Travelling light to Cinderhill Farm

 

In much need of a break, I set off for my second home, Cinderhill Farm. Traveling light with all the essentials.

Hello pigs, snorting about in a carrot munching frenzy.

 Hello again Marvin, my old friend the farm rooster.

 

Hello to my new job, as Chief Label Sticker-onner at the Pie House. Cinderhill Farm is now a chief pie supplier to the newly opened Gloucestershire  Service Station and pies cannot be made fast enough. Or sausage rolls.

 

 

Sticking the labels on in precisely the right place turned out to be my forte - everything has to be beautifully turned out, from pie to packaging.

So the next day, we set off with crates of various pies, all the way from the Forest of Dean to Gloucestershire. Across the magnificent Severn Bridge -

Where we unpacked many, many crates of hand baked goods at the warehouse, before doing a little shopping, Cotswold style. Local cheeses from small dairies, for supper -

And beautiful artisan bread from small, local bakeries.

Gloucestershire Tebay services are all about selling local goods and supporting the surrounding community. It's an entirely different  shopping and eating experience to the standard service station.

Naturally, a selection of Cinderhill Farm Pie House Foggys were sitting proudly in the deli section.

We had civilised and greedy double cake for tea, from the cafe.Yes, the huge meringue is mine.

 And even later, the worker's reward. Ciabatta and exceedingly good cheese. Almost humble. 

It was a lovely week of work and relaxing. But then it was time for me to return to my own quiet world. Goodbye, wonderful Wye Valley, with your spectacular views.

Goodbye noisy geese, with your beaks stuck in the air.

Goodbye sweet Pearl, house kitten of great beauty.

Goodbye rufty tufty barn cat who's name I can't remember.

 Goodbye Cinderhill Farm, until I return again.

 

High Tea at Kensington Palace Orangery

So I come to the end of an unscheduled blog break. This summer has been about attempting to keep my financial head above water and setting up my supplies business. It has also been about sorting out my personal life and what happens next after the horrors of last year. So far it is all a bit uncertain. There have been one or two lovely highlights though.

 

Being treated to high tea at the Kensington Palace Orangery was one of them.

 

Dressed as I was in my old leather biker jacket and army boots, my old friend and I were given the most prompt and courteous of service by exquisite young waiters.

 

Tea was served and we genteelly dived in.

Having not seen each other in person for several years, my old friend and I had much to talk about, in-between debating which sandwich or cake to have.

The orange-scented and currant scones served with Cornish clotted cream and strawberry jam were naturally, divine.

And served on crested china.

It was all so very delightful and so very, very civilised. As my kind and generous friend observed, tea and cake put many things right. Though that theory has been sorely tested this summer.

Moth Circus

Alone at night, but for the moths, who cascade through my open bedroom windows. I welcome them in and watch them for a while, as they flutter around like a crazy miniature circus.

Eventually, they settle on the glowing, bare plaster walls. Some cast disfigured shadows, like tiny monsters. A hooded vampire with twitching tentacles.

Some are masters of disguise and blend in where they can.

Others cluster round my lamp, a single artificial light in the dense country darkness.

 Raggedy dancers, spreading their dresses.

The large, ungainly  Elephant Moth, whirring and thumping on my pillow. So clumsy on foot, so elegant when air borne.

Skinny, gallumphing daddy long legs, careering about like out of control trick ponies.

The sweet plume moth, who's prettier common name is 'Angel Moth', dressed in downy feathers and stretching her elegant legs.

Sometimes, they come to me.

I leave the windows open and turn off the lamp. By morning, they are all gone and the walls are bare.

New Kit Old Order

So this month I have managed to bring out my third needle felt kit - my yellow dog Custard, who so many people love. Designing a kit takes a while, but is so worth it once it's all finished. And now available with my other kits in my Etsy shop.

And finally finished a long languishing order, for a copy of 'Kitty Blue' from my book 'Mrs Mouses' Cupcakes'. This is the newer version -

The first Kitty who appears in the book, was made five years ago, so there are a few minor differences. Such as the flower buttons, as I couldn't source the same ones.

 

 But they are not a million miles apart.

Made in Felt interview

Amazing to think that it is summer already - and I have a lovely big interview and feature in this year's Mollie Makes 'Made in Felt 2' magazine.

I also got to mention my two favourite needle felt artists, Victor Dubrovsky and Malachai Beesley, always nice to plug other needle felters, especially if you admire their work.

There is also a pattern from my book 'Little Needle Felt Animals' - the very easy but sweet 'Rainbow Mice'.

Lady Winifred Weasel, my latest design, is looking for a copy now. She advises finding more details over on the Mollie Makes page. but if you're in the UK, it can be found in the usual major outlets, WHSmith and various supermarkets.