Soop's welcoming kitchen!

glammanana We often wonder whether he has memories of the time he lived in the forest, walked miles along the main road verge, on the prowl, called by one snowy day and discovered some tasty tit bit, called again and discovered a wee chalet under which his food was kept dry, moved into his first smart home [a new wheelie bin] on it's side complete with straw basket and a couple of fleece blankets...moved on into a smarter dog kennel [cost £80] furnished with new, interior door mat, igloo cat basket [very costly] and three fleece blankets. Then of course, he decided that we weren't too bad and he therefore wanted to move in. He did...and the rest is history.

Nellie I like your choice of flowers. I've yet to be successful growing poppies. When I first read..."I've been watching..." I imagined you were about to tell us that you've been watching paint dry! It's cold here in bonnie Kintyre. And it's just started raining again.

rosequartz Oh I do understand why it is that you are feeling the need to clear out dratted cupboards. However, you haven't been well. Please don't overdo the housework. Your visitors are coming to see you, not the sell-by dates on stuff in the cupboard. She says, knowing full well that she'd do the same in your shoes.

Charleygirl on the very day the new sofa was man-handled through the window [it's a long story] Rory thought it looked good enough to sharpen his claws on. I hissed...he put on his grumpy face, turned and disappeared for a wee while. He hasn't considered repeating the episode. Bless!

charleygirl, I think DIL did keep a spray bottle of water to stop her leaping up into the Christmas tree and knocking the baubles down. I don't know when she did it, but may have been when she was on her own in the house for a while (oh dear), she was shut in for safety if they went out, this was before the cat flap was fitted. I will ask if she is still using the 'spray' bottle.

It's such fun, though, scraping at carpets with claws! We used to have a dog who did the same if he was left at all, it was as if he was digging for rabbits. He also did it to the sofa but I was there, heard a noise and managed to stop him!

rosequartz what may be helpful for your DiL is to have a spray bottle with water handy. Cats hate water and that may teach her a lesson. Tara's reasons for scratching are varied, attention seeking, boredom, fun, naughtiness to name a few. Since I covered the armchairs with velour type throws, they have been spared. The first thing she does when she goes outside is to make for a neighbour's tree and sharpens her claws on its bark.

Ages ago I bought something I could spray onto eg a rug but the stench for me was unbearable so back to the drawing board.

That would be lovely, thank you soop. I feel in need of a soothing and a lovely view of the sea, having tried to find some energy to clean out kitchen cupboards.
It's surprising what lurks at the back, but DD1 and family will be visiting soon and I wouldn't like her to pull out anything that is well past its sell-by date! The food waste and recycling bags are rather full this week.

Nigella loves my garden, Nelliemoser, she spreads herself everywhere.

Charleygirl and soop - DIL's little cat has torn the [new] landing carpet, although she has a scratching post and lots of toys. They are going to have to replace it. Let's hope she calms down soon. she is still young.

I have come in for a chat . At home I have been watching potting compost soaking. I prepared two seed trays and several pots in my Wendy House and they are sitting on the sunny staging warming up and making sure the compost is properly wetted before I start to sow. Some small Nasturtiums, big Poppies and some Nigella, (love in a mist).

Soop he is probably reminising about the cold days & nights he spent in the forest before he moved into the lap of splendor he now enjoys.

Wow!!! Such a lot of rowdy activity since I signed off yesterday. I barely know where to begin. It's such a treat to discover that you lot having been keeping each other company. And to think that Rory slept through it all...

Gally Hurrah! What on earth were you fretting for. You are such a star. Good for you.

Charleygirl cats have their ways and means when it comes to getting away with wee indiscretions. Rory's into wanting to be let out of the back door. We prop it open with a boot so that he can return at leisure. We close the kitchen door because he knows how to barge into it and come right back indoors. I get up, close both doors and he then winds around my legs, looks pathetic and signals that he's wanting to repeat the performance. MacTavish chuckles and says..."you're such a clever cat, Rory"

Nonu I believe that I maybe even dafter than a brush...sometimes, I'm so daft, I amaze myself...

Galen I do so wish that you lived nearby. I would enjoy watching you prepare and cook your interesting dishes. After which, I'd scoff sample the results.

ffinnochio dear girl, I'm pleased to hear that the dodgy thing on your hand has been dealt with. Yesterday, MacSporran had a host of suspicious mole-like things zapped from his back and head. Too much exposure to sun over many decades.

Bellasnana You've made me chuckle out loud. I'm trying to imagine you and your granddaughter bouncing around on the trampoline. ...a lovely picture in my mind's eye. With my scoliosis I would not be capable of getting on to the trampoline. If someone shoved me on it, I would then not be able to get off again. Ah well...or, as bags would say, hey ho!

rosequartz you need plenty of rest and relaxation. The trampoline is out of bounds. Snuggle down in the tartan chair and take in the view of a lively sea, scudding clouds and sunshine. x

glamma Rory sends greetings to Poppy. He's sitting on the utility room mat and gazing at the view of the forest. If he moves, it will be far as the fence. He stares into space for a wee while, washes his face [and behind the ears] and saunters back. Then of course, he needs to sleep for several hours.

anno I agree with you. Hot cross buns were on the supermarket shelves straight after Christmas. Come September, the Christmas decorations and mince pies [with short sell by date] will appear. It's called marketing and it irritates me no end.

I hope DD1 wasn't videoing me!

If you've ever seen Harry Hill's "You've been Framed", so many older people have scary accidents trying to do things with their grandchildren!
It doesn't stop me though!

I had to shuffle/slide to the edge of the trampoline and slide off backwards as I couldn't stand up on it again. DGS (age4 at the time) thought it was hilarious, but did offer me a hand to try to get up (still couldn't do it).

Just to let you know that I made the Grand Entrance looking like a drowned rat who had escaped through a hedge backwards. As usual, I managed to be first to arrive which is not a good move when solo, but I had a whale of a time, met some lovely people, drank some wonderful wines and was sooo glad I decided to go.
Just off to the airport to deliver my friend Caro who is off to South Africa for a holiday . I will join you to sample these yummy sounding hot cross bunnies on my return
Bella - do take care on that bouncy thing, we don't want you dislocating any essential part of your anatomy!

I am not sure if I could get on to the trampoline, never mind bounce on it!

rosequartz after the way that you have been feeling recently, a quiet cup of tea in a cosy kitchen with Rory beside you is what you need.

The way Tara has been acting recently, maybe you could give her a new home? I woke up at 6.30am today, thinking that somebody was in my bedroom playing football. It was madam, scratching the expensive rug. She was well aware that she was not wanted as I just needed to return to sleep. She did eventually lie quietly beside me but that was after pawing my face, wanting attention.

May I come and sit quietly in the corner please, just feeling a bit post-viral which seems to have left me with cramps in my muscles. I don't think I could cope with bouncing on DGS' s trampoline at the moment, well done Bellasnana! Last time I did that I fell down flat on my back and couldn't get up as he bounced happily around me.

Just a soothing cup of tea would be lovely, nothing to eat thankyou!

A very good baker in Cheadle Hulme quite rightly sells hot cross buns only in the few days before Easter and they are the very best I have ever come across. I don't know what the spices are and I'm sure they won't ever reveal the secret. Meanwhile I will have to make do with Waitrose. I abhor the sale of Easter products as soon as Christmas is over!

I have missed popping in here for a while but as usual it is all cosy and welcoming thanks to soop I have been busy making sure the lovely poppy is settled in her new home and can report she has taken over the running of the house,its as though she has been here forever she's the sweetest little dog and she just loves cats so Rory would become a friend I feel.I've brought a walnut slab cake for everyone to help themselves when you enjoy a nice xx

Hello everyone. It's still only 8pm where I am but I'm just having a quick look to see what you have all been up to. Hot cross buns - yum! They don't seem to have them here in the US.

Today DGD, aged three, informed me that I had to go and bounce with her on her new trampoline ( she is quite bossy!). I think I've done myself a mischief as it feels like I have displaced some internal organs! I really must stop thinking I'm still a spring chicken when I'm more of an old boiling-fowl, but it was such fun

Goodnight all

I had the cinnamon ones and they're absolutely gorgeous. Have virtual one Ffinochio

Cheers, dusty! Lemon it is.

Anno & Galen Please don't tease me about Hot Cross Bunnies - I can't get them here. Love them toasted with lashings of butter.

That glass in your hand is definitely medicinal ffinn but as it would be bad for you to drink alone, I shall have one too, lemon for me please.
I think we might even persuade soop to join us.

It's been a foul afternoon and my gardener hasn't managed to come round today. Meanwhile the weeds are making a comeback. I'm trying to ignore the bag of things needing ironing. And succeeding. Galen, I also was seduced by Waitrose's hot cross buns. Not the posh Heston ones though.

Is it time for a G&T? Tiring day at the hosp. having something dodgy removed from my right hand. Can still manage to hold a glass though!
I've bought enough makings for anyone who's in need... - lemon, lime or cucumber for those with preferences, and loads of ice to add to the mix.

Sounds heavenly

Sounds delicious Galen, put your feet up now, you deserve a bit of pampering.

I'll put the kettle on again!

No not hot, just spicy. I haven't made it for ages and that and the red cooked lamb I've never seen on a restaurant or takeaway menu and they're both gorgeous. I usually serve it on spinach but this time I'm trying pak choi . When I first made it years ago, pak choi was unheard of so I used spinach.

Won"t be "avin" that Soop , you daft as a brush !!