Soop's welcoming kitchen!

So sorry to hear about your friends Soop. They say that troubles come in threes but it sounds as if they have had more than their fair share.

DD1 drove us to Larbert for DH's appointment this morning. He was feeling sore and quite unwell until the Xrays showed that his elbow joint was still in place. Then he suddenly felt much better The consultant, very pleased with the reduction in the bruising and swelling' said that he was obviously being well looked after and recovered quickly for a man of.......(HIS AGE, left unsaid but hanging in the air). His arm was bent up more from 90 degrees to 45 (with gas and air which had him giggling) and a lighter plaster applied, with a very swish saltire blue cover. DD1 will apply a YES symbol to the stookie, ready for this weekend's conference in Aberdeen, because consultant has said that he should be OK to go there and to Speyside for the big family meet-up. There will be 11 of us in the holiday house + the 7 cousins who live in that area. Only fly in the ointment is that DH must return to Larbert for another check up next Tuesday, 15th but DD2, who is used to driving long distances for her work has volunteered to drive him down and back on the day so looks like we will get our holiday after all.

All being well, two weeks after that he should get the plaster off entirely and start physiotherapy. He has spent the evening snoozing in his chair, arm raised on a cushion at one side and Cassidy the cat snuggled up at the other. Cassidy does not know that he is off to the Cattery for a week because there will be no one left at home to feed him and let him in and out, but when DD1 brought her cat transporter round at T time so that he could get used to it he went straight in, sniffed all round and curled up inside, well pleased with his wee caravan. I think he must have been used to one in his previous life before he moved in with us.

Many thanks for all your good wishes and positive vibes which I am sure have contributed to DH's speedy recovery.

Very glad to hear your DH has made such good progress, Granny 23, and that you will still be able to go for your holiday. Am very impressed Cassidy went into the cat carrier with no problems. Getting our Zim into one requires wrapping her in a towel and about three people to get her in the box!

soop I hope your happy day yesterday has continued today.

Wishing you all and

Thank you Bellasnana...just arrived home after a morning of ironing for my pal. Anytime soon, I shall have my own to tackle...but not just yet.

Granny23 It was lovely to read your latest update. I'm chuffed for both you and your dear husband. I'm particularly pleased to hear that the family gathering will go ahead as planned. Shiny gold star for your daughter. It's what families do. As for your Cassidy being so accommodating about the cat carrier...well, I'm agog. Rory would NOT enter his when he needed to visit the vet. We had to pay the vet for a 44 mile round trip. Rory was adamant that he wouldn't be captured. In spite of a badly injured rear leg, he ran amok. The poor lady vet had such a tussle before getting him secured. He screamed blue murder all the way to the car. Bless!

Our pals had tea with us yesterday. The list of what to do in order to make Rory a happy puss is awfully long. However, it appears that he will indeed have lots of tender loving care. We couldn't be more appreciative.

A very good morning to my dear Granspals. The second spring clean of the season is upon me. Goodness only knows why I get such urges. Turning the house upside down and inside out is far removed from my idea of fun. Hey ho!...as bags would say.

I'm hoping that you lot are well and enjoying watery spring sunshine. Rory has taken a liking to squeezing himself on to the window ledge. I shall upload a photo for his multitude few fans.

The beautiful marsh marigolds are in bloom in our "wet garden" - the patch over which the water from the brae drains. I dug a very wide, deep, long trench some long time ago. The ditch is constantly wet, and the wee willow loves living alongside it.

Washing machine has finished the long spin. I'm off to empty it and do another load of whites.

Spring cleaning will have to wait in this neck of the woods soop - until we've stopped running the woodburner and open fire. It's glorious during the days at the moment, but the evenings can still be quite chilly.
Taking advantage of the sunshine and after a long (not getting lost) walk this morning, I planted rows of peas in the veg. garden.

Hello soop and well done for getting on with your spring cleaning. I wish such an urge would take me. I have become extremely lazy of late

What a splendid photo of Rory stretched out on the windowsill! He looks very comfortable.

I have been out for coffee with a dear friend this morning. She is very hard of hearing so I hope the other people in the cafe didn't have to listen to too much of our conversation.

It is sunny and quite hot here and the countryside is looking lovely with lots of colourful wildflowers. By summer everything will be brown and burned by the sun, so this is the prettiest time of year I think.

Just had a long Skype with my dear sister. She had her second chemo yesterday and was very poorly after it, but a lot better today.

Take care

Thank you for the update on your dear sister, Bellasnana. The after effects of chemo must be nasty. I often think about her. You must be grateful for Skype. To be able to speak face to face online will be of some comfort to you both.

I passed your message on to Rory. He half opened a sleepy eye and yawned.

We've treated ourselves to a phone that caters to the hard of hearing...it's useful and doesn't set my hearing aid off like a fire alarm as I'm endeavouring to have a conversation.

ffinnochio It's chilly here today. A couple ran out of petrol just as they were passing by our house. MacSporran, being a true gent, went to their assistance. When the chaps returned to fill the tank, the blasted car still refused to start. MacS stayed with them as they tinkered with the engine and such...something similar happened with a car we had ages ago. He suggested that they wait 15 mins and try again. Well...the wait did the trick. They have driven off with a grin on their faces. MacS is frozen to the core. Time for a nice

There are few tastes more delicious than home-grown, freshly-podded peas. Reminds of my late Nana's vegetable plot.

Bella , thanx for the update on your dear sister !
X

Yet more evidence of what a truly good person MacSporran is. Hope he has thawed out

Bellasnana he certainly is and certainly has. Rory is draped all over him and purring like an old fashioned lawn mower.

Nice to have you call by, Nonu

A lovely day in bonnie Kintyre. MacSporran and Rory are gardening. I've stuff to do...
A new photo of Torben about to go into my album.

soop, good afternoon to you. Love the photo of your delightful DGS. You are a very lucky gran

Weather here is perfect too. Max (poodle) and I are sitting in the courtyard watching DH do a bit of pruning and tidying up of our small garden. We moved from a house with a huge garden. I miss it now I have actually got time to spend in it!

I am leaving some 'kwarezimal' for you to try. It is a Maltese sweet which is only eaten during Lent. Not sure how it is made, but it is deliciously sticky, a cross between a cake and a biscuit, contains nuts and honey and you can't eat just one piece!

Give my best regards to MacSporran and Rory and tell them to keep up the good work in the garden

Thanks SOOP , it was nice to visit , but short I KNOW but the lure of my garden !!!
<Strokes hair>

PS , I know I didn't bring any sweetmeats , --forgot.
So here are some [cupcakes] [cupcakes] [cupcakes] S .
I know, you know I didn't make them but I am sure they will be tasty .
Laugh.

That is a beautiful photo of Rory. That cat is like Tara, rarely awake.

Today is beautful, a perfect day for washing clothes, I cannot be bothered doing much else. Tara is having 40 winks on my bed.

The builder has just visited, bringing one of his sons, this one is 6years old and delightful. I think that he maybe bringing the 12 year old here on Monday when he does some more work. That boy and I do not get on, I tell him off and he does not like it. John his dad just laughs and I think when he is naughty at home, the threat is that he stays with me! His hormones have kicked in so he now has an attitude problem.

Bellasnana The 'kwarezimal' sounds too good to be true...nutty, sticky and honey sweet...is it virtually calorie-free? If so, I shall not stop at just one piece. Isn't it a lovely name. I wish that I could join you in your sunny courtyard. The sun is making an effort to warm the Kintyre air but there is still a chilly breeze.

Nonu It's the thought that counts. I shall gently nibble scoff one of you [cupcakes] right after I've sampled Bellas 'kwarezimal.

Charleygirl Snap! Rory is also having 40 winks on the bed. He's been outside and taken a stroll around his estate and the effort has worn him to a frazzle
As for the builder's 12 year old I guess we've all been through that stroppy stage. I grew out of mine when I turned 50.

Just dropping in while off child minding duties. Still in Didcot, I went to visit AlieOxon today. We had a long chat and I can confirm that her neighbours' garden is now a complete wilderness! But she (Alie) has some lovely blossoming trees including a gorgeous deep pink magnolia. Yesterday I took boys to the cinema and later to meet friends at the park. Was officially clapped out! Their mum is in charge today but I am girding up my loins for tomorrow!

anno Relax! You sound like the perfect grannie. How lovely for you to have spent time with AlieO she's been through a tricky time what with the next door garden saga. As for having a magnolia tree in the garden...I'm a tad envious. My late parents had one yonks ago. I just love those showy, blousy, waxy blooms.

Good to catch up on everyone's news and to hear that MrG23 is on the mend and all the moggies are behaving themselves . for you Bella and for your sister.
Finally a lovely sunny, if windy, day here in the Kingdom. I have cut the grass - miraculously the mower started first pull - then pottered about doing a bit of cutting back, weeding and sweeping. Now awaiting the arrival of DD1 and family, although my car, which they were going to use as it has 7 seats (I keep it down south and everyone seems to use it except me) has developed a fault so much gnashing of teeth and rushing about organising other modes of transport (DD and SiL now driving up separately) so don't expect them until the wee small hours. As I get older, or perhaps it's because I am on my own now, I tend to worry more about the family. Heaven knows why, it's up to them to sort out the problem but I feel I should be doing something........ I shall just keep writing the cheques then . I am trying to get in the mindset for 2 small boys waking me up at 5.30 for the next 10 days [shriek & horror emoticon].
I met Marelli and Grandmanorm for coffee and a blether on Tuesday. We talked non-stop - were your ears burning??

Soop, Torben is looking more like you with every photo!

Such a happy photo of Torben soop!

soop that little man always looks happy. He is also so photogenic.

At least we can get Soop's Kitchen back on the list!

Hello all. Good to be able to pop in although there still seems to be some sort of problem with GN today.

soop , I wish you could join me in the courtyard too. You are more than welcome. Glad you liked the kwarezimal ( the name comes from the Italian 'quaresima' meaning Lent). Today you might like to try the delicious 'figolli' which DD3 spent last evening making. They are traditional in Malta at Easter.
Basically, they are a sweet pastry made with orange and lemon, then stuffed with a mixture of ground almonds and sugar, and covered in chocolate and decorations. They are usually in the shape of a lamb, fish, or various other 'figures' which is what the name means. If only they were calorie-free

Thank you Gally for your flowers and kind wishes. I told my sister about all the messages from lovely grans and she really appreciates such kind thoughts. She has to have a brain scan on Easter Sunday, of all days, so we are really hoping it won't be more bad news.

I've just made a if anyone's interested.

I could do with a quick one Bellasnana. I've been composing a letter to a solicitor almost all morning and am feeling a bit frazzled. GN still seem to be having problems so it is a good job that we can meet up here.
What an awful day for your sister to have her scan. I really hope it is good news for her.

soop, I'm sorry to here of your friends problems, they have an awful lot to cope with at the moment.
Your latest photo of Torben is lovely, he is starting to look quite grownup. I bet you can't wait to give him a cuddle.

Bellasnana ,the Portugeuse word for Lent is almost the same as the Italian one, Quaresma without the I. Trust the Italians to make it sound more lyrical.
I shall have to see what Portuguese Easter goodies I can bring in next week.