Soop's welcoming kitchen!

Charleygirl If we didn't own a cat, we'd make a point of staying over the extra night. However...we do have a cat. MacSporran - he who said..."he's not coming in..." is extremely eager to return home asap.
It is a lovely warm, sunny afternoon. MacS is mowing the lawn. Rory is sitting close by with a self-satisfied look on his face. You know the one? As for making a right mess of the walnut whip, that's the very thing that I would do. And, yes, melted chocolate makes a hell of a mess. May I enquire, why only a quarter of a whip? I trust that you'd scoffed nibbled daintily on the rest before the accident.

dustyangel I'm so thrilled to hear that you are a lucky winner. What a terrific prize. Well done. Like you, I've never been out for an upmarket afternoon tea session. I only hope that the club isn't too stuffy. We'll be carrying our bags, having travelled for four and a half hours on a train. I shall take photos [if that's allowed].

MiceElf May I take you up on your offer...I'm rather partial to tarte au pommes [did you make it?] and the enormous glass of Muscat would be most refreshing. Rory doesn't exactly chase anything. He sits and waits for his prey [small defenceless insects] to wander right under his nose. If he's seriously interested, he swipes with a lazy paw. If he's lucky, he makes a huge fuss off his victory.

Just caught up with this, Soop. I reckon you need a slice of my tarte au pommes and a largish glass of Muscat to put that confidence back. It's never been known to fail. I'm concerned that Rory is chasing moths. Just make sure he doesn't go after a wasp in error. I'd hate to think of poorly paws. Give him a special cuddle from me. X

What a lovely gift soop. Yesterday I heard that I was one of the lucky winners in the GN competition to win some Maureen Lee books AND a £100 voucher for afternoon tea for two with a choice of some fantastic locations.
I am really thrilled about it. Various friends and family have done similar things but I could always find something else to spend that much money on. We can take any time in the next 10 months too.
We'll have to compare notes.
Travelling needs quite a lot of stamina, I think I could do using the exercise as well.

I am concerned that Rory is overdoing it. That cat really needs his rest.

It has been raining here all morning, now dry but dull and cold. I thought that I would switch on the heating before I died from hypothermia.

Without knowing I dropped 1/4 walnut whip on to my armchair and when I did realise, you can imagine the mess! Luckily I have a cat cover over it and also a cushion so I removed the cushion cover also. My trousers had a large sticky patch as did the inside of my cardigan, luckily it was not woollen. A machine load as the cat cover is huge. Note to self, stop eating beteen meals!

That is a lovely gift, a champagne tea before you start on the last leg of the journey. Any chance of staying there overnight?

I'm using the exercise bike again. Each day I try to better the previous day's calorie-burn count. After a session, my legs feel like knitting, my rear-end is a trifle sore and my heart is pounding. However, once I recover, I feel heaps better both mentally and physically. Pity that I can't persuade Rory to have a go...'though he did stalk and "kill" a moth the other day. Took an age to recover from the exertion.

ffinnochio ...what you bin up to? I'm all of a dither. Do share.

dustyangel I can imagine the beautiful poppy; one of my top favourite flowers. I saw an entire field of them [seem to recall in the Cotswolds] and took lots of photos.

bags it's a glorious day in bonnie Kintyre. Warm enough to take early afternoon tea on the terrace. Have finished a mountain of ironing for my pal. There was so great a pile it had to be carried up to her bedroom in three separate baskets...and that wasn't counting jeans, cords, palazzo pants...

Galen may we see a photo of the pram blanket, please? I would also enjoy a wee sample of your banana cake and shortbread.

When we eventually visit London,we're in for an additional treat. On the afternoon we return home, having reached Glasgow, we have been gifted [by the boys] a Champagne tea at a very posh club near George Square. Wooppee! Should get us in the mood for the final leg of the journey home on the bus.

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Max 9.6° here today. Lovely bright day though . I did some hedge cutting and started a tidy up in the shed.

Bags, It only got up to 20C today. ........

Warm spell, dusty!!?? Lucky you. Send it north, would you, please!

I'm taking a break from crocheting a pram blanket for the tiddler. Only 10 rows and the edging to do. I've got to finish it before Wednesday and make a banana cake and shortbread! Guess where I'm going first thing Wednesday morning?
Might do a few more rows later on this evening, but now I'm going to turn the tv news on.

soop, don't you dare cut off any bits of you. Artists have to be ready to do justice to their subjects.
I've just picked you a poppy as I heard that you like them. I know they only last a day indoors but they are so pretty close too. I think it's a bit early for them to be out, it must be due to the early warm spell we are having.

Have just heard that flight MH370 is at the bottom of the Indian Ocean.

I shall return tomorrow afternoon. Hope to catch up with my Granspals when I do.

Good morning to my Granspals. Thank you for your very kind words, numberplease...it's an arty-farty thing. Taking the first step always fills me with trepidation. My confidence builds at an awfully slow pace. I dread the thought of disappointing those who are hoping for a positive keepsake of their beloved pets. And then...after much harrumphing, I'm hooked and discover real satisfaction and pleasure in creating the portrait. I may appear to be a confident individual...but that's a front. I can share these things with my Granspals. Thank goodness for Gransnet.

granjura Bless you. The chilly winds plays havoc with our joints. However, I'm convinced that we are going to be gifted a beautiful, sunny, warm spring. You mark my words...as my Nana used to say.

bellasnana and a host of other delights.

Ye Olde Knees are complaining here too- after weeks of wall to wall sunshine and Spring temps, winter has come back with quite a bit of snow- about 2 inches on the ground covering all my lovely Spring flowers...

Sorry to see some of you were having a difficult time yesterday. Hope you are feeling better today

Sorry about the flowers Soop, I don`t seem to have square brackets on here anymore, don`t know why, whatever I press, no square brackets anymore!

Dearest Soop, I seem to remember you agonizing over your ability to capture our lovely Mia in watercolour, but capture her you did, just as you did with our darling Pepper, so I`m sure that it won`t be long before inspiration hits you yet again! Mia and Pepper`s portraits are looking at me every time I look up now, since we moved them to a different wall, which also makes me think of YOU as well. {flowers}

The sun is still shining. As the wind has decided to blow from a northerly direction, it isn't sitting out with a cup of tea time. I shall check on the cats...still waiting for Tortoiseshell to bless us with a visit. Empty the washing machine [have only just remembered doing the bed linen] and then, time to read the Sunday paper and enjoy a G&T with plenty of ice and a slice of lime. Love to you lot...

Thank you dear Lona. I've busied myself and feel slightly more uplifted. Thank goodness. Your comment to Gally was so right.

for Gally, he looked like a man who chuckled a lot ((hugs))

Galen some for you too. My hand really is bad too at the moment, this weather doesn't help at all.

soop Don't you go sliding into that pit! Your paintings are amazing, and when you're ready to pick up the brush I'm sure that your talent will flow as always and lots of love xxxxx

Gally My heart goes out to you. It's especially at times like this that I would so love to invite you to my home for a hug and a heart-to-heart chat.

Galen I sympathise with you. I also have arthritis and my hands are complaining something rotten at the moment. However, because I'm fast slipping into a very negative frame of mind [nothing so unusual] I have decided to strip the bed and give the bedroom a thoroughly good make-over...in other words, shift stuff around.

Cheering up for Galen and soop. I am sure the mood will soon return and you will rattle off some lovely pet portraits.

I have spent the morning blubbing and feeling very sorry for myself. I was trawling through photos on the computer for one of the house (we moved here 33 years ago today) and instead, found some video clips of John which I stupidly watched. Very surreal listening to his voice and his laugh - he chuckled a lot - knowing that I will never hear it again. I had a strict talk with myself and decided to clean my 'desk' (it's actually an old pine kitchen table) and gave it a good scrub - it was filthy. I should have gone for a bracing walk as it's a beautiful sunny day, but the eyes are all red and sticking out like golf balls and wearing dark glasses is not an option - I would probably fall flat on my face calling even more attention to myself

Gave archery a miss today as my arthritis has been bad all week. Had a lie in then a shower. Brunch of porridge and raspberries

Meant to leave for you all and