Soop's friendly KITCHENERS

auntieflo we are fortunate that the kitchen is open 24/7 but please do not waken Rory, that cat needs his rest.

I have just had yet another power cut- this time for over 3 hours. It is really cold here today so I filled a hot water bottle, put a throw over me and sat down to read my book. Luckily I had the number to hand as there had been another power cut about 3 weeks ago. I could have sorted out my wardrobe and put some of the clothes aside for the charity shop, but I decided that today I would read.

Tizliz I agree, I would also have preferred a new kitchen but as I have never won anything, a cleaner would be fine. The majority of them slow down fairly rapidly after working in the one place. This recent one was very nosy- I said I was busy today- the grass cutting fellow was coming and I was expecting a Morrison's delivery. I did not think that it was any of her business so I did not tell her- she eventually got the message.

She talked for Poland- the next one is French- we will see what she is like. I live on my own so I am used to a quiet house.

Auntieflo We usually buy a bottle of Champagne for visits to family and for special occasions. I like mine spiked with freshly squeezed orange juice. I tend to get giggly otherwise.

Crafting Whatever catches your eye (cushions/paintings/pottery) will most definitely please you for many years to come. And, as we know, nothing clashes with Magnolia. Our pal in the village calls it *** magnolia. I cannot bring myself to print the word. There are real ladies present.

Charleyg I'm about to add a photo showing the road between our garden and the seashore. The sun is shining. Hang on while I upload the pic.

Soop, many thanks for the warm welcome to your kitchen. After I had posted, It did cross my mind that I should have introduced myself, or at least knocked.
We have just come back fro filling the car with diesel at a not so local supermarket, and had to buy a bottle of champagne as we are off on Saturday/ Sunday, to see DH nephew's refurbished house. While out we had lunch and have just got back. I shall come and visit you again I'm sure.

Another magnolia person here too. Unfortunately I don't have Soops flair for colour to brighten it up (or her lovely paintings on the walls either). But at least it goes with everything.

Alea I am still chuckling over your "big chest freezer". Sounds as though Tizliz might have the same problem when she dives into her's head first

charleygirl I won a cleaner for a year and was delighted to start with but it rapidly went downhill. I wanted things like ironing and window cleaning done, the things I don't like find difficult, but she wanted to vacuum and dust. Also her time seemed to get shorter and shorter. At the end of the year I just let her go. It was second prize, I wanted the first prize of a new kitchen.

On the other hand some years ago I had a car accident and couldn't do anything for a while and the cleaner we had then was fantastic. She just took over and stayed for years, well after I was capable of doing it myself, until her child went to school and she went to university. Did have a few disasters, her son put his pencil through one of the speakers and a few dents in the coffee table. Just have to accept some things.

Sometimes our freezer does get full. Local organic lamb last year at the same time as half a hind, but now down to some neck of lamb and a couple of joints of venison. Don't think I want that much venison again but you don't look a gift deer horse in the mouth. Just going to make some cottage pies to put in there.

My eldest grand daughter is also a messy cook, last time she made a cake here I was wiping up icing sugar for days after - never had a vegan cake before, not bad but not as good as the kitcheners make ?

NanaandGrampy the two little boys look older than 2 and 4. They have a lot to learn if their mother wants them to know all about cooking, cleaning etc. I do admire her and also agree.

soop my entire house is painted with magnolia with the exception of the kitchen which is a pale green. That was the colour I chose last month.

It is really cold here today, rain was forecast but has not arrived yet. I am waiting for my Morrisons delivery and then I should really go out and about to stretch my legs.

I await a phone call re the name of my next cleaner next week.

Hellooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

First things first...A warm welcome to Auntieflo Us lot are chuffed to see you. Pull up a chair and make yourself comfortable. We have unlimited supplies of goodies to share with you. A few of us are slightly batty eccentric but we are harmless, I promise.

Now then...Galen what an amazing and well-deserved treat you have to look forward to. Lord help bless your butler. We shall be well and truly miffed unless we get stacks of photos. I would give anything to spend one night alongside you and our Kitcheners in your cabin. That would be the best treat of all treats (for us)...the butler would have to be well practised in the art of managing a host of wild and wonderful Granspals...he might even like it!

NanaandGrampy When I saw the word - Magnolia - I spluttered coffee. We paint almost everything in Magnolia. I like the fact that it enables me to add lots of colourful clutter. Funny thing is...this afternoon I shall be starting to refresh the first kitchen wall in...wait for it...Magnolia.

Tizliz We own possibly the weeniest freezer on the planet. Providing there are ice-cubes for the G&T, together with a small selection of items should we not be able to visit the shop, we've never needed anything larger. Our pal with the guest house has several freezers. If at any time we need to store anything special, she is happy to oblige.

We understand that yesterday's accident closed the road for over two hours. Two cars and a van, one overtaking, crashed head-on.. Our local GP was in the queue of traffic and was able to administer first aid. One driver was air-lifted to hospital having sustained a broken pelvis.

I know what you mean Alea. Our first freezer was a 16 cu.ft one, from Bejam, remeber them, and we used to fill it with half a hind quarter, half a pig and a lamb. Thise were the days. Couldn't afford the half of it now, even if I wanted to. But the chidren are now married and gone. We down sized to a 10 cu ft one, but now have two upright ones, side by side. We bought one, and were given a matching one when a friend moved. They still seem to get filled, even though there are just the two of us here now. They are easier to defrost, and they are in the garage.

I really miss my big chest freezer (why does that sound odd??) which died after a good innings of 15 years, a new motor(?) thingy and 2 house moves . It lived in the cellar in London, and the garages here and once when it packed up in mid-December packed to the gunwales with food for Christmas, I got away with covering it with a blanket to keep the cold in, calling out the freezer man who replaced the motor (?) before anything had started to defrost.
Not so lucky second time and then JL wouldn't sell me a chest replacement to put in the garage because apparently the newer sort switch off if the ambient temperature drops too low! Upright sort with drawers means I don't have to don my thermals to get the frozen peas, but I still miss it!

I wanted to defrost the chest freezer before my Tesco delivery this morning. It is a big freezer and I am not very big (if you now have a vision of a bum and a pair of legs sticking out the top when I want something from the bottom you are correct).

But OH just went out to the garage emptied the contents on to a towel, scraped out the ice in 5 minutes and the contents were back in before the freezer realised! All before he went to work - they do have their uses.

Think I will get him to build an ark next (rained all week here).

Morning !!

There's a pocket handkerchief square of blue sky gracing the view from my window this morning !! Please stay

Charleygirl sorry to hear you have the wrong sort of mop bu I suspect you wont be missing your cleaner !!

soop the oldest boy Jackson loves to bake and always has since a tiny tot , his brother is less keen and the kitchen looked like someone had turned a blender on without the lid once he has finished ! But my daughter is determined both boys can cook, clean and wash before they leave home . (At 2 and 4 I think she has a way to go )
Tizliz I'm envious of your Chinese meal, its almost impossible here to get a 'sit down' Chinese and takeaways just don't cut it ! What a beautiful smile on your little granddaughter, she's as cute as a button.

annodomini oh trifle !!! How I miss my Mums trifle. Nothing fancy but a showstopper all the same . My youngest sister has taken on the mantle of 'Trifle Queen' and one usually turns up at family gatherings.

Galen that looks fabulous. A butler too ! That sounds very decadent. I stayed in a hotel once where they had a 'Bath Butler' who came and ran your bath for you . I'm sure you will have a glorious time, will there be photos?

Well, we are off searching for paint for the lounge and dining room. Its turned into a trauma as we have moved away from our old staples and are looking to modernise a bit and keep getting cold feet. I'll let you know if we manage to avoid magnolia.

Have a lovely day one and all xx

I'll just have to make do with Gary

Quite

The 17 day Mediterranean cruise sounds fabulous. I am assuming that you have to leave the butler behind when the cruise ends? A pity.

Only on the first night, but you get canapés every evening free soft drinks and either wines or spirits of your choice free in your cabin. You also get a butler.

Oooh Galen that's really nice. Great bathroom, easy for you to get around it I guess. Do you think you get that little plate of chocolates and the champers every night? Need anyone to carry your bags?

If you google it its cabin 7030 and there's a utube tour.

Had a funny five minutes yesterday. I thought I'd treat myself following my retirement next year. I've booked the disabled cabin on Queen Ellizabeth (gulp) in Queens Grill for a 17 day Mediterranean cruise!

A cake that hasn't risen is a good excuse to make a trifle. Isn't it?

Charleyg The road is the A83. It isn't noisy and we very rarely have traffic brought to a halt. Rory (when feral) walked this road regularly. He was well known in the village just 3.5 miles away. He was termed..."UNAPPROACHABLE"...(titters)
The kitchen mop, eh!

Nannylovesshopping Don't fuss yerself over cake that refuses to rise. There are a few kitcheners who are decent cooks. I cannot claim to be one of them. Ginger biscuits, I like. I also dunk...just briefly, mind. I visited the ladies in the care home yesterday. The staff gave me a mug of tea and a ginger biscuit. The ladies often try to force-feed me with their leftover scones and banana. We do tend to get rather messy...someone pushes the vacuum cleaner around our feet when we finish.

Time for me to log off. Thank you for your company. I shall return tomorrow.

I did not realise that you lived so close to the road- at least Rory is safe because he never moves.

At least the injured have half a chance if the air ambulance is called because from what I gather it is many miles to the nearest A&E dept.

Moi a tyke? Never!!!!

My cleaner has left- it is the kitchen mop which is at fault, not her- fine.

Hopefully Tara will come home soon as rain is forecast again.

soop thank you for such a lovely warm welcome to your kitchen, you all sound such good friends, may I drop in with ginger biscuits, I am very partial to them dunked, they don't go too soggy, can bring cake, but mine don't rise very well

Charleyg Tyke!

There has been a serious, two car road traffic accident less than a 1/4 of a mile away. For those who know the road, the accident occurred not far from a notorious double bend. The traffic is backed-up for some distance. Police car is right at the bottom of our drive. We understand that the air ambulance has been involved. Oh dear!

soop your memory is letting you down. Did I not tell you to rest? Does that include sorting out your wardrobe? No but it is a darn sight better to clearing the great outdoors.

Glad to hear that you are feeling better but as you know, Rory has the right attitude to this life- many zzzs throughout the day.

I said originally that I think Tortoiseshell will have her paws under the table by the end of July.

Tizliz what a delightful young lady