I find it curious when my husband, Scott, starts building this bench. We have many benches and seating areas around our property, so why is he building another? Read Scott’s narrative below to find out his motivation to create this DIY Outdoor bench.

The Story

My wife and I have dear friends who are wonderful parents and are very thoughtful, kind, smart and spiritual.  It’s a rare combination.  My wife Mary has those attributes.

Several years ago I found out that the wife enjoyed time outside in natural surroundings of quiet contemplation and spiritual introspection.  In early December I came across plans for a wooden “Leopold” bench.

Aldo Leopold (1887-1948) was a conservationist who built the benches for bird watching and nature photography.  Aldo’s bench plans have been refined and published at the Rogue Engineer (link here). I thought it would be a nice gift for our friend to use when she sits in prayerful revery.

The Materials

• Drill/Driver
• Mitre Saw (optional)
• Circular Saw
• Tape Measure
• Pencil
• Safety Glasses
• 4 2x8x8′ pressure treated lumber (untreated if you are painting or staining)
• 2 1/2″ exterior wood screws

Off I go to my local Home Depot for to purchase four 2”X8”X8” and some wood screws.  I don’t have the Rogue Engineer’s wood shop but the plans sound pretty straightforward.

As I start cutting the wood, my sturdy and reliable Craftsman circular saw gives up the ghost.  No problem, who doesn’t need a new Makita 18v lithium battery circular saw? It’s a beautiful machine. Link here.

The Assembly

Wood is cut in accordance with the plans in short order.  Now the process of assembly.  I pre-drill all of the screw holes so that takes me a bit longer.  My pieces do not all fit tightly enough to hold themselves in place but eventually it all comes solidly together.

My wood is Douglas fir so there are the additional steps of staining and several coats of spar varnish to ensure a beautiful outdoor finish.  The plan suggests 30 minutes.  I lack that talent and have several additional steps (staining-drying then varnishing & drying -repeat (twice)).  For me it is 3 days to complete.

The bench is solid and heavier than you might think~ very sturdy.  Mary and I present it as a Christmas present to our wonderful friends and it is now used regularly. 

Though this is a wooden bench, I must say it is VERY comfortable! The angle of the back is just perfect and if you add a pillow or cushion, it just makes it even more cozy.

I think Aldo would be very happy to know someone is enjoying nature and solitude on his Leopold bench design.

Since being outside in the fresh air is such a necessary part of life now, this DIY outdoor bench is a wonderful project for anywhere in your yard.

If you like to build things, I strongly suggest checking out the Rogue Engineer. There are several projects with extensive tutorials. To see another build project that we use frequently, click here.

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DIY Monthly Blog Hop

Thanks for joining me today. Now onto our monthly DIY Blog Hop where the topic is Building something.

Niky from The House on Silverado makes this DIY Farmhouse Coffee Cup Stand.

Andrea from Design Morsels makes this DIY Corner Desk.

Chas from Chas’ Crazy Creations shows an Easy DIY Heavy Duty Garage Shelf here.

Tarah from Grandma’s House DIY builds a Hallway Closet into a Storage Room

Amy from Health Heart and Home creates this beautiful accent wall using wood trim here.

Kippi from Kippi at Home provides a step-by-step tutorial on how to make this sweet birdhouse. Check it out here.

Kim from Shiplap and Shells shows us How to Make a Faux Fireplace Surround here.

Thank you for joining me today for our monthly DIY Blog Hop. Hope this inspires you to build and create! Comments and feedback are like gold to us so thank you in advance for sharing your thoughts.

This post shared with Between Naps on the Porch Metamorphosis Monday #692.

How did another week go by so quickly? If anyone has the solution to slowing down time, please share. I am so happy you are joining me this Saturday to review the week’s coming and goings on Saturday Meanderings.

What do you do when you are out of sorts? I either work out or don my apron and start baking/cooking/making. Since it’s been a bit of an off week for me, I completed 5 workouts and accomplished quite of bit in the kitchen too.

Madeleines, French in origin, are very small sponge cakes with a distinctive shell-like shape acquired from being baked in pans with shell-shaped depressions. Three years ago I wrote a blog post about this recipe from Dessert University (see here). With a lemon glaze, these tasty morsels are worth making.

However, my existing Madeleine pan is a silicon pan which I DO NOT RECOMMEND. I literally threw this pan out after baking. New pans just arrived (see link here) and I will let you know if they pass the test. The problem with the silicone one is that it buckles in the oven, therefore the batter cannot lay evenly, resulting in brown edges and soggy centers.

This creamy-in-the-middle and crispy-on-top Hasselback Potatoes au Gratin recipe is a winner. I didn’t realize that hasselback means stacking the thinly sliced potatoes accordion style. The recipe is doubled for a neighbor’s birthday celebration. If you are looking for a perfect au gratin recipe, this Serious Eats version is it. See recipe here.

We are in the height of our citrus season here in Phoenix. What I love about our community is the sharing of fruit with each other. Steve, who lives a few streets over shares his Meyer lemons (soon to be marmalade) and my sweet neighbors, Dale and Dawn, let me take a big bag of lemons from their tree. Our regular lemon tree must be on sabbatical because not one lemon showed up this year.

Last year I discovered Preserved Lemons and cannot believe I have lived without them. We use them on fish, salads, pasta, you name it as I cannot get enough of this tangy, salty Moroccan ingredient. Preserved lemons take a few weeks to make so if you have access to fresh lemons, now is the time to do this. See my previous post for further details here.

More to come next week about why I am making Valentine cookies now. This buttery Linzer cookie recipe from King Arthur Flour can be made with heart-shaped cookie cutters for a seasonal treat. Filled with raspberry jam, they are so yummy. See recipe here.

In my neighborhood, there are water irrigation well containers scattered all over. Funny, but I never really noticed them until I went on a walk around the block. Nearly all of them are unsightly; some have covers, others not. We even found one buried under foliage in the front corner of our lot.

My creative neighbor and her husband (Tevia and Mitch) did a complete transformation to their inactive well. Using faux greens stapled to a wooden pallet, this once eyesore is now a decorative statement. Tevia will be using a Krylon UV Floral protectant spray to prevent discoloration from the sun during our hot summers (see product here).

Wouldn’t this be a fun neighborhood project to clean up all the inactive wells?

In a November Saturday Meanderings I did mention buying a Cashmere bag to protect the few cashmere items I own. With evidence of moth holes in one of my favorite sweaters, this bag is a worthwhile investment. See link here. It comes in two sizes and I bought the larger one.

Here is my feedback on this. First of all the size of the bag is deceiving. I can fit 3 sweaters, 2 large shawls and 1 scarf inside~and there is room for a few more things. The zipper goes around two sides for easy access. Will be ordering another one of these well-made bags for my husband’s items.

Before I wish you a wonderful weekend, I need to share these last few photos with you. As my son is making a snowman in Washington, DC, we are having spectacular sunsets. Hard to believe we live in the same country!

That’s a wrap. Be well and enjoy a restful weekend!

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In looking through the drawers in my art room, I find two tins of watercolor pencils that I have never used. Yesterday I took some time off from chores for a little creative time and I am excited to share using watercolor pencils with you!

Supplies you Need

My intention is to make something with a Valentine theme that can be used as a note card. And I want each note card to be a one of a kind piece made by me. Using 98 lb. mixed media paper, I use the 7″x 10″ size which easily folds into notecards. Get link here.

Experimenting a Bit

Since I have not used this medium before, I play around a bit with the colors and amount of water.

Just by adding a bit of water, look how these colorful scratches on paper transform. The amount of color is determined by how hard you press the pencil to paper.

So depending on how much water and how much pressure you put on the brush, that will determine the distribution and intensity of the color.

If you have too much water on your brush (and it’s important to rinse the brush in water between colors), you can dab it on a paper towel.

Creating a Design

Now feeling a bit more confident, I make a larger sample of what I want to create on a single sheet of paper. First, I sketch the heart shape and size I want. Then I draw in the leaves and the flowers. Sorry this is a little blurry. I forgot to take a picture of it and did a screen shot from my Instagram stories.

Next, I decide to just go for it and make 3 smaller note cards.

Each card is slightly different as I did experiment with flower shapes and colors. But for the most part they are similar and I think they look okay.

What makes this fun and easy is that you can draw what you like and then turn it into a watercolor painting! I have attempted watercolor twice before. If you would like to see a watercolor painting using gouache paints, click here.

Happy Wednesday!

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This post shared with Thursday Favorite Things #475 and Between Naps on the Porch Metamorphosis Monday #628.

Happy February! The next few weeks are one of my favorites because of all the pinks, reds and romance we see before Valentine’s Day. It’s not quite spring but it is fun to decorate parts of the house with Valentine’s Day decor.

The front porch is a good place to start. I am doing something a little different this year~keeping up my holiday wreath and just adding simple touches for February. Since it still feels like winter here, the evergreen wreath feels appropriate to stay right where it is.

I remove the red plaid ribbon and faux berries and replace it with a sweet 1.5″ pink polka dot wired ribbon that I found on Amazon here. I thought about using the pink and white striped ribbon that I used in the dining room over the holidays, but I did not feel like digging it out.

Using a pipe cleaner, I pinch the center of the ribbon tightly and then secure it to the wreath. I actually like the simplicity of the bow but add the wooden heart/beads also. It is okay, not great, but conveys a Valentine message. Beaded wooden heart found here.

The two faux cedar trees on either side of the front door get bows too, but again, not sure I like it (too cutesy?) or not. Let me know what you think. By the way, I am still loving these 5 foot topiary cedar trees. No water required and they continue to look good. Link to cedar trees is here.

A quick trip to Whitfill Nursery and I locate various pink flowers. Who knew there are so many shades of pink? From a coral pink to a deep purply-pink, Whitfill has quite the selection now. Two shades of pink geraniums, Latinia Rose cyclamen, pink petunias, and Lamium purple dragon beef up the front entrance with color.

So with just a few minor changes, the front porch now has a bit of Valentine’s Day decor.

Haven’t done much on the inside of the house but slowly adding a few touches here and there. Of course, I do like to bring out seasonal art and here is one of my very early paintings to celebrate Valentine’s Day.

The kitchen pastry shelf always gets a bit of Valentine color with my Wedgwood Wild Strawberry pattern tea pot and cups.

It’s a gloomy day here as I write this so I am ready to curl up with a cup of tea and a good book. Aren’t these heart shaped tea bags just adorable? I ordered them last year and trying to reach the resource to see if they are still available. Will let you know.

I hope you are having a terrific Tuesday! If you are in the winter storm areas, be warm and safe.

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Another week has come and gone! And it is nearly February~this year is already flying by! It’s been an exciting weather week here. I am so happy you are joining me today for Saturday meanderings to chat about all things new and wonderful this week.

New Beverages

Nothing better than a cuppa tea when it’s chilly and rainy. My sweet friend, Gabie from Tea End blog is my go-to person when I am seeking a new tea. She recently featured this one, The Wellness Tea on one of her blog posts. Ordering online is very easy and here are some of the claims this 100% organic herbal blend does to boost your daily balance:

• Immune System
• Anti-inflammatory
• Ease digestion
• Control blood sugar level
• Calming
• Cleanse
• Heart Health
• Energy Boost
• Improve skin health

Every afternoon I make a cup and add a bit of honey of Crozier honey. The tea package holds 30 pyramid tea bags. There is no caffeine, artificial colors or additives. See Gabie’s post here (photo above from Tea End Blog). To shop The Wellness Tea click here.

Our orchard is bursting with delicious citrus fruit but we are specifically enjoying our fresh tangerines. This Sidecar cocktail is SO good. Not only are you getting lots of Vitamin C, but I also add fresh ginger to the simple syrup. The bourbon is warming on these chilly evenings too. We are loving this tasty cocktail. Recipe is below.

Time to Prune

January and February are gardening months here in Phoenix. It is time to prune your fruit trees, before the spring growth starts to bud. This year I decide to prune the apple, peach, apricot and fig trees myself as I haven’t been happy with how they look.

In doing so, I discovered that our apricot trees have a borer which is creating havoc. I am in the process of reading up how to deal with these nasty characters as we have previously lost a peach tree due to these invaders.

Cleaning and Organizing Projects

There are no big or complicated projects on the horizon. But I am tackling smaller ones that take an hour or so each and every day. Does anyone hate cleaning out the freezer as much as I do? It would be embarrassing to show you the before picture, but here is what it looks like now. Hard to believe I threw out a lot of things.

Over 3 years ago, I converted a huge tv armoire to store our bedding and linens (see post here). It is finally messy enough for me to pull everything out and re-organize it all over again. Why can’t things stay perfect?

It feels good to get these things done as they are not overwhelming nor do they dominate my day.

More Antlers

Our sweet friends Sam and Kate, who provided us with the fabulous elk antler sheds (see post here), just sent us several deer antler sheds. I cannot wait to use them in different scenarios up at our cabin. Just a reminder that deer shed their antlers every year and no animal was hurt in the process.

Does anyone watch The Great British Baking Off? Well, we are watching the Masterclass episodes by Paul Hollywood and Mary Berry. They are addicting and the worst part, is that all I want to do is B.A.K.E. Recently I made cinnamon rolls with dried cherries, cranberries and walnuts with an orange glaze.

Then I had a hankering for brownies, but made these Black Bean and Avocado brownies instead. I know what you are thinking~black beans and avocado? Surprisingly, these brownies are rich and chocolatey. For this recipe I did add butterscotch chips vs. chocolate ones. Here is the link to Ambitious Kitchen for this healthier version.

Making Nut Milk

Several people find it surprising that I make my own nut milk. I cannot tell you how easy it is to make this. What I like most about it is that I get to control the ingredients. My fresh nut milk only lasts a week so I wonder what they put into commercially produced nut milk to lengthen the shelf life. The best and inexpensive helper to making nut milk, is a nut milk bag. You can find it here.

To see a post on how to make your own nut milk, click here.

iPhone Photos

A year ago I invested in an iPhone 11. There is probably still so much I do not know about it, but I do know that the camera function is excellent. Most of my photos are taken with this iPhone. Since improving my photography skills is ongoing, I take a lot of pictures. Here are some I took this week while walking the yard after the rain.

Our Weather

Since Phoenix has approximately 300 sunny days in Phoenix, we LOVE getting any weather that produces precipitation. With little rain this past year, it is so glorious to have all the rain (and snow) this week.

My friend, Louise, who lives in a more northern part of Phoenix, sent me this picture. Typically, her desert views are expansive but not only did it snow, but the visibility is nearly zero. Such a rare occurrence!

And we had 14 inches of snow at our cabin in the mountains!

Well, as we wrap up January 2021, I hope all is well with you and your family. So happy you are here today for Saturday Meanderings. Stay safe, healthy and warm!

It is very easy to make homemade granola. Plus, you can alter the recipe to fit your tastebuds and control the quality of the ingredients. This quick and easy recipe is perfect for breakfast, a mid-day snack or a gift to a friend. Many of the ingredients for the homemade granola you already have on hand.

The Ingredients

This recipe is inspired by one of my son’s friend’s parents. We would often take Christian with us on vacation~which was a total joy. His parents made a big batch of granola for us and it’s been a winning recipe ever since.

Oats, nuts, dried fruit, butter, spices, brown sugar, honey and vanilla is all it takes to make this easy recipe.

Some chopping involved

Measure the dry ingredients and chop the pecans. Anyone notice the polished thumbnail in the picture? Yes! I am taking care of my hands and seeing some vast improvement in January.

For nuts I use slivered almonds and pecans. However, you can add any nut you like~walnuts, pistachios, Brazil nuts. For dried fruit I use both cranberries and cherries. Did you know cherries are antioxidants and anti-inflammatory, high in Vitamin A, boost exercise recovery, benefit heart health, may help with arthritis symptoms, and improves sleep quality? Lately I am adding dried cherries to everything! For a nice selection of dried cherries, click here.

Mix!

Combine the dry ingredients together in a large bowl.

Melt the butter and blend with the honey and vanilla.

Pour the honey mixture in with the dry ingredients. Stir to coat evenly.

Bake!

Spread on two cookie sheets. You can either grease the sheets or use parchment paper. Bake in a 220 degree oven for 20-30 minutes until slightly brown. You can stir the mixture half way through the baking process if you want it more evenly browned.

After the granola has cooled, store in an airtight container. This should last about 2 weeks in the refrigerator.

You can alter the amount of nuts or dried fruit as much as you want. The butter/honey to oatmeal ratio is the more critical element. For this recipe, I add sunflower seeds, and both cranberries and cherries. For a trail mix, you could add M&Ms, raisins or chocolate chips.

Breakfast is always a bit challenging for me as I don’t have a big appetite in the morning. To see another easy oatmeal based recipe, click here.

I hope you enjoy this recipe and put your own twist on it. Have a wonderful Wednesday!

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