As I was on my way to our market in Redruth this morning, I saw that three little dogs had been tied up to our wonderful Welly Dogs and it amused me.
Tinners’ Hounds by David Kemp
I met the lovely Mr S for lunch today at The Warehouse in Penryn. We had the most delicious meal from the Brunch menu – Potato and Onion Hash and a Garlic Mushroom with a Fried Duck’s Egg!
Brunch
We bought cake to take home for afternoon tea!
Courgette Cake – also delicious
The rain has been relentless today so, in honour of my Dad whose birthday it is today, we have made more Marmalade using the Seville Oranges I froze a week ago. Dad was the marmalade maker in our house as I was growing up so he is always with me in the kitchen at this time of year as we take advantage of the new crop of Sevilles as they come into the shops for their all-too-brief season. He is with me in the smells and the preparation, the chopping up and the boiling and in the delighted satisfaction with all the golden jars that will last us a year (with the rest made last week!) The two tiny jars are ‘Breakfast-in-bed’ jars! There are more on the shelves from the last batch……
Jars and jars of the delicious stuff
A frozen orange with ice blobs
I mentioned the incessant rain …. Welly Dog smiles in all weathers and I love him to bits though Muker, our copper Rook whom we bought in the village of that name in North Yorkshire many years ago, looks somewhat forlorn, though he too is much loved.
Welly dog and Muker through a rain-soaked window
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
I told you a couple of weeks ago that my choirs were leaning a new song for our part in World Peace Day tomorrow. Here is a recording sent to me today by our choir leader.
After a couple of sunny days a front is moving through and so we have had Autumn rain. Here is a poem by Mary Oliver to celebrate Rain
Last Night the Rain Spoke To Me – Mary OliverLast night
the rain
spoke to me
slowly, saying,what joy
to come falling
out of the brisk cloud,
to be happy againin a new way
on the earth!
That’s what it said
as it dropped,smelling of iron,
and vanished
like a dream of the ocean
into the branchesand the grass below.
Then it was over.
The sky cleared.
I was standingunder a tree.
The tree was a tree
with happy leaves,
and I was myself,and there were stars in the sky
that were also themselves
at the moment,
at which momentmy right hand
was holding my left hand
which was holding the tree
which was filled with starsand the soft rain—
imagine! imagine!
the wild and wondrous journeys
still to be ours.
Here is a view from indoors of our Tinner’s Hound in our rainy garden. He is still laughing!
Tinner’s Hound by David Kemp
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.
It blew a hoolie and the rain poured down and we had a beautiful day with our Littlest Live-Wire, then everyone else arrived for dinner together of the Christmas Pie and salads. Happy days!
Decorating the stairs
Playing with the Welly Dogs
Splashing in puddles
Commentator Award
