Saturday Meanderings

Our plans to head up to our mountain cabin for the Memorial Day weekend fizzled out so we are here sort of enjoying the hot summer weather in Phoenix. With the garden in full production, and no one to house sit, it makes sense just to stay home. Although I dream about vacationing at home, that just never happens! Too many projects looming around the house. Welcome to another Saturday Meanderings post where we chat about all good things. It’s been a fun, busy and joyful week.

From the Garden

Being raised by post-Depression parents, we learned early on not to appreciate everything and not to waste anything. Of course, the garden is at its peak production now~tomatoes, zucchini, artichokes, peppers. Another week or so and the peach tree will have given us all its fruit. Since there is only so much you can eat, I am canning or preserving the rest.

This week I made fresh tomato sauce (picked 15 lbs. of tomatoes one day), peach salsa and zucchini relish (which I have never had before~thank you, Karleen for the recipe), peach pie and roasted tomatoes.

Speaking of peach pie, if you read my post on Wednesday about making the perfect peach pie, this recipe is truly a winner. And here is the picture as promised, of the pie after cutting a slice.

Around the Property

Despite the heat, the yard is still looking great. Our yellow bells this year are packed with blooms filling the air with sweet scents.

This prehistoric looking succulent plant is a Pedilanthus macrocarpus, also known as a Lady Slipper. The mostly leafless, lime green willy-nilly stems produce small flowers that look like a lady’s slipper in the fall and spring. It loves the heat and is extremely drought resistant.

Check out our Sago Palm. While “palm” is part of their common name, sago palms are not really palms at all. They’re cycads, a group of seed plants with ancient roots related to cone-bearing conifers.  (Note: I didn’t know any of this prior to writing this post). I always thought it was a fern. It is also known as a Japanese funeral palm as the leaves are used in funeral arrangements.

What is so interesting about this plant, which dates back before dinosaurs, is the way new leaves appear. It goes from this:

To this:

Isn’t this just a beautiful, symmetrical photo of nature? As the fronds grow they fall open. I don’t know how often the plant reproduces like this, but I am happy to capture it.

The asparagus fern in the Haddenstone Eastwell Urn seems to grow well all year long and you can see the large yellow bell bush in the background.

As the hollyhocks die, the canna lilies are now in full bloom. They must love the heat. I truly do nothing to the plant and it produces beautiful, spotted flowers this time of year.

Kim from Shiplap and Shells

In early April, a few of my blogging friends came to Phoenix for a few days. Kim from Shiplap and Shells just wrote a beautiful post about her visit here. She takes amazing pictures and I was so delighted to see some shots she took (like the one above of the garden in the evening) during her visit that I hadn’t seen before. Check out her post here.

What To Do?

I really need some help here. On our front terrace, I noticed 2 rather large wet spots. At first I thought something was leaking, but the wet stains remain there, in spite of our hot temperatures. Finally, I asked my husband about this and he said that two of the battery operated candles melted in the heat.

I have NO idea on how to remove candle wax that is imbedded into the scored concrete porch floor. The two stains are quite large too. Has this happened to you? Does anyone have a solution?

Penhaligon

Have you ever heard of Penhaligon perfumes? I know nothing about these perfumes until I read the blog post from Between Naps on the Porch this week. Since I don’t believe I will do a good job describing this very unique experience, you must see it here. You can explore the Penhaligon’s website and have an interactive experience with a mansion and a museum. Apparently there is a secret room where you find perfume to buy.

Since I don’t do anything interactive on my computer, it is a very clever way to explore their perfume line. Yes, I bought two fragrances (such pretty bottles) and hopefully will be happy with my decision when they arrive.

A New Chapter

We received fabulous news this week. Our eldest, Benjamin, is heading to graduate school in the fall. He will be attending the University of Chicago Booth School of Business. Chicago Booth is the 2nd oldest business school in the country and is rated the #1 business school by U.S. News. The best part for me is hearing the excitement in his voice as he embarks on this new chapter in his life.

Even though this is a somber holiday, enjoy your Memorial Day weekend.