Soops cosy kitchen for kind peoples and precious pets !

Congratulations Mr and Mrs corner

You hussy NandG enjoy your meal next week!
I'm feeling a tad sleepy after a fairly sleepless night, up at six and out at seven thirty, to take ds to the eye hospital.
It's good bonding time though, we always have a good natter!
I've borrowed his soup maker as, after reading the thread, I got the bug. I'm not a big soup fan but I really need to eat more vegetables and I'm lazy. Seems? like a good idea.

Wonderful view of the islands right now. It's a glorious day in Kintyre.

Congratulations Mr and Mrs cornergran. Have yourselves a very happy anniversary.

DaphneB Let us know how the hospital appointment went. You are in my thoughts.

N&G Thank you yet again for a perfect photo of your darling grandson and worn-to-a-frazzle Sam. That sounds like a perfectly sensible way to enjoy next week's luncheon treat with your siblings.

granniequeenie I'm giving up nothin'. I'm a well-balanced person...why would I need to upset the status quo.

Daft...that's me. I've a bee in my bonnet. I actually want to spend part of the afternoon in the garden. One session of de-cluttering the overgrown rockery (and feeling chuffed with the resulting barrow-loads of detritus) has spurred me into action.

There is still no sign of Bracken. Should she turn up, I shall dance with joy.

I may have a photo of a young deer eating from the wheelbarrow. I shall take a look and share with you if that is so.

Happy Anniversary Corner and Mr Gran!!
We're on your tail, 47 years this July but of course you and I were mere child brides were we not?
Back from London (both of us) but the bag was a good idea and it's no trouble to have it in the boot of the car. Long appointment with a lovely consultant, very caring, kind, clearly a top chap in his field but also very human. Basically he has ruled out colon cancer as DH has an annual colonoscopy which would show up dodgy polyps . Still he is as puzzled as everyone else but thinks there are probably tiny areas of "leakage" in DH's colon and being on Warfarin of course they are not clotting. He will be having another colonoscopy within the next two months anyway but there is no guarantee that these will all be visible unless actively bleeding and DH having had bowel surgery in the past has some extra "nooks and crannies" which are difficult to get round.
So no easy answers but at least some questions are being asked and these top departments relish a challenge!
DH does seem stronger today than at any time in the last week so perhaps either the iron infusion is helping or, knowing that his case is being deliberated on (and by people he trusts) has helped him tomrelax a bit.
We shall see.
Managed to stop myself buying a chocolate chip cookie along with a lunchtime sandwich from M&S. (had a Danish cinnamon swirl instead ) Bought a bagful for you all to share, please don'tbanybody gve up for Lent!!

There was an adult deer and a youngster eating from the barrow. I managed to get a photo of just one...

Corner congratulations to you and Mr C on your forty eight years of bleddded whiss! And may you have many more!
Soop I did actually make it out into the garden earlier but was beaten back in by the rain. I decided that where out laurel has been reduced to two stumps and a lot of bare earth, I would transplant several of the little laurel babies that were growing around it to fill some of the gap. This was not good news for DH who cannot see the cost effectiveness of spending a three figure sum having the b****y thing taken out, just to grow a new one in its place! He is not impressed. Do I care? I do not!
I read your post about Bracken. Try not to worry. I'm sure she'll be back. We had a cat who would go AWOL for weeks and then suddenly turn up wondering what all the fuss we made of her was about! We lived on the edge of an old airfield and some of the old buildings were rich mousey hunting grounds. Barn owls thrived there.
I had very little sleep last night and woke up at four feeling horrible. When I thought about it this morning, it occurred to me that it must have been dehydration, in that between lunch time yesterday and going to bed last night I had only drunk a cup (not even a mug) of coffee and a large malt whisky (the last of my precious bottle of Oban which was a present fourteen months ago! I won't get another until DH is feeling very generous!)(thinks: what can I do to induce a bout of generosity??). I usually drink water with my evening meal and throughout the evening, but not last night. Stupid is not the word.
N&G that's a lovely photo of your GS! We seem to be past the dressing up stage now ☹️️, though he was at great pains to show me the replica Professor Dumbledore wand he bought at Harry Potter World, and I was allowed to have a few flourishes with it. Grandad did not turn into a frog though. I need more practice! He also got some of those sweets that are supposed to taste like unspeakable things. The less said the better!

Did you all make pancakes yesterday? I did, and defiantly ate them with golden syrup
(3!) My motto is never regret anything nice.

Always wear a bullet proof vest Nanaandgrampy

MawB I didn't see your post until I had finished waffling! Glad someone is on your DH's case and I hope they get to the bottom of his problem (sorry for the unintentional pun!) very soon. Nice to hear that he is feeling brighter; it must make you feel much better.
I am not giving up anything for Lent, except Lent!

Well, having set the soup maker up to clean itself as it's been in the garage for over a year, it doesn't work!!
Hey ho.

Lona mine was in the garage nearly six years and surprisingly it did work, but having tried it this morning I'm not that impressed that it saves either time or effort. Maybe there are better ones.

Have just this minute staggered through the door - twigs and brambles threaded through my hair. Am I jiggered? You bet! I've shifted three barrow-loads of dead stuff and have opened up a mini channel to encourage the excess water from the woodland to drain more freely.

Good news MawB. Having an expert/"top chap" take the time and trouble to be thorough, must have put your husband's mind, and yours, at rest. Celebrate in style. Us lot are pleased for you.

rosesarered I like your style.

I need to take a shower. A little later, we shall enjoy a wee dram. One of our younger grandsons celebrates his 18th birthday today. He is a thoroughly decent young man. As indeed are all the grandchildren. Sorry about the boast.

Bye for now. I shall join you all tomorrow.

Lona Sorry...you made me titter.

I love all the photos.
So pleased to hear that Georgie is improving, and enjoyed her visit to the beach.
Soop, I do so hope that you soon hear from Bracken, you must be so worried.
MawB, I`m glad the day went reasonably well for you and your hubby.
And congratulations to Mr and Mrs Corner!
I`ve just tried to book Mia in at our favourite cattery for Easter, only to be told that they are away themselves! Now I have to find another, but we do so like that one.
I`m having my hair done tomorrow at the college just along the road from here, the students are very good, and it`s a lot cheaper than going to the hairdresser.

Thank you all for the good wishes. Had lunch out and a little walk, then to the garden centre to buy Spring plants in glorious flower. Nice day.

I'm sure you are tired. soop. It's all worth it though. Congratulations to your grandson, a very special birthday. Boasting is fine, isn't it what grandchildren are for .

Good luck with the cattery hunt, callgirl, it matters that we think our animal companions are safe and content when we leave them.

I love my soup maker, sorry your experiences haven't been positive lona and greyduster, guess they are no different to any piece of kitchen gadgetry, suit some of us but not all.

So pleased your husband has an interested and kind consultant visit today. mawb. You must both be relieved, even though more procedures sound to be on the cards. Our NHS is great when it works. Yes, definitely child brides . I was 20, had to have my fathers permission, I guess not unusual for the time, but of course times change.

I've never given up anything for Lent, oh dear, bad person. . Like your approach to pancakes roses. We had ours on Monday with the grandchildren, they wanted one with Nutella, , then moved on to my choice of pancake with strawberries and ice cream. Definitely no guilt here.

That's me for today. Hope all poorly people are so much better soon.

Right, I haven't been in the kitchen for ages (busy, half term, cold, decorating, babysitting etc) so I've finally had some time for myself and just read through pages and pages of posts - phew, wot you lot have been up to ?????

I cant comment on all posts but I have read everything so, welcome to new Kitcheners (did you put any cake aside for me )

Lovely photos all who posted them

Really big ((huggs)) for all those who have been down or had troubles. kitty, Maw and everyone else.

(Psst Maw just a quiet word between us two. My DH was passing lots of blood last year and had 5 colonoscopies before they decided there was nothing really wrong just that he bleeds very easily. They did fix him up ok in the end. Hope they find some good solution for your DH too)

anne listening to a sermon in Church the other day, the Vicar said 'love thy neighbour' also mean't love yourself. Don't forget to be kind to yourself when times are hard for you.

soop hope Bracken turns up soon. I know she can take good care of herself but you can't help but worry.

Hope you enjoyed your anniversary corner and Mr Corner

Hope all the pampered pets are ok.

Galen not another cruise! Fantastic, I hope you enjoy it.

I have given up chocolate for lent so am leaving a big box of chops on the table for all to tuck into (and to keep me out of temptation ?).

Finally, just a little quip for Maw . A few hundred posts ago you mentioned wanting to go to Crufts, don't be ridiculous....your new hair cut can't be that bad! ?

Are you thinking poodle class crafting??!!
Interesting about the bleeding. DH's problem is compounded by the facts of age and chronic illness so he doesn't make up the blood/haemoglobin. He has had 14 pints of blood in 2017 so far . (Considerably more than Tony Hancock's arm!!)
Soop I do hope Bracken has just taken herself off to temporary lodgings and more food . My parents "acquired" a cat that way and several months on, she moved back to her original owners staff to my mum's great disappointment

I have just retired to my bedroom as H has gone to his bed. I have had a drink or three along with a nice dinner of chicken breast with a pour over sauce of tarragon and wholegrain mustard courtesy of Lloyd Grossman. I can recommend it for a quick meal.My day has been "not good" I went out for a birthday lunch to a lovely pub with probably the most annoying woman on the planet. When the birthday girl and I had heard how wonderful she/ her family/ her wealth etc are I had had enough. Forgive my rant but I have to get it out there. When H was with it he would say ,just don't see her, but it isn't that easy. I have known her for 45 years and she was widowed 5 years ago and suffered a stroke shortly after that. I try to support her but it isn't easy. I'm glad I have offloaded, I feel better now. Incidentally she never mentions my "little problems" they can't measure up to her important facts. Am I annoyed? You bet I am,and resolve never to see her again ... until the next time I feel sorry for her. Please tell me I am not the only one.

Ann you are a lovely, caring lady your friend is very self centred and should be honoured to have your friendship.

No you're not the only one. I had to make the decision to drop a similar friend. She didn't listen to anything I said and I just thought enough is enough. It depends how you really feel about continuing this friendship. If you always have to put up with that kind of behaviour then it's very one-sided and you are certainling getting nothing from the friendship. I'd call it a day and make excuses in future. Enjoy the company of people who are real friends. Hope things feel a bit better tomorrow?

I knew someone like that, Ann. I think she must have moved because she hasn't 'dropped in' for a long time and I haven't seen her around. Whew! People like that are not life-enhancing and don't deserve friends like you.

You probably remember me ranting telling you about a lunch I had last summer with 3 former teaching colleagues. It was just a couple of months after Flynn was born -did anybody ask about him? No. All they talked about were their holidays , the problems of elderly parents and expensive dinners out. Did anybody even mention DH (whom they know well)? No, Were they afraid I would launch into medical detail? We can' t go away on holiday but it never occurred to them
I decided I would have a prior engagement next time a lunch was mooted and I think they have taken the hint.
Pretty disgusted.

Jus' me again, did I miss something about somebody being not nice to N&G you getting a battering on another thread/a thread you started? How very dare they

I know how annoying that can be, Ann. I have a friend who seems to be becoming more self centred and self satisfied the older she gets. Her family all lead golden lives and she bangs on endlessly about them. But, we have been friends for years and she now has health difficulties which are not going to improve. I feel really guilty sometimes that I feel so grumpy about her, but I can only take magnanimity so far. we can do nothing but put these little annoyances behind us - having had a good rant first ?!

So true Greyduster.
Just to give you an idea of what my friend is like, she asked me to go with her to register her husband's death.
When she was asked what his occupation had been, she hesitated, fumbled a bit and eventually had him declared as a company director.
Open mouth moment for me as I can assure you he was not.

Good Morning all !

Its a full on day here . We have all the best intentions but here we are, off on our holiday tomorrow and a list as long as my arm to be finished. So thought I'd pop in here whilst I am drinking my first , and most important coffee of the day and catch up. !!

Glad your London apt went as well as can be expected Maw even if you didn't get all the answers you hoped for. AND that DH is showing a little boost after his recent treatments.

Absolutely loved the deer photo soop I showed my granddaughter and she was amazed that was your garden and I think now has visions of a garden with deer in for her future ( not easy in a town LOL).

Never apologise for sharing your good news about grandchildren with us lot soop we positively thrive on it

I can see a great demand for your wand Grey if you get THAT spell to work...I can clear the freezer of frozen legs of lamb to start with .

Yes Rose we had pancakes a plenty here ! I like them the simple way with lemon and sugar and as he does every year Grampy announced 'We should have these more often they're delicious !'

Ann that's such a buggeration. I guess you could think of your visits with your friend as putting 'bricks in your house in heaven' ( Grampy says he has a shack up there and that's the way it will stay )Really though, life is too short for either toxic friends or to do things that make you unhappy.

Thanks for your irate indignation Maw It wasn't so much I got it in the neck , it was that some of the thoughts ( and deeds) were so far removed from what I think is right I got a bit heart sick. BUT I'm recovered now and not going back there. ...till the next time.

Well, I shall only be dipping in and out next week ( in those moments when I am sober) ....our family beano's do get a little boozy !!But I shall post a picture of us in our pirate regalia for you all to chuckle at and will catch up where I can.

Stay safe one and all xx

What a wonderful picture of family life, both close and extended, you paint N&G I so envy you. Have a wonderful time.