I am from the generation that grew up with one television.  The only time we were allowed to watch it was Sunday night. After a bath (there was no shower) and in our jammies, we would all sit together and watch a show.   The television was never on during the week but we didn’t seem to miss it.  Our lives were full of school, athletics and activities. 

Weekends were spent playing down the street with the neighborhood kids.  We knew it was time to come home when we heard Dad’s whistle~~you know, the one that you use your middle finger and thumb?  The one I never mastered? Heck, I can’t even do a regular whistle.

We were middle class America~~Mom and Dad and five children.  It was a good life where there was a clear distinction between right and wrong.  There were simple rules to live by, such as “if you can’t say something nice, don’t say anything at all”.

Each of us had our responsibilites~~cleaning the house, doing laundry, mowing the lawn, taking out the garbage. Dinner was always served around a big table.   We ate together as a family. We knew that Christmas and birthdays were the only time we got gifts. Grades were very important to my folks and we never wanted to let them down. My parents lived within their means.

It’s time to slow down

Sometimes I think the world is moving too fast.  As much as I appreciate what technology has added to our lives, it is difficult to avoid being over connected.  Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Snapchat, 24/7 news, and the hundreds of channels accessible to us.  Am I the only one who wants to shut my eyes and cover my ears? When was the last time I laid in the grass and watched the clouds sailing by?

The other day I realized I felt weird without my iPhone.  Remember when the only phones in the house were the wall phone in the kitchen with the extra long cord and the extension by the parent’s bed?  And you could listen in on someone’s conversation if you slowly and quietly picked up the other receive ?

The need for simplicity

I don’t want to sound like an old person but I long for some of that simplicity.  We NEED the quiet, the simple, the honest, and the genuine. Our souls are not fed by the number of Instagram followers we have nor the number of likes on Facebook.

I had a social media epiphany lately.  After researching all the ways to get more followers, more likes, more exposure, I realized I was spending hours checking social media.  Today, I finally put down my phone and thought, “what the heck am I doing?”

All this research was supposed to help support my blogging. But when I really stopped to think about it, I was straying from my core values. I felt like I was going down the wrong path, trying to become something that didn’t feel honest, genuine or simple. Starting this blog did not include the goal of making money or getting advertisers.  It was born from the loss of both my parents…a way for me to document life in order to perhaps slow it down. And here I was trying to increase subscribers, viewers, likes, etc. and wasting hours of my day.  For what?

Why I blog

Here are the reasons I started Life at Bella Terra.

1) In this crazy and often cruel world, I want to capture simple goodness.  I want to provide to you, my subscribers, a place that is beautiful, creative, thoughtful, educational and interesting.  Every day I am so grateful for my life, my world, my family and my home.  This gratitude is worth sharing.

Bella Terra is a safe harbor for our children, a warm place for our friends and family, a historical gem for our city.  We are its guardians. In what feels like an unsafe world where you are cancelled for having your own thoughts and opinions, everyone is welcome here.

2) This blog allows me to look at my life through a different lens.  When you spend a great deal of time in a place, it is a challenge to look at things objectively.  How did I not see the really ugly paint color in my kitchen?  However, I did see it in my photographs.

When I set a table, it looks good to me.  In a photo, the silverware is cattywampus and how did I miss all the dust on the table?  I’m learning something new every day. I am seeking more grace in my daily activities.

3) This blog is a living diary.  I try and share what makes me happy, what inspires me, and perhaps something new that I have learned.  I am excited to share that with you. It is with great hope that what makes me happy, makes you happy.

Quite honestly, I don’t care about Instagram’s algorithm.  Nor am I feeling as if I have to post something every day.  I have a life to live and why would we want to waste precious time staring at our phones?

My personal goals are to post something on Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday. However, I will blog only when I am inspired to share something with you, not because of some fake deadline or sense of responsibility. 

Thank you for listening to my revelations about blogging and Life at Bella Terra. As always, I love hearing what you like about this blog, what you would like to see more of, and while you’re at it, what you don’t like.  If you family or friends are needing a bit of beauty, I hope you refer them here.

So if you feel like life is spinning a bit out of control, put down your phone, turn off the television.  Make a connection with someone you love or someone you would like to get to know better.  Help someone in need. Find depth and meaning in the simplest of things. The world needs more love, honesty and human connections.

P.S. I wrote this post back in February 2018. And look what has happened since then. We do need to care for ourselves and be graceful and patient with others.

My sweet friend, Chloe, from Celebrate and Decorate gave me a very attractive duvet cover and pillow shams for a king bed that she no longer needed. It is made of a high quality woven Belgian linen and from Restoration Hardware (which we all know is not inexpensive). However, the duvet has unknown various stains, possibly rust? I didn’t want to ruin the beautiful linen fabric, but an intervention is needed. The good news is that in the process, I found a powerful stain remover using simple items in your home.

My First Pass at removing the stain

I often use OxiClean for tough stain removal. Since it comes in a powder, I find it most effective when I make a paste using OxiClean and water. Using a toothbrush, I gently work the paste into the stain. Did you know that when you mix water and OxiClean, the paste changes temperature? It gets very warm.

After applying the paste, I let it sit on the fabric for a few minutes. You can actually see the stains starting to disappear.

Even though the laundering instructions on this linen set say to Dry Clean, I washed the pillow shams in cold water. Before drying, I did double check that all the stains washed out and only then, did I hang them on the line outside to dry.

Did you know that sunlight has natural bleaching abilities?

Second Pass at Cleaning Stains

Naturally I thought I was on a roll having great success with the OxiClean, however, stains STILL remain on the larger duvet cover. OxiClean didn’t touch them at all. And unfortunately, I discover this while attempting to hang the extremely large and heavy damp cover on the line.

Stains set when dried and even though this was an old stain, I remove it from the clothes line. It is time to step up my approach to stain removal. After searching the internet for answers, I decide to try this.

Using hydrogen peroxide, baking soda and cream of tartar (using equal amounts), I make another paste and apply it in a relatively thick layer to the stubborn stains. Here I let the concoction sit on the stains for at least 30 minutes. Notice how the paste bubbles up while it is working.

After a half an hour, I scrape off the extra paste and surprisingly the stains are GONE!

Like before, I re-wash the duvet cover in cold water and hang it on the line to dry. Each and every stain is gone!

So pleased with the results

Here is what the linens look like now. We are so happy with Chloe’s generous donation of this duvet cover which is perfect in our bedroom for the fall season.

I did debate whether I should press or steam the duvet and shams, but it is linen after all and it will not stay pressed looking very long.

I am so impressed with this household stain remover, I try it on a blouse that has had a stubborn stain for months. Fortunately, the stain is on the cuff so I can wear the blouse if I roll up the sleeves.

Here you can see the orange stain on the cuff. I have tried numerous over the counter products on this and nothing has taken this stain out.

So I make the same combination of hydrogen peroxide, cream of tartar and baking soda and apply it generously.

As I am writing this, I am waiting to launder the blouse, but all indications are that the stain is gone!

I am so excited to share this powerful stain remover with you as it’s nice when something outperforms your expectations.

Well, today is the first day of Fall so happy Autumn, everyone! I hope to spend a few hours today getting out some of the fall decor. I also bought a flat of pears from Costco yesterday so I see a Pear and Caramel pie in my future (if you missed that post, see it here).

Have a terrific Wednesday!

If you enjoy this post, please share on Pinterest.

This post shared with Between Naps on the Porch Metamorphosis Monday #661

In the early mornings you can detect the slight shift from summer to Fall…finally. I just returned from another week in Connecticut and saw so many fall pumpkins, gourds and chrysanthemums in stores there. If that doesn’t put you in the fall mood, I don’t know what does! Here are five fabulous fall recipes that aren’t pumpkin focused but represent other wonderful ingredients of the autumn season.

Apple Cider Donuts

My husband and I have the quintessential memory of these aromatic, warm, delicious donuts. After driving the curvy back roads in New England, we find an apple orchard on a chilly, windy day in October. Inside the quaint store at Averill Farms, they are serving warm apple cider and these warm donuts. Needless to say we devoured an entire bag and I have learned to make them since.

In my recipe, the donuts are baked not fried (you save a few calories there). And I think this year I may experiment with a maple syrup glaze instead of the cinnamon sugar. Either way, they are delicious and easy to make. To see how to make these scrumptious donuts, click here. If you need donut pans for baking, here is a good resource.

Also the most time consuming part of this recipe is boiling down the apple cider to reduction. I always make extra and freeze it so I can whip up these donuts on a moment’s notice. They are addicting!

Turkey Chili with White Beans

This is my go-to recipe for chili. Made with ground turkey and white beans, it is chock-a-block full of good protein and flavor. Adding unsweetened cocoa powder is the key to this wonderful recipe.

Topped with sour cream, freshly chopped cilantro and red onions make this a hearty meal for the cooler weather. See all the instructions here.

Cute pumpkin ceramic bowls are from Williams Sonoma.

Roasted Squash and Kale Salad with Spiced Nuts, Cranberries and Maple Vinaigrette

This salad combines sweet roasted butternut squash with roasted kale in a vinaigrette flavored with maple syrup and sherry vinegar, along with some spiced pecans for crunch and dried cranberries for a nice chewy texture. It’s a delightful salad when it’s made fresh, but the flavors and textures actually get even better as it sits in the fridge overnight.

Next time I make this salad, I may add a protein for a full meal. It is the essence of fall flavors and so appropriate if you are having a dinner party. Make it ahead of time and just toss it before your guests arrive. Again, you cannot go wrong with recipes from Serious Eats. Find it here.

Clementine Thyme Margaritas

We can always use more Vitamin C, right?!? Though the original inspired recipe calls for freshly squeezed tangerine juice, tangerines are difficult to find this time of year. Instead, you can readily purchase clementines (or Cuties in the grocery store) instead of tangerines.

If you haven’t made simple syrup, it is very easy to do and you can flavor it with a variety of fresh herb~basil, mint, lemon balm, rosemary, thyme and lavender. In this recipe, the herbal flavor of thyme is a lovely addition to this cocktail. See the recipe below.

Pear and Caramel Pie

In the fall, everyone thinks of apples. But pears are equally abundant. This pie is a welcomed change from your expected apple~using pears and caramel.

The only times I have made this, I did use the Kieffer pears from our tree in the mountains. However, any ripe, firm pear will do. If you haven’t made your own caramel sauce, it is very easy. And once you taste this you will never purchase caramel sauce in a jar again.

This pie keeps well and is excellent for breakfast or dessert the next day. As a short cut, you can use a pre-made pie crust too (my favorite being Trader Joe’s frozen pie crusts). See recipe here.

Do you have any favorite fall recipes? Please send them to me as I am always looking for new things to try (my email is marycrz@cox.net). I am so excited to start cooking again as it is hard to turn on the oven or stove during our hot summers.

Being back home is such a joy and hope to be posting on a regular basis again. Happy Tuesday!

If you enjoy this post, please share on Pinterest.

Thank you all for such wonderful and insightful comments to my post this week on Kindness. If you missed that post, you can see it here. Welcome to Saturday Meanderings where we chat about all good things that happen this week. So pull up a chair, grab a beverage and let’s get started.

Though it is still SO hot here (107.5 degrees as I write this), I put up our Fall wreath this week. Surprisingly I still had the Spring wreath up on the front door, as this summer flew by so quickly and never really felt like summer to me. The autumn colors of the wreath against the blue door works somehow and just makes me happy. “If I build it they will come” is my mantra for hoping if I do some decorating, the season will change.

Grapefruit Peel Vinegar Cleaner

Inspired by Lisa, from Fresh Eggs Daily, I am trying my hand at making a cleaner that I could use in the hen house. Since chickens have sensitive respiratory systems, using bleach or other harmful chemicals would not be a good idea.

Apparently, the Orange Peel Vinegar cleaner is very popular on Pinterest, but at the time I didn’t have any oranges, but lots of grapefruits. Combining grapefruit, white vinegar, cinnamon sticks and vanilla beans, the concoction is ready to use.

I am trying it for a few weeks to see if it’s worth sharing with a longer, more detailed post. But I can tell you, it smells divine! Now let’s hope it works. To see Lisa’s post on this, click here.

A Great Haircut

What is it about getting a haircut that just makes you feel fabulous? I was so long overdue and looking a bit shabby. But my favorite stylist and long-time friend, Roscoe, just does his magic and voila! I have a fantastic haircut. I swear, if I could bottle him up and sell him, I’d make a fortune…he’s that good! Also it’s hard to take a selfie of the back of your head..ha!

New Shows to Watch

This movie, Gunsmoke Milkshake, reminds me of Lemony Snicket due to its interesting editing. With a strong cast of female characters, it has humor, relationships and a bit of violence. I did think it is well done and for someone who doesn’t watch movies often, it is entertaining. It can be found on Netflix.

My preference is to watch a television series, where I am only sitting for an hour at a time. Professor T on PBS is about eccentric criminal psychology professor with a brilliant mind, but also several neurological disorders, which makes him very complex and unpredictable. Enjoyable, so far!

My Next Home?

I am always dreaming of a home with a view like this. There is something about the water that I crave, which is interesting as I live in land-locked Phoenix. When I saw this photo (place and photographer unknown to me), I said “this is it!”. Does anyone recognize this photo or where it was taken? A girl can dream, right?

New Products

I did find these Chocolate Coconut Almonds at Trader Joe’s and quite frankly, I am afraid to buy more. It is very easy to consume the entire container. If you love Almond Joys, then this is the treat for you. You probably didn’t know that I used to work for Cadbury U.S.A. and we owned Mounds and Almond Joy. The fastest 5 pounds I ever gained was my first month working there~consuming candy bars fresh off the production line. These delicious morsels, that taste just like the candy bar, are good frozen, too.

Never go to Costco starving, which is what I did this week. In search of a new television, as ours was fried at the cabin due to a lightning strike, I grab this bag for something to nibble on during the ride home.

They are delicious with 10 grams of protein per serving and naturally lactose free~10 crisps equals 150 calories (but the crisps are rather big).

Made by Sonoma Creamery, there are other flavors too! Highly recommend as they would be delicious on a charcuterie board.

Dreamy Vacation Rental

Check out this dreamy English cottage which is available to rent in Devon, England. If making travel plans wasn’t so sketchy right now, I would be booking this for next Spring/Summer.

It looks like something out of a fairy tale. This cottage is owned and decorated by Elizabeth Hay, an interior designer who trained at Colefax & Fowler.  Immaculately restored and bursting with quintessential English country charm, the historic Grade II thatched cottage is surrounded by two acres of private grounds boasting orchards, a babbling brook, and a secret garden.

The cottage sleeps five, and guests have optional access to a beautifully decorated annex, a former livestock barn now converted to further sleeping accommodations. The annex provides ancillary sleeping space and will house an additional four guests. You can read more about this little slice of heaven here and learn more about booking reservations. 

Well that’s a wrap! Have a wonderful and relaxing weekend, my friends!

I do like making decorations I can use over multiple holidays. Anything red, white and blue is good for Memorial Day, Flag Day, July 4th, Labor Day or just a fun summer holiday party. Here are two easy ways to make two DIY patriotic garlands using both paper and fabric, some twine and glue. All the items I have laying around so get creative and see what supplies you may already have on hand.

The Paper Banner

These paper placemats from Hester & Cook will be used on my patriotic table for July 4th. But I am using two of these placemats to create the blue triangles for a 5 foot long garland. For the red/white triangles, use any paper from a craft store. This red and white paper table runner I am using is also from Hester & Cook. Even though these products are designed for table settings, I often use them for crafts or wrapping paper.

If you need paper supplies, Amazon has a great selection of patriotic paper here.

First I fold the paper placemat length-wise, creating a 6″ x 18″ cutting surface, with the pattern inside.

Not wanting to make this a difficult math problem, I divide the 18″ into 6 triangles that fit within the paper size. You can make the size of the triangle whatever you want. Mine are 6″ wide by 6″ long.

Since I want a garland with the pattern on both sides, I will only use the triangles I can fold over and secure. So in the picture above, I will have leftover triangles. You can toss these or create another project with them.

Using the first triangle as a template, I trace it on the red/white striped paper that I, too, fold.

Once I have cut enough red and white striped triangles (really diamonds), I am ready to assemble.

Assemble the Garland

Cut the appropriate length of your twine. This cute twine holder with scissors in the above photo can be found here. I keep this handy in the kitchen on the shelf above the stove, as I use it often.

When you lay open the folded triangle it forms a diamond. Using glue sticks, secure the triangle to the twine, so they do not slide. Also add glue to the edges and tip. I try to limit my use of glue because the paper can look bumpy if you use too much. Use too little and the triangle will not stick to itself. Fold over the triangle and press to secure.

Alternate the colors of the triangle. I do this until I have 5 blue star pattern and 4 red/white stripes. You can certainly cut more triangles for a longer garland, but 9 triangles at this size will make a 5′ long garland.

Affixing the Garland

Using removable clear Command hooks, I secure each end of the garland to the top of the mantel.

Here is the finished garland. It is so simple and very colorful!

Fabric Garland

Finding yards and yards of this flag fabric in our garage inspired me to try a different type of garland…one with torn strips of material.

Since the fabric is 42″ wide, I cut 15 notches at 2 1/2 ” wide. Tearing the strips along the width of the fabric is quite satisfying! I end up with 15 2 1/2″ x 42″ strips.

I fold the strips in half and cut and tidy up the edges by cutting off the selvage using pinking shears. Now I have 30 strips of fabric which I tie onto a length of twine.

Assemble the Garland

Here you can put the fabric strips as close together or as far apart as you’d like. As you are tying on the strips, make sure the lengths match.

Once all the strips are on the twine, your garland is complete!The most time consuming part of this is tying on all the strips of fabric.

This rag garland can be made with any fabric or individual strips of red, white and blue material. Cute gingham would work too. This is so easy and would be a fun project with children. All it takes is ripping and tying and doing it yourself!

I hope this post will inspire you to create a DIY patriotic garland. You don’t need a mantel or fireplace. This garland would look fun on a door or window frame, over a table or strung between trees. Be creative! Share your projects with me, as I love seeing what you design.

If you enjoy this post, please feel free to share on Pinterest.

This post shared with Between Naps on the Porch Metamorphosis Monday #647

There is something very special about coming home. After another trip back east to manage my Aunt Gail’s affairs, coming home is well…so satisfying. My own bed, getting back into a routine and the dogs are always so happy to see me. And now I am at my desk writing my Saturday Meanderings so all is well with the world. Thank you for joining me today!

Weather

Being away is also making me realize how much I take the sunny weather in Phoenix for granted. Out of the 7 days we were back east, 1.5 days were sunny. The Memorial Day weekend had frigid temperatures and lots of rain. I am such a weenie when it comes to cold weather now that my blood has obviously thinned with the 299 days of sunshine we see here in the Valley of the Sun.

Even our higher temperatures I am enjoying! I am so thankful that I did put shade cloth over the tomato plants while we were out of town. If you missed this post which is part of a fun monthly gardening blog hop, click here.

My Stylish French Box

This box has a new name called My French Country Home Box. I do have a quarterly subscription, which is a complete treat. If you are looking for the very best French brands delivered to your door, then I cannot recommend this enough.

The theme this quarter is “Time for Moi-Même”~ which is all about taking some much-needed time for yourself. From the high quality floral pillow case above to Mademoiselle Saint Germain facial serum, the box is full of sumptuous indulgences.

Not only is this the perfect gift for yourself, but for others. You can order it only once or subscribe quarterly. My French Country Home also has a shop where you can buy some of the individual items in the box. And the fabulous news is that I am an Ambassador for them and will earn a small stipend if you order it through my blog site to their link here.

A New Friend from New Zealand

I admit that I am not a Facebook user. It just so happens I did look at my Facebook page and found a new sweet friend, Carol Karl from New Zealand. She generously shared my stenciled bathroom floor project with her subscribers. If you missed that post, here it is.

Carol’s blog is Living My Real Life and her interests are similar to mine~food, gardening, house renovation and she makes jewelry (I do not). It is hard to believe that someone so far away found my blog~ it is small world, isn’t it?

Apple Season

Being born and raised in Connecticut, I associate apple picking with cold weather, cute sweaters and autumn leaves. However, my Anna apple tree is full of apples that we pick in June…..in triple digit weather. Something is just not right about that. But I have a big crop this year so pie baking will commence soon!

A Trip Down Memory Lane

Connecticut will always be my first home. Though most of my adult life has been on the opposite coast, I love going back to my hometown of Norwich. Looking at it through more mature eyes, I have an appreciation now of those childhood gems.

High school at the Norwich Free Academy is filled with fond memories. During this recent visit, I tried walking the athletic field at Norwich Free Academy (NFA) to capitalize on the good weather, but it was closed to the public (probably a post-COVID thing). Instead I walked the campus (several times) noticing things I took for granted when I was a teenager.

Incorporated 1854, it is the only remaining privately governed, independently endowed academy in the state of Connecticut. Blending the very best of private and public education, NFA offered me a truly unparalleled four year student experience.

Between the history, gorgeous architecture of 12 unique buildings and stunning landscaping, this a-typical high school is more like a small college campus. I’ve never seen another high school campus like this one and I am grateful for the experience.

If I could only go back into my teenage body with my 65-year old eyes and see it all again….

Informative Posts

Andrea from Design Morsels is such a wealth of information. If you are wondering how high to hang pictures or how to do a gallery wall, check out her blog post here.

Kim from Shiplap and Shells is an incredible gardener and her sweet home in the Pacific Northwest is in nearly every magazine. If you want to covet her spectacular greenhouse, check it out here.

An Oldie but Goodie

This recipe is one of my husband’s favorites. Who doesn’t like Apple Cider donuts? Typically I make them in the fall, but since I did have some of the apple cider reduction in the freezer, they are easy to whip up.

Here is the original post. Not sure how easy it is to find apple cider now, but they are really good (and baked, not fried).

Thanks for Sharing

I just LOVE it when you send me pictures of something that inspired you through my blog. Thanks to my friend, Barb who made the coffee cake with blueberries for Memorial Day weekend and sending me this photo. Here’s the recipe again if you want something easy and delicious!

Well that’s a wrap! Have a wonderful weekend!