Soop's welcoming kitchen!

Dragonfly I may need to paint a wee portrait of your wee Flora. Have you any really clear photos of her?

By gum...we have to close this kitchen door. I shall pop the Champagne and open the new venue...see you soon.

soop, my little mutt is a beautiful three year old liver and white English Springer called Flora. She's been a bit of a lifesaver these last three years, and I'm quite soppy about her. She's on the mend, should be home tomorrow. She's actually quite scared of my garden mice, not sure what to make of them! She does a funny little bouncing jig when they're about. At least she hasn't tried to retrieve them for me....yet.

Marelli ...where you bin? Missed you. Yes indeed, we do have many Granspals who are having to deal with heartache. There isn't a day goes by when they are not in my thoughts. Thoughts alone cannot make the troubles go away. However, if just one Granspal feels less alone and is comforted a little, that cannot be bad.

Away to have lunch. Will return ASAP. (hugs)

A warm arm around the shoulders for all who are experiencing such heartache. It puts normal irritating day-to-day things into perspective, doesn't it? Somehow or other, we do get through somehow, even though at the other end of it things may not be what we hoped/prayed so hard for.

The Avon stuff that works for midges is Skin-so-Soft 'Original', also known as 'Woodland Fresh'. Anyone in soops neck of the woods should be able to buy it in the chemist at Tarbert. Though, of course, anyone living IN soop's neck of the woods would already know that!

Dragonfly Snap! Yes, the wee mice in our garden, 'though not as cheeky as yours, scamper around the base of the bird feeder and fill their cheeks to bursting with fallen seed. So far, Rory hasn't bothered to investigate matters. He's far too classy...

Welcome, Dragonfly...thank you for sharing the banana bread. Oh dear, I'm so sorry to hear that your little dog is poorly. Naturally you'll be feeling concerned and lonely without her. What breed is she? What is her name? How old is she? I'm sure that your dad will feel much improved after the pacemaker has been fitted. I've heard good reports concerning the benefits of the procedure. Inverewe Gardens have to be one of our top favourites. I've an entire album of photos taken there on a late summer's day.

anno I can remember seeing the antics of a squirrel on a television programme. It managed to reach the feeder in spite of an array of mesmerising obstacles.

whenim64 The very mention of Bramley apples, takes me back to my late Nana's kitchen and the taste of a freshly baked pie with real custard.

The mice in my garden are getting exceedingly cheeky, waiting by the bird table each day for me to drop some. They're not even timid now, just sit there!

I've just shooed a squirrel that was chewing at my baby apples on the Bramley tree. They must be rock hard and sour, but it's had a go at quite a few. Never seen them do that before. I've sprayed the trees with Resolva for whitefly in the vain hope that it won't fancy them now.

Lovely sunny day! Had an argument with a squirrel that was at my bird feeder. It was most reluctant to 'scram'. It's probably lurking in the undergrowth waiting for me to go out.

Good day soop - am I the first into the kitchen today? I've brought banana bread for us to have with your glorious coffee. Am a bit mithered today - my poor dog is quite ill and in hospital and I'm waiting for a call to let me know how she is today. And my daughter and the lads have gone away for the weekend so I'm a bit lonely. And my dad is going into hospital tomorrow to have a pacemaker fitted. And..... Yep, needed to whinge a bit! Feel better now. Hope the midges leave us in peace, I have painful memories of midge attacks at Inverewe Gardens and at Corrieshalloch! Have a good Sunday.

Here we are again, happy as can be, all Granspals and jolly good company. Never mind the midges, never mind the rain, as long as we're together woops she goes again. La de dah de dah...la de da de de...all Granspals and jolly good company.

Right, now for the serious stuff. I shall make the kitchen warm and welcoming and prepare the coffee and shortbread. Rory is practising yoga at the mo'. I've tried having a conversation with him, all to no avail.

MacSporran is in the loft. I can hear him shifting stuff from one end to the other. Why? Who knows. He's happy enough and that's what matters.

AlieO you do make me chuckle. Don't go scattering crumbs all over my kitchen floor...I've been pretending to be relatively busy. Had a mini blitz with a red hot vacuum cleaner. After five minutes, I came over all lackadaisical and had to take a break with a pot of fresh tea to help me recover. MacSporran called out...what are you up to? I replied, housework. He said, that's not on. I agreed. End of story... and very norty titters.

I have to dash. But, I shall return in the morning. In the meantime, should we have to vacate the kitchen, please do cut the tartan ribbon to the new extension and slurp sip the Champagne that is ready and waiting in the ice bucket. Enjoy! Hic!

Definitely coffee time, just had mine.
Have some shortbread before it goes - my grandson made it yesterday! (Well, I rolled it out....)
I am determined to be in on the end of this thread.
Love to all

It is perfect here in bonnie Kintyre. Wall-to-wall sunshine, a glassy sea, beautiful landscape...and yesterday afternoon we saw the mother deer with her teeny weeny fawn. MacSporran tried taking photos with the long lens, as the creatures were well into the wild wood. Sadly, as I discovered when attempting to photograph the beautiful array of wild yellow Iris, the battery needed recharging. We must do better when given a second chance. Also, there are some striking red poppies blooming in the village hedgerow. When we take a stroll tomorrow, I shall take the camera with me.

Nonu continue to have lots and lots of fun.

POGS I'm nodding in agreement as I read your message to our lovely Bella

I finished the Pomeranian portraits. My pal is thrilled. I'm sooooooooo relieved. When I get a chance to upload photos, I shall share with you lot.

Coffee time! Would love to be sharing with all of you. Now, that would be cheer-making.

Not long to go before we open the extended extension. Should I not be around to open the door, I trust one of my Granspals will do the honour. If you agree, shall we call it...*soop's kitcheners*

Dear Bella

Well, what can anybody say_?

I hope your news from DH niece can rally a bit of hope and good news, wish her well.

There are so many of us thinking of you, as you know. [keep your chin up] emoticon.

LONA we are having more fun than a person should be allowed here in Washington State.
Moving towards Oregon tomorrow, the weather is being kind to us, as this can be a rainy old State.
Thanks for asking, talk later .
Bye xx
and [smiles]

Nonu Hope you're having a wonderful time? xx

to Soop and all of you.

Marmight Enjoy!

Nonu and all my Gransnetters... Bella's news has made me sad. I shall return when I'm feeling more upbeat.

The sun is shining and the midges are sleeping. Thank goodness for small mercies.

Bella...I've just this minute returned from Campbeltown. When I read your message I had to take a long, deep breath. Darling girl, many of us have expressed our feelings of dismay and utter helplessness since your dear husband's diagnosis. I, along with others, have been hoping that surgery might make his condition more bearable. Your heart must feel like shattering, yet your spirit must stay strong. Every day spent together with your husband is very precious. PLEASE keep popping in to the kitchen. There is such a lot a love to share with you.

Bella, just catching up with the news in the kitchen and am so sorry to read your news. I'm thinking of you and send a big ((((hug)))) x

Some of Boots own brand sunscreens have insect repellent added. It's one of the few that don't irritate my skin. Then about 4 or 5 pm or when getting ready to go out, I use Colibri Insect Repellent which is just natural essential oils and very effective. It can be bought on line

Bella, My love to you and your husband.

Very true Kitty and we can sometimes get bogged down worrying about a blooming house that only needs a tidy up. It will be done 'whenever'! Off you go, switch off and enjoy your well deserved trip to Wales.

Oh Bella as if you did not have enough to contend with, stay strong but I know that is easier said than done