Unlike most bloggers, I do not write my posts weeks in advance. Sometimes I just make my cup of coffee and start writing on the morning of sending it out to you. Especially now, when we are all living in a one day at a time scenario. Today is one of those days where I need to take my own advice, from the post last week on Ways to Navigate Life Now. I am feeling a bit like I’m walking through concrete. But then I scold myself because we are blessed with good health and a safe place to be.

So today I will share what I have been doing to keep busy and focused. Over the weekend, and with the new recommendations about wearing a mask in public, I tried a few different patterns on making masks. It is impossible to find elastic here and though I searched my sewing items, I didn’t find any. What I did find was a terrific collection of fabric! Many of my friends don’t have a sewing machine, but my husband made one without it, just using 2 sheets of paper towels, elastic bands and a stapler.

In searching the internet, there are many choices, but the first one to pop up is The New York Times pattern. In my opinion, it is not well written and when I printed it out, the pictures accompanying the instruction were so small and difficult to read.

This pattern did, however, have 4 long ties on their style mask. I understand health care professional prefer this so they can use it over their N95 masks. The mask’s top ties do not stay on the top of your head, especially if you have straight hair. You must hook them over the top of your ears and tie them behind the base of your skull. The lower ties do help secure the bottom of the mask and these tie behind your neck.

The easiest and best fitting pattern I found online with Hobby Lobby. The video is short, walks you through the steps, gives you pleat dimensions and makes a mask that has an opening on the back to add a filter. I understand a coffee filter or a paper towel works. Click here for the video.

For the ear loops I used thin ribbon. I have very small ears and anything thicker did not stay in place. The dimensions of the mask fit my face perfectly, but was too small for my husband.

With some slight adjustments, I was able to make him a well-fitting mask. Once I get some elastic (ordered it online with a delivery date of next week), I believe this mask will work well for most. Also, I am happy to make masks for anyone who needs them. Hoping it won’t come to that, but I feel better if we are prepared.

I also added pipe cleaners in the top seam that fits against your nose. It was an easy way to bend the mask and make it conform to your face.

Easter is on Sunday and I hope to get an energy boost to do a lovely table. It will only be the four of us, but Easter is one of my favorite holidays. Last Sunday, on Palm Sunday, we missed getting our palm crosses from church.

Being in the DIY mode, I searched the yard and found that palm trees are not equal. Since I needed a certain length of palm frond, the fan palm was the only one that would work. Date palm fronds were too short.

It was a bit of a revelation as I had never REALLY looked closely and noticed the different kinds of palm trees we have. The things we learn during this crisis! It’s all part of being resourceful and creating a new norm in time of need.

I’ve been trying a few new recipes. My daughter, Elisabeth stated she wanted to learn to cook more. A happy benefit for me to spend more time with her in the kitchen. This vegan pineapple, lime, coconut and ginger cake from Twigg Studios is a relatively easy cake to make. Click here for the recipe.

The texture of the cake is more dense, like a carrot cake, and the canned pineapple provides plenty of moisture and flavor. I skipped the part that suggests making pineapple flowers out of fresh pineapple. The icing is a simple blend of coconut cream, confectioner’s sugar and lime juice. Really quite tasty. Happily shared most of it with our neighbors.

On a vegetable note, we also made Baked Parmesan Zucchini sticks from Damn Delicious. They are easy to make and so tasty. Click here for the recipes.

I am still working on washing windows. It’s taking longer than I’d like. In addition to washing windows, I am also cleaning the rooms as I go along. Hoping that accomplishing tasks keeps me moving in the right direction. Being in a funk just isn’t fun.

Thought I would share this picture of Cooper. He’s our first line of defense and does such a great job patrolling the yard and checking out the area. He takes his job seriously, even though he has a sweet temperament.

And you can see another project getting done~~wall repair!

What do you have planned for the week? Best wishes for a Tuesday filled with joy and simple pleasures.

Last October, I visited my son in Washington, D.C. His roommate is quite the baker and he generously shared some sourdough starter with me. I really didn’t know anything about this white, gooey substance, but I carefully carried it back in my suitcase to Phoenix. I was familiar with making bread from commercial yeast, but I had no clue about starter. My experience with sourdough bread was buying it at the grocery store.

What is Sourdough Starter?

I feed the starter every week on Sundays. What does that even mean? A sourdough starter, also called levain, is a fermented dough filled with natural, wild yeast and a bacteria called lactobacilli. It’s a living substance.

The starter is what makes sourdough bread rise. Instead of using active dry yeast like in other bread recipes, sourdough bread uses a starter. Until the time of the development of commercial yeasts, all leavened bread was made using naturally occurring yeasts – i.e. all bread was sourdough, with it’s slower raise. A starter made with the traditional sourdough method is often created organically by combining flour and water, which is allowed to ferment by airborne yeast. Think organic.

Sourdough Starter History

The ancient Egyptians are credited with making the first leavened bread. Perhaps a batch of dough was allowed to stand before it was baked. Wild yeast cells settled in and grew, producing tiny bubbles of carbon dioxide and making the dough rise. The bread was softer and more palatable, so it became the custom to let the dough stand for some time before baking. This technique was hit or miss, however, because on some days, the air bore no suitable yeast.

Later, a baker discovered that a little dough raised in this manner could be used as a starter for the next batch of bread. The portion of bread kept to start the next batch was called leaven; it was the forerunner of today`s sourdough bread.

Starter vs. Commercial Yeast

In 1938, commercial yeast was made available. Instant yeast appeared on the market in 1973. Here is what I didn’t realize. Commercial yeast plays an important role in industrialized bread making. But if you want natural strains of yeast, that haven’t been manipulated in a way that suits commercially produced bread, then using starter is the organic answer. The end product is significantly better.

According to Healthline, sourdough bread is a great alternative to conventional bread. Its lower phytate levels make it more nutritious and easier to digest. Sourdough bread also seems less likely to spike your blood sugar levels, which makes it an option for those monitoring their blood sugar.

The Bread Making Process

I am a novice sourdough bread maker. Each time I make bread I learn something new. The process starts the night before. I take a small amount of my starter, add both bread and whole wheat flour and water and let it sit for 12 hours. The bubbly, expanded end product is called leaven.

The next day, I mix this with more flour, water and salt and then over the next 8-10 hours, after multiple turns and folds, the dough is ready to bake. During this process, I can add different ingredients too.

Bread Baking Resources

My go-to bread bible is Tartine Bread by Chad Robertson. Chad literally went around the world seeking the best bread and baking style. Tartine Bakery in San Francisco is so popular they sell out within an hour almost every day.

Every loaf I have made since October has been with the help and guidance of this book. If you are looking to read about one man’s passion and also have an extensive step-by-step guide to making bread, invest in this book.

The Breads I’ve made to date

My first few loaves were the standard sourdough. And then I branched out to Olive Walnut, Cranberry Walnut, Dried Cherry and Pistachio, Polenta and Pepitas, Lemon, Rosemary and Gruyere, pizza dough and baguettes.

The benefits

Is using commercial yeast easier? Absolutely. Back in October 2016, I posted this recipe for an easy, no-fail artisan bread using commercial yeast. And it is a delicious bread. So why make bread from starter that takes nearly 24 hours before you can reap the benefits?

The process of fermentation has been proven to be beneficial for good gut health. The long fermentation process of making sourdough releases nutrients like iron, zinc, magnesium, antioxidants, folic acid and other B vitamins. The natural way this occurs allows our bodies to process them more easily.

There is something extraordinary about taking 4 ingredients and turning it into something with which you can feed others. The time consuming transformation from a shaggy, unattractive blob to a soft, billowy dough, while using your hands to turn and fold, is magical.

Yesterday I made baguettes for the first time with my daughter, Elisabeth. She watched the chemistry of the ingredients changing consistency and ultimately becoming 3 large baguettes. Even though it took all day she appreciated the worth of the wait.

In Conclusion

Each time I bake this bread, it is different based on the humidity, temperature and conditions. No two loaves are the same. I love knowing that we are participating in a process that has fed generations of people before us. I find it all a bit romantic.

My neighbor, Marjane, has a sourdough starter she has been feeding for 50 years! A fellow teacher friend shared it with her in the 1960s. I find this astounding AND she offered to share some with me!

Giving someone the gift of bread is a demonstration of your time and love. Plus look how cute you can make the presentation.

While most of us are staying at home for the next month, it might be an opportune time to try making your own starter and bread. If you live in Phoenix, I am happy to share some of my starter. For some reason, getting back to basics right now helps me feel grounded and more stable.

It’s a beautiful day out there and hopefully, wherever you are, you and your family are healthy and safe. Keep the faith!

Since we are all staying at home for the next 30 days, it is the perfect time to start composting. Your family’s trash can be easily and inexpensively turned into organic plant food. About 30% of what we throw away can be used to make your own rich fertilizer.

We have been composting here at Bella Terra for a long time. The main reason is that we have a lot of yard waste and food scraps. And lately, having more people at home = more trash! It is one of the best ways you can personally reduce your carbon footprint. Plus with minimal effort, you will end up with the most beautiful black enriched soil imaginable.

What you need to compost

You need “browns” and “greens” and water to compost properly. The browns are dead leaves and twigs and branches. The greens are your fruit scraps, grass clippings, vegetable waste, coffee grounds, and egg shells. Your compost pile should have an equal amount of browns to greens. You should also alternate layers of organic materials of different-sized particles. 

The brown materials provide carbon for your compost, the green materials provide nitrogen, and the water provides moisture to help break down the organic matter.

What NOT to compost

According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), here is a list of items you should not compost:

• Black walnut tree leaves or twigs
  – Releases substances that might be harmful to plants
• Coal or charcoal ash
  – Might contain substances harmful to plants
• Dairy products (e.g., butter, milk, sour cream, yogurt) and eggs*
  – Create odor problems and attract pests such as rodents and flies
• Diseased or insect-ridden plants
  – Diseases or insects might survive and be transferred back to other plants
• Fats, grease, lard, or oils*
  – Create odor problems and attract pests such as rodents and flies
• Meat or fish bones and scraps*
  – Create odor problems and attract pests such as rodents and flies
• Pet wastes (e.g., dog or cat feces, soiled cat litter)*
  – Might contain parasites, bacteria, germs, pathogens, and viruses harmful to humans
• Yard trimmings treated with chemical pesticides
  – Might kill beneficial composting organisms

How We Compost

There are many different ways to compost at home, but I want to share with you how we do it. First, we gather the greens in a designated trash can located in the kitchen island. Here is where I dump our vegetable peels and fruit scraps, egg shells, and dead cut flowers. Since we recycle our Nespresso pods I do not have any coffee grounds to add. We fill this bin every few days and it gets taken to the compost area. When the kitchen shredder can is full, we add the paper scraps to the composter too.

In addition, once or twice a year, we shovel the top layer of the soil in the hen house and add it to the composter, to capture the goodness of chicken manure.

Composting Methods

We have two different composting methods. First we have two ComposTumblers . Granted these are a financial investment, but we’ve had them for years and they are still functioning just fine. These very large barrels make composting easy. You load the barrels, turn it a few times per day and in 14 days you have compost (weather and other factors may affect speed in decomposition). There are smaller barrels available from various companies like Walmart , Amazon and Wayfair, too.

We also have a hand made stationary bin that has 3 divided areas. The browns and greens are added to the bin and then moved as they progress to make space for newer compostable items. These bins are covered to contain any odor or keep pests away. A good compost pile shouldn’t smell. If it does it is not getting enough oxygen and the contents are just rotting. The compost needs to be aerated and turned frequently (with a pitch fork or shovel) to help with the decomposition.

Plus we cover the compost pile after aerating it. Since the decomposition process creates heat, the tarp keeps the heat in and any critters out. Naturally, during the summer the decomposition process is accelerated.

The benefits

We produce enough compost to fertilize the garden, supplement the soil at the base of the trees in the orchard and the planting beds. This soil is moist and smells so good and earthy.

What better way to help our planet and reduce our waste? It is a remarkable feeling to know we all can make soil from our trash. Think about that for a moment. I find it astounding!

Part of our gardening success is definitely attributed to having such incredible, nutrient-rich soil. Here is how my garden looks today.

Last April, I did a blog post on hollyhocks and offered free seeds. Click here for the post, but if anyone wants hollyhock seeds, please email me at marycrz@cox.net.

I strongly encourage you to consider composting. There are so many resources on the internet to help you establish a process that is suitable for your needs. You will be so delighted with the results.

If you are already composting, please let me know how you do it. Happy April Fool’s Day! Are you playing any pranks? This reminds me to put some blue food coloring in the milk carton! Have a lovely day.

With every dark cloud, there is a silver lining. But in times of crisis you really need to look for it. Lately, I have found that when I pay attention to the small things I have missed in the past, I am in a state of rediscovery. Before I was always running to meetings or on conference calls and as a result, overlooked so much. Come to find out, these little gifts have been there all the time.

Gifts of Nature

When is the last time you really looked inside an iris? See the beards? Isn’t the color amazing?

Now with more time at home, and needing just the basics (good health, food and family), beauty seems to be emerging in nature everywhere. Not to be cliche, but I am experiencing “stop and smell the roses” moments ALL the time. Is anyone else finding this to be true? Naturally it helps to have roses blooming right now!

Yesterday I stopped to face the sun and listen to the birds. Such a simple act but with tremendous benefits. Breathing more is a necessity lately but filling my lungs with the sweet spring air is so restorative.

I’ve never noticed how beautiful the delicate flowers are on my scented geranium plant. And those curly filaments on the stigma! Take time to notice the changes Spring brings. The earth is coming back to life after winter and doesn’t it feel like we are on that same path? Bloom wherever you are!

Necessity is the mother of invention

This is also a time to get creative! With regular all-purpose and bread flour on shortages, I am using the almond and coconut flours that have been in my freezer. Dusting off old recipes and rediscovering them all over again is inspiring. In 2018, I posted this recipe for Paleo Lemon Blueberry bread and I hadn’t made it in a long time. Plus it’s healthy! Click here to read the post.

Even milk has been challenging to find in some places. But consider the alternatives and ones you can make, nut or grain milk. I don’t think there is a pressing need for almonds and it is SO easy to make your own. Click here for my previous post and the simple recipe.

Click here for the link for oat milk.

Keep Moving

I really miss exercising at the gym. For some reason, while I’m there I push myself harder and work up a good sweat. Taking brisk afternoon walks isn’t quite the same, but there is joy in seeing so many people out walking and children biking. Right across the street from our home is the historic Murphy Bridle Path. It is the only linear public park in Arizona and such an important recreational resource for our City.

Another positive to walking is checking out all the houses in the area. Who doesn’t like house snooping?!

If I don’t exercise I’ll be auditioning for My 600-lb. life after all this is over. Tomorrow I am going to try online work outs to see if I can kick things up a notch. We have a stationery bike and a rowing machine ~ I only hope I can motivate myself to get on them and work hard. What are you doing to move?

Be proactive on managing your stress

There are times I can feel the fingers of fear creeping into my optimism. I suppose that is natural but it’s not my personality to allow it. My first line of defense is to BREATHE. There are so many meditation tools available to us, but my two favorite are Headspace and Calm. Headspace recently created a free support section called Weathering the Storm. It includes meditations, sleep, and movement exercises to help you out, however you’re feeling. This is Headspace’s small way of helping you find some space and kindness for yourself and those around you.

Every night I listen to Sleep Stories on the Calm app. I’ve yet to hear the end of a story because I am lulled to sleep by the wonderful soothing voice of the narrator. I do pay an annual fee, but I truly use it every night. There are other meditation exercises and resources on the app as well.

There is something soothing about an afternoon cup of tea. The chamomile is just starting to bloom in the garden. This herb also helps to calm things down. I’ve also read that valerian tea, green tea and if you aren’t a tea drinker, cherry juice works too. To see the chamomile growing in the garden, click here.

Start a new project!

It feels SO good to cross things off the To Do list. There’s a sense of forward movement when you accomplish goals and finish projects. I am in the middle of washing all the windows in the house. My husband is doing a deep clean on the outside barbecue area. Touch-up painting comes next. Not only is it good to move, but at the end of all of this, your home may look its best ever. If you missed my last post, here is a project update.

Try something new

Who remembers Paint by Numbers? We did this as children (many moons ago) but have you seen some of the paintings they now offer? Not only is this a fun family project, but a chance to focus your energies in an artistic way.

You can even create your own painting from a photo or start on a holiday painting now. Check out their website to see all the possibilities.

There are other creative outlets~~all available online. Want to tour the White House or The Louvre from the comfort of your own home? Or hear a concert? All of these are now at your fingertips online by just searching the internet.

Being Strong for Others

So many people have had to make significant adjustments in their lives. Many are on the front line while we are safe at home. Some are physically compromised.

As parents, we need to be good role models and create teachable moments so our children understand how to deal with inconvenience or hardship. Be the voice that lifts, not scares. Be informative but optimistic.

When Certainty is Lost only Faith Remains

Whatever faith means to you, it is important to have it now. I find solace in watching our church’s online services on Sunday. I am surrounded by the dogs and cats and I can have my coffee too. But sometimes just turning life’s challenges over to a higher being gives us strength to move forward. Whether your “church” is nature, a friend, a pet or a religion, be connected. Reach out to someone you have not spoken to in a while. Write a letter. Watch a sunset and know you’ve made it through another day.

Please let me know how you are doing. Now more than ever, we need each other. Whatever you have planned for today, I am sending virtual hugs and wishing you happiness.

Orange “Gingersnap” roses recently purchased from Whitfill Nursery

It has been such a busy week. The Corona Virus Honey Do List is slowly getting accomplished. Seriously, I don’t do well with idle time and keeping myself busy is a good thing! First task on the list is washing the windows.

It’s a bit treacherous with some of the outdoor planting. I think I only stuck myself on this agave a half a dozen times.

I seem to have pretty good luck with this Sprayway Glass Cleaner from Costco. You can also get it at Target, Walmart and Home Depot. It is a foam cleanser which doesn’t run off the glass. I use a two cloth system. I clean with one cloth and follow up with a microfiber cloth to remove any streaks.

I’ve been at it a few days now and only have the first floor windows of the main house done. I envy people who have big glass panes without all the mullions. To give you an idea of how tedious this is, the family room has 168 individual panes of glass…..a real P.A.I.N and that is just counting cleaning one side of the glass!

These windows hand crank open and honestly, it has been years since we’ve opened them. Cooper is even enjoying the beautiful day!

However, the room is now so bright and cheerful. Also, did some spring cleaning by moving the furniture, vacuuming in all those remote corners, and washing the slipcovers and dog blankets.

As you may recall, I am not completely fond of my family room’s decor. The room is quite long and narrow and was, at one point in time, an outside porch. But the windows are wonderful and the scored concrete floor is decades old. To read a previous post about my struggles with this room, click here.

I picked up a hand-painted chest recently at a yard sale and thought it would go nicely in the family room. Here is the before picture of the area. The existing black piece of furniture has served as our liquor cabinet, as it has a lock on it. My husband has a collection of contemporary art that we have tried to integrate in our historic home.

But I think I like this cabinet better as it is a warmer look. It is lower and still serves as a liquor cabinet. What do you think?

The artwork is very special as it was done by my mother’s art teacher that she had in high school back in the 1940s. Charlotte Eastman would teach high school art during the school year and then travel to Europe to paint during her summers. My mother was one of her favorite students. I love her use of color and really feel grateful to have gotten these after my parents passed away.

I am still playing around with the accessories on top, which will take a few weeks of moving things around from other parts of the house.

Another project we are working on is really cleaning out the barbecue area. My husband is tackling that one! The backsplash gets so dirty from all the cooking. We’ve decided to tile the backsplash and I am excited about selecting tile and getting this done.

It’s not all work and no play around here. We’ve established Wine at the Wall Wednesdays, where we meet our neighbors to the south. We respect physical distancing but encourage socializing. This week, we provided the wine. Everyone brought their own glass. The goal was to say hello, check in with each other, and watch the sunset. One of our neighbors is in law enforcement and provided the latex gloves. The laughter and camaraderie was exactly what we needed.

I imagine I will be washing windows for several days, but the effort is worth it. The weather can’t be beat~~a glorious 65 degrees with a nice breeze. Perfect for drying clothes on the line and spring cleaning!

Hope this Saturday finds you healthy and happy. Beautiful gifts (or a very clean house) will come out of this time of challenge. Keep the faith!

Generally right after St. Patrick’s Day, I am full steam ahead on Easter. But I feel like the last week has been a blur and it’s hard to stay focused with so much going on around us. The purpose of this post is to tune out all the noise, and enjoy Spring and remember that Easter is 2 1/2 weeks away. Really.

A small treat for you today, is a link to this adorable Spring printable. Lucy, from Craftberry Bush is SO talented and generous in sharing her happy artwork. Makes me want to take watercolor classes. The printable comes with or without different messages. Click here for the download. So easy to print!

The evolution of the bulb garden is a source of constant joy and amazement. The sweat equity of planting of over 400 bulbs is now paying off. The hyacinths are past their prime, but the tulips! That red! Nothing beats the colors of nature.

Here is a before picture of the non-existent bulb garden last September…..

And now today! You can see the bearded irises just starting to show their blooms.

It dawned on me that Spring is happening all around us. I am very behind in my decorating for Easter. I pulled out boxes today and found some items that I cherish and bought many years ago. It was enough of a lift to get me at least thinking about the Easter holiday.

In order to help get you into the spirit of Spring and Easter, here are some photos from some of my favorite bloggers.

Yvonne, from Stone Gable, never disappoints. Her photos are fabulous and her blog is so informative.

Plus if you want to make these Chinoiserie eggs, click here. Aren’t they beautiful? I am definitely going to try this.

I just discovered Ann at Dabbling and Decorating. She has a home in Vermont and Maine and a fresh, light look to her decor.

My friend, Kristin, from White Arrows Home is part of an Easter Tablescape and Bunny Hop tour. Kristin lives in the Northwoods of Wisconsin in a big log cabin and I had the good fortune to meet her last October. Isn’t this a whimsical and fun table?

Another new discovery is Rachel from The Pond’s Farmhouse, who sold everything, built a home and moved to the country! I like her “nest” chargers.

Barbara from Mantel and Table has a Tuesday teacup series and everytime I see her post, I am inspired to make a cup of tea in a pretty cup. I think we all deserve some pampering now and again.

Courtney from French Country Cottage is a professional photographer and has the most beautiful pictures. Her photos have encouraged me to focus on improving my own photos. To read a previous post about attending her book signing at Patina Farm, click here.

Isn’t this tablescape so serene and peaceful? Karen from Sanctuary Home Decor has stunning taste and wonderful ideas on how she changes her home from season to season.

Even though I’ve never met many of my Instagram or blogging friends, I feel like we would be kindred spirits if we lived next door. The internet has provided an opportunity for us to get to know others while respecting the physical distancing requests that have been made of our country.

On a separate note, I wanted to share this last photo to show you our new norm. My daughter, Elisabeth, had to move out of her dorm and back home. She is completing her freshman year by taking online courses here at home. She has found the perfect spot to listen to her Criminal Justice class.

Inspiration can come from many sources. Do you have any Easter or Spring inspiration you want to share? Let’s keep each other’s spirits up!

Have a fabulous Wednesday and stay healthy!

*The tulipieres in the first picture are from The Enchanted Home. Daffodils are a great price at Safeway right now at 3 bunches for $5.00 (while tulips were $1 each). They are closed up but within 24 hours are showing their pretty yellow blossoms. To see a post about these tulipieres, click here.