In the spotlight again...

They say things come in 3s.

Firstly it was very nice to be mentioned in an article in the Times by top travel writer Jill Starley-Grainger about Great British Breaks and features the Howardian Hills. Here Jill mentioned us in the Where to stay along with the Feversham Arms in Helmsley . The article read ...Or head over to Carr House Farm in Ampleforth ,a 16th century farmhouse with four-poster beds and flower filled gardens.

Secondly On Friday the Visit York Tourism Awards finalists were announced. We are lucky to have been selected as one of 4 finalists for the Best Bed and Breakfast.The other 3 businesses are in York itself so it will be head to head city versus Countryside.

Thirdly on Saturday Michelle Hurst from Lincolnshire who is the digital editor of the The Journal and the Grimsby Telegraph Saturday Guide mentioned me. With my other hat on as Anna Lupton PR and marketing I had arranged for Michelle to stay at the Fax. I also organised them to eat there and also at the White Swan in Ampleforth, one of our favourite local eating places, to which Michelle wrote" We were told by blogger Anna Lupton who runs award winning Carr House farm bed and breakfast at Ampleforth [ another on the to do list] that the food was very good and it absolutely was".

This week in the run up to Easter life will be no quieter here as the bees really do need to be attended to , we have a litter of Labrador pups due and I am going to be helping with 3 little granddaughters in their school holidays while daddy is busy on the farm. I have to go on a reeky to find the best primroses as the youngest one is 3. I think she will have more energy to walk over the fields than me she can certainly climb over a 5 bar gate quicker.

and maybe make some chocolate nest with little eggs in .

Treats from Bettys-

Bettys in Northallerton tea rooms is basking in the glory of being the very best tearoom in Great Britain. It has won the Tea Guide.s prestigious award of the Top Tea place for 2012. It is the highest accolade in the Tea World. And it serves 54.000 pots of tea a year. It is only half an hour from here and parking is easy so this is on the must do list of many of my guests.Forgive me if I will not be joining you for a cup of tea though, I hate the stuff.Cant even bear the smell of it,give me a glass of water any day. I do go in as they have wonderful Easter eggs as you will see in this window display and yummy cakes and tasty sandwiches.Biscuits are teh buttery sort that melt in your mouth. Bettys is rather an institute which I am lucky to have grown up with -minus the tea of course.

Happy Easter

What wonderful weather we are having.The animals are now enjoying being out in the fields. Late lambs and newly born calves are in the field next to the house. Birds are busy building their nests. With a little help of an electric mother -the incubator -these little ducklings have hatched out. Easter is very busy around here as lots of people go to Ampleforth Abbey for services.I have been busy in the garden as everything is springing into bud. The buddleia has been well cut back preparing for the summer when the butterflies are attracted to it. Happy Easter everyone and hope you enjoying your Easter eggs

Birdgate Chocolatiers of Pickering.....

Easter is just around the corner and as I was on my way to Scarborough I thougth I would pop into Chocolart . Chocolart has not only moved to bigger premises around the corner and is now at the top end of the market place in Pickering. It in a street called Bordgate and the man who owns it is called Mr Peacock.I am not one for change and was disappointed that they had left their quirky little shop on Smiddy Hill.This one is very smart and has some of the nicest wallpaper I have ever seen -with birds on it of course. These premises are bigger enough that customers will now be able to see chocolates made and their wonderful cakes been decorated. Here ou see Dawn the friendly assistant who came up with a cracking idea for an Easter egg -The goose that laid the golden egg. of which I got one for my Dad A chocolate goose on a chocolate stand with a small egg painted with gold at its feet. What a great idea. To place your order you need to ring -01751 477755. Around the corner from Mr Peacock is Cafe Cocoa, with other chocolate creations in the shape of a cafe serving delicious coffee and unrivalled Hot Chocolate besides cakes as delicious as lemon and pistachio battenburg or a more traditional Victoria sponge.