Inspired by a blog post by KariAnne at Thistlewood Farms, I made this fun wool wreath this week. Probably the hardest part of this craft is finding 100% wool items here in Phoenix.

This project requires just a few supplies. Wool, wreath frame, scissors and glue gun. I don’t typically wear wool because it itches my skin, so I don’t have any sweaters or wool clothing in my closet. And due to our warm climate, trying to find these things locally is a bit challenging.

However, during my recent trip to the mountains, I luck out at a Goodwill store in Show Low. For a few dollars, I purchase a black and white houndstooth skirt ($6.00), a winter white jacket ($4.50) and a dark gray blazer ($4.50). And since checks and houndstooth are so trendy right now, I hope these three fabrics will do the trick.

Fortunately the clothing is too big for me so I don’t feel the need to add them to my wardrobe. First thing to making this wreath is preparing the fabric. In order to make wool into felt, you must do the things your mother told you not to do~wash the wool items in very hot water and then put them in the dryer.

As expected, the wool shrinks down to a thicker, more tightly woven material. Next I make a template of a leaf out of scratch paper, measuring about 4″ long and 1.25″ to 1.5″ at the widest point. Using the template, I cut the first few leaves from the material. After repeating this multiple times, I ditch the template and improvise.

In KariAnne’s tutorial, she uses an 18″ wreath wire frame. However, at Michaels the inventory is so depleted that I end up with a 24″ frame (with 4 wires). Depending on where you will use this wreath should determine the size you choose. Amazon has a very good selection of these wreath frames here. Also, selecting a smaller wreath size will be easier and faster.

Please make sure you have really good scissors, as this project requires quite a bit of cutting. It truly makes the job much easier. KariAnne’s 18″ wreath uses 70 felt leaves; and mine has approximately 190 leaves.

Applying the leaves is easy with a glue gun. Be very careful not to burn your fingers (as I did over and over again) with the liquid glue. Take the leaf and place the glue at the bottom. Pinch the leaf to the wire wreath frame, alternating fabric as you go.

Make sure you lay the leaves in the same direction. I found it easier to work ahead of the leaves vs. trying to tuck them behind each other.

I can honestly say I really did enjoy making this wreath. Think of all the possibilities for future wreaths~red, white and pink for Valentine’s Day; shades of green for St. Patty’s Day.

And this could also be a family project (exercising glue gun caution).

If you recall, my daughter, Julianna’s room is painted with a bold black and white theme. Here is the wreath hanging on her wall. To see more about her room with these sophisticated colors, click here.

And look how fun it looks in Elisabeth’s rooms with the orange walls! Just perfect for Halloween. To see more of this fun orange and white bedroom, click here.

If you are concerned with the felt leaves flopping over, you can secure them with a bit of glue. The larger the wreath, the greater the chance of that happening.

Using a smaller wreath frame will allow you to put in on a mantel or inside a bookcase. With the 24″ wreath frame, the larger size is perfect for hanging on a wall or door.

Some things to remember:

1. Try to get items that are 100% wool and with a tight weave. This prevents the edges from fraying after felting and cutting.
2. Use really good scissors
3. It doesn’t really matter if the leaf shapes are not exactly the same size. As you apply them to the wreath frame, they can be adjusted.
4. Again, be very careful with the glue gun. Squeezing the fabric around the wire wreath frame can cause the glue to ooze out and burn your fingertips.
5. Think of all the possibilities as far as color and design for this DIY!
6. Smaller wreath frame will take less material.

Have a wonderful Saturday! I hope to get out and enjoy some of this beautiful weather!

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It is the first of October and we are still experiencing warm daytime temperatures. I am hoping for the chilly fall weather to appear any day now! Just arriving home from a long road trip (and a bit behind), I am dusting off this older post. So for those of you who have been with me from the beginning, some of this will look familiar. For those who are new, this is a fabulous fall and winter recipe.

This recipe even won an award at a chili competition. So if you like a hearty meal with healthy ingredients, this is the one for you. And if you have a fabulous soup tureen, like the one above, put it to good use. Soup tureen is available in my store.

My favorite go-to chili recipe is Turkey Chili with White Beans.  It’s not hot and spicy, though you could certainly add heat to it.  This recipe is richly textured with flavors and is simple to make. I don’t recall where I found the original recipe but I’ve been making it for years.  When my son rowed crew in high school, I would warm up several batches of this on a camp stove and serve it to the athletes during the freezing cold regattas.

The Ingredients

Unsweetened cocoa and cinnamon, add to the depth of flavors. For the beans, I look for cannellini beans. An excellent source of iron, magnesium and folate, a single serving of cannellini beans provides more than 20 percent of the recommended daily values of these nutrients. They are also a good source of protein, providing more than 15 grams per serving. Other nutritional benefits include their low fat content and calorie count. Each serving contains only 225 calories and less than one gram of fat.

The preparation

All you need is a large pot and the ingredients below. Sauté the onions, add the spices.

Break up the turkey as it cooks with the back of your spoon.

Mix in the stock and tomato sauce and simmer for 45 minutes.

Serve it up in something pretty

Since this recipe makes 8 servings, it easily fills up the soup tureen. Served with a salad and a nice glass of wine, this makes a filling meal.

I garnish the chili with fresh cilantro, chopped red onions and a dab of light sour cream, but shredded cheese and avocado would be delicious too.

Individual pumpkin bowls are a fun size. I believe I may have purchased them from Williams Sonoma, but Amazon has a good selection here.

This recipe is terrific the day you make it. But it can be easily frozen into individual servings and reheated later. I promise you will LOVE this!

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How exciting to be part of the Traveling Teacup series. My dear friend, Barbara from Mantel and Table is behind this wonderful way for people to have a shared experience through her beautiful pink rose teacup. What started out as a photo challenge back in March, is now a lovely, civilized way for people to connect during this pandemic. This teacup has traveled far and wide and will continue to do so after it leaves Bella Terra. Stories are told and collected and I hope you enjoy this teacup’s visit to our historic home.

The Teacup Arrives

The teacup arrived at our gates lovingly packaged. I can honestly say I am feeling very responsible for the care and keeping of this cup! Look where it has traveled! Carefully I unpack it and feel a need to introduce this beauty to our home and life. Made in South Korea by Hankook China, this teacup and saucer feels a bit heavier than my other teacups. It has a fun circle handle too, so it is easy to hold. Somewhere along the way, someone names the cup, Tessa Rose.

The Morning Chores

To start the day, Tessa Rose tags along with me as I do my daily chores. But like for most guests, we pull out the red carpet. Such a beautiful teacup deserves a silver tea service (in my Store). And of course, fresh homemade apple cider donuts. The cider is made from apples from our tree in the orchard (my first time making cider). To get the donut recipe, click here.

After steeping two Twinings Lady Grey teabags, we head out to the hen house and garden. It is a beautiful morning with temperatures in the low 70s. While taking advantage of having tea while I work, I set up a small table just for me and Tessa Rose. I love how the early morning dappled light adds a slight blue cast to the photo.

Using my treasured linens, the table feels extra special for Tessa Rose. To sit and have a cup of tea listening to the clucking chickens and chirping birds is the ideal way to start a day…..in spite of the chores! To see the recent post on how I store an organize my fine linens, click here.

Into the Garden

Next we look in on the garden. Since I recently planted the fall garden, I am checking to see how the new plants are faring. Unfortunately, the birds got to my lettuces and greens, so a cover is applied in hopes to allow the chewed down stubs to grow again. My trusted companion and shadow, Sox wants to be part of the tea party.

Next stop is the hen house to feed and water the chickens. It’s a bit early but a few eggs are available for gathering.

On our way back to the house, I return garden tools to the potting shed. Here is my chance to show Tessa Rose our unique well tower. This historic structure, built in the early 1900s, is home to the original water well. The building is completely restored with a newer well water system. To learn more about this restoration, click here.

During the morning walkabout, I show Tessa Rose a quick peek at our guest cottage and pool house before we head back inside.

Just Hanging Out

Yesterday was a big baking day! Tessa Rose helps me gather items for my youngest child, Elisabeth. She is a sophomore in college and we hope to connect today so I can give her some goodies~homemade quiche, donuts, sourdough bread, a fall candle and some comfy jammies.

Next we head up to my art studio. A recent request from a friend to donate one of my paintings for a charitable event is a bit of a surprise. I need to pick one, frame it and hope someone will want to buy it!

Tessa Rose keeps me company throughout the day. She is by my side as I write more blog posts, pay bills, sort and organize mail and pack for a trip out of town.

Day is Done

After a busy day, and in the true Mantel and Table tradition, I thought I would try my hand at an evening cocktail with tea as an ingredient. Using my brother and sister-in-laws’ honey, chamomile tea, gin and fresh lemon juice, we make the Birds and Bees. This refreshing cocktail recipe is from Juan Coronado from The Bazaar, South Beach.

With a long day behind us, Tessa Rose is washed and packed away for her next adventure to Portland, Oregon. Many thanks for Mantel and Table for allowing me the chance to participate in this wonderful teacup adventure! Bon Voyage, Tessa Rose!

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Happy Saturday! Often after a very busy week, I just want to catch up with you on Saturday morning. In the past I have entitled these posts, Saturday Meanderings. I hope you enjoy these as much as I do, but I need your feedback. Please let me know if: 1) you enjoy Saturday Meanderings; 2) If so, should we name it something else; 3) or these posts are okay some of the time but not every Saturday. Thank you.

So many eggs

Our chickens are laying up a storm. We are getting about a dozen eggs a day! When I came back from the cabin there were 10 dozen eggs in the fridge. What better way to use up a lot of eggs than making quiche. So I made 6 spinach goat cheese quiches this week. Fortunately we have neighbors who like my cooking and we are so happy to share. Now I need to find a dessert recipe that requires lots of eggs!

Shopping

I am not a shopper. I tolerate online shopping but going to a store, shopping for hours? Not my thing. This week, however, I feel like I did find some unexpected treasures in my necessary travel stops. For a future DIY project, I went to Michaels and happened upon these fun versions of pumpkins. I scooped up the last 3 because I love their textures.

For another organization project I stopped by Target for plastic storage containers and found this cute pumpkin pillow. With the blue stitching. it goes well with my front porch fall decor. A happy purchase for $20.00.

During different times of the year, I typically buy the girls something to mark the season. I found these great smelling candles, Sugared Birch from Magnolia’s Hearth & Hand line at Target.

In order to make them extra special, I photocopied oak leaves, and then made a template for a gift tag. Using decorative paper, I cut out the leaf shape.

Using a sealing wax and a letter stamp, I affix the Happy Fall leaf to the tops of the candles.

Yard Sale

A realtor recently contacted me about an old historic home that may be going on the market soon. The pictures she sent are SO intriguing. In the interim, the owner is having a yard sale that may last for weeks.

Curious about this home, I did stop by and found some treasures. Check out these glasses I bought~8 for $10. They are perfect for a glass of wine!

I also scored these very cool candle holders which can be affixed to a wall or tree. A large French gathering basket is another bargain, as well as a long handled pizza peel and ornate iron brackets.

Traveling Tea Cup

This week the traveling tea cup arrived! I cannot wait to tell you all about this and will be sharing my story with you on Tuesday. My friend, Barbara from Mantel and Table started this wonderful idea in March. More to come.

Healthy Find at Costco

With the flu season soon upon us, I try to take extra precautions in building my immune system. To see my 10 Tips to Staying Healthy, click here. Costco now has these Suja Organic Immunity Defense Shots with turmeric and probiotics. They are filled with ginger and pack quite the punch, so be aware that they are not for wimps. However, I am game to try whatever helps to keep you strong and healthy. You can also buy them online through Amazon here.

That’s a wrap for this Saturday! As you are reading this, I am on a nature adventure near the Grand Canyon. Have a fabulous weekend and cannot wait to share my trip with you soon.

After being away at the cabin for 2+ weeks, I am feeling a bit behind in getting my garden ready for fall planting here in Phoenix. In looking over blog posts from previous years, my tardiness is self-imposed. I’m actually a bit early this year. Now it makes sense that the vegetable selection at the nursery was a bit on the light side. Well, by jumping ahead the good news is that Phase 1 of fall planting in the garden is complete. Better early than late, right?

Prepping the Garden

A few weeks ago, I pulled all the tired and scorched plants from the garden. Fresh, rich compost from our compost tumblers go into each of the beds while the garden awaits new plants. This is the garden rest period. A couple of basil plants and mint still remain, but most of the beds are quiet.

Here is my 2 cents on composting. We give Nature scraps and she gives us nutritious fertilizer. Garbage in, compost out. Such a great deal! To see my post on Composting 101, click here. Please, please, please try composting if you aren’t doing it already. Even the earthworms love this soil.

Best Nursery in town

All my garden/plant shopping happens at Whitfill Nursery. Truly, it is a joyful experience! If you haven’t been to the location on Glendale Avenue, I encourage you to do so. In addition to a vast selection of plants, they have a sweet gift shop in an old historic bungalow that is always filled with unique items. Shopping local is important and this family owned and operated business has been a Phoenix icon for over 6 decades.

Plant Selection

So this week during my trip to my favorite nursery, I buy the following plants:

11 tomato plants~Roma, San Marzano, Better Boy, Beefsteak~all certified Organic

12 Snowball Cauliflower

6 Green Broccoli and 6 Burgundy Baby Broccoli

2 Red Swiss chard~these are actually for the chickens

French Sorrel

6 Dinosaur (Nero di Toscana) Kale

Fennel and Italian Parsley

There is something exciting about bringing all these new plants home to the garden. I pack them in a wheel barrow and head to the back yard.

With gardening, unexpected surprises occur. Last spring is the first time I planted Shishito Peppers. I didn’t realize they are a perennial and both plants are in bloom again!

Prior to digging, I place all the pots in the beds. Typically, I will rotation plants in order to prevent soil depletion. Tomatoes tend to stay in the same bed to receive the most sun.

Having plenty of tomato cages is handy. As you may recall, I purchased more of my favorite brand of cages in the Spring. If you need tomato supports, these are a good quality and last a long time. My tomatoes this summer grew SO big and I was appreciative to have the cage structures to hold them up. Plus they break down to lay flat when storing. To see more about my Spring garden, click here.

Giving my fall garden a few weeks head start should produce some interesting results. Plus with the weather still being a bit warm, my tomatoes might actually do better.

Some garden maintenance

In the past we have used PVC pipes for frames to hold up shade/frost cloth or bird netting. This is easily accomplished by bending the pipe and shoving the ends deep into the soil. Such an affordable way to create overhead frames for the beds.

Now we are building a larger, more permanent structure that spans over multiple beds. Using larger PVC pipes and connectors, the frame will span over 2 beds. Here I can drape big pieces of shade/frost cloth over entire sections. This will allow me the ability to walk underneath to work in the beds.

Every year, especially after the grueling summers, basic maintenance needs to be done The perimeter picket fence is looking tired and requires a new coat of white paint.

Time to Clean Up

Having a garden doesn’t really take a great deal of time. Planting new starters is relatively quick, especially when the soil is soft, warm and ready to use. Water and then it is time to clean up.

Good garden tools need care and I certainly have ruined my fair share of them. Cleaning off the dirt and getting them stored for the next time, lengthens the life of the tools. Having a dedicated sink in the well tower for gardening is certainly a plus. To see my potting area in the well tower, click here.

There is something very fulfilling when the plants are tucked in for the night. I am dirty and sweaty and my fingernails look pathetic. But as my sign says on the picket garden gate, “Life begins in the garden.”

Do you have a fall garden? I know in many places, the crops are being harvested now and gardens will lay dormant for the winter. But a garden doesn’t have to be large. Containers and pots work really well for herbs and greens. Gardening is very fulfilling and takes many forms. Would love to hear your gardening goals and stories.

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Happy Saturday! My hope is that Saturday Meanderings is to have a conversation with you about odds and ends about the previous week. So pull up a chair and grab a cup of coffee and let’s chat.

Boy did this week fly by and it is a stressful one that I am happy to have behind me. Do you ever have one of those weeks that everything you touch doesn’t go smoothly? The planets feel a bit misaligned for me lately.

My goal of heading back to Phoenix this week from our cabin is delayed due to car trouble. Finding a big puddle of pink fluid under the car didn’t bode well and this creates a delay in my trip home. As I am writing this post, I am awaiting to hear the status. If I didn’t have a million things to do in the Valley, I’d love to stay here. But I cannot complain to have another few days in our beautiful mountain weather.

I did start a new project with hopes of sharing it with you today, but that too, did not go according to plan. Last month, I wrote a blog post indicating my desire to add more Scandinavian touches to our mountain cabin. (see blog post here). Well, the re-painting of this chest of drawers is my first real attempt to do so. Here is a sneak peak.

This cabinet has 8 drawers of varying sizes. I have 6 of the 8 painted as my dilemma seems to be the these two drawers that are different from all the others. The two center drawers looks like 8 smaller ones with 8 ring pulls. So long story short, I decided to wait for the new pulls to arrive before I determine what the painting design will be. And the pulls came in the wrong size and I was 2 pulls short.

So as of today, the project is stalled until the new hardware comes in….and for my next trip to the cabin.

Mindful Minute

Since this week held more stress than others, I am so grateful to have access to Mindful Minutes. If you aren’t familiar with this, I cannot recommend it enough. My friend, Chas (from Chas’ Crazy Creations) has daily exercises on Instagram to reduce stress and they are a minute long. But I can honestly say, the one minute of taking a break from the computer (or other chores) and doing her brief exercises and breathing techniques is a LIFE SAVER. Seriously, it is the best thing you can do for yourself every day.

In addition, Chas is such a kind soul. She is the type of friend all of us need. Please get to know her. You will be so delighted that you did. Here is her link to Instagram; and her link to her blog.

Someone or something stole my pears

Last year, lo and behold, I discovered we have a pear tree at our cabin. This tree NEVER produced fruit before and was shockingly, full of pears. This year, the pear tree is also producing a great deal of fruit. Until this week. It has two pears left. The rest of the pears are GONE.

It’s a mystery as the pears are not on the ground. They have just vanished. Does anyone have any idea why this would happen? Is there a local pear thief? An animal?

Naturally I am so disappointed because last year I made the best pear dessert, A Pear and Caramel Pie (see recipe here) and pear preserves. Looks like I will just need to purchase some pears from the Farmers Market.

Rosary Beads

I recently received a payment for some work I was subpoenaed to do for a law firm who is suing the City. Long story, but lots of nastiness involved. Since the check felt like dirty money to me, I spent it on a set of rosary beads. If you have been following me from the beginning, you know I collect rosary beads (see post here).

Seraphym Designs, based out of Santa Fe, New Mexico makes the most gorgeous original heirloom rosary beads. Each design is carefully handcrafted in the United States and contains replicated devotional metals that date between the 14th and 19th centuries. In 2015, Seraphym Designs was commissioned to make an original St. Serra rosary for Pope Francis during his visit to the US.

Not only does the founder, Arasely Rios creates rosaries but she also makes beautiful jewelry. If you are looking for a unique one of a kind gift (they have a wedding rosary), I suggest you visit their website. And now I feel like I took bad money and spent it on something good.

Drone Video on my last Restoration

Recently I was contacted by the owner of my last restoration remodel asking if I would give permission for the before and after photos to be used for a virtual historical home tour. Looking back at previous projects is such fun, as I forget many of the details over time.

Here is a 2:33 minute drone video that was done after the completion of the Willetta Restoration. I truly think it is one of my best renovations. Video created by Austin Ely. To see more information on this 1922 Jeffersonian home, please click here.

Thank you for all the great advice

I hope you read the blog post this week on rejuvenating my fabric pumpkins. So many people offered solutions to the bug infestation (thank you, bay leaves) and alternative filling. Instead of rice or beans which tend to get bugs, readers suggested pebbles and cat litter. Such great ideas and I cannot wait to try them.

Always love getting feedback from you!If you missed this easy DIY post, click here.

Beginners Blogging Retreat

As you know, I started blogging to keep a living record of life here around our historic property/farm. And for the first few years, I happily dabbled in it. Last year I attended my first blogging seminar and realized just how much I don’t know.

I set my sights this year to learn more, because if you are always learning you are always growing, right? Well, there is SO much to learn about blogging and who knew? I certainly didn’t. But what I have learned is that what works for one person who has been blogging for 10 years, doesn’t necessarily work in today’s social media saturated world.

So, a group of talented friends are putting together a Beginner’s Blogging Retreat and we are holding it here at Bella Terra. If you are interested or have friends who are interested, please click here.

The seminar is for the person who either wants to start a blog or is in the beginning stages. It will be a fun day here at Bella Terra with good food, new friends, great information with lots of personal attention. Plus there is a discount for those who sign up before October 15.

We know that in light of COVID the world can change on a dime, but we are limiting the class to 10-12. It will be held on our back terrace, which is outdoors and has plenty of room to social distance. And it will be on November 12th when the weather is glorious.

If this is your jam, we hope you will consider attending! Also, feel free to reach out to me if you have questions or concerns.

That’s All Folks!

Well, that about wraps it up for this Saturday. Hoping your week went well. Thank you all for joining me!The official first day of fall is just around the corner! As soon as I get to Phoenix, fall planting begins! Stay safe and healthy out there!

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