Topsy Turvy World..

2012 -Is Winter late or Spring early. Is nature creating a new season and never told anyone. At the top of the photo you see holly and at the bottom daffodils. There is now quite a row of daffodils out as you go into Wass. The lions head gushes with water into a trough that was put there years ago by Newburgh Estate

Peru - No this is North Yorkshire

I thought the back drop and colours of these photos were amazing.No it isn't some far off land. It is here in North Yorkshire although it may look rather like a landscape in Peru. It was taken in one of our fields in front of the farmhouse looking back to the hills. It is a different view to what you would normally look at. These woods carry on to the right and the house in snuggled down at the bottom of them. Yes it is a llama that you see.

Boxing Day

Another big day in our calender when Jack's friend has a team of guns shoot at Newburgh. I went as well as I want to get some photos of the dogs working.It is a really nice day and everyone is in good spirits.Here you see Jack happy to get back out in the fresh air.Everyone seems to enjoy this day to walk off Christmas indulgences. Tara and Rollo are on standby until the guns stop shooting.I went along the hedgerows picking some really plump sloes. I was surprised to see them as it is getting very late for them now.I bought Jack a new game bag for Christmas and so it got christened. Tara did a prefect retrieve bringing a shot partridge off the water.Home to watch Kauto Star win the King George -what a horse that is. Afterwards we went to the White Swan in Ampleforth. Another wonderful meal although I was wise and refrained from drinking the port. I bet there was a few more who should have thought like me when they woke up the next morning.

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.

Great Granny and Grandad's Little Treasures

Our little granddaughters came to the farm on Christmas Eve.Here you see my Mum and Dad with the latest addition 4 month old Martha Mai. They came for lunch and Rubi_Sue sat up to the table. She is now 2 years and 3 months. She certainly knows how to make the little one laugh. Dancing around her and singing loudly Martha Martha Mai. Then Rubi was off with her Dad to see the pigs and cattle. Claire certainly has her hands full.

Christmas without the ones we love

Nearly every day of my life I saw my uncles. Appy for 46 years and Fred for 53 years. I was lucky that I had them for so long but never the less I miss them so much. I know I am not alone as everyone at some stage in their lives loses people close to them. I spent hours in the cow house with Appy while he did the milking and with Fred with the horses and counting and looking after the sheep.Wise Yorkshire men -my Father included who have made me what I am today. I went to put holly on the graves not only for them, but for the 2 generations of family before them too. Holly from their own trees,fir,laurel and other evergreens that they will have planted.

present wrapping and Noradsanta.org

Those kittens of ours get everywhere. There I was trying to wrap some presents up to send off to the North Pole to Santa to delivery for us. Geronimo decided he was going to turn his paw to wrapping. First he ran off with the sellotape then he bit holes in the wrapping paper.To test my patience even more he decided to do regularly inspections on how I was getting on with the job.
I have found this amazing website -www.noradsanta.org. which adults and children alike will be enthralled with. It is only for Christmas Eve Day and shows Santa Claus travelling the world on his sleigh delivering gifts. I am sure the kittens will sit watching the TV and it will keep them quiet for a few minutes with any luck