Our lovely five year old twin LiveWires arrived in the early hours having flown from Barcelona and after a late breakfast, decorated our little Easter tree for us. 
We had a walk into town and they enjoyed meeting our resident Tinners’ Hounds aka Welly Dogs.
After lunch we met the rest of the family on the beach at Porthtowan where they all had fun playing on the beach and later had ice creams.
Choosing their flavours
We set off to see the Tony Foster exhibition at Truro Museum and came across two more wonderful rooms. What a day! Firstly we came across a beautiful Kurt Jackson painting.
In the next room we came upon a Welly Dog, aka a Tinners’ Hound, made by David Kemp. Regular readers will know that we have our very own Welly Dog and we love him very much, all the more so as he was a gift from the lovely Bill Mitchell. 
Then, a small room full of portraits where we came across a friend, an activist in the XR movement, a brave and beautiful person whom we admire so much. Antonia put me in touch with the photographer, Gavan Goulder, who has very kindly and generously given me permission to share it here along with his words which introduce the exhibition and the words of Antonia herself. Here is the link to his website where the words can be read more clearly and many more rebels and their stories can be found. I am so in awe of the bravery of these people who are fighting for our planet and the futures of our children and grandchildren. We help in the ways we can but I am not brave enough to risk arrest despite my Great Granny being a Suffragette who was force fed in Holloway in her battle to gain the vote for us all. In fact, despite the beauty still to come, this exhibition was the highlight of my day. Thank you to Gavan Goulder and to Antonia.
At last, we came to Tony Foster’s work. We heard him talk many years ago, in the Truro Museum, about his paintings done in the Grand Canyon and the Himalayas and there were some of those paintings here today but the special works for me this morning were the little paintings done during lockdowns, all done in Cornwall on his daily and limited walks. Here are his pieces from the second lockdown, each a painting done in the afternoon following his morning walk, whatever the weather based on the little sketches he made while out. Each sketch has a little commentary. Click on the photo and zoom in and you can, just, read the words. If you, dear Reader, are in Cornwall before Christmas, do go to the museum and revel in all the beauty to be found in there. The staff have done a wonderful job of curating all this loveliness. 
It’s July already! Here is this month’s Happiness Calendar, Jump Back Up July, how to be more resilient in these difficult times.
We are not mowing all our lawn, just paths through and around it. Welly Dog seems to be enjoying our new meadow.
I’m loving the contrast of the black seeds of Muscari in their skeleton pods.
I’ve potted up some mint and put Nasturtiums around the pot to trail all down the chimney. 
The pink petals on the Amanagowa Cherry tree are being blown all over the garden and Welly Dog stands in the middle of them.
We have some pink bluebells in the shady garden.
Our Welly Dogs have been given poppies for Remembrance Day. Redruth is very proud of its Tinners’ Hounds made by David Kemp. Follow this link to find out more about the sculptor and his intriguing work. 
On the lane home, the trees are changing colours.
We are delighted with our new Geranium, planted only a couple of months ago. It hasn’t stopped flowering since we put it in the front garden.
Geranium Rozanne
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
Commentator Award
