Life at Carr House in Summer

We are now well into Summer and life here goes on with fruit picking in the garden, cutting lawns and looking after some Labrador puppies which we born last Sunday. More and more guests are enjoying the benefits, we can now offer with part self catering in rooms . With a fridge,microwave and toaster available you can make snacks and small meals if you do not wish to venture out in the evenings. Even just chill out around here in the woods and fields,by a stream.You dont even have to go that far, enjoy sitting in the garden listening to the birds,reading a book Enjoying that bottle of wine you treated yourself to. We are happy to help should you wish for a food delivery to arrive in time so you can make your own supper,snacks and small meals. There is a barbecue too for those more adventurous souls if you choose. A cooked breakfast, all comes in with the price so no need to worry about that. The Star in Harome has reopened its doors after that terrible fire and once again serving delicious meals . Michelin starred with a very reasonable market menu 3 course meal for £30 which I had for my birthday and very good it was too ,as well as their a la carte menu. Across the field from us is Wass Farm and you can buy delicious charcuterie. . Jack is busy with his dogs and Minty who a lot of you have meet or seen on facebook is his shadow. There is a saying if only the dog could talk … She makes friends with anyone who will give her the time of day and enjoys all the attention. We are busy working and in the early stages of bringing a walled garden on the farm back to its former glory.There were poplars tree which were hollow in the middle so had to come down which was a shame but necessary. Surprisingly they are putting up green shoots from the bottom again. By our Christmas newsletter hopefully will be able to tell you more exciting things and who we are working with and what we can offer in 2024. Wass Grange and its walled garden overlooks Byland Abbey. You can tread the route that the monks walked many centuries before. Grange is the word for a granary and this historically is an outlaying farm belonging to a monastery or feudal Lord. A large country house and when I googled a bit more the motto of the Grange Movement-USA- from the 1800s was “We have always welcomed and invited people of all races,creeds,religions and nationalities ". My grandmother did this in the 1920s and 30s and here we are 100 years on doing the same. We have a good relationship with Castle Howard as we continue to work together with local businesses. For guests staying with us we are able to offer a reduction in entrance costs. To get you in the Christmas spirit they will be open from mid November with their spectacular Christmas event. Also as we would really love you to experience a gastronomical experience at Andrew Pern’s The Star at Harome, we offer complimentary travel to get you there - Arrangements can be made with a local taxi firm for your return journey.

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

Castle Howard 2019 Christmas

Christmas comes but once a year and Castle Howard certainly dont miss the opportunity to deck their halls, rooms and corridors  with all the jolliments of Christmas. This year it is themed on A Venetian Masquerade.
I was very lucky yet again to be invited to the preview evening and here is a little what it is all about . Nicholas Howard looked very dapper in his Christmas outfit .Santa Claus must have been hitting the sherry bottle as he sang ,jingled and rapped and was on the very best form.
I felt very honoured to speak to Charlotte Lloyd Webber in the Long Gallery before he was called away for question time in the Chapel and met Bretta Gerecke in the ladies loos - well one does doesn't one.  The costumes were truly amazing .I didn't manage to track down Adrain Lillie as I might have tried to rope him into helping with the costumes for the up and coming World Jam festival -Alice in Wonderland characters
The festive tribute runs from 16th November until 5 the Jan 2020 you really must make time to go .

Christmas is on the way ...

When I was in York recently to take a look around the Bar Convent which was very interesting. And seeing Margaret  Clitheroes's hand who was locked away in the Chapel there. A shrine is dedicated to her in the Shambles in York . You can read more about her in Wikipedia.
Coming out into the night air and looking across the road I saw a familiar name on a shop Plaskitt and Plaskitt - remember Peter who did the Changing Rooms programmes many moons ago.  I sometimes see Peter he never changes and time in his company is always good company. You can sometimes see him walking with his black Labrador, Bert - who he actually bought from us.
I thought you  might like to see the shop window ...Welcome to the tide of Christmas.

Christmas Day

The stag even gets decorated at the farm . My dad did a marvellous job of decorating the Christmas tree up to the top of the stepladder to put the decorations on. The main farmhouse was built in 1881,the ceilings are over 10 foot high. The tree hit the ceiling so it was a fair feat to decorate it.We all did our bit towards getting the dinner ready. Thanks to John Teal for supplying a really plump bird.Vegetables from the garden and even some new potatoes my Dad had grown in the greenhouse.I watched Santa at bang on 12.30am start delivering presents in London via Nordasanta.org.then I rushed to bed. Well he doesn't come it you are awake does he?. Jack gave me a 2 strings of pearls. Not to be outdone the kittens got collars. Mini Ha Ha got pearls too and Geronimo a black collar with little jewels on.Here you see them laid out baking in front of the fire.