We are lucky enough to live just about a 30 minute drive away from Park Farm, the River Cottage hq. So, last weekend, when they were holding the first of this year's open days - Get Growing in Spring - we went along. It was glorious weather, thank goodness, as I'm not sure it would have been much fun if it were cold and/or wet.When you arrive, you park at the top of the hill and have the option of walking down into the valley where the farm is situated or taking a tractor/trailer down.
Hubby, DC and I decided to walk while Granny (clutching all of the detritus that seems to accompany a trip out with a toddler [Buzz Lightyear, a doll's pram for the teddy bear, and who knows what else]) took the tractor.
Our first stop was a stall selling homemade jams and chutneys; DC was particularly taken with the Damson and Sloe jam, so much so that we had to buy a couple of jars to make up for the amount he 'tested'. Just across the way was a big marquee in which talks were taking place; much as we would have liked to listen to Gil the chef and/or John the foraging expert, we didn' think DC would sit still long enough, nor did we want to lumber Granny with him for half an hour at a time in an unknown place.Next stop was the Produce Exchange. Hubby took along six jars of his homemade chutney which, with elbows sharpened, our wits about us and DC left with Granny, we managed to exchange a little later for 4 jars of assorted jams and some strawberry plants; this was quite a result as we are very low on homemade jam (down to the last jar in fact), while the chutney cupboard still runneth over.
Then we headed for the kitchen garden, which you always see featured in the TV programme. I somehow managed to not take any photos, but it's strangely much smaller in real life that it seems on the TV. Anyway, the main reason for stopping by was that this was where the tea, coffee and cake stall was set up, and I enjoyed a fantastic piece of lemon drizzle cake (which was so good I had to buy another piece to eat later...), while we sat and relaxed in the sun. Until DC got bored and he and I went to look at the chickens. Unfortunately, being used to having chickens of his own and being able to go into their pen to check for eggs, poor old DC was a bit frustrated at not being allowed to do the same at River Cottage. All I can say is, thank goodness they'd turned the electric fence off; although perhaps he'd have got the message sooner about not going in the pen if they hadn't...
Then it was off along the path
(Compare to the last time we were here in June 2010 when DC had just started walking - awww!)
and over the bridge to the entertainment area where we sat on bales of straw and listened to some great music (and watched DC getting closer
and closer 
to the poor singers...) outside the new events marquee (erected hastily after the events barn burnt down recently.)By this time, DC was starting to flag so we decided it was time to make a move and we hitched a lift on the tractor/trailer back up the hill
(Again, here he is in June 2010 - same gormless expression...)
And, since we were in the area, it seemed a shame not to drive a little further along the coast to lovely Abbotsbury to visit our friends R&G at the wonderful Lazyhill Gallery, and to enjoy a spot of lunch at Abbey House. For some reason I only managed to take a couple of photos of the church as we walked from the gallery through to Abbey House.
But here are a couple of snaps taken on other visits to the village, including this one of St Catherine's Chapel from the churchyard
and this one which shows the view from the garden of Abbey House (where marvellous crab sandwiches can be enjoyed.)
Not too shabby, eh?
All in all, a very pleasant day out indeed.
Farewell to the view from my childhood bedroom window (although the sports centre wasn't there when I was growing up.)
Farewell to the enormous extension that Dad built.
And to the kitchen that Dad fitted.
Our Darling Child turned three yesterday. Three! How time flies. Here he is on the day he was born (the first day of Spring, which is kind of nice.) 
And here is is yesterday, being all three and grown up.
As is customary, Daddy made his birthday cake. This year's theme was Buzz Lightyear. You can just about see the small Buzz figure at the top of the rocket.
DC was overwhelmed with presents and cards, so much so that he hasn't opened them all yet, so the excitement can continue this evening when he gets home from nursery. 
Since Buzz Lightyear (and Toy Story in general) is an ongoing obsession with him, when he started opening his presents yesterday he would hold each package up and ask 'Has it got Buzz in it?', which is an advance on Christmas when he asked of each gift, 'Has it got chocolate in it?' 
Looks rather lovely, doesn't it? If you like books, and especially if you like cosy crime as the top and bottom shelves are full of such delights. Many of these books have been with me for quite some time, but they keep getting supplanted by more recent purchases.
Look, there are more books lurking underneath.
A double-width, precarious issue in fact.
According to hubby there are approximately ten boxes in the garage stuffed full of my 'read' books. Something tells me it's time to build that Library Wing we've been talking about...
Hubby had taken DC there for a few weeks back for a little outing while I was trying to catch up on some work; he knew it was exactly my kind of place and was very keen to take me along next time. And he was so very right.
Beer is a working fishing village with a main street lined with lovely little shops, cafes, galleries, and a pub. There's a little stream running down one side of the road, which has been incorporated into the pavement really nicely. DC was very taken with this, bending down and peering in (with me hovering nearby in case he decided he needed a much closer look.) 'Look, water!' he kept saying.
We spent quite a while sitting on the beach, throwing stones in the water and eating bacon sarnies from the bakery on the high street, all the while basking in the fabulously warm sun (quite a surprise for the beginning of March.)
When DC started getting wriggling and our bottoms were aching a little from the damp pebbles, we headed back up to the shops for a little look round. Just off the beach there was a stall selling freshly-caught fish and shellfish; I so wanted to buy some scallops but as hubby reminded me, they'd be sitting in the car for the rest of the day so it might not be a good idea. Maybe next time. 
By this time, DC was getting a bit tired so we popped him in his pram and had a bit more of a leisurely stroll up and down the high street before heading back to the car and driving further along the coast and into Dorset - it's amazing how we can rack up the counties! Next stop: Lyme Regis.
Hubby was very restrained and just had a couple of cups of tea, but I went the whole hog and ordered the PB&J Sundae - vanilla and honeycomb icecreams, peanut butter sauce, toffee sauce, strawberry sauce, whipped cream and pieces of Dime Bar. What's not to love?!
Every time we walk along the prom we (mostly me?!) ooh and ahh over the beach huts. I always say to hubby 'We should buy a beach hut.' Wouldn't it be wonderful to have a little bolthole down here where we could make hot drinks on the primus, or fry some sausages and bacon for breakfast?! Some of the privately-owned huts are decked out with vintage bits and bobs, while others lean more towards the Cath Kidston school of decor; we always like to have a bit of a nosey (hubby is a little more blatant with his nosing than me, so he could probably tell you much more about the insides of the huts than I could.)
The council-owned beach huts can be rented by the day, week, month or season; they start at a very reasonable £2.50 a day in January and February, rising to a £14 a day during the school holidays in July and August. The notice at the end of the row of beach huts proclaims that they are already fully booked for the summer season - looks like you have to get in early if you want to bag yourself a seafront spot!
