meet me at the Edge, to be played out, socially distanced at Botallack. Sadly, it was cancelled on Friday as new Covid rules came into play that the National Trust have to abide by. Instead, the whole wonderful thing was live-streamed and we watched from home. It was so moving and beautifully done. You can watch if you’d like to. I recommend it if you can find an hour.
The Clematis Armandii sent us the last blooms today.
Choir was on Zoom tonight and was great fun! What a lovely lot we are! Thanks to Claire for a fabulous lesson. 
It’s my kid brother’s birthday today and despite us posting on 7th April (to Atlanta, USA) his card has not arrived so here is another! 
Our government tells us that in a few days, because of the Coronavirus, they will tell the over 70s that in a few weeks they should self isolate to protect themselves. With a warning like that, we and many of our friends are already self isolating. However, we are very lucky because we live outside the town and can walk out of our front door to be straight into the countryside . We can also drive to the coast and walk along in the beauty of our Cornwall where there are other walkers but no-one close by which was what we did this afternoon along a short stretch of the South West Coastal path.
Daffodils along the roadside
The view from the path towards Chapel Porth and Porthtowan
Looking out to rocks from the cliffs at St Agnes Beacon – Does anyone local know the name?
On Radio 4 this morning, we were being advised that laughter is the best medicine and that, just as we should be eating 5 a day fruit and veg, we should be finding 5 things a day to make us feel good. I might have to upgrade MBT to 5 a day when I can.
It is Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s birthday. We first learned of her when she was a much admired Law Professor at Columbia University School of Law in New York, USA. My brother was in her classes. Happy Birthday!
“Fight for the things that you care about, but do it in a way that will lead others to join you.” Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Associate Justice of the US Supreme Court (b. 15 Mar 1933)
Okame Cherry
My lovely Sister-in-law sent me a photo of the Cherry trees at the end of their road in Atlanta and I thought I would share it.They have had lots of rain there too and the rain-beaten blossom lies on the ground as a colourful carpet.
Last week was Random Acts of Kindness week. Every week should be as this Peanuts cartoon suggests.
Commentator Award
