This is newest top secret to be exposed . Nonna's Supper Club

Nonna is the Italian name for grandmother ,granny ,grandma and all the rest of the names we call our Parents mother. These are the ladies who tend teach us things,spoil and treat us and pass down family traditions. This Nonna is quite special and comes in the shape of Jill Greetham. A woman extradionaire who admits she has had a long love affair with Italy. There is a website you need to read about Jill and her family www.nonnassupperclub.co.uk . A brave and resilent woman who will not have had an easy journey through life. I have nothing but admiration for her and for her food and that is what I want to tell you about. Yesterday evening I had the pleasure of going along to eat at one of these special events she has started up. Who better to take with me than long standing friend ,Mary Oneil who used to live in Nunnington where Nonnas Supper Club is based. It was a set meal of tiny plates ,not so tiny even in Yorkshire terms. It is bring your own drinks as they do not have a licence. Even better as you can take your own tipple along without the hiked up prices you can pay when you go out to eat. We arrived at 6.45pm in time to eat at 7pm. Fast forward to 10.50pm when I next looked at my watch, where had nearly 4 hours gone. The answer was on a culinery trip around Italy as we sampled delights as the delighful bambinos served up the courses. They were as good as any professional waiters and did put some who work in 5 star restaurants to shame. Although Nonna and la mamma were looking after us too. The setting was in the garden surrounded by herbs,lavender and a good crop of peas hanging which I kick myself now for not taking a photo. The photos I have taken will take you through our dining experience which cost only £35. The finale or near finale was the best panna cotta I have ever had. We had gnudi, melon and parma harm ,veal, and greens even for me, who is the most ungreeny eater, they were cooked and seasoned to perfection. It was such a relaxed affair. The night was balmy and the food divine.The atmosphere what you get on the best holidays with friends I could have happily nodded off. I will not be watching the football, but if the food is anything to go Italy will beat the rest hands down. Word spreads quickly so recommend you get booked in soon as I am sure it will soon be hard to book a table at one of these dining dates. Jill did tell me that when time and virus allows she will be offering cookery days and I am sure you can guess which one I will be going on . So thank you Jill, Abi, Jessie and Jessies beau. All details are on www.nonnassupperclub.co.uk. There is a facebook page too

Well Summer is finally here and so was Marcus Aurelius

28 degrees here today and glorious. A few weeks ago I had the pleasure of going down to Derbyshire with a metal detector who sometimes comes on our land. He along with his friend had found some Roman finds in the local area and they were up for auction. It was an early start and oh my it was such a lovely morning which as soon as he got out of Yorkshire the Heavens opened and it was so cold. They were really excited as they thought they were very rare and very old in fact they were nearly 2,000 years old. I thought they may have been replicas the children had played with and left behind. Probably bought in Barnitts of York as replicas for the garden and were duly named the "Barnitt Bits". I fact they were the real Mccoy. One of the detector is friends with my Dad as they share gardeneing tips and talk about budgies. Before they went to be registered he bought them along for him to see. The grandchildren saw them too - what a lockdown History lesson that was . I went with a friend to see them in York after they had being cleaned up and always game for a photo opportunity asked if I could hold them. It was at Hansons who finally took them on board to sell. I even got a photo with Charles Hanson, who is sometimes on the television as he was selling them. They were articled as The Ryedale Roman Rituals and it was quite unreal as the reached the final bid and with a £60k auctioneers fee on made just short of a quarter of a million pounds ! It was the £185k bid that secured them. They went to a private buyer in London and so after living nearly 2,000 years in the countryside Marcus has gone to live in the bright lights of London. When they were first discovered James was not sure how to keep them safe or where to put them. He worked out on the rigs. So he wrapped them up in a yellow towel popped them in a plastic food container and stuffed them in his work bag and they went off shore for a while. So I think I am right to say Marcus since he was unearthed has had quite an interesting trip

Bank Holiday Monday

We hear of people going here and there. Having nice lunches out,even better afternoon teas and sharing glorious photos after they have battled through traffic jams to get to their destination. Lockdown seems a million miles away for a lot of people as they head off into the crowds. Here we did what we did last year and enjoyed our surroundings. So many of our guests enjoying sitting out at the front of the house but we like to be up in the trees. It is like another world up there and guests are welcome to enjoy this space too. The added bonus is there is a stream too. We did the same yesterday with an acception we had a snooze on the grass first then Molly came with us. Yesterday Molly decided we didnt need to sleep and kept coming back and splashing us with her wet coat and stand on us with her muddy paws .Then she chased the cat who was for one moment we thought on her way to Heaven. The cat fought back and ruled the world once more climbing on to some logs and striking Molly in her forehead. Cats often strike near dogs eyes or on their noses so it is always safer to keep puppies and cats apart. There was still some bluebells out and wood anemones. An empty nut shell split in half as the squirrel has dined on his winter store. I thought Monty Don would be in his element here. I am sure if it was transported to Chelsea Flower Show it would certainly win a prize. How I would take the butterflies and dragonflies is another question and the birds are more than happy to stay singing in the trees here. As we walked back the wild mint was startng to grow. For a few minutes the mint over ruled the smell of the wild garlic which is in full flower now .

30 years where has that gone.

On the wall in my Dads kitchen is a cross-stitch I did back in 1991 that was 30 years ago. Nicholas was 11, he now has a daughter that age ! I thought I would show you it, so you could read the words. I feel it is very apt as today for our Sunday dinner we had everything home grown...the lamb, the new potatoes out of the greenhouse, peas from last year's crop out of the freezer. And homemade mint sauce. I made stacks of it last year as everyone was doing crazy things in lockdown and reckon I have enough to feed an army for the next ten years. My Dad and I went down to his greenhouse to pull up a root of potaotes for todays meal and then I was weeding the few strawberries he has in there too .The rest are outside in a raised bed. My Dad made it for my mum years ago,so she didnt have to bend down as she had a bad back. Believe it or not as there is no photo to prove it. As I pulled the weeds up I found 2 strawberries fit for eating.It was such a shock to get them this early. We had one a piece and the evidence was swallowed before I thought to take a photo. They were warm from the sun and very sweet. My dad loves gardening whereas I on the other hand think it is a toil of a pleasure but when you get rewards like this is makes it feel worth while.

What a difference a day makes

What a difference a day makes. As we made headways in the garden , tonights guest enjoyed the evening sunshine and "christened "our new sunspot with Duchess the cat. It looked a bit like a council bus shelter to start with its straight oak posts but hopefully as the roses,clematis and honeysuckle grow up the posts and cover the roof it will look more we envisage it been. It has been a long time since we welcomes guests to Carr House Farm and this monirng I cooked breakfast for 4 guests without burning the toast or the eggs. All plates we left clean, so that was a good sign.And as one guests left the table he said he wouldnt need anything for the rest of the day.With so many good eating places around I hope they decide to sample some of the local food on offer. But now with fridges for guests to use, there is no pressure to eat out. There is enough garden outdoor space for everyone and so guests

can enjoy local treats and have pincics and little snacks in the sunshine.

Cocker Spaniels and Bluebells

A combination of cocker spaiels and bluebells makes for a delightful picture to get you through the day. There is something about walking through a wood full of bluebells that raises the spirits. We are lucky to have our own bluebell wood and a couple of cultivated ones to which only 2 days ago had hailstones and snow on them. The weather is vey temperamental. Is it mother nature's way of saying the population havent learnt from lockdown wanting to clamber on to the first holiday plane to leave our shores. They said people would take on board to enjoy take things slower and look after our planet. And nature is now giving us a reminder. Anyway enough preaching for today even though it is Sunday. Yorkshire puddings to be eaten and important things like that to think about.

Puppy Love

Sometime you just have to help out. These two were just getting their noses poked out a bit as their mum a cocker spaniel had 9 puppies - 4-5 is usually what they would have. So these two are living a 5 star life on top of the Aga and having the best lives. When they get a bit older they will be introduced back into their canine family. What we would like to stress is as adorable as they are and look ,puppies turn into adult dogs and when you consider buying one you should remeber a dog is for life just not for a few months. Dogs give you unconditional love and they should have the same back.We are not saying spoli them or buy them expensive things . We know a lot of people do . Just look after them well and they will be your lifelong faithful friend.