Food Festival Fun...

The food festival came to town again in the summer - our town plus free food is always a winning combination. Some interesting food and some interesting folk.

Time flies...

Well, turn your back for a minute... The year is drawing to a close and I have been so otherwise occupied that I've neglected my poor blog. The year wasn't without its small excitements - just the sort that I like, in truth, as I'm not much good with big excitements. But perhaps it's too easy to forget the little things that gladden my heart - like the Open Studio event in early June, when Mr Drookit and I got on his bike, and he ferried me very sweetly, and not too quickly, from one lovely studio to another. In fact, we went so slowly sometimes that we were in danger of falling over - the satnav even refused to acknowledge we were actually moving at one point...!

We were met by the most charming of hosts, brave enough to invite us into their studios and courteous enough to demurely accept copious amounts of fawning and envious sighs!

Among others, we visited the rather dandy studio of Brin Edwards. His studio (above - mentioned in wistful tones by several other artists on the trail) is a thing of great beauty - an oval straw-bale barn he built in his garden(with a little help). Even the cupboards and surfaces look like works of art! Whilst he paints birds more than anything else, it is his landscapes that appealed to me most.

Whilst Brin had, possibly, the best studio, Carol Saunderson, for my money, had one of the best views from her studio... She lives in a ridiculously pretty cottage, and tucked round the back is her garden shed cum studio, and a garden that opens out onto rolling hills and farmland.

We were greeted with home-made lemon shortbread and a cool glass of (proper) lemonade in her gorgeous kitchen before wandering down the path to her studio, to where a work in progress was displayed. Have to say, if I had the money...

Another favourite was Lucy Perry who had a fab, Charleston inspired, house filled with her lovely paintings, small ceramic pieces and little quirky things, like an Easter bonnet hanging from a hook. I particularly admired her Charleston-style painted chimney - the photo doesn't do it any justice!

Meanwhile, back home, the garden continued to seduce me into spending many hours in the sunshine. Much of that time was spent crouched in front of the pond observing the changes in the little tadpoles there, or checking on the progress of the tomato plants, and admiring the weirdness of the new succulents.

Henley...?

Not quite, although it was billed as 'Little Henley'...

To the 133rd Sudbury International Regatta with the in-laws. Held on a gorgeous, sunny Saturday, with actual traffic jams caused by the number of spectators trying to get into town, young and old, locals and international visitors lined the riverbank - gazebos, picnic baskets and panamas at the ready. A lovely, gentle, even genteel atmosphere, with wry commentary coming over the loudspeakers, and only a very few folk ending up 'in the drink'.

I actually thought I might like to take up rowing, because this looked like a particularly lovely way to spend a day (albeit without the competitive element!).

It was lovely to see so many young people taking part, and enjoying the spectacle. 

The littlest cousin managed to 'ring the bell' before we headed back, and won a prize to take home. Everyone's a winner!