A fresh look at jam (and marmalade, and pickle)..............

We know how important a good breakfast is and what a joy the right sort of preserves can be. There is nothing quite as nice as rounding off a full Yorkshire breakfast with a slice of toast with a good topping. Whether it is a lovely, deep marmalade with good chunks of zingy peel to clear the palate or jewel like fruit conserves that taste of the fruit they are made of, there is nothing to beat it.

To date we have sourced preserves on an ad hoc basis using a mix of home made and locally made produce found at farmers markets and other outlets but keep coming back to the wares of Rosebud Preserves from Healey near Masham. Their jams are a delight and every time we put out their Rhubarb and Ginger or Gooseberry and Elderflower jams they are gone in the blink of an eye. This makes us think it is a good thing and we are not the only ones as the Gooseberry and Elderflower was a prestigious gold medal winner at the Great Taste Awards. As a result we have decided to use only homemade jam/marmalade or Rosebud Preserves.

My youngest is on work experience at Swinton Riding Centre at the moment which is only a scenic hop and a skip (including a very lovely ford to cross) from Healey so this morning found me at Rosebud Farm to collect our first order. Rosebud Preserves are housed in an old farm building in a lovely location looking over the Swinton Estate and they are very friendly and helpful indeed. It is always nice to see where our food is actually being produced and this visit was a joy. Squeaky clean, orderly, and with plenty of jam to go round I am delighted to be working with them as part of our commitment to giving our guests a great breakfast using locally produced ingredients. As soon as I got home I cracked open a pot of the Rhubarb and Ginger to pop on some toast for my breakfast.

They also do a fantastic line in savoury jellies and relishes so if you are enjoying an evening meal or packed lunch with us you are quite likely to see those appearing as well.

And for those of you who fall in love with the jam and marmalade we will always have a spare jar around for you to buy and take home with you. It will make a delicious reminder of your stay or a lovely gift for someone when you get home.

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Acts of random kindness ...............

We have notice recently that our American guests have been leaving books behind when they leave. I spoke to my friend about this and she tells me that this is quite a movement and she does similar things herself. It seems that people leave books in hotels, cafes, or (as my friend does) on trains for someone else to pick up and enjoy. This is an act of random kindness and quite nice to be on the receiving end of this type of bounty.

We encourage guests to read the books that we have available for them in the snug, but will also identify books left by other guests so they can make use of them or add to the pile if they so wish.

I am currently enjoying a Ruth Rendall mystery - I have not read any of hers and am finding myself getting involved in it. I can see why she is so popular and suspect I will be reading into the small hours to finish it once I get past half way.

So a kind thought to all the anonymous book donors out there wherever you are operating, and a well done for all acts of random kindness which are a true joy to either receive or deliver.

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Sheep shearing .............

This week has been particularly busy and it got busier when it became apparent that the weather was set fair and the sheep shearer, Andrew, could get to us.

So on Wednesday morning and 6.00am I was to be found trying to lure the sheep into the field shelter in readiness for their annual trim. Now sheep are not overly bright, but they can spot a change to routine and a desperate woman at 200 yards. Rambo, bless him, surrendered immediately and was happy to be locked in one bay of the shelter with a lovely bucket of feed. I managed to get 4 of the ewes and the lamb (who appears to have inherited his father’s love of food) into the other half but the remaining two were just too suspicious. By 7am I had had enough and needed take the dog out for a quick run and cook some breakfasts.

I pondered the situation and decided I needed the help of Chris and his retired sheepdog, Jess. Jess is never too impressed when she comes here – Ozzie is not particularly friendly towards her and then she gets set to work when it is clear she prefers the retirement option. Chris tells me that she is now very slow – well I would have loved to have seen her when she was at her fastest because she appears to be like lightning to me. As soon as the Dynamic Duo walked into the field the Reluctant Two suddenly seemed to realize that the game was up, but did try for a small starburst formation, more as a gesture of protest rather than a concerted effort at escape. The speed at which the experience of Chris and the natural talent of Jess resulted in cornered and penned sheep was amazing.

Andrew arrived and got to work. I am not sure if I am really a help or a hindrance to him but I was trying to assist as best I could. I did notice that my confidence in sheep handling has improved from last year and he took his time to show me the correct (and easy) way to handle and move them. He showed me how to get them down to the ground and then up into a position where I could work on them with both hands. Most of this took place using one sheep who was looking most confused by the time we had finished with her. He even encouraged me to try my hand at shearing and, I am proud to say, I did well for the bit I did. It is harder than an expert makes it look but I could see that experience is a big help – it is possible to rotate a sheep through a reasonable number of degrees just by raising the toes of one foot under them. I would never have worked that one out for myself.

So when you come to visit you will see handsome, happy, cool sheep who can really get to a scratch if they have one. Life looks considerably more comfortable for them and they can’t say it, but I can - thank you to Andrew, Chris and, of course, the lovely Jess.

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Seeing stars and kingfishers ..............

Apart from the rain, which is very welcome for the garden after our run of lovely weather, today has been quite an interesting one.

It started with the postman bringing our AA rating certificate for 2008-9 and we are pleased to say that we retain our 4 stars with a Highly Commended rating from them. It is always great to get recognition for what we do and to see that we rate in the top 10% of 4 star rated accommodation. Apart from giving us a bit of a boost these ratings are really good for guests because it does let you know what level of accommodation and service you are going to get. Together with our Silver Award from Visit Britain we are pleased that across the board our standard of service is well recognized.

Later on I went for a walk with Ozzie and, joy of joys, he did not disappear across the neighbouring fields in pursuit of rabbits but chose to stay with me for a change. I also saw both our kingfishers down at the lake which was a delight because I was there for about 10 minutes as they flew about and perched, seemingly just for my enjoyment. They are so beautiful and fast the first thing that tells me they are about is the sound of their wings beating the air as they fly. As we have two I am hopeful of babies this year.

Whilst I sat on my little bench on the slope above the lake watching the kingfishers, Ozzie decided to dig for rabbits. Now some of you will know that handsome and charming though he is, Ozzie is not always the brightest of chaps, and today was no exception. He was digging at a rabbit hole below me on the slope and, for a German Shepherd, he is a good and enthusiastic digger. He got so far down he had to tear out tree roots with his teeth so it was a major undertaking. However, he did complicate the matter by digging earth so vigorously it flew behind him and landed, some 10 feet below, in the lake. On hearing the splash he stopped digging and dashed down to the waters edge to see what had made the noise. Obviously there was nothing to see apart from the fading ripples. Disappointed he returned to digging only for more soil to land in the water, so back down the slope……. I am sure you get the picture and this went on for ages. I had to call and end to it as I was worried he could himself entertained all afternoon if I let him.

I also saw a jay make its way into the woods which was another first. I had heard one last year, but it was nice to see it in flight. I have also found where the deer have made nests in the long undergrowth so I am hoping we will see some fawns around as well. I will have to keep Ozzie on the lead in that area for the time being so he does not disturb them.

Above all else, the beauty of the countryside is breathtaking. We seem to have had the right combination of sun and rain to make everything burst into life. The trees are wearing many shades of green, the bluebells are giving over to new growth of bracken and the wild flowers are starting their colourful display. Added to this the fields are starting to green up and already some of our neighbours have got silage cut and have left their fields beautifully mown with the lovely stripey finish so beloved on a garden lawn.

Now is a great time for a break and we, together with all our animals both domestic and wild, will be happy to see you.

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An abundance of loveliness ......

I am really enjoying May so far.

The weather is bringing out all the best in the garden and surrounding countryside and I cannot count the number of shades of green that are visible from my window.

The lilac is blossoming as well as the hawthorn and rowan trees and the garden is holding promise of good things to come. I have been out, getting containers filled and trying to keep down the weeds which, sadly, are benefitting from the weather as much as the other plants.

For those who have been here in autumn you will well remember the bed of Chinese Lanterns at the side of the path - many of you went home with some plants in a carrier bag last year! I have now officially declared the bed over-run with them and has started to try and clear them out - and what a task that is! The root systems have to be seen to be believed and it is going to take many days to get to the bottom of it. I am not sure how my back will feel about it as a long term activity.

My florist delivered flowers for the house yesterday and I was delighted to receive an abundant armful of the most beautiful flowers. The lovely Dot at Simpsons Florists in Bedale takes my order in her stride - it is usually very vague. My requests must make her heart sink - cheap and cheerful, anything seasonal, I am fancying cream and green, nothing too pale, Christmas please and so on...... She rises to the occasion magnificently and for the last two weeks I have asked for blousy and cottage gardeny.
And on opening the wrappings I have released a riot of paeonies, stocks, carnations, alium, lilies and others that I cannot name. They grace the hall and dining room beautifully and I am grateful to the growers for their skill and Dot for her creativity which always exceeds my limited knowledge and vision. I am so inspired I am considering a cottage garden bed of my own (maybe a good replacement for all the Chinese lanterns) which would give the added benefit of providing some cut flowers to supplement Dot's endeavours.

We are forecast some rain, I understand, which will be good for the garden and hopefully we will then get some more lovely weather to keep the promise that nature has at the moment.

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