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Category Archives: friendship

Fabulous Quilt

In May, we went with friends to Amsterdam and while there visited a lovely quilt shop as our friend K is a quilter. A couple of weeks ago, an enormous box was delivered and to our utter delight, inside was the most beautiful quilt, the pattern being the very distinctive houses of Amsterdam, along with a bridge and canal. Absolutely stunning.
We were given washing instructions but wanted to hang this beautiful piece of art rather than throw it over a bed. We found a curtain pole, a pair of bronzed hooks and over the weekend, have rearranged paintings on our landing and hung the quilt in pride of place in the stairwell. It looks amazing and we love it.

Little Amsterdam designed by North Sea Quilters and made by K.

The amount of work in this is remarkable and we treasure this beautiful piece.

7 Comments

Posted by mybeautfulthings on August 9, 2026 in Amsterdam, art, Beauty, friendship, Happiness, Postaday 2026, quilting, Uncategorized

Tags: North Sea quilters

Ferry to St Mawes to Sing

07 Aug

It was late when I arrived home last night so here is a small gallery showing our trip from Falmouth to St Mawes to sing and the ferry ride back again. Click on any photo for the caption and if you like, listen to us singing on the ferry on our way home. It’s ‘Cornwall, My Home” written by Harry Glasson and it’s really the new Cornish anthem.

Leaving Falmouth

Approaching St Mawes Castle

Cottages in St Mawes

Rowers

One of the races

St Mawes Hotel where we were to sing outside

Sunset on the way home

4 Comments

Posted by mybeautfulthings on August 7, 2026 in community, Cornwall, environment, Falmouth, friendship, Happiness, music, Postaday 2026, Sea, singing, sky, St Mawes

Tags: Harry Glasson

Exhibition, View and Bunting

05 Aug

We went to Falmouth today to see an exhibition of paintings by a local artist, Julian Christophers. I first met him when I was part of the art collective Fannie and Fox where I used to sell my stained glass work. I always found Julian’s paintings to be full of joy, full of colour and always smile inducing. I especially love his portraits. Today’s exhibition met all expectations.

Here are two of his pieces for you to enjoy but for those of my readers who are local, go and see them for yourself. You’ll come away smiling!

Loula’s Meadow – mixed media showing flowers from a dog’s viewpoint

Afterwards we went into another local gallery where the view from their window is another beautiful piece of art.

View from the window of the Beside the Wave gallery.

Falmouth Week is coming up and the streets are full of bunting.

4 Comments

Posted by mybeautfulthings on August 5, 2026 in art, collage, Cornwall, Falmouth, friendship, painting, Postaday 2026, Uncategorized

Tags: Julian Christophers

Rope, Trifle and Outdoor Theatre

16 Jul

It’s been a delightful day starting with Thursday’s always excellent singing with The Suitcase Singers.

Beautiful coil of yellow rope outside our rehearsal space

Afterwards, the coffee crowd went for lunch together to remember our Dear friend John whose birthday was on this day. We raised a glass to his memory and shared some fond memories.

My scrumptious dessert – Pimm’s Trifle with Elderflower Sorbet

This evening we have been to an outdoor theatre performance of Peer Gynt by Miracle Theatre at Scorrier House. Their adaptation was hilarious – costumes, set, music and each performer just brilliant. If you are in Cornwall, Devon or Dorset, find a performance near you. You won’t regret it and I guarantee that you, like us, will love the Trolls!

Performances are often in lovely settings too, castles, gardens, even clifftops!

6 Comments

Posted by mybeautfulthings on July 16, 2026 in community, Cornwall, Eating out, friendship, Miracle Theatre, Postaday 2026, Redruth

Tags: Peer Gynt by Miracle Theatre

Orange, Blues, Pinks and Purples

13 Jul

Last night’s sunset was another pretty one with the golden light reflected in the windows across the road.

Our choir rehearsal was by the sea again today and the variety of blues, from turquoise to navy, was just lovely. My photo doesn’t do it justice. The beach was full of people enjoying the continuing heatwave. (Unlike me. I melt.)

I picked a posy of our first Sweet Peas today and they smell wonderful. Whenever I pick a small posy, I am reminded of our dear friend Ti, whom we used to visit regularly and always took a garden-grown posy to brighten up her room.

4 Comments

Posted by mybeautfulthings on July 13, 2026 in community, Cornwall, environment, friendship, garden, nature, Porthtowan, Postaday 2026

Another Good Read and A Postcard

11 Jul

Another scorcher out there today. I did find some shade this morning to finish a book a friend has lent me, “The Correspondent” by Virginia Evans, that I started yesterday. What a brilliant, beautiful novel, full of humour but also bringing me to tears several times. I loved the heroine, Sybil, whose life is told through the many letters she writes and receives. All the characters are carefully drawn and utterly believable. It’s one of those stories where you feel as if you know all the people, their quirks, their loves and their lives and yet the story is full of surprises. Put this one on your reading list!

My reaction to the book reminded of a postcard I showed you recently and here it is again.

2 Comments

Posted by mybeautfulthings on July 11, 2026 in books, friendship, Postaday 2026, Uncategorized

Tags: The Correspondent" by Virginia Evans, Virginia Evans

Beads, Supper, Pink and Purple

05 Jul

I’ve had a little beaded ‘cap/beret/hat’ for many, many years. It was in the dressing up box when I was little and when ours were small but no longer has wearers so I took it down to the wonderful Make-A-Mends where all such wonders are welcomed.

We had friends round for supper last night and I made a delicious dish, Mediterranean Chicken with Lemon and Olives. Here it is, part cooked, as I added the vine tomatoes and olives to the part roasted chicken, new potatoes and lemon wedges. I served it with a mixed leaf salad and crusty bread and we finished with Eton Mess.

The Cornish hedge between us and our neighbours is covered in wild flowers. Here the Red Campion and our purple clematis make good colour companions.

4 Comments

Posted by mybeautfulthings on July 5, 2026 in environment, Food, friendship, garden, nature, Postaday 2026

Happy Fourth of July!

04 Jul

Sending love and good wishes to all my family and friends and all my readers in America on this your 250th anniversary.

Here are two of our fridge magnets collected on trips to your beautiful counrty.

4 Comments

Posted by mybeautfulthings on July 4, 2026 in America, Celebration, community, family, friendship, Happiness, Postaday 2026

Tags: Thomas Jefferson

Lunch and A Poem

10 Jun

It’s been a bit of a day for one reason and another but we had a lovely lunch at home with a dear friend and together sorted out several theatre trips over the next few months – lots to look forward to.

This little poem came to mind today, Celia, Celia by Adrian Mitchell. It made me smile. I hope it does the same for you.

When I am sad and weary

When I think all hope has gone

When I walk along High Holborn

I think of you with nothing on

3 Comments

Posted by mybeautfulthings on June 10, 2026 in Food, friendship, Humour, poetry, Postaday 2026

My Mum, Precious Words and Deeds

04 Jun

My lovely Mum died on this day in 1994 and I still want to tell her stuff that excites me or that I need her wisdom on. That doesn’t go away. She was a very special person and supported me every way in everything I did.

Regular readers will have seen this photo before, a favourite taken at Carn Brea Castle on the occasion of Mum and Dad’s Golden Wedding celebration in 1989

I have been going through some treasures and found some letters from Mum, all relating to her care of me while becoming a mum myself.
A story for you – Very early in my third pregnancy , I knew that I was expecting twins. I had wanted to have twins since I was 9 years old! My GP told me I was being silly and that he would tell me if/ when this was so. My lovely parents believed me and bought us ‘multiple birth’ insurance at 8 weeks and the GP wrote a letter to the insurance company saying that he was sure it was a single birth.
Roll on eight months or so to September 9th 1977 and the doubting GP sent me to see the consultant at the hospital. She listened to me, sent me for an x-ray and there they were, arms and legs everywhere! Before taking the plates back to her, I phoned my lovely Mr S and my Mum to share my utter delight. What follows is the letter from my Mum that came the next day:

Letter dated 9/9/1977

Just a week later, our twins arrived on 16th and 17th September, and so did my Mum to help look after our other two, 4 and nearly 2 years old, while I was in hospital and then three more weeks to help – but that is another story.