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Category Archives: Kindness

Craftivism to Build a Better World Together

Over the years I have knitted, crocheted and sewn for all sorts of causes / charities. The following is taken from the Craftivism Manifesto which you can see in full at the end.
“Your craft is your voice. Craftivism is about raising consciousness, creating a better world stitch by stitch, and things made by hand, by a person. Craftivism is about creating wider conversations about uncomfortable social issues. A craftivist is anyone who uses their craft to help the greater good or in resistance to a greater societal ill. A single individual crafting can make a difference. Or they can craft together and benefit from the fellowship of other crafters.”

Twiddle muffs for dementia patients

Traffic light baby beanies for premature babies

Colourful baby beanies for new-borns

Snoods for refugees in Calais

Many meteres of knitting for Wool Against Weapons.

Tiny jumpers and hats for babies in Tanzania, all bagged up and ready to go

At the moment I am knitting 5″ squares in red, green and white for Fariha whose words follow:

“We are looking for people to sew, crochet, knit or embroider squares for a project called Stolen lives, Stolen Futures. Gaza’s children remembered. Each square represents 10 children murdered by Israel. We are looking for 5” squares in black, red, white, green or a combination of these colours. Each square is precious like the children it represents. Please DM for details of where to post squares.

Fariha has kindly given me permission to share her photo and words. If you would like to make a square, I can pass you the address.

My squares so far

1 Comment

Posted by mybeautfulthings on June 6, 2026 in art, charity, community, craft, Dementia UK, Kindness, knitting, KniTZTanzania, Peace, Postaday 2026, Uncategorized

Tags: craftivism manifesto, craftivism.com, Gaza, Palestine, Stolen Futures, Stolen Lives

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.

3 Comments

Posted by mybeautfulthings on June 4, 2026 in family, family history, friendship, Happiness, Kindness, Postaday 2026, Uncategorized

A Birthday Treat and Bluebells

15 Apr

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!

The savouries

Sweet treats

Chocolate egg pot, chocolate mouse in a little chocolate flower pot

Scones, jam and clotted cream

Bubbly!

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

4 Comments

Posted by mybeautfulthings on April 15, 2026 in Celebration, Cornwall, Eating out, environment, Falmouth, friendship, Happiness, Kindness, Postaday 2026, Uncategorized

Tags: afternoon tea, The Greenbank Hotel

Fritillaria, Soap and Moon

21 Mar

It’s good to see the Fritillaria Meleagris, Snake’s Head Fritillary, coming up again.

I called into one of my favourite shops, Cornish Health Store, today to top up my supply of chocolate gingers and was given a delightful freebie of a tiny lemon soap.

Closing the curtains this evening, my lovely Mr S spotted the sliver of moon through the winter tree branches.

4 Comments

Posted by mybeautfulthings on March 21, 2026 in Cornwall, environment, Food, garden, Kindness, nature, Postaday 2026, Redruth

Tags: Cornish Health Store

Three Gifts – A Snowflake, Cookies and A Poem

19 Dec

A snowflake arrived in today’s post, beautifully crocheted and a gift from a follower. It has gone straight onto our tree.

Thank you very much Judith

Another gift came today, one we were instructed not to keep until Christmas but to consume soon. So this evening we have each had a delicious Raspberry and White Choc Chip Cookie for dessert.

Thank you S and E, absolutely gorgeous!

A fellow Humanist has written the following poem which touched me and she kindly gave me permission to share it with you.

‘

It’s Our Christmas Too’ by Mary Fletcher

Christmas comes just at the darkest time of year

flashing lights

a twinkling tree

some time for lovely food

for friends and family

for children to be given too much stuff

for those of us with no children

to realise what we lack.

We look forward to the New Year

warm sunshine and green shoots will come back.

Those of us that do not believe in god

and worship no one

but put our faith in hope,

In folk to do their best,

we do not go to church.

we do not believe we’ll live after we die,

But we can light a candle,

share in singing,

pass some treats around.

Its our Christmas too,

Our Solstice,

Our Midwinter,

Our humanist joy,

That celebrates and treasures

Every baby girl and boy.

Thank you, Mary.

8 Comments

Posted by mybeautfulthings on December 19, 2025 in baking, Christmas, Christmas decorations, crochet, friendship, Happiness, Humanism, Kindness, poetry, Postaday2025

Party, Knitting and Supper

11 Dec

Today is the 90th birthday of my very good friend and singing mentor whom I met in 2008 when I first joined The Ingleheart Singers. She took me under her wing then and has kept me there ever since! Her Family arranged a secret party this afternoon and asked for the choir to turn up as a surprise and to sing for her ,so of course we did! It was a delightful afternoon.

Jean’s beautiful cake, wish I could credit the maker.

Another friend from choir spotted a knitted crib earlier this week and sent me the next photo, knowing how much I would like it. I love the smile on Mary’s face and have to wonder why one of the shepherds is up on the roof!

A simple meal was called for this evening, Macaroni Cheese, comfort food at its best.

7 Comments

Posted by mybeautfulthings on December 11, 2025 in Celebration, community, friendship, Happiness, Kindness, knitting, Postaday2025, Uncategorized

Blue Sky and A Poem

18 Nov

We’ve had an unusually warm start to November, blue skies and bright sun, but tonight’s weather forecast for the next few days includes a warning for snow and ice even here in Cornwall.

This poem by Theodore Roethke seemed a good choice for tonight.

The Coming of The Cold – Theodore Roethke

The ribs of leaves lie in the dust,
The beak of frost has pecked the bough,
The briar bears its thorn, and drought
Has left its ravage on the field.
The season’s wreckage lies about,
Late autumn fruit is rotted now.
All shade is lean, the antic branch
Jerks skyward at the touch of wind,
Dense trees no longer hold the light,
The hedge and orchard grove are thinned.
The dank bark dries beneath the sun,
The last of harvesting is done.

All things are brought to barn and fold.
The oak leaves strain to be unbound,
The sky turns dark, the year grows old,
The buds draw in before the cold.

The small brook dies within its bed;
The stem that holds the bee is prone;
Old hedgerows keep the leaves; the phlox,
That late autumnal bloom, is dead.

All summer green is now undone:
The hills are grey, the trees are bare,
The mould upon the branch is dry,
The fields are harsh and bare, the rocks
Gleam sharply on the narrow sight.
The land is desolate, the sun
No longer gilds the scene at noon;
Winds gather in the north and blow
Bleak clouds across the heavy sky,
And frost is marrow-cold, and soon
Winds bring a fine and bitter snow.

No Roots for me today, still under par, but I did send along the lemon cake I made last week which has been in the freezer waiting. A lovely volunteer kindly came to collect the cake this morning on his way to Community Roots. Thanks, M.

6 Comments

Posted by mybeautfulthings on November 18, 2025 in friendship, Kindness, poetry, Postaday2025

Tags: Theodore Roethke

Killigrew, Paper and Weaving Words

05 Nov

We visited Falmouth Art Gallery today where there were two exhibitions, one highlighting their collection and one called Out Of Paper showcasing so many paper creations.
I love the painting in the first exhibition by Unknown Artist of The Killigrew Monument which we had walked past earlier in the morning.

There were some beautiful cut paper sculptures. I love the fact that Secret Garden, when translated into French, ‘Jardin Secret’ refers to your inner soul.

The Paper Yarn piece really appealed to me and I added my words to be woven in next time the artist pops in.

If you, Dear Reader, are local or maybe visiting Falmouth before the end of January, this is a lovely place to spend a couple of hours.
Just to add, I am remembering my lovely Mum today, on her birthday. As a little girl she was always delighted to think that everyone was celebrating her birthday with a firework display.

2 Comments

Posted by mybeautfulthings on November 5, 2025 in architecture, art, Cornwall, Falmouth, Kindness, painting, paper, Postaday2025

Tags: Falmouth Art Gallery, Jane Stephens, Pippa Dyrlaga

Brian Patten, Optimistic October and A Pie

01 Oct

I was saddened to hear of the death of Brian Patten whose poems I have shared many times on here. We were lucky enough to meet him many years ago and what a lovely man he was. If you put his name in my search, you’ll find lots of his beautiful writing. The following one is particularly apt right now and is the one I shared when our lovely neighbour Bill Mitchell died seven years ago

So Many Different Lengths Of Time – Poem by Brian Patten

It ‘s the start of the month and time for this month’s Happiness Calendar, Optimistic October.

In fact, the Chicken and Leek pie doesn’t look very beautiful but it tasted delicious!

Chicken and Leek Pot Pie

Purple Beans, Recipe and An Old Utensil

20 Sep

Yesterday, our lovely neighbour brought us some beans from her allotment. They were a beautiful purple colour but, we were warned, maybe a bit stringy. I decided to use my own recipe for Runner Bean Soup and made a wonderfully tasty lunch. It pleases me greatly that my recipe is so well used. If you google Runner Bean Soup, it comes up on the first page. Interestingly, my photo of my soup is used on the Jamie Oliver recipe!

Because of the stringiness, I put the soup though a sieve and used my Mum’s old wooden pestle to push it through very easily. The result was a lovely creamy soup though, sadly, not purple. Sorry, we ate it before I could take a photo!