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.

 

Creatures

Whistle stop blog post, as I am up to my neck in *stuff*. My polar bear pattern in 'Mollie Makes Weddings' - on Amazon UK here and Amazon USA here.

My kitten pattern in the latest issue (37)  of 'Mollie Makes'. Available as a 'real' magazine here or as a digital download here.

Off  to Cinderhill Farm soon to do the first workshop of the year on March 8th - there are two places left, if anyone fancies it, details are here . I can count on one hand the amount of times I've been anywhere since November last year, so I am very much looking forward to my adventure. Not to mention seeing my dear friends, meeting my workshop students and cooing over the newborn lambs. 

I'll also be launching my first kits, 'Slinky Fox' at the workshops. It's been a long process, but I will soon be bringing out kits on a regular basis. I will return with photos of lambs. And chickens. and more pigs. And goats.

Little green spider

 The most delightful little green spider, trying to escape my camera lens.

Crawling about on the old iron table at Cinderhill Farm.

Later found to be a Green Orb Weaver spider.

Only a quarter of an inch long, but rather fearsome when viewed up close. Harmless though.

Birthday at Cinderhill farm

I'm not big on birthdays and this one came at a particularly bad time. However, the good folks at Cinderhill Farm were determined to make it special for me and somehow I found several cards and a few packages waiting for me at the breakfast table, from various friends who had discovered my hiding place.

Even a pretty parcel from America, from dear Janet and her colleague at 'The Empty Nest' - birthday bunting and the pleasure of reading about her shop in a real, live magazine. Proud friend moment.  

A lovely framed print of Lorna Marrison's, from the artist herself,  of a village shop I know well, back in my old home.

 

A gorgeous book of David Gentleman's art from some old friends.

Not to mention the book of bird poetry by the Candlestick Press, kindly sent to me by Valerie Greeley which I'd brought with me to read.

Later that day a couple of friends turned up and the woodburner lit, as it was a typical British summer's afternoon.

 Debs had made my favourite coffee and walnut cake.

Serious tea and cake eating commenced as the rain set in outside.

After an unexpectedly pleasant day, thanks to the kindness of so many friends, I was ready to copy the new Cinderhill piglets. I did a lot of sleeping at the farm. 

 (If you're a Twitterer, Cinderhill Farm have a new Twitter account - https://twitter.com/CinderhillFarm)

Time out at Cinderhill Farm

This Tuesday was the day of darling Andy's inquest. I did not go, but my dear friend Debs was there in my place; what a friend - amongst so many cherished friends - to have. It was a gruelling day for both of us, but it was the final link in a long bureaucratic chain. That is it. And at last I have what I believe is called 'closure', albeit with much heartache. I have also come to the end of a very large job which has occupied almost every day of the last two months, so Debs whisked me off to the comforting bosom of Cinderhill Farm, in the beautiful Forest of Dean, where I am spending a few days resting my tired body and bruised spirit.

The day after arrival my holiday began with a visit to the vet's. Not for me of course, but for poor Autumn, a pure bred Black Welsh Mountain ewe, with suspected mastitis.  She behaved beautifully, despite her discomfort.  

Only a small protest when having her injections.

My job, as assistant shepherd, was to feed her young ivy shoots - which she loves.

Then  - already feeling more sprightly - she was released in her field, to enjoy the summer day and grass. After some judicious cleaning and 'stuff' to keep the flies off. 

 

I am enjoying a little gentle sketching. What better subject than chickens?

Cinderhill Farm workshop

My first workshop of the year, held at  Cinderhill Farm at the beginning of March. Fully booked and raring to go. We started off by making chickens.

Outside, the farm chickens clucked indignantly. No punk hairstyles on these ladies.

 

The morning session was sustained with copious tea, homemade shortbread and flapjacks.

  

After lunch (home farmed pork casserole with herby rice) people worked on their own designs - or in this case, followed my 'bunny brooch' pattern from  issue 24 of  'Mollie Makes'.  

 

Then another break for a special farmhouse high tea - all freshly baked in the farmhouse kitchen by Debs, our hostess. Two types of cake, jam tarts, rich scones with butter, cream and jam.

 

 

  It is always so rewarding to see finished designs as the day draws to a close.

 The traditional Grand Parade  - the lovely results of a very creative day - didn't they do well?

 I believe the next workshop (scheduled for early summer) is already fully booked, but if you would like to be informed of spare places or book in advance for a late summer workshop, please contact Debs via the Cinderhill Farm website or message her through the official Facebook page.