Mythic Garden new sculptures in place.

There is always something wild and wonderful to see at the Mythic Garden Scupture Exhibition near to Chagford at Stonelane Arboretum.
I was up there this morning taking pictures for a child's trail and loved every minute.
If you haven't been before then I think you would enjoy it. The arboretum holds the National Collection of Birches and Alders, gathered from all over by Kenneth Ashburner who is a tree expert. What he doesn't know about birches and alders could be written on a the side of a catkin. You can buy trees from the garden and the sculptures are as you can see somewhat eyecatching....
The garden is open daily from 2 til 6 and the website is www.mythicgarden.com
I am pleased that my feet are not twice the size of my head, like this young lady !
"Does my bum look big in this ?"
"Yes !"

Back on the pier at Clevedon again.

Can you see some plaques on the board under this chap's feet ?

The canny fundraisers when the pier was being rebuilt sold brass plaques at £5 each to raise mony for the work effort. It makes for a most attractive feature of the pier.
The benches also have plaques, see one either side of Smiler.

No wonder our hotel The Highcliffe has such a fab view (see previous entry) It has a commanding position overlooking the Severn Estuary. Perfect for watching the tide come in and out twice a day. Watching the water level rise as the tide went out as we were on the pier confirms the fact that you couldn't swim against this tide here. It is the second highest tide in the World. However they managed to build this pier in the first place is beyond me.

The other Granny reaches 60. My turn next.

What a great weekend we had in Clevedon to help celebrate the 'other Grandmother's 60th birthday. Nice that we were included in the partying. Thank you Hilary and John for inviting us. The party was held at 5 The Beach and they did us proud with the food. All very enjoyable.
Here is my Rob lapping up some of the strong sunshine we had over the weekend. The volcanic ash didn't seem to hinder the sun's rays, I came home with a suntan on my face and hands !

Clevedon Pier is hugely photographable (?) Opposite of unphotographable in the old song ?
Here it is in the sunset at high tide. Anyone with half an interest in photography would be itching to get the camera out around this very attractive pier. We went for a walk down it the following day - a sunday morning and there was a fishing match going on. All very colourful. Will add some of the pics in the next listing.

2 cousins on the Two Moors Way - Too much for me!

Apologies for late entries. It's been a busy few days....
Can it only be 9 days ago that it was cool and miserable like this ?
Two of my favourite cousins Richard and Nick Austin came by walking the Two Moors Way and stayed a night with us. So I offered to walk some of the local path near to here with them.
They poor souls had been walking from Ivybridge on the South of Dartmoor and had already got 3 days walking under thier belts by the time I caught up with them at Chagford, and we spent a very pleasant afternoon walking to Drewsteignton with plenty of time to talk about 'the old days' and relatives no longer with us....
I knew them both from little lads, and can well remember changing Richard's nappy when I was about 8 years old, but at the end of the walk uphill and downdale my knees were giving me gyp and I had to rely on them far too heavily as they supported me for the last half a mile. With me hanging on to Rich's arm for dear life and Nick one step below me on the final descent so that I could lean on his shoulder with my left arm, our parents would have smiled at the thought of me needing them as props in order to reach Drewsteignton Square where Robert soon arrived in the car to pick us up.
It was great to catch up with the boys, and after a cooked breakfast on the Thursday morning Rob drove them back to Drewsteignton where they picked up the walk again.
I heard from Nick on Sunday morning that they had completed the walk.
Rather them than me. Well done young 'uns xxxxxxxxxxxxx

First swallow spotted and purple sprouting takes some beating.

Great News about Summer.... it's on the way.
How do I know ?
Well one lone swallow arrived back on Saturday 10th, and the seeds are coming up in my greenhouse.
This is a pic of me with some purple sprouting.
Last year we were still eating off it at Christmas, and I didn't collect these seeds off the old dried up plants until early February when I just hung up the old plant in the greenhouse to fully dry out.
The seeds positively jumped out of the pods a few days later, and I sowed them on the 4th of April and already they are racing away.
This photo was taken on the 10th, and today the 13th, the seeds are twice as big and filling out the seedtray like hearty cress. I shall have far too many plants, so if you live within easy reach call in for some spares.
They are really easy to grow and the heads of purple sprouting perform just like brocolli once cooked. Personally I enjoy the green leaves too. Just like Spring cabbage. Yummy.
I think that seeing as it's such a sunny day, I'll go out and do some digging.

The latest food review

My latest food review http://www.dartmooraccommodation.co.uk/food/food_review_cromwell_arms.html

if you fancy a peep.

Colcharton Farm - I fancy a few days there myself !

Now there's something you don't often see... a hen and a cat on a wall together ! But all the cats (5+) stay outside on the farm at Colcharton, one of our Bed and Breakfasts near to Tavistock, and chickens and cats all get on together.
Take a closer look at the bathroom picture. Very swish.

Jane the office treasure and I went along to meet Lowenna the landlady last Friday and I have written about my visit to Colcharton within my website. So if you would like to see some large pictures of the bedrooms and the relaxing conservatory where Lowenna serves home made cake to her visitors. Click here to see more http://www.dartmooraccommodation.co.uk/accommodation/visit_colcharton.html

The Playpark in Exeter is BRILLIANT !

If you know of anyone in a wheelchair that fancies a swing or a seesaw, or even a jump on a trampoline, then take a look at http://www.theplaypark.co.uk/ It is the brainchild of my good friend Miriam Guard, who herself has an autistic child Henry.

Miriam has battled through acres of red tape and difficulties and raised hundreds of thousands of pounds to build an all abilities playpark in Exeter which was opened last year. Handicapped kids have a whale of a time there where they can get involved with some very clever playground equipment all for free.

I built the website for Miriam last year as my small contribution to all the hard work that she undertakes and I nip into the playpark now and again to take fresh pictures for the site. On Sunday we took Nancy our 2 year old grand-daughter for a treat. She loves the trampoline and the sandpit. Not to mention the slides, and the swings...and ....
Miriam came here today to make changes on the website with me and we were able to to add a super photo of Maddie from Exmouth and her pal Ben from North Devon, both in wheelchairs - who meet up midway for a play at the playpark, being pushed around on the purpose built roundabout.

Do click the link http://www.theplaypark.co.uk/ and take a look.

Hello Pip from Newlyn, nice to meet you !

Easter Saturday and Rob and I went off to take pictures at another of our self catering lets, this time in Manaton, in the changeover hours, when all is looking gorgeous and there are no guests in shot.

Soon to be shown on my http://www.dartmooraccommodation.co.uk/ website.
We promised ourselves lunch at the Dartmoor Tearooms in Moretonhampstead on our way home, and spied one young man there enjoying his lunch with absolute relish. At the end of the meal, the Mum picked up the cafe's Visitor's Book and searched for an entry that they made in it last year. She then mentioned to the boy that the cafe must have been closed for the Winter because of the clear space in the book. I confirmed this to be the case, and that the cafe had only just reopened last Wednesday 24th.
The woman told me that they were lucky indeed to find the place open having travelled up from Paignton by Royal Command of the son, who had enjoyed the food so much last year, (they all had) that this trip was on the top of their 'to do list' Turns out they live in Newlyn and run the Tolcarne Inn there. At the end of their meal, I asked the boy, Pip if he wouldn't mind stepping outside to have his picture taken for the website, and this is what you see above. Mum told me that this is definitely the best cafe food we have ever eaten, and it's just as good as last year. I asked her if I could quote her and she said "Oh yes, we give it the thumbs up don't we Pip ?" Asked to show me the thumbs up, Pip posed with just the one thumb, and then on second thoughts, decided that it deserved both hands....

And I agree with him. George has made just one or two changes to the menu, the main one to affect me is the introduction of some very tasty thin chips with home made mayo. Tricky for me to add now that I have typed, but I will maybe add it to my food review page in a day or two.

You can find the Dartmoor Tearoom's website on http://www.dartmoortearooms.co.uk/

Off out into the garden after lunch to make the most of this glorious sunshine. It's about time I sowed some purple sprouting seeds. Pictures of the results no doubt as they come through.

Happy Easter blog watchers !