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.
We saw this glorious Clematis at the nursery yesterday.
The following came my way today and I love the reminder of what the natural world is capable of.
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.
On this day in 1909, my Great Grandmother, Mary Elizabeth Wiseman, Suffragette, aged 53, was arrested in London having thrown stones to break windows. Subsequently she was imprisoned in Holloway, went on hunger strike, was force fed and was awarded the Suffragette Portcullis Brooch in recognition of her courage.
I bought a new sun hat!
For some reason the following words came into my mind today and then I remembered that Pete Seeger gave the words some music.
from Ecclesiastes
How did I miss World Poetry Day?
Here is an absolute gem from Brian Bilston to celebrate.
I love the colour of the anemone blanda.
anemone blanda
Such a lovely surprise today – Our eldest daughter came to visit – work problems last weekend meant she couldn’t be here for Mother’s Day so she’s been here today, brought lunch and cooked dinner. What a treat to have her company for the day.
It’s Mother’s Day in the Uk and here’s a shout out to all in the role.
I am very lucky and loved – beautiful flowers have been delivered,
I’m intrigued by the fact that the tulips have come with their bulbs still attached and instructions to plant them out later.
I’ll post photos later in the week as the lilies and the alstroemeria open up.
Remembering my babies.
Today is the 15th birthday of LiveWire no 3 and the poem for today in A Poet for Every Day of the Year is the delightful
Translated from the German by Jessie Lamont.
https://www.facebook.com/reel/2310567282763545
Our border of primroses is coming on.
The daffodils we bought last Saturday in town are lovely. I usually prefer single blossoms but these doubles are really beautiful. I think we were told that they are Tamar Fire but these seem more delicately coloured than the ones I find online.
This afternoon I listened to a wonderful programme, ArtWorks on BBC radio 4: Lyse Doucet, the BBC’s Chief International Correspondent and regular visitor to Afghanistan, was talking to female Afghan poets about the landay: a 22 syllable Pashtun verse form they create, perform and share to speak of love, sex, war and hardship. There are 9 syllables on the first of the two line poem and 13 on the second. The poems were very moving and the programme is well worth finding on BBC Sounds. 
Having finished the curtain for the back door, I had reason to go to my box of bits to make something else and re-discovered a piece of the Laura Ashley fabric I showed you the other day. There was enough to make a curtain so I have made another one for the back door in a fabric we love more.
This was the view from the dining room window as I was sewing this afternoon. 
If you have seen the film, Hamnet, you may have wept over the twins. Having twins myself, when I read the novel by Maggie O’Farrell, I found the chapter heartbreaking. One of our twins was very ill as a tiny baby and when we visited him in hospital every day, I always put his twin sister in the cot beside him. I love this poem by Helen Farish.
Today we woke to rain but in no time the sun had come out and it was warm so we were able to get into the garden.
Steps up tp the garden lined with Tête à Tête
The Armandii, planted last year, is flowering well..
I love the programme The Verb on BBC radio 4 on Sunday afternoons. Today Ian McMillan was talking to Katie Clarke, Director of Literature at The Reader organisation, about reading poetry with people who have dementia and the magic that can happen just as it does when my choir sings in care homes. One of the poems she described as touching a patient was a poem I had never heard before. I hope you enjoy it as I did.
Happiness by Raymond Carver,
So early it’s still almost dark out.
I’m near the window with coffee,
and the usual early morning stuff
that passes for thought.When I see the boy and his friend
walking up the road
to deliver the newspaper.They wear caps and sweaters,
and one boy has a bag over his shoulder.
They are so happy
they aren’t saying anything, these boys.I think if they could, they would take
each other’s arm.
It’s early in the morning,
and they are doing this thing together.They come on, slowly.
The sky is taking on light,
though the moon still hangs pale over the water.Such beauty that for a minute
death and ambition, even love,
doesn’t enter into this.Happiness. It comes on
unexpectedly. And goes beyond, really,
any early morning talk about it.https://allpoetry.com/poem/8520185-Happiness-by-Raymond-Carver
Do go to BBC Sounds and listen to the programme. It was really moving.
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