Poppy heads

July – New additions to Huxtable Farm

Peahens

Hurray, we’re now connected to Fibre Broadband 🙂 having had the connection delayed due to Covid-19 lockdown. What a difference it makes not having to watch the circle whirling around.

Other additions to the farm include another broody hen hatching another seven chicks and we have just purchased a peacock, Pedro and a two peahens. Pedro is quite stunning with his tail feathers on display (see photo at bottom of post)

Chick July 2020

Chick July 2020

 

There’s still a lot happening here; Antony continues to chop and split the trees he felled the winter before, last ready to sell as seasoned logs when the weather changes and I’m busy picking goosebrries, redcurrants, blackcurrants & raspberries in the fruit garden, followed by lots of sorting, freezing and jam making. The fruit all seems to ripen at once, thank goodness I have a little helper!

Felted Jacob sheepskin rug next to wood burner

Felted Jacob sheepskin rug next to wood burner

I’m also spending time updating the website adding some of the lovely items available to purchase, which can be sent by post within the UK;  Jacob wool items; throws, cushions, hand knitted hats & new this year unique vegetarian Jacob sheepskin rugs, made from the fleeces of our ewes.

I’ve also had my paints out again and have some prints and cards of my water colour paintings available to purchase. Cards £2.50 each (including envelope & wrap) or 5 for £10 and mounted A4 prints £25 each. (Jacob sheep, wool card £4.50 each)

Card of West Buckland School

Card of West Buckland School

Springer Spaniel - Print of acrylic painting by Jackie Payne £30 (8.25"X11")

Springer Spaniel – Print of acrylic painting by Jackie

 

 

 

 

 

Jacob sheep card

We’re already taking B&B bookings for 2021 and have extended our offer of a free copy of the book ‘Huxtable the Story of a Devon Farm’ to all bookings for next year, celebrating Huxtable Farmhouse being 500 years old! Next year could be busy so you may wish to provisionally book ahead.

Check Availability

Until we see you again, take care, stay safe & healthy, with warm wiahes Jackie, Antony & Bella, the dog 🙂

Peacock Pedro

Chicks July 2020

Chicks July 2020

Ewe with lambs smelling the daffodils

Spring lambs and sunshine :)

Jacob lamb resting

Jacob lamb resting

Thoughts are with everyone during this Corvid-19 pandemic, it all feels so surreal!

Here at Huxtable Farm Bed and Breakfast, we have decided to close initially until the 1st May and will review at the end of April whether this will need to be extended.  We are respecting the government’s recommendations and would hate to be a reason for spreading Corvid-19 further.

If you have any bookings with us in the immediate future please do get in contact if we haven’t contacted you already, so that we can arrange to postone your break until later in the year.

Eggs in incubator

Eggs in incubator

 

Life here on the farm continues; Our small flock of The Jacob ewes have started lambing.

Some eggs are now in the incubator and one of our hens has gone broody so we should have some chicks hatching around Easter weekend. In everyones absence a tawny owl has decided to move in to an old dove hole in the farmhouse and is sitting on her eggs.

Tawny owl on eggs

Tawny owl on eggs

Hopefully, when this pendemic is all over we will see you later in the year.

Please have a look at the fantastic variety of events due to take place in North Devon during 2020 by looking at Huxtable Farm B&B’s local Events/Farm Calendar so that you can plan your next stay to coincide with an event that interests you.

Check available dates at Huxtable Farm B&B, West Buckland, Barnstaple, Devon and Exmoor

Availability

In the meantime, we wish you all the very best in the weeks ahead and hope that you, your family & friends stay safe & healthy.

As promised here’s some photographs for you to enjoy.

Jacob lamb feeding

Jacob lamb feeding

Jacob ewe and lamb at trough

Jacob ewe and lamb at trough

Jacob ewe and lambs

Jacob ewe and lambs

Jacob lambs

Jacob lambs

 

Colourful eggs in the incubator

April – Easter chicks and Jacob ewes lambing

Jacob lamb at Hxtable Farm B&B, Devon

Lambing Live here at Huxtable Farm B&B – Our small flock of The Jacob ewes are due to produce lambs between the 1st April and Easter – Do come and enjoy this time of year with us when the hibernation period is coming to end and our stunning countryside is waking up. On Easter morning we also aim to have some chicks hatching and an Easter Egg Hunt, making your Easter stay at Huxtable Farm special.

During April, leading up to Easter, 21st April some of the local attractions have #Easter #Egg hunts and Easter events to enjoy;
April – RHS Rosemoor –  Easter crafts. Easter fun at National Trust Arlington Court & Cadburys Easter Egg Hunt. Easter Egg hunts at Quince Honey Farm, The Big Sheep, The Milky WayCombe Martin Wildlife Park, Hartland Abbey and find the Easter chicks at Clovelly!

Please also have a look at the fantastic variety of events due to take place in North Devon during 2019 by looking at Huxtable Farm B&B’s local Events/Farm Calendar so that you can plan your next stay to coincide with an event that interests you.

Check available dates at Huxtable Farm B&B, West Buckland, Barnstaple, Devon and Exmoor

Easter Eggs
Easter Eggs

 

 

RHS Rosemoor Wool and Yarn Fest 6th & 7th April.

Stay at Huxtable Farm B&B, only 13 miles from RHS Rosemoor, this weekend and puchase some Jacob wool yarn and or products.

 

Huxtable Farm B&B Accommodation, West Buckland, Barnstaple, Devon, near Exmoor National Park, Quince Honey Farm, Castle Hill Gardens and Wedding Venue

Jacob lambs
Newly born Jacob lambs on April Fools Day 🙂
Jacob lamb
Jacob lamb
Jacob lambs with ewe

April – Lambs, primroses and Easter chicks

April - Lambs, primroses and Easter chicks

April – Lambs, primroses and Easter chicks

Spring flowers at Huxtable Farm

Spring flowers at Huxtable Farm

The spring garden is looking so colourful with bright sunshine yellow daffodils and primroses (Devon’s County Flower), blue grape hyacinths and beautiful pink camellias.

This is my favourite time of year; the birds are singing, the ewes have started #lambing (the Jacob lambs are so adorable) and we have a few broody hens sitting on eggs and some eggs in the incubator due to hatch on #Easter day

With Easter (16th April) approaching here are a few event’s occurring near to Huxtable Farm Bed and Breakfast (click on this link), in North Devon.

Not only is there so much to see and do on and around the farm, there are so many #Easter #Egg hunts to look forward to at all the attractions in the area; Quince Honey Farm, The Big Sheep, The Milky Way, NT Arlington Court, RHS Rosemoor, Hartland Abbey and find the Easter chicks at Clovelly!

hawthorn-blossom

Hawthorn blossom

Other events this March in the area include;

RHS Rosemoor Easter Lindt Gold Bunny Hunt (1st -17th April) & Easter crafts

Easter fun at National Trust Arlington Court & Cadburys Easter Eggs Hunt (14-17Th April)

April at Huxtable Farm B&B, Devon, Exmoor near Barnstaple and South Molton March at Huxtable Farm B&B, Devon, Exmoor near Barnstaple and South Molton

Running across countryside field

Running across countryside field