15th January 2021
The new year is here at long last and whilst the human world is not having a particularly great time at the moment, it’s so reassuring to see that outside, the seasons are still doing their thing as they have since time immemorial. We know how lucky we are to be surrounded by the natural world and whilst living 13 long, twisty miles away from the nearest supermarket used to be a pain, at the moment it seems like a small price to pay for the freedom of fresh air on our doorsteps.
Back in the workshop Hilary is busy making a new range of Magic Carpet bags using a gorgeous new kelim. They’re a work in progress at the moment, but they remind us that travel is on the horizon, and that good times will come again.
Whilst the sewing machine whirrs, outside in the fields the first signs of new life are emerging. This little chap and his two siblings were born a couple of days ago early in the frosty morning. 
He popped outdoors for a picture (surprisingly hard to take as he wouldn’t leave our feet) but he much prefers being snuggled under a heat lamp in his cosy stall. And quite frankly, who wouldn’t! (The cat definitely agrees now that the ancient AGA’s been fixed). 
And talking of AGAs, this is what happens when you forget that you’ve put something in it. 
These might have been croissants once upon a time – round about the Cretaceous period we think.
And on a West Country verge this beautiful beacon of spring was spotted (we’d seen others shooting up at RHS Rosemoor before Christmas when we visited for the spectacular Glow). The first daffodils of the year are such a happy sight and it makes us smile a lot.
This made us smile a lot too – a paddle in the sea and a game of football on the beach the day before the latest lockdown was announced. As always, the light at Saunton was spectacular and made our traditional post-Christmas visit a memorable one. We can’t wait until we’re allowed to go back.
In the meantime we’re looking longingly across to Dartmoor too. The tips of the granite tors have been dipped in snow recently – and at times they’ve disappeared from view altogether under angry swirls of low cloud lashing out at the landscape. 
But when there’s a hint of blue in the sky we can dash up to the attic and look out of the window for a glimpse of one of our favourite places, looking forward to the time when Hilary can canter across the open terrain on her horse Arnie once again.
And finally, this lovely family of ducks has popped up on the roof opposite the shop. West Country thatchers have been making straw figures for centuries and these days they are left as the thatcher’s ‘signature’ on the ridgeline of the roof.
The team is working hard in the freezing conditions – whilst our workshop isn’t the warmest place in the world our fingers and toes are quite glad we’re not working outside on a roof!
