This Seagull represents JOY to me. You may find that strange so I will explain. When I lived away from Cornwall, the call of a seagull brought home into my head and with it the sea and the sand and the cliffs and everything that Cornwall means to me.
Seagull
My Mum loved Cornwall as much as I do and when we knew she was dying, the whole family came from all over the world to see her. When my brother and I went to register her death, a Seagull walked into the office before we could close the door and we joked that it was Mum, come to make sure we did everything properly. We had a family outing to St Ives a day or two later and a single Seagull came to sit on the car while we getting the parking ticket. We joked that Mum was there with us to enjoy St Ives with us as she had done so often and at the wonderfully moving Humanist Celebration of her life, there in the garden was a solitary Seagull……. Mum is with us still and still brings me joy.
Tags: cornwall, Weekly Photo Challenge: Joy
1 A beautiful song was chosen by my sister for our Father’s funeral nine years ago. It is nine years ago today that he died in St John’s Hospice, Doncaster, where he was so incredibly well looked after for 17 days that he asked, “This is a wonderful hotel. Can I afford it?” Today is the day that I play ‘The Ballad of Joe Hill‘ in remembrance of my much-missed and much-loved Dad and today I have played Daisy’s choice as well, ‘Under a December Sky’ by Beth Nielson Chapman and I give you a photo of today’s beautiful December sky to go with the lovely words and music.
Under a December Sky
2 The lovely Mr S has put up the Christmas lights tree in the garden today – such a cheery sight.
Christmas lights tree
3 A delicious and simple supper tonight of Chicken and Leek Risotto with Toasted Cashew Nuts.
Chicken and Leek Risotto
Tags: Beth Nielson Chapman, Chicken and Leek Risotto, Christmas lights, loss, The Ballad of Joe Hill, Under a December Sky
1 I was reminded of these words of Shelley yesterday
“Music, when soft voices die,
Vibrates in the memory- “
when I heard ‘The Ballad Of Joe Hill’ sung by Paul Robeson, one of my all time favourite voices singing one of my lovely Dad’s favourite songs, and one which we played at Dad’s Humanist funeral. It was chosen by Ed Milliband in Desert Island Discs on Sunday and has been in my head ever since. Some of you will know this – but it doesn’t matter how long ago you ‘lost’ a parent, they never actually leave you and music can suddenly bring them back into the kitchen as clearly as if they were still alive.
3 Singing with The Inglehearts tonight was especially good. There’s something very special about singing in harmony with friends. Here’s a public Thank you to Claire Ingleheart for her work, her friendship and her very special talent which she shares so freely.
3 The Crystallised Limequats look beautiful in their jar.
Crystallised Limequats
Tags: bereavement, Claire Ingleheart, Desert Island Discs, Ed Milliband, limequats, NaBloPoMo, Paul Robeson, The Ballad of Joe Hill, The Ingleheart Singers
1 I met with a lovely couple this morning who want me to be the Celebrant for their Humanist wedding ceremony next May. I do love my job! It such a happy and positive thing to do.
2 I love Anemones, such beautiful, vibrant colours. Only one in the bunch is fully open yet – the whole bowlful will be a treat indeed.
Anemone
3 Pear Tarte Tatin, warm with ice-cream – comfort food for a wild wintery evening such as this, rain hammering against the windows, wind howling down the chimneys and the wood burner glowing!
Pear Tarte Tatin
NaBloPoMo I’m joining in this challenge of writing everyday in November. Check out others here
Tags: Humanist Wedding Ceremony, NaBloPoMo, Pear Tarte Tatin
We had the most glorious walk from Mawnan Church yesterday. Come with me through the Churchyard to the fields and the coastal path and back through the woodlands – a day of beauty, peace and happiness.
Church door
Beautiful embroidery
More amazing embroidery
Inside Mawnan Church
A very old tombstone
A lichen covered cross
Through the fileds
A gate, a stile and a bridge
First view of the water
Sailing lessons
Butterfly
A Humanist Wedding about to take place
Another butterfly
Peaceful view across the Helford
Lots of yachts
Water through the trees
I was on this walk too!
Thistle flower
One yacht on the water
Path back up to the Church, circular walk nearly done
A beautiful walk on a short bit of the South West Coastal Path which I hope you have enjoyed too.
Tags: embroidered kneeling pads, embroidery, Mawnan Church, South West Coastal path
1 I conducted a beautiful Humanist Wedding Ceremony this afternoon. I do love these weddings – they are so individual, special and unique to the couple involved. Enjoy some of it with me.
Before the Ceremony, which took place under the tree
Bunting in the barn, made from fabrics with special memories for the Bride
Hedgerow flowers on the tables
Bridesmaids with sunflowers
The Beautiful Bride
The Cake, the Loving Cup and the Whiskey
2 The Johnson’s Blue Geranium is very beautiful and is buzzing with bees.
Bee on Johnson’s Blue Geranium
3 Yesterday I discovered a new blog Brooke’s Voice. It is one of the most beautiful I have read and I wanted to tell you a bit about it so that you can, please, visit it and be moved as I was by the love for her sister and the talent of a young writer who is still at school. Gosh, how I would love to be her English teacher to nurture this talent. What a way with words this young woman has, painting pictures with her lyrical sentences.
Tags: Brooke's sister, Brooke's voice, english teacher, home-made bunting, Humanist Wedding, Johnson's Blue Geranium, nurturing talent, wedding ceremony
1 Our Suffragette garden is in bloom again with white petunias, purple clematis and green leaves.
White Petunia
Purple Clematis
2 Another beautiful evening so we’ve barbecued again and enjoyed a delicious supper with a glass of wine in the evening sunshine.
Halloumi and vegetable kebabs
3 Twenty years ago today, we had just given my Mum the best send off imaginable and as it became dark we went onto the green near their bungalow and set off fireworks, rockets, in fact. My Mum was born on 5th November 1914, Bonfire Night in the UK and she used to say she came in to fireworks and would like to go out the same way. We did her proud! She would have loved it! There were forget-me-nots in flower in their garden then and they are in flower in our garden now.
Forget-me-nots
Tags: 5th November 1914, Bonfire Night, fireworks, forget-me-nots, Halloumi and vegetable kebabs, rockets, send-off
The sun shone all day and the Wedding in the Grove was utterly delightful. Humanist Weddings are each unique, completely personal and so special and this was no exception. The bridesmaids carried small bouquets of bluebells and greenery from the garden, miniature copies of the Bride’s flowers. The Wedding party came in to the grove to the lilting sound of a harp and after the very moving Ceremony, left to more beautiful harp playing. The harp was later left by the fountain.
Click on any photo from the gallery to see an enlargement.
Waiting for the Wedding party
Path to the Grove
Fern lined path
Which path should I take?
Small wedding guest
The Bride
Beautiful young Bridesmaids
Rosie, the harpist, high up on the side of the Grove
Harp by the fountain
Tags: bluebell bouquet, bridesmaids, harp, harpist
1 Today the wind was still and the water on the river was like a mirror reflecting the houseboats beautifully.
Houseboats on the Penryn River
2 This delightful Clock Tower in Grampound dates back to 1894. We see it every time we drive through and today I managed to get a photo. I love the blue sky behind with the threatening dark cloud hovering nearby. That cloud threw hailstones on us a little later on!
Grampound Clock Tower
3 I met my couple for the run-through for their Humanist Wedding Ceremony on Saturday. The Grove where the ceremony will take place is so beautiful and lined with fallen petals looking quite magical. The whole grove is surrounded by moss and fern covered rocks with glorious rhododendron and azalea plants overhanging the whole. There is a trickle fountain coming through the rocks and it will be the most romantic of settings for a wedding.
The Grove
Steps out of the grove
Fiddlehead ferns
White rhododendron
Tags: Clock Tower, fiddlehead ferns, houseboats, romantic grove
! A lovely happy meeting this morning with a delightful couple planning their Wedding for June.
2 We’ve made our final batch of marmalade for this year, another 9lbs, enough for us and plenty to give away to friends.
February’s Marmalade
3 The gig at the Poly tonight is in aid of keeping that venue open. Let’s hope there’s a generous audience in!
Poly gig
PS And this photo is us at the gig where we raised £600 for the Poly.
The Suitcases Singers at The Poly, Falmouth
Tags: Duchy Opera, homemade marmalade, Humanist Wedding, making marmalade, marmalade, Postaday, postaday2013, The Men of Good Fortune, The Suitcase Singers, wedding planning
