Soop's Kindly Kitcheners

Are any kitcheners interested in a map? See thread I just started www.gransnet.com/forums/meet_ups_where_are_you/1219725-Where-are-we-here-is-a-map

bags we won't be going this week...a few more days to wait. I hope that you have safe travels and a lovely, happy time with the family. Take lots of photos for us nosy lot please.

Night night dear Kitcheners I have a job or two to do before I slurp sip my G&T

We are recovering from having little DGD (13 months) for a couple of nights. She was abs gorgeous,her smile and chuckles just lit up the room, and slept through from 6.30 till 7 both nights.
Lovely to have the chance to get to know her without her equally gorgeous but boisterous big brothers!
Lots of cuddles and laughs !

(Why do I feel like a limp rag , apart from the 6 am starts) ?

I meant 6.30 till 6!!!
Is she still lying on her side? Why does that happen anyway?

Enjoy your travels Bags.
Not a happy start this morning. Just lately there`s been a young looking striped tabby cat hanging around here, don`t know who it belongs to. It`s beautifully clean and very friendly, but of course Mia doesn`t like it! Anyway, I went outside to the bin at 10.20 this morning, and it was lying at the side of the doorstep, dead. Don`t know what it died of, no injuries to be seen. I rang Cats protection, the recording said only 9 to 5 Mon to Fri, so then rang RSPCA, of which we don`t have a local branch, they weren`t interested seeing as the cat was no longer alive, just advised me to cover it till we could get someone to take it away. I tried the council, but as expected, nobody there, but there was an out of hours number which I rang. The nice lady who answered said that if the cat had been lying in the road, they would have come and picked it up immediately, but as it was in our backyard I`d have to wait till tomorrow, and, oh yes, cover it up. By now Mia was doing her nut to go outside, so me and hubby wrapped the cat in an old towel, placed it in a cardboard box and it`s now in the garage till tomorrow. Poor, lovely little thing.

We've had DGS for two nights, so I can empathise Alea! This photo was taken at 5.30 this morning following demands for 'Toast'!

Why's he lying on his side?!

He's not lying on his side in my picture. Perhaps he was not properly awake when you photographed him?

"numberplease" Not a good start to your day but it suggests the cat might have been ill.

Lovely tots, love the idea of you making toast at 5.30am Loopylou!
Nelliemoser, if he/she was ill, they gave no sign on Friday, the cat has been here every day lately, and always seemed perfectly healthy. There`s been a spate of cat poisonings around here over the last few weeks, several catts have died from anti freeze poisoning, so I hope that wasn`t the cause because of Mia, a bit close to home. I`m also thinking about the worried owner, wondering where their cat is.

Well done loopylou and Alea. The photos of the wee ones are delightful. Yes, indeed, those early starts (when caring for Torben) can never be erased from my memory bank. One needs to go into auto pilot...all seems a very long time ago.

number I feel very sad for you. You were happy to do your best by the wee tabby. It seems possible that she may have picked up poison. Oh dear, I'm in tears.

number Any person who can put poison down for any creature is, in my opinion, cruel. As a child, we had a cat called Fluffy. She died in my arms as a result of rat poison.

Number, is it possible that the cat was hit by a car and the driver got out and left it at your door, thinking it was yours? We had a lovely tabby that was hit by a car and there wasn't a sign of injury on him - I couldn't bring myself to believe that he wasn't simply unconscious. Cats have thick skin and injuries often don't show.

Lovely babies - but hard work I know!

Magical day here - sparkling sun and a whole palette of leaves - and thankfully the air is still so they will stay on the trees a while longer. Been for a short walk and met injured young wood pigeon. I gently shooed it off the lane into the verge so it would not get a further injury and after a while it flew in a wobbly fashion over the hedge, so its wings must be intact and it was perhaps just in shock.

DGS 4th birthday yesterday - all went very well. He behaved excellently which is a bit of a tall order for a 4 year old at his own party.

Just communicating with family over some very unsettling things found on one child's mobile phone - how soon their innocence is broken - and how sad that is.

But singing with friends this afternoon which will be jolly.

Bon voyage to those setting out on a trip.

anno I prefer to believe that the tabby was involved in an accident. If so, she would not have suffered unnecessarily.

Luckygirl I would agree with you that today the weather is magical. We had a good walk and the sun was filtering through the many coloured leaves. At times the fallen leaves crunched underfoot. Autumn has a special smell. You did the right thing for the injured bird. We sometimes hear an almighty crack on the kitchen window. The birds often get confused when they see the trees reflected in the glass. Almost always the bird survives. It may take a long rest and look totally dazed but, ultimately, the bird recovers and flies away.
Being a parent to the children of today (who can readily access the net)must be such a difficult task.
Enjoy the music. Our elderly and charming piano tuner has been making our piano sound sweeter.

I can't believe the weather this autumn, it has been wonderful, I can't believe that we still haven't had a frost yet and the squashes, dahlias, courgettes and tomatoes are still going strong. (Of course, now I have said that they will all be struck down tomorrow!)

I had forgotten to harvest the hazelnuts, so rectified that this afternoon. Unfortunately, I thought I would taste one. I ate the whole crop. I may have to skip dinner tonight, I am so full! Luckily DBH isn't fussed, but as a child brought up to nibble my way along hedgerows full of Kentish cobs, I cannot resist a fresh cobnut. Even if it's a smaller Suffolk variety.

We often hear the kerthunk of a bird flying into a window. At one house we had the most perfect imprints of a bird in flight, talons outstretched, the lot. I couldn't bear to clean that window the whole time we were there, it was beautiful. It just goes to show how greasy they are, though.

All of my indoor plants have had their summer holiday outside and I have just finished bringing them indoors, looking so green. I also wanted to miss the frost.

A sunny day here also in NW London but a bit nippy outdoors. I still have not worn a jacket when going out shopping or whatever but I think that may change tomorrow.

Tara is coming home marginally earlier at night but not early enough.

Soop and Anno, the cat was in our backyard, not out on the road, but I did wonder if it had been hit by a car and dragged itself round here. I rang the council back this morning, they weren`t interested, said it was my responsibility, they only remove animals from the road. Anyway, I rang one of the local vets, they said I could take it to them, so my grandson took me after he finished work, we`ve just got back. The vet scanned it as soon as we arrived, but sadly, it wasn`t chipped. They`ll keep it for 7 days in case the owner turns up, then they`ll dispose of it. Bless it`s little soul, I`ll miss seeing it nearly everyday, annoying the hell out of Mia!

janer I have a love of nuts. Walnuts and Brazil nuts are my top favourites. They are high in fibre and nutrients...but they also pack a high calorie punch. Such a pity.

Charleygirl Another perfect autumn day. The sea looks like glass. MacSporran has been outside (wearing a midge net) and clearing stuff that is clogging the wet garden. Rory has been in attendance.

number I realise that the wee tabby had come into your garden. It is possible that she had received a blow and deliberately made her way to the place she felt safe. You are a good, kind person. I would be feeling just the way you are if little Tortoiseshell cat had met with a similar end. We cannot help loving creatures including those that do not officially "belong" to us.

I've been to the care home. One lady was her usual cheerful self. Another was certain that she would be going home to Dundee (after a nice cup of tea.) Another had an in-depth conversation with me about ??? A new lady continually knocked on the table and called for her mother to take her away. The television (which no-one appears to watch) was extremely loud. Our pal downstairs is to have bereavement counselling. His twin sister died in the spring.

Hello Soop I sent you the pics of Emma to the address you gave me, hope you got them ok.

HappyNan1 No! When did you post them?

HappyNan1 I've looked through all the recent emails and attachments. Nothing from you. I shall PM my email address again. Could you resend please? So sorry about this. xxx

Oh - may heaven preserve me from ever being in home where the TV is blaring away! They are lucky to have you visiting soop. I plan to write instructions to my DDs soon about the nature of the home I finish up in!

Ditto Luckygirl I would need peace and quiet. A spic and span wee room with a view, books, an easel and some lovely classical CDs. I would go STARK STARING mad cooped up with all the unnecessary din. If the television really has to be on, then couldn't there be something worth watching...such as a nature programme or beautiful gardens, or ballet...just not a day full of nonsense.

HappyNan1 Should you return to the kitchen to discover that I have logged off (around about 5'clock) please leave me a message. I'm ironing for a pal in the morning. I log on again in the early afternoon. I've checked and rechecked ALL the emails. There is nothing from you with attachments of Emma.