Soops kitchen for caring and sharing...

Izabella The stallion is wonderful. I could not create anything as dramatic. Excellent!

I'm missing a few of our lot. Just a few words to let us know that you are coping with all the buggerations that creep up from to time, is all we ask.

I'm wishing more encouraging news from Maw. Hattie is much loved.

Away for today. I shall return tomorrow. I am thinking of you all.

izabella you had me wondering there for a minute. You post a picture of a stallion and then mention struggles with your CHs teeth and eyes ?
I have to say that picture of the stallion is magnificent.
Really lovely ?

Good evening the kitchen. We have had a busy day with some good weeding and lots of washing dried on the line. Now there is a plenty of ironing ...
I hope there is calmness and well being washing round all of you kitcheners.

A late evening All. Had a super day with Littlest and his minders involving much digging in the sand.

The art work is wonderful as are the images you share with us soop. I’ve also been wondering about Hattie.

Wish us luck for tomorrow, need to track down the right person in a huge hospital to make sense of conflicting appointment letters for Mr C. I anticipate a circular telephone experience.

TOYA, take care everyone, it’s still a strange world out there.

Another lovely day here. I read on another thread that Hattie is home again. If MawB did not have pet insurance she would be returning to work because the bill was in 4 figures. Hattie can now rest in her own home.

I had a click and collect an item from Amazon to pickup yesterday but managed to leave the long number I needed in a bag in the kitchen. Something for posting was also left behind but I managed to remember my debit card so all was not lost.

A repeat performance today but it will be after a fellow pressure washes my block paving at the rear.

My washing machine no longer sounds as though it is taking off from Heathrow but it is a matter of time before I have to buy a new one. A new gas boiler is also on the cards so definitely a cheap year.
TOYA

Too true Charleygirl! I could have had a week away for what I have paid but I would not begrudge her it. I would hate to be in the position where I had to decide whether or not to treat an animal based on my finances. So while the insurance is pricey, I think I have recouped what I have paid in the last three years since Hattie came to live here!
I haven’t really felt like posting because I gave not been a happy bunny, but time to think of others and send you all big ? licks.

Good news maw. A hug for you both from a very sunny Somerset.

Charleygirl - depressing that so much expenditure looms but at least lockdown means we have been spending less. I am beginning to resent anything going out of the bank account, which is illogical and unhelpful to the nation, but I am definitely out of practice. Just waiting while car is serviced so will have to overcome my resistance.

Good morning everyone! Bright and cheery here in Suffolk! I am making jam and baking, then more work in the garden. We have rats coming from next door, so we think we need to tidy the wilder corners. It’s a shame as I don’t want to lose our hedgehog. I think a conversation with the neighbour is needed.
We are planning a day at the seaside later in the week - huzzah!

https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/202007/medium-115217-822377b2-7b4f-4ab4-a99a-8026d6bf3dcf.jpeg https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/202007/medium-253230-dd3f6880-8fe4-4cd5-9572-3bf1b6521512.jpeg

Good morning .
In the hope the sunshine has spread to the Kitchen I’m bringing salads for anyone who is fed up of the lockdown pounds gained. (I have my hand up).
I’ve tried to make it as colourful and tempting as possible.
Especially for soop - Scottish smoked salmon to go with.
Flowers for the table also.

Puzzler I am having the same but yours looks a lot nicer.

GrannySomerset, unfortunately, I have been keeping Amazon and eBay in the manner to which they have become accustomed. I have not filled my car with petrol since March!

I did buy another stairlift about 11 months ago but nobody has got around to billing me. At least the money is in my account although not making much interest.

It would appear that the fellow coming to pressure wash my rear garden is not going to bother so I will save my money it would appear and as soon as my washing is pegged outside I will be up and away. I cannot stand late comers., especially when I have a phone and a computer.
TOYA

Some people just seem tardy Charley , as if they don’t need the business.
So yes, you can take your money elsewhere. Good Luck.

Ah well, at least thinking he was coming got me out of bed early. I have voiced my displeasure online- he could have rung or PMed me- I am assuming he got a better offer.

I have to do all I forgot to do yesterday. The sun is shining here but there is a nip in the air.

Puzzler You know how to spoil us lot. Thank you. The weather here is marvelous. Shall we dine on the patio, and watch the gannets sky diving into a teal green sea? You are all most welcome to join in.

Maw You cannot put a price on the love for a precious animal. She is beyond priceless.

Welcome back, GrannySomerset The handbrake on our car doesn't work as it should. MacSporran motored into Campbeltown only to discover that the garage is closed.

MacS has a poorly scalp. For many, many months he's been seeing a dermatologist who zaps the growths and freezes the blighters for a time. The last appointment was cancelled, due to Covid. The scalp looks very angry and ugly. The next appointment is due to take place, over the phone, this coming week. There won't be a lot to show the consultant. It will be a straightforward chat across the airwaves.

Hello soop and kitcheners

We have been eavesdropping outside the door.

I seem to be more nervous coming out of lockdown than during lockdown .

I have forced myself to go to our gym sessions in the park these last two weeks and next week I have booked myself in for three sessions in the gym as it opens on Saturday.
Much smaller classes, we have to wait outside to be called, not sure how I shall feel but will give it a go.

July is normally a busy month for our family several birthdays (including mine) do lots of large gatherings of the Gravy Family. This year is so different, and I am struggling a little.

Sending virtual. (((hugs))) to all

TOYA

Puzzler - the food looks gorgeous and what time shall I pop round?

Maw - I hope Hattie is back home and safe and well. They are our babies and we love them to pieces.

A busy morning baking and doing some gardening - not all together!!! I’ve prepared a chicken, leek and sweet corn pie for tea, a banana loaf for a much loved neighbour and some white chocolate chip cookies for DH and DS. I’ll pop by later with some for you all in this lovely warm kitchen.

I did manage to take some lavender cuttings and plant them this morning - not sure how they will do.

Have a lovely rest of the day and do stay safe and sane. I am going to phone my friend’s house tomorrow to see if there is any new of her. Fingers crossed that all is going in the right directions.

Happy Hattie -relaxing in the sun! With a very fetching blue bandage where her cannula was.
(Apparently she chewed her way through three - go girl! )

Sorry about MacSporran’s scalp soop. Hope he gets it treated soon. It sounds painful.
maw so glad Hattie is home. Give her a gentle little stroke from me.
grannygravy you are not alone in your struggles at the moment. Apart from usual worries and troubles this virus has made us nervous to meet with people and go out. Hope you enjoy your gym lessons and your family get together.
charleygirl it is really annoying when people fail to turn up and don’t let you know.
TOYA ?

Hattie looks contented maw. A dog at home ?

Maw Our Hattie could less stressed if she tried. What a darling she is.

GrannyGravy Snap! July is a very busy birthday month in our family too. When is your birthday? One of our youngest grandchildren will be 21 next week. We won't be celebrating together with them - alas - Leicester is out of bounds right now. However, we shall celebrate from afar. It's the best we can do.

Maw I meant to type couldn't look less stressed if she tried. Sorry. The sunshine has gone to my head.

I wonder if Hattie has any idea how many ‘grans’ are rooting for her Maw. She’s a part of the Kitchen clan now and we want her well as quickly as possible.

I’m later back than I thought, but I’ll collect the (empty) salad dish. Glad you all enjoyed it. ?

On my travels today I went to a Grape Tree shop and bought pitted dates, dried blueberries, pecan nuts, sultanas and lemon +ginger tea bags. I have a recipe for blueberry and pecan muffin cake, I’ll share it when I make it. ?

grannygravy put on your bravest smile and try to enjoy your Gym sessions, and mingling with close family again. It may not be as strange as you think, we are quite adaptive given a bit of time to get used to changes.

Doodle, *soop and Purplep, sorry to have missed you in the kitchen but will catch up with you tomorrow.

TOYA.

Hello Kitchen peeps !

I really have to say I AM TOTALLY THRILLED that little Hattie is back and hopefully getting fitter by the minute. (It's possibly hard to say - since it seems that 'relaxed' is her normal look).
MawB presumably you are back to breathing normally again. I felt your pain, my life changes in a moment if one of mine is ill. I also noticed that Cherry messaged the Good Morning thread. Hi to you, please get well again soon. x

I feel very flat and fed up and not my normal self today, so I'm sorry to drag my misery to the Kitchen. Had a simply awful, surreal visit to Montpellier yesterday. One of our favourite places. It finally brought it home to us both that daily life is going to be very challenging for the foreseeable...with very little hope, at present, of anything changing for the better.

I felt like a victim. We didn't want to use the tram, it's a long time since we were able to visit and we didn't expect the city to feel so bleak. The sun shone, everything looked beautiful, but the business district where we were was like a ghost town. I half expected Tumbleweed to come blowing down the beautiful allées between all the modern architecture. It was so very hot, we had to park in an underground car park where you needed to wear a mask. Huge sign on the door saying just that. We passed only two people, both on the stairs, without masks...so, I'm already wound up. My hair, after half an hour strolling and arriving for our appointment, was practically standing on end and steaming. We have water, we have a fan, we have masks, we have sanitiser. We just feel dirty, every door we use we try to hold open with a foot or a bottom. Each time we clean our hands, we have to practice not touching other things, the car door, the briefcase, files, a handbag etc., We are afraid to go to a café, too hot and tired to relax so we sit on a bench under the shade of some beautiful Plane trees. Not a soul in sight and we both just feel that we have just arrived in an alien place and shouldn't be there. Our appointment is conducted in an air conditioned office by a very helpful man who is wearing his mask - for a whole long hour - so we have to keep ours on and shout across the office through them. Finally getting outside onto the street again, I am really quite tearful. That's not me. We're not even talking, that's definitely not us. We return to the car park, the paid ticket won't open the barrier, I press the help button but can't hear his pointless questions due to all the squealing of the tyres on the painted floors. So I keep shouting "I can't hear, just open the barrier". He actually does! We finally squeeze onto the autoroute and join the rush hour traffic, we're so grateful to get home. I'm still tired today - it's the mental thing that does it. All of it - it's just not normal life.

I thought of you, soop and your tearful fumbling for possessions and inability to focus when you went all that way for your scan! That was me and I didn't have anything medical or worrying to face, it was just some tax business.

I promise to return in a much better mood and comment on all your news and chat. Until then, keep safe ----and sane?
Hugs (and sorry again). x

Soop - sorry to hear that MacS has a sore scalp and I hope it gets better soon.

MawB - That’s great news that Hattie is back home and thank you for the lovely photo. Give her a hug from me.

I’ve just dropped off a Cake Pie in the kitchen, enjoy.

Catch up with you all tomorrow as I have a bit of embroidery to finish tonight.

Stay safe and sane and hugs to you all.