The cottage photos have been updated on the website. This is a selection. Visit the website to see the full range in the Gallery on the Home Page.
It was time to change the lavender hedge that runs alongside the veg patch. It had got too old and knarled and spread too far. So out it came, the area dug over and as soon as the weather warms up I'll plant some new plants - all cuttings taken from the old hedge. True recycling!
Two weeks of hard work including decorating, a complete spring clean plus repairs and replacements and the cottage is ready for the new season.
The 2 bedrooms have been decorated and new bedding added; the kitchen paintwork has been refreshed; and a number of small replacements including a new chopping board in the kitchen and new rotary line cover (this is regularly shredded by the wind) complete this year's overhaul.
Just waiting for the photographer to take fresh photos for the website - should be done by February.
After last weekend's heavy rain, the weather has at last settled with some warm sunshine. The wildlife has come out to take advantage.
Our old apple tree is still going strong. The trunk has bent over so that the tree now rests on the ground. It is full of woodworm and there is only a very thin portion of the trunk still in the ground. And each year it produces this amazing crop of cooking apples and I don't have to get the ladder out to pick them!!
We're not having the best weather so far this summer. After 24 hours of solid rain, the sun came out today. But that's the beauty of England - everything looks so lush & green.
We had a visit from a 125 High Speed Train over the weekend. East Midland Trains ran the service on a round trip from Derby. There were two Class 43 locos and 8 carriages. Something special for the North Yorkshire Moors Railway!
What a difference a couple of days makes! After a dry winter and spring the river level was very low - you could almost walk across at low tide. Then we've had 2 days of heavy rain and the river is full again.
It's at this time of year that the wildlife area looks its best - the wild flowers are in bloom, the birds are nesting and the bees & butterflies are out. A peaceful, secluded haven.
After yesterday's mist and drizzle, an early morning walk along the river into Whitby shows that summer really is on the way. The yellow broom is in full flower; spotted the ducks snoozing in someone else's garden - so fickle!! With the first train of the day passing and even a seat to sit on - this really is a lovely walk.
This new batch of 4 ducklings arrived this morning. Had their first swimming lessons in the pond. But they couldn't get out again so had to move the plank to help them - they are so tiny!
Feeding time for the ducks. They get more adventurous every day. Sadly, we've lost one little duckling.
The River Authorities have been trying to clear away the debris under the railway bridge. It's a slow process as they have to move the wood so that the river will take it away. The river and the tides are lower at the moment so nothing is moving very fast.
Once the river levels went down, we could see what had caused the flooding. Whenever there is heavy rain, lots of debris gets washed down the river and usually just flows out to sea. This time it got caught in the scaffolding and the river on the far side of the bridge was completely dammed. The scaffolding was also damaged and work on the bridge repairs has stopped whilst they do remedial work. This is turning out to be a very long job!
Cold & frosty this morning!
The railway bridge repairs are continuing. The work is moving down the bridge away from us. The smart newly painted green railings can now be seen. A whole new base is being laid on top of the bridge. They have even built suspended platforms under the bridge so they can paint the pillars. Not sure how much longer they will be, but they are having to work around the trains, the tides and the weather! Painting the Forth Rail Bridge springs to mind!
Sunday afternoon on the river!
A walk around the garden this afternoon:-
- the ducks enjoying a leisurely Sunday afternoon amble
- the lovely colours of these Cyclamen plants
- the full range of autumn colours on this lilac bush
- the Gallardia still blooming at the end of October.
The clocks might have changed but winter hasn't arrived yet!
Nature's larder is filling up nicely ready for the winter. A walk round the garden found pyracantha berries, rowan berries, elderberries, hawthorn berries,brambles, acorns on the oak tree and conkers on the horsechestnut tree. Nobody's going to go hungry this winter!
This little shrew had been following me around the lawn as I cut the grass this afternoon. Then I found it again on the edge of the veg patch before it disappeared into the squash plants. So tiny and so quick!
We've just had the 85th anniversary of the Ruswarp floods in the early 1930s. The road bridge was washed away and they brought the lifeboat from Whitby to rescue people trapped in the floods. The photos show the extent of the flooding, the lifeboat being hauled down the High Street, the old bridge before the floods and the building of the new bridge which stands today. This was opened in 1936.
Time to book your Autumn/Winter break. Early Autumn dates are going fast. Visit the website to check out our special offer running between 5 November and 17 December.
It's never too early to think about Christmas or New Year breaks - visit the website for availability.
There's a nip in the air in the early mornings now - a real touch of autumn. Other autumnal signs are the apples ripening on the trees; the conkers are growing and ripening; this fir tree is loaded with fir cones - great for Christmas decorations; and the flowers are turning into seed heads ready to self sow next years plants.
It's time to cut the long grass in the wild life area. This is done once a year after the wild flowers have spread their seed ready for next year. This helps manage the area otherwise it would return to waste scrub land. A few days with a brush cutter gets the job done. The area always looks so much bigger when the grass has been cut.
A walk round the village on a summer's afternoon. If you have stayed in the cottage, can you spot these views? If not, why not book and see for yourself.
The weather might not be what we were expecting but nature has come up trumps again - the garden is looking really colourful.
These 3 ducklings are growing fast - nearly as big as Mum now. Starting to get their adult feathers - can't tell yet if they are boys or girls. They certainly eat plenty!!
These little chaps are growing up fast - must be all the food I'm giving them!. They should be big enough now to survive
First swimming lessons on the pond!
Five newly hatched ducklings arrived this morning - so cute.
This little chap appeared today. Not sure if he is an only one or just a survivor!!
This is what you call a bird's eye view - or a duck's eye view!!
Lovely to see and hear the steam trains passing the holiday cottage.
