Soop's newest kitchen for the gathering of kindly folk.

That`s wonderful news for Mr. Soop, you must both be over the moon. Maybe the Highlands are still beckoning?
My memory is terrible these days, and if I try going back I lose my way, so here`s hoping that all you positives soon become negative, so you can enjoy our spring and summer.
Grandmabatty, I love your tulip painting, it deserves a frame.

Thank you ladies, Jax,Baggs*,*Brook*,*Shazza and Urms. I hope I haven't missed anyone out. If I have, it wasn't intentional! I appreciate your lovely comments. I find drawing and painting absorbing. I'm off to bed soon. See you all tomorrow.

Hello to everyone, I’m just opening up the kitchen today as it’s been quiet all morning, I think everyone must be out doing the Easter egg hunt ?
I’ve made a fresh batch of hot cross buns for us to share, they’re ready now and calorie free of course!
I’m going to sit for a while by the window just watching the world go by and listening to the birds singing

Hi brook I’ll sit a fair distance from you! I’ve scrubbed the outside tablecloth and hung out a wash, it’s glorious here, poised to test later ?. I’ll have a bun thank you.

I’m here too brook please make room for a little one near the window by you and I will enjoy a hot X bun, thank you.
I like the original fruit ‘n’ spice ones - can’t be doing with apple +cinnamon and chocolate ones (old fuddy-duddy that I am).

I think our kitchen friends are enjoying the warm sunshine (in England anyway). It’s a rare but welcome thing at Easter.

DD is coming soon and I will give her an Easter Egg. She is too old now for a Hunt. ?

Happy Good Friday all.

Hi Jaxj are you testing negative yet? How are you feeling?

Sorry x posts, - please let us know the result later Jaxj.

I’m waiting until the last minute before possible release to the pub Tilly about 4pm, it’s glorious here, pub garden, well patio, will be busy.
Lovely flowers, you do spoil us, thank you.

Hi all. Brook a hot cross bun will be very nice, thank you. I hope the covid sufferers are all on the mend and testing negative. It's cloudy but mild here. I've been to Aldi and put out two washings. I've done some housework too. Shortly I'll weed the front garden. Then I'm settling down to watch tv and maybe knit. A peaceful Good Friday to all.

Lovely Easter photo Tillytrotter

Lovely day ladies?? it came a bit cloudy earlier so put a long sleeve top on.
Today we have one of our lovely Gransnetters coming round for a cuppa with her DH. Feel ashamed to say it’s bought cake. It will be lovely to see them. You are of course all welcome too. It’s lovely sat out in the garden it lifts the spirits. Enjoy your afternoon?

A large plate of hot cross buns (M&S) dripping with real butter here for you lovely lot to nibble on. Tuck in!

Thank you, Tilly the flowers are lovely. I shall sample one of your buns. they sound too good to resist.

Grandmabatty Your painting deserves to be framed and displayed.

This is not a euphemism soop but they are brook ‘s buns - fresh from her oven. She is a generous lady.

Thank you Soop. That is praise indeed. It still needs a bit doing to it first though. I've weeded the front garden and my knees are suffering. I have a very invasive creeping weed which is fighting its way through a barrier and gravel. I suspect I'll have to resort to weedkiller soon. Tea and a legless lamb biscuit. Or an earless bunny.

Afternoon kitcheners. Warm and dry here with amazing birdsong. Spring has settled in.
Quick trip out this morning. Enjoyed hot chocolate and a hot cross bun. I told DH that when I was a child local bakers only baked hot cross buns for Good Friday and they weren't available the rest of the year. He looked bemused and I am beginning to wonder if I am imagining things.
Grandmabatty do you use a stool or cushion when you are weeding? I am very impressed by your gardening.
I did succumb to the urge to dust though only for about ten minutes yesterday. It gave me bizarre satisfaction. Probably won't for another few weeks... Hoovering, baking and generally moving stuff around is my usual housekeeping routine. I do love mopping floors and cleaning bathrooms too.
Wonderful news soop.
Hope test goes well Jax.
Beautiful flowers Tillytrotter. Thank you.
Best wishes to all

I have a confession. I made a rash decision to iron all the freshly laundered bed linen. The sheets and duvet cover took an age. I am now hot and bothered and in need of a . Please do not be berate me. I know that I'm a fool.

Dogsmakemesmile I also remember hot cross buns being baked on Good Friday. The family used to dress up for Easter Sunday. My mother would whiten our buckskin shoes and we had to sit on the kitchen table until we were ready for the Sunday afternoon stroll. For one Easter, she knitted angora boleros for my sister and me. My sister's was powder blue and mine was primrose yellow.

Ahhh! brook, your home-baked bun was delicious. I very much doubt that it was calorie-free. My waistband says otherwise.

I am waiting for a friend to call in as she is familiar with the dog that I'm having great difficulty painting. I've half a dozen photos. Some taken inside and some outside. In every image the dog's curly coat is a different colour - ranging from ginger-ish to golden-beige. I cannot afford to ruin a third attempt.

Dogsmakemesmile no, I hunch over and bend ze knees. It isn't good for my back or my knees! I've just washed all the floors (easy in a bungalow) and I'm having a juice. Soop you must be feeling better to attempt ironing though, so look on the bright side.

Hello Kitcheners.Greetings from Derbyshire we are staying with DS2 for Easter. Very good news for Mr Soop and not long to wait,my DH is having his cataract done next month after a short wait so all good.
Sorry to hear you have covid Muse hope it goes very quickly.Jax hope you are negative today?
We have been feeding the alpacas today they are very greedy.

Hurrah! -ve, MrJ is too, as he’s been testing regularly, he seems to have swerved it, jammy.
Dogsmakemesmile in the late 70’s our baker only made hot cross buns, people would pre order, there were always big queues.

I have located a Good Friday sunset photograph from a few years ago. I would like to share with you all. Very best wishes for a pleasant weekend. I am hoping that everyone has something to be grateful for.

I shall raise a G&T to you later this evening. With love.

Hurrah Jaxjacky you are free of the pesky Covid virus.
Enjoy the Easter weekend ?

A lovely afternoon in the kitchen amongst friends and beautiful spring flowers - thanks Tilly
It turned out to be a gorgeous afternoon here and I’m so pleased that we’ve got some nesting birds in our little bird box. They’ve been flying in and out all day with bits of moss and twigs. So lovely to see them
How good to be spending your afternoon with another Gransnet pal Shazza please say hi from me ?
Soop please stop ironing, did you know that all the best people have crumpled bedsheets these days . … just sit by the window instead and admire your beautiful view - I’ll join you with a G&T later
Yessssssssssss fantastic result Jax enjoy the pub latir with Mr J ? ?

I really envy you those stunning sunsets soop, here the sun sets behind the woods at the back of the house so I rarely see much of it.
It’s been a beautiful day here, I sat outside crocheting and listening to podcasts, bliss! I have done 3 hanging baskets and 4 pots and the washing has dried so I am a very contented bunny this afternoon.
And we have a number of baby goldfish in the pond - all black at the moment so it’ll be interesting to see what their adult colour will be as we have traditional goldfish and shubumkins too!
DDog is snoozing on the sofa with DH, I may just have a slice of simnel cake with my cuppa.
Wishing everyone a peaceful weekend x

Good afternoon dear Kitcheners. It’s lovely to read all your happy news, time spent with family and -ve texts for JaxJacky and DH.

Our Good Friday plans have been scuppered by a flare up of the gout. I have had very little sleep, any touch is painful and walking is agony. Mr. B has been playing nursemaid and pottering in the garden. I have been doing sweet FA. I have a good supply of Colchicine so fingers crossed it will be better on Sunday for the family get together after another day of rest tomorrow.

We are bemused as to what has triggered it as my diet is quite healthy. Anyway, I’ll love you and leave you as I don’t want to drag the happy mood down. TOYA

Blossoming my DH used to get gout some years ago. but since his doctor put him on a tablet that he said he would have to take daily for the rest of his life, he’s had no more problems with it.

I realise treatment options might have changed now but I’ll have a look later and find out which medication it is.

Fingers crossed for all the covid warriors, that you recover well and can complete your plans.