What I did on the 09 09 09- Harvested to eat later......

Today the weather has been perfect and my day has been very productive too. I went to pick some brambles to make some bramble gin and found some mushrooms. Then I went to my Dads and raided his garden.Raspberries are my favourite fruit and they didnt get as far as getting home. I ate them off the cane and was surprised at how many there was for the time of year. Into the greenhouse for tomatoes and there are stacks of them so will have to go back with a bucket and put the little ones in the freezer -they make wonderful tomato soup to which I add vodka. I saw there was a lot of cauliflowers and as I carried my tomatoes and cauli I passed by the runner beans so it was like a juggling act picking and holding on to them. My dad had already picked his onions and shallots so a handful of each . The shallots I will pickle for him and the rest I am making into piccalilli page 254 in The Princess and The Pheasant book by Elizabeth Luard. I like her recipes and use her book often.

Stanbrook Abbey welcomed locals......

On Saturday afternoon The Community of Stanbrook Abbey opened their doors to locals and friends in the area. Kate and I had just been to Helmsley and done a spot of shopping -Jacks gaiters were still not in stock. Barbours are the best lasting gaiters you can get and they are like gold dust at the moment.D.V Townsend have some on order so Jack will just have to be patient. We nipped down to the newly reopened Pheasant for lunch. The Perns have transformed the place - the decor I loved and now we were going to sample the food...
By the time we got to Stanbrook Abbey the place was teaming with people.We were warmly welcomed. It was nice to look round as my great uncle had farmed here generations before.The views are mind blowing as the Abbey in perched up on the skyline and each cell has a verhanda so each can enjoy the view. Full marks to the architect.Now I have been up it will be easier for me to tell the guests which door to go in if they wish to worship there.
Then it was over to the Riskers to celebrate Colleens birthday. Kate was up from London and helping with the cooking. On a spit was a pig from the Ginger Pig Company.It was a great evening.
A Champagne invitation this afternoon at the Wombwell Arms to celebrate their first year but sometimes I do have to work so got down late but the company was just as good as it always is. Eunice is doing a champion job after completely taking over in the kitchen. I can see there will be some great South Africian dishes flowing out of there big time.
Guests from Italy and France are here tonight bringing their children to start the new term at Ampleforth College- must go to lay the tables now for breakfast as morning always comes too soon for me,