3 Villages Festival

A hot sunny summer weekend and what else is there to do but go and find a village fayre or two. As it is we had a pitch at the 3 Villages Festival held by Mathon, Cradley and Storridge. It was a typical village affair with evrything from a blacksmith to local folk in funny outfits ( check out 'bogbrush' man for a laugh). We did fairly well for trade on the Saturday but we didn't need to be there for the Sunday as we just had a return of all the villagers from the previous day. All the same it was the taking part that was important and it was good to see that traditions were maintained with some Morris Dancers and a May Pole, even if it is July!

Food glorious food.

Today is a bit of a celebration as Tree cooked our first meal where all of the ingredients, excepting the curry powder, were grown by our fair hand. Mother has been gracious to us in providing a bounty of courgettes, so much so, that we can't give them away fast enough. Every day I find more to crop. I guess planting 25 plants was something to do with it. Anyway, swapping some with neighbours for apples and some honey, from a friends new hives, has proved lucrative and reminds me of the days when people used to barter most things. I won't even begin to rattle on about the taste!!!

Welcome to the Crypt

Many moons ago I made a cover for the cellar light which had a stained glass panel in the top. Much as it was nice to look at, I hadn't banked on the effects our great climate would have on it and, sadly, it succumbed to the relentless rain and cold of last winter and had to be removed. Armed with the knowledge of where I had gone wrong I embarked on making a new, stronger, cover that some would say was more in keeping with the house and my craft. Having a lot of Yew, left over from the old 'A' board I made for outside the shop, I constructed a robust hatch with hand forged wrought iron hinges to finish it off. All of the materials were reclaimed, including the brass fretwork which came from the Midland Bank, and items obtained from the Worcester Resource Exchange. All in all not a bad job, if I say so myself!