I hope everyone enjoyed the nice, long holiday weekend. Each year we head to the mountains where the July 4th holiday is extra special. Everyone’s cabin and golf cart is adorned in red, white and blue and there is a strong sentiment of patriotism and love for our country. And, I do feel like I got some relaxing in! Welcome to this week’s Saturday Meanderings, where we just chat about all good things.

I am always amazed at the energy and creativity residents put into decorating their homes and participating in the parade. From highly decorated trucks and trailers to innovate dance routines, the Bull Frog Loop parade doesn’t disappoint. And I think this year’s parade is extra special after a year of lockdowns.

Hosting a Brunch

Since our cabin is on the parade route, we always host a pre-parade brunch. With about 30 guests, I did rely on the same menu that I do every year. My egg casserole (here) and a blueberry coffee cake (here). Since we have a large rectangular wooden surface, I made this fruit/croissant board. Mimosas and bloody Mary’s add to the festivities.

Bringing the Dogs

This trip we did bring Cooper and Sox up to the mountains, and of course, it takes a few days for them to adjust to all the activity. But as you can see, it didn’t take Cooper long to dominate the sofa.

Our pocket beagle, Sox did celebrate his 14th birthday. Our sweet old guy can’t hear as well and his eyes are getting cloudy with cataracts, but he still has puppy moments.

New Baby Birds

Last Saturday, I did share this picture of a nest found in one of the large geranium planters. It’s been hard not to peek but I just couldn’t resist and yes, the birds have arrived!

Each morning, I sit on the front deck with my coffee and watch the parent birds fly back and forth with food for their babies. The marvels of nature.

Using Puff Pastry

Pepperidge Farm puff pastry is a staple in my freezer as there are so many easy recipes you can whip up at the last minute. This week I did try a tomato tart from Twigg Studio. With caramelized onions, goat cheese, thyme and lots of lovely tomatoes in a puff pastry, isn’t this tart beautiful? Click here for the recipe.

Having an additional puff pastry sheet, I did use up the rest of the goat cheese, sweetened with honey, and ripe apricots for this tart. Drizzle a bit of honey on the top and bake. Since I did this on the fly, I didn’t measure anything but in retrospect, I would add more honey as the apricots are a bit tart. 400 degrees for 30 minutes (but note: this is high altitude cooking here).

Personal Gourmet

For many years I use the services of Personal Gourmet. Locally, Chef Jimmy Watters delivers restaurant grade protein to our home. This service has been a life saver with being able to have chicken, salmon, steaks, fish, meatballs, shrimp and similar proteins always on hand. Individually shrink wrapped and stored in the freezer, I cook up what we need and only have to make a salad or provide a vegetable side dish for a complete meal.

This is such a convenient service, especially with our growing family or even now, just for the two of us. Before leaving for the cabin, I placed a large order with Jimmy and now I have both freezers filled with things to eat. Since I prefer to cook at home vs. going out to eat, I know we are getting high quality choices for lunch and dinner.

It appears that Personal Gourmet may be located in Californa, Texas and North Carolina, in addition to Arizona. For more information about this convenient and delicious service, contact Chef Watters at 602 -339-2059.

Finally Painting again

I haven’t picked up a paintbrush since my Christmas painting of our cat, Donovan. Yikes. For something that I enjoy doing, I cannot seem to be disciplined enough to make time for it. But, being at our cabin with a more relaxed schedule, I am able to start a new painting! This painting’s inspiration is actually an arrangement of wisteria and lilacs done by my friend, Barbara from Mantel and Table.

It is not done yet, but it does feel good to put brush to canvas.

Watercolor Tutorial

Danielle from Finding Silver Pennies is a talented artist and designer. In one of her latest blog posts, she has a tutorial on painting mini watercolor seascapes. The video is 6 minutes long, and it is a fun way to experiment with watercolor paints.

With limited supplies, I did Danielle’s video this week. I do not use watercolors very often but practicing with her guidance is a good start! See Danielle’s post and video here. Danielle and her son (a young and inspiring artist) sell their artwork and various items on the Finding Silver Pennies website. Check it out here.

If you are in need of a watercolor set, there is a nice selection here. It helps to paint on watercolor paper. And don’t forget watercolor paint brushes here. Happy painting!

Laughter Therapy

It’s fun to share a good laugh, but did you know it can actually improve your health? After a very long and challenging year, it’s more important than ever to laugh and be happy.

It is true: laughter is strong medicine. It draws people together in ways that trigger healthy physical and emotional changes in the body. Laughter strengthens your immune system, boosts mood, diminishes pain, and protects you from the damaging effects of stress. Nothing works faster or more dependably to bring your mind and body back into balance than a good laugh. Humor lightens your burdens, inspires hope, connects you to others, and keeps you grounded, focused, and alert. It also helps you release anger and forgive sooner.

As children, we used to laugh hundreds of times a day, but as adults, life tends to be more serious and laughter more infrequent. But by seeking out more opportunities for humor and laughter, you can improve your emotional health, strengthen your relationships, find greater happiness—and even add years to your life.

So go out there and laugh! It will make your face look younger too!

Cheers to you from the White Mountains of Arizona! Have a wonderful rest of the weekend.

If you missed my blog posts this week, see them below.

Thanks for joining me today for our DIY Monthly Blog hop. This month our focus is something to do with seating. Over four years ago, I did a DIY project where I repainted our outdoor furniture. Fast forward to today, and the pieces look as new as ever! Here in the Arizona sun, our outdoor furniture takes a beating. It is rewarding to know that this technique is still producing gorgeous results. Let me share how easy it is to refinish outdoor furniture.

The Before

Here you can see the metal frame of the lounge chair in its oxidized condition. Instead of being a dark, rich brown, the finish almost looks purple.

The pieces that need work are a lounge chair, a regular chair, a large ottoman and a round table. All these pieces are on our deck outside the master bedroom. The seating is rubber straps that do not require any work.

Supplies

I purchase 5 cans of Metallic Oil-Rubbed Bronze spray paint from Rust-oleum. There is something about the depth of this color that I love for outdoor furniture. You can find it here

If you have ever done a lot of spray painting, you will know how challenging and tiring it is on your index finger. With this handy attachment, spraying is so much easier.

The Comfort Grip attaches to the top of the can and the handle helps to apply the paint evenly. It is so inexpensive and well worth it! You can find it here.

After wiping down the seating frames with a damp cloth, I am ready to paint. Using large drop cloths, I lay the furniture down and spray the bottom sections first. I tend to spray paint my feet (or socks) so be aware of where the paint is landing!

You can see in this photo the huge improvement from a new coat of paint.

Since the stone top of the table is not removable, I carefully tape the edges with painter’s tape and make sure not to overspray the top.

Allow to dry according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Also make sure you look around the furniture for missed painting spots.

The After

Here is the furniture 4 years ago. Doesn’t it look clean and new?

Now here is the same furniture today. We did move the pieces to a different location on the covered portion of the deck. But even after 4 years of being outdoors in the Arizona weather, all the seating pieces still look good!

The spray paint did hold up beautifully. Actually, the only thing that has changed is the pillows are a bit faded now from the sun.

Outdoor furniture can be pricey but with a bit of maintenance they can last you a long time.

Now onto the DIY Blog Hop

Thanks for joining me today. Now onto the other bloggers who will share their seating projects!

Andrea from Design Morsels shows how to cover your office chair here. I need to check this out as my office chair is looking a bit skanky.

Allison from Darling and Dapper Life creates a DIY Farmhouse Bench here.

Chas from Chas Crazy Creations gives us a great tutorial on How to Clean a Sofa.

Tarah from my Grandmas House DIY has two favorite rocking chairs that she has updated. You can see it here.

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

This post shared with Between Naps on the Porch Metamorphosis Monday #649.

Well, summer is officially here (technically tomorrow). This week the temperatures are excessively hot. One day it was 59 degrees in the morning and the next it is 113. There isn’t much one can do but stay inside with the air conditioning. Now I think I am ready to get serious about summer. Thanks for joining me today for Saturday Meanderings as we just wander around discussing whatever!

Making Summer Different

After such a stifling year last year, I want summer this year to be extra special. Remember when we were younger and summer held an exciting kind of magic? That’s what I want to achieve this year and I feel a little late in the game. So if you have any fun and invigorating ideas please share. Lazy days at the beach, reading time every afternoon, no schedule, I’m all ears.

The painting above is my first attempt at using gouache paints. To see that post, click here.

New Recipes to try

I haven’t made these yet, but here are some new recipes that I think look so delicious. Half Baked Harvest is a great blog to follow as the very young and talented Tieghan Gerard puts forth unique and tasty recipes. Coming from a family of 10, Tieghan knows all about cooking for a big group. As a result, she is a successful culinary creator, book writer and continues to get culinary awards and recognition.

Her Peach Thyme Tarts (recipe here) on are my list to make this summer, as well as her Panzella Style Caprese Asparagus Salad (recipe here). To see all her amazing culinary creations, her website is here.

The Last of the Garden

With the sudden increased heat, the garden is looking a bit fried. I am sadly picking the last of the tomatoes and soon, it will be time to let the garden go fallow. But check out these Cherokee Purple heirloom tomatoes.

For dinner, these gorgeous tomatoes make a fabulous caprese salad with both fresh basil and mozzarella. I could literally have this every single day and not get tired of it!

Does Anyone Know?

I recently heard a story about a woman being followed by what appeared to be an unmarked police car with flashing lights. She dialed 112 to tell a dispatcher that she would not pull over until she was in a more populated area (like a gas station). The dispatcher said no police were in that area and that instructed the girl to remain calm and keep driving.

When I googled this 112 number, there seems to be some conflict in whether it is true or not. I did ask our law enforcement neighbor and he states it is a legitimate emergency number, but then other websites state it is false.

I did dial it on my mobile phone and the screen confirmed it is an Emergency Number. Just don’t know if anyone has used this?

Roman Shades

If you are looking for Roman Shades, Andrea from Design Morsels has a great post about sourcing affordable Roman shades. Andrea is my go-to person when I want more details on just about anything. She does a great job investigating and finding the best suppliers. Check it out here.

Simple Centerpiece

I am sure it is the heat, but I am all about simple, fresh and light in just about everything I do these days. We recently had friends over for dinner and instead of an elaborate centerpiece, I put pale lavender chrysanthemums in small juice glasses. These flowers are affordable, last forever and I continue to enjoy them this week.

Speaking of flowers, my June monthly subscription to The Bouqs.com did not disappoint. I just get roses now, because each month I am exceedingly impressed. Since they come directly from the grower (Ecuador this time), the flowers are so fresh.

Also, I am now an ambassador for The Bouqs so please, if you need flowers, I’d appreciate it if you would order through my blog. I will get a small reward from them and it doesn’t affect your price. You can find them here.

Dining Room Table problem

This past weekend we invited neighbors for dinner. Typically we eat outside on the back porch but the weather made us long for a cooler location. Typically I always use a pad on the dining room table beneath the table cloth. But I was in a hurry and didn’t think any guest would spill anything, so I just laid down a damask tablecloth. Bad decision on my part.

Since the table did look pretty, I left the tablecloth and flowers on until Wednesday. When I removed the tablecloth, I found this! Unfortunately, no one realized that some bourbon had splashed onto the tablecloth, creating very nasty damage.

A few friends and Google suggests using mayonnaise on the stain, so let’s see what happens. I just applied it to a small section and it needs to sit for a few hours. Wish me luck.

Attracting Birds

When I thought of planting sunflowers seeds, I did envision me cutting armloads of flowers to use in our home. However, what I am discovering is that sunflowers attract lots of birds. So I’ve have altered my romantic vision and am allowing the birds to just enjoy them. The peach faced lovebirds gather in flocks now in my garden. They love these flowers so much they do not mind if I am nearby gardening. Aren’t they beautiful?

One of my Favorites

Every Sunday, I faithfully read The Enchanted Home’s Seven on Sunday. Tina lists her seven favorite things and it is just pretty and informative. She loves all things blue and white and above is a picture of her home in Connecticut. I like it when we all share things we love or those who inspire us. Plus she is over “fifty-something” (I consider that a plus!) Check it out here and see if you agree.

Well, that’s a wrap for Saturday Meanderings. I hope the rest of your weekend will be filled with lovely weather and lots of rest and relaxation!

If you enjoy this post, please share on Pinterest.

Also if you missed any posts this week, check them out here.

A Summer Breakfast

DIY Patriotric Garland

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!

Has anyone else had a strange week? Is there a full moon? Anxiety levels seem to be up this week and I am SO happy it is the weekend. Happy Saturday to you and thank you so much for joining me for another week of Saturday Meanderings, where we chat about all things taking place this week.

If you have had a crazy week and missed my two blog posts you can see them here. The Room by Room series featured our master bedroom (click here ) and if you are thinking ahead to Memorial Day you can find patriotic table inspiration here.

A Week of Flowers

This week I received two beautiful flower arrangements. One from my blogging friends expressing their condolences about the death of my sweet aunt. This white themed bouquet is full of lilies, ranunculus and snapdragons. You have heard me rave about The Bouqs before and these flowers did not disappoint. Thank you, friends!

The next arrangement arrived yesterday from a local florist, Camelback Flowershop. Typically local florists tend to be expensive and the bouquets are underwhelming. But I must say this stunning arrangement from my sister, Joanie, is just gorgeous. The color combination of dusty pink with a soft orange is unexpectedly unique. Roses, tulips, wax flowers, ranunculus, stock, hydrangeas and pincushions create different textures and aromatic scents. Such a thoughtful gesture!

The sunflowers planted from seeds from Floret Farm are bursting in the garden now. A bit of a low yield, but I am so happy to see some results of my planting labor.

Recycling Flowers

This week I made another big batch of chicken potpourri with dried flower petals, lavender and calendula. Now that the weather is getting hot, we tend to see more bugs in the hen house. Placing the potpourri in the nesting beds does help in reducing the pests. Plus I think our eggs taste better when laid on a bed of rose petals!

Results of the Fast Metabolism Diet

Several posts ago I shared the book, The Fast Metabolism Diet by Halie Pomroy. This 30 day program allows you to eat a lot (3 meals and 2 snacks per day) without counting a calorie or fat-gram. There is a great deal of scientific information (which, quite frankly I skipped over) about the mechanics of the body and how the metabolism works. The purpose of the program is to keep your metabolism guessing in a very specific and deliberate way.

The author states you can lose up to 20 lbs. in 28 days and I do believe you can. Eating specific foods on specific days is the key (i.e. Monday and Tuesday, lots of carbs and fruit). Haylie also claims that not only will you lose weight but your cholesterol will drop, blood sugar stabilize, energy increase, sleep improve and stress melt away.

Actually, I did enjoy this program. I do not recommend it if you are traveling or on holiday. The challenges for me include eating every few hours, which is hard if you are on a plane or staying with friends. Do this program when you are at home and can control your environment. I didn’t lose 20 lbs. but I did lose somewhere between 10 and 13 lbs. (different scales). The recipes are tasty and fun. I am now off the program for 10 days and haven’t gained a pound….so I’m hoping this means my metabolism is fast again?

Going forward, I may do this the first week of every month because I do like the structure of it. If you decide to try this, please let me know what you think.

Did You Know?

According to an article published by theKitchn.com the best place to store cucumbers is….drumroll please……room temperature and not in the refrigerator. This is based on a study by University of California, Davis, which determined that cucumbers are sensitive to temperatures below 50°F. When stored at room temperature, cucumbers thrive and last longer. Stored below 50 degrees, they’re prone to developing “chilling injuries,” including water-soaked areas, pitting, and accelerated decay. No wonder my cucumbers don’t last long.

How Often to Clean your Sheets?

In a recent article by Food 52, the question is “how often do you wash your sheets?” According to the National Sleep Foundation, it’s best to wash your sheets once a week. Why? Because because your bed collects lots of stuff while you sleep ~sweat, skin cells, soil, food crumbs, makeup, dust mites… you get the picture.

Pillows collect the same icky stuff mentioned above so the recommendation is to wash them every 6 months (pillow cases weekly).

Blankets or duvet covers should be laundered 2 to 3 times a year~think seasonally. Time to do laundry.

Thinking Ahead to Summer

Remember when you were a child and school was finally out and you were so excited about summer? Those lazy, hazy crazy days of summer that seem to have lasted forever? I want to re-create that this year. It is so insufferably hot in Phoenix that most of the summer is spent indoors in air-conditioning. Though we do have some travel plans, I am longing for cool days at the cabin, easy brain-candy summer books to read and lots of watermelon.

Shortly I will be creating my summer reading list so if you have a book that is not controversial, not political, but a fun read (can be a mystery or thriller), please do share. And the goal is to start painting again! I don’t understand why I am not painting so getting motivated again is definitely a goal.

Well that wraps up this edition of Saturday Meanderings. After a controversial week, I am turning off my phone and just chilling. Cannot wait! Sending you big weekend hugs!

This past weekend I did do more window washing and tackled the job of cleaning the range hood. Using a newly recommended product from my friend, Andrea from Design Morsels, I am amazed at the results. A weekend of cleaning resulting in also doing some easy kitchen updates. But let’s start with this new product.

A great Degreaser

Andrea is the modern day Hints from Heloise (am I dating myself?). From her decorating tips to product reviews, I know I can trust that Andrea has done the homework for me. When she recommends Krud Kutter to clean your range hood, I immediately order some online. See here.

Our Dacor stainless steel range hood looks clean from a distance….until I spray Krud Kutter on it. Immediately the smell of old grease fills the air and much to my horror, the range hood is far from clean.

When I spray Krud Kutter on my Waterworks tile (again they look clean) the degreaser quickly does its job. At this point, I am just appalled.

In the range hood, I have 4 metal filters which I spray down and place in the sink. Thinking grease is difficult to remove from the mesh, I pour boiling water over the filters. You can see the difference between the dirty vs. clean part.

By the time I finish, not only am I pooped but what other items can I attack with Krud Kutter? Now that this cooking area is super clean, I want to mix things up a bit.

My Inspiration

I love art in a kitchen. However, I have so few walls that it is difficult to find a place for it. Inspired by a picture of Heloïse Brion’s kitchen, (author of Miss Maggie’s Kitchen cookbook), why not put art on the shelf above the stove?

Before and After

Here’s a picture of my cooking area before Krud Kutter. A bit cluttered and well-used.

And now here it is ~new and improved! Look at the clean hood and tile!

I know you are thinking that having original artwork about the stove is not practical…..and it probably isn’t. However, I did have such fun playing with the space and changing things up. Will I leave them there while I cook? No. But for right now I am enjoying the new look around the stove.

Scrubbing the scale and coffee bean container add to the shine.

By the stove I keep handy things for cooking on a pedestal plate~oil, seasonings, spices. Even the water faucet cleans up nicely!

The double ball boxwood topiary is from Ballard Designs and is one of two. And the twine holder with scissors can be found at the shop at Whitfill Nursery.

The paintings are done by me. The blue bowl and oranges is from a Kelli Folsom online art class. Since I do love chickens, this painting is just for fun.

There is something fun about re-arranging items in your home. It’s easy to leave things as is, but mixing it up helps stimulate my creative juices. I am enjoying my much cleaner kitchen and the new look in the cooking area.

Have a happy Wednesday and hopefully the warm Spring sun is shining on you.

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