We had an incredibly busy week last week with our bed and breakfast guests but we were able to grab a couple of hours out and went to Exford Show. Although the weather wasn’t brilliant, we had a lovely time – lots of produce stalls selling beautiful foods and crafts.
One of my favourites is Nutcombe Chocolates. Richard and Lorna have been making and selling homemade chocolate for many years and have a faithful following. Their chocolates make great presents and I am already considering my order for Christmas especially as they now make chocolates in the shape of stags! They are now expanding their business and have just purchased a shop in Dunster (called The Chocolate Shop) where customers will be able to watch the chocolate being made as well – sounds like heaven to me!
After having a summer out on the grass, our 2 horses need quite a bit of exercising to get them fit so Derek and Lucy have been taking them out each evening when it is cooler. I just wish that I could ride a little bit more but I need to put some serious work into getting myself fit. When I do have a ride, I get off looking like John Wayne and feeling a tad stiff!
Over the road our neighbour Eddie is making hay. The wet and warm summer has meant an abundance of hay with some crops up by 50% on last year. Its lovely to smell fresh hay and this smell mingling with the scent of honey from the heather is quite heady! Further down in the next village, they are busy combining the corn. No huge combines here – the gateways are too narrow! It reminds me of when I can first remember my dad combining some 40 years ago and this is what so much of Exmoor is like – a step back in time.
The moors are looking spectacular at the moment – vivid purple with slashes of bright yellow from the gorse bushes. I took the dogs out yesterday and I think that nature must have been out in full force. I saw wonderful scenery, Exmoor ponies, 4 herds of red deer, some highland cattle (not sure where they came from), pippets, buzzards and a kestrel – not bad for an afternoon stroll!
Thursday, 20 August 2009
Wednesday, 5 August 2009
Jo and Steve Colwill - quilting and textiles
One of the best things about running a bed and breakfast place is the smashing people you meet – interesting and with great senses of humour. People that arrive as guests leave as friends as in the case of Jo and Steve Colwill. Jo runs quilting and textile workshops near Launceston in North Cornwall (Cowslip Workshops). You may have seen her on the TV showing Kirsty (from Location, Location, Location) how to quilt. Her work is beautiful and she has teachers and students from all over the world to come to her classes. Next week she is having an exhibition with work from her students plus some from London and abroad.
We have had our nephew and his fiancé to stay this week. After spending a year travelling around the world, they both now teach PE in Thailand at the Harrow school. It’s fascinating hearing about their lives and how they spend their time coping with the heat and humidity at this time of year. We have had several bed and breakfast guests staying from different parts of the world especially northern Europe this year. Everyone falls in love with Exmoor and wants to return and we often get photos sent to us.
As we have been so busy lately, I haven’t been able to get out for many walks. But last night it was such a lovely evening, I rebelled and cast the ironing aside and instead we took the dogs over to Withypool Hill. It was perfect and so warm. All the cattle and their young calves that were grazing on the moor looked fit and well and their coats were gleaming. One calf decided that he wanted to play with Soda but Soda decided that 10 stone of calf chasing towards her was not what she considered to be playing and spent the remaining part of the walk very close to me!
At the end of the walk we went into Withypool and had a delicious supper at The Royal Oak and bumped into a couple of friends – a perfect way to end a perfect evening. On the 25 minute journey home we saw 3 cars, 1 tractor and several pheasants – it was a busy night on the roads!
We have had our nephew and his fiancé to stay this week. After spending a year travelling around the world, they both now teach PE in Thailand at the Harrow school. It’s fascinating hearing about their lives and how they spend their time coping with the heat and humidity at this time of year. We have had several bed and breakfast guests staying from different parts of the world especially northern Europe this year. Everyone falls in love with Exmoor and wants to return and we often get photos sent to us.
As we have been so busy lately, I haven’t been able to get out for many walks. But last night it was such a lovely evening, I rebelled and cast the ironing aside and instead we took the dogs over to Withypool Hill. It was perfect and so warm. All the cattle and their young calves that were grazing on the moor looked fit and well and their coats were gleaming. One calf decided that he wanted to play with Soda but Soda decided that 10 stone of calf chasing towards her was not what she considered to be playing and spent the remaining part of the walk very close to me!
At the end of the walk we went into Withypool and had a delicious supper at The Royal Oak and bumped into a couple of friends – a perfect way to end a perfect evening. On the 25 minute journey home we saw 3 cars, 1 tractor and several pheasants – it was a busy night on the roads!
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