Soop's welcoming kitchen for the sharing of...

I am indoors at last. Extremely pleased but extremely tired as a result of today's efforts in the garden.

I am leaving you here with the message - thinking of you all. Please continue to take care of yourselves. You are precious.

Wash-time...change of clothing - and relax. Please may this message not go astray. I'm still befuddled that of late, two of my end of day messages have disappeared into the ether. I apologise.

Tomorrow is another day. Remain optimistic because that's what we do best.

soop I am so pleased that hedge has been trimmed by your neighbour- I remember seeing a photo of MacSporran perched on a ladder trimming the top- highly dangerous.

Smileless Tara says yes, please. The only post she receives these days is from the vet and she is not allowed to make excuses to turn up. She now curls up into a ball to avoid
him. Dylan could possibly give her some pointers there. She prefers to stretch her entire body out and the best place for that is a double bed lying diagonally- bliss.
TOYA

Buggerations in abundance...my final message posted yesterday afternoon, has disappeared again.

I am very rarely ruffled to the degree that I am right now. It's a bit much when I cannot easily bring to mind what the messages were, and to whom they were addressed.

I shall make a mighty big effort to return after this afternoon's gardening duties. I'm on the stretch of garden (mostly wild) that runs alongside one area of the house. It's made up of large boulders (moss covered) and a few interesting small shrubs and pockets of wild flowers. All very beautiful and worth preserving. The downside is, the brambles have decided to spring forth and get mightily tangled with stuff like dead ferns. So, on with the work clobber. Out with the barrow and shears and rake and trowel...and onwards.

Our lovely neighbour has cut our long, high hedge for us. He has all the appropriate gear. Thank goodness that MacSporran hadn't decided to the job himself. We all have sufficient stress to deal with.

Good day from a County offering lovely blue skies but with a rather perky breeze!

I wonder if anyone watched the TV series around the Coast last evening? It was the turn of our beautiful wild Pem,brokeshire.
AS we watched the travel through our beautiful bird islands,rugged coastlines where the jagged cliffs meet such a blue sea it held such a lot of vivid memories for us.I have lived here for over 80 years and my dear man over 54 and we have enjoyed every little cove and clifftop walk.
Now knowing these days are over we certainly shed a few tears.
I think the weight of the burdens others are facing and living through are taking their toll.Whilst I TRY to send uplifting messages believe me I well know the hardships that abound.We may not all follow the same route but there is much heartache and suffering.
Somehow seeing the sheer beauty of our coast again well and truly touched a raw nerve.
Today though it must be "Upwards and onwards" if we are to survive and motor on.

Loving thoughts and blessings to you all.
Panache.

Atta girl, purplepixie sometimes a good telling off of self can work wonders. (And good things to eat - and drink, ?

In 21st century kids’ speak, Izabella, I think Winnie the Pooh is ‘the man’. I do try to be a river, often. I then forget the meanders and become a torrent. Wrong! So glad my little mad cat story made you laugh. Best medicine, laughter. What professional - looking HC buns. You have your own production line there.

Smileless. How lovely. Thank you so much. He’s magnificent. Our Rex looked just like the Yoda from Star Wars, with his little goblin face. He was called Yoda for that reason. Dylan’s expression would make me forgive him anything.....he has the look of ET, I think. My cat was permanently draped around my neck like a collar and often invited himself out in the car! He too would jump onto my shoulder but perhaps because he was smaller (I’m excusing the little monster) he would do this by treating me in the same way as the wallpaper, running from carpet to shoulder rather than jumping! A big ouch!

I suspect Tara, (sharer of your boudoir) may be a bit of a Madam, Charleygirl - more determined and superior in manner to boy cats? I have 3 cats now. The boy, bigger, stronger etc., but the 2 girls totally in charge. They haven’t sustained injuries or got into difficulties ever! Whereas poor Fat Boy? Oh dear, I could write a book.

I have been owned by so many cats....at one time 14 in our household because my Siamese had kittens and almost immediately my H arrived home one day with 5 tiny souls he had found thrown onto a pile of bonfire materials next to his sailing club. Happy endings and a fund of stories. I shall look out a photo of our Yoda when next I venture into the loft : item 452 on our list of lockdown jobs.

Have the happiest day you can, everyone - in spite of the things that test us to the limit. Hugs and kisses from France (all banned) ☹️

Hi all! I’m back in the kitchen after a spell away. To be honest I felt so down in the dumps over the last few days that I didn’t want it to rub off onto you all. I miss my children and grand children so much and I want to cuddle them. Fortunately my youngest son lives with us and he works from home (his bedroom).

I got up this morning, gave myself a shake and headed straight for the kitchen where I have made : cheese scones, peanut triangles, walnut shortbread and put the washing out. I did get up around 6.30am though. This virus thing will not beat me!!!!!!!

You’re all welcome to help yourself and I’ll pop back later with some whisky hot toddies.

Take care x

Charleygirl he's exhausted after his modelling session this morning and is now sleeping; again!! He wondered if Tara would like a 'signed' photo?

Morning ladies. Hope Dylan's photo raises a smile Grandmafrench; you described his face and ears perfectly. They're very much like Devon Rex's in terms of personality and wrinkles.

Dylan's nerve wracking trick when he was younger was jumping onto my shoulder from the floor!! He's grown out of that now but spends most of the evening sitting on my shoulder. He'll peer put of the top of his hammock and stare at our cockapoo just to annoy her. All that's visible are his ears and eyes; she hates it.

You may know this but breeders often used to use Devon Rex's for breeding with a particularly 'good' Sphynx when the breed was becoming established.

Great news about Henry Susan it must be a huge relief for you all. We're so lucky aren't we to have our wonderful NHS.

That's a quote well worth remembering Izabella

Have a good day everyone TOYA

Smileless it is not often we see Dylan with his eyes open! He needs to sleep 25 hours each day- he has a lot to think about and work out. He needs rest for that.

Tara was out all day, as usual, yesterday and before bedtime, she was trying to climb up the door to open the handle. She calmed down when she saw I was getting ready to go to bed.

I am washing every item on my bed except the duvet, mattress and pillows- I will be here for a while! It would be a good time to run a hoover around my bedroom but that may be overdoing it.
TOYA

https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/202004/medium-141188-6f9f21e9-953f-46a5-88db-61e28ad3c900.jpeg https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/202004/medium-273268-fad34437-3bcd-441e-bbee-190fbeb5cc3b.jpeg

Especially for you Grandmafrench.

Before they were gone

Grandmafrench your feline descriptive passage has made my morning. I laughed and laughed at the mental picture. Thank you for sharing.

For all suffering wobbles, worries, pain, isolation, allergies, family worries, frustration etc. and virtual hugs.

CH and i managed to concoct Hot X buns recently, but they all went with alarming speed. I weigh stuff out and set the oven, he does the rest. Teamwork.

MY thought for the day: ^Rivers know this: there is no hurry. We shall get there someday^ Winnie the pooh

Good morning everyone.
Just to update you all on Henry.DD had input from the paediatric registrar,dietician and allergy clinic yesterday and a plan is in place.All took a while as the dietician was coordinating and DD sending photos and emails.We are feeling more positive and so lucky to have had such good and prompt care from our wonderful NHS.
Soop,hope you aren’t overdoing it in the garden.
We have been spending a lot of time gardening as the weather has been so lovely.We are half way through decorating the bedroom and really need to get on with it as like others I feel the lockdown may suddenly end and the carpet fitters will want to come and lay the new carpet.Seems a shame to be indoors when the weather is so lovely,what a quandry!!
Thinking of you all and ? for all with upset and wobbles today.

Kitty I know just where you are coming from - still lots to do but we put it off. I suspect the end of lockdown will be quite sudden when it eventually arrives, to stop people jumping the gun. No time to finish the jobs! ?

Sounds like desperate times have arrived at Lester Towers Kitty. . What a lovely, family together - manic - time you describe. Backing off sounds like a really good idea. When all else fails maybe you and the dog could plan to run away together for 10 minutes' peace.

Any chance of seeing the wonderful face of Dylan then, Smileless. As I am only a recent arrival in this Kitchen and not familiar with his loveliness, a small photo of at least an inscrutable face and big bat ears would cheer me greatly.

We used to have a Devon Rex. Hilarious if you could hold your nerve. He was very small, like a wrinkly suet pudding, and very dog-like, but he had the way of Kato about him...(remember, Pink Panther films?). He could be completely invisible in a room and then suddenly leap out of nowhere and give one a small heart attack. His best trick was running like a lizard straight up the hessian wallpaper and then hanging out like someone on a trapeze wire, before dropping onto anyone passing by. The dogs, particularly, lived on their nerves!!!!!

Do hope you are feeling better, mbmb and that car is now totally fixed!

soop - how are all the aches and pains/ aka the new gardening enterprise? Trust you will be ready to open for cream teas and plant sales the moment the UK is open for business.

Have done so much today I am frazzled and I'm going against all my own advice to slow down! Maybe do less tomorrow. Definitely time for Zzzzzzzzz's I think. Sleep well all and give worries a rest too. x

mbmb hope you are feeling a bit better. Hope you poorly car gets mended.
Love your cartoon kitty sounds like a plan to me.
Hello smileless I haven’t been out for weeks so have no idea what the outside world was like now till I read your description. I think I would be in a hurry to get home too.
Blackberry pie. Oh yes please carillion. Delicious ?

callgirl what a nice picture. You son has a lovely smile.
maw a kind and thoughtful post. ?. Love your Easter cards.
nannytopsy it’s amazing isn’t it that we wouldn’t imagine those masks caused so much discomfort. Hope your little holders help.
Dear soop you are a source of daily sunshine ☀️ to us all ?
carillion many happy returns to Mr C. Hope he enjoyed his toad in the hole (any leftovers can be sent my way) ?
grannygravy nothing nicer than a grandchild’s cuddle.
N&G I wish I could watch you doing the samba. Sounds good fun ?
galen it’s a strange time we are going through. Lots of anxious and worried people about. Still us lot can have a group hug ...........assuming a virtual group hug isn’t banned by the lockdown ?
panache and izabella lovely to hear from you both as always.

Thank you dear kitchen friends. Mr Carillion was a foot taller after I told him of your birthday wishes. Toad in the hole is in the oven. Thunder storms forecast for later?

Hope all's well where you are. Blackberry pie (again ? for anyone who'd like some) xxxx
TOYA xxxx

Good afternoon fellow kitcheners, it's great as always to catch up with you all. This is certainly the place to come to have spirits lifted.

It's strange how this lock down is affecting us all isn't it. I had to walk into town this morning to go to our bank as they'd messed up a standing order; we don't bank on line.

A beautiful sunny morning all be it a bit chilly and I'd normally enjoy the walk but felt really quite anxious especially as there seemed to be quite a few people out and about. It was reassuring to see a couple of policeman about and everyone keeping their distance but I was very relieved to get back home again.

Dylan has a degree in relaxation soop and another for sleeping. It amazes me how much he sleeps!! You're right Grandmafrench he is a Sphynx which makes him hairless rather than headless.

Tears never seem far away at the moment callgirl as Maw says; they're just there under the surface ready to make an appearance. Sending best wishes to your son and hoping that his treatment's resumed in the not too distant future.

What a lovely find Maw had you forgotten all about the lavender from your wedding day or did you know it was somewhere in the house?

Ooh that made me cringe Nannytopsy, your poor toe. Reminds me of when we were first married. Mr. S. went to do the washing up and had been ages so I went to investigate. He'd cut this thumb quite badly so there was quite a lot of blood. I of course wanted to help, told him to show me and then I was lying on the floor with him looking down at me, asking if I was OK. I'd fainted; never have been any good with the sight of blood.

A lovely post Dreamkeeper; thank you.

I think you'll have plenty of time to sort out your roof and garage before this lock down is over kitty. TBH I'm in no rush; better safe than sorry.

Take care everyone TOYA .

I feel totally useless too mbmb. Dd1 has a stressful job working from home, a husband working from home, 2 children a manic dog and she is doing an MA. She is slightly stressed and I cant help. Every suggestion is met with a negative response and her well meaning husband is more of a 'there there dear' type than one to offer practical solutions. I suggested that instead of the whole family walking the dog together she should either go on her own or send them all out and was told in no uncertain terms that bei g together is really good.

I've backed off.

I am more worried about DD2 who is deep cleaning her oven - who knew that was even a thing.

I think I might panic if they said the lockdown is over - we still haven't sorted out the roof or the garage.

Maw, brilliant xx

Lovely cards Mawb!

NandG - I'd love to see a video of you dancing the samba.

Bless you all for your kind thoughts and words about the dreaded UTI. I think between us we could write a book.

I'm so sorry for all of those struggling with health problems and family worries. I also am prone to tears at the moment and it doesn't seem to take much to knock me off balance. I think that's natural enough as we face isolation, separation from our loved ones and anxiety about the future. It's good to be able to share.

I have never felt so useless in my life. To think the only real way to help is by doing nothing is a very alien concept but staying away from others and staying home is all we can really do.

I have managed to book an hour slot for the breakdown people to come out to my poorly motor tomorrow which is a great deal better than just hanging around and waiting for them to turn up.

Thank you for the funny Maw - it made me laugh and I have sent it to the family, where there are lots of dogs!
Panache you are so right as always.
Like others have said, we have plenty to do but keep thinking there’s no rush, lots of time etc. On the other hand it is very pleasant sitting in the sun! ?

A very happy birthday, Mr Carillion. I happen to lurve toad in the hole. Any going spare? I wish.

GrannyGravy So, you're having a lazy day? What a joke! You, my dear lady, are fuelled by something that I would welcome a mere dribble of sometime. A star. Is what you are.

N&G I do like watching the samba. So skillful and precise. I may have wished to learn to dance it...long ago. I did dance a mean jive way back in the rock 'n' roll era. Them woz the days.

Galen Yet another warm and gentle hug from Kintyre.

A lovely post, Dreamkeeper. I believe that your new name is even more suitable than Panache. x

Izabella

Maw Precious cards standing alongside your treasured handsome husband's photograph.