soop's kitchen for friendly folk and precious pets.

Greyduster

I've been talking with Donnie at Campbeltown Cat Refuge. He's lovely. Was the person who helped with getting Mother cat and daughters spayed. He was most encouraging. Cats can and do survive serious injuries. She may walk with a bad limp from hereon. If she were to be terribly distressed, he would have no hesitation in recommending euthanasia. Capturing her would not be good for her. We're doing the right thing. We shall continue to feed her and give her shelter. During the summer months, she may become stronger and better able to survive.

Lovely to see Bracken again.
I hope that everyone is well.
Tonight I go to finalise the deal and pay the deposit for the new kitchen, the highlight of my week!

soop how lovely to see Bracken and how pleased you must be with her progress. Bet Rory's glad to see her again too. She looks so contented in Bracken Towers.

Greyduster, that's interesting. I often wonder why my scones don't resemble anything like the well-risen specimens I see in tea rooms. The last lot I made were more like biscuits, although tasty nevertheless. I shall have to seek out a recipe requiring eggs, but I've never used them before. Will give it a try next time.

I buy mine from Waitrose or Aldi or wherever, much less hassle.

I hope that you are all sitting down but the re- pointing will be finished today and the vast majority of the inside work also. Three of them have been beavering away all day.

A plumber is coming on Saturday, the scaffolding down Monday and then I only have to ring the floor and blinds people and I will then have a house that one can live in once more. I think that they are working until they finish or drop tonight, whichever happens first. I supplied them with platefuls of sandwiches for lunch and it was very well worth it. What a difference it made the boss being here- his lunch was 10 minutes long and he soon got the other two on the hop. I was at the stage when I never thought that I would see this day. It should have happened a month ago.

callgirl1 Yay! A new kitchen...that's what I call a real treat. By the way, see you very soon.

Bellanonna We shall now call the chalet Bracken Towers. May even get a sign made. I think that MacS might think that, at long last, I've finally flipped.

It has been a positive day. I'm very easily pleased.

Until tomorrow - early afternoon - hugs for those of you who could do with a few.

Charleyg That's more like it. I'm chuffed on your behalf.

A few years ago we had an electrician doing some work and I made a large plate of sandwiches. Politely passed the plate to him first and he kept it! Had to make more for OH and me.

i used to have a running dispute with my DM about eggs in scones. She said that her fellow experts in the WI wouldn't use eggs; however, I thought mine were better with eggs and have never changed my mind. MiL was very complimentary about my scones!

Gf scones, at least when I make them, don't rise at all.

retro, I take my hat off to you doing befriending - I don't think I could. My mum was very nearly sectioned too but she eventually agreed to go to hospital without the need. I wanted to help on the CrISP courses when I realised how badly carers are impacted by the disease especially when it is a spouse . And the carers are getting younger or I am getting older

The only scones I ever have is when I bother to 'take afternoon tea' on the cruises.
I try to resist as the sandwiches, cakes, fancies and scones with jam and clotted cream are far too delicious to resist and probably explain the 7-10 lbs I gain per cruise!

I pray with St Anthony ' God give me abstinence, but not yet!'

Yes Soop, won`t be long now!

soop Bracken is so beautiful! She looks very contented at the door to 'Bracken Towers' and hopefully she will realise she is safe and protected as your 'garden' cat if not your 'house' cat like Rory.

kitty and retro you have my admiration for the work you are doing for the carers of, and people with, dementia. It may sound weird but I enjoyed the time I spent working with (mostly) carers and the families of those hit by this dreadful illness.

greyduster my wee Scots Grannie used to swear by using milk that was just on the turn in her scones - as in songs! She would 'pop in a few scones' while she was saying hello when you visited, and serve them with rich butter and home-made rhubarb and ginger jam. My moth is watering at the thought of them

Sorry, mouth not moth!

Good to see Bracken back home, soop. She's resilient that's for sure.

Sounds better, charley, onwards eh?

We've several neighbours with dementia, we try to help where we can but it's a nasty, nasty illness. I don't believe I could manage befriending, retro, it takes a special,person I think. I'd cope better with carer support as I've done that before, not right now though. My volunteering is at the other end of the scale, I help in a child contact centre which provides a safe space for resident parents to bring their child(ren) to meet the contact parent. Often fun and heartbreaking in equal measure.

If there is a magic recipe for gluten free scones I'd love to see it. My scones have always resembled digestive biscuits. Gluten free efforts are just indescribable, not even fit for the bird table. If yours look like scones, kitty, you are several steps ahead of me.

It's been a lovely sunny day here, lifts the spirits, hoping for another good day tomorrow, although it's a hospital day sunshine will help. I hope your leg is improving soop, you've been very quiet about it lately. Good wishes to all, especially those worried or poorly.

I make my scones following a Hairy Bikers recipe which uses buttermilk but no eggs. They usually seem to turn out quite well. I cut them about 2 cm. thick so they aren't too thin and biscuity.
So pleased that Bracken seems to be on the mend soop. Those sachets of posh cat food must be aiding her recovery.
Hope your leg is healing, too. My Mum scraped the front of her shin on the edge of a step and it took quite a while to heal.
Are you going to Kintyre at Easter callgirl ? I've booked the ferry from Ardrossan to Campbeltown today plus a few nights on the Muasdale campsite but we're not going til late in May. Can't wait!

Yes Oldgoat, we`re going up there on Good Friday, coming home on Easter Sunday. My daughter, who`s driving, is moaning about the distance (she`s never been there before) and is talking about going on the ferry, but I`m reluctant, because it`s such a scenic, if long, drive, she says it`s not scenic for the driver! So still not certain what we`re doing.

This is the first week day for a couple of months that I have been able to get up when I fancied- okay it was 7.30am but I had the option of returning to bed although Tara would not have been happy.

I have a lot of clearing up to do and I must get it sorted downstairs so that the blinds and flooring can be fitted. Upstairs can and will have to be done at my leisure.

There is a fellow returning tomorrow with the plumber to carry out the "snagging" jobs. I have noted a few already so he will be employed here for a few hours. I will be delighted when the scaffolding is taken down on Monday and I have a smart looking house at least from the outside. By the end of next week I can add the inside but downstairs only. A darkened room with a comfortable bed and good book awaits.

Hi Everyone, Happy sunny Friday. I'm toying with the idea of actually shedding the jumper and donning a t-shirt - that's how warm it is in Retrotown today! On that subject, I just did a quick Asda shop and bought a couple of t-shirts for £6 - yep, for two! How good is that? Also they don't count as more unnecessary stuff for me clothes if they come from a supermarket, do they? Am I the only person who buys two identical tops because I like them so much? Please tell me that's normal!
CharleyG - I'm so glad you are beginning to see the end of all this building work. It seems that ever since I've been in the kitchen, it's been going on. Ours took a couple of weeks and it nearly drove me mad. You must be made of very stern stuff.
It's nice to see Bracken looking so good, soop. I'm not really a cat person, but my son, DIL and GS have two rescue cats from Battersea (a dogs' home - not sure how that works), and they are lovely. One of them is so laid back she nearly falls over, puts up with the GS's sometimes unpredictable behaviour, until he goes to far, then give him a swift left hook and he stops. She comes and sits on my lap too, which for a non-cat person like me, is incredible, but she is just so gorgeous even I can't help but stroke her back and talk to her till she gets bored for a while. The other one is a bit nervous and just makes herself scarce when 'strangers' are around. She disappeared for most of one Christmas and they were getting concerned, then found out that she had been going next door, via their cat-flap and availing herself of their cat's lunch! Nervous maybe, but clever nevertheless.
Nothing much to report from Retrotowers today, apart from the sunshine, which is lovely. Just done the aforementioned Asda shop and pottered a bit in the garden, deadheading and moving one plant which looked a bit miserable. Himself is going to fix our window boxes tomorrow, so I can get planting on Sunday. He made them a couple of years ago and they are parting company with the wall, so need a bit of tlc.
We're off to Ambleside for a week next Saturday - can't wait. Meanwhile, there's a pile of clothes in the spare room waiting for Himself to get the cases down from the loft. Now, I have to make a decision ... warm weather stuff, cold weather stuff or a mix ...? It's the Lakes so it could do anything and probably will. Last year this time I was caught out having only taken warm jumpers and no t-shirts and there's no Asda up there for buying unnecessary clothes emergency purchases!
See you all soon. Enjoy the rest of the day. x

Good afternoon to you lovely lot. We've just returned home from the weekly trip into Campbeltown. There remains a chilly breeze hereabouts. I wish that I could claim that it's a beautiful, sunny day. Alas, I cannot.

Bracken was attempting to climb two fairly steep garden steps at bedtime. It was tough going. She struggled to keep herself upright. It's as if her hind legs have been displaced from the pelvis. I confess to taking to my bed with tears in my eyes. She was, until whatever has befallen her, feisty and fit.

Lovely weather today in North Yorkshire, too. We've been out for a walk in the Howardian Hills with our walking group this morning and Oscar was on his element chasing round with two other dogs. Then off to a dog-friendly pub for lunch. Unfortunately, Oscar must have eaten something disgusting because in the middle of the meal we heard the unmistakable sound of heaving from under the table. Luckily, OH was able to get him out of the door before he disgraced the family.
We are going to the east coast for a few days in our campervan on Sunday. I will be packing layers retrolady . Enjoy your trip to Ambleside and hope it stays fine for everyone this weekend.

Definitely layers retro, dont forget the anti rain insurance, aka an umbrella . Tee-shirtsfrom a supermarket come under the same heading as chips from someone elses plate, so no guilt needed.

You're nearly there, Charley, is that bottle of bubbly cooling in the fridge already? If so please don't forget to share.

Back to the paperwork, I need a break every five minutes now and again. Onwards!

Swanny I've a jar of rhubarb and ginger jam in the cupboard. I think it's delicious.

kitty We bumped into a pal in Campbeltown who has been caring for his wife suffering from a form of dementia for a good many years. He has lost a stone in weight. He started to cry when we asked after his wife. He cannot cope with her anymore. He's now taking medication for stress. His wife was offered a week's stay in a respite home but, at the very last minute, refused to leave the house. My heart goes out to all those carers who continue to soldier on with very little support from outside.

corner The leg was re-dressed by the practice nurse on Wednesday. She has given MacSporran more dressings so that he can do the deed at the weekend. I'm to return to the nurse on Monday and Wednesday of next week. She said that it was a nasty injury. Thankfully, I no longer experience an agonising pain when my foot touches the ground. That, I can do without.

Charleyg Keep right on to the end of the road...not too far to travel from hereon. I would recommend layers for your trip to Ambleside. Such a picturesque location.

retro I call that a bargain. A girl can never have too many t-shirts.I happen to agree that if you discover a garment that fits the bill at a very fair price...buy two. That is a sensible decision.

Could Bracken walk a plank, not the plank! If you put a plank against the steps, she might be able to crawl up it , esp if there was a tasty morsel atop>

jollyg A good point. I'm wondering where it is that she wandered off to when she left the chalet last night. She cannot manage the long climb through the woodland. She disappears to a place fairly close by. Rory is sitting patiently beside the chalet right now. Should she visit, the utility room door will be ajar. I've placed her big, plump cushion beside the boiler. It's a pity that we cannot leave the door open all night. It's just not possible.

Well, that's my website time done for today. Enjoy a peaceful Friday evening. I shall return tomorrow.