The mud and gloom of the melt phase after the snow has moved on and we are enjoying cold but crisp and bright days with astonishingly blue skies.  The nights ...........   .......... are clear with stars shining out with all their might and the full moon is a bright as day.  I took the dogs for a night walk through the woods this week and, despite my daughter assuring me it would be scary, I found it magical in the stunning, monochrome, way of illusion and artifice where light and shadow are crucial in blurring between reality and illusion.  I nearly felt a fairy story coming on and really understood how folk tales could grow from this sort of environment.  The dogs were delighted, of course, to have a bonus walk and (I know I have commented on this before) but I never tire of watching Ozzie moving in the moonlight.  For those who have not met him he is a pure black German Shepherd and in the moonlight his glossy coat shimmers and flows like an oil slick on water as he moves .  He is mesmerising and Sam, the Springer Spaniel appears and disappears as his patchy coat melds with the shadows and pools of light.  Those two alone could be the inspiration for the magical creatures of the night.

During the day I have been starting to get the horses back into a stricter regime and getting them back into work.  I spent a lovely half hour yesterday tidying Bentley's mane in the sunshine as he dozed with his rug off, the cool air and sunlight on his back after a long winter under a rug.  I am looking at Bracken's mane and anticipating two longer sessions for her - she is looking a very wild and woolly pony at the moment.  The garden also needs attention after being buried in snow for so long and I am looking forward to getting that under control before the spring really arrives.  That will not be so far away now as I see buds on trees and bulbs starting to break the surface.

Guests too are loving this type of winter weather, as Phylis said of her stay this week " The views from Room 1 are very picturesque  - particularly on a cold frosty morning."  And I am looking across to Penn Hill and knowing that the views will be spectacular from there at the moment as the days are so, so clear and bright.  Our hearty breakfasts are most welcome and a great start to a cold day whether you are working, walking or just touring.  Phylis, again said " The Yorkshire breakfast was freshly cooked which made a pleasant change from a 'hot' buffet style breakfast. "  Other guests have commented in our visitor book on how warm the house is, how warm the welcome is and how great the food is. (see our Guestbook for some examples).

Winter or summer North Yorkshire has a great deal to offer our guests and we look forward to greeting you.