We took a different route to Truro today and on the horizon was Killifreth, the most elegant of engine house chimneys.
This is the library, The Passmore Edwards Free Library, where I spent many happy hours as a child and where my Dad had to ask that I have access to the ‘grown-up’ library as I had read my way through everything in the junior section! I started with the wonderful Scarlet Pimpernel stories.
Solidarity to Ukraine in the face of more terror last night – Slava Ukraini.
I was in Make A Mends in Redruth this morning when a maker came in with the wonderful knitted and embroidered birds that she makes. She was kind enough to let me take a photo and gave me details of how to get hold of the pattern. 
Just outside our favourite coffee shop there was another example of a plant rooting itself in the smallest of places, a crack in the concrete.
Some weeks ago we were rehearsing as usual in Penryn when we were interrupted by David Foster who had been on the quayside filming for Beyond Borders. Our voices had carried out to the quay and he came up to tell us that he loved what we were practising and asked if he could use our singing in the film he was making. Here it is, a fascinating look into mining past and present in Cornwall, bookended with the lovely sound of The Suitcase Singers.
Our walk around the back today dodging the showers was a purply/ pink one – lots of heather and Fireweed near Wheal Uny engine house, pink flowers on the brambles (blackberries to pick soon) and pink thistle flowers on one of which was a beautiful black and red moth, a day flying Burnet moth.
Wheal Uny engine house
Blackberry flower
Burnet moth
Birthday breakfast of Bucks Fizz and home baked croissants followed by a visit to Chapel Porth where we walked up the cliffs to Wheal Coates enjoying the challenge, the ozone and the sounds of the sea – such a lovely birthday treat.
My Dear Friend of 30+ years died on 28th December and from now on my blog will be in her memory as well as Kath’s. Angie was my TA at school and we became the very best of friends. We also shared today as our birthday.
My Dear friend AngieWe spent hours together at school and even more hours together in the pub unwinding from the week. When I retired, knowing my love of words, Angie gave me a beautiful little book in which to collect quotations. The first quotation was one Angie chose herself and summed up our friendship perfectly. She was a very special individual and I shall always treasure the love and the laughter that we shared.
I have since discovered that the words are by Dinah Maria Craik (20 April 1826 – 12 October 1887) an English novelist and poet. Thanks for everything, Angie.
I made my last two angels for this season today before clearing up the dining room for dining in over Christmas. It has delighted me to get my creative mojo back. I’m loving the seaglass head on the second angel. .
More sorting this afternoon and I came across a sketch of my Dad’s.
Lovely Mozzarella Pasta for tonight’s supper using red lentil penne, so pretty.
Driving from the re-cycling centre to the nursery to find a small evergreen tree for the front garden, we saw Killifreth Mine chimney in the distance. It is the only tall slender chimney of this shape in all the industrial leftovers of tin mining in Cornwall. It is truly beautiful.For more information look back at an earlier post https://mybeautfulthings.com/2020/06/15/todays-walk-to-killifreth/.
On our drive, we spotted a lone tree in a field.
We found the little tree we were looking for but I was more taken with some really lovely seed packets from Kew Gardens.
Despite the bitter wind, we walked up round the back today along a section of the Great Flat Lode (which isn’t flat) and were delighted to see so many violets in the hedgerows and the Bluebell buds beginning to colour up.
Cornish violets for my cousin in Australia
The views of the sea from the top are especially good on cold clear days like today.
The Atlantic, the A30 and, in between, three chimneys from the tin mining era
The Gorse is gloriously yellow in the sunshine.
Today’s walk along the Great Flat Lode (which really was nearly flat to walk on) was also close to home with beautiful views on a gloriously bright and very cold day. We met more people on this walk that on the up and down one nearer to home and exchanged cheery greetings with them all, apparently waking some of them up! We were helping to brighten people’s days as per today’s calendar. See below.
Through a window
Here is this month’s Happiness Calendar for you. 
Joining in Debbie’s One Word Sunday today as I have spent much time in bed having a reaction (we think) to my flu jab yesterday. Had them for years, never had a reaction before. 
See you on the other side!
Another Poppy is blooming. At breakfast time it popped out of its sepals and later in the day was fully open. As the sun left that part of the garden, it closed up again.
Our walk today was very blustery! Join us going up to the Flat Lode Trail with a view of Carn Brea, past the St Uny engine house and back home.
We have a problem in the edible trough. A little Viola plant died last week, just went limp and gave up the ghost. Yesterday, all was well with the rest of the Viola border and today – another plant seems to have died. Any ideas? The trough is damp, everything else, lettuces and the rest of the Violas seem fine…….
Commentator Award
