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

Pure Nostalgia

Catherine Evans — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 19:25:13 +0000

I have been extravagant this week and treated myself to a traditional cake stand - the photo doesn’t really show off the stand to full effect - each plate is a different floral pattern, resulting in a nostalgic look. I also bought 16m of bunting - I’m not sure why, except it is so pretty! So next time guests come to stay their homemade cakes may be served on my new cake stand! The cakes featured in this photo are fruity flapjacks, made with jumbo oats and Alpen; gooey chocolate brownies; lemon and raisin drizzle bars and my favourite - traditional gingerbread. My great aunt used to make this so it really is nostalgic - she also made beautiful shortbread biscuits with ground rice in - I must see if my mother still has the recipe.

Garden Harvest

Catherine Evans — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 08:19:38 +0000

Although the weather has taken a turn for the worst, the garden definitely appreciates the rain. I have picked this bowl of raspberries this morning and they are absolutely gorgeous - plump and juicy - delicious with warm toffee waffles and icecream! I will probably freeze some too, ready to make jam later in the year. I have also harvested my first courgettes and gherkins - although I am not sure what to do with them! The mange tout have also cropped really well - we can’t eat them quick enough!

Elderflowers Galore

Catherine Evans — Sat, 10 Jul 2010 16:35:24 +0000

There has been so much blossom this year and all the hedgerows have been stunning - beautiful white clouds for weeks on end. Last week I managed to make some elderflower cordial - one of my favourite summer drinks - ad elderflower champagne. This is only the second time I have made champagne and I am a bit wary as 2 bottles exploded last time and the plastic bottles expanded until almost twice their original size! This year’s brew doesn’t look so fizzy so fingers craossed - it will be ready to drink in 8 days time!!

Bee Swarm

Catherine Evans — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 08:51:35 +0000

Having muddled along for several weeks with the bees I had a message to say Michael was coming to mark the queen - neither Sandra nor I had been able to spot her! He duly arrived yesterday morning and we opened the hive. Michael was immediately concerned about the number of bees! No queen - she had swarmed - probably only on Saturday, due to the hot weather and the number of bees in the hive. John was dispatched to trawl the hedgerows to see if he could find them - they initially only fly upto 100 metres, until the scout bees find a suitable home - but to no avail. There is a new queen cell in the hive which will hatch out in about a week, then it will be 2 weeks before the new queen starts laying eggs again - Michael will then return to mark her!

The gardens in the photo are at Orleton House which open in aid of the National Garden scheme - the final open weekend is 24-25th July - do go along - it is well worth a visit.

Haymaking

Catherine Evans — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 16:00:12 +0000

Haymaking at Broome Park Farm

The weather has been perfect for haymaking and today the team are baling here at Broome Park. This field is being made into small rectangular bales - these are easily handled and very popular with horse owners and smallholders who don’t have the machinery to feed the big round bales that are often seen. The beautiful hot weather has allowed us to make more hay than usual - often we have to make silage when the weather is unpredictable and it certainly doesn’t smell as sweet as freshly made hay!