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

Soop 💐 I think sometimes we have a surfeit of sadness in our lives. It's as if one sad occurrence attracts more.
Today I made butternut squash and sweet potato soup. It's a little thin for my liking but it tastes nice. I have also taken a leaf out of Brook's book and tidied up the bed in the front garden. I've done a small ironing and spoken with my lovely aunt who is suffering from a cold. I have enjoyed pottering today and I think my energy level has increased with the milder weather. I will have roast chicken for dinner and make custard to use up eggs and serve with sponge. Have a good evening Kitcheners.

Good afternoon kitchen pals, just catching up on everyone’s news.
Sending 💐 to soop, it’s always lovely to see you whether news is upbeat or not, no need to apologise for anything
I’ve also been out in the garden for a couple of hours Grandmabatty, it always cheers me up and I feel better afterwards even though it’s still cold. I did a few indoor jobs too, mopping the kitchen floor and cleaning the bathroom 😇
Pleased you enjoyed your day yesterday Jax hope today has been good too

Very quiet day today in Dunblane. What I call a nothing kind of day grey and uninspiring. Made soup this morning red pepper and lentil with smoked paprika help yourselves to a bowl. I have been type1 diabetic for 36yrs and am interested grandmabatty what you use to sweeten your custard and cakes. I used to use fruit sugar but since Covid can’t seem to find it. Hope all those struggling find some comfort soon.

soop they’re not cheap I’m afraid, but much more useful as you can drive them in the cold and rain ( not, I’m sure, that you get such horrible conditions in Scotland!)

Scapa I use sugar but only a teaspoonful. My big problem is portion control. So the custard will do for dessert tonight and my grandsons tomorrow. I use a little honey to sweeten anything that needs it like porridge.

A bunch of 💐 for Soop. We have finally got the room sorted for the decorators tomorrow. OH is exhausted. There is a beef and beer stew in the oven - dumplings will be added later. I have made a batch of crumble mix and the raspberries are waiting to be transformed. Cream is whipped - one of my favourite things in the world. OH is making us a cup of tea. Pottery off is on later. Have a good evening.

‘Evening All’.

We’ve had a lovely afternoon here with my stepfather. When he came up in the lift for his dinner he said “last time I was here you had just put Christmas lights on your balcony!”. We all agreed it was good to resume normal service. And he is always so appreciative of my cooking!

Thoughts with those on here who seem to be struggling at present. Life can be draining sometimes can’t it? x

Soop, I am sorry you have more sadness in your life right now. Let us lot be a support to you when you have troubles. The blessing of somewhere like this is that no one person has to shoulder everything, between us we can hold you up. Xxx

Galen I love your little vroom vroom! 🏎️ I hope you are feeling better now.

I am thinking of everyone here but the days have flown away and now I’ve forgotten all I wanted to say! Friday we looked after my GS which included doing battle with a new car seat for him. They are so heavy and awkward to install nowadays.

On Saturday I had more grandma duties while his mummy, sister and Dh all went to see Puss in Boots! GS napped for a couple of hours then we went to the garden centre for a snack and he was entranced first by the sun-spinners and then by those resin animals you can get for gardens. The little family stayed overnight and after wrecking the house this morning left to get their daddy from his outing to the rugby and on to wreak more havoc in the other GP’s house! 😂

We’ve taken it easy this afternoon after gathering up all the toys and books and cleaning the floor etc. A quiet evening awaits. Xxx

Hi all, woes welcome here soop you share ours.
A quiet day today apart from my daughter whirlwinding in to borrow an oven dish, she has keys and had phoned before. So it was in, grab dish, ‘you both ok?’ and off, with a ‘love you both, thanks Mum’.
Did some washing and a small chicken being cooked, it’s been dull all day here with intermittent drizzle.
Have a pleasant evening all.

A quiet day here today we have been moving bookcases from hall and landing ready for decorator coming tomorrow . Brooke your son and colleagues are to be admired.Soop hope antibiotics are working their magic.Galen love your 🚗. I am awaiting a x-ray on hip I have a spur on my hip which is nipping nerves etc which is now impacting my walking especially up hill and steps. I will be having injections then maybe total hip. Have a good evening all.

Cloudy here too today, no drizzle though. Enjoyed planting a rose and a shrub, both in tubs so no digging required. Enjoyed the ironing a little less .

Worrying news from our goddaughter late last night, her Mum had fallen and was on the way to hospital. They both spent 17 hours in A&E before our friend was discharged back to the Home. No major physical damage identified other than a broken bone in her thumb, the real worry is she is much more confused and is struggling to speak. A huge deterioration. I’m hopeful being back in familiar surroundings will help. I also hope her daughter will finally get some sleep, her own health is far from robust. It all makes me very grateful that Mr C and I are able to live fulfilling, independent lives and not worry our family in this way.

for Mr and Mrs soop and for all struggling with life or loss

It’s feet up here now, there will be a glass (or two) of chilled white and Vera on tv.

I hope you are feeling much better soop and the antibiotics are doing their best for you.
We did some gardening which was very satisfying, then DS & DGC arrived, so that much could sleep in peace before her night shift. We all watched the rugby - well done lads!
Roast chicken etc in the oven, shouldn’t be long now.
Enjoy your evenings everyone!

Mum not much !!

Hugs to you soop, life does sometimes get a trifle wearying when there’s so much sadness around. I do hope your uti b…..s off quickly, they’re miserable aren’t they 🤗
Here on the hill in Wiltshire l’m ‘redesigning’ my small back garden, it’s muddy and bitty. DH is rolling his eyes but I know what will make it simpler and easier to manage (he doesn’t do gardening unless it involves chainsaws/tractors/demolition and boys’ toys 🙄)
So, remove the small vegetable bed (there’s only two of us and nothing grew well in it except weeds!), because it’s on a slope I’m having it levelled and a simple patio laid. There will be a step across it to make it level.
Then I will sort out my many pots, move the swinging chair down onto the new patio and bingo!
Well, that’s the plan…

I have frogspawn! It’s even earlier this year

That is early Galen, we had it on Valentine’s Day last year but it all got killed off by a frost- sadly that’s been the case for the last few years.
I haven’t heard any frogs yet, they’re incredibly noisy once they arrive!

Good morning, dear you lovely lot. Thank you for your understanding. I appreciate your kind support.

Something special has made us both break out in ear-to-ear grins. Middle son sent six videos of our four great grandchildren. What a spirit up-lifter! Perhaps it's a way of bridging the distance in miles that often makes me feel sad. Knowing that all the family is healthy and thriving is our main concern. However, those videos are a bonus with bells on.

Galen You are right. Your wee mobility scooter is not cheap. Mr Soop continues to think about the possibility of trading in our present car for a more suitable model. I shall not hold my breath. Although I am a very patient person ( and will continue to broach the subject from time to time )

Good afternoon, Soop and lovely Kitchen people!
Soop, the children's videos came at the perfect time to lift your spirits. I had a nice wee WhatsApp from DGD today, it certainly made me smile.

I'm not long home from a funeral this morning, a lovely lady parishioner who died recently, a few days before her 98th birthday. I visited her regularly as she had been housebound for several years. Lockdown was no problem for her, that was her ' normal '. When I couldn't visit due to restrictions, I'd phone her on a Sunday after Mass, we'd chat together then pray together. She was a lovely lady, the maiden aunt of her family. I was invited to read at her funeral, my pleasure and privilege. 💕🙏R.I.P.

Now DH and I are off for a wee overnight, east coast of Scotland this time, we usually head west! We're treating ourselves to a sea view hot tub suite with private entrance, looking forward to it. Tomorrow we'll visit the historic harbour and explore the coast a bit. I'm driving. 🚘

TOYA Hoping everyone has a pleasant Monday.

Grannmarie I know that both you and your husband will enjoy the east coast of bonnie Scotia. Whereabouts will you be heading? Have yourselves a lovely wee break.

I've been ironing and watching Border Patrol. The lengths that some folk go to in order to flout the regulations is barmey beyond belief.

My best wishes to you all. I shall have a brew and put my feet up for a short time. Mr Soop is cleaning windows. At one point, I saw him balancing on some steps.

A group hug.

Pleased you enjoyed your family video Soop. Just at the right time to cheer you both.
Enjoy your break Grandmarie it sounds lovely.

Spent a lovely but hectic day with GSs yesterday.They all get on well and Oscar,the youngest loves all the attention from his cousins.We have Oscar tomorrow.I will get the energy from somewhere!!
Enjoy your evening all.

Thank you, Soop and YiaYia!
We have arrived, we're in Dunbar!
Tunnocks caramel wafers/ logs on the hospitality tray, nice touch! View from our decking.

Enjoy yourselves granmarie!

Thank you, Nannytopsy. We've just come back inside from a wee spell in the hottub.
We watched two canoes being paddled by youngsters making their way along the coast, very restful. DH struggled a bit getting in and out of the tub, but enjoyed it once he was in, it'll do his aches and pains a power of good.

Good afternoon kitcheners. Oh boy, today has been grim. Dgs2 screamed constantly as he is teething and going through a growth spurt. It was wearing. Dgs1 played up too as he was fed up of the screaming. I took them to buy a toy each and couldn't blooming build the one for dgs1. We did play out in the garden while dgs2 napped. So both have been challenging today, I'm exhausted and you should see the state of my living room! I'm about to tidy up before dinner. As I dropped them off, my lovely sil handed me a bottle of wine so that's getting opened with dinner. Soop that must have been so nice to see the children. Grannmarie that sounds so lovely. Would you like to swap? Yiayia I'll need energy tomorrow too as it's a repeat of today. Hopefully with better tempers from us all. Chicken with fried rice and chorizo for dinner. Have a good evening Kitcheners.

Pleased to hear you’ve had some lovely videos to bring some cheer soop just what’s needed I bet
Hoping things have improved a bit for your friend corner and your goddaughter is managing okay, difficult times I know
I’ve been out all day, I should have been home early afternoon but DD2 messaged to ask if I wanted to meet for a coffee so of course I said yes. We went to the local garden centre and sat chatting for ages, mainly about her work and her holiday plans, she’s lots of plans but less of a budget
Anyhow I’m home now, veggie curry to eat soon and a relax in front of the tv. It’s not half term here until next week so tomorrow it’s the usual helping out with the after school activities
Your new garden plan sounds lovely Blue anything that makes it look good and easy to look after works for me.
That’s early Galen! we’ve a small garden pond that attracts frogs but I really don’t like them. They always seem to jump out from nowhere in the garden and scare me to bits
Have a lovely time away grannmarie sounds just perfect - especially the hot tub, Lovely blue sky picture too, and what a view!
grandmabatty and yia well done both with the childcare, exhausting I know 😇😇 enjoy the wine gb you deserve it