Borrowby Show Winners

What a fabulous day we have had. Up at 5am and all animals fed,watered etc.. then off to the Borrowby show with our sheep. The Herdwick shearlings took 1st and 2nd place, then our wicked manx laughtan got 3rd place. The portland ewe lamb took second place, and the herdwick ram lamb also got a second. we met old friends and new and had a wonderful time.....back home now and happily weary!!

JULY AT ROSE COTTAGE FARM

Meet our new sheepdog, Bran, she is 4 years old and a great asset to us. she and our old girl 'Lass' keep our rare breed flock on their toes.

The manx loaghton ewe reared her triplets successfully, they are a mischievous bunch with crazy horns, that give the two dogs a merry chase about.

we are showing our Portland lambs and possibly the Herdwicks at 2 local shows, Thornton le dale and Borrowby. The holiday Bookings are steady, and the visitors are enjoying the saturday sheepdog demonstrations i am giving.

We have paired the two black ponies up and are driving them frequently at the Sutton Bank top area.

Siberian Kittens Born

we have had 2 beautiful litters of siberian kittens born during our busy lambing period. These semi long haired cats are often able to be tolerated by allergy sufferers, we had 11 born and already 9 are booked and they are just 4 weeks old.. but are'nt they gorgeous!!

Special Springtime Recipe from Rose Cottage Farm

We are increasing lamb numbers thick and fast at the moment, so not a lot of time for cooking, which brought me to having a baking session to see us through. One special cake I make is a Granny Audrey's Spiced Cake. I make is with gluten free flour as my daughter is allergic to wheat flour and gluten, but any self raing flour will suffice.
12oz self raing flour.1 teaspoon mixed spice,1 teaspoon cinnamon. 8oz butter(or healthy alternative) 8 OZ light brown sugar.8oz mixed fruit, I use my own mix without peel or cherries in. 6 pieces of crystallised ginger chopped small.2 eggs, and milk to mix approx 2/3 of a beaker usually.
Sieve flour and spices together,rub in the butter until mixture looks like breadcrumbs.add sugar,fruit and ginger,stir to mix evenly then add beaten eggs and milk a little at a time until mixture nice and sticky,or claggy as my mum would have called it!! Put into a greased and floured round tin 7 or 8inch diameter. Bake in centre of a moderate oven. gas mark 4-5 for approx 1 hour for 8inch tin or 1 1/4hours for 7 inch tin. reduce heat after 45minutes to approx mark 3-4.test by pressing quite hard on top, the cake will be quite firm to touch when cooked.Delicious, and keeps well.Do try and Do enjoy.

Manx Triplets!!

Lambing is well under way. Dolly the Portland ewe has one gorgeous ewe lamb, 32 the Herdwick has one ram lamb, Snowdrop the herdwick has twins and hates them, so the steriliser is on....and then matilda the manx girl had triplets today. I am feeling a little sleep deprived, but I adore the new lambs.

Just another 12 to go.........

Our First Portland Lamb

What a suprise at 5am this morning when I went to do my second check of the night, there was Dolly the Portland ewe with the most beautiful ewe lamb all tucked up and clean, she looks like a little fawn, so cute.

The herdwick sheep are all due any day and the manx girl in about a week.

I am starting to feel a bit sleep deprived, but when the lambs are born its all worth it.

We are getting ready for the Easter bookings and expecting to be busy, people love to visit when we have lambs and chicks around.. we also have some siberian kittens born, they are delightful fluffy bundles of fun.....

Spring breaks special low prices

We are having a spring into spring special at the cottages. Today has been fabulous and sunny, I drove the carriage and bramble(the little black pony) all the way to kilburn village, and had a pleasant cuppa and chat at the Foresters Arms,before driving the 4 miles home again.

The manx ewe is due anytime now, and is only allowed out for a few hours a day.

We are having weekend breaks for 2 people for just £100 per cottage, or 3 weekdays for 2 people for just £120, this offer will end by 14th march so hoping lots of our followers will bag a bargain.

There are lots of wild birds coming down for tit bits, we have long tailed tits, coal tits, sparrows, lesser spotted woodpeckers, and chaffinchs... and still lots of cheeky robins!!

Just about to start cooking tea... kedgeree, home produced free range eggs, from rare breed poultry, traditionally smoked haddock, and organic rice and onions... yum, delicious, come and try it here at Rose Cottage Farm!!