Devon County Show 2016

Warning – long post, picture rich.

On Thursday it was my hubby’s birthday and we went to the County Show. We missed it last year because I was ill and I really did miss it! I love going, and it was great to go again this year and get my “fix.” This year was the first time we’d taken my small buggy, which goes in the car – this made life a lot easier for both of us because even with power assist on my wheelchair, it is still pretty tiring propelling myself all day, and on previous occasions when we’ve gone, the battery has run out before the end and my poor hubby had to push me all the way back up the hill to the car park! This year I just sat there and moved around in comfort and there was still battery power to spare at the end. It was great.

Even though I was able to get around with very little effort, yesterday I suffered severe payback and had to crash out and rest – there was a great deal of mental stimulation. However, it was worth every minute and today (Saturday) I have been feeling better again and have been able to catch up with a few things at home.

As usual I took tons of photos at the show, so fasten your seatbelts and prepare for the ride!!

As usual there were lots of stands run by companies and individuals, displaying and selling their products and services, including this one, supplying bespoke wooden furniture and joinery. Gorgeous four-poster bed, and I do like that spiral staircase!

The man with the Russian dolls was there again. He said his wife is Russian, and they import the genuine article – not just the beautiful matryoshka nesting dolls, but also painted boxes and other artefacts. Aren’t the colours just gorgeous!

As usual, the blacksmiths were there in force, and you could hear their hammers from some distance away! Alongside the forges was a tent with the ironwork display. Here are some of my favourite pieces in the collection this year.

I thought something along the lines of this design could be cut in paper. I love the different colours of the metals, and the fact that the trees overlap one another.

Outside this display tent was this incredible life-sized bull made entirely from wire!

A collection of garden pavilions, all very pretty.

A participant in the equestrian events.

Magnificent bulls.

The angora goats, which produce mohair.

What magnificent horns!

The Corrymoor Socks stand. Corrymoor are there every year with their prize-winning flock of angora goats, and they make socks from the mohair. I have been wearing these socks for years, and have a whole drawer-full of them in different colours. I think they are the best socks in the world – warm in winter, cool in summer – they wash extremely well and I haven’t worn a pair out yet. I showed the lady on the stand my green Corrymoors that I had on, and sang their praises, and another visitor to the stand said that once you’ve worn Corrymoors, you never want to wear anything else!!

Jan Tillett on her stand with her textile arts.

At the show, I always love to see the very serious farmers in their spotless white coats, showing their cattle and other animals.

In the large tent with the angora goats, we also found these Gotland sheep.

The Gotland stand had beautiful fleeces which were incredibly soft to the touch.

A display of beautiful lacy knitting which looked as if it had been made from hand-spun wool.

Jazz band.

The fish finger stand where we got our lunch. These were very posh fish fingers in a bread roll – with mine I had green peas mashed with fresh coriander and lime juice, with some tartare sauce on top – a winning combination!

Wood-burning pizza oven.

We met this lady on her funky buggy and I suffered from buggy envy! An all-terrain heavy duty job in army khaki – it turned a lot of heads!

Spa baths. I’ve always fancied one of these…

…especially if one could have one looking like this.

The entrance to the Young Farmers’ tent. Note the wooden cut-out sheep.

Samples of silage being judged! I think I’ve seen everything now…

Around the walls was a series of cube-shaped boxes containing displays by the young farmers.

“Home Sweet Home.”

Dartmoor. Note the clapper bridge. These are very ancient stone bridges on the moor, many of which are still intact.

Another clapper bridge, this time with real water flowing underneath it!

“Oh I do like to be beside the seaside.” A favourite theme of mine.

“On the Farm.”

Another seaside-themed display.

Outside again – the stand for South West Seeds, which included the display in the foreground, of wild flowers.

Denis the Dustcart, a regular feature of the show.

A display of cars.

A stand showing high-quality chicken coops and other animal houses. I particularly liked the hen house with the proper roof and window box!

The egg lady! I was delighted to find her again, in the craft tent. I always love looking at these exquisite decorated eggs.

This was a very unusual one. It is beautiful on its tall slender stand.

It contains a surprise! Not only does it open, but it opens in two stages.

More eggs.

This pink rose egg was particularly lovely.

On to the felting stand. I loved these soft pastel-coloured felt pebbles.

Lace making.

Two years ago I was intrigued and delighted by the Bonsire display. These are miniature bonsai trees made entirely from wire. I took a lot of photos last time but the camera was playing up and nearly every one was out of focus, so I was hoping for better results this time.

He said he got his rocks from tropical fish suppliers.

A display of fitted kitchens. I love this blue one.

In the large craft tent, there were crafts at one end, and a large tea area in the middle, where we decided my hubby needed a break – sauntering around can get very tiring – it was fine for me as I was sitting down all the time! We sat and had a nice cup of tea and at this point the rain started, but by the time we went out again it had more or less stopped so we hardly got wet at all. We were very fortunate with the weather, and the two days following our visit did not have such good weather.

At the other end of the tent was the floral display. Many nurseries and garden centres had set up beautiful displays, and there was also a flower arranging competition. Although I am what my hubby calls a “plonker” – yes, I know, how rude!! – what he means is, when it comes to flower arranging, I just “plonk” them in the vase and that’s it! – I’ve no patience with it – but I always greatly admire the work of others, especially when it is to as high a standard as this.

Lovely cactus display, with many of the plants in flower. I love the lettering on their sign!

A white flower arrangement.

Another beautiful white one.

White roses.

A spiral arrangement. As you can see, some of these arrangements are quite large.

One of my favourites – inspired by an artist’s palette.

A tiny garden with a water feature.

Bird of paradise display.

A garden layout with winding paths.

Beautiful dahlias.

A display on the theme of “The Hungry Caterpillar,” a popular children’s book.

What the hungry caterpillar eventually turned into!

A display of Japanese maples.

Baskets of mini-roses.

More roses.

Coming out again, we found these unusual sculptural spoon-shaped seats which intrigued me.

A miniature pony with her even more miniature foal.

A display of funky industrial lighting. This style is very popular at the moment.

Heavy horses pulling agricultural machinery.

Carriage driving. I didn’t sit and watch this this year as it was a bit wet. Lovely to see it, though – like many things at the show, this is the only time one gets to see them!

I liked the way they created an arched entrance into this area full of agricultural machinery.

Battle re-enactment buffs.

That just about wraps it up for our visit to the County Show this year. Here are some of my purchases. I decided to invest in a new set of kitchen knives, and these Swiss ones come complete with their own individual knife-sheaths. In the foreground are three kitchen gadgets I bought on the same stand – extremely well designed and I am sure I will find them easier to use than my current ones.

I hope you have enjoyed your virtual tour around the Devon County Show. There were lots of things we missed but there’s just too much to do in a single day!