Byland Abbey Memories

A day of apprecation of my surroundings and the memories, we made when I rode out with Jack many moons ago. Jacks Dad ,Charlie, was riding out then too .He was 76 when he hung his stirrups up. Is it the time of year as the clocks go back,the nights pull in and the sights of atmospheric sights like this of Byland Abbey I took yesterday, makes me refelect on life as it was nearly 50 years ago .The views are the same ,the seasons unfurl abeit sometimes they just dont quite fit the pattern they did back then. We have some amazing sights at the moment of the leaves changing colour. The patchwork of fields turning brown as the farmers work well into the night, trying to beat the weather and get their winter crops in. Some are sprouting green as you see the straight drill marks that have planted seeds for next years harvest. As the daylight hours shorten, there is more chance of seeing the Northern Lights. And of course you can breakfast by the fire when you come to stay with us. Oh so beautiful , Majestically stood alone in the mist. The monks have departed and so have their flock, Apart from the pheasants and occasion woodcock. At night ,an owl will weave the ground Looking for a mouse, he looks keenly down. Sheltered from the wind and the troubles of the world Byland is there, for all to be found. Until then I enjoy the peace of the land. I am proud to recall the days of the past of those powerful horses trotting by so fast. There was Volters and Tilston and big Gypsy Dan Astride one of those magnificent beasts So privileged to be one of the string A memory for all who then climbed the Bank, to gallop on Wass Moor knee high in ling.

Happy Easter

It has been a busy March. Getting ready for lockdown lifting and welcoming guests again. And moving furniture about.Glad I have had a strong man to carry things about to do most of this. But not one to be stuck and wanting it done now rather than later, I sometimes did as a carthorse would do when I was small when backing a cart... put my behind on it and pushed. .I havent mastered carrying a fridge yet but had help. So now can revel that when you come to stay with us we can offer you a room with its fridge,microwave, toaster and enough bits and bobs to make snacks and small meals. During lockdown we have realised it is not altogether about going out to eat, but to be able to get a take away, some nice deli food and enjoy local bits and bobs suffices. I know when we have had holidays abroad in the past how much I enjoy shopping and eating local produce. Live like the locals so to say. So true is the saying a change is as good as a rest. And if you want a delivery just say, you order what you want and I will stack it inthe fridge for you ready for your arrival. I have also been busy getting plants growing ready to put in the garden as it warms up . It has been over 20 degrees here for the last 3 days but as it probably wont last for too long I have commondered my Dads passage way to grown my seedlings on as I have run out of windowledges here. Also it helps he has far more green fingers than me and they stand a better chance of surviving . My first planting was rhubarb seeds,they have grown really well.They say when you become a gardener you dont say rhubarb for example you would say Champagne or Victoria. Potatoes are not potatoes, but Maris Piper, Charlottes and Kind Edwards. I have even bought a white peach tree and it is treated much as a baby in a pram, take it out on a nice day, bring it in as the day gets colder just incase there is a frost. A white peach but with lovely pink blossom I am tempted

to buy another one. Tom has been busy digging up some of our most robust bushes as I want to create a framework of greenery around a very sparse looking covered over sitting areawhich looks more like a bus shelter at the moment. I have some hops which are very delicate at the moment. Again they have gone to my Dads for that extra bit of care and it didnt help that Dorothy - the young cat, like to sleep in the same plant pot as them here. It is nice to see that there is some grass now for the deer to eat, as they had a very lean time over winter. They are regualr visitors although we can't guarentee them coming every day. They do come more late afternoons onwards and come within 20 to 30 foot of the house. Just dont eat my magnolia bush. It will be nice to see the grandchildren over the Easter holidays as they are around just before they go back to school. No doubt it will be hectic as the sugar rush of chocolate will be rocketing. There is something about Easter eggs that taste different to a bar of chocolate. It is ok this on line shopping lark, but to me nothing beats going into the shop and seeing and sme ling what is on offer. Oh and just incase you have forgotten, I prefer milk chocolate -thank you Well I must crack on ,the birds are beginning to sing and the sun is just getting up .Jack is in for his breakfast as he has been out with dogs and ready for something to eat and it isnt 7am yet. I dont know about you, but lockdown I hardly known what day of the week it is, and clocks well my body clock is all out of sync. I look back on the year and think where has it gone. Nicholas is busy on the farm with lambing and hatching as eggs are coming by post for him to put in his incubators. And he has just hatched out a pair of alligators Happy Easter, and sorry no alligators just Aprils Fools Day

All in Order .

Just to let you know that when we feel the time is right to open our doors to welcome guests through our doors we are already ready .We understand the rules and regulations. We understand the precautions we need to take to make your stay as safe as we possibly can.

We are not opening for the time being as we feel that as lockdown eases that the virus will rear its ugly head again. With my dad been 97 and Jack and I the wrong side of 60  we feel for us it is not the right time. 

We do miss having guests here and I love to cook, so I miss the breakfasts ..the smell of cooking bacon. I miss cracking the eggs with their deep yellow yolks. I miss the smell of toast.  I miss your ohs and ahs when I set your plate down in from of you and I miss your cleared plates when you have finished. I miss the satisfaction I get form giving you pleasure of unexpected treats, of sharing our knowledge of the area. 

 

 

Sunday Update ,getting ready to come out of Lockdown in North YORKSHIRE

Can't believe it is 10 days since I wrote a blog. After writing one every day throughout lockdown I felt it was time to open out a little more. For you to go out and about as you felt fit and for me to focus on how we can think to reopen and what we need to do to make you feel safe and happy in your holiday surroundings.

So this is what I have come up with ..

I have bought enough hand sanitiser, disinfectants ,wipes and the like to sink a ship. Well maybe not a ship but it certainly weighed my car down at the back end. 

I already use a steam cleaner in bathrooms and will continue to do so and use it in the bedroom were possible .

Our laundry is professionally cleaned offsite in any case and the laundry services has had over 100 years experience and we have every confidence in them.

Booking will be for 3 days or longer as we intend to not have straight turn around .So there will be 3 days before you come into a room no one will have been before you and for the two days after you leave to safeguard me as well .

Any booking in 2019  we will take no deposits. Leaving you free to cancel ...but please let us now if you are not going to be coming to stay.

Our rooms have their own front doors so that if you prefer you do not have to have any contact with others you don't need to have. 

We are still thinking about breakfasts which we know are an important feature of why you come to stay with us. As we get more guidelines from the government we can put things in place.

Unless you are part of the same party, guests will sit at separate tables and if prefered seperate rooms. Or if the weather is nice maybe you would even like to enjoy it outside as we have done so many times over the last few months.

We are opening up more and more garden,field and forest space for you to enjoy. So if you just need to get away and not venture far but just come for a change of scenery and air we are hoping you will be pleased at what we can offer you.

We would like you to ring us 

to discuss your needs, your preferences and your worries too on 01347 868526.

In the meantime I will leave you with a few photos of life with us. I am still keeping my hand in cooking breakfast as Jack doesn't say no

Breakfast to try to fend off Coronavirus

Coming to terms with not cooking breakfast for our guests which is a "proper tuck in " . Sausage, bacon, eggs, mushrooms and grandads home grown tomatoes .  As we all are told how to protect ourselves against the virus . I have fore gone the bacon sandwich or the spare bit of scrambled egg on toast leftover from guests.

A few years ago we had lots of bee hives ..but as they take a dislike to me ..we no longer have lots and are down to our last store of honey. So breakfast for me now is hot lemon and a small amount of honey and then some butter and honey and toast... I have to say it that way around as you can see my spreading techniques .

I normally only drink cold water ...we are lucky our comes form a spring but it still comes out off the tap . Last year I made bottle and bottles of elderflower cordial . I wasted the first few bottles or at least I got through it so quickly as I didn't know it had to be diluted ...a bit like Jack when he drank a whole bottle of Pimms  at a friends house and thought it was like wine and didn't realise it had to be diluted with ginger ale or lemonade... he went rather red round the gills.

I have never drunk hot drinks but understand it is better to drink hot drink every 20 minutes so I constantly drink elderflower cordial diluted with hot water . Hopefully it won't be too long before I am making it again .

Just what the doctor ordered

In the shape of a breakfast.... My Dad had to have some stitches out at Harrogate hospital, as I had won a competition for have 2 breakfast at Clarks In Easingwold it was the idea opportunity to make them into our late lunch on our way back. Easingwold is about 10 miles from us here and after sampling their meals we would certainly recommend  you call in . There was quite a full restaurant when we got there. A large selection of hot meals,cold snacks or just teas and coffee. I have shopped here many times for bread ,teacakes and those lovely little fondant cakes which look like a rather pregnant domino .But have to confess I have never eaten here before.
Local "lasses" are the waitresses and we were well looked after. As my Dad was finishing off his food I nipped through to the shop and bought him some teacakes,a vanilla slice and a ? like a scone crossed with a rock cake and was told it had ginger in it . Please note that I fore went the sausage and I dont do baked beans but I had more than ample.And my dad had to help me out as I dont eat egg whites - never have, never will .  We had some lovely door stop toast and my dad had Yorkshire tea while I settled for water as apart from the odd gin ,water is all I drink . The parsley I brought home for the guinea pigs.

We have to thank Mrs Lucy Clark for

Clarks Bakers was established in approximately 1925 in a 17th century building in a small market town called Easingwold by Mrs Lucy Clark, grandmother of the current owner Mr.G.L.Clark.

Grandmother Clark started her business by baking scones to sell through the window of her house, as it was then, to the tarmac men who came down from Middlesborough and Stockton to build and repair the roads. The tarmac men suggested that Lucy should open a Café or shop, and that she duly did. This saw the start of Clarks the Bakers. The house was later converted to become a bakery, shop and a small Café.

Since 1925 the business has grown, and is now run by the fourth generation of the Clark family who has maintained the belief in high standards that were set so many years ago. This has been achieved by including the best ingredients from around the world, employing highly skilled and experienced master bakers and checking the quality of the finished product adheres to our standards of quality.

Breakfast at Tiffany's -Give me Betty's any day

Well Audrey Hepburn might have brought Breakfast At Tiffany's to mind, but it was Breakfast at Betty's of Harrogate for me and on my birthday too.

  A kind invitation for Betty's took me to Harrogate as they were holding a network breakfast meeting and afterwards a cookery demonstration. Food has always featured highly in my 61 years after at a week old I wasn't pacified with a regular quota of Oster bottle milk. So my Dad took the situation in hand- doubled the strength and the volume to shut me up. 

It was a lovely drive over to Harrogate , I parked up and walked through the beautiful Valley Gardens in time to get to Betty's for 8am. 

Warmly greeted and ushered to the Imperial Room in Betty's. We were treated to a delicious breakfast of skewers of fresh fruit ,toasted bacon buns and finished off with pain de chocolat. 

One of the first people I spied was Olivia Brabbs ,complete with camera. Knowing Olivia now for many years

I guess Betty's will have ended up with some very good shots of the occasion. 

All too soon we were been asked to join one of Betty's chefs who gave a demonstration on how to cook the perfect Betty's Rosti. All I can say is next time I have chance to go to eat there this will be top of my order.

As always the staff ,the surrounds and the dateless elegance make Betty's. No wonder it is world renown. A couple of days later my Australian guests were heading to the York branch as someone had given them a wedding voucher and needless to say they loved it 

Thank you to All the Team at Betty's for making my birthday special.

Sausages...

There are sausages and there are sausages....
For the month of March we will be serving up some of our own homemade and you could say homegrown sausages when you have breakfast with us. They are venison and pheasant and all comments so far is that they are delicious. Son,Nicholas is a keen hunter. As well as been a full time farmer he is a qualified butcher and likes to make delicious sausages from what he has on the farm.  I wonder if lamb sausages will be his next venture.  These sausages are what you would call man sized but ladies like to tuck into them too.
So these sausages are as local as you will ever get

Breakfast outside in the sun

Who would believe that we are still in March. Guests opted to eat their breakfasts outside as it was such a sunny morning . Guests ,Gerry Agar Fennell a regular guest with us has brought her Australian Daughter -in - law-to- be introducing her to North Yorkshire.Another person smitten by the beauty that our little piece of North Yorkshire has to offer. The birds were singing their hearts out,the sky blue without a cloud to be seen as the shrubs are all bursting into bud. Duchess,the cat,was not to be outdone either as she took her place in the garden. The forecast is like this for the next week we here. Apart from the sound of birds their lambs are to be hear as they race about in green grass fields.Take about the 2012 games they have started here already.Book up and have a weekend away before the Easter rush