Soops kitcheners

Almost (but not quite) time for my Saturday evening treat. G&T (a double) with a slice of lime and ice. Lovely jubbly. Slainte to all the dear kitcheners

By the by, did anyone read about the chappie in Glasgow who was cleaning behind his fridge when a tarantula spider sauntered out? It's true. The spider (as big as a side plate) is being "cared for" whilst the owner (who must surely be missing it) is located. Words cannot convey my horror. In fact, just thinking about it, has made the hairs on my neck stand to attention. Gulp! Eek!

soop we lived on the South Coast of Natal in South Africa for some years and there are some impressive spiders in that tropical paradise. One night I got up for the loo, feeling my way in the dark, and switched on the light - only to see that on the wall right next to the light switch was a large, hairy spider - as big as the palm of my hand. Yegads, I still shudder at the thought of it.

lona and all who need it, big hug.

Soop I have just read your post about spiders. I am so shocked I feel in need of a stiff drink ...any excuse

Grannyknot I would have self-ignited had I been confronted by such a creature. In fact, I'm all of a dither imagining such a thing. I really have no qualms with spiders in their rightful places...just not in our home. I've never killed one. We have a spider catcher thingy. I yell for MacS and he comes to my assistance and deposits said spider in the garden. My mother was terrified of spiders. I've seen her standing on the bed because one had scuttled across the floor. I truly wish that I could be cured of my fear. Come autumn, I am forever searching for intruders. We've been using chestnut oil around window and door frames. For two years we have not had to remove a spider. I know that they are good creatures. I know that I am a million times larger and more scary [to the spider] but the fear is such, that if a large one was to land on me, I would faint with fright.

Crafting There was an occasion when I worked in a shop in Cornwall and a customer stood in the doorway with a dog...thinking that she felt she shouldn't enter with the dog, I told her that I didn't mind. She then told me that she was afraid of spiders...and I had a large one on my shoulder (I had been rootling in a store cupboard). I ran past her and finished up in the street doing what must have appeared to be a whirling dervish dance. The man who lived above the shop heard my screams. He had to crawl around the premises with a powerful torch before I would return to my duties. Oh dear me...that was such a nightmare experience.

I hate to sound smug but ever since I was an au pair in Germany in 1967 I have learned how to cope with spiders. There, I was working for a very arty architect's family who lived in a barn conversion - lovely actually - but had converted several outbuildings for the grown up daughters of the wife's first marriage when they visited. I was in one of these - a converted henhouse (!) at the far end of the garden and it was beautifully fitted out all very 1960's Scandi style, but no plumbing so if I got caught short in the middle of the night I just popped into the undergrowth. Anyway back to the spiders........each night when I went back to my room I would find several happily socialising in my henhouse so I would take a stiff broom, wedge the little bu**ers into the bristles and then bang it agains the door post outside. Sorted! My plan B (good in bathrooms) is to put a plastic tumbler over the the spider, slide a piece of card underneath then tip that out of the wndow .
I have never had any experience of poisonous spiders but prefer to think of them as benevolent consumers of other annoying small flying objects!
I am even better than DH at dealing with the little perishers

Respect, Terrafirma1 bushels of it.

My husband and I returned home one evening to our house in Spain and we generally went into the house via the patio which meant walking underneath an arch where Bougainvillea had grown. From the light from the headlights, I saw a rather large spider just hanging down in the space where I was about to walk. I didn't like the look of it and told my husband, he took one look and we went in through the front door instead.

I mentioned this particular spider to the gardener the next morning (as I'd never seen anything like it) and described it: large, black and with a red diamond shape on its back). The gardener said 'oh yes, I've seen that one a couple of times'. 'What is it' I asked. 'No idea' he said 'I just stay well away from it'!

HollyDaze The fact that said arachnid had a red diamond on it's back was a warning not to get acquainted. I'll take a look on Google. Back soon.

Are you sitting comfortably? Then here goes...said spider was Steatoda trianglosa. I took one look and it scared me half to death. I'm certain it was poisonous. Had it a red hourglass on the underside, it would have been a Black Widow, and that too is not to be messed with.

Why Oh why have I got to talking about the very thing of which I'm phobic.? Must be mad.

Off to read paper and then pour my Sunday eve G&T. (((hugs)))

On a happier subject...have uploaded a new photo of Torben playing paper planes with his favourite uncle.

Hello all! I have not been in for some time. Big hugs to Lona and all who are having a stressful time.
I am on holiday at present. Somewhere in Devon. Having a restful lounge on the bed after an afternoon stroll on Dartmoor and a morning stint of choral singing with an excellent teacher. It's taken seriously but with a lot of fun.

Lots of people I met last year same style holiday different venue. The Internet connection a bit hit and miss here.
Soon it will be time to gravitate to the bar for a glass of wine. Having sampled two different wines last night I am going to buy a bottle which will be kept behind the bar. Put it on my room bill. I have already paid for the rest of the holiday.
Take care all.

Go Nelliemoser go! Have yourself a lovely holiday. We'll welcome you back in the kitchen once you return home to a normal routine.

It is a beautiful, warm and sunny day in bonnie Kintyre. Rory is playing at make-believe. He's half hidden under the hydrangea bush and believes that the wee mouse doesn't know of his presence. Dream on...Rory

I actually braved the internet and had a look at the spider you mentioned soop but it didn't look the same. So I googled the info and it was a black widow! I googled for info and they are quite common in parts of Spain - I didn't know that

I had to take poor Tara to the vet yesterday for an emergency appointment. Some 4 legged beast had taken a lump out of her rear end. I do not know when it occurred, I happened to see the sore one night.The area was raw and clean but on Sunday evening it deteriorated. She could not jump on to my bed and was walking very slowly. I guessed that the abscess had re- formed.

She was lucky, she saw her usual vet but she was not impressed when he tried to lift her tail. I do not know who jumped the highest. He had to get help but she came home shortly afterwards after being given IM antibiotics and an anti inflammatory. They seemed to kick in about 3 hours later because I found her fast asleep in an armchair and she stayed there for hours.

She seems to be a bit better today- we return tomorrow morning. I feel so sorry for her and my bank balance is also considerably lighter.

Talking of spiders: Yesterday I took the car round to the garage and they set to (big brawny man and skinny apprentice) to replace bulb. Cover off easily and apprentice started screaming and ran right down the yard. Then big man backed off shouting SPIDER, biggest he had ever seen and all the mechanics left the bay. Left to me to go in, scoop up, admittedly huge, spider in cupped hands and deposit it in the street. Bulb fitted and cover replaced double quick. Keys handed back to me with instructions to 'get out of here. No charge as long as you promise not to tell anyone we are all terrified of spiders'.

NB: I did NOT promise

I have some lovely blueberries here and some blood orange juice. Anyone else fancy any?

Hollydaze Eek! A black widow spider is a definite no-no. You were wise to take the scenic route back into your home. Hairs on the back of my neck are standing to attention.

Granny23 I haven't laughed so much in ages. I can visualise the scene. You were without question their heroine and so, of course, there was no charge. And, we won't tell anyone [other than MacS who is guffawing.]

Charleygirl I'm really sorry to hear that your lovely Tara has sustained a nasty injury. I know only too well that the vet fees mount up...even so, when you love an animal, you'll pay any price to help it recover. She'll no doubt sleep a lot and that will be good for her. Big (hug) Yesterday, Rory sat within a short pounce of a chaffinch pecking at seed on the ground. He didn't budge an inch. I've a photo to upload sometime as proof.

Galen blueberries are in my top three favourite fruit. Can you spare a large bowl full? I'd like to eat them with thick and creamy Greek yogurt.

I'm about to brag. No? Yes! I completed an IQ test on Facebook. Scored 130 which apparently is in the top three category. Am I amazed? Yep! Am I modest? Nope!

Anybody still up? Thought not- just a sink full of dirty glasses as usual. Better get the Marigolds and get on with the washing up so that when soop and macsporran come down in the morning they will think the fairies have been! You won't dob me in Rory will you?

I'm still here! But getting ready for my bed

Terrafirma I'm about to award you a gold star for your efforts. A messy kitchen can be a tad off-putting. I've never owned a dishwasher. As I rule, I prefer to wash the dishes as I go along. I've never owned a pair of Marigolds...I'm willing to bet that your hands are much smoother than mine.

Good afternoon, Galen. By gum you stay up late. I'm only ever awake at midnight on very special occasions and when I'm fretting over something or other.

MacSporran is still waiting for results of the latest blood test. He finishes the fifth course of antibiotics on Thursday. As it's my 73rd birthday on Friday, he's looking forward to enjoying a well deserved wee dram.

It's my turn to pester the doctor this afternoon. An opaque patch on my shin is changing shape and colour and now looks suspicious. Best to get it checked. I know that I haven't been bitten and I certainly haven't knocked it.

My thoughts are with all the kitcheners going through a worrying time.

and to you all.

I get caught up in my crochet. Can't put it down until I've finished the piece!
I've now done 31 of the 40 one foot squares for the quilt. Only 9 to go. Should have finished by the end of next week, then just have to crochet them together and do the edge!

Galen you are a very talented lady and your work is stunning. Keep it up!

A sunny day here in bonnie Kintyre. I shall knuckle down and hang the washing out to dry. Back soon

Tara went out yesterday evening for a short while and came home with the top of a rear leg bleeding. She looked to me as though some cat had clawed her. The vet saw her today for the abcess that she has and said that luckily the antibiotics given on Monday will cover for yesterday's clawing. The poor little mite.

Again she was like a whirling dervish with the nurse putting a towel over her head to allow the vet to look at her rear end. She managed to wee the examination table and then we left! She is still sleeping off today's trauma but we do not have to return, thank goodness.

Charleygirl Tara, like Rory, is a sensitive creature. Once the antibiotics kick in she should soon be on the mend. We had to pay extra for the vet to travel a round trip of 50 miles to collect Rory. He went berserk and howled like a banshee. All happened so long ago, after his traumatic encounter with whatever it was that damaged his leg and tore his ear. It took some time before he recovered fully. Mind you, ever since, he's suffered with hyperesthesia. On at least three occasions every day, he goes into a "flat spin". We know how to calm him but it's still distressing to watch.

MacSporran needs to give more blood tomorrow. He's also to see someone about a lump on his neck. My wee sore may well be a basal cell carcinoma...so it needs a biopsy and removal should that be the case. Told that it is a vey common form of skin cancer. Nothing to worry about...so I won't.

After a lovely warm afternoon it's raining heavily. Rory is lolling on his mat, under cover and surveying his territory. Last night MacS saw the black and white cat stroll across the lawn. It doesn't appear to be feral. It is a very fine looking feline with magnificent whiskers and bushy tail...even so, nowhere as handsome as Rory.