Hi Dita and all

[Penny]

Hi Dita and all, do hope doggie is o.k. now, lots of hugs been sent ( o.k. now she has a nice brownie to eat) and kisses for puss. Think it is just for change in her own bed. Lovely and sunny here at the moment, Very cold. Still having trouble with the internet. Took me ages to get in this a.m. only to get cut off shortly after. Son and family off to see Saracens Rugby match and grandson playing rugby at school so we are going to collect him later this afternoon. Have made a nice loaf so that they can have a good feed when they get home. OH in a real stroppy mood today. Am keeping out of his way. Hope hubby is o.k. with his breathing problem Dita and Anedre's' OH. looking forward to the great 70th .
Take care all and do keep warm. cheers Penny.

[Penny]

Hi Dita and all, lovely and sunny here today, cannot plan as OH is watching snooker all day today until 11.p.m. Have stipulated that I don't mind as long as I can watch Call the Midwife. for an hour at 8.p.m. BBC1. One programme I do enjoy. Hope doggie got a good walkies today Dita, have sent lots of hugs as it is still cold, also kisses for pussies, let us hope they too have good enough weather to venture out. For Info. I used up one of my winter preserves out of the freezer today. Totally gobsmacked. If you go to Sainsbury's, try their own Steak and Ale pie in puff pastry. I sometimes get the small one for OH but this was I- thought-, a pie for two. Was I surprised. Enough for 4 and it was delicious. It is the first time for years and years that I have eaten bought pastry.
I cannot recall the cost, I think £3.plus. Well worth it as the small ones are £3.plus. Took me some time to get on here today, very slow. Hope everyone is keeping warm and well. Take care. cheers Penny

[dita]

Hi Penny and all, weather seems to have improved only slightly during the day, it is a sludgy old mess out the rain did not stop until half way through the morning and doggie walk was not long again, big hugs from you welcome as usual Penny and plentyful tail wags to say thanks. Hubby coping with his chest he has all these new gadgets he is puffing away at to relieve him. Hope the Rugby was enjoyed yesterday, did Grandson score any tries I wonder. Your hubby should have got over his stroppy mood today hopefully, if not starve him and send him to bed without is tea hee hee. Not much going on here, have got a chicken cooking and we'll be eating soon. Keep your chin up Penny and keep warm, hope internet is behaving now. Take care of yourself, and all.

Just read your post, will try that steak and ale pie, seen them but never tried em. xx

[Andere Richtingen]

Thanks for the tip about the pies. I don't often buy pies but I used to enjoy the Waitrose range until they re-vamped them all last year. (Why do stores do that, I wonder? It's generally not an improvement). I'll try and remember to drop into Sainsburys next time I'm in the town centre.

It's a been a funny mixed-up sunshine and black cloud day here but not really cold, considering it's January. Lucy K has been out to patrol her territory and is now sleeping off her exertions on OH's favourite chair... a situation which will last until he wants to sit in it! My OH used to watch snooker all day, too. It drove me crazy . I don't know what happened; maybe he OD'd and got bored with it but he doesn't do it any more. I can't actually remember the last time I saw him watch a match but I don't think his giving it up is down to my nagging.

[Penny]

Hi Dita, and all. Hope doggie is able to enjoy the sunshine now, have sent it early with a load of hugs to keep warm. Hope the weather stays bright it was white over with a heavy frost when I awoke. Puss will be looking for somewhere warm so kisses on the way to help. Will be having second half of pie today, will let you know how it turns out. I thought I would mention the exact way I did the one yesterday so that you can compare accurately. Cooked as per packet instruction from defrosted. In oven, not micro. And for the other half I have wrapped in tin foil and heating it in oven. Your own choice of vegs of course. Desert is cooked apple with a mincepie sitting on top and fresh cream. Thought I would tease your palate as the weather is so cold. Did anyone watch The Midwives last night. Fantastic. Take care and do keep warm. cheers Penny Almost forgot. Home made mustard. (very easy if anyone is interested.)

[Andere Richtingen]

White frost here this morning, too, but it's all gone now and the front of the house - south-facing - is gloriously bright & sunny. I've just done all the ironing in a lovely warm glow and Lucy K is making the most of it, curled up in a patch of sunshine on the bed. Should be a great dog-walking day

I'm sure your pie will be fine re-heated in foil Penny but I wish you hadn't mentioned mince pie; I've suddenly got a tremendous craving for hot mince pies. Ah well, I'll make do with a lunchtime sandwich and some fruit.

[dita]

Hi Penny, Andere and all. Bright sunny morning after a frost last night, perfect for walkies with doggie today, makes me think that maybe spring is really on its way. Many warm hugs for you Penny, and purrs a plenty for puss as she enjoys the sunshine. Fancy that mince pie like mad after your description, hopefully will be going to Sainsburys and will be pie buying. Have taped Midwives and will be watching later on today. Lad in the village has a beautiful bird of prey, he was stood talking to someone outside our house and I got a couple of good pics, must get em downloaded on computer later. I tend to take pics then forget to put them on here. Keep chin up Penny and take care Andere and all.

[Penny]

Oh Dita, can't wait to see the picture. Today's result verdict from hubby. First class. Will put a couple down in the freezer on Thursday. Take care all and enjoy the sunshine. cheers Penny.

[dita]

Photo deleted

[Penny]

Thank you so much Dita, what a wonderful bird. Love the ferret too. cheers Penny

Just show OH and he said, what a beautiful bird. cheers Penny

[dita]

Hi Penny and all, Beautiful sunny morning after a hard frost. Doggie bounding along for walkies, tail wags and everything including big hugs to her friend Penny. Pleased you like the pic, I shall delete it sometime. May do online shop in a bit cos it saves carting the stuff in and out of trolley then car, it also gives us chance to have a browse round other places. Gonna have a cuppa now and get some thoughts together about what we are eating later.
Purrs to L Katt. Keep chin up Penny take care all.

[Penny]

Hi Dit and all. Enjoyed hugs today and returning lots to doggie. So pleased you had a good walkies. Lovely and sunny again, very cold of course. Went to Conservative Club for lunch. Haven't been for a few weeks. Discovered all the regular staff leaving. Some sort of upset. Have no wish to get involved but did say to one person,, think again because I will miss you. O.H. of course stroppy. Ignoring him and that seems to work. Hope pussies are enjoying sometime outdoors today. Kisses to help on the way. Take care all and keep warm. cheers Penny

[Penny]

Hi Dita and all, a bit late today, been rather busy. Decided to make marmalade as running a bit low. Hubby eats it like there is no tomorrow. Just as well I put lots of oranges down in the freezer ready. Have to find somewhere to refil now. Very short last year doe to poor weather abroad. Woke to a very dull and cold morning been raining quite a lot. Now lovely and sunny, a bit late for hugs for walkies but perhaps will help with this afternoons weather. Kisses for puss too, lets hope your weather is o.k. today Andere. Take care all and do keep warm. cheers Penny

[Andere Richtingen]

Hi, everyone - this is the Invisible Woman!! I'm not sure what's going on - I posted a message on here yesterday morning, just saying how beautiful that falcon is and commenting on the ferret's lovely colour.... and it's disappeared, vanished, fled into cyber-space, or just plain not here! Oh well....

It's fine and sunny here at present following a very wet start. Quite a cold wind, though but it's better than the thick fog we had yesterday morning. My OH is grumpy, too because I've just been shouting at him about being an idle git who never does anything useful and is happy to let the house fall down around us. Not that it'll make any difference; he just goes quiet and sulky for a while before pretending that nothing's happened and - surprise! - absolutely nothing will change. ( Sorry - I just needed to let off steam a little.)

Lucy K is exploring Out and keeping out of the firing line. She's quite sensitive to atmosphere and hates being around us if we're arguing or one of us is having a rant and will quickly leave the room or, if she can't get out, she'll go to ground under the furniture or behind a curtain until she decides it's gone quiet enough for her to come out. When she does, she'll look at us both very seriously and then go and rub around the ankles of the one she thinks most needs sympathy and affection! It's very sweet and comforting and one of the reasons we love her so much. I've got a very old tapestry cushion which says 'We're staying together for the sake of the cat'. Sometimes, I think it's true.

I'm off to make a sandwich and calm down while I consider ways to murder a spouse .....

[dita]

Hi Penny, Andere and all. When you have found a solution to the problem of sorting out our spouses Andere, please confide in Penny and myself we will both be grateful to solve it for us too. It is just starting to brighten up, it rained overnight and was very overcast until now, wet and muddy walkies for doggie, and so your hugs most welcome Penny. Pleased you enjoyed seeing the pic too Andere, I shall take it off in a day or two because Jack & Tom had no idea I took it, the ferret is more wheat colour than on the pic, maybe its because I took it through the window. Cannot help but identify with you Andere over Lucy Katts actions when a rant is going on, my doggie is just the same. Keep smiling Penny and take care Andere and all xx