Saturday Meanderings

Happy Saturday from swampy Phoenix, Arizona! It’s been a week of heavy clouds, rains, lower temperatures and very high humidity (which is rare for us). But no one is complaining about the rain as we love every drop. The yard looks tired and is full of tree debris but thankfully the air conditioning and Netflix works! Thanks for stopping by today for another Saturday Meanderings, where we chat about all good things this week.

This Week’s Posts

I hope you had the chance to check out this week’s posts. There is a Christmas in July one where I make a holiday wreath with oranges and artichokes. But the added bonus is the 23 others in the blog hop that are sharing their Christmas ideas, tips and talents. Lots of good stuff in each and every one and you can find it here. Not ready to think about Christmas? Just bookmark it and revisit it when you are ready.

If you are as hot as we are here, then there is no better time to gather for ice cream. Check out the fun centerpiece and yummy, delicious ice cream social ideas. You can see it here.

Stormy Shades

As the monsoon storm systems are approaching, our sky is exhibiting some exotic colors. This one particular night, there is a purple cast to everything. Don’t you find that interesting? Colors in the sky, such as green, blue, purple and orange, indicate the presence of particles in the atmosphere, often caused by weather systems and cloud formations. It is beautiful and a bit eery at the same time.

Candles

I tend to stick with the same fragrance candles when I find a winner, like Blue Capri Volcano (truly my favorite). But my friend, Kim from Shiplap and Shells really likes the Antique Candle Company so I recently purchased a variety of scents.

The Antique Candle Company uses domestically grown, natural soy wax and premium fragrance oils. Right now they are seeking fall candle testers, where you decide the next fall candle scent.

I don’t get any commission from this company but I am seeking a candle that I love (in addition to Blue Capri). Candles make great hostess gifts or for that guest that drops by unexpectedly with a gift in their hands (yet you failed to include them on your guest list). Between now and the holidays, I am always looking for good candle sales and will pick up several to keep on hand.

Do you have a favorite candle? If so, please share. In the meantime I will be testing all these new ones!

Summer Cooking

It is amazing how little I use the oven during the summer. Most of our meals are salads or items that don’t require turning on the big appliances. This week I did cook a whole chicken using the rotisserie on the gas barbecue. For some reason, I don’t use this enough. Not only was the chicken so delicious, the roasting smell was intoxicating. Juicy, not dry and beautifully flavored, the chicken was perfect for our lunch over fresh arugula, accompanied by my cucumber dill salad. Oh my, I cannot wait to make another.

A few months ago, my husband purchased an air fryer and we are trying to learn to cook with it. A very quick and delicious dessert ~air fryer blueberry crisp is a winner. It took me minutes to make this and 12 minutes to cook. Perfect to use with all the great summer berries available now (even though the recipe calls for frozen blueberries).

Here is the link because in the comments are ways to alter the recipe to suit your needs. Ok, so I’ve made this twice this week~once with fresh blueberries and once with apples (had to cook it a bit longer) and added walnuts to the crisp part. Quite addicting.

Dusk Photos

I rarely take photos of our property at dusk and usually not this time of year. The yard looks tired from the heat and the storms have created so much debris. But with the weather being actually a bit cooler this week, I thought you may want to see what the property looks like this time of year.

The grass is burned out in parts and in some places I think we have more weeds than blades of grass. But come cooler weather, the yard will get a good cleanup and the plants will perk up again.

Forgotten Flowers

When I bought flowers for my ice cream social centerpiece, I couldn’t find what I wanted so I “settled” for alstroemerias. I don’t know why I consider these a lesser flower than say, roses or hydrangeas, but I do. They are sort of the underdog in the flower world for me. However, I am changing my mind because these flowers with their delicate petals are in full bloom. They add joy to the kitchen and last quite a long time.

Delicious Bedtime Drink

As I write this post, I have only made this nighttime beverage once, but I will do so again. This Bedtime Lavender Chamomile Vanilla Milk from Anna Marie at Some Time Place promotes relaxation and sleep. It is really delicious and this will become part of my bedtime routine.

I substituted oat milk as I didn’t have any freshly made almond milk. Regardless, it is yummy and soothing! You can find the full post and recipe here.

Do You Know Your Neighbors?

According to Nice News, knowing your neighbor is associated with a wealth of positive effects on wellness and community safety, but according to the Pew Research Center, the majority of Americans report knowing only some or none of their neighbors. In addition to having someone to hold a spare key for you, being connected to your neighbors leads to lower death rates during natural disasters and a greater sense of psychological well-being, particularly among older adults. So whether you’ve just moved to a new spot or have been dwelling at the same home for years, make a point of getting to know your neighbors.

Well, that’s a wrap for this Saturday. Have a terrific weekend as we roll out of July and into August.