Yesterday our guests Alison and Terry drove to the Eden Project in Cornwall. Although it is quite a long drive, it makes a good day out, and we have had several guests make the trip . . . it is well worth it. They really enjoyed it.
Also, it was Terry's birthday today. Of course, we would never do anything embarrassing to his breakfast!
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Last night we went to a meeting/presentation at the Town Hall about a three-day project that is to be held in Lynton & Lynmouth this September called Lightquest. In aid of the North Devon Hospice, a team lead by lighting designer Dave Bryant, plan to set up various sound and light-based installations around the area, as they have in other locations. Exact details are yet to be arranged, but previous events (the one below was on Skye) have been spectacular.
Yesterday we took a drive to East Devon, to visit a couple of places we'd never been to: Sidmouth and Topsham. We particularly wanted to go to Joshua's, in Ottery St Mary, which is large store specialising in West Country Food and Gifts. It was a great place for browsing, selling excellent fresh produce, including home-made bread, cakes, etc. There was also a very good cafe/restaurant!
We have often been to Topsham to visit Darts Farm (which is similar to Joshua's, but on a much larger scale), but we had never actually been to the town itself, and is well worth a visit.
All the places above are close to Exeter, and only about an hour and twenty minutes away. Quite a good thing to do, especially on a rainy day (which it was yesterday!).
Well, it's that time of the year again! Sue has been busy making her marmalade for the new season. We had many guests who enjoyed it last year and wanted to buy some, so she has decided to make some extra marmalade to sell. In addition to the usual Seville Orange marmalade, we will have lemon and grapefruit!
Being in the mood for experimenting, Sue made some plum and mulled wine jam yesterday. While it was cooking it made the house smell like Christmas again. The jam was also popular with guests, especially the Bramley Apple and Raspberry. So, along with the marmalades, jam will also be available to buy this year.
Sue has always enjoyed making granola for guests at breakfast. Last year was the first year we started selling the granola, which proved exceptionally popular, with many guests buying it for themselves and for family and friends. We even received emails orders from people wanting to replenish their stock!
Thank you to all our guests who have been so complimentary about our home made efforts! We enjoy making it for you.
Today we finally put the final touches to the newly decorated Room 2. There is a new picture on the front page of the website. We hope you like the new décor as much as we do! Maybe we should rename our rooms to something more romantic than room 1, 2 or 3. Suggestions welcome!
Last year we did a walk from here to the Exmoor Stone, near Challacombe. We thought it would be possible to make a circular walk from there, coming back via Hillsford Bridge. A few guests tried it last year, especially Pertti, from Finland, who did several versions of it. We finally got round to doing it ourselves today, as the weather was so nice, we had no excuse! We think it is about 15 miles, though it is hard to be sure. It took six hours. The walk goes from Barbrook to Shallowford, then to Saddle Stone, Woodbarrow Gate, Pinkery Pond, back along the Two Moors Way to Hillsford Bridge, and back to Barbrook.
The winter:
We closed in early November for a few months. This gives us time to have a break and also do repairs and decoration that we can't do when we're open. This year's main jobs were decorating Room 2, a new alarm system and much electrical work!
We received many Christmas cards this year (thank you all very much). Elwood was also pleased to get a Cat Calender from his friends Isabella and Fillipo from Rome.
Just before Christmas a package arrived from Sweden. Our guests (Kåre and Pia) who stayed in the summer, walking and painting in the area, sent us two lovely watercolours (below) which are now framed. We were going to put them where they stayed in Room 1, but thought the first floor landing would be best, so everyone can see them. Thanks again, Kåre and Pia.
