It’s St Piran’s Day today and this evening I will be joining a Singalong Zoom of Cornish songs. That will be fun but the very best thing is that family around the world will be joining me – from Hawaii, from Munich, from Atlanta and from London. What a treat!
Flag of St Piran
Another very busy day but just look what we are achieving!
I dug up a pretty little pice of pottery while working today.
Our Three Wise Monkeys planter is full of Tete a Tete and the Muscari are almost ready to join them. 
Next door’s Camellia was caught in the evening sunshine today.
We worked in the garden in sunshine all morning and then, in the allotment, still weeding, this afternoon. We are getting the ground ready and hope to be planting before too long as the soil warms up. We were both shattered by the time we came home so ordered Fish’n’chips from the best ever chippie, Greg and Lou’s in Redruth.
A couple of videos today of our wild weather – the big fir tree where many birds hang out and next door’s Camellia and Tree Fern being buffeted about. The wind has been about 30mph all day with gusts in the 50s. We’re expecting much the same tomorrow.
My Rainbow glass looks very pretty with the mini tree lights behind it. 
I bought our Daffodils eight days ago and they are still giving us joy.
This morning I sang with my sister who lives in Hawaii! We were both taking part in a Sing for your Heart session run by my choir leader on zoom and it was such a delight to see her and to sing with her! One of the compensatory joys of these strange times! I wonder if you can see which is my kid sister? Answer at the end!
It was another bitterly cold walk today, a different one, just up the road at Gwennap, alongside the stream, up through the village and around the Churchyard where my Dad found the inspiration for his novel, Jeremy Visick. I love this walk as there are so many happy family memories that crowd their way in my head.
A very full stream
I love the stones in this doorless doorway.
Deborah is bottom right in red and beaming her joy at me. Did you find her? Do tell me in the comments. We could barely sing, the pair of us for the grins on our faces!
I was surprised to see this in flower as early as it is – a kind of Cow Parsley, Umbelliferae perhaps? It was the only one to be seen. 
The sky was brilliantly blue and the air bitterly blowy coming in on an easterly wind but no snow here in the South West as there is down the East of the country.
There is a spot on our walk where a Robin always sings but we can rarely find him. Today, with more patience, we spotted him. 
Just the one beautiful day this week so we got in a good walk and some garden tidying up, discovering some Crocuses hidden under decaying leaves. Spring is certainly springing in Cornwall, very, very wet and quite (relatively) warm.
1. The Crocuses
2 and 3 The beautiful little anemones are beginning to bloom.
4. More Snowdrops
5. Iris Reticulata
6. Paler Iris Reticulata – I prefer the darker ones.
I told my friend about the comments about her winter swimming and pointed her to them. This is her response
“Awwwh that’s so lovely Sally. I love the ‘Is she sane?’ I can only say, it’s questionable at times but cold water swimming helps. Today’s swimming adventure is at high tide in Little Beach at Portreath. It’ll probably be mizzling if not piddling down, I’ll have my diving head torch, oh so glam waterproof changing robe and hot water bottle and chocolate. What else could a girl wish for on a Saturday night in lock down?!”
Later this afternoon, N popped over so that I could add a photo. She is such a star! 
The inspiration for Six on Saturday comes from The Propagator. Pop over to see his posts and to read sixes from lots of other gardeners to find out how gardens all over the world are faring.
My dear friend and her beautiful dog, Kaia, came today for us to walk together around the Great Flat Lode. The valley was misty, Carn Brea covered by low cloud and by the end it was properly mizzling but we had the best walk catching up. 
The lovely Mr S brought me a little treat this afternoon on his way back from his appointment, always loved these and can’t remember when I last had one.
I think I’ve mentioned before our lovely neighbour who swims throughout the winter. The other day, she and her friends swam in a local quarry where they had to break the ice to make any headway. N had a hammer with her and was, literally, breaking the ice with her hammer!I think this cartoon expresses how I might feel if I were to try this hobby! I hope it doesn’t offend anybody!
Open Water Swearing by Kate West Art
May we raise childrenwho love the unlovedthings – the dandelion, theworms & spiderlings.Children who sensethe rose needs the thorn
& run into rainswept daysthe same way theyturn towards sun…And when they’re grown &someone has to speak for thosewho have no voicemay they draw upon thatwilder bond, those days oftending tender thingsand be the ones.~ Nicolette Sowder
We found ourselves unexpectedly in Penzance today. The lovely Mr S has an outpatient appointment on Thursday and our hospital is being very careful about the virus so books each patient for a Covid test three days before. We decided to go early so that we could have a walk first. Enjoy the sunny photos!
Seal and I love how the water looks here
Castle on St Michael’s Mount
Turnstone
Jubilee Pool
Reflection and the castle
Two rather touching memory plaques on one of the new benches along the newly refurbished promenade.
Our walk was short and brisk dodging hailstorms. The sky over Carn Brea was threatening of more to come.
The lovely Mr S is very fond of Eccles Cakes as was my Dad, a Lancashire man. Dad liked them with a hunk of Lancashire cheese. I have never made them before and am delighted with today’s efforts!
While I was baking, I was listening to Poetry Please on BBC radio 4. The final poem by Murray Lachlan Young, ‘Negative Thoughts’ feels just perfect for these times as many people are struggling with their mental health. As the poet says, this poem is “An antidote to allowing things to spiral in the wrong direction.” The whole programme is worth listening to but you can find the poem at about 27 minutes using the link above. I found it very useful.
Murray Lachlan Young
Commentator Award
