Sunday is the official first day of summer, but school is out, gardens are growing and the weather here says otherwise. Even though it is a bit too warm to eat outside, that doesn’t stop me from wanting to create a cheerful summer breakfast table.

The Tablecloth

I am so fortunate to have this brightly colored vintage tablecloth from my Aunt Gail’s belongings. Since it didn’t appear to have been laundered for quite some time, I did wash it in cold water on a delicate cycle and then hung it on the line to dry. I love how the fabric matches the foliage! With a quick iron, the table cloth is clean, fresh and ready to go.

Vintage linens can be found in many thrift stores. The patterns and colors are so rich and beautiful. Even though there are many online, I personally like to see them in person so I can handle the fabric and view the colors. And they are so affordable. A few are for sale and can be found in my Store tab above.

The Dishes

Layering dishes gives the table setting some substance and I start with a buttercup yellow charger. These handpainted Italian chargers are from Pier 1 Imports many years ago. You can find similar ones here.

Next, of course is a blue and white plate. These are again, an old purchase from Horchow and each plate is a different pattern. You can find a similar plate from this incredible selection here.

For the smaller plate, I select a pretty gold rimmed clear glass on from Leslie Roy (no longer in business).

The Centerpiece

Since I love my tulipiere, it is the perfect blue and white vessel for the centerpiece. Filled with yellow bells from the yard, it is set off to the side in order to allow visibility between the place settings.

Not familiar with tulipieres? Click here.

I also add some daisies in small glasses for added color.

The Meal

Since this is breakfast, a gorgeous juicy Ruby red grapefruit is a great way to start. The mint garnish adds a bit of contrast.

Fresh lemon slices on the edge of the water goblet add just a bit more yellow to the table. The large size coffee mugs are a gift from my friend, Anne.

My homemade granola is sooooo good and you can find the recipe here. You can make it as is or add other ingredients…but it’s another recipe I can guarantee you will love.

Isn’t this just a summery setting?

Other small items complete the table. The mini pitcher is for milk for the granola and I like to have regular milk and oat or almond milk as alternatives. If you haven’t made your own nut milk (super easy), here is my recipe. And here’s a cute blue and white creamer on Amazon.

The sweet vintage place card holder is a gift from my friend, Janie. I didn’t use a place card as I think it is perfect just as it is.

This table is set in our living room corner near the east and south windows. Perfect light in the morning to have our breakfast and celebrate the summer season.

Do you have breakfast on the run? Often, that is the case with me. It is nice to sit down at a lovely table and actually take the time to enjoy this meal.

Have a wonderful day, my friends!

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

This post shared with Between Naps on the Porch Tablescape Thursday #664

We are already at the second week in June. Not sure I remember where March, April and May went, but they certainly flew by. Welcome to another Saturday Meanderings, where we discuss all the fun and good things happening around us this week.

Flag Day on June 14

Growing up, I remember celebrating Flag Day. Does anyone do that anymore? If not, I vote that we should. We have such a beautiful flag which is so symbolic of our country’s freedom.

So what is Flag Day? It is the celebration of the adoption of the American Flag on June 14, 1777. In the midst of the Revolutionary War, the first American flag was designed to represent the 13 colonies with 13 white stars on a blue field and 13 alternating red and white stripes.

in 1782, the Congress of the Articles of Confederation chose the colors for the Great Seal of the United States with these meanings:

• white for purity and innocence
• red for valor and hardiness
• blue for vigilance, perseverance, and justice

Personally, regardless of political differences, our flag always deserve respect and honor. If you need flags for Flag Day or July 4th, there is a good selection here. Happy Flag Day!

Vacation Dreams

Even though I love living here in Phoenix, I long for a vacation (or vacation home) by the water. There is just something calming about staring out over an ocean, an inlet or a large lake. Literally for years I have been dreaming about the perfect beach home. And then I saw this….

For sale in Cornwall, England is this tiny historical cottage on 40 acres and 1. 4 linear miles of coastline. If I only had a mere 1.75 million pounds laying around.

Called the Beach Hut, it is a vacation rental currently. In the 1920s it was a tea room as this is one of Britain’s top 10 geological sites. Once it is sold, who knows what will happen to it. Below is a picture of the interior. The cottage is one room with an open kitchen and wet bath.

How charming is this! I do love how the current owners decorate the space.

In looking up the rental schedule and it is not available for several months. It also comes with a boat house.

The Beach Hut is used for photoshoots, TV commercials and for film locations.   It’s also a popular stop for surfing champions. If you saw the Demi Moore 2006 movie, Half Light, this location is the star of the show. To read more about this cottage, Cote de Texas does an extensive review of its history and rental information. Click here.

A girl can dream, right?

Moths

I do not know if there is a correlation between the COVID lockdown and the increased population of bugs. In addition to the pests in the garden, I now seem to have an increased moth problem in the master closet. In a previous post I featured the Cashmere Protection Pouch I found on Amazon to protect my sweaters. You can see that here.

But I did want to take a more active role in reducing any future infestation of these pesky critters. BugMD Clothes Moth Boss traps use pheromone-infused glue to capture closet and cabinet dwelling moths that chew holes through your clothing and linens.

Using a nontoxic and pesticide-free method, insects are trapped in this cardboard tent for reliable, mess free control. Folded design keeps the pheromones from sticking to surface garments, shoes, or people.

The Moth Boss comes with a hanger so you can easily place them inside your closet near clothing. Add to linen cabinets, laundry rooms, and other areas where you suspect a moth infestation or if you want to prevent one.

These traps last 12 weeks and I’ve had them up for about 4 weeks. So far they seem to be working. I hope to order more for our cabin where I know we have lots of moths. You can order them here.

Moisturizer

I seem to struggle with finding the RIGHT skin care products. Personally, I wish there was a resource who knew all the products available, could assess my skin type, and then prescribe the right lotions, cleansers, masks, etc. When I go to a department store, I know the employees are incentivized to sell certain products and often, find they are just not right for me.

A recent American Express offer put a $50.00 credit toward a Peter Thomas Roth product. Needing a moisturizer for our hot summers, and being practically free, I did order the Water Drench Hydrating Moisturizer. This concentrated 30% Hyaluronic Acid Complex cream provides up to 72 hours of hydration—even after cleansing. 

I have been using it for a week now and I must say, I am so pleased. It is as if I can hear my skin gulping it up. The product is so hydrating and its description of being a “cloud cream” is spot on. Will keep you posted on this, but I can honestly see and feel a difference. If you are interested in this product, you can find it here.

Does anyone use Peter Thomas Roth products? If so, please let me know if I need to purchase others.

Apricots

Typically this is the time of year I would be harvesting LOTS of apricots. But after a significant whacking off of the branches in the late winter, we had minimal fruit this year. The trees look healthy but I’m sure reducing them by 50% is a shock to their system. However, the few I harvested are delicious.

Apricots are in season and this recipe is one of my favorites. It is a Martha Stewart one and the combination of the almond crust, Amaretto flavored custard and sweet, juicy apricots is a winner. Made two of these tarts this week. See the recipe here.

Another very simple use for apricots is a rustic tart using pie crust. If you don’t want to make your pie crust from scratch, I love Trader’s Joes frozen pie crust as it is the next best thing. Just toss the fresh apricots with some sugar and a pinch of salt. Place in the center of the crust.

Pinch the pie crust up and over the edge of the apricots and bake at 350 degrees for approximately 45 minutes or until it looks like this.

Serve warm or cold with whipped cream or ice cream or a drizzle of Amaretto! So easy, simple and delicious.

Cooper

Our sweet and very large dog, Cooper is recovering from an injured paw. His right pad is raw and tender. Of course, excessive licking hasn’t helped either. We tried cleaning it out, but all 120 pounds of Cooper did not enjoy that. Currently, we have ointment and a gauze pad wrapping the area. Trying to keep him from removing it with a white athletic sock. He is not happy about any of this. Cooper is the all white version of the Anatolian Shepherd, called an Akbash.

This week Cooper ran to our south wall to see his dog friend next door. When he was out of sight, I heard this loud body slamming noise. I ran to see what happened and Cooper looked disoriented, dazed and kept shaking his head. I don’t know what happened, but we are keeping an eye on him. Wonder if he flipped over and hit his head? He does seem much better but dogs are like children, you constantly worry about them.

This Week’s Posts

If you missed any posts this week, here they are:

How to Make a Garden Obelisk here

Father’s Day Gift Guide here

Have a wonderful weekend. We are enjoying lovely morning and evening weather here. However the prediction is that our true summer heat will be making an appearance next week. Summer is upon us!

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

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!

Memorial Day weekend is less than two weeks away. Not only do I love the patriotic colors of red, white and blue but this is one American holiday we should all respect. Memorial Day is observed on the last Monday of May, honoring the brave men and women who died while serving in the U.S. military.  This year Memorial Day is Monday, May 31st.

Here are some ideas on how you can recognize this holiday at your table, while enjoying the freedoms we share.

Layering

This blue and white Indian block print tablecloth is perfect for the base of your table setting. I just love this shade of blue and the detailed pattern at the edges. Purchased through Days with Daviny – Instagram @dayswithdarviny.

If you are not familiar with Hester & Cook, they have so many lovely tabletop, party, stationery, and gift wrap items. See their website here. The paper die cut red Swiss dot paper placemat is a wonderful choice for not only a patriotic tablescape, but also for Christmas, Valentines Day and summer in general.

What is nice about a paper placemat is that is also protects the table cloth from getting stained. I am branching out and trying to do more pattern combinations with my place settings. It’s not without a bit of trepidation, but is fun when it all comes together.

The blue ceramic chargers are a long-ago purchase from Pier 1 but Amazon has an amazing and affordable collection here. The sweet flowered plates are a gift from my friend, Sandy. Made in Cauldon, England by Brown Westhead Moore & Co. between 1904-1920, I love the hand painted rose floral pattern.

A simple centerpiece of apples in an 1815 Meissen Blue Onion pattern serving bowl (for sale in my store) completes the patriotic look. Wine glasses are Waterford and the silver-plate flatware is from Oneida, Ballard Country Lane.

Additional Ideas

More ideas for your Memorial Day table. Here is another Hester & Cook item~a 20″ x 25′ red and white striped paper table runner. Instantly you have a big pop of color and by adding vintage blue plates from Etsy, you have a patriotic table. To see more details on this table setting, click here.

Often we are at our cabin in the mountains for Memorial Day. At that location I do not have access to as many dishes or linens. But, after quick trip to Walmart, you can make a lovely patriotic table utilizing what you find. To read more about this disposable table setting, click here.

Happy Wednesday! I hope you now have some inspiration to create a patriotic table for Memorial Day (or Flag Day, July 4th and Labor Day). In spite of all of the division and problems our country faces, it is still the best place to live.

Lately I have been craving zucchini….go figure. I’ve been lightly sautéing it in butter with salt and pepper and just eating bowlfuls of it. However, I still have more in the refrigerator and decided to whip up an old favorite, zucchini lasagna. This low-carb dish is a repeat meal at our home and it freezes well too.

With the balance of the zucchini, I thought I would try Ambitious Kitchen’s recipe for Grain-Free Chocolate Chip Peanut Butter zucchini bread.

Making Zucchini Lasagna

I tend to stray from recipes based on what I have in the fridge. Sometimes I make it without meat and sometimes with either turkey or ground beef. Since we are cutting down on our red meat consumption, this recipe also works well with ground turkey or chicken.

Quite honestly, anything smothered in tomato sauce and cheese is very edible in my opinion. For this recipe I am using 1 lb. ground turkey.

First I slice the zucchini really thin….it helps if you have a mandolin where you can adjust the blades. Arrange the zucchini in a colander and sprinkle each layer with salt. Set the colander somewhere it can drain.

After sautéing the onions and garlic in olive oil, I add the turkey. Turkey tends to be bland so here is where you want to step up the seasoning.

I add onion powder, garlic powder, Worcestershire sauce, red wine, salt, and pepper.

For the tomato sauce, I used up all the leftover sauce in the refrigerator and also added some roasted tomatoes I made last week. This is another worthy “clean out the fridge” recipe. To see another recipe where you use whatever you have in the refrigerator, click here.

Since my container of ricotta was opened and not completely full, I added some leftover cottage cheese, slightly beaten egg, and some spinach.

In a greased casserole dish, layer the bottom with the half of the tomato/meat sauce.

The next layer is the zucchini but I blot it first with paper toweling as the salt makes the zucchini “sweat”.

Using the ricotta mixture, spread that on top of the zucchini slices.

Top with cheese. I didn’t have any mozzarella, but I did have Monterey Jack.

Now repeat the entire process again, starting with the tomato/meat sauce on top of the shredded cheese.

Top the final layer with the Parmesan cheese. Cover the casserole with foil and bake in a 325 degree oven for 45 minutes. Remove the foil, increase the temperature and bake another 15 minutes (or longer to get the top brown and bubbly).

Any leftovers freeze well. I am always delighted when I am starving and I find a serving in the freezer waiting for me.

Grain-Free Chocolate Chip Peanut Butter Zucchini Bread

Since I already had all the ingredients this went together very quickly.

It feels a bit like cheating to have vegetables in your dessert, right? But zucchini provides a rich texture and moisture in this low-carb, nutritious recipe. Click here for the direct link to Ambitious Kitchen’s recipe for this.

Below I’ve included the recipe for the lasagna from All Recipes. However, again, I tend not to follow it completely but it does provide a guideline for quantities and ingredients. I believe you can add and subtract ingredients and it will still taste fabulous. A recipe that is flexible is my kind of recipe.

Happy Wednesday! Eat your veggies! And stay safe out there.

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Between Naps On the Porch Tablescape Thursday #623

Charming Houses and Gardens

To Gramma’s House We Go DIY Link Party

First of all, I want to thank you for the all the words of support about the death of our cat, Tippy. I still wait for her to hop up in my lap at night and I know that will take some time to fade.

Back to School

Yesterday, we moved our youngest daughter into her first apartment as she begins her sophomore year in college. Naturally, she is nervous and excited all at once which resulted in some eye-rolling and impatience, but I am used to all of that by now. To see my empty nesting post last year, click here.

Check out the very cute refrigerator I found in the Back to School catalog at Home Depot. I feel like I’m becoming a Home Depot groupie.

Cooper, Cooper, Cooper….

My last trip out of town, I received the above photo from my daughter, who was at home housesitting. Cooper, our Akbash, experiences anxiety when there is a change in his routine. The way he shows us his displeasure on leaving him is to chew up the down sofa cushion. I love how Elisabeth uses duct tape to try and keep it together. Sigh.

Not only were there feathers everywhere in the house, but also out in the yard. I still feel like I’m coughing up a feather every now and again.

After 3 hours of hand stitching the inner section, I finally reconstructed the cushion. We desperately need a new sofa, but who wants to make a large investment into something new, if Cooper thinks this is his chew toy.

A New Time Saving Product

Have you seen these grill mats? After deep cleaning the BBQ, my husband discovered these Kona grill mats. I was skeptical at first, but was very pleased with how they work. In addition to keeping your grill clean, the meat still has sear lines and this doesn’t change the cooking pattern.

With a sink right next to the grill, I just drop the mats in and easily wash them. We have had good luck using these.

My Stylish French Box

Quarterly, I treat myself to Sharon Santoni’s My Stylish French Box. Sharon lives in France, writes a beautiful blog, and one of these days, I would love to sign up for one of her brocante tours.

This subscription is a luxury as every beautifully-wrapped, sweet-smelling box is delivered straight from France to your door. This box always seems to arrive when I need a joyful boost. If you need a lovely gift for yourself or someone else, here is the link.

This quarter’s theme is entertaining and includes:

a deep blue stoneware oil jug by Digoin, a chic set of salad servers by Sabre, a delicate linen embroidered table runner by Charvet, beautifully wrapped 9 Lucienne beeswax candles by Apis Cera, a mustard pot by Pommery, a melamine service tray from Au Bain Marie, an antique brooch, a roll-on lavender oil and a resident artists’ botanical.

In addition, I entered a contest with them and won an additional August box, which I sent to my sister, Susie for her birthday!

Our Weather

This summer, like several other places in the US, we are experiencing record breaking temperatures. The National Weather Service is declaring an excessive heat warning until Thursday. For the last month, we have been in triple digit heat, every single day.

Last night, my oldest daughter and I were in Tempe, about 30 minutes away and got caught in a huge storm.

I felt like Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz as debris and signs were flying across the road and bouncing off the car as we attempted our way home. The monsoon winds hit in full force, with lots of lightning but little to no rain. The visibility from the dust made getting home really treacherous.

Does anyone else feel like God is trying to tell us something this year?

Easy Desserts

When I was in Waco in June, I met Sherri from Mad Dash Mixes. Sherri and her daughter catered one of the meals at the seminar. The creamy tomato basil soup she served was delicious and of course, Sherri and I became fast friends. To read about my visit to Waco, click here.

As a result, she let me take several samples of her Mad Dash Mixes. These pre-packaged, time saving mixes can be used numerous ways. I am now just experimenting with a few, but so far, I am very impressed.

Using their plain cheesecake mix, I added softened cream cheese and freshly whipped cream. Layered in a glass with fresh strawberries and a dollop of whipped cream, this is a very easy, quick summer dessert.

The selection ranges from soups, dips, desserts and marinades. What a great gift for the holidays and if you are innovative, there are many ways to substitute ingredients and use them in recipes.

Happy Tuesday! Yesterday, I finished stenciling the very last tile in the pool house bathroom floor. I cannot tell you how happy I was, especially after spending hours wedged between the toilet and the wall to get those pesky ones done. Now 2 coats of polyurethane and I then I am F.I.N.I.S.H.E.D.

Stay cool and safe wherever you are!