Nature's April Fool

My favourite view from the terrace looking over the garden
to St Micheal's Mount



Sailing boats tacking in the breeze by St Micheal's Mount
 harbour taken in our back fields


























Nature played her very own April Fool joke on us this 1st of April by awarded us a day of Mediterranean sunshine When St Micheal's Mount looked enchanted beyond our garden and the yachts danced upon Mounts Bay on a blue, blue sea...................
As it was Sunday we awarded ourselves an afternoon lounging in the Italian Garden in the delicious warmth and later watched two bats flirting in the dusk about the courtyard - so what happened?? Natures joke i suppose as the weather men gaily predict sleety showers tomorrow but boy did we enjoy Sunday!

St Micheal's mount beyond our garden

I took this one from the back field to see all of the Mounts "skirts"!

A sailing boat off of St Micheal's Mount

The entrance to our home

Our entrance with the sea beyond - that is Mousehole
and Newlyn across Mounts Bay

Ah well it is supposed to get warm again for Easter!

A day in the life of Ednovean Farm

my favourite Mount position as the skies cleared
mid morning

A day in the life of Ednovean Farm? Well yesterday for example - we always start quite early feeding the horses and just lately Dolly has started her schooling in the mornings before breakfast (yawn) a sort of effective time creation!

Dolly 4 starting her schooling with my husband Charles

The day started fairly cloudy but as the sun rose the skies cleared and I was able to take that magical shot of St Micheal's Mount from the courtyard one of my favourite vantage points - zooming in on the
 St Micheal's Mount beyond our sheltering belt of palms - I was intrigued to catch a glimpse of Penzance from an unusual position framed by the trees and the courtyard gate - I think that is the thing about garden views they should surprise and reveal and always give something to discover - anyway this after all of my preening with a camera, was my discovery yesterday. A niche, a little slot of blue, unexpectedly revealed........

A surprise view across Mounts Bay to Penzance,
from the courtyard framed by the gate

WE found time to sneak on to the (vacant Blue Room terrace) to try out the sun loungers there and soak up the sunshine for an hour in the afternoon before tackling window and door painting using the brown Sikiens wood stain that our planning permission dictated many years ago ( windows may be white or brown stain)which was an promotion form yesterdays power washing of gates and stone work. We were supervised by Ollie and Spud of course- Ollie particularly never misses a coffee break in the way of elderly cats, he magically, appears plodding relentlessly to solemnly claim his lap and sing his eternal purr song. Spud on the other hand prefers more robust activities and is never happier than when escorting us around the farm bounding beside us like a mini lion, occasionally stopping to explore mouse hole before racing to catch up.

Spud enjoys exploring - this time the Pink room bathroom
roof!

and finally our day complete the final drama of the sunset. It is shaping up to be a warm weekend so head to Cornwall if you have the time it is going to be a good one!

Yesterdays sunset was quite different - more "silent"

I really should cut back those Pampas's now!! but!!

The final "Turnereske" moments of the day

A surprise inspection

Ednovean Farm, Perranuthnoe, this February

We had a lovely surprise the other afternoon when, without warning, the skies cleared and we had the first taste of spring. Olly and Spud set out around the garden on what was for Olly at least the first constitutional of 2012 but more of that in my next post. Today i thought I'd tell you about my sterling garden clearance of oh at least one border, disposal of our humongous muck heap in a three ton muck spreader about the farm and general spruce up of the back stable block. All of which left me slightly dishevelled as i opened the front door to a smiling gentleman who turned out to be the Michelin Inspector on his annual surprise visit! So there you have it - you can never tell when he weather is going to radically change or an inspector will call! I suppose it was a little bit better than the time, one summer, when I emerged from the vegetaion, spattered by plant debree, clasping a petrol strimmer, wearing a face mask!

I took the picture of the house and Parterre earlier in the week, just as the skies cleared and as you can see the sun is climbing higher in the sky, lighting more of the courtyard, after the winter shadows when the sun only touches the corner of the building

The Pink Room



Looking across the hand carved four poster bed towards the dressing table in the Pink room

The time came this week to tackle the spring cleaning and I started with our lovely pink room ready for our weekend guests. There is something about a room that has just been spring cleaned that makes you see it anew - mind you when Charles and I pulled the heavy four poster bed across the floor it felt distinctly heavier! The bed was actually built in the room so I'm not sure we would ever get it out again so just as well that i love it with its cam comforting embrace, panelled roof and hand carved posts - each one slightly different.




The hand embroidered hanging softens the old stone walls



So, perhaps a little tour of The Pink room is in order now as we start the 21st year of Bed and Breakfast at Ednovean Farm! The big hand embroidered wall hanging is actually a bed spread that i found in eastofhere in Penzance and it has stood the test of time - this year i set the hoover to the lowest power and gently spent..well most of the afternoon carefully hoovering it but it softens the rooms traditional stone walls and gives an air of (I think!!) fun to the room. I carefully suspended the old gilt mirror with fishing line over the throw above the dressing table as I didn't want to make a hole in the hanging that i spent several days choosing - they were very patient with me in the shop!



I gave the little table a pint finish in french grey,
 lightly distressing it before waxing 



The chair was found in David Lays and reupholstered in a Jane Churchill fabric and the antique stool sports a fresh ticking cover





I've accessorised the dressing table
with twin glass lamps and pretty pink glass

Big glass bottles set on the wide window sills

My favourite little details - this time a heart from Laura Ashley

look closely and you'll spot a heart cushion
 in the background on the bed

of course the flat screen TV usually sits here but artistic licence and all that!!

and now time to move on into the Pink room's en suite bathroom

I'm sure you've seen the dramatic central Bataeu bath on our web site but take a look at the faux gingham wall that took Charles two evening to finish



twin sinks set against marble tiles
- i painted the ceiling to look like a tent

I couldn't resist this OTT mirror!



the little original door way that leads from the bedroom
the Staffordshire dog was another sale room find




We've had the little sea horse since we were married - it somehow fits the gingham wall




Enamel pots from RJ Supplies hold Cotton wool buds and balls





and now i am moving on to the Apricot room but I hope you enjoyed seeing the little details that add up to one of our rooms - I think it is often the little things that make things special - I hope you've enjoyed the pink room today