Soop`s cosy kitchen for sincere and pleasant peoples

Bravo! annsixty us lot are with you.

BladeAnnie I shall paint another portrait of Duncan using the latest photo as a guide to his colouring. Feeling better having made the decision.

This is the photo from which I painted Duncan.

Oh dear! BladeAnnie the photograph that I based Duncan's painting on showed him to be much more ginger than the one I've just this minute seen. Oh dear! I would like the painting back, I may be able to lighten it for you.

Good morning everyone. I will start by answering Muse's question before I forget. I am filling in a form to help out at the local food bank. When I'm back on my feet proper I will apply for other roles. I really want to return to support work.
Yesterday I went to Melrose with DH. Lovely weather. The night before I had slapped on hair dye as looked a bit wild badgerish. Nothing wrong with grey but felt I wanted to look a bit more together. Unfortunately I forgot to check I had applied/washed off the dye properly. Hence if any kitcheners were around in Melrose, I was the person with Iced Mocha ears. Have had a good blitz of kitchen and bathroom. Soup/soop made. Lentil. Waiting for elevenses. As is ddog. He is forbidden scones due to weight but a digestive may drop from my hand. The sun is out. Thinking of you all.

Awww thanks BladeAnnie for confirming that soops beautiful portrait is indeed Duncan - how lovely is that! And soop - is there no end to your talents ? You’re one amazing lady!

It is Duncan and so proud he's such a well known little chap ?

That should have read tea and chocolate cake.

Love the painting Soop. I was going to ask if it was of Duncan, but subsequent posts have answered that for me.
I had a lovely day out today. We met up with my sister, hubby and niece at the Earl of Strafford Hotel just outside Rotherham, had a lovely meal (I can recommend the mini grill), we were joined later by another niece and her husband, and we all went back to y sister`s for tea and chocolate, plus my great nephew also turned up. We stayed later th,an planned, didn`t get home till 8.30pm, Billy`s stomach must have thought his throat was cut, lol!
Love your before and after pics Muse, a serious case of house envy here.
Once again, TOYA

Thank you all for your kind remarks and encouragement.
I am determined not to let age and my slight disability hold me back.
I am going to make the most of the time I have left.
I urge you all to do the same.
Get in as many holidays and experiences that you can.
Nobody can take those wonderful memories away, so make then while you can xx

Thank you for the kind birthday wishes, you’re all so lovely. ❤️

Wow, your Before and After photos are amazing, Muse! How fabulous.

I chuckled at your waiting room comment, Annsixty. I’m sure some curtains and other decorative touches will make all the difference.

Aw, Duncan! Is Soop’s portrait of Duncan? My dd1 has a ginger cat. He came to stay with her for two weeks while his owner went away. Ten years on and he’s still with dd. He’s a daft boy, absolutely besotted with my dd.

Such pretty bracelets, Blossoming. My 3yo GD is a fan of bracelets. Especially mine.

A fairly nondescript day today for me. The realisation we had no food in the house sent me to the supermarket. I normally get online deliveries but we needed to eat today. Everything I needed was available, apart from marmalade, which seems a very odd thing to be missing. Still, there’s always raspberry jam or Marmite instead!

Our teapot developed a leak this evening! It’s a glass Bodum one. Dh made a pot of tea and then realised boiling hot liquid was running over him, coming from the worktop. He spotted that tea was pouring out of the side of the teapot and when I managed to get it into the sink without scalding anyone and emptied it I saw that there was a round hole in the side, about the diameter of a pencil. I can only assume something must have smashed it in the dishwasher.

Now, I need to excavate an elderly teapot from the back of the cupboard to tide us over until a new one arrives. C’est la vie!

‘Evening All’.

A busy but fun day over here. Himself took the Boy Wonder to football this morning so I took L’il Miss to the cafe round the corner where they have a play kitchen too (now open again post Covid). Lunch then took them to the park on a sunny afternoon. Tea time, bath time then ‘film night’ ... with some chocolate. Toy Story IV (which I enjoyed too!). I like Tom Hank’s voice, perfect for Woody.

L’il Miss and I played Barbie Princesses this afternoon . She said ‘let’s take a photo of them Grandma and send it to mummy at the races’. Nice to see them all in their finery. - she usually undresses all of them ...

Coucou lovely Kitchen types

Hope you've had a good Saturday - with the busy, fulfilling, fun and laughter taking precedent over the sort of day when our, "biorhythms", perhaps, are making us feel like we shouldn't have bothered and just stayed in bed ? Fortunately, I don't have many days like that. But it's best not to fight 'em, in my experience. Just slob about and don't stress and hope that the following day will be lots better.

No slobbing here today. Once the weather forecast announced strong possibility of showers (with a warm South Easterly blowing to confirm that), we raced about doing a few things that needed to be done quickly! Cut the lawn, tick! Trim some long trailing plants, tick! Reduce a wonderful jasmine by about a third all over to stop it setting off the security alarm every couple of minutes on a windy night, tick! Pick up endless leaves piled up under the hedges and burnt senseless by the sun, tick!
By the time lunch was ready, I was actually quite tired. Rain? Well a couple of spots on my bare back as I crouched under the hedge, but nothing more. Still, it's done now and we're pleased.

Met some new neighbours. How simply lovely to have someone smile and take my hand. How the French have been managing, I've no idea. At first they were all over the place because shaking hands was off limits. Maybe this lovely man from Savoie is getting his handshakes back in action again. He also promised to bring Belfort and Tôme cheeses as a present when he moves in. I shall have to make him something British. Before The Diet....... I was treating everyone to Bannoffee Pie. I find it's a real bonding thing to cook for friends in another culture. This year I shall do small Christmas puddings - treat the French to a bit of festive Delia, I think.

I so love your beautiful new House in the Woods, Muse. How wonderful are those flagstones. You must have worked so hard to get them looking in such showroom condition. I can see they are just crying out for some lovely shrub in a pot near the door. Won't it be amazing when you are doing all the finishing touches - the realisation of your dream and so much hard work.

That was either a very sneaky way to mention your Birthday, SueD or because I raced through your post laughing at the lots of Fridays and thinking that it's something I do often with days of the week; this explains why I missed the Birthday mention. It is there so clearly. So, if it's not too late can I please send very belated wishes and hope that at least some of your dreams will come true in the next 12 months. Stay well and happy, that's the main thing. ?

Back safely Urms. Lovely that you can just take up your other life again in one easy movement, unlock the door and, and, and, - send that poor man straight to M&S for milk. You never change. Wonder if they have any idea that they are your handy commercial fridge? Hope you haven't missed - while you were away - the announcement that they are going to repay their staff for working so hard through all the difficulties of the lockdowns and pandemic by CLOSING all their stores for Boxing Day this year. There, now you know. So please remember your personal fridge will be locked and barred on the 26 December. No need to panic buy, just don't forget. ?

Either you paint super pet portraits, soop or it could be that you just have 'super sitters'. The latest one of Dear Dunc' is so lovely. What a pretty boy he is (now I've made him sound like a Budgie). Hope you're happy you have a 'Double Dunc', now Blade and hope too that your little DGCs will think the painting is very impressive.

Nice to put your feet up, brook, it does sound as if you've been on the go today. I too love blossoming's bracelets. Just the sort of thing I would wear but I have a 'base metal' allergy problem which extends to silver too, so such a bracelet would not suit. However, I have collected a number of very pretty elasticated bracelets - and lots of them Amber which I love - and wear them often. Anything that doesn't leave marks on my skin is what I have to stick to. But enjoy your skills, Blossoming and provide temptation for many, maybe?

Glad you're flu jabbed, Nannagarra and Ann. Hopefully no side effects either. And wonderful to hear about your new ideas and decoration, Ann. It's probably quite a disturbance of the peace in your home, but I'm sure you'll be so pleased when it's finished. White walls will give you the chance to blend and display so many other colours in accessories, curtains, etc. Nice to hear that you are outing and abouting too - that's going to keep your spirits mostly lifted, especially as winter 'drawers' on!
Keep taking care of yourself, please.

Brilliant, Susan - no tin hats required, just a dear, small boy to hide behind ?. Such a shame you never thought of that before. Isn't it good to hear from a fellow coward vis a vis the dentist! (And I'm not much better.) Jax is clearly thrilled with her visit and the work that's been done, and she'd probably be the first to admit to having medals for dental cowardice! So, nothing should stop you now.

Wishing you all a happy end to your Saturday evening, and good wishes and hugs to any missing Kitcheners.
Well done, soop for keeping a nice, welcoming space for us all and a chance for a blether when we feel so inclined.

If you're having a wee drop of something, there are some little cheese pies sitting next to the hob; or mini meringues to have with your bed-time drinks a bit later.

Until tomorrow, love to you all, esp., Panache and Mattie
And if you do nothing else - keep safe.
Au 'voir from France - or as so many say here quite often, "Allez, Ciao, Bye bye !" (I know. Don't even ask!!) ?

?‍♀️?

Those boots have your name on them soop..buy, buy, buy!
Definitely an owl cat BA, it’s the tufty ears and knowing eyes. annesixty our walls are plain too, mirrors and pictures with good lighting make it comfortable. Pleased you’re out socialising, you’ve given me a nudge to book something.
Your talent is infinite Blossoming I think you’ve got my share too, I just grow stuff, sometimes!
I have house envy muse what an achievement for you both, it looks stunning, modern and cosy, gold stars in order.
Children and GC’s here tomorrow for probably the last bbq, DD will take the pumpkin and squash, there are beetroot in the bag, I’ll cook them and pickle. Nothing special brook but it is special isn’t it, always ?.
Enjoy your evening all x

Lovely painting soop it looks just like Duncan.
Lovely bracelets Blossoming what a talented lot the kitchen folk are.
Brook oh do you think it looks like Duncan too. Is it Soop?
Glad you are out and about a bit more annsixty
muse the new place looks lovely. I bet you can’t wait to move in.
Have a good weekend all

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Good evening lovely kitcheners. I have my G+T ready soop.
The sun came out today so I took a few snaps of the build now the slabs have all been laid. You have a glimpse of part of the south side before and after.

Dogsmakemesmile. What volunteering are you wanting to do? Thank you and others for the mention of the letter. MrM wrote it in one session. His narcolepsy was diagnosed nearly 40 years ago Susan. Much has had to adapted so he can cope, such as having doctor's clearance for driving. His work meant long distances to travel so he always planned in plenty of stops. A journey of 2 hours could easily be doubled if he drove but I do all the long journeys these days.

Rock on soop. Love those funky boots. Another lovely painting. He's gorgeous BladeAnnie.

Is it a change of night attire for Manchester Urm? Glad you got back smoothly.

SueDonim. Happy Birthday to you ?

My DGD would love those bracelets Blossoming. Clever you. I have a photo of her prom night. She and her friends have wrists full of little bracelets.

Lovely to read about your social life annsixty but what a wait for the curtains for your waiting room. I like white walls too and have them in our new home.

Lots of catching up today with emails and chats. Our alarm call this morning was 6:30: Mya. She didn’t eat yesterday. No - she did eat yesterday. Something rotting and probably rancid she found in the wood. I suspected she may deposit something during the night so laid a sheet of plastic by the door. Bless her, she got up and did it there.

Lots have been planned for DD and I to do when she arrives early Thursday morning for four nights. I hope to get MrM to join us on one or more of our trips out.

What a beautiful portrait soop but is it Duncan BladeAnnie? Sorry if I’ve missed something that and asked a silly question! ?

Such talent in the kitchen, what with super grans, jewellery makers, artists, poets, carers, drivers, babysitters, decorators, builders, seamstresses, chefs, gardeners and more besides when you think about it it’s truly amazing what we all get up to!

I’m just settled down with a weekend glass of wine after another lovely day with the DGC and DD2. Nothing special but just helping out with ferrying them to various activities and feeding them in between - lots of fun and laughter though that really brightens my day

Good that you’re getting out and about annsixty and meeting up with friends, always worthwhile doing ?

Charleygirl he most definitely does!!

Duncan is so handsome and I have a feeling he knows it!

Good afternoon dear kitcheners. A lovely unexpected surprise earlier with a visit from DD1, SiL with DGC. To hear "nannie nannie" being shouted as they come up the stairs, just melts my heart ?. SueD a belated happy birthday to you ?. Blossoming I love the bracelets - what a special gift for someone. Talking of special gifts - I received one this morning ? Thank you soop

soop tin hat not needed thank goodness.Luckily Barnaby was on good form and kept everyone entertained.We didn’t stay very long, we have found that is best.It has taken a while for us to find a way to make the visits bearable.It’s sad but how it is.I said to DH I think our strategy has to be to take a cute grandchild with us!

Blossoming and soop, I have to agree with Nannagarra you are both so talented.

Ann, we painted our bedroom white and I thought we had made a mistake but now the curtains and finishing touches are in I love it.

Off to relax after today’s outing and prepare for tomorrow, Henry’s birthday party?

Susan56 Did you need your tin hat?

Jax A feline owl...that is an interesting description. I like it.

Time to log off and wish you lovely lot a pleasant Saturday evening. I shall raise a glass of G&T to you at nine o'clock. Slainte!

annsixty Knowing that you are continuing to more treats, is heartening.
We have dead plain walls in our home. All the colour comes with textiles and paintings.

Nannagarra I expect that we'll be called to have our flu jags any time soon.
It is warm in bonnie Kintyre but right now, the sun is hiding behind fluffy white clouds. All set for a big change at the beginning of next week. Well, it is autumn.

Blossoming I have always liked beaded bracelets. When we lived in Cornwall, a lady made and sold a lot like your pretty examples. I have a wee selection. I prefer them to anything chunky and clunky.

Another one flu jabbed this morning, good afternoon all.
So far no effects of the jab but then I really never do.
A neighbour invited me for coffee and biscuits this afternoon, I went out for a lovely meal with a glass or two of red last night so my social life is picking up.

I have no curtains yet in my newly decorated lounge and it will be a month or so before they will be ready, I have had it done all white so it has the appearance of a waiting room.
I can’t say I feel relaxed and comfortable.

I have arranged to have the hall, stairs and landing done the week starting October the 18th.
Then I am done until next spring.

Kind thought to all especially those with difficult lives just now.
TOYA.

Good afternoon, kitcheners. Such talented and artistic ladies you are soop and Blossoming; your creations are lovely.
Flu jabbed this morning, I’m now enjoying the warmth of the sun.
Enjoy your day everyone.

Lovely, Blossoming. My parents used to make jewellery and I’d spend many a happy hour helping them.