Our garden is full of colour and is a great comfort to us. 
For other lovely gardens to check out, call in on The Propagator where you will also find a participants’ guide.
It is the birth date of Paul Robeson whose singing I love. Check out here for why and a recording of The Ballad of Joe Hill.
Taking this photo of the rainbow paper flower, I was aware of the Welly Dogs, Tinners’ Hounds, in the reflection.
Just a few moments later as I walked up Fore Street, I noticed two hounds tied to the two Tinners’ Hounds beside a lamppost. That amused me.
There are berries in the front garden. I think they are from a Rose of Sharon that has planted itself.
The last of our family leave tomorrow as our Nephew and family return to Munich. We have spent a lovely evening with them. It has been a busy and thoroughly enjoyable couple of weeks.
These beauties are on top of a Cornish hedge on our walk up from town.
Cornish hedge with Muscari and Celandines
Robins often take a rest on Welly Dog before going to the feeders. This was in driving rain.
Robin in the rain
Libraries are so vital to the health of the nation.
Libraries!
English teacher hat on! Albert Einstein needs capital letters!
Our delightful Tinners’ Hounds by David Kemp, known locally as the Welly Dogs have been given poppies.
Tinners’ Hounds
One of our neighbours has made what I am calling their Sea side tree, covered as it is with shells, fishing floats and nets, pebbles, rope, flippers and goggles!
Sea side tree
Our Christmas cards have arrived today and along with each pack comes a free gift card. I particularly like this one in purple, white and green. For the last few years we have bought our cards from Sreepur Village. The cards are handcrafted by the women of the village and are a vital supplement to very basic family budgets and all proceeds from the sale go back to the village. You can find out more at www.sreepurcards.org
Sreepur gift card
We have had another fleeting and very lovely visit from Daughter No 3 and family en route back from the Scilly isles where they had a brilliant holiday. LiveWire no 4 loves our garden, can name lots of flowers including Three Cornered Leek and enjoyed chatting to Welly-Dog.
Later, after they had gone, I discovered some of the bath toys abandoned after her bath this morning.
This evening we went to the Preview of an Open Studio show by our lovely friend, Nicky. Beautiful work and lots of red spots already!
Our lovely neighbour, Bill-next-door, left me something in his will and I am quite overwhelmed. I can’t find words tonight. Simply, here is my very special gift of an original Tinner’s Hound, known to us all locally as a Welly Dog, given to me by Bill.
My Welly Dog
I will tell you more tomorrow.
I discovered a new shop in town today, The Craft Collective, where most things have been made in Cornwall but not all – there were some gorgeous African buttons made by Thalia-Mai Nero.
I have shown you our Welly Dogs before but I love them so much, here they are again! Made by David Kemp, they are really called the Tinners’ Hounds and were fashioned from miners’ boots and then cast.
Walking home I found ferns on a wall, and a lone lost bloom on the path.
Someone has posted a photo of our Welly Dogs who have been decorated for Christmas. I really need to get into town to see them.
The Tinners’ Hounds by David Kemp, a much loved feature in our town, Redruth, Cornwall.
1 St Ives was our destination today, by train along one of the most beautiful coastlines. St Ives itself is very beautiful and one of the highlights for me is always our visit to the Barbara Hepworth Studio and Garden.
From the train from Lelant to St Ives, one of the best train rides ever
First view of St Ives
Buskers along the sea path
Barbara Hepworth garden
Shadows on a sculpture
Sculpture 28
2 By the time we went back along to catch the train home, some Graffiti Grannies had been busy yarn bombing the rails!
Graffiti Grannies’ handiwork
3 Two sculptures for you, one, on St Ives railway station by David Kemp who made the Tinners Hounds in Redruth town centre and this driftwood one which I’ve posted before but in case you missed it, here it is again, St George and the Dragon. I love it!
‘A School of Palletes’ by David Kemp
I just want to show you this extra photo from yesterday which delighted me. It was taken near the Lizard Lighthouse.
Bird on a bramble
If you have read this far, a question for you…. I’ve decided I don’t really like the Gallery way of presenting a series of photos as they cannot be enlarged as much to see detail. What do you think?
One from yesterday that I don’t think was served well by putting it into a Gallery.
Lost bucket
1 Discovered the delights of a new fabric shop in Redruth this morning. Now I just need more hours in the day to do sewing projects as well!
Just look at these beautiful colours!
2 In our main street are these wonderful Tinner’s Hounds, mostly well behaved but a couple got away to a nearby signpost!
Tinners’ Hounds by David Kemp
The Plaque
Chatting round the signpost
3 Our lovely decorator came today and is transforming our doorways upstairs.
Commentator Award
