We were delighted to see Daffodils in bud on a verge on our walk today.
We had sunshine every now and then today and I caught Carn Brea, the Castle and the Monument in a bit of it.
On the way home we spotted a Santa whose rope ladder seemed to have run out as he looks down rather despondently contemplating jumping off the bottom…….
Our lovely neighbour is safely out of self-isolation as her contact’s test has come back negative. Relief all around.
Mince pies and our exchange of presents socially distant in the garden in the rain this morning. What a star our lovely neighbour is!
Savoury baking today, sausage rolls and cheesy angels!
I am delighted with our new ornament for the tree!
We were briefly in Truro this morning to find a particular book for the lovely Mr S (with success) and when finished called in at a well spaced and airy cafe for toast and coffee!
My choirs have been unable to sing together this Christmas but a very tech savvy member of our gang has put together a video of us singing in previous years with some stills. Here it is.
Our first Christmas present was delivered today, a gorgeous bunch of autumnal coloured flowers already in their glass so no chasing around trying to find one. I love the bright red berries in the water too. 
We visited our friends who have planted a forest in a field. Their latest project is the making of a wild flower meadow. Some of the trees can be seen to the left.
Newly dug patch that is going to be a wild flower meadow.
We loved their Christmas cake, beautiful with marzipan vegetables on top, just fabulous!
Fabulous Christmas cake which tasted as good as it looks, especially with a slice of cheese.
The seed heads of Agapanthus in their garden are gorgeous and how Agapanthus usually look in this part of the world in December, unlike the ones we saw last week in flower.
Agapanthus seed head
We have the Christmas wreath on the front door.
We were late walking today ( I am spending every minute finishing off the embroidery wall panels for two of the LiveWires – forgive me for not coming to visit your blogs) and it was lovely to see the Town Clock from the park and to see the angel lights going up Fore Street through the bare winter trees.
Tonight was the Christmas party of one of my choirs, The Ingleheart Singers, all on zoom but fun nevertheless. It was good to see so many happy faces after all this time of not singing together.
The Ingleheart Singers.
Watching the birds has been a joy over the last few months and now that it’s getting colder, the feeders are getting busier. This little robin is at the top of Mum’s old pan stand which I use for flowers in the summer. 
I love making a Frittata using leftovers! In this one were some potatoes, Calabrese, pesto pasta, half a yellow pepper, some spinach, the last shallot and some  cheese. It was very tasty.
We have delivered our Christmas dinners in a box.. This is a scheme where a whole Christmas dinner plus treats are packed up in a decorated box and distributed, via the council, The boxes are given out by Cornwall Council’s teams working with vulnerable and impoverished families, the poorest in Cornwall, to give them something for Christmas. Nearly 1000 were donated last year.  If you are local and would like to contribute, here is the link. Â
Sadly, even before Covid, 1/3 of the children living in Cornwall were living in poverty. I hope there are even more boxes donated this year by those who can. 
We have a glass cone  ‘tree’ lit from the inside which I love. 
One of our presents this year was a scented candle (vanilla, my favourite) and a prettily decorated box of matches.
You may have heard of our New Year Honours List when people are awarded Knighthoods or other means of recognition. Some of the people are ordinary folk doing wonderful work in the community who deserve all the kudos given by such awards.
Some are not. In the face of such darkness, I offer you some words from Desmond Tutu.
Our tree sparkles in the bay window.
Just returned home from a fabulous Winter Kevewi at The Redruth Drapery – a new venue and a splendid one in our little town.
This came my way today and I share it here with you.
It has been a family tradition to go for a walk on the beach on Christmas Day, whatever the weather, since we first came to live in Cornwall when I was six years old. Yesterday, the sun shone and it was glorious! We were almost alone, with just a few dog walkers, walking on Porthtowan beach and heading, at the turn of the tide, towards Wheal Coates up on the cliffs.
As we turned to return, only the sound of the waves and the odd excited dog barking to be heard, we were astounded to see a hundred or more people had arrived while we were strolling. Then, all the more astonished to see them all race into the winter sea! 
The following video is a bit shaky – I was cold!
Choose love.
Just caught a rainbow this morning.
We were early into Truro this morning so the lights were not lit but they were welcoming.
The Redruth Carol Choir is coming along our road on Sunday so I have baked some appropriate cheesy biscuits to offer with next door’s mulled wine as some refreshment and reward for their efforts..
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