Mallorca!

Although September has been our busiest B&B month since we opened we managed to fit in a six night trip to Mallorca. Despite our worries, Ryanair didn't cancel our flights and we were so lucky with wonderful weather that brought blue skies each day and temperatures that allowed me to swim! Our hotels Son Mercadal and Ca's Curial were wonderful too.

A day of rainbows

At least after the rain there were rainbows, even if it meant dashing outside and getting wet to grab the photo!

Rising mist

Woke to see mist rising from the field opposite us and drifting down the hill almost as if it were alive!

I'm wet

In the midst of a thunderstorm and a deluge of hail the poor scarecrow looked very soggy standing amongst the sunflowers! I noticed he also has mushrooms growing from around his legs (the result no doubt of my stuffing him with hay!)

Time to go

In the mornings now we hear the geese calling as they fly over in large groups. Today from the big bathroom I saw a mass of house martins presumably feeding on insects under the dark thunder clouds. All are preparing to travel away for winter ...

Rainbows

A number of very heavy downpours have produced some beautiful rainbows in the last few days. They have also been very localised, Dave playing golf managed to escape them completely.

Cooking for guests

It's been a really busy month so far with guests and lots have eaten here at Hill Farm, in this case it was a hamburger made with Aberdeen Angus beef and our own caramelised shallots, with our home grown potatoes too although we only have a few plants left to dig now. The damsons are at their best and have appeared as a crumble, in a trifle and as a swirl with morning yoghurt (plus in a dozen or more jars of jam and Dave's damson wine is busy bubbling).

Delicious

Water obviously tastes better when you think it isn't for you ... spurning food and milk puss decided that the old trough was the perfect place to drink from despite having to teeter alarmingly on the edge.

Hartington Country Show

So many photos in a single post! We went to Hartington Country Show and despite a cold day with the odd shower we had a fabulous time at this very traditional show ... sheep, sheepdogs, tractors ... what more could a girl want!

California dreaming

Well the closest we're getting to California this year are these glorious californian poppies, from an unwanted seed packet, obtained via the WI! They work amazingly well as a cut flower and are brightening up the big bathroom (the only thing is they close up completely overnight!)

Misty starts

The mornings are getting misty now and there is a definite feel of autumn. I need to plan to harvest the damsons and get busy making jam.

Roses

My 'Generous Gardener' is giving us a late show of blooms and has spread out well over the end wall of the dairy building.

Dahlias

My dahlias are looking at their best right now, in fact so good that a guest had trouble believing that the ones I'd arranged on the breakfast table were actually real! They've survived two years of being left to overwinter in the ground, I hope I still have some for our harvest festival which is a whole two months away.

Somersal Hall

Somersal Hall was just visible this morning through the mist, this photograph was taken down at the bottom of our field looking towards the church which, though not visible, is to the right of The Hall.

Season of mists

September dawned in true autumnal fashion with mist swirling around the fields. It was fun to watch as it gathered and changed shape all the time before clearing to a beautiful sunny day.