soop's kindly kitcheners and pampered pets...

grannyqueenie and Juney64 A very warm welcome to you both. Us lot will make you feel very comfortable. [cake]

callgirl1 That is a super-special photograph. I love your husband's expression.

bags I like a doctor with a quirky sense of humour.

DaphneB The cat video made me chortle. Charleyg is right. Rory refuses to stress himself.

NellieM My word, the boys really are looking "all growed-up" as Torben would say. Do you print your images? Both deserve to be mounted in an album.

corner Your message echoes many of my feelings at this time of the year. If only we could wish away the sorrows of this world.
A friend who lives close by, attended a family wedding over a month ago. During the reception, she has a stroke. The life-support machine was turned off yesterday.

Gaga Thank you for your kind thoughts. Have yourself a very merry carol singing session around the Lobster Pot tree. Any photos? I would love to see them.

Swanny I had a kitchen cupboard turf-out-session during the week. Hated every minute of the boring/muddlesome task. Discovered a ginormous packet of kettle crisps. Use by date January 2015. But, oh the joy when I eventually finished and felt all puffed up with self satisfaction. Daft as a brush - me.

Swanny please do it, you will not regret it and you will feel so pleased with yourself. You may have if you finish the task, not before.

Hello everyone,

I've never been to Soop's Kitchen and thought I'd stop by to introduce myself. I'm Juney. From what I've read so far, Newbies like me should really bring cake so ... here's some cake. ? and here are some for the table.

Thanks to all kitcheners for the lovely tree, flapjacks and you tube links - you're making me need to get the Christmas stuff out of the (indoor) shed. Unfortunately I told myself nothing like that happens till I've sorted the kitchen cupboards They're at the halfway stage at the moment - do I shove it all back in till January or do I get on with it NOW? Maybe another while I decide ...

Perhaps if I help someone else with a virtual sort-out that will excuse me from doing mine ...

When the mood hits me Charleygirl I sit down, breathe deeply and wait for it to pass

cornergran there is only myself to cater for here and to date I have food sorted until Christmas Eve so unless I get a move on it will be 2 boiled eggs with toast on Christmas Day and a repeat on Boxing Day. I am in the mood and this mood may not return for a year or two so I strike while the iron is hot.

I will take time off this evening to watch Strictly and vote for Ore. My bedroom, usually very tidy, looks as though it has been burgled.

Daphne loved the cats and Nellie loved the photos of the children. Have to admit that sand glue is beyond me, maybe I do not get out enough!

That posted too soon! gagagran that sounds cold but chilly lovely and will surely put you in the Christmas spirit (for mulled at least).
After being so well up on my Preparations for AGES as to be smug , I really need to spring into action today, tree needs to go,up, a bit of advance cooking for US for the intervening period (lots of macaroni cheese perhaps) and wrapping the final presents so that the othe spare bedroom can be released and prepped for DD's in-laws who will be staying.
But first, I need another nice

cornergran I have the perfect solution for your littlest - a straitjacket. Only kidding, you may have to take him out for the entire time, that or CBeebies!

Well the tree is up in the orner of the kitchen and looks a treat with cornergran's glass angels, lights and lots of chocolate treats hanging on the higher branches - to avoid temptation you know! Sorry if it's a bit early for you soop - just trying to bring cheer to those amongst our kitcheners who need it. It does look rather good! (Could you please ask Rory not to try and climb it do you think?)

I am off to sing carols with my choir shortly, on the quay, next to the lobster pot Christmas Tree with a collection for the RNLI. It's overcast and grey but not windy and no rain so we should be OK.

Hope the day brings happiness and peace to you all.

Quick visit when I should be asleep - again! Our friend phoned just a little while ago full of distress over more actions of others she can't control. We are visiting on Sunday and can do something to right some wrongs, but it's hard to get it out of my head right now. People eh?

Love the idea of a kitchen Christmas tree. We have warm white lights and umpteen glass angels not being used in this year's minimalist Christmas. Would look great in the kitchen.

Been thinking about all the poorly, sad and worried people, hope there can be some healthy, happy space over this Christmas time, even if just for a little while.

The cat videos made me laugh and the photos have made me smile. My current preoccupation is how to stop littlest destroying the Christmas tree in his home in the 11 hours we have responsibility for him on Monday. After 11 hours and 30 seconds he can be as creative as he likes , but not on our watch. Not sure how we will accomplish it, all (helpful of course) suggestions appreciated

I'm impressed that anyone could think of a sort out pre-Christmas, let alone do it. Good for you charley, you'll get there. I'm a hopeless case, full of good intentions, although I did manage to part with a door for which there was no room recently. Progress of a sort .

Take care all, volunteering tomorrow so a busy day, see you soon.

https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/201612/medium-554731-img-20161212-094756.jpg https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/201612/medium-63943-img-20161212-102105.jpg

I have come in to see whats going on. I have been busy cleaning the house for once. This is much needed after spending most of my spare time in my garden last summer.

On Monday I was in charge of the little boys while my DD slept off a night shift. I had a lovely time with them.

Little one decided to sit on top of the lego in the box. It probably does not hurt with a nappy on.

The big one was outside making "sand glue"??? with the sand pit sand? At least he seemed to know what he was on about.

I got lots of hugs in when they were both sitting on my lap watching "Simon's Cat" animations .

www.youtube.com/watch?v=jckLWc1ilEI

A water pistol comes in handy - apparently!

Hello kitcheners, I pop in now and then since I'm nosy and like to know what's going on but usually just sit quietly in the corner without saying a word. But I'm struck today by what a supportive place the kitchen is for anyone having a tough time. Good wishes to all whose lives are especially difficult this Christmas, especially Ann60 x

I think it could be my new Christmas greeting, especially after meeting Scrooge last week and having caught the flu since then.

Re bahhumbug: Minibags had a doc appointment this afternoon and the doc had a lit up xmas decoration in his office that said "BAHHUMBUG"

This is one for all you mad cat ladies cat lovers !

callgirl
Bah humbug!

Daphne that would be far too much exercise for Rory! I loved it.

The amount of virtual chocolate I will be eating from the tree means I will be putting on virtual kilos methinks.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=nn2h3_aH3vo

I fear this might be Rory and the Kitchen Christmas tree!!

This photo caused some laughter here, hubby and youngest son a few years ago, not really looking in ho-ho mood!

Jalima I decided to start in my bedroom because I would have been horrified if anybody had to look in my wardrobe which is the length of one wall so more than large enough for my needs, especially as I have similar in another double bedroom.

bags That tree is a work of art. I love it.

callgirl1 You are in my thoughts.

DaphneB I'm hoping that your husband is beginning to pick up after his blood transfusion.

Away to do the usual late afternoon duties. It doesn't seem five minutes since I woke up.

Lots of hugs for all of you. Take good care of yourselves. I shall return tomorrow.

Hello my darlings. I'm rather late. Had a number of last minute jobs to attend to in Campbeltown. The care home residents had a school carol singing choir visit this morning. On Wednesday afternoon, there will be yet another visit from a different local school. The atmosphere is very festive. Trees galore. Even a specially built hearth, with a shelf on which Santa may pick up a glass of sherry after he's delivered the gifts. All the staff dress up. Our friend was beaming with delight.

Welcome to the madhouse kitchen aggie. Make yourself useful at home.

Thank you, bags about time that really is very decent of you. I trust that you've made plenty to go round. Some of us need the sustenance.

Charleyg A girl cannot have too many long-sleeved T-shirts. Good luck with the task that you've set yourself. I'm also tidying and flinging stuff that clutters into a very large sack. The fabric will all be re-cycled.

Jalima There is still time to dress the tree. Our is nowhere to be seen. I prefer to wait until the final few days. It's what my parents did. As children we didn't see the tree until Christmas morning. I've very happy memories of waiting at the top of the stairs until my father called us to "come on down..."

Crafting Your message to ann is very eloquent.

Gaga I've some chocolate tree hangings that you may like. Just don't go dribbling chocolate down your Christmas jumper. The piano has been tuned. We would all appreciate some merry-music-making.

Greyduster Some grumpiness is par for the course. It wouldn't do for everyone to be too jolly, too soon.

Loopylou The photograph is lovely. It put a smile on my face. Thanks for sharing with us lot.

charley they are virtual chocolates so they get magically replaced everytime one gets eaten. ?

jalima sorry you are still feeling poorly. Sit back and have a and we will decorate the kitchen around you

That's a wonderful eggsample of a tree bags . Flapjacks, lovely very yummy. Better not eat too many or I might fall off the tree

That is all on my list for the New Year Charleygirl (apart from the long-sleeved t shirts as I don't have any white ones).
You wouldn't know where to start in my house anyway and nor do I.