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Tag Archives: Ukraine

A Poem, A Feather and A Performance

It’s National Poetry Day and the theme is the environment. However, given all the news around at the moment, I wanted to share this song of hope with you all.

“I’ve Learned to Sing a Song of Hope” by Georgia Douglas Johnson

A feather landed on my purple and white petunias that with their green leaves make the colours of the Suffragettes. The raindrops made it even more special.

Tonight we went to see the performance of Bunker Cabaret, written and performed by our young Ukrainian friends, Hooligan Art Community. It was wonderful, so very moving, a kaleidoscope of dance, drama and song that touched every member of the audience. What a brilliant team they are! If you live in Southhampton, they are coming your way next week; if in Edinburgh, in a couple of weeks. If you get the chance, do see them.

Thank you to Sue for the photo.

The poem above is for Mirra. I had chosen it before the show and then tonight realised the serendipity in that choice. For you, Mirra, with love.

3 Comments

Posted by mybeautfulthings on October 6, 2022 in art, community, dance, friendship, nature, Photography, poetry, Postaday2022, Redruth, Uncategorized

Tags: Georgia Douglas Johnson, I've learned to sing a song of hope, love, Ukraine

Welcome, Dawn and A Jackdaw

30 Sep

Our young guests have been working on their production, Bunker Cabaret, today and have given me permission to use their photo of our welcome dinner on Wednesday evening. The show will be in Redruth next week, Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

Welcome dinner at ours

The red/pink dawn presaged the very wet and windy day “Red sky in the morning, mariner’s warning.” The lovely Mr Smith took this photo for me on his way to bring me a cup of tea.

I made Blueberry Pancakes for breakfast but realised when the first batch were in that I had forgotten the bicarbonate of soda as they were flat and heavy. The second batch were lovely after I added the bicarb and it interacted with the buttermilk to make the fluffiest pancakes ever. The Jackdaws were not bothered and had finished them off in no time!

Jackdaw with Blueberry Pancakes

A Poem

27 Sep

Some time ago I found this poem, “First Day of War” by Ludmila Khersonsky, that was published in The New Yorker, and it has come back into my head as we prepare to welcome some young Ukrainians into our home. They are part of a theatre group who will be performing in Redruth at the end of next week. They are from Kyiv and need some rest and recuperation before they get into rehearsals and performances so we are going to show them some of the beauty of Cornwall and of our everyday lives.

3 Comments

Posted by mybeautfulthings on September 27, 2022 in Cornwall, Peace, poetry, Postaday2022, Redruth, The Lost Gardens of Heligan

Tags: "First Day of War", Ludmila Khersonsky, Ukraine

Sunflower and A Pot

26 Sep

The fierce wind in the night blew down one of our beautiful Sunflowers so here it is in a Jane Hamlyn pot, one of my favourites for its quirkiness.

2 Comments

Posted by mybeautfulthings on September 26, 2022 in environment, garden, nature, photography, Uncategorized

Tags: Ukraine

Kindness, Bee and Cake

11 May

I read this lovely story today and thought I would share it with you.

“Sorry, I stole your car. Saved my family!” – an incredible story from a resident of Kyiv.

“I left the bomb shelter and saw a car with keys in the ignition near the store. I watched it for two hours, waited for the owner – I didn’t wait. I took my family, got in the car and drove to Vinnitsa to visit relatives. I found a phone number in the glove compartment and called the owner:

– Sorry, I stole your car. Saved my family.

– Thank God, don’t worry, I have 4 cars. I took my family out in my jeep. The rest of the cars I filled with fuel and left in different places with the keys in the ignition and the number in the glove compartment.

I received calls back from all cars. There will be peace – see you. Take care of yourself!”

There is kindness in the world! Ukrainians are heroes!

Taking a photo of the rain inside an iris flower, I saw the bee and it stayed still long enough for me to get its portrait.

We had blueberries that needed using up so the lovely Mr S suggested a Blueberry Cake. Here it is with a delicious cream cheese icing, https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/blueberry-soured-cream-cake-cheesecake-frosting.

1 Comment

Posted by mybeautfulthings on May 11, 2022 in baking, environment, garden, nature, photography, Postaday2022

Tags: generosity, peace, Ukraine

Mnohayalita, White Tulip and Viola

29 Apr

Last Monday, at choir, was our first singing of this beautiful song learnt from a video by Anni Zylstra. It’s a Ukrainian blessing meaning, ‘Many Years’ or the implied meaning “wishing you many years of life” – a traditional Ukrainian celebratory song and is sung at weddings, namings and other celebrations. We sing it here in solidarity with the people of Ukraine.

We still, just, have white tulips.

Our edible trough has lots of seeds planted and, so far, just a few edible flowers which I like to use on cakes and in salads.

6 Comments

Posted by mybeautfulthings on April 29, 2022 in environment, garden, music, nature, photography, Postaday2022, singing

Tags: Anni Zylstra., The Ingleheart Singers, Ukraine

Pendennis Castle, Fritillaria and Street Art

30 Mar

Yesterday we met dear friends for breakfast at the Gylly Cafe and going back to the car, caught this view of the castle through the park.

The gorgeous chequerboard Fritillaria Meleagris are coming into bloom.

Still the news is full of the bravery and resistance of the Ukrainians.

2 Comments

Posted by mybeautfulthings on March 30, 2022 in Cornwall, environment, Falmouth, garden, Mural, nature, Peace, photography, Postaday2022, Uncategorized

Tags: Fritillaria Meleagris, Ukraine

Rhododendron, Carrots and A Burger

28 Mar

This creamy rhododendron is enormous!

Sinogrande bloom

Huge leaves

Buying the veg today at our wonderful greengrocer’s in town, theses lovely little carrots caught my eye.

I made Tom Kerrdge’s Mexican Spicy Bean Burgers tonight – delicious but very messy to eat!

Thinking about Ukrainians

2 Comments

Posted by mybeautfulthings on March 28, 2022 in Cornwall, flowers, nature, Peace, photography, Postaday2022, Uncategorized

Tags: Chantanay carrots, sinogrande, Tom Kerridge, Ukraine

Mother’s Day, Beauty and Spring Warmth

27 Mar

Sent by a friend

by Viktor Zaretsky of Ukraine

Charles Dickens

3 Comments

Posted by mybeautfulthings on March 27, 2022 in art, Mothers Day, Postaday2022, Uncategorized

Tags: Charles Dickens, Ukraine

Patterns, Swans and Singing for Ukraine

25 Mar

While we waited for the broker who is going to sell our boat for us, I enjoyed looking at the patterns made by the reflections of masts in the water at the quayside.

Wriggly masts in reflection

No cygnets today, just the parents who mate for life.

I haven’t been going to my choir, Suitcase Singers, in Penryn for a number of reasons. Yesterday they recorded this traditional Ukrainian folk song, Zelenje zhyto, zelene transcribed by Natalie Nowyytzki, directed by Claire Ingleheart At times like this, it is so hard to know what to do but we can always sing and use our voices in solidarity.