Today was the first fete of the season – at Aune Valley near Loddiswell. But this was to be no ordinary fete, oh no. Aune Valley is a local farm shop, so the emphasis was on local produce – beautifully displayed in a marquee festooned with bunting and balloons ……
We arrived early, so I was able to take these photos – just half an hour later and the marquee was packed. I am very fond of our local fruit juices – and rather like fruit scones too!
I love a savoury cream tea – soured cream and chilli jam from the South Devon Chilli Farm, whilst Rosie was very taken with the idea of presenting cup cakes in icecream wafer cones ..
But the most exciting part of the day was yet to come …..
Here to judge the children’s cake competition – and open the new Farm Shop cafe was the very famous …..
…. star of the Great British Bake Off – MARY BERRY!!! Her space was reserved ….
So while we awaited her arrival we sat on a sunny slope overlooking the valley and nibbled on some handmade fudge
And then Mary arrived. She was so pleasant and friendly, stopping to talk to lots of people and sign copies of her books too.
Looking just as lovely as she does on TV. Altogether a very exciting afternoon!
You may think from the title of this post that I am talking about Daisy – and her love of stealing my footwear! She doesn’t damage it – just lies quietly and sucks on the laces – which are then of course all soggy and horrible when I retrieve my boots or plimsolls from her determined grasp. But in fact I am talking about the snaffler-in-chief – my daughter Rosie! She and her boyfriend Dan are here for the Bank Holiday weekend and, as always Rosie has been having a good rummage through my cupboard! I wouldn’t let her snaffle my Great British picnic blanket (pattern in June issue of Bustle & Sew Magazine) – I have visions of myself using it on sunny summer afternoons …
And anyway, she already has the patchwork one I made for her last month! She did however manage to acquire another June issue project – my Naughty Kitten wip pouch …
Arguing very persuasively that it would be absolutely perfect for carrying her crochet around with her …..
I had envisaged carrying my embroidery around in it, but she’s right, it will work well for crochet too. I’ll simply have to make myself another! Then Rosie noticed my current work in progress ….
Some candy pink satin stitch roses destined to form the border for a small mirror – another pattern for the June issue of the Bustle & Sew Magazine . She has reserved the finished article, assuring me that it will be perfect to sit on the chest of drawers in her bedroom. I think next time she comes I will have to hide all my stitching from her!!
As the warm and sunny weather continues, this morning we set off early for our walk in the woods before it became too hot for Ben who hasn’t yet shed his extra heavy winter coat. I stopped on the way at our little village hall which has been turned into a polling station for the day for our County Council elections. Maybe it’s because I’m older – and possibly more cynical – but it seemed to me that there wasn’t much to choose between the candidates – and none of them really seemed to be concerned about the issues that affect small rural communities like ours. But nonetheless, remembering the Suffragettes and “Votes for Women”, I marked my “X” in one of the squares and posted my vote in the large black ballot box.
I’m hoping this wonderful weather will continue over the weekend, so am sprucing up the summerhouse in readiness …..
… repainting the furniture, which has been with me for – oh – well over 20 years!! It actually dates back to the early 1970s and was a gift from my mum when Rosie was very very tiny. It is still good and solid and although it was originally a very dark teak, over the years it’s been all sorts of colours – this year I’ve opted for pastel shades (very on-trend!) with pale pink, blue and white. And in the back corner you can see my latest completed project – it was outside for its photo shoot. Finished just in time for this lovely weather – my Great British Picnic Blanket – with its own bag for storage and transportation.
The Great British Picnic Blanket (and bag) will be in the June issue of the Bustle & Sew Magazine (published 30 May). I’m still working on another project for the magazine – my Blackwork Butterfly – which is going well – the fluffy body makes a most effective contrast to the lacy wings as I hoped it would …..
The summerhouse makes a lovely warm weather office, so as the paint had dried on my furniture, I took my laptop outside this afternoon and settled down to do some work …
Ably assisted by my two furry friends …. both large ….
And under the table, next to my feet, in the spot Ben used to love when he was a puppy, the small one (though growing larger every day!)
Hopefully they’ll both stay fast asleep for a while so I can get some work done!
Another bright sparkly day! I feel as though for the last six months or so I’ve been living beneath a damp grey flannel – which has suddenly been whisked away to reveal a lovely sunshiney world with blue skies and little white puffy clouds – instead of dreary grey skies, mud and almost incessant rain. It feels wonderful to be able to throw open windows and doors, pull on my walking boots (instead of wellies) and set off for a lovely walk without the expectation of returning home soaked through or plastered in mud. So yesterday we decided to revisit a walk we haven’t attempted since well before Daisy joined our little family.
I parked near the old station at Loddiswell (a victim of Beeching’s cuts in the 1960′s) which is now a private home – but you can still clearly see that it was once a busy little station. Our walk takes us along the path of the old railway track, alongside the river ….
My furry companions ran ahead, as always. Daisy is in front – goodness knows why – she hasn’t a clue where we’re going. Ben knows though, and remembers the path down to the river….
the River Avon – a beautifully clear, shallow and fast-flowing river that runs down from Dartmoor. It’s great for splashing around in – sorry about the poor camera control here ….
It’s not easy when you have TWO naughty newfies doing their best to soak you by splashing and shaking as much as they can!
Then on the way back we walk more slowly – the air was pungent with the aroma of wild garlic – great banks of green strap-like leaves lined the path on both sides. I think we’ll come here again next week to see the blooms – and perhaps there’ll be bluebells too by then.
I spotted this baby fern frond uncurling itself amongst the garlic leaves. And of course Ben had to stop for a drink at one of the little rivulets that run down the mossy banks towards the river – this one formed a lovely little pool at just the right height for a newf…
Although how he could possibly have been thirsty after all that splashing about goodness only knows!!
So while we awaited her arrival we sat on a sunny slope overlooking the valley and nibbled on some handmade fudge 
