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.
I wrote a letter to The Guardian yesterday in answer to someone belonging to a book club but who couldn’t read each book in only four weeks. They published it today, and I discovered this evening that 15 people have joined the ShelterBox book club as a result of reading my letter! I am delighted. 
After a lovely breakfast with friends in Truro, we took a short walk in Boscawen Park. The flower borders are still looking lovely, I like the design of the signs and I loved watching the ducklings.
Afterwards when shopping I saw some quirky and very attractive tea-cosies made by Poppy Treffrey, a maker and designer I have only just become aware of but whose website is a delight. See it here.
I found both the patience and the time this afternoon to sew up another of the little jackets I am knitting for babies in Ukraine. I have three more knitted and all in pieces but so dislike sewing up that they’ve been waiting a while. Happily the truck going to Ukraine isn’t going for a while. I am using the mother-of-pearl buttons that were my Grandfather’s sample ones when he was a button salesman in the 1920s so they are 100 years old! It gives me enormous pleasure to handle them, to sew them on and to make every little jacket extra special. 
Note to self from Sallie G – she’s right!
I picked a little posy of marigolds and purple sweet peas today.
I love the wall hanging seen a couple of weeks ago in Truro Cathedral that says thank you to their volunteers.
The following very useful information came my way today and I thought you might appreciate it.
With thanks to Steve Bartlett
We’ve had a lovely time today as friends we made on holiday in Tuscany last year came to visit, brought us lunch and lifted our spirits enormously. As on holiday, we talked and talked, laughed and laughed and shared so much that matters.
I missed Roots this morning as the charging cable for my laptop had broken so I had to go to Truro to get a new one. As I was on my own, I spent another hour or so in the Cathedral admiring Jacqui Parkinson’s beautiful textile hangings that I told you about a few weeks ago. Check that post out here. Today I was looking more closely at detail and became aware that there were spirals in every piece and then saw that the artist explains her intention. Do enjoy the gallery.
I then went to buy chocolates for a treat for my lovely Mr S at home on his own for the first time since his op and was drawn to some with spirals!
I made a delicious ratatouille for dinner tonight, seven plant foods in one meal.
Regular readers will know that I love textiles and creativity and today we saw the most amazing exhibition of beautiful textile panels in the Cathedral. Threads Through Creation is a wonderful depiction of the story of the creation as told in the Bible. If you live anywhere nearby or the exhibition comes near you, do go to see it. I want to go again when I have more time. Here is a gallery to give you a flavour of this glorious work.
Adam and Eve and the snake
Tree of Life and Tree of Knowledge
All hand stitched!
The waters of the seas
Detail
Detail
Jacqui Parkinson, the artist, has spent ten years on this work. Read about it all here. 
After days and days of sunshine, today was properly damp which was brilliant for the garden but sad for Market Day and the Pride Party in the Park. We did our usual Saturday foray into town for fruit, veg, coffee in our favourite coffee shop and a laugh with Make A Mends.
Pride bunting in the wind and rain. On a sunny day this courtyard is buzzing.
My badge
I donated a pretty top that I no longer wear to Make A Mends and they, in their inimitable fashion, have made it even prettier.
We met a lovely couple in HomeGround coffee shop, Heidi and Pete, who were at the start of their Land’s End to John O’Groats cycle ride. Should they read this, we wish them all the best on this adventure.
The lovely couple we met today at the start of their amazing cycle ride.
Blessing by Imtiaz Dharker
The skin cracks like a pod.
There never is enough water.Imagine the drip of it,
the small splash, echo
in a tin mug,
the voice of a kindly god.Sometimes, the sudden rush
of fortune. The municipal pipe bursts,
silver crashes to the ground
and the flow has found
a roar of tongues. From the huts,
a congregation: every man woman
child for streets around
butts in, with pots,
brass, copper, aluminium,
plastic buckets,
frantic hands,and naked children
screaming in the liquid sun,
their highlights polished to perfection,
flashing light,
as the blessing sings
over their small bones.
Catching up after my break – here is the very still water of the Penryn River last Thursday with beautiful reflections.
We loved the work – and the philosophy expressed – in this jacket, seen in one of the lovely independent shops in our town, Make A Mends.
We’ve had fun doing the undersea jigsaw we borrowed from friends, now completed, and we have started another featuring books and cats!
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