Soop's Kindly Kitcheners

Some of you may remember that DD had to terminate her first pregnancy almost exactly a year ago on advice that the foetus (we didn't use the word baby)was so severely "damaged/abnormal" it might even not make it to term.
Absolute heartbreak, she is 38 and it was a much-wanted pregnancy, if a surprise to us.

I have just heard that her 12 week scan is ALL CLEAR, I'm going to be a granny again and I am crying!!!

She has a wonderful vintage Marimekko dress for her wedding just before Christmas and I had joked (before she first told us of the baby) that it would be ironic if she was pregnant by December and it didn't fit!!

Whoopee! - what wonderful news.

Oh how lovely. Sod the dress, everything to look forward to.

Oh what wonderful news Alea, you are in need of some, that's for sure!

I add my hopes to everyone else's for a good sale, bella.

Alea Some good news at last for your family.

Just had a message from soop hoping all is well in the kitchen. She'll be glad you're back, pompa.

Hoping all goes well for your DD, alea. Lovely news.

Alea What fantastic news, no wonder you're crying! So pleased for you all.

We need a baby emoticon!

Alea that's fantastic news. No wonder you are crying

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Oh my goodness...Alea I'm also on the verge of blubbing. Fantastic, fabulous news. I am truly delighted for all the family. And, as whitewave so eloquently says...sod the dress...who cares! A baby on the way is SPECIAL.

Thank you dear Bags for passing along my message. I do not own such a thing as a "smart" phone. Mine is the most simple and possibly archaic of models on the market. It takes and sends messages. End of...

Pompa Haste ye back. Us lot want an update. What has kept you away from us lovely ladies? Surely you haven't been locked in the shed for the last few weeks?

We enjoyed meeting up again with MacSporran's sister from Perth in Australia. We spent our time together talking non-stop and looking through ancient family photographs. It was a time for reminiscing. Our nephew (also from Australia) has been the chauffeur throughout their stay. He's a mighty big lad and has the most wonderful, gentle nature. Nothing is too much trouble. Our niece works with dementia patients in a home in Beverly in Yorkshire. She is one of my most favourite nieces. A kind and caring girl.

Rory missed us. Our pal came in to cater for his needs. However, Rory chose to go on hunger-strike. Mind you, he's made up for it since we walked through the door. He cannot stop winding himself in knots around MacS's legs. It is good to be home and I look forward to a good night's sleep. MacS had an awful night. He was forever been wakened with horrible cramps in his legs. He cannot lie flat on a bed. This is why he prefers to sleep in the recliner that we have here at home. He deserves a wee dram with his evening meal.

I took a photograph of a rainbow that spanned Loch Lomond. We stopped over by the loch for a picnic lunch. The bracken looks lovely over the mountains. I also managed to take two photos through the car window while it was moving.

soop if you continue to send such superb photos we will be moving in en masse to share them with you and what will Rory do then? So happy to hear that you have had a great time.

Alea that is wonderful news, I am not surprised that you are shedding a tear (of joy).

Yet again, beautiful photos Soop, Loch Lomond is beautiful at any time, and in any weather.
I`m sitting here feeling rather damp (an understatement if ever there was one!) and bedraggled, after giving a rather reluctant Mia a bath in thev kitchen sink. You probably all know that she is supposed to be white, but has a tendency to go under cars getting herself oiled up. Yesterday she surpassed herself, came in COVERED, but immediately hid herself behind a unit where I couldn`t get to her. Earlier, I managed to get her out, and immediately dumped her in a sinkful of warm water. A couple of times she jumped out onto the draining board and had to be forcibly returned to the water, hence my being a bit on the wet side! She`s now refusing to stay anywhere near to the fire to dry off, and insists on sitting in the coldest corner, so she`ll be damp for quite a while, methinks.

I`m just trying to imagine Rory`s reaction to having a bath!

Me too!

Soop - just Wow. Rainbows around here invariably end in someone's roof.

I am so glad that He Who Must Be Obeyed (aka Rory) graciously permitted the staff to get away for their wee break and that they enjoyed it and have returned refreshed and ready to pander to his slightest whim.

My DD's kittens/ cats are in disgrace. Yesterday they/one of them opened GD's bedroom door and somehow killed one of her gerbils, it was lying at the front of the cage with a torn throat. My GS (16) told them how disappointed he was with their behaviour but wasn't sure the message was " received and understood". The remaining gerbil has been removed to a place of safety.

How horrible for your GS, annsixty .

Good morning all from an infrequent visitor. Things have been insanely busy recently, my intentions are always good but you know what they say about that.

For the first time in what seems like a very long time I have a couple of hours to myself and I'm spending them in Kelvingrove Art Gallery where I first met soop and several other granspals so lots of happy memories. I actually come here often but always have children in tow so today I'll be enjoying some of the areas that I don't normally get to.

Looking back over the thread it's obvious that many of you don't have your troubles to seek, I hope today brings some peace.

Cats! They're very good at putting on an injured innocence act, annsixty. 'What, me?'
baubles, how lovely to have time to yourself in the gallery. I really want to see it myself but when I come north I'm usually the other side of Scotland. Wonder what the Dundee V&A will be like when it's finished.
Soop, what a wonderful rainbow photograph. Taking a photo through the car window while it's moving is quite an achievement. Were you driving?

anno Nope! I took the photo through the open passenger window. I also attempted to take one of Inverarary Castle. As we returned over the wee bridge I hoped to manage a shot over the bald head of MacS. What I got was a big, rounded blur...

baubles I envy you the close proximity of the Kelvingrove. It is a great favourite of mine. I particularly like the paintings by the Glasgow Boys. I remember so well our first meeting. How long ago was it? You helped me down the long flight of stairs. Bags bundled me into the back of a taxi...

annsixty What happened to the gerbil is sad. The kitten cannot know the difference between a pet and a wild creature. My cat from twenty five plus years ago, scooped my son's elderly goldfish from it's bowl. I returned home to find the cat (Hamish) sitting proudly beside the deceased fish.

number Rory...water! He would go bananas if we tried to wash him. Tara must be a most unusual feline. This morning, his Tortoiseshell kitten was waiting to be fed at breakfast-time. When she had finished we allowed Rory to join her. He sat to attention. She sidled up, jumped back a bit, returned to him and they proceeded to touch noses. He was so gentle with her. It has been a very long time since they lived together in the feral cat commune. Sadly, the camera was in the car.

We've been sitting with our pal in the care home. He's confined to his bed and feeling very sorry for himself. He needs to lose a lot of weight. He needs to do intensive exercises to get his muscles back into working order. He rarely moves from his bed/wheelchair. We can feel his frustration. However, the staff with many other residents to consider, do their level best to get him motivated. He seems to have lost the will to get well.

Bellasnana Any news to share with us nosey lot?

Pompa Haste ye back...or else we shall have to send out a search party...led by Galen.

soop I do not understand why Tara can now venture out when it is raining. Since I have known her, if I opened the door and it was raining, she ran to the rear door in case the weather was different there.

I am hoping that this odd behaviour will change when the weather gets colder.

Today is dull and mild but she came home for a late lunch and has retired to bed for a few hours.

Tara would scream and scratch if a she was taken to have a bath.

Oh dear number I meant to say Mia...not Tara
Charleygirl I apologise for getting Tara confused with Mia
Yet another senior moment...

I've completed the portrait of the ram. I am heeding the good advice (from ^you lot^) not to tiddle and ruin a perfectly good painting. Tomorrow I shall begin painting the Highland Coo. When that too is finished, I shall be painting a beautiful Collie and a handsome young German Shepherd.

Time to say farewell. I wish you all a pleasant and peaceful evening. Until tomorrow (((hugs))) for all of our Granspal Kitcheners

PS...*Pompa*...!!! xxx

Soop, today,I`ve received an email containing new photos of Duke, now that it`s too flipping late! But never mind, the ones I sent to you were good ones, it`s just that these are more up to date. Can`t believe how he looked such a puppy in August, yet now he`s truly a DOG!
Mia is worrying me, if things don`t change by morning, a trip to the vet might be in order. There`s nothing I can really put my finger on, but she`s not asked to go outside for 2 days, most unusual, she`s eating OK, but won`t go to her dish, I have to take it to her, again, most unusual, and in the morning, if I don`t carry her downstairs, she`ll stay on my bed all day. I know this sounds like a spoilt, pampered pet, but she`s not usually like that at all. She also doesn`t go near hubby, and she usually sits gazing up at him in adoration, heaven knows why!
Looking forward to our preview of the Highland cow and ram potraits.

number I have sketched young Duke but it def isn't too late for you to let me see the best of the latest. Should I see one that is so much better, I shall start a new portrait. I should start to paint within the next week or so.
Mia may well be off colour. If were you I would get her checked over. Rory has had some odd behavioural moments recently. He has taken to sitting in the bathroom. Some days he's ravenous...and then he barely looks at his dish. However, since we returned home he's perked up no end.

number I have sketched young Duke but it def isn't too late for you to let me see the best of the latest. Should I see one that is so much better, I shall start a new portrait. I should start to paint within the next week or so.
Mia may well be off colour. If were you I would get her checked over. Rory has had some odd behavioural moments recently. He has taken to sitting in the bathroom. Some days he's ravenous...and then he barely looks at his dish. However, since we returned home he's perked up no end.