Soop's warm and welcoming kitchen for kindly folk.

I didn't realise that poinsettias were meant to last longer than 3 weeks.

Having said that, I bought one for a friend at the same time as mine, hers is still looking fabulous. Gggrrr!

Loving the Thornton photo Urms, I buy the alpini ones for a treat sometimes.

Reading various posts on houseplants & poinsettias, I struggle with them too.
I think you're right kittylester,
I hadn't had a poinsettia for a few years, but just before Christmas my 2 eldest DGC, (21 & 18), arrived with one.
It looked good in the wrapping, but lots of leaves fell off when we opened it, every morning 1 or 2 more have dropped off. No green leaves left now but a few red ones have bravely hung on, if I'm lucky it may survive a few more days!

Warm thoughts for you all in soop's cosy, friendly kitchen.

Good afternoon to you lovely lot. Scores of messages. Some delightful photography and here I be struggling to catch up with my shadow.

We were celebrating our dear pal's 84th birthday yesterday. A very happy and noisy gathering.

Today we have had visitors and a lovely long phone call from my pal of over fifty years. She now lives in Cheltenham.

The sun is shining and there is frost on the ground.

As I was having a lie-in, Mr Soop informed me that I would want to see a "certain visitor". I leapt from my cosy bed to find Sweetie Pie - the feral cat, who has been absent for nigh on three months, feasting on tuna, seated on a rug on the threshold of the kitchen/utility room. He looks amazing. We had feared that he had died. I have given his apartment a thorough servicing. His bedding is in the washing machine. Guess what? He has returned for afternoon snacks and is lolling on the rug looking very self satisfied.

I promised myself an hour or so to give the computer room an early spring-clean. Now is the time to keep my promise and knuckle down to the business that awaits...

Love to you all.

Aww such good news that the wanderer has eve returned soop, I wonder where he’s been fir the last few months?
I’ve been pottering in the garden this morning, the ground is really wet and cold so didn’t stay out long. I had my morning cuppa outside again which was lovely. This afternoon I’ve been cleaning and mopping floors now that all the decorations are packed up again and back in the garage. I’m just having a quick rest before DGS arrives for his sleepover.
Not sure what we’ll be eating yet but there’s a few things in the freezer for him to choose from.
Thinking of Baggs and her brave dd ❤️
Take care all and enjoy your evening

Soop that's good news about Sweetie Pie. I wonder where he's been? I'm just off the phone with a good friend - a two hour call! We can blether for Scotland. This morning I tidied up, did an ironing and washed the kitchen floor. I'm just going to make a pineapple upside down cake to have with cream after my trout with orange and toasted almonds. Have a good evening Kitcheners

Pantglas, I once threw a spider plant that was annoying me into an overgrown part of the garden. When I next went there to deal with some under(over)growth it was thriving its head off! Awkward thing!

I do not manage well with aloe veras. A friend keeps giving me them and they keep being wimpy and annoying.

kitty, I didn't realise that poinsettias were meant to last longer than 3 week 🤣

Good to hear the wanderer has returned in good health, soop. Hmmm… saying “good health” gave me a bit of a lurch. I am going to have to get used to this happening 😔

Thank you for all thoughts and kind words re BTDD.

Sweetie Pie welcome back!

Hello Sweetie Pie!

Well the good news is the pain has subsided and the not so good news but probably the explanation is I have covid...we popped into town yesterday having safely esconced Rudolf..Mrs Rudolph and Baby Rolf back in the lock up till November and decided to have a quick brunch in our favourite for fry ups cafe. Mine arrived and after 2 mouthfuls I realised I couldn't taste it...or smell it. Eek I checked my tea...same thing. We made a hasty retreat and home to test and the T line marked up instantly. The funny thing is I felt better yesterday and we had packed away all the Dec's and dusted and polished and apart from feeling a bit weary and snitty snotty I was ok. I can't remember if I told you that we have booked to go to Torquay next weekend with Henrietta Moho with friends. It's a family run site ( well equipped) and not too far away so oday was the day we had planned to have attempt number 2 at dogs and us on safari...so despite feeling still off and very mindful that I would not be venturing out of HMO ( I know there are no isolation rules anymore but even though we were going to be in the open air at the beach my conscience wouldn't let me risk coming into anyone vulnerable). We drove to Dunster...all was fairly calm until about half way there and Ddog3 started to get upset ( he is normally very good but if he needs to p.e or p..p he gets very agitated understandably!!!!). It was a very very quick exit onto the beach for DOH and dogs it's fair to say. I sat and read the first 2 pages of the paper before an avalanche of wet sandy dogs came flying back to tell Mum all about their adventure. We even had tea and cake ( I think) It was an improvement of sorts even if we had to put the radio on to quieten them down as we set off for home....we haven't quite got the hang of everything yet so DoH and I grinned at one another as we listened to.. I don't know what...but it was all in Welsh....Ah well as Scarlett O Hara would say....'Tomorrow is another day'

I think that cats owners have adopted veganuary, so he’s returned for some proper grub!
A cold day, I’ve a slow cooker full of soup and a turkey breast in the oven to eat later with all the extra bits.
No luck in the pub meat draw, just as well as I’m running down a freezer to defrost.
Quiz will be cold tomorrow, it’s an old pub and listed, so limited on what can be done that’s not too expensive in these economic times. We have the odd snow shower forecast, so I’ll be well wrapped up, especially my hands (Raynauds).
Baggs ❤️.

Ah, soop, what lovely news. Definitely worth getting out of bed to see. Lucky sweetie-pie too, with such lovely gastronomic treats. Please let us know when he returns, as surely he will.

Crossed posts neine my daughter has had Covid over the last week, three days of heavy cold symptoms, lost taste and smell, yesterday she was fine.
I hope you get off lightly.

‘Evening All’.

We’ve enjoyed a cosy, quiet day. I’ve done very little.
#lazygran

Himself enjoyed watching Arsenal -v- Liverpool on BBC1 earlier. A mug of Horlicks will have my name on it in an hour.

No SueDonim no sharing of my chocolate treats as Himself isn’t a fan. Yay! Well they do say ‘opposites attract’! I ❤️ him to bits.

Hello kitchen people,
I spent the afternoon on a cookery course bought by elder son for my 70th birthday last year. What fun! I brought home profiteroles filled with Chantilly cream and topped with salted caramel sauce; apple tarts made with sweet shortcrust and a frangipani filling, and cheese gougeres (sp). It was a lovely afternoon. Even more so when I got home to watch the end of the Liverpool match! OH has made a beef and beer stew for dinner. I made the dumplings for him and of course provided the pudding.
Have a good evening.

Ladyleftfieldlover that sounds delicious! I've only made profiteroles once and they weren't terribly successful. My pineapple upside down cake didn't happen because I had no pineapple. Very disappointed

Well we shared a tin of sliced peaches with Carnation milk.
No effort spared with my trusty can opener.
😁

Urms, happy memories of that delicious combination !

Urms I had sliced peaches with ice cream!

A poinsettia lasting three weeks in this house would be the equivalent of being a centenarian!

Where has that naughty Sweetie Pie been?? I’m so glad he’s returned Soop! That must have made your day.
You were brave, doing some garden work today, Brook. Feeding the birds was the limit of my outdoor exposure!
Goodness, Covid rearing it’s ugly head again, Neine. Your trip sounds chaotic fun!
I hope MrU gets an alternative treat, Urms!
That sounds like an enjoyable afternoon, LLFL.

I had a quiet day today. I did something tidying and putting away of paperwork etc. I also made an inventory of all the ruined/damaged goods from our flood. The loss adjuster is coming on Tuesday so I need it for them.

We had cheese on toast for supper this evening, I’m almost at the end of the Christmas cheese! We begin the Xmas cake last night, and it’s a good one. I don’t think it will last long.

TOYA. Xxx

Good afternoon Kitcheners.Thats good you seem to have a mild dose of covid Neine. We must have been very unlucky as although we feel better now D.H still has the cough,the GP said it’s lightly to last a while.!!The thames is over the bank in lots of places here and quite a few people living near the river have been flooded.Lets hope it recedes soon.

We have had a few snow flurries and it’s very cold.Chicken tray bake for dinner and, one for the freezer.
Have a good afternoon everyone and keep warm.
Baggs.🌻

The early spring-clean of the computer/music/ art studio fair knackered me. The amount of detritus being stored "in case it could be useful" was monumental. I keep popping back to admire the newfound orderliness.

Baggs A huge, gentle hug is winging it's way across the miles from me, to you.

I have some polishing to attend to. I recently heard a quote from Joan Rivers. It suggested something like...Life is so demanding you wash the dishes and clean the house etc., and then you have to do it all again in six month's time. Only her interpretation was much more clever and humorous.

Hey ho! Here I go.

‘Evening All’.

It’s quiet in here today. 👋 to you though soop. I’m the same if I occasionally sort out an area and am pleased with the result. I go back to admire it!

Soup and vegetable samosas for tea. Both shop bought. 😁

Himself will be watching Man. Utd through his fingers this evening I think.

Apologies to you Yia 😮
You are not invisible! I’ve only just noticed your post.

Good evening Kitcheners. Boys are duly dropped off and I'm having a breather before I assemble dinner. They were both really good today. Dgs2 is toilet training himself and is so good about going. Urms vegetable samosa sound good. Soop I'll be doing a clear out of cupboards next week. Tonight I'm having trout fillet with apple and carrot salad and other salady bits. I might have chips too. Enjoy your evening Kitcheners

We’ve had flurries too Yia at school chucking out time, I imagine some hopeful little ones!
Phones today, back on it after the break, tricky calls, all sorted now. Dinner is oven fish and chips, then quiz, hand and feet warmers are poised.
Have a pleasant evening all.