The Eden project is one of Cornwall’s greatest attractions and all year round there are many things to see and do…During the winter months as night descends seeing the domes lit up is an amazing sight, and why not have a go ice skating too ?!

A Time of Gifts November 2 – February 12 Enter the enchanting world of Eden’s Time of Gifts. We hope you’ll join us in celebrating, sharing and giving thanks during this special time of year. Bring family and friends and share the gift of memories, laughter, love and just spending time with each other. Take part in skating, singing, lantern processions and storytelling – its all happening. All about A Time of Gifts.

You’ll love our magical ice rink Ours is the most festive ice rink around, but don’t just take our word for it, come and see for yourself. It’s set in an enchanted winter forest, has very friendly ice stewards, and this year we’re putting on extra special activities such as skating lessons, curling (a sort of bowls on ice), under 5s ice playtime and student sessions. Pull on your winter warmers, get your skates on – and all those other clichés – bring out the Christmas clichés we say. Here’s everything you need to know about ice skating at Eden.

For music and art lovers Friday November 6 Our monthly Arts Café features live drum + bass from DJ v The Drummer. Plus UK slam champion Dizraeli and The Small Gods and resident DJs Jelly Jazz. Saturday November 14 The Cape Farewell winter residency launches with the première of Beth Derbyshire’s live performance and film work, Anthem. Full music and arts listings and how to book

Our life before Tredarrup was one far removed from holiday cottages and cattle ownership.    We love our cattle and watching our new claves is an absolute joy but with those great moments there are unfortunately those not so good.  Anyone that has read our previous posts will know that we were expecting four calves this year at Tredarrup, the third – Biscuit – arrived on Sunday but unfortunately as a result mum, Nina, came down with milk fever, which can happen in older cows (Nina is 15) and is especially common in dairy cattle.  The vet came out we did everything and she is now in the shed although still poorly with possible pneumonia but still looking after Biscuit. 
Well Wednesday was a day that for us took animal ownership to its limits yet again as the other older cow, Nancy (8) started to show the early stages of milk fever, we gave her extra calcium, checked the unborn calf was OK and brought her up to the shed with the vet saying she should calf within six hours.  But when the time came she had problems and we had to help with delivering the calf but sadly the calf did not survive too stressed by the labour – devastating.  And, so the expression goes – “If you have Livestock you have dead stock”.  A phrase that every farmer tells you however hard it is to understand and one that never gets any easier although we have had to deal with it over our years of cattle ownership.
If anyone had ever told me that one day I would have to deal with situations like this, I could never of imagined it, and can I say my life is better for it I think yes…
So when you buy beef or drink milk, just think what it takes to make that possible… Like humans, cows are pregnant for nine months and for dairy cattle to keep producing milk they have to calve ever year and beef cattle have to breed to supply us with the meat we eat so spare a thought for what some of those animals have to go through for us…it is our responsibility as both meat eaters and milk drinkers…

If you are visiting over the winter months and going to Padstow – which most people do - worth trying is the Custard Diner…here are some of their offers…   

During November we’re going to be supporting the Fishermen’s Mission.
Tuesday- Saturday Lunchtime and Tuesday- Thursday Evening, we will be offering 3 courses for £15, £2 of which will be donated to the Mission. For more details of the work they do please go to their website www.fishermensmisson.org.uk
On Wednesday the 25^th November we are hosting binTwo’s annual wine tasting event. 4-8pm Entry is free. New for this year following the wine tasting will be a three course dinner for £18.50 or two courses for £15.50 (an optional donation of £2.50 will be added pp for the fisherman’s mission). 
Sunday roast is proving very popular. Book in advance to avoid disappointment! For parties of 12 or more they offer a whole roast suckling pig- Bookings only 
Fantastic full Cornish breakfast, sublime smoked salmon or a beautiful bacon sarnie! We open at 9am and last orders are at 11am…… see you there!
Padstow Christmas festival 4-6th December 2009- plenty to do, £15 lunches!Custard is closing for a month starting 11th January 2010 and reopens on February 10th… collect their Times ‘eat out’ vouchers for when they re-open, right up until the end of April!

As promised some more pictures of our three calves so far…..we are still waiting on the 4th as Nancy needed a bit of help this morning with the possibility of the start of milk fever, she is now up in the shed with Nina and Biscuit, warm and dry and her calf should come today.

Biscuit snug in the shed

Full of fun in the field, Betty - Arabella's calf on left, and Alice's calf on the right.

A good time of year to visit….latest winter offers at Rick Stein’s cafe and fish and chips….. 

 Moules night at the café

Thursday evenings at Rick Stein’s Café is moules night. Canapé of mussels to start then choose from a selection of dishes including mussels with black beans, garlic and ginger, moules marinière and mussels with chilli, tomato and parsley among others, all served with thin cut chips. Enjoy with either a glass of house red or white wine or alternatively a bottle of Chalky’s Bark for £13.75.

For more information or to make a reservation, call reservations team on 01841 532700.

*Available from Thursday 5th November – exclusions dates will apply, please visit the website or ask for details.

Stein’s Fish & Chips

Popular winter offer is back: cod & chips, bread & butter and a cup of tea for £6.50 or opt for a half pint of Chalky’s Bark for £7.65.

Available from Monday 2nd November 2009 until Thursday 25th March 2010..

(Excludes 20th Dec 09 – 4th Jan 10 & 13th – 21st Feb 10. Offer may change without prior notice)

For more winter restaurant offers see our FOOD posts of Oct 27th and Sept 10th.

How so very often days (and life!) don’t always go as planned – and yesterday was one of those days, not the quiet one we had expected.  Saturday saw the arrival of our latest calf, Biscuit (it’s a girl) but on Sunday when we checked on Mum, Nina – who is 15 – she was not looking good.  So we called out the vet and the diagnosis was milk fever…we administered all that was needed, calcium etc, we held her head, stroked her, covered her in blankets to keep her warm and a tarpaulin to keep her dry (a special kind of raincoat) and put Biscuit in the shed to keep her safe. Biscuit needed some food in the meantime at just a day old, so we enlisted Alice our young cow who can always be tempted with a bucket of feed – tried to milk her, dead loss, so instead we let Biscuit have a go herself…..result!!!  Then after more calcium and a couple more hours Nina was up and looking for her calf.  Reunited in the shed, eating and drinking, looking much better and feeding Biscuit.  A fantastic reward and total joy after a very tough day - far removed from our life before Cornwall – and a few vodkas helped!!  Still looking better today all is crossed that Nina will fully recover and Biscuit be fit and strong and although it will be her last calf she’ll live happily for many more years with the rest of the herd and watch Biscuit carry on her breeding line .

All three mums - from left Arabella with Betty, Nina and her new calf, Alice and her calf

This morning saw the arrival of the third of our calves to Nina the oldest of our cows…and it’s a red one, the first we have had after two years with a red bull.  Too early to tell if male or female especially as Nina too stroppy to get near (cows with very young calves can be dangerous)but we think it may be female which would be nice as Nina is now 15 so would be lovely if had a heifer calf to carry on the line…and she’s always had boys..but we’ll wait and see.  So for now a picture gallery…and just Nancy’s calf yet to come.  

Nina's calf off for a wander

Bit wobbly on my legs..

With mum, it's definitely red...

Pumpkins a plenty at this time of year……a great variety of all shapes and sizes which reminds me of a Mr Upton in Slindon, West Sussex (nowhere near Cornwall I know!!!). 

Mr Upton's great pumpkins

 It was the best place to visit at this time of year with more pumpkins than you could imagine plenty to choose from for your Halloween lantern’s and pumpkin recipes…   So tonight my baking for our weekend visitors were to be pumpkin cakes…so if you are stuck for some ideas when scooping out your pumpkins for those lanterns here goes….Riverford pumpkin cakes   Abel & Cole pumpkin ideas

And lastly a great easy recipe from Moosewood Cookbook for pumpkin pie….  Enjoy

Faultless pumpkin pie

November and December are still great months to visit Cornwall, kick back relax, get away from it all with a reviving short beak – or longer, enjoy some stunning coastal or moorland walks , evenings by the fire and good food.  Check out our availability and why not try the latest offer from Jamie Oliver’s Fifteen Cornwall, great place for a leisurely lunch starring out to sea, followed by walk along the beach….ENJOY !!!!

Wild Cornwall Three course lunch for just £19.50 2nd November – 18th December Monday – Friday.
The days are getting shorter and the temperature is plummeting but at Fifteen Cornwall we’re really happy because autumn is one of our favourite seasons. It’s a time when nature gives us loads to get excited about so we’re going wild! Our Wild Cornwall menu will feature all kinds of wild local game, beautiful fish and lovely plants and vegetables – all from the seas, moorlands and coasts of Cornwall!
To make a reservation call 01637 861000 or book online

Also check out Rick Stein offers in Tredarrup Food Finder Post of 10th September