Soop's welcoming and supportive kitchen for kindly folk...

BladeAnnie I came back to say that your blanket is a work of art. Congratulations!

Also, as I was eating my meal, it occurred to me that Maw's beloved dog Harriet is my next portrait-in-waiting. I painted Grace's portrait some time ago. Apologies to Maw and Harriet.

Thank you all for your kind comments means a lot.
Went to see see my cousins son and daughter this afternoon it was was nice to reminisce.
Would love to give Wolfie a hug Kittylester, beautiful blanket BladeAnnie and Soop what a great colour for your door very good taste.
Goodnight to you all take care.

Evening Peeps

Evening all should be here too, Urms. Hope you're not going to stay away long and that you're feeling better for the break.

dusty as you asked, we had rain at the weekend and on a day two weeks before that, so we really do get rain sometimes. ?

I love the door colour, soop it's just what I found on the internet. I'm surprised that you can afford to paint with the cost of haute cuisine being what it is. You'd think that little Fern would be needing castors by now, but maybe she walks miles between her various appointments! Glad you had a well-earned break with chums - and some laughs.

So sorry to hear of your sad news, yiayia. Life can be so cruel sometimes.

We're possibly similar Jax - I'd rather spend my time in a big DIY store or garden centre than look at clothes stores. Longing for the time when we can just go anywhere we want again - even if it means having to use masks in some places. Freedom = wonderful!

BladeAnnie beautiful blanket. A similar pattern to one which my Mum knitted in cream and bound with wide ribbon when my first child was born. We loved it. One day we were looking at the donkeys on the beach and fortunately holding the baby, when someone just walked off with the blanket. ( Couldn't you just kill people sometimes?!?!?!?!)

Had a very busy day today and feel as if I have caught the sun. I had the unexpected thrill of finding some Night-Scented Stock seeds in the garage and I sowed them 3 days ago. They are all showing green now and it has made my day.

Before wishing you all a lovely evening - and I am going to catch up on The Sewing Bee which I missed last night when our internet connection was playing up - I shall let you have Wednesday's early bulletin. I think I may have caught up then!

Wednesday :

Hope Wednesday is being kind, dear Peeps. If your hair is looking like a Balayage treatment, GG, aren't you lucky? So pretty, and free too. I expect you're looking forward to the hairdresser, but at least your DD's can confirm meanwhile that. you're able to go out and in daylight, without causing alarm to anyone!

I know that they're birds of prey who can stun an entire area of birdlife into anxious silence in a moment when they arrive, but aren't they wonderful, Syn? Well done you for the rescue. I still have some heavy leather gauntless which cover a big part of my arms and which I've used for many things including rescuing 2 Sparrowhawks (who flew into windows and survived) and a Buzzard (the same). The Buzzard was a challenge. I love birds but this bird was BIG. He was fairly cooperative (due to the blow to the head) but when I went later to the sheep shed to check up on him in the semi-darkness after a few hours, he flew straight out of the doorway near where I was standing. I realised how big and powerful he was! He did 3 victory circuits of the orchard before he flew off. I like to think it was a salute to me. (Well, you don't get a lot of excitement in the French countryside!).

And Syn you have had such a time as a family. There was the shock, sadness and surgery. The worry about the recovery. Your poor DH has had this, together with medical treatments, life adjustments, anxiety, stress with endless legal stuff - let's not even get into a Pandemic and life shutting down. But he's triumphed. Now he just needs to understand that once he can sort out his thoughts, his life can properly start again with some real enjoyment. All that dirt, dust, noise and inconvenience is going to result in something wonderful in your home, garden and daily life, so he does really owe it to himself and to you to sort himself out by talking to the right people who can help him. Probably not something he is going to be able to put right himself, however hard he wants to - at least not straight away. So let's keep everything crossed that you can encourage him into taking those last steps to snatch back his life - the life that he and his family really deserve. Loads of people struggle and are overlooked or sadly sometimes don't receive the support they need, so he needs to grab hold of anything offered and use it to make his life and his mental health strong again. Good luck and good wishes to you both.

Don't suppose that the small travelling trollop picked up a paintbrush in any of her recent visits, did she soop? Thought not. The final shot of your recent sunset pics is breathtaking and quite magical. Nature's pretty wonderful but sometimes the skies are beauty beyond description.

I'm off back to the garden to speak to check up on my man in the pool. A painful knee joint has slowed his tiling progress (No surprise there then!) As I have told him on many occasions, he would never allow me to behave in such a reckless fashion!

See you soon everyone and enjoy the day. x

Beautiful colour for your front door soop it really looks welcoming and so nice against the white walls and windows, looks like you’ve done a really good job - now a well earned rest I hope!
I love the blanket BA I think it’s always so nice to have a handmade baby blanket. When my DGC were tiny I knitted them all blankets and they’ve been used ever since in all sorts of ways - I’m sure it will be treasured for a very long time

Yiayia so sorry to hear about your cousin. That must have been quite a shock.
Galen you had us all going there ?
Hope your DD3 makes a good recovery Kitty . Love Wolfie’s bowler.
What a beautiful blanket BladeAnnie that will be a lovely gift.
Lovely front door soop. Very welcoming. Good to hear Fern is in for dinner.
Urms if you’re reading, hope you’re ok. ?
You too Maw still miss you and wish you were with us.
charleygirl haven’t seen you around much recently. Hope you are ok.
TOYA ?

Doodle I have been nowhere and done nothing hence the silence!

Maw in time will get another dog. Hattie was gorgeous.

If Duncan is requesting more food and knowing his age, I would be thinking about diabetes.

Puzzler I sincerely hope that donkey is not in your rear garden. I know you have a gorgeous cat and she would not like an interloper.

Yiayia so sorry- she was no age.

My very dear Grandmafrench , you have such empathy and a wonderful way with words. I popped into the kitchen as I was trying to quieten my thoughts before I snuggled down. I now have a warm glow and a smile on my face and hopefully a good night to come, bless you. X

No Charleygirl, no room for a donkey in my garden, it is full of twittering, nesting birds, a hedgehog, a fox and a grey squirrel as well as Mistress Ruby cat.

Grandmafrench -
Your posts are a pleasure, and you are a treasure,
I’m a poet and I don’t know it ?

I hope you had a restorative night’s sleep Synonymous and all other kitcheners too ?

Good afternoon lovely kitcheners - I'm pleased you all liked the blanket . I don't pretend to be good but I do enjoy knitting - a little grey cardigan next. Charleygirl thank you for that advice re Duncan and I'll certainly check with the vet. He did have comprehensive blood tests before he had some teeth out in March and they said for his age, he's in remarkable health but always best to err on the side of caution isn't it? I'm starting to feel rather tired - putting it down to after-effects of my second vaccination which I had yesterday. But I can put up with a sore arm and a bit of tiredness - it's good to know that everything is moving in the right direction. Hope everyone has a pleasant evening and start to the weekend. Virtual hugs to all who are in need of a little comfort

Puzzler I was under the impression that grass was too hard for Ruby to lie on, she preferred a comfortable sofa with a cushion added, all indoors naturally.

I cannot believe I have not had the heating on since mid-morning. It has been sunny today and pleasantly warm although as usual, I went out shopping dressed for mid January.

My neighbours AC and their friends were in their garden at midnight shouting at each other. There is less noise coming from Heathrow and it is only about 8 miles away! Thankfully they rent and will move eventually.

I have put the 16 month old imp In baby jail (playpen) as he is in climbing and touching what he shouldn’t mode. The 6 yr old big brother is playing solitaire on my old iPad.
I am contemplating what to order from the local Indian restaurant for dinner and GrandpaGravy is in hiding ?

I will now try and catch up with the kitchen news

TOYA

https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/202104/medium-954287-p1015540.jpg https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/202104/medium-462915-p1015560.jpg

Another beautiful day spent being very busy and, at the same time, worrying because I am neglecting you lovely lot in our kitchen.

I started off thinking...I shall just do a few last minute touching up jobs. that was at eleven o'clock. One inner door, with 15 small panes of glass has been a buggeration with bells on. Also, Mr Soop needed help clearing away lopped off willow branches...lots of them. Then, I noticed areas where the wallpaper was parting company with the wall. Out came a tube of special sticky paste. Job done.

Her majesty, Fern has spent much of the day lolling on the utility room mat. Three and half meals later, yawn, stretch, ambles off into the forest. I may decide to come back as a cat.

We have decided to take the day off tomorrow. Relax in the garden.

GrannyGravy I do love the sound of the baby jail. I wish that your six year old grandson could teach me how to play solitaire. At six years of age I would have been French knitting, or something like.
Mr Soop is having Chicken Tikka tonight. I'm having a jacket potato with Scottish salmon and an avocado pear topping. Friday nights are quick and easy nights food-wise.

Puzzler Mistress Ruby is a very elegant feline. I love her markings.

Charleygirl Our neighbours are quiet. It's the pesky motor bikes that hurtle along the road and sound like Spitfire planes in action that make me cross. Mr Soop has a special way of cursing them. I on the other hand...

BladeAnnie I trust that you are beginning to feel less tired and sore after your vaccination. As you rightly say, it is for the best.

My kind thoughts are with you all. You are special peeps. I shall do better from hereon and spend more time with you in our kitchen. I want to start the portrait of Harriet on Monday. Any outstanding jobs will have to wait until I've done her justice. Maw deserves as much.

Away to wash and brush up, Looking forward to putting my feet up. A lovely G&T as a special mid evening treat.

Thinking of you and wishing you a pleasant start to the weekend.

‘Evening All’.

Hello my friends in the kitchen. My absence was because of my health anxiety and although it’s not quite gone away, I’m managing better these last few days. It feels good to be back amongst friends again. I’ve decided if I feel okay I’ll post. If I take a dip (because of symptoms) I’ll lie low till it passes.

To be honest I do feel a bit embarrassed by my lack of robustness.

So many on here have genuine health concerns whereas I (hopefully) just have scaredy-cat worries. I’m genuinely lessened in myself by my lack of moral fibre. I find it debilitating and exhausting on bad days. Anxious thoughts suck the joy out of life don’t they?

Anyway.
I know you lovely virtual friends will perhaps understand my flakiness and forgive my indulgence. I don’t want this. It’s a horrible nonsense and I apologise for my lack of resilience.

Today has been a good day. I’m grateful.

Galen - have you tried googling
Tipiak products - buy online.
It's on there. I tried copy and paste but kept going wrong.
Otherwise it's simple to make:
put about half glass medium couscous into a bowl
Pour on same amount boiling water and fork up until the water is absorbed.
you have to add your own bits and pieces - eg a little olive oil, s&p etc.
I used to buy Tipiak products when we were in France - they're very good.
Hoping your scan results are good.

ps - Try again:
www.tipiak.com/product/express-couscous

pps oh dear no way to buy online.

Good late afternoon/early evening to you all. We’re both pleasantly a tad tired, DD and GC’s have been for a bbq, Mr J deserves to be tired after kicking a football with Finley up and down the drive while Imogen built a marble run on the grass while DD had a deserved rest browsing a Joe Brown’s catalogue. Of course no one allowed in means no help, so much toing and froing by me, it’s easier when we all muck in and it was cold when the sun went in, blankets came out. Fin asked if he could take his home, I pointed out he was not in a posh hotel where sundries are in the price! It was so lovely to see them, so hard not to hug, especially when they left. Mr J did a sterling job clearing up and I’ve either caught the sun on my face or wind burn.
Urms as a fellow sufferer you are forever welcome, or excused.
So a quiet evening chez nous with a glass or two, should be the last frost tonight, so lots of seed sowing tomorrow. Take care all x

Hello lovely kitcheners, I’m just popping in to say hello after a busy but enjoyable day
Lovely lovely pictures soop thank you and I hope the neighbours much quieter for you tonight charley
So pleased to see you again Urms ?
Sounds like a lovely day jax even though you’ve been busy toing and froing - enjoy your well deserved restful evening
Both DGC were dropped off home this afternoon complete with bags of clothes, games and cuddly toys. My eldest DGS age 7 still has his baby light up turtle that helps him sleep at night so it travels everywhere with him - bless him he’s had it since he was born
The house is once again tidy, the children’s beds stripped, washing on the line and order restored. .. but it’s far too quiet now and feels a bit strange.. never mind I’m sure they’ll be back soon. It’s now time to open the wine that I’ve been looking forward to all week and chill out on the sofa ?

Hello all and an additional "Evenin' All" to Urms.
An other tired body here. Managed to weed part of the rockery where the three new plants are going. I divided all of them an ended up with 10 plants. Had to dig up a rose the other day. It's done very little for two summers now. I have really no idea how long it has been in the ground. I'm not a rose person but have decided to buy one from David Austin. It's called Lady of Shalott.

I too prefer garden centre and nurseries "Jax" and grandmaFrench. My list for the visit to a nursery on 27th is growing.

Hope the weather stays fine for you and I tomorrow "soop". We are wanting a lunch out after our 2nd vaccination. Enjoy your relaxation in the garden.
How was the wine brook and Jax???
We're hoping for no more than a sore arm tomorrow like last time BladeAnnie. Hope yours has settled.

Time to fill a glass with wine
A pinot blanc will be just fine
????

Good evening the kitchen! What a day!
Collected the clicked shopping, garden furniture arrived ( well, most of it ?), surgery phoned and invited us to go now for second vaccine, swept and tidied the patio, then started cooking for our picnic with DD & SIL tomorrow. Very excited!
Sausage rolls, with added apple sauce, and carrot cake muffins on the table for supper.
Glad Fern is about - wouldn’t it be wonderful to track her?!
I hope everyone has a good evening.

Hello the kitchen! Very tired after a hectic but lovely afternoon with our four grandsons.Football at the park then tea in the garden the first time for over a year so very special and really cheered me up today.
Nice to see you back Erms and hope you get some help for your anxiety.
Thinking of you all sleep well.

My goodness you all seem to have so much energy and are involved in such busyness, feel quite wistful really.
We had my cousin here today and seem to have been busy trying to keep up with her but she enjoyed herself and was pleased to have done some cutting back in the garden.
Urmstongran x
No builders today but very frosty so just hoping the concrete footings went off ok. If I have the term correctly you will know what I mean!?!?

Syn, Puzzler, Urms, Muse and all the wonderful people here - or temporarily 'doing a Fern". Hope your day has been a good one.

I love to visit when I can
The Kitchen is a pleasure
You're all such kind and selfless folk
Your company I treasure.
We come, we go, we're here and there
And some days we are missed
It's wonderful the lives we share
But I've a secret list
Of things I'd really love to do
In time when we are free
A meet up with the Kitchen peeps
And Soop to pour the tea.
I'm certain if we wish for it,
We'll make that dream come true
Until then......sending love and thanks
From me to all of you! ???

Bravo Grandmafrench ? ?
My brother wrote poetry, something I didn’t know about him until after he had died. It’s a gift to be able to express thoughts and feelings in verse.