*Soop's* ever welcoming kitchen for kindly folk.

grandmabatty your tales of the boy wonder make me laugh. Bless him ?
soop I’m sure you are too critical of your work but I know that we have to be pleased with things ourself. Hope your next attempt is successful.
muse sorry you and DH are in the wars. Hope things improve soon.
corner that’s a lovely bunch of flowers.
Hope all the kitcheners are ok.

The boy wonder didn't want a nap today. He's at home. Grandma wants a nap and a large glass of wine

Late good afternoon greetings from a person who has ruined what could have been a promising cat portrait. That's another afternoon of housework undone. My fault entirely. I knew at one point, that I should walk away for an hour. I didn't. Now, once again, I must do a fresh drawing and hope that tomorrow I will be that wee bit wiser.

muse I was hoping that Mr Muse would be showing signs of benefitting from his treatment. And now, it is you that needs an appointment. (hugs) for you both.

corner Your flower arrangements are always delightful. Thank you.

Nannytopsy No sign of Sweetie Pie Fern today. We have to remain patient. She knows that we are here for her. That's what counts. She remains very slender (compared with a few months ago). HOWEVER, she is alert and moves well. She wouldn't be travelling from wherever she "lives" if she was sick. That's a blessing.

I now need to clear away the art clutter. Back to the drawing board. Begin afresh tomorrow.

On our walks, we've rescued a few stranded bees. We are making up a small bottle of sugar water which we'll carry with us. Last year, on discovering listless bees, we offered them a spoonful and watched as their tongues sipped it and helped to revive them.

Thank you all for your company. Relax, if you can. We haven't had rain. The air, 'though fresher, is still warm and energy-sapping.

Torrential rain just now came out of nowhere and disappeared within 10 minutes. It has flattened some garden plants! The weather is very odd at the moment isn't it!

Good afternoon all.It’s sunshine and showers here but still warm.Those fires sound terrifying Grandmafrench
I hope you get your appointment soon Muse and your D.H is resting.
I have had vitamin D blood tests done today I can’t understand it is always low yet I’m in the sun as much as possible,maybe I should live in a hot country! Greece would be nice ?Boris is being good but it’s a full time job he his at the chewing stage! This is Yiayia’s summer kennel,we have Harper the Dalmatian next week,thank goodness he his fully grown and a lot easier.
Pleased to hear the black panther has returned Soop.
Take it easy and enjoy your evening everyone.

Mya must have been talking to Billy!

Thank you Doodle. MrM has had swabs taken from his wounds. This was his 5th weekly visit to have dressings changed and they are getting worse. He's under instructions mine to keep his legs up for at least two days. The pain comes when walking. The build will have to wait.

Cornergran My doctor has referred me to a clinic at the hospital. More investigation. I should hear in 2-3 days. He was a lovely locum. Gorgeous flowers cornergran.

Mya is in very bad books. She jumped into our man mountain's Richie's van. Through the open window! Why? On the look out for his lunch! MrM was stood at the kitchen window and spotted her. Richie helps us with the woodland management one day a month. Lunch has just been eaten, by him thank goodness.

Have a good evening everyone.

Beautiful flowers Cornergran

Well I don’t know where my post went! Love the flowers Corner. I shall feel I have made it when I have enough roses to cut one or two. I have planted five roses bushes so far but more are planned.
I hope all you childminding grannies are tucked up and catching up on well deserved sleep. We stopped off to pick something up from DS’s house and had a quick chat with ours. I think they will be with us before long for a sleepover. Mum likes a lie in!
Glad to see Fern is back. Do you think the worming has had any effect soop?

I think floods and fire must be such awful things to deal with and there has been plenty of both recently. So pleased that you are safe GF.
Sleep tight everyone ?

Unusually busy day after more lethargic days than is reasonable. Caught up with the admin, ironed, a trip to two charity shops and the tip with the results of yesterday’s minor clear out, gardening this afternoon with some garden coming indoors with me. Goodness, it makes me tired thinking about it .

Good to see you back doodle, a truly horrific fire grandmafrench, pleased you have a ‘real’ doctors appointment muse, hope your mind can be put at rest.

No storms here so far, touching as much wood as I can. We’re off on a steam train tomorrow, rain is guaranteed .

Goodnight all. Sleep well.

Hello all. Back from my travels. Sorry don’t have a Hope of catching up so will just say I hope you are all well and doing ok. Welcome to anyone new.
Grandmafrench glad to hear you are ok. The fires sound dreadful. I’m glad they’ve managed to put them out.
brook how lovely your son is coming over from Switzerland. I bet you can’t wait to see him .
Jaxjacky glad you had a lovely day. Keep your spirits up ?
So pleased Imogen has healed well.
Soop so glad your Sweetie Pie has made a return. Your portraits are lovely. Haven’t caught up with all the news yet so hope you and the lovely MrSoop are ok.
Grandmabatty “in the garden all day drawing a model in different poses”. ?. You’ve not got one of those live male models stashed away in the potting shed have you? ?
muse I hope MrM’s bites are being well treated. They can turn quite nasty. Hope the building work is going well.
blossoming hope your spirits lift soon and things get better for you.
Hope everyone has a pleasant evening. Take care all. x

Thank goodness everyone was safe grandmafrench. Very scary. Bet you enjoyed the plum crumble. One of our favourites too.

Gorgeous photos soop. Empty bowl.?

Almost a week now since the funeral for Panache. Hope her friends are still looking after her.

Econsult and phone consultation with the doctor regarding the red lump on my lower eye lid. He wants to see me tomorrow after looking at the photos I'd sent.

I think we have thunder rumbling in and hopefully rain.

Take care everyone.

We’ve just had a 30 minute, very wet thunderstorm, came out of nowhere, still rumbling, no watering needed tonight. A dynamic day for me, upstairs all hoovered and ceilings hoovered too for cobwebs, oven and hob cleaned. Returned a book to the library as I thought it was late with a fine due, no fine, result. I need to close the greenhouse, the air is so damp, I’m wary of blight, stir fry tonight.
I’m lucky, this time last year I was emerging from crippling anxiety, not all due to Covid, I still get ‘blips’, a day like today is a treasure.
Good to see SP back soop, I too would sulk after a couple of attempts at a portrait but knowing my nature/lack of artistic ability, I wouldn’t even start, I bow before you in admiration.
Have a lovely evening all, thinking of panache ?

I'm glad the fire has been dealt with Grandmafrench and I'll cross everything for your ds Brooke. It's still 24° in Polmont which is mad. I've retreated indoors and watching Scott of the Antarctic to cool me down. Wee dgs wasn't great after his nap. He's hardly eaten anything and was calling for mum and girny. It's not like him. He got an ice pole and some Calpol to help. I think the heat was bothering him. It's certainly bothering me! See you tomorrow kitcheners.

Scary fire grandmafrench but what a very good and impressive job done by the Pompiers ? Thank goodness everyone is safe

I’ve been busy again in the garden today, it was a bit cloudy and wet this morning but by lunchtime the sun was out again and it’s been a hot and sunny afternoon. Had a lovely video call with DS, I’ve not seen him for well over a year as he lives in Switzerland but I’m so pleased as he’s booked a flight to visit in early October. I’m just keeping fingers and toes crossed he’ll be allowed into the uk without having to quarantine.
What a cheeky boy Billy is hellogirl I hope he’s making amends now and being good for you
Salmon for tea tonight and maybe a glass of wine - I know it’s Monday but ……..

Good evening lovely peeps!

Another Scorchio day here in the South of France, still 30 degrees when I'm about to have supper.

Thank you for the kind thoughts about the big fire along in the next department. It has been confirmed that it was put out this morning. So scary - especially for the wonderful firemen who risk so much to contain such problems and just keep going until they're victorious. To give an idea of the extent of the problem :

Just over 2,000 acres blackened. The Securité Civile have confirmed that it took 1,026 firemen and 'lifeguards', 209 water drops were made by 9 planes and 1 Bombardier helicopter over the weekend! Lots of it was reasonably close to an autoroute which we followed not so long ago when DH and I went to Carcassonne for his Covid jabs. There are strict rules here regarding fires, garden bonfires, BBQ's in the countryside etc., and you can imagine everything is tinder dry at this time of year. This is probably arson or someone just being really careless. We'll find out, I'm sure. No one hurt and only part of a house damaged, so a good job done yet again by our wonderful Pompiers, who ring our bell every Christmas to give us their annual Calendar and accept their usually generous donations from a grateful public !!

Busy day again, GrandmaB - hope you still manage to snatch 40 winks when the wee one is sleeping. Wouldn't do you any harm! Naughty cat, Billy. He is like any cat, I expect, an Opportunist! Wonderful to see little Sweetie Pie, soop. Do you think that the worming might have worked?

You have so much patience with your animal portraits. It's fine to enjoy and spend time on them as you do - but I'm lost in admiration as regards the patience to trash what you don't like, and then start again, and sometimes again...... I'm afraid I'd go into a big sulk! ?

Have a lovely evening all, and stay safe always.
xx

Grandmabatty Your energy supply seems to be everlasting. You have my respect.

Grandmafrench We've been watching the awful fires on the news. Terrifying for all those concerned. Floods elsewhere that have swept away communities. We do count ourselves to be most fortunate. Today, the air is fresher, 'though we haven't seen rain in a very long time.

Hellogirl1 Norty Billy! You can hardly blame him that Lynne's tea was too tempting to resist.

For the best part of this afternoon, I've been sketching Simon cat's portrait. The first two attempts were rubbish. I've plenty of jobs waiting to be done around the house. Somehow, the idea of more ironing doesn't appeal right now.

Away to wash some dishes. Maybe flick a duster over the furniture. It all depends on whether or not I can resist the urge.

We'll meet again tomorrow, I trust. Continue to take the best care of yourselves.

I`m so pleased to hear that Sweetie Pie has returned, hope the gap isn`t as long next time.
Billy blotted his copybook yesterday. I`d put Lynne`s tea out on the kitchen worktop, ready for the carer to give to her, Erika went into the kitchen to fetch it and I heard "BILLY!! Get down off there!" She was just in time or I think he would have sampled Lynne`s tea. He`s never done that before.

I'm glad madam has returned Soop. I hope the fires aren't too ferocious Grandmafrench. The boy wonder is napping but I expect him up imminently to tell me he's had "a nice sleep" and be all rosy from the nap. It's 25° here and sunny. We were at the park this morning and he made a wee friend. Then yelled Hiya to everyone we passed. He saw my neighbour when we got home so of course we had to go for a walk with her and her dog. Then we played in the garden but the wasps were circling so I brought him in after a while. We'll go back to the garden this afternoon. The forecast is for rain and thunderstorms so I'm definitely making the most of the sunshine.

https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/202107/medium-679094-p1016260.jpg https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/202107/medium-640417-p1016261.jpg https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/202107/medium-440217-p1016267.jpg

Blossoming If sharing with us lot will help you in some small way, please remember that is what we do to support each other.

After an absence of nine days, "Sweetie Pie" was waiting on the doormat at breakfast time. She ate three hearty breakfasts. We were over the moon to see her. The photos are far from good. I'm sure that she'll not mind them being shown around the pet gallery.

I'm about to paint a portrait of cat called Simon. He and "our cat" are very much alike. They may even be related.

Sorry, Yiayia but Boris does rather look like 'that type of guy'. I'm sure he thinks he's hilarious. Our dogs are almost dignified these days but we've had instances in the past when fresh home from the grooming parlour, certain members of the family have been known to creep off and stand in the lake - just cooling their tummies, of course! Well, you can't keep a good dog down, can you?

Glad you're safely home Brook and you've had a great time.
Sorry you're struggling Blossoming - is that mood or pain? Whatever, just feel better soon - we're all rooting for you!

Naughty Mr M, Muse - all work and no play, etc! He'd better not get a difficult infection like Cellulitis. Always a risk when it's dirty work and there's a small open wound. Insect bites are the pits!

We had an interesting time this afternoon. For once the garden was totally silent (I think all exhausted Grandparents of small people were having a day off from splashing in pools and encouraging swimming strokes). DH and I were silently swimming up and down. We stopped for a while and DH asked if I could see anything crawling on him. Well, there was a mosquito which I slapped fast and hard and killed it. Seconds later he gave me a slap for the same reason. We tried circling each other for safety's sake - talking and keeping a lookout for the wretched little blighters. Slap! Slap! It got boring and we went indoors. There's only so much insect life that I can tolerate.

It's been very hot again - still 30 degrees at 9pm. I've fixed a dress, located a missing charger, caught up with the news (how depressing is all of that), taken the dogs for a very short walk early today, and discovered that one of my original 2 Clematis is not, in fact, dead and is sprouting again merrily after I cut it down not long after its arrival here. I think I may have overwatered it after it's delayed delivery. A few weeks later and some feed and its pulled itself together. Yay! I'm thrilled.

Feeling like something marginally more interesting than cold food for supper, DH made the most amazing Pork fillet dish with prunes, runner beans and broccoli - and penne. I found a corner that he wasn't using and put a large plum crumble in the oven. I then found a lovely bottle of white which our wine merchant gave to us and we opened that with our meal. G&T's were not drunk this evening but hope that everyone enjoyed theirs, especially you - a busy soop.

I love Alpacas - what a great photo. My friend has 3 and when they're clipped they look like teddy bears.

A friend has just warned me from Normandy that there are big fires up the coast here! I need to investigate this, I think. However, I'm seeing my battery soon to expire, so it's me for bed.

Nighty night all you lovely Kitchen types. Another day tomorrow - hope it dawns bright and sunny and you wake rested and in the best mood to take on the week!

Sleep well - ? Sweet dreams.
xx

Great photo N&G another one who likes ?
It’s been an exhausting day with Boris he came back from his walk this morning covered in mud,we gave him a shower and blow dry and the next minute he’s rolling round in the flowerbeds!!
Enjoy your G&T Soop
See you all tomorrow.

Madgran77 I’ll be watching for advice too. Courgettes gave baffled me so I gave up after 3 years of trying.
N&G. I have a framed photo of my DD and DGD with alpacas. They did a walk with them for DGD’s 16th birthday. Love your photo.

I do hope the struggling eases soon Blossoming. You take care too.

Extra long chat with DD this afternoon while ‘sulky teenager’ was in her bedroom. MrM refused to take the day off ‘build’ ? work today . Two infected bites on his legs and he’s struggling. He’s been made to take some paracetamol.

I’m joining in with the G+T tribe.

Veg and fruit have been water. It’s easy paella tonight, courtesy of an Ainsley Harriott recipe.

Hope all our kitcheners (missing ones included ?) are having a restful evening.

Good evening kitcheners, I’m struggling at the moment and not on line so much but I do try to keep up with your news. Imogen’s arm has healed beautifully Jaxjacky that must be such a relief. Take care x