Stationery Swap

World Stationery week ends tomorrow.

I'm happy to say that we have enough ladies to make a mini- swap.

(Not quite reached Stephanie's amazing 160+ participants!)

* Please send me an email with your address, and I will send you your partner's name and details.

* Please let me know if you are happy to send anywhere. There are two English ladies, but most are from America or Canada.

* Please send by 12th May if possible.

If you feel you cannot commit to this, or know you are going to miss the date, please do let me know as soon as possible. It is so disappointing to send to someone and to wait hopefully for something that may never come.

* Remember, this is just a little stationery gift to a friend. No need to make up big parcels, though I know what generous ladies you all are. 

It's the thought that counts.

There is still time to join us. I'll close it on May 1st.

Just an idea for World Stationery week.

We all bounce ideas off each other, and until I read Angela's (Tracing Rainbows) post today, I had not realised that it was World Stationery Day.

In fact it is National Stationery week up till May 1st.

Like Angela, I prefer to write proper letters, with a pen, on pretty paper or attractive cards. I know that email saves hours of time, but it just isn't the same.

I'm throwing out an idea here.

Some years ago I organised a 'real letter' swap, and I believe that some of the people who joined it are still in touch with their penpal.

What would you think of a 'Stationery Swap'?

Bear in mind this is only an idea.

But would it be fun to send, or receive some pretty notecards, or writing paper or a little journal to or from a friend?

Let me know what you think, and if you would be interested in taking part, and I will gather names together.

This isn't meant to be a big gift swap, just a pretty set of cards, writing paper, or something similar. Of course there is nothing to stop you enclosing something small, such as a pen, but it isn't obligatory.

Rhododendrons etc

We are so fortunate to have our local National Trust gardens so near.

Together with my husband's sister and niece, visiting from Surrey, we strolled the paths and admired the array of Rhododendrons and Azaleas.

Nothing quite compares to the carpets of Primroses and Bluebells that are everywhere in the gardens.

Just beyond this lovely swathe of pink Azalea one can catch a glimpse of the water, the channel between our side and the Roseland.

Further round the path we found this grouping of red and pink Azalea.

Trelissick's crowning glory are the huge Rhododendrons .

This one is at the head of the lawn where outdoor theatre is often staged.

Here's another beauty.

I don't know how old these are but I would guess they have been here for many a year.

The sun shone for us, and we had such an enjoyable visit, not to mention a very good Sunday lunch in the Barn restaurant!

Happy Birthday!

Happy Birthday to our dear Queen!

90 today, and seen here with her son, grandson and great-grandson.

Prince George is standing on foam blocks to give him the height needed.

This photo was taken specifically to use the heads of the family on a series of new stamps.

She's pictured here with her other grandchildren.

Note the handbag!

Our Queen has been a truly wonderful example over the many years of her reign.

Happy Birthday, Your Majesty!

Stephanie's mug exchange.

Stephanie's (The Enchanting Rose) cup and mug swap is an annual event. I joined for the first time last year, and continued this year. 

I always worry about breakages, and my parcel went to New Zealand so packed it very firmly.

I received a lovely selection from Chel of Sweetbriar Dreams.

This pretty mug is just perfect for my blue kitchen, and is decorated so beautifully with roses and little gold dots.

A selection of carefully chosen teabags came with it.

So many delightful things came too all in such a pretty box.

A pretty card from the area where Chel lives.

Gorgeous scented soap.

Chocolate..I wonder where that went?

And a beautiful hand made heart which is now hanging on my bedroom cupboard door, perfect for my pink room. How clever of Chel!

Here you can see how well my new mug fits in with my collection

of pretty flowery china.

Thank you Chel!

And thanks to Stephanie for organising this. I believe she had a very long list of participants, and I'm sure it took a lot of time.
I look forward to the next one!

Kindnesses

This week I have been the recipient of kindness, in the shape of two parcels.

Neither of the parcels were expected, both were a surprise from two people who wanted to show that they cared.

I was overwhelmed.

The first came from Belgium, sent from a delightful and knowledgable gardener whom I have met once when she was in Cornwall on a visit.

Bayou knows how I love my little garden.

In the box were two wonderful bags of Summer bulbs, lilies, iris, and others, just waiting to be planted where they could shine, could fill a corner with gorgeous colour.

There were other special treasures too, just the sort of things that appeal to me, little handmade buttons, one of which is below.

Sadly the chocolates cannot be shown.

They've been eaten!

The second parcel came from New Zealand, again unexpected.

It was, said the sender, a 'Care' package.

Shane and I first got in touch some years ago with a swap and have kept in touch.

In the box was an exquisite little cup and saucer, with my favourite roses on, chosen especially.

A magazine from NZ accompanied the box.

,

A lovely apron, manuka honey tea, and more chocolates

came out of the box.

It was like having birthdays and Christmas rolled into one.

I felt undeserving.

There are many among you who look after family members, who have other problems , losses, or worries.

Being a full time carer has its joys and sadness. It is never what one expects from life and there are many times when total exhaustion creeps in and you wonder how to get to the next day.

But in weeks like this, such lovely hands reaching out to me from a long way around the world make such a difference.

Thank you my friends, more than I can say.

A garden visit.

This is Trewithen House, a private home near St Austell, but open to the public for part of the year.

Last week we arranged to meet a fellow 'blogger' there, Rosemary of Rosie's Ramblings. I had met Rosemary previously, and we thought it would be a good time to meet up again. The gardens are lovely for a wander.

It wasn't a bad day weather-wise, a bit of sun, a bit of drizzle but warm enough to have a wheelchair walk through the gardens. Not so easy on a gravel surface!

Before we set off we went into the very pleasant tearoom for a cup of coffee.

Those of you familiar with Rosemary's blog will know that her dog, Zac, plays a great part in her walks. Here he is by a remarkable fountain. We scooped out some water for him and he thought it was pretty good, much better than the dog bowl that was available at the Entry to the garden.

This is one of the many beautiful Magnolias in the grounds. It looked like a cloud of spun sugar.

Reminding me of balls of Lemon mousse, this Rhododendron made us gasp as we turned a corner.

I guess it has been growing here for many years.

And as we rolled our way back to the Cafe for lunch, the sun emerged, and I couldn't resist one last Magnolia photo.

French onions!

I have had permission from Angela of Tracing Rainbows, to use this charming photo of Pascal the onion seller at her local market.

It brought back memories of childhood in Cornwall in the 1950s.

Every year we looked forward to the arrival of one of the Breton onion men who cycled from the port of  Roscoff to Cornwall, their bikes strung with onions, garlic and shallots. They went from door to door from Cornwall and as far North as the Shetland Isles.

Suddenly, up the drive he would come, cheerfully using his limited supply of English, and giving me a chance to practice my very few words of French. The onions were displayed to my Grandmother who always brought a string or two, hanging them in the garage to keep dry.

I used to marvel at the clever way the onions were strung, tied up with raffia.

photo from Brittany's Onion Museum.

Any market in France now will have a stall with a wonderful array of onions, shallots and garlic. The pink Roscoff shallots even have their own Appellation Controlee label. There is still an Onion Festival in Roscoff with music, dance and no doubt, stalls of every onion possible.

But nothing was quite so exciting as that first view of 'our' onion man cycling up the drive!

Garden bits and pieces.

On a wet and cold day here in England, I can show you a little colour in my garden.

These pansies have been amazing, flowering for months. Every now and then I give them a boost with some plant food and they seem to thrive.

There are a few isolated spots of colour here and there.

The pots of daffodils are coming to an end, and I have begun to empty them in readiness for Geranium planting.

The pretty tulips love the sun and open their petals wide if they ever see a ray or two.

I have bought the first three Tomato plants, a variety called Shirley which have always proved to be a good cropper. They will stay in the pots for a while till they are strong, and then be dug into the ground of the greenhouse.

I really wasn't going to raise tiny plants this year.

As you can see.

Well, just a few Sweet William will be pretty in the garden.

Oh, and some white Nicotiana seeds, hopefully ticking away to emerge later.

With our terrible wet weather and cold winds, that's all I have going at the moment.

I'm sure your gardens are preparing for Summer!