RSS

Category Archives: Cornwall

Mum’s Chimneys, Clouds and the Sea

I’ve passed on some of my Mum’s chimney collection to her Grandkids but I still have a few and we plant them up each spring for the summer as she did.

Our choir practice was by the beach at The Blue Bar in Porthtowan today so afterwards some of us walked down to the sea. What a tonic – to sing and then to see, hear, and smell the sea. We are so lucky to be living in Cornwall and so close to the coast.

Clouds

The sea at Porthtowan

Just have to say – we recorded the World Cup football match, England v Mexico, (KO 1am UK time) and got up early to watch it without hearing the news. It was a cracker of a game and sent us off on our day with smiles on our faces!

2 Comments

Posted by mybeautfulthings on July 6, 2026 in community, Cornwall, environment, garden, nature, Porthtowan, Postaday 2026, Uncategorized

Cherries, Apples and A New Parasol

02 Jul

We treated ourselves to a few delicious cherries today.

We have five apples on our family apple tree.

There was such a wild and fierce gust of wind two weeks ago that it lifted our parasol, tipped the heavy wooden table on its side and bent the parasol as it landed. We are pleased with our new one that arrived today and will be sure not to leave it open when winds are expected!

Two views of Welly Dog for you today aka Tinners’ Hound by David Kemp, remarkable artist who died last month. You can read about him here in The Guardian obituary. If you are new to our Welly Dog and would like to know more, put Welly Dog into the search bar on the right and there are lots of lovely photos of our Welly Dog and the ones cast in bronze that are in Redruth town centre.

3 Comments

Posted by mybeautfulthings on July 2, 2026 in Cornwall, environment, garden, nature, Postaday 2026

Thistles, Silhouettes and Poppies

30 Jun

At Roots today we went to sit on the bench in the new orchard and listened to the birds – a wren and a blackbird sang for us. In front of us were the purple thistle flowers and the teasels and cow parsley in silhouette.

The line of poppies in one of the poly-tunnels was quite striking.

1 Comment

Posted by mybeautfulthings on June 30, 2026 in community, Cornwall, environment, garden, nature, Postaday 2026

Tags: community roots

Day Lily, Clematis and A Very Good Read

28 Jun

Our first Day Lily has bloomed today and there are lots of buds to come.

I bought the clematis, Lady Betty Balfour ,many years ago and it has struggled. Suddenly it’s reaching to the top of the yew tree. I don’t think it had the right label on it as it doesn’t look like the Lady we once had in our previous garden.

I have just finished a most enjoyable read. The salesperson at Waterstones last Friday suggested I might like this one set in Cornwall. I had already bought our books but had enough points for this one to be free so I didn’t resist and, boy, am I pleased that I did get it. It’s funny, clever, rattles along with delightful characters that are so alive and is a really good mystery. I read it in two days and didn’t do much else! I really can recommend it, even if you don’t get it free. (Book buddies J and H, it’ll be available for the borrowing!)

There is a second novel coming in October, a series to watch I’m thinking. Any of you already read this one?

3 Comments

Posted by mybeautfulthings on June 28, 2026 in books, Cornwall, environment, garden, nature, Postaday 2026

Tags: Ross Montgomery, The Murder at World's End

Sunset, Clematis and Hydrangea

27 Jun

Last night’s sunset was glorious, a fiery orange cloud hovering over the tennis courts nearby.

Many Clematis are blooming and this purple one is lovely.

We bought a new beautiful blue Hydrangea today to go with the others I showed you a day or two ago. Click here if you missed them..

Our heatwave seems to have passed on by but the rest of the country and Europe are still sweltering. Here it’s just summertime warmth. How is it with you?

6 Comments

Posted by mybeautfulthings on June 27, 2026 in Cornwall, environment, garden, nature, Postaday 2026

Hydrangeas

23 Jun

This post is for our dear friend who lives in Flagstaff, Arizona and who loves hydrangeas. They were very small when P&J last visited but are thriving in our front garden and are looking very lovely this year.

Hydrangea Petiolaris

Sorry I have lost the names of the others.

3 Comments

Posted by mybeautfulthings on June 23, 2026 in Cornwall, environment, garden, nature, Postaday 2026

Father’s Day – Breakfast, Lunch and A Walk

21 Jun

Happy Summer Solstice to all my Dear Readers.

I made a favourite breakfast of Blueberry Pancakes with creme fraiche and maple syrup for my lovely Mr S.

Our eldest daughter came for the day and we had a delicious lunch in the Redruth Buttermarket in bright sunshine and with colourful hanging baskets and bunting blowing in the breeze. The excellent kitchens allow for each of us to choose – burger, foccacia, pad thai.

Later we had a rather warm walk down to the beach at Trelissick. All in all, a delightful happy day.

Walking down to the beach

Looking out over Channal Creek

Rock Samphire

Walking back up with the house in view.

And of course, my own lovely Dad is also in my mind today, especially as we enjoy Trelissick which Mum and Dad both loved too.

4 Comments

Posted by mybeautfulthings on June 21, 2026 in Cornwall, environment, family, Food, Happiness, nature, Postaday 2026

Tags: Redruth Buttermarket, Trelissick

Raindrops and A Poem

19 Jun

We hear that there is a heatwave in the South East of the UK but here in the South West we have had grey, mizzly skies for days and the forecast is for more. The resulting raindrops clinging to petals make for beautiful pictures.

I would not describe myself as a dog lover though I do enjoy watching them playing on the beach and friends have had a dog that I did love. This poem by Mary Oliver, “The Sweetness of Dogs”, reminds me of lovely Kaja and how she loved her people. The whole poem is so full of the beauty of the moon, of gentleness and shared love.

10 Comments

Posted by mybeautfulthings on June 19, 2026 in Beauty, Cornwall, environment, garden, nature, poetry, Postaday 2026, Redruth, Uncategorized

Morning Mist, Greens and Geraniums

18 Jun

Early morning mist down the Penryn River as I waited to go into the Zed Shed for this morning’s sing.

The greens are back across the river. I love the view of the trees over the river as the seasons change.

Colourful vertical garden on a houseboat moored by Muddy Beach cafe.

2 Comments

Posted by mybeautfulthings on June 18, 2026 in Cornwall, environment, nature, Penryn, Postaday 2026, Uncategorized

Window, Book and Green Tunnel

17 Jun

We had a delightful breakfast with friends this morning, chatting, laughing and of course eating a delicious meal over more than two hours. On the way out I noticed the bistro window and was very taken with the illustration so carefully painted there.

My best book buddy lent me a book on Saturday and I have read it in two sittings. As it says on the back, “This is a gentle and welcome reminder that no matter what your age, there are always fresh discoveries ahead and pleasures to be enjoyed every day.” That’s what this blog is all about, of course, and I thoroughly enjoyed this read. I have already read Margareta Magnusson’s The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning, a practical and wise guide to clearing out the clutter so that your family don’t have to do it later.