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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.
Burning the christmas wrapping paper has become a supervised bonfire event on the farm the kids love. Safety is key to a fun hour on the far... Read More
I have really taken to creating flowers from toilet rolls and after the success of our Mother’s Day crafts making cards with toilet roll flowers I decided to take all the elements from here and make two new flower crafts. This coincided with a lovely educational story book arriving for me to review from Quarto Kids all about the seasons in the garden. Before I knew it I had a spring flower garden theme coming together for our guests to enjoy.
The Magic Garden
We began in the games room reading The Magic Garden. It is quite short and illustrative and the perfect length for the children. It put everyone into a creative mood and ready to go out and view the farm gardens with fresh eyes.
Nature Hunt
So with flower tick sheets and pens we set off in search of a signs of spring flowers on the farm. It is amazing what you find when you have your eyes really open. We hardly travelled any distance to find our first three flowers. The lawn around the games room was filled with buttercups, daisies and daffodils. Just as well Farmer Mick hadn’t yet come along to do his first mow of the year! We soon followed up with the Camellia and primrose and the first bluebells. The Rhododendron was only in bud and the honeysuckle just in leaf so these were much harder. It will be a few months before we see the new season Fuchsia but we still walked over to the bush where they will appear and checked along the river bank for Red Campion.
Creative Flower Pots
We arrived back at the games room just as the rain began and quickly moved the craft table under shelter. The children chose to make the flower pots first. It is a relatively simple craft that needed minimal help from the grownups, yet gives a pretty result. We covered toilet rolls in a choice of fabric.
Then we cut out squares of crepe paper and poked them through pipe cleaners to make magical colourful flowers.
The girls were thrilled with their finished flower pots.
Spring flower garden wreath
Then we moved onto the flower wreaths. The first task was to cut the centre out of a paper plate for the frame. Then we cut and painted toilet rolls to make the flowers.
By stapling the painted flowers on to the paper plate and hanging with ribbon we had pretty wreaths. I had wanted to collect ivy to place between the flowers but the rain was really pouring down so the girls decided to leave their wreaths at the games room to dry and add their own ivy later.
I think they would have happily stayed and crafted all evening once inspired. Their combined concentration and willingness to do everything was infectious. Its amazing how fast time goes and how much creative fun can come from a book and some throw away household items.
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.
Is it summer yet?
I’m never quite sure as we approach May if it’s OK to call it summer now. As far as I’m concerned it is only 7 weeks till mid summer’s day so I’m going with summer. We are in the middle of birthday season here, my triplets turned 14 this month and my eldest turns 20 next week. Goodness I can hardly call them Country Kids anymore! Never the less Clio features in my post this week along with her friend and cousins for Greek Easter. I hope April has been a happy month for you. 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, we had a week with no link dumpers so a pat on the back to you all!
Rockfish kindly sponsor Country Kids
Win a pair of wellies from Rockfish Monthly
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 April Rockfish Wellies:
Top Commenter: Malin from Sensational Learning with Penguin
Over 40 Mum to One shares a lovely double visit where the need for wellies and waterproofs couldn’t stop a good adventure.
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 9200 posts this community is flourishing with outdoors photos.
Farmer Nick is half Greek thanks to his father. This has come with many benefits to me over the years as I adore our Greek holidays, meeting extended family out there and here in the UK and the wonderful tradition of celebrating Orthodox Greek Easter. If I’m honest the only downside to our Greek heritage is our Greek surname of Cambouropoulos which most people understandably struggle to pronounce and spell! As an English person learning the Greek language I can honestly say that is very hard too. Anyway back to Greek Easter, the Orthodox Church sets its calendar differently to the Anglican one and we usually benefit from two Easter celebrations as a result. We had a wonderful time here on the farm for English Easter with our Easter egg hunt and activities, then the following weekend we travelled with Clio and her friend to Seaford to family friends hosting Greek Easter in the UK this year.
We are lucky enough to have Nick’s Mum living close by and we were able to stay there along with Nick’s brother and his girls. This alone was wonderful for Clio, being surrounded by teenage girls for the weekend instead of all her brothers, who had opted to stay home and run the farm for us this year. If you have ever watched my big fat Greek Wedding, then there is a certain ring of truth to it about every good Greek gathering. Food and socialising is everything. The day starts early for the host who has to prepare and begin to cook the spit roast lamb from early morning. Having hosted it ourselves in the past I know this takes plenty of skill and patience. By the time we all arrive armed with designated plates of food the lamb is well under way. Clio and her cousin took their seats by the BBQ to share lamb turning duties.
Let the merriment begin.
The day rolls by in a blur of socializing, mouth watering Greek delights, wine and music. It is wonderful seeing all the generations mixing together with the younger children enjoying the day alongside the teens, adults, and grandparents.
The smells of food waft from the BBQ and kitchen making everyone hungry. I think starters may be my favourite part, there are so many to choose from though Kokoretzi has few takers so I get more than my fair share (all the bits of the lamb you would probably never use like liver, kidney, tongue etc on a big BBQ skewer – look away now if you are vegetarian).
But filling up completely is a mistake with Greek style roast to follow.
Play time and cracking the red eggs is always the best part for the children
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A welcome pause in the food allows just enough of a gap to tuck into puddings.
We left late afternoon full and happy while Yia Yia brought all the girls home later. Phone games and bubble blowing kept the cousins busy while the little ones played and the more senior generation took 40 winkes!
Celebrating Orthodox Greek Easter in Seaford
Next year Orthodox Greek Easter falls at the end of the English school holidays so we are hosting down at Coombe Mill, be warned if you happen to be staying that week, you may just get an unexpected invite to join our festivities.
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.
The grass is growing and spring is here
Spring has felt a long time coming, especially on the farm. We had run out of hay for the animals and there was none to buy, all the farmers were facing the same problem with the longer than expected cold spell. Finally things have changed, the temperature is up and the grass is growing, the animals are happy and so our our holiday makers. It was even proper beach weather by the end of the week. I hope you were able to take advantage? 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 3 link dumpers PLEASE GO BACK IF THIS IS YOU, IT’S NOT FAIR TO OTHERS!
Please remember I comment count on Thursday afternoon so please make sure your comments are in by Thursday lunchtime.
Rockfish kindly sponsor Country Kids
Win a pair of wellies from Rockfish Monthly
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.
You can currently buy from the Rockfish webiste and save 10% at the checkout by entering Rockfish18
Favourite posts from last week added to the shortlist for winning the April Rockfish Wellies:
Top Commenter: Sonia from Mummy Constant
Stopping at Two returned to Coombe Mill for Easter and share their week with us, How could I not love this!
Mother’s Little Steps took advantage of a Beautiful Cornish sunshine day over the Easter break for a trip to their favourite beach
Country Kids Communities
I’d love you to join me:
Pin on the Pinterest Board Just ask for an invite to pin and include Country Kids on your pins for me to stop by on your boards too.
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 9130 posts this community is flourishing with outdoors photos.
I'm shocked to the core by the sad news from Louise at Little Hearts Big Lovewho has lost her eldest daughter Jessica on Sautrday Morning. Louise has supported Country Kids since it started with wonderful family adventures and I'm sure you'll join me in sending much love to the family at this time. If you are wanting to offer support to the family, we are arranging a holiday for Louise, Michael, Sophie and Peanut here at the farm when they're ready for it, just email me if you'd like to contribute (mail@coombemill.com). There is also a Just Giving page for the Little Hearts Matter charity who have supported the George family throughout Jessica's heart journey. Here is the link if you'd like to donate there.
Sometimes I forget just how much we have at Coombe Mill. We are always building and developing, if not a holiday lodge or cottage then a new play area or activity for children to enjoy. Whether it is outdoor play or indoor play, structured or free play we have it covered so that being on holiday doesn’t mean always needing to go out for the day to keep everyone entertained. It was one of those ‘fill in’ sorts of days on the farm for my kids before their little cousins headed home. With a long car journey ahead playing on the farm in our specially built under 5s play areas was the sensible option.
Cars, bikes and scooters go beep beep!
Clio and Guy caught up with their cousins and their dog in the little ride on play area while their parents packed the car. This is a lovely fully fenced and gated play area especially for children under 5 – and their carers! I love watching the cousins together, despite the age gap it is a lovely bond they are developing.
I think my own kids were quite exhausted with their little cousins constant requests to be pushed, pulled, watch this and watch that and follow them on equipment they had long since outgrown .
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Seeing the joy in the little ones faces reminded me of the hours I spent with my children playing in this same space; I remember it as a blissful hour to enjoy a hot drink and sit back to watch them play. The chippings have been replaced by tarmac since then which is much easier for the ride on toys. The little play house seen below is now in the chicken field, currently housing the start of a spring goose nest. and Farmer Nick has built a new bigger play house in the Play area.
Back to the here and now and the new play house built by Farmer Nick is in the middle of this under 5’s play area has steps to climb up and a lovely space to play. There is handy storage underneath for the ride on toys to keep them dry.
Finally tired out by his cousins, Guy thought he could kill two birds with one stone and get the dog to pull the Little Tikes car around. Needless to say the children much preferred Guy on the job as the dog soon went the wrong way!
Under 5’s Play barn
I think the little ones would have happily stayed riding round but my own were keen to move on and took them across the path to the play barn. Again this is gated and just for children below the age of 5 with plenty of space for adults to sit and watch, or in the case of my kids, chase them round and round.
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From ball pit to slide and back again they went, tumbling over and under obstacles. The laughs and squeals were quite infectious.
By the time it came to hop into their car seats these two were ready for a good kip on the long ride home.
“Tales from the farmers wife” shares life on our lovely holiday farm with Farmer Nick and our 6 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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