It has been remarked upon by our current guests that blog posts have lapsed somewhat this Autumn. Guilty and surprised how time has flown by since the making of blackberry jam, but equally amazed to learn of the frequency that some of our regular guests look at our blog and facebook posts I resolve to do better in the New Year.

So I thought I’d show you a resume of Christmas since mid December – Boscrowan style!

First there is the now annual charity wreath making workshop and lunch which I run with a very good friend at a venue close by, with all the proceeds (which this year was in excess of £1000) going to Marie Curie Cancer Care. A horsebox full of greenery – holly (declared more prickly than last year by some participants!), berried ivy, bay, and anything else green and exciting that Jenny and I could gather from our field hedges on the lovely sunny Saturday before and

several trayfuls of meringues were made  for my meringue wreath desert which  turned out to be a bit of  a showstopper – over 2′ across and served 30 with ease. Must repeat that one for any event where large numbers are involved.

Some wonderful wreaths were produced.

and we made more for special commissions.

Then there was the decorating of the cottages for Christmas

and the guests in both cottages so kindly entertained us with champagne  so I went equipped with camera too to capture the scene.

On Christmas day David and I enjoyed a picnic and walk  overlooking the sea at Bosigran

With more coastal walks in the splendid weather on the days to follow

So, let’s wish all our readers and our guests past, present and future a very, very, Happy New Year and thank you for following Boscrowan with such interest.

Oh and a special mention and toast to Maria who has now been to stay here 26 times in the 13 years since we first opened Peace and Plenty to visitors in 2001 – what amazing support! We conclude that she rather likes staying here.

Suddenly when September arrives I am reminded that this is one of my favourite times of year. We can still enjoy glorious sunny days but the nights are drawing in ever so slightly with evenings a little colder and every good reason to start thinking of the months ahead and evenings in front of a roaring woodburner – well that’s for the guests in the cottages enjoying their restful holidays, Jess and Meg (our 2 collies) in front of our woodburner and me out in my soft furnishing workroom cutting out curtains for clients, my foot on the sewing machine pedal or pondering over track lengths and finished drops in front of yet another woodburner. Thank goodness David enjoys cutting wood!

But to the days now – great pleasure can be gained from gathering the Autumn harvest

The hedgerows are bursting with ripe blackberries. Our guests wander the fields to the delight of Meg who can never resist an excuse for a walk and gather their own and some even pick them for me to make into blackberry jam for the cottage cream teas.

Nothing so satisfying as a pan full of bubbling jam – and it’s a variety that you don’t often see for sale in the shops or even the Farmers Markets.

Then there’s our orchard – established about 12 years ago – apples for crumbles, apple juice or just picking to eat and enjoy fresh from the tree

and of course the horses – Gem and Huckleberry and the pigs – Hop, Skip and Jump love them too!

It’s a great time to visit Cornwall – when the coastal footpaths are less full, you can walk into a restaurant and enjoy a meal without having to book days or weeks in advance, you don’t have to queue to enter a car park, yet the sea is still warm enough for a swim.

On the footpath from Lands End to Sennen.

So come and enjoy Cornwall this Autumn!