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Category Archives: Words
Story Coat, A Poem and Beth Shriever
I was booked on a Story Coat workshop today and spent a wonderful quiet hour sewing with like-minded people. It did me the world of good. We were making free stitched circles with a 3d effect to represent Gwennap Pit. They will border the story coat that our young Town Crier wears at all our special events, the next being Pasty Day in September. Two of these are mine and I’ve made two more tonight while watching the Olympics. 
I’ve posted poems by Mary Oliver before. Somehow she always touches the spot. This one took my breath away. I shall try to “Remember my tools.”
Wage Peace
Wage peace with your breath.Breathe in firemen and rubble,breathe out whole buildingsand flocks of redwing blackbirds.Breathe in terrorists and breathe out sleeping children and freshly mown fields.Breathe in confusion and breathe out maple trees.Breathe in the fallen and breathe out lifelong friendships intact.Wage peace with your listening:hearing sirens, pray loud.Remember your tools:flower seeds, clothes pins, clean rivers.Make soup.Play music, learn the word for thank you in three languages.Learn to knit, and make a hat.Think of chaos as dancing raspberries,imagine grief as the outbreath of beautyor the gesture of fish.Swim for the other side.Wage peace.Never has the world seemed so fresh and precious.Have a cup of tea and rejoice.Act as if armistice has already arrived.Don’t wait another minute.by Mary Oliver
We have just watched the wonderful Beth Shriever who, having won every heat and the semi-final by a mile, didn’t win the Olympic final of the BMX races. She was asked how she felt. I hate it when they ask that when you think they must feel devastated.
Her smiley reply was wonderful – “I’m happy, I’m healthy, I’ve got my family and my friends and that’s all that matters.” She is so right.
Her smiley reply was wonderful – “I’m happy, I’m healthy, I’ve got my family and my friends and that’s all that matters.” She is so right.
New Word and A Flower
I love this new word and, as a friend said today, it sounds better than having a ‘senior moment!”
At the allotment this evening, collecting more courgettes than we can ever eat, I spotted the flower of a globe artichoke across the plots – a magnificent thing. (I’m going to put courgettes/zucchinis by the front gate for people to help themselves.)
A Bit of Magic, Crops and New Words
I’m back!
In the first photo, you may notice, top right, the little ‘pixie cap’ on one of the yet-to-open Californian Poppies. The short video shows the little bit of magic that I witnessed this morning, the pixie cap hovering in the air. It seems that a silk thread from a spider making her web, caught the little piece as it left the bloom and then the breeze kept it moving in the air, apparently freely, for hours. 
It was my first trip in a week to the allotment this evening and there were crops to harvest, some rather large! Thank you very much to S who has been watering our tomatoes while we’ve been out of action.
Golden cherry tomatoes, one large tomato, raspberries and strawberries
Rather large courgettes, rhubarb and a few broad beans
A bunch of lovely words came my way today, some I knew already, though I only learned columella nasi last week as that is where I had my surgery. I am mending well and I thank you all for your concern and kindness. My favourite of the words new to me is ‘overmorrow.’ I am hoping to feel right to go to choir overmorrw (i.e. on Thursday!)
Some new words
New Earrings, Moth and A Poem
Some time ago I saw some book earrings and discovered that they could be made for any book cover so I ordered some of my Dad’s most loved story, The Fate of Jeremy Visick, and they arrived today. I am absolutely delighted with them!
We found a moth on the side of the shed, very well camouflaged.
I think this is a Galium Carpet moth
I have a new poem for you. It is written by Rachel Rooney who once said we should ‘start the day and end the day with a poem’ – an excellent rule to live by! This is Seeker
Eyes as wide as continents brim with the water between,
Seeks a different future. Looks back on what has been.Mouth seeks another language. Shapes a different air.
Unfamiliar classroom ways. The other whispered prayer.Heart seeks home. One it left and one it took along.
Echoes in the distance. Skips to a playground song.
Golden Rose, Gate and A New Word
I have cut three of the beautiful golden roses we were given for our Golden wedding some years ago. They smell divine. 
This intriguing gate is in Montecatini Termé, Tuscany.
I like this new word.
And it’s Father’s Day so just a word to remember my lovely Dad.
Squirrels, John Muir and A Cherub
There were two squirrels in the garden today, seeming to be a youngster and a parent. My picture is a bit blurry as they were scampering about and wouldn’t stay still for a photo!
I came across the following words from John Muir today and loved them, especially the last ones, ‘each in its turn, as the round earth rolls.’
“This grand show is eternal. It is always sunrise somewhere; the dew is never all dried at once; a shower is forever falling; vapor is ever rising. Eternal sunrise, eternal sunset, eternal dawn and gloaming, on sea and continents and islands, each in its turn, as the round earth rolls.”
John Muir, also known as “John of the Mountains” and “Father of the National Parks”, was a Scottish-born American naturalist, author, environmental philosopher, botanist, zoologist, glaciologist, and early advocate for the preservation of wilderness in the United States. (From Wikipedia)
When we were in the churchyard in Helston the other day, I noticed, and was rather taken with, this chubby little cherub sitting and snoozing or contemplating for all time. 
March, Narcissi and A Song
March has lived up to the words of Charles Dickens in Great Expectations – as well as the rain, we have experienced delightful apricity and bitter winds,
It was one of those March days when the sun shines hot and the wind blows cold: when it is summer in the light, and winter in the shade. ~ Great Expectations
I’ve brought some of our narcissi in so that they don’t get too battered by the rains, hail and wind!
We have been learning the following beautiful song, The Lost Words Blessing, with both my choirs. There is no session this coming week so I thought I’d share it with you as I have been listening to it today, trying to learn it all by heart. .
The following words are taken from the YouTube version. Do click on it to read the rest.
“Spell Songs is a musical evolution of both The Lost Words & The Lost Spells books by acclaimed author Robert Macfarlane and award-winning illustrator Jackie Morris; featuring the multifaceted talents and collaborative genius of Karine Polwart, Julie Fowlis, Seckou Keita, Kris Drever, Rachel Newton, Beth Porter and Jim Molyneux. Find out more about Spell Songs and order our albums here: https://www.thelostwords.org/spell-so…“
Victorian Cornwall and One Narcissi
Today I came across a delightful little book that I inherited and that I have not looked at closely enough before. It is full of quirky comments and charming line drawings. The preface explains that this was the impressions of an American in Victorian times visiting Cornwall. . 
I love the description of the never-ending rain and mizzle. Plus ca change!
What a lovely description! The original article was by William H Rideing and first published in Harper’s New Monthly Magazine in 1881.
The relentless rain has beaten down our first multi-headed narcissus so I have brought it in. It’s much daintier than the photo suggests and it has the loveliest scent. 
A Poem, An Angel and Peace
What Would You Take? by Serhiy Zhadan
Read by Olha Lemesheva in Truro Cathedral 19 December 2023
People, like snails, wait for the evening
Sleeping so soundly, so deeply in stations
Women who left clean bedsheets back home
Children who cling to their mother’s hand.What will you take, little snail, from your burning home?
First of all, faith that you will return.
Remember the way the furniture stood;
Hide the keys in your pocket like a dried flower.This is your road – walked by the voiceless.
Overnight stays between silence and rain.
Be brave, snails, know your worth on this journey.
You’re denied a home – never a heart.
The work of ShelterBox was highlighted throughout the concert and a comment made that we had all experienced, for a short time, how things can change in a moment. Yes, we went out into the cold – but we could return to the Cathedral after the fire alarm and then to our own homes.
I’ve been sent a photo of one of my recently sold Angels. It’s always good to see them in their new homes. 
The need for peace is in all our hearts. 
