Time to spend in the garden

Every year I say I will make an early start in the garden . A bit like a stitch in time saves nine .The aconites are out and an abundance of snowdrops. Bulbs are popping up all over ,the birds are singing. A few bees are out and when I went up the other day to look at the hives, they all look as if they have survived the winter. Always a worrying time for bee keepers. I find bees are harder to look after than children they are always wanting something doing to make sure they are doing ok. They are so special, we need to do what we have to with them, but trust me if you have never kept bees and havent donned a bee suit in the middle of Summer, I dont find it theraputic as a lot of bee keepers would say. Jack has already being cutting the hedges and the hedges up the sides of the drive are getting well established now but the deer cant be turned even though we put a deer fence up last year and we think they are the culprits for the gaps. We mustnt'grumble as we love to see the deer which will soon start to graze at the back of the house and come most tea times. The green shoots of the wild garlic are pushing through now and life in the woods is starting to wake up after a not too harsh winter. It is always nice to see the scarlet fairy cups - which they say are edible but I prefer to leave them for the fairies. Last Sunday I was up in the woods with the grandchildren as they are making yet another waterfall. Martha was happy making little bowls out of the clay and it was all very civalized till they got carried away and daubed it on their faces like Red Indians. But they enjoyed themselves and that was the main thing and not a computer game in sight. So it just goes to show take children into a forest and they are all happy and learn how to play using their imaginations like we did as children. So Grannies and Granddads, time to think to bring your children to roam in our woods while you sit around on a tree stump with your gin and tonics />

Full Moon: February Full Snow Moon

Sensational 70 years - North York Moors National Park

Into the Woods: A Fairytale Christmas | Go behind the scenes | Castle Ho...

I havent been around for a while but this is certainly something to look forward too .We are locky that this is nearly close to us around 15 minutes drive away and it really gets you in th emood for Christmas

Jubilee Weekend - Friday

Well for me today it was a trip to the opticians. For those of you who know me it is rarely you see me without a pair either balanced on my head like an Alice band or on my nose end. With one thing and another I think we all spend more time on the computer. For me it is telling on my eyes. So off I went this morning to Malton. I killed two birds with one stone as it was the Malton Food Lovers Festival too. I had another hour on my car park after the optician so decided to go for a quick look round. I havent been for ages and could easily have spend a lot longer there. It has certainly grown and fills more or less the whole market place, ajoining streets and snicket ways. As I was there by lunchtime was plenty of people there but room to walk about quite comfortably. Stall holders were doing a brisk trade and there was a huge range of produce. I saw the yorkshire pasta lady was there .I had thought of making it probably 18months beofre they started but alas I just didnt have the time or energy to start off something else .My days often consits of 16 hours and to start up with that idea would have meant a lot more hours imput .Glad to see the young lady is doing well,who has put the idea into production. I was just in time to reach the Fest Demo Stage with the lovely Gilly Robinson from the Cook's Kitchen talking with Sarah Greenhough - Keeper’s Cottage about Honey. It was a full house which was nice to see. A special mention to The Yorkshire Baker who were very generous and gave me a lovely warm pie which did me for lunch .I munched it down as I walked round.I was tempted by Raisthorpe Gin but scuttled away as I was not risking even a sample as I was driving .It is the proper stuff 40%. There was a lot of alcohol to taste going round. Note next time I go I need a chauffeur. I find caught up with Adam from Yorkshire Rapeseed Oil back from my days on the board at Deliciouslyorkshire. Adam has grown his business offering a wide range of different flavoured oils and dipping oils, Dressings and my favourite the Lemon Mayonnaise. Here are a few photos from today. Oh and I forgot to mention oysters.

The Best Views in England ...

We all think we have nice views, but I reckon we are up with some of the best. I am not up early, like Jack is, every morning. This morning the little birds were singing their hearts out and it was pleasantly warm. I wanted to get some work down before it turned into what was forecast the hottest day so far of the year. It was 9 degrees already at 4.30am. Although the lilac has taken a beating with the last couple of evenings heavy showers of rain, the air was filled with perfume from the lilac tree. It must be a good year for both that and wisteria as you dont have to go far to see the houses clad in lilac ,delicate lilac each bloom made up of so many confetti like little heads together. The moon was still out and moving over Craykeland, a local bluebell wood which our farmland surrounds. Looking East over the Moors as if the sun was waking up rising from the sea. It is okay taking photos but nothing beats looking at it with the naked eye. As I came down Wass Bank the morning was truly waking up. After the rain with everything refreshed the colours were amazing. I am sure an artist would have been delighted in being able to capture that. My favourite colours are blues and greens so I was in my element. We are surrounded by woods so you could take a hundred photgraphs and still want to take more of the sun shining through the trees and the shadows it casts. So how about coming to stay with us and getting up early to see it all for yourself. Pack up your breakfast and take it with you. Maybe if you are quiet and stay still for a while you may see fairies. This morning but I did find some of their scarlet cups on a mossy branch. Whether the fairies drink the dew out of the cups or pick them up and carry them to the stream they were not about to tell me this morning.

see fairies and syke like

London and the Bright Lights

So there you have it. A change is as good as a rest. People come to stay with us to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city .And I go to see the bright lights and experience the hustle and bustle of the city, then appreciate what I have at home ! This time I went to London with my sister-in-law as we had an amazing invitation from the Aaron Family who own the David Aaron Gallery in Berkeley Square to their grand opening evening. This is the family who bought the Ryedale Roman Hoard which is now back in the Yorkshire Museum in York. It was through their generosity that this has happened . As a child I had always wanted to go to Berkeley Square after hearing that a nightingale sings there. I met so many famous people and head curators of museums and the like, I felt I had for a few hours stepped into a hugely different world. I was the country bumpkin who was in London but they all made me feel so welcome. A chapter for my book and yes the food was amazing ...you know how if there is an invitation espcially with food I will never turn it down. One couple I will always remember where Mr and Mrs Aarons personal friends of over 50 years, they were so gracious. There was a mix of dress from short skirts to long dresses from jeans to dinner suits -talk about a melting pot. Accents from across the world. It was fun.