Soop's kitchen for friendly folk and precious pets...

anno Ginger shortbread! I don't mind if I do. I'm about to make a ...wish that us lot could sit in the sunshine and have a boring blether. That would put an enormous grin on my face. I'm a simple soul. Ordinary, everyday sharing of chit chat (with like-minded folk) is a pleasant diversion from the many injustices and stresses of this crazy, mixed-up world.

Thank you, Bellanonna. Early next year, we'll be welcoming our first great grandchild.

Maw Photos of Hattie ready to share?
How's Paw? Any news about his homecoming?

callgirl1 Your family is very kind. I shall say hi to David tomorrow. Care home visit in the morning.

Rory is lying in the sun. The plumber called to tiddle with and then replace a broken control. Rory was, at that time, in his cat cave. When he heard footsteps, he bolted and went missing for a couple of hours. He must have been afraid that it was that nice lady vet.

Hipsy - don't worry. It's remarkable how quickly new friends become old friends in this kitchen! Donations of cakes make all the difference too! Here - have a bit of ginger shortbread, made with my own fair Scottish hands!

That's a happy family photo soop

Hipsy Come on in. I shall dust the best chair free from cat hair. There is a cushion for your back. There is a wee footstool and a tray with a bone china tea set ready and waiting. There will be more than enough of your delicious fresh cream cake. That's a promise. Us lot are blest.

Trying to keep up with you all but its hard work!
You sound like a great bunch of friends who go back yonks.
I made an extra cake[fresh cream Victoria Sponge Sandwich with REAL strawberries]for you all yesterday but I dont think there will be enough to go round.
Enjoying your sunsets.
soop what a beautiful bride your granddaughter made.

A beautiful, watercolour sunset, Maw.

Oh joy! It is a fabulously warm and sunny day. We had coffee in the garden. All so peaceful. Rory opted to remain in his cat-cave-den.

The vet's bill arrived today. We had guessed that it would be around £100. The vet had to drive 22 miles (both ways) for the privilege of having Rory go into full-blown panic mode. He had a steroid injection and a long term antibiotic injection. The bill was a fraction of the total we'd imagined. Thank you to vet Ruth.

kitty The spring clean has been ignored for far too long. I'm not prepared to disgrace myself with being more specific/honest.

Jalima Baggs gave me a copy of The Borrowers. It is delightful. From hereon we can blame the borrowers when stuff goes absent without leave.

granniequeenie Your post made me smile. I shall look out for you...

Granddaughter shared a photo with us taken at the wedding. I'm sharing with you lot. The dratted silk rose wasn't meant to be on the top of my head. Hey ho...

Please leave directions to the new kitchen if you move before I get back!

Just a quick visit before Bertie and Persie arrive for a couple of days.

Some lovely sunsets - I'm really Ours are rarely anything to get excited about.

gaga I'm glad things are more peaceful for your sister and her DH. I hope you are feeling better too.

downsized

What a considerate family you have Callgirl

grannyqueenie, I hope things work out well for your daughter. We do feel these things ourselves, don't we?

I'm impressed Galen, crochet is another continent as far as I'm concerned, as are all crafty things.

Soop, are you doing this year's spring-cleaning or next year's? When you've finished my kitchen cupboards need doing (at least) especially the glass fronted ones!

I think the Borrowers will have papered the whole house with my lost posts!

Right, off to gird my loins....I may be sometime!

Sorry, DDand SIL's house on Gotland

Feeling obliged to contribute to the sunset collection, this was taken from the house at about 10.30 at night exactly a month ago

I don't appear to have been around the past few days. Where have I been? What have I been doing? Search me! Anyway, I've been catching up with good news and sad news. Loving vibes to Gagagran and downsized, waiting with heavy hearts for the inevitable news. Cheers to Maw and her talented GS - well done to him; and hopeful vibes to her DH. G'night everyone.

Gagagran, best wishes to your sister, and how I do admire her courage.
Downsized, you`ve had so much sadness lately, wishing you the courage and forebearance to cope with the latest.
Galen, beautiful sunset pic. Another pic please, of the blanket when finished.
Daughter 2 and her hubby took me to Wilko this morning, to get decorating stuff for the new kitchen. It looks lovely, but will look even better when it`s been decorated.
Then daughter 3 called this afternoon "to do your ironing mum", I`ve had a bad leg for a week and it was mounting up, it is no more, bless her.
And best wishes to MacSporran at the next scan, Campbeltown is a much better journey.
Lastly, love and kisses to Rory xx

Funny old day here too for weather jalima. but it means that various admin jobs I've been avoiding are now completed. Procrastination, me? Not much! Borrowers wallpapering with "lost"posts? Now there's a lovely thought, I'm happy to go with that theory .
So glad to hear your bil is getting the best of care gagagran. Hospices, including their community nurses, do amazing work in offering effective and compassionate end of life care to patients and family too. Your sister will be so glad of your support, albeit from a distance, you're obviously very concerned for her.
galen, you're definitely a supergran, make that supergraggy!
Lovely news about your talented boy, maw, hope paw is continuing to improve and the discharge plan becomes clearer.
It sounds like Rory knows how to ensure his home comforts are available, soop
My lovely daughter took her man to the airport yesterday and managed it all without a tear... till she walked back to her car where she had a little cry before driving herself home! She's had umpteen texts already so hopefully that will be able to continue when he moves onto the more rural location in 10 days.
So it's into another week. We're on duty for a 9 year old gd (and her bike) for a few days, oh and the dog's coming too. So if you should see a short, grey haired granny with a wee white dug running after a girl on a bike you'll know it's me!

Gagagran (((hugs))) and to you and your dear sister

Thank you for all the good wishes and kind words. I am fine - it's my poor sister who is 300 miles away who I am trying to keep supported and strong. She is 83 and has health issues herself. We are in contact every day, sometimes more than once.

Her DH is still with us but his pain is now controlled and the care had been excellent from the Hospice at Home nurses who are going into his Nursing Home to care for him. Who knew they did that? I didn't! They have helped her to accept the situation and to be less stressed now that she sees how well he is being looked after.

We are on standby for news each day and each day he holds on. The human spirit is very strong it seems but he cannot last much longer given his increasing frailty.

I appreciate the support from all our lovely GNs. Thank you.

Congratulations to Maw's DGS - very well done and good news indeed. He must be very talented and you must be proud.
Best wishes to Paw and hope is is progressing well today.

The rain has been torrential here today with some lightening and thunder - a bit scary as we were in a marquee sitting on metal chairs with a river running past our feet!

Missing posts? I wonder if the Borrowers are using them for wallpaper?

Best wishes to all, especially those who are not well or have loved ones who are poorly.

It's lovely to have you visit the kitchen, harrigran I trust that you are keeping well.

Crafting and Charleyg Rory is most definitely "slowing down". He spends hours asleep in his 'cat cave' - the wee carpeted chalet. He knows when it's mealtime and saunters into the house with a certain look in his eye. He comes through to sit on MacS's comfy lap during the evening. He sleeps on his chaise with the Scottish wool blanket. Don't ask! He is a thoroughly pampered feline...and he knows it.

corner at long last the sun is shining and it has been a very pleasant day. I started to spring clean the utility room earlier this afternoon. I was ashamed at how much dust/cobwebs/ had accumulated in the hard to reach areas. MacS, bless him, took it upon himself to make a thorough job of tidying all the shelving. A big bag of stuff that might come in handy, but hasn't, has been disposed of. It looks very much smarter and I am enthused to consider giving the same face-lift to M's shed. When I told him, he went all pasty-faced and said that it was a man's job. I don't need telling twice.

Galen Graggy is happily crocheting a striped rainbow blanket. That's what. You are a star.

MacSporran received another hospital appointment yesterday. He's to have a second scan on the aneurysm. We won't be going as far as Oban on the 3rd as it can be done in Campbeltown.

Wishing you all a pleasant and peaceful Sunday evening.

Maw step back out from that corner, you have the right to be a boasting granny. For such a young boy to be given a second free year of lessons speaks volumes about his abilities. Congratulations to him and well done to the family for supporting him and (non-alcoholic!)

soop yes, stairlift now working. Am waiting on a replacement PIR for the burglar alarm now!
When dgd1 wanted a rainbow blanket I crocheted one. When dgd2 was a bit older she wanted one so darling daughter made one for her!
Now that's not good enough as it's not a graggy blanket. ( I'm graggy to the kids) and it's got to be striped!
Guess what I'm doing ATM?

Pride is definitely allowed, maw, congratulations to the young man, he must work very hard as well as be very talented. Hoping paw can come home once proper support is in place. Guess both persistence and patience may be needed.

Warm thoughts have been winging to both downsized and gagagran, day to day life is hard sometimes.

There are some big boys around here who would have loved that Ferrari parade n&g and have been overjoyed to sit in a car. Do they ever grow up?

Pouring here, the damp seems to have got into my mood so I'm off to see if a friend is at home for a phone natter. Need some distraction and she is it .

Just a flying visit to say 'well done' to Maw for prodcuing such a talented DGS! Obviously, the genes are all yours!

As Charley says, don't accept responsibility for Paw unless you are really happy with the arrangements!

I would think that was a nasty scare for Rory and he will be sleeping away the bad experience!

Maw you must be so proud of such a talented young man.

I agree with others, Paw must not come home until there is a care package approved by you as well. Any further forward re the stair lift? I bought mine from a smaller company in 2009 but many of these little companies have been swallowed up by the giants. I doubt if there is much choice now.

Wonderful news maw, just the thing to cheer you up. Hope paw is well enough to come home soon (but when you are kitted up with handrails etc)

downsize and gagagran sorry you are both having such sad times

Beautiful sunset Galen looks like the sky was on fire.

N&G hope you are recovering from the disappointment of your house sale. Have you decided what to do yet? Are you sure you want to move away from your DGC, you seem to have such fun with them?

Hello soop how is Rory getting on?