Soop's comfortable, cosy, friendly kitchen...

Of course there’s a spare for the Kitchen Nonnaw!
Would I ever dare not?
4 apples on the top so that’s your 5-a day sorted too. ? ? ? ?

Just a quick pop in to say hello. Loving all the garden pictures, the huge variety of plants and garden styles that there are always amaze me. I’ve spent a fair bit of time potting up and pottering myself this week, I just love it and at this time of year start to realise how much I miss it in the winter months.
Some very tasty looking cakes around in the kitchen too....not that I really need to be sampling them, just as well it’s virtual calorie free cake, probably the healthiest kind!
Happy belated birthday greetings to you callgirl, it sounds like there have been some celebrations.
Alygran, I love the puffin photo. We’re going to Northumberland in July, not an area we know well. Your photo has made me want to see a puffin, something I’ve never done before! Sounds like it was a poignant visit for you
soop as always your paintings are an inspiration!
Greyduster as I’ve said before, Mr Grey sounds remarkably like my old boy... glad you lived to tell the tale of that walk!!
panache, I hope you have some easier days on the horizon it sounds like you need them.
Well I’m off to bed, a late night last night chatting with our visiting friends. Church in the morning then straight off to see dd3 and her family tomorrow, allegedly for a BBQ but having looked at the weather forecast I may need to take a light fleece with me!
Good night all, sweet dreams xx

Eleven out of ten for that one Maw! Looks delicious. ?Good job one of us was on the ball!
Kitty thank you for the information about the plant. I will seek one out. Is the football tournament one of Bertie’s games? I wish him every success if it is. GS’s season has finished now except for the annual lads and dads (and the occasional grandad roped in unawares!) match.
We went out for an early dinner with DD this evening, as she is on her own; her menfolk are at Wembley this weekend. Afterward we decided to have a walk around the Botanical Gardens before it closed. Lovely. The roses have suffered somewhat from the recent rain, but the scents were heavenly. Lots of interesting plants in the Long Walk leading to the beautiful glass houses. It really is a wonderful peaceful place. Notes for future acquisitions have been made! We only just made it out before they shut the gates or we would have had to climb over! That would have been a sight to see!!

And so am I ?

Oh, I meant to add as well as seeing the play I am looking forward to meeting up with another well known and respected Kitchener

Too kind Doodle a noble self- sacrificing offer

Wow maw that looks lovely! Did you do a spare for the kitchen?

Thanks all for the encouragement re DH’s pc. He has been incredibly positive throughout this.

We have just had a half hour on the garden bench, communing with nature (and the dogs) enjoying the peaceful evening with a g&t.

A peaceful evening to you all.

callgirl belated birthday wishes from me. I wasn't in the kitchen yesterday--any cake left-- ?
bella and galen hope you are having a really good time.
maw so glad you are going to see the play. I think your flan looks wonderful but too delicate to take to London....I am more than happy to look after it for you
panache hope you are getting on ok ?

Ta-dah!
Now I just have to get it to London safely

Thank you for all the birthday wishes. Kitty, if you really think I don`t look a day over 25, you seriously need an eye test, lol! As it is, I`m going down 5 years every birthday from now on!
Soop, we must have been extremely lucky on our Kintyre visits, we`ve never seen midges there, only ever at Loch Lomond, an experience I do not wish to repeat.
Galen and Bella, I hope the cruise is going well, and that you are being well butlerised.
I`m off out tonight for a meal with a few of the family, 16 in all, so anyone in the vicinity of the Spirit of Endeavour in Boston is welcome to call in and I`ll buy you a drink.

Thank you for your update, kitty. We must have posted at the same time. Take good care of yourself.

Well, I'm sorry I missed the cake GD, that end looks delicious. Sorry I'm late coming back with plant answers (if they qualify as that) The huechera came from the poorly shelf at Wyevale and was unnamed but is lovely. The convolvulus is a low growing sun rose with small white flowers. Convolvuli (uses) don't like out garden but I would love one. We pass a glorious one on one of our walks which makes me very envious.

Many happy returns of yesterday callgirl - you don't look a day over 25. And enjoy the lovely cakes all the domestic goddesses are providing - I'll help you!

soop, the painting of the golden eagle is fabulous. We called in to an art exhibition in town this morning and discovered a lovely painting of a building we owned many years ago which has sadly gone to rack and ruin now. We will buy a print if there is one available.

thank you for keeping in touch panache. I hope your rest helps you.

ann not long now until you get some rest. Hang on in there.

We are off out for a meal with my brother and his wife but have to be up early to go to a football tournament tomorrow - I feel tired already.

Take care everyone until I get back.

MacSporran informs me that the midges have decided not to have a siesta after all. Okay, we know better than to venture into the garden. It's such a pity. We keep reminding ourselves that this pesky creature doesn't remain active all summer. There does come a time when they buzz off elsewhere.

I shall retire to the chaise and read the Telegraph Magazine. Before I do...I'm sending very best wishes to one and all for a pleasant weekend. I shall be back with you again tomorrow.

Ann You are a lifetime VIP in the kitchen club. What would I have done in your shoes. OOOH yes! I would have bought a cake. A no brainer!

Maw I like the sound of your flan. I would have been chuffed had I made Greyduster's cake. The photo made my mouth water.

It's hot and sunny and we are tempting fate as we make a pot of tea to take outside. Whatever you do, do not tell the midges. They appear to be having a siesta.

Slather it in Crème fraiche and assure the assembled company that that is how it is meant to be.
It sounds delicious
I have got a French apple flan in the oven with frangipane to take to DD’s for lunch tomorrow as she has invited her godmother, a friend with whom we go back 40+years.
Oh we are domestic goddesses aren’t we?
Nigella, eat your heart out!

The custard will have to wait, soop! It has gone. I’ll be holding a caterer’s inquest in due course!

Am I banned from the kitchen forever?
I have ordered a Victoria Sponge to be delivered in my Sainsbury online shop which is being delivered tomorrow.
My friends are very keen on a slice of cake with a cup of tea and I CBA to bake just now.
Better luck next time Greyduster at least you persist.

Greyduster To me, that cake looks perfect. Even if you think that it isn't up to your usual high standard, I would be showing it off and boasting for the rest of the day. Surely you didn't "bin it". I would have had it with custard as a delicious pudding.

I got more pleasure out of looking at your superb Eagle, soop than my awful cake! Here is a photo. That is the ‘good’ end!

Greyduster I'm shocked. No cake deserves to be binned.

Greyduster There hasn't been a cake yet that us lot haven't appreciated. The gooier the better.

I've finished a watercolour of an eagle in flight. It is pleasing even if I say so myself. Colour is slightly different in reality.

Well, there we are. Binned! Even if I had given it a longer cooking time I doubt if the bottom half of the cake, which was a stodgy mess, would have cooked. The strawberries were nowhere to be seen. Can’t remember having such a spectacular failure in a long time! Well, it saves inches on my waistline (though we are going out to dinner tonight so they’ll probably go on anyway!). Marydoll I may invest in one of those measuring cups, though.

Marydoll You are a star.

Greyduster, I have a measuring cup from Tesco, which is perfect for American measures. It has never failed me yet.
www.tesco.com/direct/tala-retro-cooks-measure/215-7987.prd?skuId=215-7987