*Soop's kitcheners*

Galen One of the creams is Fucibet and the other Proctosedyl ointment. I'm sorry, I thought that one was steroid-based. Another senior moment blip.

How frustrating soop.
Granny23 I have missed you.

I think both of those are steroid based, aren't they?

Gosh soop - These bloods are taking an awfully long time to be assessed! I really wish you could be here for just a few days - the turnaround on blood diagnosis is very short. This doesn't help I know, but I am incredibly frustrated on your behalf. I think I know where I'd aim a few of these

The raspberries are delicious Granny 23. Their freshness outshines jam anytime. Thank you. Pleased life is beginning to ease for you. You've had a tough time. Sending you

and thank you for all the lovely kitcheners. Andy is due to appear on court very soon. Time to make a pot of refreshing tea. Pity that bags hasn't made a batch of her delicious flapjacks. I would so enjoy one right this minute. Hey ho!

Yes both include a steroid

thatbags has! Here, just cool enough. Pass them round. They are very nice with ice-cream. Thought I'd just mention that.

Hugs and for all of you suffering trials of life at the moment.

The (very noisy) wall work at the Bags house continues apace. It should be waterproofed on Monday if all goes according to plan, and then whatever goes on top of that (rendering?) will be put on and something at the gable apex to stop rain getting in again. A lot of the mortar between bricks had been washed out over the years, especially at the back of an old fireplace, so there has been a good deal of repairing going on.

Dearest bags...always close at hand when you're needed. All the repair work sounds like major stuff. I saw the scaffolding on your Facebook page. Rather pricey but very necessary. The builder has been blest with clement weather. Enjoy your lovely garden. Ours is amazing. The gunnera [? spelling] is ginormous. MacT estimates that the largest of the crop is approx. 12' high. The leaves are massive. It is beginning to bully other shrubs into submission. To remove the seed heads needs a saw! The friend who gave us the original plant said...on your own heads be it. We laughed at the time.

The building work at the Roses household has just finished. it does seem never ending at times, so hope yours goes well Thatbagspass me a flapjack please and hot coffee, thanks.

Delicious! More please, oh just leave the plate.

Just back from Dunham Massey where I met old University friends for lunch and a walk round the garden. The rose garden, new last year, is ... well, stupendous! Wonderful colour combinations and many scented roses. The giant lilies (Cardiocrinum Giganteum) are 10ft tall this year. Now I'm going to brew a pot of Earl Grey if anyone's interested. I've had a vast National Trust scone, so please don't offer me anything to eat!

soop, you are not being a 'fusspot'. You have every right to be concerned about McS. I think I'm right in saying that we all join you in that concern. ((((hugs))))

Morning, all. My shingles-causing-virus has retreated back to wherever it emerged from. Two more days of big bomb tablets 5 times a day, and I'll be well again.

Being "laid up" gave me the chance to finish the beautiful soft cream waffle-patterned blanket I have knitted for new grandson (coming soon) and I can't stop looking at it where it is spread out on the bed in the spare room. Am I the only one who gets such a kick out of repeated visits to admire my own handiwork?

to everyone.

No, gknot, I'm the same! The reward of creativity . Good to hear that your shingles infection is on its way out.

Me too! I got my come uppance yesterday though. I was admiring yet again my latest project which is to recover all the cushions which I've acquired over the years and which were looking very tired and sporting ineradicable stains.

I decided to recycle some of the buttons in the button box and a rather attractive piece of striped fabric. I spend a very long time choosing the colours and sizes of the buttons, laid them out on the fabric and was finally satisfied that it was ready to sew.

Then grandson ran behind me and said 'Oh Granny, you've got your button box out', and he picked up the fabric and shook the lot all over the floor.

That will teach me.

Mice . My husband recently bought a Rubik's Cube - because he says he missed out on it first time round - and spent a happy while and got one side in all the same colour, put it down and went to work in the garden. My daughter came for a visit, walked straight over to it and said "Oh, I haven't seen one of these in ages!" and gave it a good few twists ...

Soop isn't gunnera one of those diseases we don't talk about and you've got a 12ft one growing in your garden!

Do hope you get McS's results soon. I can't believe it's taking so long for them to come through.

Grannyknot your blanket sounds lovely. I'm sure it will be treasured. I love hand made things they are so special.

I don't believe it! I just popped out for a walk by the river and missed bags's flapjacks. You lot have eaten them all, not even a crumb left

It's another beautiful Saturday here in bonnie Kintyre. I trust that all my Granspal kitcheners will enjoy their fair share. It's good to see that you've visited the kitchen, anno and rosesarered

Crafting I've photographed the gunnera. The leaves are larger than the sunshade that we have lurking in the shed. A little later, I shall upload a pic or two. I'm just getting used to a new card reader for this trusty old computer.

Grannyknot I'm so pleased that you are on the mend. Perhaps MacS has also had shingles, 'though the doctor says not.
You have created a beautiful gift for the coming of a very special person...so of course you must enjoy it. When bags made and gave me a beautiful wall hanging patchwork I took it around the house with me for days on end...putting it in different locations. It now has pride of place over the bed. It makes me whenever I enter the room.

MiceSelf I chuckled when I read the button box story. I've just watered and admired the basket of flowers that you very kindly sent to me.

And your saying that, soop, makes me too.

I'm off back outside in a mo to speak to my garden again and check on the ripening of wildflower seeds. I've promised someone some pignut seeds.

Some lovely mare's tail clouds to the NE right now. More

Love to MacSp and anyone else who needs a kind thought just now.

I'm glad they brought you pleasure, Soop. I daren't tackle the button layout anytime soon. I'll wait for GS to be away on holiday. And I'm going to catch the brief respite in fierce showers to potter in the garden. I do hope McS is on the mend very soon.

I've added two pics of the gunnera. Sorry but you'll need to skip over poorly *MacT's spots and such. I do not yet have the knack of putting the latest images at the very beginning of the album. I'm just not clever enough

Thank you bags and MiceSelf...back to watching Rafa Would so enjoy some Pimms and strawberries.

Have a Pimms and bowl of strawberries on me, soop I've got some here but some blazing sunshine would justify them, rather than the drizzle we have here. Still, Rafa is playing a blinder now and showing us why he's no. 1

Thanks, when you're a good sport. Yes, the match is rather mind-blowing...but then it is Rafa. What an athlete. And gorgeous to boot. Sun is shining here. Not at Wimbledon though. Those fans sitting in the rain on Henman Hill must really love the game.

Can I please have some strawberries, and a Pimms soop? I'm having a quiet sit down before my 'little minx' comes for a sleepover. We're at the potty training and sleeping in a big girl's bed stage, so I'll need my wits about me!

Actually, I'm a bit fed up because my hairdresser sent me out yesterday, with the most ridiculous hairstyle, and I feel quite hurt, that after 8 years of doing my hair and being a friend, she thought I'd be happy with it. I did say that I would frighten the neighbours, but she just said that she liked it.
I do usually tell her if I'm not happy, but I don't quite know what happened. I will take a deep breath, it's not important in the grand scheme of things.

soop I love that pic of you and bags, you both look so serene
Hope MacS is still improving.

Potty training at this end, too, Lona. A damp patch in the bottom of the potty was duly photgraphed and texted to mummy at work yesterday, with much celebration. The puddle on the floor was quietly wiped up and ignored!