Pickering, North Yorkshire, went to war.

We had a brilliant time in Pickering 15-17 October 2010. We were so excited when we set off from Flamborough Rigg Cottage B&B that Phil and Caroline had to stop and tell us to settle down. We couldn’t wait to show off our marching!

It was like going back in time………so many people in old fashioned clothes. Lots of blue and khaki. Katie reckons we should get ourselves uniforms for next year.

The only thing we were confused about was the lack of doggy gas masks on show. I am sure they had very special ones for us……………

Spring has sprung at Flamborough Rigg Cottage

After a long and very snowy winter here at Flamborough Rigg cottage in Stape, North Yorkshire, the first signs of spring are upon us.

The garden has come to life with a multitude of beautiful snowdrops nestling under our trees and the courtyard is showing the first signs of colour with the appearance of flowering crocuses.
The daffs and tulips are a still a few weeks off but as March races by you just know it won't be long before the whole garden will be bursting into bloom.

I know we haven't seen much of the grass here since November but before long Phil will have the lawn mower out, his favourite chore!

Neighbours on parade here in North Yorkshire.

We have very orderly neighbours here at Flamborough Rigg Cottage B & B, North Yorkshire. Meg pointed out that Phil would never get us dogs to line up like that; we like to think of ourselves as more free thinking. This comment provoked giggles from the pesky cat. We do think!

As you can see our current neighbours, in Farmer Tim’s field, are some sort of elite military sheep regiment. Lily reckons they are here for some sort of special training and that they are practising their under cover surveillance techniques on us, silly puppy. I must admit they are certainly pretty hard core; no curling up in front of a fire or even a duvet to roll up in at night for them.

If is continues to snow at the current rate Tim will have to provide them all with snorkels and GPS!

A Happy, Snowy, New Year at Flamborough Rigg Cottage, North Yorkshire.

Here at Flamborough Rigg Cottage, Stape, North Yorkshire, the snowflakes continue to fall. The snow levels in our beautiful garden are well over my feline head so I have to resort to watching the dogs cavorting about although in places even they disappear, but sadly not for long!

Our guests have loved tobogganing in the forest and walking through knee deep powder snow to the White Swan pub in Newton on Rawcliffe where they warmed up by the log fire and enjoyed well earned lunches. All we need now is a drag lift on a hill here in Cropton Forest to save their legs when climbing back up the slope to toboggan, I will put a word in with Phil.

I am off to curl up in front of the log burner while it is quiet as the crazy dogs are still outside pretending to be snowmen. Sadly they will be in a soon as they get a whiff of the steaming hot chocolate and marshmallows that Caroline is preparing.

Snowflakes over North Yorkshire

It is soooo exciting, the snow is back.

Meg, Lily and I have had our noses pressed up against the window all afternoon watching the snow flakes gently drift down here at Flamborough Rigg Cottage B & B in Stape North Yorkshire.

The log burners are on and Meg reckons she would rather curl up in front of the fire but Lily and I are raring to get out into Cropton forest and play in the snow. Lily believes that she will at last stand a chance at winning our long running game of Hide and Seek as she is a snow coloured but she hasn't factored in my great hunting skills.

It is all looking very pretty but we will need a bit more before Phil gets the sledges out. I will keep you updated.

All is shining brightly here at Flamborough Rigg Cottage B&B ready for Christmas.

Hello, Katie here. We were very excited yesterday to welcome guests back to our extra shiny B&B at Flamborough Rigg Cottage in Stape, North Yorkshire

When Caroline and Phil said a few weeks ago that they were closing the B&B until December Lily, Meg, Payne and I were immediately at the door all togged up with leads, buckets, spades and frisbees thinking we were off on our holidays but sadly they had other ideas. What they had in mind was sand paper, varnish, paint, polish and steam cleaning. To be fair buckets were involved but only with mops in them!

All the hard work can’t be missed as everywhere is looking extra gorgeous ready for the busy Christmas and New Year season. The tree is on order, the wreaths are about to be hung on doors and they are about to start dressing the house………….we are getting very excited.

Oh, and don’t worry about us girls. We didn’t miss out too much as between all the hard word Phil and Caroline found time to take us on trips to Sandsend beach and long moor and forest walks.

We all look forward to seeing you at Flamborough Rigg Cottage B&B and the Hayloft in the coming weeks. Phil has even created a special seasonal welcome cocktail.

I wonder if we can dress Lily up as a white reindeer!

Flamborough Rigg Cottage B&B, Stape, in full bloom.

Hi,it is Lily here the little yellow Lab. I am curled up in my basket feeling sorry for myself, nursing my wound, well really a sting. Payne the pesky cat is grinning and making “I told you so” noises!

Here at Flamborough Rigg Cottage B&B, in Stape, North Yorkshire, the gardens are in full bloom. There are so many sweet smelling and pretty flowers. That also means that the garden is full of beautiful butterflies. While my sisters Meg and Katie were snoozing I was having a brilliant game chasing the butterflies, they are pretty fast. When they landed I would use my special puppy skills to sneak up on them, nudging the flowers with my nose to make them fly………..what I didn’t think about were the wasps and the bees. I now know that wasps and bees are even grumpier than Payne!

I wonder if Caroline has a plaster for my nose?

Flamborough Rigg Cottage Posse!

Here are a few of the girls and I making the most of the lovely North Yorkshire sunshine at Flamborough Rigg Cottage B & B. I know you shouldn’t really sunbathe too much but it does make you feel better, a bit of sun on the feathers, and I think it makes the yolks of our eggs even brighter!

We hens are living the good life. We spend our days exploring the fields around the cottage, napping, eating all the treats that come our way from the kitchen garden and the odd worm, although you can guarantee the sight of one of those will start us wrestling. Then at night we snuggle up in our cosy hen house, what more could a girl ask for?

Rumour has it that there are some new hens coming to join us in the coming week, the more the merrier……..

Egton Bridge Gooseberry Show, North Yorkshire

Here at Flamborough Rigg Cottage we are very proud of our soft fruits, well all fruit, in the garden. Since coming across a website recently for the Gooseberry Show in Egton Bridge, North Yorkshire, Phil’s now taking especially good care of the gooseberry bushes.

The event has been going for over 200 years and appears to be as popular as ever. Gardeners enter their biggest gooseberries into one of four classes: red gooseberries, yellow ones, greens and white ones.

I think Phil will have his work cut out, as they enter gooseberries as big as golf balls. If my memory serves me right our efforts last year were more like the size of………well gooseberries. It is sweet seeing him out there fussing over them!
We pets are under strict instructions to stay away from the bushes, which is fine by me as we don’t like them anyway.

He has a few weeks yet to fatten them up, I think a supersize diet may be called for. The event is held by the Egton Bridge Old Gooseberry Society in St Hedda's Schoolroom on 4 August 2009 at 2pm.