Broome Park Farm, Farmhouse Bed & Breakfast Accommodation Cleobury Mortimer, Shropshire

Great excitement - Michael arrived with a hive of bees on Sunday morning. Fortunately I had just finished serving breakfast so I quickly donned my suit and strolled up the paddock to show him their new home. He quickly unloaded the hive, complete with super - in his shirt sleeves! The guests thought they could see an angel in the field!

Later on Sunday afternoon my friend, Sandra, arrived so we could have a proper look at the bees. Gingerly we removed the super and surveyed the mass of bees inside the hive, all working happily. That was enough for our first foray into the world of beekeeping! We are hoping to open the hive again this evening to see if we can find the queen!

The harsh winter played havoc with Richard’s swing seat so it has been undergoing some major repairs. However on Sunday it was returned to its idylic location over looking Neen Savage. The cows all look pleased to see it back!

Sunday was also my first attempt at real beekeeping - a neighbour rang to say there was a swarm so I rang someone else! Fortunately Elizabeth was happy to come and collect it so I donned my suit and went along to learn. It was a great experience, not easy  - as the bees had all clustered around a gatepost in a hawthorn hedge. It took over an hour of coaxing to get them into Elizabeth’s travelling box and away!

My new life as a beekeeper came a step closer when I attended the practical session run by LDBKA. Unfortunately the weather was a bit changeable but the bees behaved impecably and my suit got its first outing! The next step is my own hive which should be arriving towards the end of May. This will consist of a new queen and nucleus of bees and the aim will be to build up their numbers so they are strong enough to survive the  winter and hopefully extract some honey this season - that will be very dependant on the weather!

Yesterday I celebrated St. George’s Day in Leintwardine, at The Sun Inn, one of the few remaining ‘Parlour Pubs’ in England. We started by dancing in procession from one end of town to the other, behind St George and the Dragon - although the horse didn’t like the music! After the heroic St George had slayed the Dragon and supped a celebratory glass of Hobsons ale we danced outside the pub. The glorious weather and friendly landlord made for a fabulous afternoon. Hopefully this will become an annual event in our Dance calender.

The cat has certainly been enjoying the beautiful Spring weather of late! I caught Toffee cat-napping on the bench yesterday afternoon. The last of our ewes has finally lambed - resulting in 4 doubles, 1 single and an adopted lamb joining our small flock. Unfotunately one ewe lost her lamb but John was able to get an orphan lamb from a neghbour and hopefully our ewe will raise it as her own.

Normandy 2010

I took a weekend off from the B&B and travelled to Normandy with Crooked Steeple Morris. We were very well received by the French, dancing in Trouville, Honfleur and St Pierrre sur Dives. Everyone rose to the occasion and we produced our best dancing ever! Many thanks to Nic and Linda for organising such a great time!

If you want to see us dance we will be at The Sun Inn, Leintwardine on Saturday 24th April at 2pm and at Upton Folk Festival on Sunday 2nd May.

Spring is finally here - or so I thought until I got up this morning! After a beautiful weekend it is miserable and wet today. Saturday was spent at another Beekeeping Theory day, run by Ludlow & District Beekeepers Association. It was very informative and I can’t wait to get started! Next is a Practical session at the end of April.

Yesterday we had our first Broome Park lambs - a couple so that is a good start - especially as John says this ewe didn’t lamb last year! We had a Kerry ram so the lambs should be quite white with black faces. 5 more ewes to lamb - hopefully all with couples too.

My new pigs are a little larger than usual so will soon be ready to eat! Consequently they have been named, rather unoriginally, Sausage and Bacon!! Here they are enjoying the pumpkins left fro last year that have not been turned into soup.

Fortunately the weather is improving and I managed to spend an afternoon in the garden on Wednesday - repotting the tubs in front of the house, tying in all the raspberry canes and spreading muck on the asparagus bed. Still haven’t planted anything yet - much too cold!

I have had a professional photographer visiting today to take better quality photos for the web site so I decided I must bake a cake! He was certainly very impressed so I’ve decided to give a sneak preview! This is another of my attempts at an artistic still life, although I have chopped the tops off the daffodils.

Things are quiet on the farm at the moment but I am hoping to get some more piglets next month. The younger of the 2 cockerels has moved to my Mother-in-law’s as her cockerel had died, although John thinks there is yet another young one!

sweetcorn

The snow has finally gone - at least for the moment and it has been wonderful to get outside today. I have reorganised the bins with a view to creating a seating area by the back door and started tidying up in the garden. I started to dig up the sweetcorn stalks, then noticed some ladybirds hiberbating inside one of the husks so have left them for the moment - if you look carefully at the photo you will see one on the right hand cob. I have just pulled back some of the husk to expose the corn below in the hope that the birds will find it. Perhaps it’s not such a waste to grow baby corn and then not pick it after all!

Beekeeper?

As you can see I received my beekeeping suit for Christmas - Sandra are you impressed?! I feel I am now fully equipped to start in the Spring. Michael, who has hives around the farm, has offered to loan me a hive in the Spring to get started and promised to find me some gentle bees so now I can’t wait.

I am enrolled on another Beginners Course in March so should be fully prepared by May when I expect to get the hive.

Geoffrey in the snow

Geoffrey is all ready for Christmas - I don’t know what he is expecting in his stocking? I am nearly ready too! I cooked the ham yesterday and it looks very tasty. Today its all the final preparations so that I don’t have too much to do tomorrow. We will be 12 for lunch which is a nice number - enough crockery etc. without having to resort to everyday stuff!

Can I wish all my guests - past and future - and those of you that follow my blog for fun! - A Very Merry Christmas and a Fabulous New Year - including a stay at Broome Park Farm B&B!!

Severn Valley Railway

Yesterday the Band played at Arley Station, entertaining passengers of the Santa Specials as they waited to see Santa. It is certainly a festive occasion and yesterday was a beautiful frosty morning - although fingers and toes get a bit cold when playing for 3 hours.

Our next outing is Cleobury High Street next Saturday when we will be collecting for this year’s charity ‘Help for Heroes’ - why not come along between 10.30 and 12.30 and get in the Christmas spirit!

Advent Calender

Christmas seems to be approaching fast! As Becky is not coming home I decided to make her an Advent calender for her room - she was thrilled to receive it!

This Saturday the Band are playing at the Church Christmas Fair and switching on the Christmas lights so that will really feel Christmassy. Every weekend from now until Christmas there is at least one concert - lots of lovely mulled wine and mince pies!

I have cured 2 hams ready for Christmas - they are now hanging in the Outhouse ready to be cooked for Boxing Day. I use a cider and brown suger brine cure, they have soaked for a month so should keep fine as long as the weather stays cold.