Soop's welcoming kitchen...

A very good 'though chilly afternoon to one and all.

In the post this morning was a parcel from Malta. In the parcel was a lovely message and...dare I say it...Cookies that must contain nigh on a trillion calories. What's a girl to do? Succumb! So, that's what MacSporran and I did. In Malta the cookies are a traditional offering at this time of year. Diet has fallen at the first hurdle. I do not regret it. In fact, tomorrow we'll have yet another tasting. Yay! Thank you Bellasnana x

Thank you granniequeenie for sending the attachment. I am hoping to make the initial sketch for the painting some time soon. You have a good eye for photography. The image of the gate draws the viewer in and along the pathway. I always think that at the end of the path is a bright and sunny peaceful place.

humptydumpty I shall take a look at the site you've mentioned. Where did you live in Devon? I lived there in different places for a good few years.

It is kind of you to say that you like my watercolours. Thank you. As a child I wanted to be an artist which didn't go down well with my late papa. When I said that I'd like to go to art school (on leaving school) he was dismayed. He said that artists didn't earn a proper living and he feared that I might become a Beatnik! I did as he suggested and joined the Civil Service. Talk about being on the wrong track. I loathed every moment. In my 50's I married MacSporran and he was at that time an architect. He had a paint box. I had a plant that someone had given me. I picked up his paint box and below is the result.

After this painting we went to the Cotswolds. I took a photo of a pretty cottage. When we returned home, I painted the following...

Don't get me started, she says wistfully. I believe that there is a tennis match this afternoon. I shall return in due course.

soop I was not sure whether I should remind you because I knew that you would have a trillion jobs lined up. Andy is hopefully returning in January- I believe he is now no.16- horror!

Charleyg Yikes!

It is very cold here as I expect it is with most of you.
I am finding it very hard to get motivated to do anything at all.
I had my hip x-rayed on Friday and await the results.
Tomorrow we see the GP for my H. I hope she is able to do something about his ever increasing anxiety and restlessness.
It is truly wearing me out.
I hope Maw is getting some comfort by being with her family at the birthday do today, children have an amazing capacity for taking one out of ones sorrows for a few hours.

Hello the kitchen. I am taking a moment out from making soup and was lured by your watercolours, Soop! They have an amazing freshness that I, in my pursuit of ‘atmosphere’, lose with mine which is why they end up in the bin mostly, and probably why I am loathe to start putting paint on my latest draft. It doesn’t seem to want to get past the masking fluid stage! There’s a lot of brickwork. Big mistake!
Ann I hope that the GP has something positive to offer you and your DH in your ongoing struggle with his condition. I’m not surprised you don’t feel motivated and the winter doesn’t help that with any of us, I don’t think. I send you the only warm thing I have - my good wishes! ?
Great photo of the beech tree losing its leaves, Gq. You certainly have an eye for a subject.
We are having a quiet day today. All decorating has ceased for the duration as Himself is severely under the weather. He insisted on going out yesterday to watch Junior play football and the wind was bitter. He can’t stop coughing and was up half the night.
Right! Back to the soup, then on to scones!

I am so sorry Maw I have been thinking about you while cut off from internet , please accept my sincere condolences xxx

Some lovely, peaceful images in here. I always wanted to paint, trouble is there’s an unbridgeable gap between what’s in my head and what reaches the paper. ? When my hands worked I could ‘paint’ with icing decorating cakes. I misss that now. Your work is lovely soop, a talent.

Here’s more hopeful wishes for your husbands GP appointment, ann as well as your x-ray. I also agree, the onset of winter rarely lifts the spirits.

What is it with these men and common sense, greyd? They assume they are invincible. Mr C is the same, it’s a struggle to get him to wear a coat. Hope the cooking is working out.

I know what you mean about libraries crafting. Back in the day I worked in a children’s library where silence was expected. I recall one little girl asking me how come I could talk and she couldn’t. No answer to that ?. Wouldn’t want to go back to that level of quietness but perhaps an attempt at somewhere in between would be good. It can be hard to concentrate now.

I’m also hoping maw is able to relax with her family today. Good to be with children. It’s jolly cold here too, charley, the sort of cold that gets into the bones. I’m out later, didn’t expect that today so I’m off to unearth some gloves.

Take care everyone.

Evening all !

Just a quick pop in - I haven't caught up with the weekend posts yet so will have to come back afterwards.

We had a smashing weekend with half our family , a good time was had by all. Young Stevie confided as he left that he had left me a little surprise !! Turns out he had left me about 50 conkers , each one in a different place round the house . One of the most surprising so far , was found as I washed the tea pot out after brewing a cuppa this morning !!

Who knows where the rest will turn up !

Loving the paintings by the way soop . Back later xx

annsixty Bless you. You've had the x-ray and very soon you will hear the verdict. It's likely that you may need surgery. When you see the GP tomorrow, together with your husband, you may have a chance to voice any concerns should surgery be advised. Your dear husband's on going condition needs addressing for both your sakes. Should your own health become an issue, you cannot be expected to cope without the proper support. I do worry about you.

Greyduster If your husband has the dreaded lurgy, I'm sorry to say that he will need lots of TLC because it's a bummer. MacSporran coughed for almost six weeks. He is on the mend. In fact he's shifting stuff from one side of the loft to the other...
The thing about painting with water colours is that the artwork has a tendency to go muddy if unduly tiddled with. I know this from bitter experience. This afternoon I sketched grannyqueenie's scene. I shall approach the painting of it with great caution. What I especially like about the image is the contrast between light and shade.

aggie Welcome back. It's good to have your company.

corner Today Maw will be in the arms of her family. Little children spread their magic and I'm certain that Maw will respond with a smile. We are all thinking of her. Anniebach too.

Definitely check your bed tonight- I am sure that there will be more than one hidden in your bed and even in the pillowcases.

I have been really good today, shredding paper for hours but there is more to do.

N&G Young Stevie is a star. What a delightful gesture on his part. I'm betting you will treasure those conkers. I would.

I have to log off until I return from the care home visit tomorrow morning.

It's dark and chilly. Stay safe and warm.

Charleyg What you said has reminded me of one of my favourite fairy stories...'The Princess and The Pea'

Yes, Soop, I am absolutely an undue tiddler!! .

Just a flying visit to catch up.

N&G, your Stevie story made me smile. We had DD3 and family here for the weekend. Their 4 year old, Lottie, is a little monkey and since they left we have had to restart the router, alter the setting on rhe cat flap to actually allow the cats to come in and try to work out why the downstairs loo is backing up!! And my lipstick is missing. I love her to pieces!

I hope Maw is ok and comes back to the kitchen soon.

Good luck with the gp tomorrow Ann.

I love all the pictures but an as I am the least artistic person imaginable.

Did someone tell Stevie that conkers left around the house are supposed to deter spiders? Or has he unwittingly done you a great favour?

Good point Anno !!

Hello everyone! Yes it's chilly down in Suffolk too. I'm on Nan's taxi duty this week so lots of time to play with my little ones. What fun! We are making gingerbread men tomorrow I hear ?

That made me laugh n&g. Looking forward to hearing where the rest of the conkers are hiding. .

Lottie sounds to be, err, inquisitive kitty. An enquiring mind will take her far . Pleased you let the cats back in, I don’t suppose there’s any connection with your lipstick and the downstairs loo.

I had an unexpected trip out this evening, flipping cold, pleased to be back in the warm. Hibernation is definitely the way to go.

Take care everyone.

Thrown out three carrier bag fulls of clothing. About three times as much to go!
Charity shops should like as it’s all good quality East and similar.

This evening we may have agreed a funeral date but it’s not until Monday 4 Dec The “problem”has been that Paw was a Catholic and they are rather “stricter “ about it being. Priest from the parish. With a major diocesan reorganisation I have to say that I know none of the present 3 who share the cluster of parishes and I was unhappy about it being a “stranger”
However, a past priest who had become a very dear friend is free to come and concelebrate the mass on the 4th . If I say his manner is rather like a CofE curate and he is not so very Catholic would you know what I mean?
Waiting for 3 weeks is another thing, butI am not ready for anything too soon, I am not ready to draw that line and indeed not ready to face another challenge just yet.
I had a big wobbly putting clothes together for Paw settling on his “wedding” suit, a creamy yellow shirt and his St Andrew’s tie along with his slippers (got to be comfy) and I shall attempt to take them over tomorrow after I have registered his death.
If I could just speak to him one more time. Say the things we know we feel but perhaps don’t say as often as young lovers do. Just one more time.
And ask why the hell he didn’t label the folder with his birth certificate so that I wouldn’t have had to empty an entire filing cabinet. And what the * was his “financial” password? <sigh>
And still the cards keep coming including a lovely letter from DD2’s godfather, a retired Dean of Chichester in which I got about one word in six, but I hope I got the gist!
My closest friend and neighbour sent her husband round with supper on a plate and a salad and an egg custard (big yum) everybody is so kind and so lovely about paw too.
Ah well.

When my dad died I rushed over to the funeral directors one day saying 'he 's got to have his cap with him'; they totally understood and I felt so much better knowing he was dressed 'properly'. There's always something you want to say or a question you want to ask, isn't there . Will think of you tomorrow [well, today I guess] ...x

Morning all !

Slimming weigh in this morning so up early to get myself sorted !! I shall be happy to have not put anything on this week ... the local baker is proving to be a bit of a handicap!!

I hope this mornings doctors appointment goes well ann .

I'm with you corner we went out the other evening and came back in the cold and dark and it wasn't fun at all !!

That's quite a wait Maw but as long as you are good with it then its the right thing isn't it ? What kind neighbours - its the little things that matter. I love the idea Paw has his slippers. When my MiL died my daughters were small and assisted on sending an entire plastic tea set to the funeral home for inclusion as she always loved a good tea party!!

I agree with Tegan there is always something more to be said but I'm sure Paw knew what was in your heart.

I feel your pain about passwords , its something that always worries me to the extent I made a spreadsheet and I make Grampy update it every 3 months so at least I have it.

I hope today goes well for you xx

I don't often post in the kitchen, but I do like to follow all the news. You are all such lovely people.
Maw, I'm glad a priest who is a friend is saying Paw's funeral mass. When my mother died , I was surprised to see that three priests I had known through work came to assist. It gave me such comfort to see them. Fortunately our PP is much less strict and welcomes other priests to conduct services.
As for passwords, I keep asking my DH to keep me updated with his PC password, as that is where he stores everything.
Thank goodness for technology, as we have now set everything up so that we can view each others ISAS etc. in case anything happens to either of us.