Soop's welcoming kitchen for kindly caring folk...

I thought I was doing well today - the third anniversary of losing my darling Paw until some unpleasantness elsewhere, the usual sort of thing, harmless comments misconstrued and accusations flung around.
So when I took a bunch of lovely blue thistles (well we met in Scotland) to the grave I had a severe word with myself and attempted to get life back in proportion.
There are more important things than deliberate online nastiness - there are people with genuine sorrows and worries but they do not make a song and dance about it. Instead they show their empathy and care for others along with their own indomitable strength and patience.
Wishing you all well - whether putting up with physical issues, worries about your family, anxiety or depression. TOYA
If I may I would like to leave you with a pic of Paw in his signature hat on a happy day full of happy memories.

Thank you for the good wishes regarding my sleepless night. No wonder being kept awake a an be a form of torture. A good night’s sleep is one of those wonderful necessities that money cannot buy.
The north of Scotland continues in tier one for now which is good news as I can take a little drive to a variety of beautiful views, have a walk then sit with my book and a flask of tea - until nature calls then I have to drive home pronto. Methinks I should purchase a gizmo of some kind from that company named for a long river,
annsixty. There seems to be no stopping you now. How wonderful that you are progressing so well.
soop as always beautiful photos. I’d buy a calendar if you’d make one.
Off to have a late supper and an early night.
TOYA especially panache who is very quiet. I hope Mr and Mrs P are ok.

Beautiful pictures soop

What beautiful views you have soop! The compromise with this house is that there isn’t much view but if I stand at the end of the drive, I have fields and the sunset. Yesterday and today I have been weeding and putting the bulbs into a raised bed at the front. I can do standing, it is sitting and walking which cause problems.
Tomorrow is an early school run ? followed by the dentist ?.
At last we have found one! Not looking forward to it though ...

Beautiful sunset Soop. Thank you for your kind words.

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Apologies for my tardiness. If we had a norty corner, I would sit in it. As we haven't, I shall come on in and sit with all.

Grandmabatty I'm in awe of your energy level at the best of times. Is it any wonder that you feel wabbit? There is a limit to how much you can do without totally flaking out for a day or so. Hugs for you. Take good care of yourself.

ann keep up with the wonderful recovery that you have made since your surgery. I couldn't be more pleased for you.

Susan Anxious times come and go. We're all in a similar boat. We shall keep paddling. We are made of tough stuff.

Nannytopsy Hmm. Pussy cats are sensitive creatures. They do not take kindly to having their well ordered lives disrupted. The cat who called many hours ago, hasn't returned since. We do know that he has several minders. He even has a name - Mr Whizz.

Puzzler Your soup was first class. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Feelingmyage Your kind words made me smile.
Not being able to get a full night's sleep, leaves me washed out during the mornings. I have to get up for wees approx every one and a half hours. The prolapse presses on the bladder when I lie down.

corner Recently, here has been some forgetfulness regarding something I've put in a "safe place." The worst being MacSporran's 80th birthday card. It took me almost an afternoon to locate it.

Doodle and kitty

Callgirl1 Please let us know how Lynne is. Also, we haven't heard news of your son's treatment recently.

Daisyboots are you recovering well from the treatment that caused you so much trouble. Keep that leg elevated.

Here is last night's sunset for you all. I really must tackle the ironing. The board has been up some hours and I've ignored it.

Sorry if it was my dodgy soup Grandmabatty. Rest awhile and I’ll have an alka seltzer ready for when you’ve had a nap. ?

Hi there kitcheners. I'm babysitting again and dgs is down for a delayed nap. I'm wabbit. I have a rather dodgy stomach today and I'm lacking in the energy required to entertain a toddler. No puddle splashing or swings but a gentle day for me. Might it have been the soup, Puzzler61? I rather think it was leftover haggis. You're doing well, Annsixty. Keep it up! I'm now going to lie quietly and hope he sleeps for another half hour.

It’s great to hear you are out and about annsixty . You have been a model patient. ?

I have just been for a longer walk called on friends, socially distanced, them on their doorstep and me halfway up their drive.
Then chatted to the neighbours again from our own drives.
She has just retired, he has been retired some time.
They had lots of hols booked, all now either cancelled or in the balance.
Good wishes to you all and have the best day you can

Thank you for the good wishes for my family.DD is feeling slightly better today but poor little Barnaby is really unwell.I am feeling slightly less anxious but keep having moments of worry about when she goes back to teaching after the two weeks isolation.

Sorry you had such a bad night feeling.

Hope all unwell and anxious are feeling slightly better today.

The countdown is on soop.Life will be so much more comfortable for you once you have had the surgery?

TOYA

PS any more sightings of the black beauty in your garden soop ?

Morning to all. Your soup sounds tasty corner. I hope no one who had my leek and veg soup in this kitchenyesterday feels unwell? It was a bit like your Christmas cake, not the best. The leeks overpowered the other root veg if you know what I mean.
Susan I hope your family improve and you aren’t as worried now you know it isn’t Covid?
Feeling be gentle with yourself today until you have caught up sleep-wise with a quiet nap in the corner of the kitchen.
Soop not long to wait for your bot op. Hurrah.
Nannyt cats hate their routines being disrupted but sooner or later they come over all sleepy, and then forget about it.

Morning all! There are men laying the base for our greenhouse this morning. It upset the cat mightily but he has bravely overcome his concern and is asleep!

My attitude to sleep has changed totally since I retired. It usually doesn’t matter if my brain is mush the next day (it’s normal state in fairness), so rather than fret I try to relax, plug myself in to the iPad and listen to music. Harder to do if it’s washing machine thoughts interfering with sleep rather than the physical pain which is happening with increasing regularity. Mr C sleeps through most things so I often stay warm in bed and use the time to catch up with emails or do some internet research, both distract me from worries. My first thing in the morning ‘did you know’ or more often ‘I’ve been thinking’ has the poor man running for the hills . Having said all that I’d far rather be asleep and feel brighter in the mornings!

Sorry you had a difficult night feeling, have an easy day ahead if you can. Please don’t remind me of Christmas cake. I suspect the one I made on Sunday would be better eaten hot with custard . Oh well, can’t win them all. . There will not be photos.

Sorry the family are unwell susan, it is a worry waiting for the test outcome. Hope they are on the mend soon.

Soup making and dust removal on the agenda here today along with a need to finish the on line grocery order. There will be cauliflower and blue cheese soup later if anyone fancies some for lunch.

Take care everyone, be gentle with yourselves, TOYA.

I hope you got some sleep feeling. Being awake when the rest of the world is asleep is horrid. Well, I hate it but some people enjoy the peace.

Popped in as I cannot sleep. Thank goodness for this lovely thread soop where I know no one will take offence and everyone is kind to one another, children and animals. Have caught up on everyone’s doings and wishing all who are under the weather better days. I have decided to do some online shopping and my daughter has sent me a packet of Christmas cards which I will have to try not to lose before it is time to write and post them.
My Tesco order was later than expected but has the necessary ingredients to make a Christmas cake which I will try not to lose (or eat) before the big day. The delivery drivers are all consistently and remarkably cheerful. Right, off back to bed and try to get some sleep. Take care of yourselves, no activities leading to sore backs or pulled muscles, and make sure you do something every day that pleases you.

Grandmafrench having moved on a page I am please to hear you are fine now and walking and sitting ok. ?
Susan hope your DD and Barnaby feel better soon.

Grandmafrench so sorry to hear you hurt your back. Glad it is improving.
Soop lovely little Toby ?
Daisyboots so sorry your new treatment made you feel so ill. That is some bruising on your leg. Hope you are ok.
ann hope your DGD had a good birthday Saturday. 22 I remember it like yesterday ?
Galen that’s a lovely throw. I’m not surprised it’s a favourite.

Crusty bread.

Mr and Mrs Panache and callgirl1 we would welcome news of you.

Susan I agree that Covid has been a huge buggeration for all of us. Children, I think, have a pretty raw deal. They need the freedom in which to meet with pals and play the day away. Even more important, children need to have regular schooling. It must be so difficult for the younger ones to accept that this unseen "thing" is deadly and needs to be avoided at all costs.

I have to self isolate for two weeks starting Wednesday prior to the drop-bot-op. We're about to go to the surgery as the GP wants to extract more bloods.

The sunset is marvellous. I shall share a photo with you when we meet again tomorrow.

Logging off for today. TOYA.

Puzzler A tureen of leek and vegetable soup will keep us lot well nourished. We'll add a loaf of warm crust bread and a lot of real butter.

Good afternoon everybody.We have had a tense couple of days waiting for the results of our younger daughters Covid test which has thankfully come back negative.She is still unwell as is Barnaby but it appears to be a virus not the virus.She still has to isolate for 14 days as a little one in her class has Covid.DD is feeling very down in the dumps.Several children in her class had fallen behind during the first lockdown and she had felt they were finally catching up and now the class are all off for another two weeks☹️

Am very impressed with the blanket you crocheted Galen.I tried to learn to crochet last year but I don’t appear to have the dexterity needed.

I second the name Syd for the little cat soop?

I have made a list of things I would like to complete in lockdown.I think it was corner who suggested it?I have found it motivates me.I would be inclined otherwise to sit reading for far too long!

Thinking of all our kitcheners who are struggling with illness and worries.

Hope things are going well for callgirl and thinking of the Panaches?

TOYA

How beautiful, Galen....you’re not always baking then? . I bet I could out-rubbish you at crochet, grandmabatty. Always a disaster.

No idea what I did to my back but it’s better. I can walk and sit without sickening pain.....so I’m happy again, thank you.

Good news you might get a part share in an LBC - little black cat - soop. I bet he’ll quickly make himself at home and fully employ your chalet services as the weather gets colder. Ellan on the Good Morning thread, cares for an elderly Tom cat, who has a house in her garden and is perfectly warm, dry, well fed and comfortable, after living rough for a long time apparently. Such a nice thing to do. Maybe you should name him Syd, after 6 Dinner Syd - the children’s tale of a cat that has 6 ‘minders’ in the same street and fools them all into feeding him! You don’t see lots of black pet cats ?‍⬛ here in France. They’re considered bad luck and so can be quite difficult to home. Just like that pretty deer, a photo would be great ...when he’s agreeable.?

Have the best afternoon, all.

I have that squirrel too!

I also have a black cat but he actually lives here. He is so well fed that getting in and out of the cat flap is a struggle for him.