We have a charm of Goldfinches in the garden, taking turns at the feeder. Sometimes, when the feeders are full, there are a dozen at once.
There are two regular courting pigeons in the garden. One had just flown off as I took my photo. 
Today’s poem in the book, “A Poet for Every Day of the Year” made me think about our dear friend John who loved cricket, so this poem, ‘The Catch’ by Simon Armitage is here in John’s memory today.
The first message to come through on my birthday (31/12/2025) was an invitation to Afternoon Tea at The Greenbank Hotel in Falmouth and this afternoon we went with our Dear and very generous friends to celebrate my birthday with a splendidly delicious afternoon tea and the most wonderful views. Enjoy the gallery and imagine our tastebud joy!
Thank you so much N&G – that was a wonderful afternoon with you two and what a truly lovely birthday present!
Bluebells on the way home
I took a posy to Sue-next-door this morning as today is the anniversary of her dear Bill passing. You can read more about the remarkable Bill Mitchell here.
Here is what Sue posted a couple of days ago, “On Tuesday it will be nine years since we lost our darling Bill. On his last day, surrounded by love, Mydd was holding his hand and offered to give him a manicure. He asked Bill what colour polish he would like. Bill said ‘Blue, the colour of the underworld’. So now we wear blue nail polish in memory of Bill. (Dear Bob, Bill’s brother, proudly paints a thumbnail, so that when people ask him about it he can tell them about the brother he misses so much). Please join me on Tuesday by painting one nail or all in blue and post a photo here”.
Hence the blue painted nail in honour of Bill as I take the posy next door.
It is such a pleasure to go into the propagating tunnel at Roots on a Tuesday and to see all the baby plants coming on so well.
Various tomatoes
Cucumbers
Runner Beans
Spring flowers are in abundance everywhere. These I found in the gardens at Burncoose Nurseries.
An extract from The Prophet by Kahlil Gibran 1883-1931. This is for our dear friends, J and M.
On Friendship
And a youth said, Speak to us of Friendship.
And he answered, saying:
Your friend is your needs answered.
He is your field which you sow with love and reap with thanksgiving.
And he is your board and your fireside.
For you come to him with your hunger, and you seek him for peace……………………………….
And in the sweetness of friendship let there be laughter, and sharing of pleasures.
For in the dew of little things the heart finds its morning and is refreshed.
I woke at 2am last night and found the glow of the moon filling the garden. I had my camera hand and, having missed the full moon because of thick cloud, caught this picture of an egg shaped moon. It’s interesting to think that the astronauts are away up there too!
My recipe called for half a head of garlic and I liked the pattern it made. 
One of my birthday presents was a Camellia plant and this weekend it has started flowering. It’s beautiful! Thank you so much A&P!
Before we went upstairs to see the Cornish Myths and Legends exhibition last Monday, we went into the recently updated minerals gallery and it was breath-taking. Here are just two of the lovely pieces that caught my eye.
I love Primroses – I think I may have mentioned that before.
I took a phone call today from the daughter of a lovely old friend, Edna, and heard that she had died on Tuesday. We first met many years ago when my lovely Mr S was a student teacher and her husband, John, was his history lecturer. Edna and I became friends as we canvassed for the Labour party together and I baby-sat for their two children. Edna was always kind and funny, interested in life and happy to share ideas.
Their parties were great fun and the food always delicious. Her recipe for an amazing Chocolate Malakoff became a family favourite for special occasions. I must make it again soon and share the recipe with you, dear Reader.
We lost touch for some years and then Edna read one of my letters in The Guardian and tracked me down. We have stayed close ever since, sharing political ideas and favourite commentators, Heather Cox Richardson writing about American politics in particular. Edna loved my blog and often commented which was really lovely. She was much loved and will be much missed.
We visited friends for a lovely catch-up this morning and took a little garden posy of beautifully scented Viburnum, some Summer Snowflake (Leucojum aestivum), Muscari and Forget-me-nots.
There are some very smart new street signs in town.
It being the vernal equinox and another sunny day we went to watch the sunset. It wasn’t especially spectacular but it was lovely to be out on the cliffs in the evening sunshine. The gorse was particularly golden in the early evening light.
Playing with automata yesterday was great fun, such intricate work.
What a glorious blue sky today. This weather vane is at Burncoose Nursery where I called in after singing to see the magnolia blooms (nearly over) and the rhododendrons.
A good friend sent me a video of us singing this morning., Pachabel’s Canon. This is one of my favourites and one I brought to choir 13 years ago after we went to WOMAD and I learned this piece there at a workshop. I love all the parts and start with the basses, moving round all the parts and coming back to the tenors to finish. If you watch carefully , you can watch my progress!
I’ve done a bit more work on next door’s project, sewing the little clay creatures onto long strands of coloured fabric while Sue worked on the head. I thoroughly enjoyed my self. The opening night will be March 31st at Truro Museum and Art Gallery.
It’s only a few weeks since I shared the song, “Hold On’ which we sang in solidarity with the people of Minneapolis. Life is still very difficult for them and we sang again for them today.
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I may have been at this workshop if I hadnt already made plans to be creative this afternoon.
Yesterday I helped make some little clay creatures for a new project being created by my lovely neighbour and today I coloured the ones that were dry enough, ready for tomorrow.
All our lovely white tulips are now blooming.
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