Soop's kindly kitcheners and pampered pets...

If you grease the mixing paddle before baking, you don't end up with a big hole in the loaf.
The new Panasonic has teflon interior.
I sometimes just make the dough, do the 2nd rise in a loaf tin then bake in the oven

Bread, and loaf sizes
It it just a bog standard recipe you use?

Himself is partial to adding sesame seed, sunflowower seed and some malt extract, adjusting sugar accordingly..

My Oh uses it regularly, the best present I ever gave him.

On one anniversary I gave him a posh watch. He to me was a Creme egg

It was about easter time that year

Galen why didn't I think of that
(greasing the paddle)

Just butter on mine please MacSporran!
Salted of course

oldgoat and Crafting and that tyke, Galen...MacSporran became becomingly flushed when I read your comments on his prize winning specimen.

I've started the puppy portrait. About time too. I've not been in a creative frame of mind lately. However, now that the first wash is on paper, I feel re-charged. Must leave well alone until tomorrow afternoon.
Ironing duty in the morning. I expect I shall be watching the results of the US election as I dash away with the smoothing iron. I do wish that Obama could have returned to the Presidential post. I admire that man.

I say nothing about the bread comments , just wonder what macsporran could do with a gluten free mix?

Our friend is itchy to be discharged from hospital. She has very limited mobility and self care ability. Predictably the hospital are all for it but we're so worried about the level of support that has been offered and her needs. Supported her in her discussions and tried to respect her wishes. We can't visit now for two weeks, the distance is a barrier, wish we had a helicopter!

Had a lovely day with the littlest, certainly can't think about anything else while we are with him. Manic but good

Pleased you have both had a better day wobbly. Hoping for the same tomorrow. It's important not to overlook the things that can help us feel better.

Goodnight everyone. May not be back for a day or two, life is a bid manic just now. Take care all.

Well, to me, today is making me feel like I have woken to Brexit again and I can't shake the feeling off,however my reason for posting on this thread, and on a purely personal level, I realise just how my H is losing it. When I told him the news this morning he just laughed and carried on with what he was doing (nothing as usual) he didn't even know America was voting for a president yesterday. It is the lack of any sort of conversation about anything other than the weather that is the depressing and frustrating thing about dementia. Hair cut this morning and a good bottle of wine tonight to go with our roast chicken dinner. Will that make the world seem a better, safer place?

Well, to me, today is making me feel like I have woken to Brexit again and I can't shake the feeling off,however my reason for posting on this thread, and on a purely personal level, I realise just how my H is losing it. When I told him the news this morning he just laughed and carried on with what he was doing (nothing as usual) he didn't even know America was voting for a president yesterday. It is the lack of any sort of conversation about anything other than the weather that is the depressing and frustrating thing about dementia. Hair cut this morning and a good bottle of wine tonight to go with our roast chicken dinner. Will that make the world seem a better, safer place?

I have had problems posting for days and now I can do it twice!!

That is very sad ann. Hopefully you get to talk to friends and family, even if just on the phone. Yes the bottle of wine will probably help to make the world seem better, even if just for a few hours. What awful news we've all woken up to. I just had a delivery man st the door and he hadn't heard the news. He was shocked and turned back to yell at his driver "it's Trump". I perfectly sympathised with the rather strong expletive from the driving seat. Couldn't have put it better myself.
Sante/Salute/prosit for later and do enjoy it.

Sorry back to bread.

Guardian yesterday had a good piece on bread and made reference to an Elizabeth David recipe

cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/11376-no-knead-

London bus syndrome annsixty!!
Never mind your DH's inability to share your grief, we are here to commiserate.
Alternatively we can all pack up our handcarts and just type "Hell" into the Satnav.
Sometimes the refuge offered by the Kitchen is even more welcome than ever.

Think we all need cheering up

Aw! I could hug them all ?

Well we made it through the fireworks, maybe now we need this !

Hi everyone. The world is a bit of a dark world today isn't it?

Apart from the flipping Trump irritation, I have the worst sore throat and cough which just will not move, it's school run day, it's cold and it's flipping pickling down!

On the upside - my new kitchen table is being delivered today - little things and all that! I'm now concerned after really looking at the old one under the carport waiting for a charity to collect it and realising that it is really, really battered. We spent quite a lot on the new one and I'm wondering whether we should have gone for series of cheap ones instead.

Ann, talking to us won't be the same as talking to your DH but we will do our best.

Hope today is a better day for you Wobbly and for Mrs W.

Corner, will you be my friend if I need one?

Right, must get off GN and see if I can work out how to do a database for DH's retirement letters- I could be gone for some time.

I'm not going to mention the bread!

Tara was moaning her head off when she put a head into the garden and discovered it pi**sng down with rain. I kept her indoors until I could not put up with her screeching and crying any longer so she went out the front door and obviously the weather is different there.

I fancy something different for supper so a trip to M&S food store methinks and I can stock up with coffee at the same time. The sun has been out for 5 minutes.

Oh dear! I asked MacSporran to check the news update first thing this morning. When he returned and gasped, 'Trump', I laughed out loud. No matter how much I goaded him into telling me the "real result" he wouldn't budge. I had to check for myself...before slumping into my chair with ne'er a word to utter.

annsixty I've been wondering how you are feeling. Thank you for updating us. Please do keep popping in to let off steam. It helps. Your husband cannot understand why the Presidential outcome matters. At least he's being spared from all the ongoing hoo-ha.

kitty You deserve a new table. As for the loaf of bread...best not go there. Galen is fixated by some sporran or other. She needs to lie down in a dark room.

Tizliz The woofters are wonderful. Thank you.

joolyg Once upon a time I had a recipe book written by Elizabeth David. Now that MacS is in charge of the kitchen, he has his own set of recipe books. I hasten to add...I am the washer-upper a VIP in our house. Suits me fine.

corner Those of us who have spent time in hospital know how important it seems to be released /discharged. However, it's not always the right thing to hope for (unless one has all the assistance ready and waiting at home. I feel for your friend. You, too. I wish her well and a speedy recovery, which will take time and patience.

DaphneB love the cartoon.

Quick visit, its quiet for the moment.

kitty you made me smile - any time, not that I believe you are short of friends. Hope your table has arried and is everything you hoped it would be Enjoy it, tables are intended to be used and hold memories, sometimes we just need things. . The word database sends shivers down my spine, could never get to grips with compiling one. Can fill in boxes, its making the boxes that is the problem. You're doing quite a lot with the lurgy, hope there is some rest time in there somewhere.

Hospital discharge is moving onwards, in spite of my pessimism I do think all is coming together and our friend is at the point she won't improve any more until she can see her own home again. As long as she has the right support all will be well, as she says her body took a battering but there is nothing wrong with her head. Lovely to see and hear her spirit returning. It will also be lovely to be able to have a proper visit at more convenient times.

ann your frustration is understandable. Really difficult to manage. I'm also in the Trump-shock camp, can only hope there are real statesmen in the background to guide and maybe overrule him.

Best be off, commitee meeting on the horizon and I suppose I should have some idea of what it is supposed to be about before it begins , although why I ever agreed to attend one in the early evening I have no idea.

Take care all

corner, your hope of 'real statesmen' might be dashed. Have you read about Mike Pence, the VP-elect? Governor of Indiana, a member of the creationist religious right, refuses to recognise gay marriage, thinks being gay is a life choice and is also anti-abortion. So if someone decided it would be a good idea to assassinate Trump, it might be a case of the frying pan and the fire.
soop, I can just see you with a Bardot hairstyle - artfully careless looking!

corner It is fact that there is no place like home.

anno In my dreams...I really did think that I looked fab with piled-up, messy hair and pouty-pale lips. Eek! Oh, those were crazy days. I'm a teensy bit more mature now. Some would add...not a lot.

Must dash. I shall return tomorrow. Love to each and every one of you.

Oh dear, no anno I hadn't. Looks like hopes are dashed.

Evening all!!

Just popped in so haven't read through all the posts .

Well it's all change out 'there' eh? I remain hopeful because there's nothing else to do.

Both little boys are not feeling too good so no swimming for us this week but it was Jackson's parents evening last night and it was lovely to hear he was doing so well .

Lots of crafting going on here and Grampy has surprised me with a week in the forest at Thetford to celebrate our wedding anniversary later this month. So something to look forward to!!

Hope you've all been well and will pop back tomorrow !

That is something to look forward to N&G and I am amazed that Grampy a)remembered that it was your anniversary and b) had the nous to do something about it. What happens to Sam?

I love those wet dogs but would not want to be too close if they decided to shake themselves dry.

Ah Charley he never forgets , bless him! And it is our 40th ( I was obviously a child bride!)

He did run it past me ( I am the Captain of our ship but made all the arrangements himself .so he did well .

Sam will be joining us , it's one of the joys of going to a place that welcomes dogs. He loves it, long forest walks and the retreat at the centre of the development actively welcomes your dog with a treat if you stop by for coffee.

Sam had a slight mishap last night. Grampy let him out in the garden to do his business. He then got distracted tidying the kitchen and when he remembered Sam some 15 mins later and went to let him in , Sam was looking very sorry for himself - soaked right through !!

We had to towel him off then give him a blast with the hair dryer resulting in Sam resembling a giant fur ball!!

Thankfully, he's back to his normal coat this evening