High Grange Life

Summer Time, The Mole Man and Other Country Happenings

2011-07-08T10:48:00.000-07:00

The sun is shining, the fields are starting to change colour again as the crops ripen and everywhere there are buntins, yellowhammers, goldfinches all looking for food to feed their young ones and the skylarks are singing their little heads off. What a wonderful place to live. We love it.

The moles have gone, we got the mole man in, he thought there may be up to 4 different moles around but he only caught 2. No sign of any new activity so hopefully that’s it, at least for a while. Apparently they work in 4 hour cycles, 4 hours sleep then 4 hours either hunting-finding the worms that drop down into their burrows, or working-extending their territory by digging more burrows. They also have worm pantries. They will bite the heads off the worms they find then store them in their worm pantries for leaner times. All very fascinating.

The Burneston Belles lunchtime treat was at The New Inn at Thrintoft. A lovely place tucked away down a quiet lane. We got a very friendly welcome and service throughout. A beautiful dining room with white linen tablecloths and napkins. A good choice of 8 dishes to choose from on the set menu and very reasonable prices. We all chose either the steak and mushroom pie at £6.95 or slow cooked shank of lamb at £8.95. It was a very good portion and so tasty. Accompanied by fresh veg and potatoes, followed by some of us with the best ever sticky toffee pudding. Website www.newinn-pub.co.uk

Ian and I took some time out and visited the Himalayan gardens and Sculpture park just outside Masham at Grewelthorpe. The first plantings were started in 1998 and it is evolving all the time with plants such as rhododendrums, azalias, magnolias, pieris, acers and camellias to name a few. Some of the paths are quite steep or with steep steps but there are plenty of benches to sit and take in the views and the sculptures really added interest to the day. There are also lakes with the clearest water. It is a spring garden only open between 22nd April and 12th June so I was pleased we managed to see it. On the way out we called at the café for tea and scrummy home-made scones.

I had my first bike ride of the year. We were out about an hour and 15minutes. Not as hard work as I thought it would be, so let’s hope for good weather every Tuesday evening so we can keep it up.

Hats and fascinators were at the ready for the ladies day at Ripon races. Around 40 of us met at the Green Dragon for Pimms before spending the day eating, drinking and counting the winnings, well we did win a little bit. We all had a wonderful day out as usual.

The Dales has been a brilliant series on a Monday evening, we will miss it now it has finished. It highlighted some wonderful places to visit and introduced us to some very special people. The Muker Show this year is on the 7th September. Worth a visit if only to spot Amanda and Clive and all their children who are real stars of the programme, and to see if she can win this years scone baking competition.

A few events to look forward to in July are North Yorkshire Moors Railway Vintage weekend, Newby Hall Historic vehicle rally, Great Yorkshire show Harrogate, Masham Steam Engine rally, and Bellerby scarecrow and open gardens.

Farriers cottage has had a freshen up in the bedrooms with a coat of paint and new carpets. We still have a few gaps in July and August so if you haven’t yet planned your hols and are looking for somewhere clean and comfortable and a great base to explore then give me a call.
Caroline

Naked Ladies, Nibbling Deer and Donkeys Pulling Carts

2011-06-02T12:30:00.000-07:00

Thoroughly enjoyed Calendar Girls showing at Darlington. A lovely small theatre and only about half an hours drive. It was a real giggle from the first minute and very cleverly done. The local pub provided its mini-bus for transporting us. They usually use it for their free service of Dine and Ride where they will pick you up and drop you back home if you pre-book with a meal. Must say the Sunday lunch for 15 of us a couple of weeks ago to celebrate a family engagement was excellent and very good value.

On our walks we are regularly seeing 2 deer in the field coming across to the pond for drinks and nibbles. The buzzard continues to harass the crows in the tree tops. Quite often there can be 4 or 5 surrounding him as they escort him away from their nests. New additions in an adjacent field are 2 beautiful foals whose Mums aren’t quite ready to let them venture too near the fence to say Hello.

Closer to home (too close) the moles are still managing to outsmart us popping up the length of the flower border in the garden and spilling out onto the lawn. Grrrr. The lawn is definitely greening up with less dandelions though the weed and feed we used worked a lot better second time around after Ian read the instructions and applied the correct amount.

As the fencing needs some attention in the paddock and and we had too many escapees last year we have not accommodated the usual sheep and lambs. Instead Ian has kept the edge of the field cut short so is ideal for a stroll with or without a dog. Also the donkeys who live next door have been using it to practise pulling their cart.

On walking round we have discovered a couple of fantastic viewpoints where we intend to place a bench so everyone can enjoy it.
We have a quiet week or so which has given us chance to freshen up the paintwork in Granary cottage and some outside walls. We have placed new sofas in the Farmhouse, Orchard and Ploughmans cottages. And i have got the tomato plants in the greenhouse, some peas, beans and carrots in the veg plot and the flower troughs planted up. The courtyard looks fabulous after an afternoon with the hedge trimmer.

Another Bank Holiday coming up with lots going on. A war weekend in Northallerton in June and a chance to get dressed up for the ladies day at Ripon races. We always have a fantastic day, looking forward to it.

Caroline

Spring Time, Unwanted Wildlife, Sunshine and Fish and Chips

2011-04-28T13:51:00.000-07:00

The lambs are a delight in the surrounding fields and the hedgerows and trees are alive with blossom everywhere. Orange tipped butterflies have been spotted and the woodpecker is back. What a welcome sight, we haven’t seen him since the very cold spell back in Nov/Dec. Now he is visiting the bird tables regularly and you can hear him hammering in the trees nearby. We are also seeing some sort of large bird of prey but not sure what it is. Quite large, much, much bigger than a kestrel. We have heard there is a buzzard on the Raf Leeming site so assume this is what it is. Of course never have the binoculars to hand when needed.

ITV The Dales continues to be well worth watching on a Monday evening showing the Wensleydale Railway, and Bolton Castle, Leyburn and lots more. You can watch episodes by going to http://www.itv.com/itvplayer/

Ian is busy keeping on top of the grass cutting, strimming etc. everything seems to be growing by the minute. The hedges and shrubs are down for a trim next week.

We are having a battle with dandelions and moles. A weed and feed solution has been sprinkled on the lawn with a promise of a dramatic recovery in 7 days. Mole traps have been tried. Also a tube that vibrates and even moth balls, all without success but we won’t give up just yet. All tips are welcome.

What fantastic weather we have had over Easter, though we did have a ride over to Filey for fish and chips on Good Friday and you could not see the sea for the fog. Glad to get back home to the sunshine.

We had a lovely walk from Reeth over the swing bridge and round to Grinton which took about an hour. We resisted the temptation for a pint at the Bridge Inn but did enjoy an ice-cream on the green and had a wander around the quirky shops. Reeth is a beautiful village in the heart of Swaledale set around a large village green with lots of walks and a place to hire bikes. Somewhere we visit often, the journey over the moors from Leyburn is wonderful and the grouse are easy to spot.

Royal wedding fever is setting in. With 3 changeovers I hope we can get started earlier to time it right to watch the TV for the big event. The local pub is putting on a garden party with entertainment all afternoon and evening.

Well at least it’s an excuse to have a good time and an extra long Bank Holiday weekend.

Accommodating A Black Sheep In A Brewery

2011-03-30T12:40:00.000-07:00

Hello from sunny Bedale.

Ian has got the grass cut and the gardens tidied. Plans are afoot to chop down the conifers in the courtyard and rethink the area outside orchard cottage.

We have now had 3 weekends full in the farmhouse since the refurb and everyone loves it as you will see if you check out the reviews on trip-advisor http://goo.gl/ODaw We are always thrilled to have such good feedback which has up to now just been through the guest visitor books we leave in each cottage. I must say it seems like a big step and a nerve-racking one to join the world wide web for all to see. We enjoy what we do and we hope it shows.

We have also been busy with the other cottages with our regular customers returning and newcomers already planning their next visit.

This week we attended a familiarisation day at the Black Sheep Brewery in Masham. The idea being to share our experience and to recommend the attraction to our customers. We had a lovely time

meeting other accommodation providers from the local area and Harrogate and York. After a presentation and an interesting yet shortened tour of the brewery with a knowledgeable guide, we were treated to a very substantial lunch. Beef casserole, cooked in Riggwelter beer brewed on site, served with mashed potato and fresh veg, followed by apple pie with wensleydale cheese and washed down with a half pint of any of the 4 cask ales. Our choice of the Golden Sheep was a good one. We bought some chutney from the sheepy shop before leaving with a goody bag and a promise to return soon. They have a very informative and fun website with a list of events covering most months of the year www.blacksheepbrewery.com Ideal as a wet weather afternoon visit or make a day of it by following one of various walks available from the shop and starting at the brewery car-park. Oh and don’t miss the view from the ladies toilet window.

The new series on the Yorkshire Dales Monday 8pm ITV 1 promises to be a winner and well worth a look.

Looking ahead we have Mother’s day and Easter to look forward to as well as the start of the agricultural shows especially the Great Yorkshire Show in Harrogate 12th to 14th of July.

Enjoy the extra daylight hours.

Caroline

The Coming of Spring and The Going of The Work Men

2011-03-13T06:26:00.000-07:00

The days are getting longer and are slowly warming up, with just the odd frosty morning to remind us that winter is not quite over yet. The birds are singing and the daffodils are poised ready for their welcoming splash of colour. The hares are running in the field and Ellie still thinks she can catch them. She forgets she is only a little dog.

The farmhouse is nearly ready. The decorator has finished and the carpets are laid. The scaffolding has all gone to reveal a very different looking house. We have been busy wi

th cleaning, cleaning and more cleaning as well as buying new light fittings, cushions etc. It seems never ending and I must admit panic did set in a little bit this last week, but it has all being worthwhile as we see it coming together. Amazing really what a couple of months work can achieve. It was the 5th of January when we started emptying the house ready for work to start and our first customers arrive on Friday the 11th of March.

The 'Visit Britain' assessor/inspector called to check that standards were still up to 4 star levels. Of course she was pleased to see all the on-going improvements we have made since she was here a year ago and gladly gave us our 4 stars.

Once a month I meet up with some local ladies called the Burneston Belles or ‘Ladies that Lunch’ if you like. We visit local eateries and February was the turn of the Fox and Hounds in Carthorpe. Actually we were there December and January as it is not far to travel if the weather turns nasty. It is a family run pub with friendly staff where nothing is too much trouble. The food is always excellent with a set menu served Mon to Thur 2 courses for £14.95 or 3 courses £16.95 including evenings. Al-a-carte is also available with an extensive specials board using seasonal local produce. An enjoyable couple of hours was spent catching up with the girls and Coffee was served with freshly made shortbread and truffles. A score of 10 out of 10 was given. I might drop a hint to the boys for a Mother’s Day treat.

We visited our son and girlfriend as they settled in their new house in Newcastle. It took just under an hour passing the Angel of the North on the way, which never ceases to amaze us. Last year we actually parked up and walked around it. Definitely a worthwhile stop.

Well I think Ian will be cutting the grass before too long, as the gardens beckon to be tidied and brought back to life after the harsh winter weather. Looking forward to visiting Constable Burton Hall to see the daffodil displays from the 12th of March.

Never know we might even get away for a few days.

Caroline

Antiques, Elvis, Richmond Ice Cream and Continuing Renovations

2011-02-02T12:47:00.000-08:00

Hello from wonderful Bedale.

We have seen some sunshine this week which is always nice. Walking Ellie the dog around the fields neighbouring us has been a pleasure not to mention it helping with the New Year’s keep fit resolution. The pond has been frozen some mornings which doesn’t suit the ducks and I think I am seeing flocks of redwings on the hedges most mornings, along with long tailed tits and the usual chaffinches, blue tits and the robins. Yesterday I saw a little owl sitting in a bush which was a real treat.

The usually quiet month of January ended up being busy with last minute bookings from families whose homes unfortunately had been flooded with burst pipes. At least we were able to offer them a warm and comfortable place to stay for a week or so while things were sorted.

Did you see the Antiques Road Trip on Wednesday? They were filming from Middleham, Masham, Hawes, and the auction rooms at Bedale where our local landlord was spotted.
‘Mike Memphis as Elvis’ performed last week at the Green Dragon just down the road. Everyone had a great night. It is always a worry that it won’t be the same the second time around but with different songs and costumes it was a great show.

Things are moving along nicely in the farmhouse. All the windows are now in, most of the plastering is done, the bathroom and kitchen are progressing nicely and all the pebbledash render has been chipped off of the outside. It looks lovely with the brickwork exposed but unfortunately they are in too much of a bad way to keep them on show and so the new render should start to go on this week.

It still looks a mess but it will all come together quite quickly… I think. I am absolutely refusing not to panic at the moment; we’ll see what happens in a couple of weeks.

We visited the lovely town of Richmond for a Sunday stroll and Parked in the station car park where it was a bit chilly for ice-cream though they did look yummy. We took note of the times for the pictures where The Kings Speech is playing and wandered up to the town, taking in the castle and the waterfalls. It is a beautiful town and part of the coast to coast walk which is on my list of things to do.

Maybe one day.

Caroline

Farm House Refurbishment

2011-01-20T11:35:00.000-08:00

Well here goes, my first ever blog. Please bear with me; it is all a bit scary.

I can’t believe we are nearly half way through January already. It has warmed up thank goodness; we had a bit of a panic with the water frozen in most of the cottages when we were getting them ready for the Christmas week. But electric heaters up in the loft spaces to thaw out the pipes meant that we eventually managed to get all but one up and running in time. It all worked out in the end and a good time was had by all over the Christmas and New Year.

After removing the Christmas trees from all the cottages we set about emptying the farmhouse ready for the workmen to start an exciting refurbishment which will include a new kitchen, bathroom, carpets, decorating etc. as well as the re-rendering and painting of the outside. The snow returned for a day or two as the old kitchen filled the patio area before being taken away in a skip along with the ceiling of the lounge which was in a bad way under the wallpaper.

Although still looking very much like a bomb site things are starting to come together: the wall is up for the new walk in wet room style shower, the ceilings in the bathroom and kitchen have been skimmed and it is now not possible to see through to the bedroom from the lounge. We spent the weekend looking at tiles and carpets, which I always enjoy but Ian is never quite as enthusiastic about.

I am looking forward to what the next week brings.

Caroline