Feltmaking for door panels and Llanlidloes exhibition

Finally, builders and decorators all settled - one biomass fire burning away which makes Chess Cottage really toasty.  Decided that it was time to help folk who are not used to the wonderful darkness and near zero light pollution by making an optional door curtain to pop over the stable door.  Also thinking about buying a telescope as we are close to the Brecon Beacons National Park which as you probably know has been awarded International Dark Skies Status as an International Dark-Sky reserve  – one of only 5 in the world along with Exmoor National Park, Canada, New Zealand and Namibia. 
It's great to be back with my fingers in the fleece, ready to take to Felting in the Factory near Ross-on-Wye tomorrow to pop on a rolling machine.  I want to get this particularly fine ready to screen print with an image of our gorgeous ancient oak - a stunningly simple photograph I took last week.

Finally managed to extra the photo of the mystery fungus I found on a walk last week in our woodland - anyone know what it is - I can't find my fungi book at present - a great buddy who helped me with my library is jetting off to Australia today and I am at a loss as to know where it might have been located.

Olympic meadows/bokashi bran - the ceremony of spreading of donkey dung and the opportunity for trials in Herefordshire farm garden with rescued deck chairs!

Inspired by the Telegraph article on the plantings masterminded by Nigel Dunnet from Sheffield University and the need to leave my new flower bed adjoining the vegetable garden fallow - I am inspired.
I have a mixture of forgotten, forsaken and free packets of annual flower seeds in various areas of potting frenzy around the gardens and think that with a sound supplement of a mix such as the Sheffield flower mix I could be onto a winner for a blaze of summer colour.

I read with delight that Nigel Dunnett had complimented Mary Keen (Pg 21 The Garden magazine - RHS) on fertilising her meadow  seed bed to combat the effects of our rather wet summers hmmm a use for the cherished and definitely well rotted Donkey dung at last!  This was acquired (I can hear you asking) on one of my many sojourns to Westhope craft college - I had great plans for more until Shropshire County Council decided to close the road for a substantial number of weeks and alas when it reopened the donkeys had been relocated.  A little like the first pickings or scrabblings of the bokashi bin the precious mix has to be used reverently.  (Thereafter it is just tipped onto the huge mound of compost and unceremoniously mixed up with the use of the farm teleporter and then dramatically flipped or turned.)

So summer planning is on its way, I failed to purchase any end of season deck chairs in Brighton at the weekend - part of the grand plan for Upper Newton picnics for guests in the extended garden.  I was tempted by the sign on the pier adjacent to some innocuous blue and white striped affairs piled up which stated Deckchairs Free to use  but then he who is important encouraged me to continue reading - whilst using the pier.  Spoilsport.  Note to self - it is very very chilly in Brighton in February - visit when warmer and negotiate with deckchair attendants in much the same manner you chat to nurserymen and rescue bent, broken and misshapen plants.  There must be a retirement system for well used deck chairs.

Lavendar Shortbread, Biomass and Yoga - yum

I decided to use some of the lavender harvested in the Summer to crush and use in shortbread - I used a tsp of hot lavender essence too and bought in a few culinary flowers (from Kent - shock) to place in the bottom of the baking pans to ensure it was clear that the shortbread was lavender in taste and vision.  After a bit of trial and error (i.e. three small batches) I managed to incorporate our own honey and get uniform amounts into my new, gorgeous baking pan.  I am particularly besotted with this as it has alternating honey combs and bees so perfect.  I'll take a photo when I get a moment.  There is a professionally taken one ready for the new Herefordshire Recipe Book to be launched at the Herefordshire Food Festival in October.  Do contact Photopia nr Pembridge if you have a great recipe idea - Becca and Simon would love to hear from you.

My photo will probably be set up in front of the new biomass pellet boiler in Chess Cottage - just loving the flame and the heat exchange system - very green, very warm and lovely contemporary look.

Quite a change to a freezing seafront in Brighton on Saturday.  This chilly weather snap is all about comfort food and spices that warm us.  We did find an amazing Vietnamese restaurant with the most delicious vegetables steamed in a stunning combination of spices.  New ideas for mixing with our nourishing basmati and mung dahl - a healthy staple in this house whilst the lady of the house gets her flexibility back and takes her yoga seriously.

In the background is the desolate sight of the burned down Brighton pier.  I do hope they renovate - it seems ridiculous that a new tower is being built to rival the height of any other architecture whilst this invaluable part of our history is left to erode.

Sunny, chilly Sunday afternoon walk to re-home the farm gnome.

Fungi walk today down in my favourite woodland. Found this and a gorgeous red fungi that looked like half a tangerine with red paint inside - one of the benefits of the soggy soggy year as it was growing only on rotting wood - out will have to come the fungi book.

Mostly we despise ivy and the damage it does to trees but this looked rather beautiful down in the long meadow over-looking Hay Bluff.

Early morning with the leaning copse.  One of the advantages of the crazy weather is that on days when the sunrise is glorious we appreciate it even more and revel in any signs of Spring coming, the hawthorne is shooting fast, the insects are enjoying the ivy flowers and the birds are definitely eyeing up potential nesting spots.

All is well - and the gnome has a new home, a place on a beautiful walk ready for treasure trail walks for guests.

Rather chuffed that this photo loaded, I went for an early ramble with Archie to see a stunning sunrise and was delighted to see the reflected light on the "dry soil" with surreal ice patterning by the cattle water tanks.  Scary to walk on as every now and again you sink into holes possibly created by the weight of William - our gorgeous bull!

Despite the rain, there is development in the garden - a wonderful birthday surprise was the creation of fabulous jetty down at the pond area - which now of course means the lady of the house thinks she should acquire a Wind in the Willows style fishing boat and at the very least needs a Jeremy Fisher style - "Gone Fishing sign".

The ducks have made it onto the jetty, the photo is posterized until it is planted underneath.

Just lucky with the oak tree silhouetted by Tin Hill, from our garden on 8th February.

Alchemilla Mollis May2012, just divided and replanted today

Wish it looked like this today but great to remind ourselves of how lush and warm we can be.  Also found a photo of some garden goodies ready for guests in the cottage before we decorated.  Its great at this time of year to think back on what we all achieve in a year with quiet, dogged determination.  Still, its also a great time to plan for lush gardens so I am donning the fatopets (best for gardening in this weather) - the silly hat, two pairs of gloves and off to attack once more.  I took some cuttings off the winter honeysuckle before lunch so have them to pop into some good gritty soil - I've taken enough to try popping half into the greenhouse and the other half directly into the soil which is pretty gritty.  It must have been the cook's dumping ground for broken pottery and her favourite colour must have been blue!

New extended herb garden just before settling snow

Phew, the Sorbus Cashmeriana was finally dropped into a lovely big hole where the herb garden fencing used to be - thanks to a great friend's help.  Just before the newly settling snow but in a great gale - I was wearing two hats and still had singing ears!

It's great when you suddenly have a eureka moment in your own garden - for years I had been nursing along two badly pruned - rescued roses and a fennel had established itself intertwined with a non-productive gooseberry - either that or the bluetits were really quick every year - anyway they have all gone, the tree is in and the bind (Convolvulus arvensis L.)  shards having been picked out.  Decided not to pop any green credential perennials in for a year but just take a pot luck with lots of forgotten annual seeds and just see what happens.  The ground needs to be kept fertile, covered but not with green manure - not until I am sure it is cleaned out,  I need to be ready to dig up anymore of the pernicious bindweed before being very creative.

No photos yet - not until the grapevine has reestablished itself and the Orange Blossom which I rescued from a Factory shop is in full leaf!  Just moved some Persicaria - a new variety from WyeVale cash and carry and moved some purple loosestrife to the replace them - they prefer bog gardens anyway and the bottom end of the herb garden definitely fits this definition at the present - Beth Chatto - my "right plant, right place" heroine would be delighted.

Chess Cottage, new year, new look!

Just putting my head in gear for a new website, would appreciate some feedback on these photographs. Do they show what you would like to see on an accommodation website.  Do they hint at comfort, cosiness, attention to detail and a wee bit of luxury from a country cottage?

Chess Cottage Brass Bedroom - January Flowers!

Chess Cottage, double bedroom, new washbasin area.

Chess Cottage, Brass Bedroom from internal door.