Soop's friendly KITCHENERS

Morning all !

Oh it is lovely to wake up to a bit of sunshine !

I bet you're excited at the impending arrival of the new baby * Alea*. I have a blanket sitting languishing in my knitting basket so I hope you get yours finished in time.

soop Grace is the name my youngest DD has reserved should they try for a third baby and have a little girl. Sadly, when she was pregnant with her first son I had a dream of her stood at the bottom of our stairs and ranged behind her on the stairs were 3 strapping 6ft lads. She laughs at me but she has 2 boys now so I truly think a third might arrive at some stage and not the dainty little girl called Grace

We purchased the sweetest little outfit for the newly arrived Sophia , the palest cream summer dress , edged with pale pink Peter rabbits and the tiniest cardigan in soft pink to wear with it. I like you like to see new-borns in white. I still think the type of pram you mention is the comfiest thing for babies to sleep in but its such an expensive option these days and of course not car friendly.

oooh a beach hut * Nanylovesshopping* how lovely. We sometimes visit friends in Clacton for a day on the beach at their hut and I would so love one for me !!

* Nelliemoser* ( my favourite clematis by the way ) I love how 3 year olds like to dress up. When we are away next month I have instructions from DGS 2 and 3 to look for Transformers outfits !!

soop what beautiful posture you have in your photo , its a beautiful picture of you both.

I'm part way through a gift for little William to welcome him to the world, its a nightlight in a picture frame , so I thought Id share that with you before heading off to finish it. Slight amends need to be made as I was told the wrong weight so need to change it.

Happy Sunday everyone x

Hi everyone, glorious sunshine here today, hope it reaches all, soop will ask DSIL to sort out pic of hut, as can only shop and chat online (technical idiot)that is a lovely picture of you both, you have gorgeous hair, I suffer with hair envy! nanaandGrampy my hut is on Mersea Island, I know the ones at Clacton, have you walked from Clacton to Frinton along the seafront, beach huts all the way, all of them fabulous and different, I am a complete hutter, or should that read nutter that little outfit sounds so pretty for Sophia, bet you are looking forward to a cuddle, I love the smell of new babies

I do not know what possessed me but I started making up the cot blanket (stripey squares alternately at right angles to each other in grey and white) yesterday and did not use a flat "weave" seam. So half way through, I am going to have to unpick it as all the seams are lumpy on the "wrong" side . More haste, less speed. That will teach me. Perhaps I was paying too much attention to the Grand National. Anyone have a flutter?

The sun is shining here- I have had a lie in but no thanks to Tara. She was being a total pain (her usual self) so I shut her out of the bedroom by closing the door. That worked for over an hour then she started to pummel on the door base. I ended up opening it because I did not want the door to be scratched by that minx. She has gone out so I will have peace until around 7pm this evening.

I cannot watch any horse racing, especially the Grand National because I think that it is so cruel.

Yet another glorious day in bonnie Kintyre. Warm sunshine with a slightly chilly breeze. We had a long walk and returned home with rosy cheeks.

pompa A mixed day indeed. I'm so sorry that you've damaged your car. Thank goodness that it was a gate post and not another car that you hit. And you were performing a good deed at the time. That is such a pity.
The consultant has done his bit to get the scan organised. The waiting is stressful. Not too long before the procedure has been carried out. Hopefully, your mind will be put at rest once the result is known.
MacSporran will see the haematologist on Tuesday. He will learn the results of the CT scan and the latest blood test results.

Charleygirl...no pain...no gain. You have things to look forward to. Bless you, you deserve a freshly-minted medal. Tara is a spirited feline. Which is how she should be. Rory will venture outdoors this afternoon. MacS plans to do a little light gardening. Rory's job is that of an overseer. A hugely important role.

wot You are kind. I was approx. 65 on that occasion. My joints were, at that time, in splendid working order.

annsixty I have no idea what a B&M store is like. When we're in Oban, we'll visit a vast Homebase. I do enjoy a very rare visit to Sainsbury's. The nearest is a 3.5 hour journey away.

Tizliz It pays a company like Apple to have a first class customer on-line service. I dread having to deal with anything like your problem, as I'm not at all tech-savvy. I leave such things to MacS...
What a coincidence! MacS has just this moment given me a cup of tea AND a chocolate chip cookie.

NanaandGrampy The card is a lovely work of art. You are gifted. I like the strong shapes and bright colour. Well done. The little dress sounds adorable.

The pram that I treasured, was a Marmet Queen. I frequently walked from our village, through the big park and on into Northampton town (nine miles in total) with the boys sitting opposite each other.

Nannylovesshopping I look forward to seeing a photo of your beach hut. I imagine that it is tastefully and comfortably furnished.

Alea That you need to unpick all the work you've put into the blanket is a pity. I cannot watch horse racing. It worries me when there is a nasty fall.

We've had a productive afternoon in the garden. Dare I say that at long last...the hard graft is done (for now). Where there was thicket, there is sunshine filtering through new, fresh foliage. Most satisfactory.

Having fed both Rory and Tortoiseshell, I'm ready to log off and read both yesterday's and today's newspapers. Antiques Road Show is coming from one of our favourite locations this evening - Kelvingrove Museum. I met a few Granspals there some time ago. Bags and Marelli and Baubles joined the happy gathering.

I trust that our Kitcheners have enjoyed some sunshine during the day. The sky in Kintyre is cloudless.

Love to one and all. I shall return tomorrow. x

I am now seriously annoyed. Have been in a cloud all day, can hardly see across the valley.

Went to the rifle club this morning. League secretary says "you won a cup in the woman's winter league" me " don't be silly I was right at the bottom of the league" him " you didn't do that badly, but you were the only woman!" Talk about rising up and then deflated!

Good morning everyone, soop my hut is fairly comfy, loathe to do too much inside as this is the second hut, first one on same spot, along with three others, burnt down by senseless hooligans three years ago, I know it's only a hut, but it was very upsetting, dgds dollies,books games, dinghy, chairs, everything gone, this hut is more sparse but very much loved by us all. Off to see consultant today with DD and dgd to assess dgd quirkiness, probable autism spectrum, let battle commence! Hope you all have good days and sunshine.

Hallo soop and anyone else who's around. May I pop in for a little quiet time? I'd love to stretch out on the sofa, Rory permitting, and just gaze at the sea. After about 8 weeks of a particularly nasty bug, I went back to the GP on Friday and begged her "to do something" as I was, if anything, feeling worse. She diagnosed pneumonia and gave me steroids and an antibiotic. We do struggle on sometimes, thinking tomorrow I'll turn the corner, but this wasn't happening. I'm glad I've been given a diagnosis and am now on medication. I haven't visited gransnet for a while, nor even read my book. Just lost interest in everything. So an hour or so in the lovely kitchen I'm sure would be therapeutic. No appetite, so no cakes just yet, so I'll make myself a nice cup of tea and snuggle up to Rory.

soop I do agree about your graceful deportment in the beach picture. I always enjoy seeing your pics, sunsets in particular.

I hope MacS has good news tomorrow following the CT scan and bloods. Do you have to travel far for the appointment?

I hope all the gransnetters who've been unwell are now recovering. I'm lying in bed with the window open, sun and birdsong streaming through and thinking Spring really is a wonderful time ! .

Thank goodness you insisted bellanonna and I hope you are now on the mend -and taking things easy.
My cot blanket unpicking has not gone well, mostly because I made such a good job of tidying away/sewing in the loose ends, to the point where I can't see them so I may just knit some more squares -fortunately I had only got halfway there.
Memo to self
MORE HASTE, LESS SPEED
Hope babe is not early now!!!
My Art History classes in Bedford start today -like a new university term, so looking forward to seeing friends again

Oh dear bellanonna I do hope you make a swifter recovery now you are on Meds. We just don't recover as well as we get older do we? I had x-rays on both knees on Friday and am having an injection into the worst one next week. Thankfully Dr Google gives a positive spin on the result, I do hope so.

My two armchairs have now been taken to the local hospice charity shop and I feel as though if I spoke my voice would be echoing. Naturally they were taken in the morning, sod's law was at work. I must clean the two garden chairs- Tara will think she has moved into a poor house with little to no furniture and nothing decent for her to sleep on downstairs. I think that she and I will going to bed extra early this evening.

Thanks Alea and Ann.
Ann, I've also had both knees xrayed and a subsequent cortisone injection. It's important that you don't do too much in the first few hours after the injection. Hope that's possible for you. You should feel the good results fairly quickly and it's bliss. Painful knees are such a misery. So is getting old !! Grrrrrr.....l

My injection is at 3:30 PM on Thursday and on Friday I have an appt in Manchester for my eye problem at 9:20 which means leaving home before 8am so I am hoping a nights sleep will be ok, otherwise the injection will have to be postponed as the eye is more important. I see the GP next week for the result of the x-Ray so will discuss it then. You are very reassuring as to the outcome.

Best of luck Ann !

A bright but decidedly chilly good afternoon dear Kitcheners.

Tizliz Providing you are happy with your success, then surely that's what counts. Silly comment from a silly man shouldn't deflate you. Us lot won't allow it.

Bellanonna Please remain snug in your cosy bed. I understand how rough you've been feeling. Thank goodness that you returned to your GP. Providing you keep up with the fluids, your appetite will slowly, but surely recover.

Nannylovesshopping I get so angry when I read of vandalism. Like dumping of rubbish along verges (attracting animals/birds to forage for food) and scatter detritus for someone else to remove, I could cheerfully hit the perpetrators where it hurts.
Your property is precious to you and your family. Was anyone apprehended for the damage done?
How old is your granddaughter? I hope that the consultation proves to be advantageous. Your daughter will be happy to have your on-going support.

Alea There is still time (I hope) to get the blanket finished. MacSporran and I used to enjoy art history meetings in Tarbert. It was there that we were first introduced to the fabulous paintings of 'the Glasgow boys.'

annsixty Cortisone injections can be extremely helpful. I've only ever needed one, in my shoulder. The relief from pain was almost immediate and, as Bellanonna says, blissful.
I agree that your eye appointment is more important. (((hugs)))

MacSporran has purchased a 10 litre tub of Magnolia emulsion. Also some nice new brushes. I've made a start to the areas of wall that need refreshing. Rory is naturally being inquisitive. I lifted the tub out of his way...in doing so, I tipped a lot of some paint on to the sheet that MacS had carefully laid on the floor. In fact, there was so much dripped paint that I've needed to cover it with old newspapers. I shall leave the mishap to your imagination. I've confessed to MacS. He was very reasonable.

Since Tortoiseshell has almost got her feet under the table.

What about giving her a name? She deserves it for tenacity and for allowing Rory to be part of HIS FAMILY. She must be quite a formidable lady just like Soop.

Is Heather too weak a name? Maybe gorse, would suit the colouration. Bracken, a wild plant , or there could e be Tick, lives in bracken, a pest.

I would never suggest Midge! but once bitten never forgotten.

I agree, tortoiseshell does need a name- she will be a member of the family any day now.

soop I will be happy when I can beat OH! He was a bit worried for a few weeks but he picked up again.

soop it would appear that you should not be let loose near a tub of Magnolia paint and certainly not 10 litres worth! Oh dear.

Rowena

jollyg Okay...Bracken it shall be. Her colouring does help her to hide away amongst the bracken. I shall post a pic especially for you. I need to locate it.

Charleyg I meant to say earlier that you are slowly but surely entering the final phase of the furniture saga.
As for the ten litre tub of Magnolia... I've accomplished all that I intended doing, for today, at least. More walls waiting in the wings. MacS did a few jobs in the shed. I was able to make progress without fear of him tutting from time to time. By the time he returned from shed shifting, I had cleaned my spillages and destroyed the evidence (a bag filled to the grim with sticky newspaper/old cloths/paper towel]. He even [smiled] when he saw how clean I looked. 'Though I do sport a magnolia fringe.

Tizliz Have faith. Keep practising. Us lot are rooting for you.

Galen Are you floating someplace on the high seas?

Dear Kitcheners it is with great pleasure that I introduce Bracken to Rory's many fans.

We shall leave home early tomorrow morning. Oban hospital appointment day for MacS When we return home I shall say hello to you and catch up with your news.

Big hugs for those of you needing one. Take very good care of yourselves.

I would never be allowed near a tin of paint - of any size - at home. Though I did paint most of the workshop, I think it was white but after ten years I am not sure. The workshop was completely empty at the time and OH was going to paint the floor afterwards so it didn't matter how much mess I made. It needs doing again but now that all the equipment is in place there is no chance of that happening. I suppose we will have to do it when we eventually move out as it is only rented.

Re shooting - I am worried that arthritis will overtake me before I become proficient.

Good news is that sun came out today - just for a few hours. Off out now to dog training club, I am needed to make the tea