Daffodils and poultry in the cottage garden in February

A very different January from last year when we were snowed in for what seemed like weeks; this year it is wet, windy and fairly mild. It is the time to prepare for the new season in Blackthorn Cottage – redecorating where needed, gardening and general tidying. The forthcoming craft courses here – embroidery, basket making and pottery – are generating quite a bit of interest.

Woodland in winter

Blackthorn Cottage at the beginning of December after first snowfall of the season

First snowfall of the season

After a wet and windy autumn, it has suddenly got very cold and we had our first fall of snow last night – not too heavy, just enough to make the place sparkle. It has been quiet in the cottage with few visitors at this time of year though we are looking forward to the arrival of three visitors later this week.  However, we have been busy with workshops and other events. This weekend saw the  last workshop of 2011 - another basket making course taken by Penny McBride: this was an overflow class from a workshop that had taken place in November (as we can only have six participants for a basketmaking workshop some of the workshops get full up very quickly so on this occasion we put on an extra class). We have already arranged three more courses for the spring (and gift vouchers are available for these): Mountmellick embroidery on the 18th February; working with willow (bread baskets) on 3rd March and introduction to pottery on 10th March. We hope also to have more painting classes and a yoga day later in the year.

Late-flowering nasturtiums

 The next events in the cottage are a mixed-media art workshop on Saturday 12th November and a basket making workshop the following week on Saturday 19th November. As it was quiet here in October, I took the opportunity to go with basketmaker Penny McBride to beautiful Loch na Fooey on the Mayo/Galway border to spend some time with the renowned basket maker, Joe Hogan. As always, we learnt a great deal and enjoyed working with Joe (as well as other basket makers from Cork and Canada). Take a look at these photos …

Visitors from Canada stayed in the cottage early in September, and visitors from England will be arriving at the weekend.  In between we had a fiddle weekend workshop run by Pete Cooper from the London Fiddle School and a bit of a session on the Saturday night.

On Saturday August 27th, Jeanette Lammey, a local artist took a one-day art class in mixed media. Here are some photos from that day:

Nasturiums and sweet peas

The basket making group met here last Monday and various types of baskets were made. We will be meeting again on 22nd September.

The chicks are doing well and their quarters extended as they grow.

Our dog, Jess

 Here are some photos of the basket making group, which met on the 21st July.

               Welcome to Blackthorn Cottage

I realise that not everyone is interested in photos of vegetables and vegetable gardens! However, I daresay that a few people share my interest so here is a recent photo of the garden.

One of hens turned up with a clutch of chicks – having lost all our chicks earlier in the year to cats and aggressive poultry we want to ensure that these are big enough to survive before they join the others in the hen yard.  Unfortunately, the hen chose a rather grubby coal bunker in which to lay her eggs, so that is where they are staying for now.

The next event to be held here will be the basketmaking group on July 21st

JUNE

A beautiful sunny April was followed by a wet and windy May.  June is not very much better but, though it is cool, the flowers are coming out in the garden and the vegetables are growing.

On Saturday the 11th, we held a dry stone wall course here.  Clive Lyttle of Welig Crafts in Portaferry led eight people through the process of safely working with heavy rocks and stones, laying the foundation, and building a wall.  Everybody seemed to enjoy it and to have learnt a lot. The next event is the basket making group in July, followed by an art class in August.  

The ducks have been behaving strangely and wandering off a lot.  Unfortunately, the result of this is that one of the ducks and the drake have disappeared.  We are now left with a few hens and rather too many roosters!  

MAY

We receive visitors pretty much all year round to stay in the cottage but it is at this time of year that we start to get much more busy. We are looking forward to the arrival of our next visitors. 

In the meantime, we run occasional events here as we think that it is a nice location to learn, or share, a craft or skill.

In June, on Saturday 11th, Clive Lyttle of Welig Crafts will take a workshop in dry stone walling. Delicious lunch will be included. There a few places left on this course, so get in touch if you are interested.

A regular monthly basket making group is planned, starting in July.  If you are interested in coming along on Thursday July 21st, please let us know and we can arrange to have enough willow prepared for everyone: blackthorn.knowehead@gmail.com or ‘phone 07840245764

On Saturday, 7th May, there was a basketmaking course at Blackthorn Cottage with Penny McBride.  It was a very good day and some lovely baskets were made.