Family farm holidays in Cornwall magical for children, toddlers and babies.
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Coombe Mill Blog
"Tales from the farmers wife" shares the funny and interesting happenings on our lovely holiday farm with Farmer Nick and our 6 children. A behind the scenes look on balancing family, farming, the holiday business and cooking for all.
We have been enjoying some unusually hot weather in the south west this summer and plenty of lovely sunshine too. Our poor sheep have been feeling weighed down with their heavy winter coats and we were willing the days by till our trusted Cornish sheep shearing expert was due to come and relieve them of their extra layer. In the end it was just as the hot and dry spell was turning to hot and wet that Farmer Nick and I were up at the crack of dawn to round the sheep up and bring them indoors, ahead of the drizzle which was sitting heavy in the sky.
Sheep waiting to be sheared
We managed to bring them in just in time. As we set the shearer up, and began the feed run for the other animals with the guests, the drizzle began. We hit a stumbling block right at the start, the shearing head broke and while our shearer drove home for a new one the sheep had to endure an extra hour cooped up inside not knowing what was going on while the lambs were bleating outside for their Mums.
Lambs missing their mothers
It did however give us the chance to finish the feed run with the guests, for them to return to their properties for a little rest and refreshment before we collected them again on the tractor to come and see the sheep shearing.
Little faces peering in on the sheep shearing
This time it was full steam ahead. Our shearer can do up to 100 sheep in a day, it is such heavy hard work I can’t even begin to imagine the calories he must burn or how strong he is but he had our little flock done in an hour.
Expert at work
All reunited back in the field the sheep are now fully appreciating summer and like me quite happy for the hot weather to continue. It is a real bonus time of year for our guests to be able to watch the sheep shearing so close like this. Next up will be our alpaca, if we can track down the elusive shearer!
Happy cool sheep
What about the sheared fleeces?
Our sheared fleeces have already gone to a local crafter who makes beautiful rugs, bags and woollen toys to sell at the local Cornish craft fairs. It’s lovely to see these little cottage industries thrive and we are delighted to donate the fleece.
Country Kids is the original outdoor family fun linky designed to:
“Encourage family fun outdoors, in an age where technology and screens are such a draw to a sedentary indoor life”
Welcome back if you are a regular to Country Kids and if you are new please join in. You will find plenty of inspiration for enjoying outdoor space and please do share your own adventures. We support the National Trust #50 things along with all other ideas for family fun outside.
Exams are over, summer stretches ahead
We are now an exam free house with GCSE’s and A Levels all over. One of my boys will be working on the farm with us over the summer before staring collage in September and the other has gone to work with our local builder ahead of University. The triplets still have school until late July but I’ve noticed much less homework this term. We are looking forward to some sunny summer days and more relaxed family time. Whatever your plans for the week ahead I hope it includes some outdoor fun and as always please come and join me with your adventures on the link up below.
Guidelines for Joining in:
Post must be predominantly outdoors such as in the garden, the park, the woods or the beach with crafting, learning, exploring or playing.
Despite the title, both countryside and urban outdoor adventures are welcome.
Unheated covered areas like a barn or tent count as outdoors.
Please comment on my host post and a minimum of 3 others of your choice.
If you use #CountryKids when commenting the post owner will know where your found them and hopefully come back to visit your post.
Please take my badge, without it you won’t be considered for winning the lovely Rockfish Wellies.
Linked posts should be written and made live within the last 2 months.
I understand sometimes you need to do catch up posts and write about something from a couple of months ago but the publish date should be within 2 months.
There is no restriction on the number of posts that can be linked up, however please be sensible, if you have more than 3 consider linking over a few weeks.
Thanks to all of you who joined in last week and for the comments you took time to leave, sadly we had 1 link dumper this week leaving no comments, please only link if you are going to comment on others.
I am delighted to have Rockfish as the sponsor for Country Kids. Rockfish are a local Cornish company specializing in stylish quality wellingtons for all the family. We have been offering their country wellies in our borrow room here on the farm for over a year and they are always popular for their style, comfort and durability.
Each week my favourite #CountryKids posts, which include my badge or a link back here, will be considered for a free pair of Rockfish Wellies at the end of the month; the perfect way to enjoy the outdoors whatever the weather throws your way. Keep your posts coming, it could be you winning next!
For more more information on the Rockfish Wellies on offer with us and terms and conditions to win see here.
Favourite posts from last week added to the shortlist for winning the June Rockfish Wellies:
Join the growing Country Kids Instagram Community with #CountryKidsFun.
I'll like and comment on all and share my favourites from the week with a tag on a Friday on Instagram and Twitter. With over 10060 posts this community is flourishing with outdoors photos. My featured photos from the week came from @cardiffmummysays, @lakessinglemum,@fancyphotozz and @jenni_isdancingintherain
We have been enjoying the most beautiful weather in Cornwall and it has brought out so much pond life and bugs I had planned to study these in our activity hour. then I realised it was Father’s Day at the weekend and swapped my plans for some Father’s Day craft gifts the children could make.
Dad Medals
I have learned over the years that preparation is key, especially with younger children who like to see crafty results come together quickly. With this in mind I pre-prepared our Medals with masking tape to make the word ‘DAD’ on pizza trays. All the kids had to do was choose how to paint, with which colours and get going.
The tape on the polystyrene worked a treat. Originally I was going to use paper but when I tried it in advance the tape ripped when peeled. The polystyrene peeled perfectly as well as giving structure.
We finished the medals by poking a hole through the top with the end of a paint brush and treading string through for hanging the medal round Dad’s neck. The children finished at different times and used their waiting time for running and rolling up and down the hill in the sunshine.
Clay prints
Our next Father’s Day craft involved flattening chunks of air dry clay and making hand or finger prints in them then painting them as gifts. We had some lovely prints for the Dad’s to keep as well as a finger print flower beautifully painted.
Nature Ties
Even with little ones who can race through crafts I find three is all we manage in an hour. For our third craft we returned to a successful one from a couple of years ago: Nature Ties. With pre-cut tie shapes ready stuck with double sided tape the children just had the fun part of adding the nature. I gave the children a choice of places we could visit to look for pretty colours of nature for their tie and they all chose the fairy gardens racing ahead to show me the way.
When little hands were loaded we came back and spread out across the table and rugs on the grass. It was lovely to sit back at this point and watch the creativity unfold. There was some serious concentration of tie design and which petals and leaves should go where.
I thought I was pushing my luck to bring them all back down from playing on the grassy bank for a photo with their crafts, but they obliged. It might not be perfect but it is true to life and I was thrilled with how well they all did, especially as the oldest was just 5 and the youngest just 2. I hope the Dad’s were as happy with their gifts as we were making them!
It isn’t everyday someone calls in uninvited at Coombe Mill as we are tucked away in our own private valley off the beaten track. However when Niki rang the bell for a speculative chat I soon realised this was a lady with an entrepreneurial head and a great idea: Selling unique Cornish made gifts nationally and to visitors of our lovely county on holiday. We are delighted to have teamed up with Niki and So Cornish to offer you a chance to win the delightful So Cornish Relaxation Gift bag full of pampering goodies worth £32.75 delivered directly to your home. Read on to discover more and for your chance to win.
The So Cornish Proposition
Just as the name suggests everything on the site is Cornish made. Whether you are after a special piece of Jewellery, a souvenir crafted from local glass, a taste of Cornwall or sea inspired toiletries, you’ll find it all at So Cornish. But the site is more than just a shop; it is a whole resource covering what’s on in the county and recommended places to stay – including Coombe Mill of course.
Niki’s Story
Niki started the business back in 2017 with her husband and two boys and has been adding to the site ever since. In her words:
“Having been born and raised in this wonderful county, I have always had a passion for all things Cornish so back in 2016 I decided to create a place where everyone can access genuine Cornish made gifts, hampers and indulgences. Part of my grand plan has also been to create an online source of information where lovers of Cornwall can access and contribute local information on the best beaches, upcoming events and great places to stay in Cornwall.”
The Relaxation Gift Bag
This lovely pack contains pampering products, chocolate and a homeopathic candle which will work together harmoniously to provide the recipient with the required elements to have a little, all important rest and relaxation.
Jute Bag Contents:
Relax and Unwind Candle (With a sublime combination of soothing Lavender, sensuous Ylang Ylang and a hint of warm, earthy Patchouli.)
Take a Load off Bath Oil (Containing a blend of Rosemary, Lavender & Peppermint); it can be used directly on the skin for moisturising or massage.)
Lovely Lavender Soap (Just a hint of Howood and May Chang to gently “lift” the soothing Lavender scent. Skin-nourishing Vitamin E, Evening Primrose oil, Shea butter and Avocado oil all combine to make this a nourishing, gentle and soothing soap.)
Relax and Unwind Hand and Body Lotion (Lightly scented this with a calming blend of essential oils; Lavender, Patchouli and Ylang Ylang which will help you unwind and de-stress.)
OK so I’m cheating somewhat this week, I’m stealing a couple of photos sent to me by our guests. Their story is so perfect I have to share. It was the half term week and here on the farm and we had a lovely family staying in our Honeysuckle Cottage. What none of us knew was that there was a marriage proposal in the making. We have had the most beautiful weather for the whole of April, May and June to date and sitting out in the evening has been a real treat with temperatures holding up into the 20’s. Anyway, during half term, while the children were tucked up in bed, a romantic scene was being created in our outdoor BBQ shelter. Candles and a tablecloth made a perfect shabby chic alfresco dining experience. Monitors easily reach from the cottage to the lawns, so while little ones slept a romantic scene was being prepared under the stars. Who knew Coombe Mill could actually be the most romantic place in the UK? To me this is the most beautiful place in the world so it makes sense. With all quiet except for the relaxing sound of the river, all still bar the flicking of the candles, what better place could there be to propose?
I think this next photo tells the rest. I am beyond thrilled for the couple and their family. That this wonderful event happened here at Coombe Mill makes me so happy.
It just goes to show a family holiday here is not just for the kids, it is truly for parents too. I hope we will see the family again; after all it is not a moment they will forget in a hurry! While I can’t guarantee the beautiful weather we have had this year, I can guarantee all the makings of a relaxing holiday in the most beautiful setting.
Could we be your most romantic place in the UK too?
“Tales from the farmers wife” shares life on our lovely holiday farm with Farmer Emma and our children. Step into our beautiful 30 acres and experience nature close up with farming and educational crafts in stunning North Cornwall. Family, fun and adventure start here.
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