Roses - We have a rose garden

How did that song go ....I didn't promise you a rose garden ... but then Oscar Wilde came up with Be happy, cried the Nightingale, be happy; you shall have your red rose. I will build it out of music by moonlight, and stain it with my own heart's-blood. You will always find interesting quotes and sayings about roses. When Jack came here I was surprised how much he liked roses and he planted quite a lot in fact they extended well into the woodland behind the house. I think they are the quintessential flower of an English country garden. We are very lucky to have lots here and also across in the farm garden. I have a very light pink one which is over 80 years old ,I would be very disappointed if it didnt survive. I am sure Monty Don would be pleased with my show of roses this year. Now I havent got a clue what most of them are called, but does it matter not really. I think the "Peace" rose would be the one I would always be able to identify. I started writing this blog before watching tonights programme and lo and behold a section of the programme was about roses. It is the Rose Festival at Rogers Roses in Pickering next weekend which we have supported for many years and donated a salver for the best smelling rose. It is well worth a visit if you are in the area. My Dad always liked a rose that had a scent and why not.His favourite colour was an orange one. I have a row which my dad bought me probably 40 years ago they were old then and what someone had grown and tried to make a business out of extracting the oil to make soap which sold in Harrods for a crazy amount of money. Rose petals I put in jam, make rose water for the finally washing rinse and have made potions up as face cream -not that it has done much good. Maybe I need to apply it every night not just every day for a week, then forget for a couple of months. Nothing looks nicer than a bowl of roses in a silver rose bowl as a centre piece on a table . Easy to take cuttings and grow on and there is no point in spending mega money on buying plants just find a friend with some one who has different to yours and swap them. I think gardening is about sharing it makes it fun and competive too. We have some very nice ones which we bought for a couple of pounds and some bought for special anniversary which cost a whole lot more .Give them a year or two and you couldnt tell which you had spent the most money one. As I plan the garden at the farm ,roses will play a major part of it. Roseson trellises, alongside Lupins, Delphiniums and Hollyhocks in borders . With thyme and lavender lines walkways and I seem to grow lady's mantle like weeds, so will incorporate them too . I have apricot and peach trees already waiting to be planted against the garden wall. The ground has to be cleared fist and the wood sawn up . We had a bit of a set back today as there were 2 wasp nests and a hornets too to sort before we could go any further. My Dad liked nothing better in his vegetable garden to get the first tomoato,potato or even sweet pea. I have lost that now, but I have joined the Helmsley gardening club and some months we visit other people's gardens. Last week we went up to one near Hawnby. The lady there had a sloping garden. Many plants she had split and increase the size of her garden which had only cost her time and patience.We just need to learn, when to do it for them to grow on . Roses, Brenda White who used to lived at Water Gates Farm, would say you had to take cutting on the 15th Ocotber. Probably this date came from being mid October is a good time to take cuttings. Superstition would draw me to take cuttings on a waxing moon rather than a waning on. So here are a few of our roses to show you. And some I picked to take to the church yard for Fathers Day.

So tonight I got the tape measure out

As I have mentioned many times before, we have visitors that come most nights, but tonight I was amazing. Not only one but three deer ventured through the back garden gate and ended up only 8 foot from me .It was a shame as I get a clearer photo, when I have the stable door open. It was well after 8pm and as the sun had gone down it was getting quite cool and the dew had fallen. I happned to look out of the window and saw a deer near the gate so I went to the stable door as I thought I would get a btter photo. Low and behold there were 3 of them only 8 foot from me . They are casting their winter coats so they do now look their best. The wire fences are up to stop them coming during the night and getting into the main front garden. They can soon do a lot of damage. One night they cleared the whole 6ft magnolia tree off of its flowers . We turn a blind eye to them nibbling the blossom from the trees. We are hoping to set up a hide so when you come to stay you can see them as near hand as we do

Christmas Newletter

View this email in your browser 🎄 Bringing you Warm Wishes from Jack & Anna at Carr House Farm B&B

We had a very busy Autumn with the added joy of wonderful weather, Autumn colours and stunning skies. The orchards were full of fruit and the harvest was good and plentiful. I have been busy baking little gifts for the people who have made our year a nicer place to be, and to older people who miss home baking. I have a job in hiding it all from Jack as he has quite the sweet tooth! All I have to make now are some apple cakes. I hope I will be able to go to see my Dutch friends next year and give them my cake and take one of of their specialities. I have also been busy knitting for the little grandson with a dinosaur jumper with a stuffed dino on the front. Jack is set for getting in the Christmas tree tomorrow. Christmas in the countryside is so fun as I bring in the greenery from the woods and the smell that floods the house brings back memories of years past. As usual I will be having two Christmas dinners, one with my dad at 12 noon and another with Jack at about 5pm. That is our Christmas. Our tree will be in the summer house so the grandchildren will be able to see it without coming into the house. We will also look forward to having picnics with them in Summer like what we did this year. We are not big present givers and in the past I have had a bicycle pump, a battery for my torch, and this year I would like a metal potato peeler. We are located in the North York Moors National Park which has just been designated an International Dark Sky Reserve by the International Dark-Sky Association. I am hoping in 2021 guests will be able to enjoy long table suppers sat under the stars. WiFi is installed in the bedrooms so that guests do not have to use a shared space to get their updates which I am sure will be welcome news. There are more in our plans for what we are doing for guests so they do not need to venture out once they get here if they would prefer not to. With foraging and art courses to be on board. There are also more eating places popping up so if you would rather go out than make your own you will be spoilt for choice. And lastly as I went up the woods a couple of months ago I saw this little fawn waiting in the sunshine for its mother to come back for it. I just want to share this with you and leave you with the thought of how marvellous nature is. We’re surrounded by nature and on our live outdoor webcam you can get a glimpse of the local wildlife for yourself. The best time is early in the morning to see the most activity before the squirrels pinch all the food from the bird table! View the live webcam Facebook icon Instagram icon Twitter icon YouTube icon www.carrhousefarm.co.uk You are receiving this email because you opted in on our website Carr House Farm B&B Carr House Farm Ampleforth York, North Yorkshire YO62 4ED United Kingdom Add us to your address book

Friluftsliv ... are you up for this .

#Lockdown 2 - We have added the word "Friluftsliv" to our vocabulary . We are also taking "Friluftsliv " to another degree here at Carr House Farm .... more to follow very soon.

Just in case you didn't know what "Friluftsliv" means -open air living, fresh air and embrace what is all around us in the countryside. We are lucky to have mountains of it around here . Offering another choice of what you do when you come to stay with us here in the heart of the countryside.

So as Friluftsliv opens up into our lives more than ever before, we have something else to thank the Vikings for .

We all need something to look forward to and to get us through this trying time. Everyone will have highs and lows until Spring comes again. We always feel better with sunshine and long light days but I always think if you have something to look forward to ,enjoy something new whether it be an experience or learning something or a small gesture of kindness. It is not about huge expense it is about filling our hearts with joy from the small things in life.

Until then I have been down to Castle Stores -Bentleys Wool shop in Helmsley to buy some wool. I won't be knitting socks for soldiers as the saying goes but I actually find it quite therapeutic until the cat decide to commandeer the ball of wool and wont give it up

2020 Summer Newsletter - if you would like quarterly ones please go to website www.carrhousefarm.co.uk and sign up

Well what a roller coaster ride 2020 has been so far. Here's hoping this email finds you safe and well. Here in North Yorkshire, we have been keeping our heads down and have set out to do lots of things. We are in our 42nd year of ‘should be welcoming’ guests so making things better here for when we are open up again. I really miss having guests staying, so if I can't cook for you, Jack is getting double helpings here! My Dad enjoys the extra baking too. I have even been making bread and some damper bread which you make in flower pots. I have dried wild garlic and made proper mint sauce enough to feed an army so need some more shelves up in the store cupboard. First we set on and had a stretch of the driveway concreted so gone are the potholes and a drain down the side so hopefully this will take away the excess rain that used to wash down in bad weather. The grandchildren have spent some lovely days here playing in the stream and waterfalls. We were named as one of the top 6 places in the UK for our picnic area which is up in the woods and only accessible to our guests. We have seen the deer bringing their two fawns within 15 yards of the house when they would be no more than 2 days old. We have had some lovely puppies and now they have gone to their new homes. So keeping the best until last We are thinking to put in 2 rooms… fridges, toasters, microwave and a selection of crockery, cutlery etc. so you can make you own meals and snacks so you do not have the hassle of having to go out to eat. This is not full self catering but we are asking for your comments to see whether this is something you would like to see happen or are you happy for things to stay as they are and you just come on a bed and breakfast basis. Also any other ideas of how we move forward to providing you with what you think would enhance your stay with us. Again we trust you are safe and well and look forward to seeing you when time allows. Best Wishes from Anna and Jack Carr House Farm B&B www.carrhousefarm.co.uk

Man with chainsaw

Man with chainsaw makes more space in the garden . Another part of our exciting 'Lockdown' programme .

Can't wait to see it finished and all climbing plants surrounding it .Place to sit and stare and breathe the beauty of the air .

I love using a chainsaw ,well who doesn't. But today again I had to leave it to the professional.  I said goodbye to the remnants of my beloved pear tree. Three firs which were planted out as little Christmas trees over the years and grown far too high , the rest of the the laurel that Jack took out to try to let sunlight to a bedroom window and also  a few self seeded bushed.

My vision for this is to create a sitting /eating area cocooning us with sweet smelling and colourful climbing roses, passion flowers and clematis and any other bits and bobs that I come across . Maybe a bed of sunflowers next year .Some of you may remember when Jack planted half an acre a few years ago to brighten things up . Any suggestions are welcome .

Hope your day was as productive as ours

if you like trees and water and peace

What do you have when you step out of your back door.

When you live in a place like we do I suppose we take it for granted and some people would spend a lot more time up here than we do . I like to be near water and near trees and sometimes away from the telephone too . Here is a short video to show you just some of the things what you are missing.

When Jack is near the trees he usually has a chainsaw in this hand.

Getting the wood in for winter and as you will see there are a lot of fallen branches to keep us busy. When guests come to stay with us they often get in their cars and go off for the days. To visit stately homes and castles ,walled gardens and even plant centres. They come for all sorts of reasons. But what better place to go some take a book to read,others an easel and some just nod off in the peace and quiet. So as we hope to be coming out of lockdown before too long we are starting to think that people may just want to have a bit of space to themselves ,to feel safe and not to join the multitudes but to come and stay with us and simple enjoy our "back garden" They need to bring their cameras too as you never know what opportunity is there for you to catch , a deer with young ,the woodpecker , the fragile life that live in the woods, fungi and microorganism ...here today gone tomorrow.

Carr House Farm in Lockdown.. roadworks and how we are making plans to welcome you back safely.

Just because we are in in Lockdown please dont think we have forgotten about our guests and are getting ready for when we can welcome them back through our doors or...doors as the case could be to begin with.

We are lucky that our ground floor bedrooms have their own front doors which lead straight out on to the garden. They do have a step up but other than that it is all level and in two of our rooms.
We will be able to offer breakfast to your bedroom or if you prefer you can bring your own breakfast things with you and we will provide you with a small table and chairs so these can be either used in your room or  you can lift them out into the garden and enjoy the view.So if you are worried in the beginning to have any contact with us we can offer seclusion and or semi seclusion.
 We will limit the amount of people who will be able to stay at any one time and also have a few days in between bookings to deep clean but also to protect both you and  ourselves we will not go into the rooms for a specific number of days before and after your stay with us .

Then we come to the big things we are doing this year and the weather has been kind to us .After all the floods we have had in the winter

and heavy downpours of rain our road was getting to look and feel very sad. So this week and part of next we are having out drive way made a lot better. Next week the concrete comes . You will see from the photos below how we are getting on with it .

Deer �� at Carr House Farm Ampleforth- they are back ..20 yards from the orchard gate

Autumn Life at Carr House Farm,Ampleforth in photos

We have been blessed with an amazing Summer and now an equally perfect Autumn. This collage was kindly made for us by Julie Jones . My favourite of the 3 she has done for us . It is not too late to book a few days away and stay with us and enjoy the fruits of Autumn and enjoy some Yorkshire fresh air . Ring us on 01347 868526 to book your stay. Wake up from the comfort of a 4 poster bed, eat a tasty breakfast before setting off on your search of take photograph just like these.