Saturday Meanderings

After a few hot days, cooler weather-and our typical springtime in Phoenix- is back! Thankfully. I’m not quite ready for heat yet. I love having the windows open, the fresh air drifting through the house, and that sweet orange blossom scent floating through the neighborhood. Thank you for being here this morning and welcome to Saturday Meanderings, where we chat about all the good things from the week.

Sunnyslope Scamper

As you are reading this, my friend and neighbor, Tevia and I are out doing a 5 K this morning called the Sunnyslope Scamper. Sponsored by our local high school, all proceeds benefit the parent group, so it’s for a wonderful cause. And with this beautiful weather, it should be the perfect morning for a nice, brisk walk.

When my daughter Julianna lived here, we would do 5Ks fairly often. Now that she’s moved away, I only manage to sign up for about three a year. But this one supports our community, and I want to keep doing them for as long as I can. If I don’t put these things on the calendar, well…you know what happens. Time flies by and suddenly the opportunity has passed. Wish us luck! Maybe we will break some records this year.

The Family Room Project Update

Why is it that whenever you start on a remodeling or renovation project, something always goes wrong and suddenly the project becomes much bigger than planned? The removal of the cracked concrete flooring in the family room happened this week, but of course during the sawing, the power went out. John, my do-everything guy, initially thought he hit some old rebar. But no…it turned out to be a rusted metal conduit containing live electrical wires.

Fortunately, the live wire appeared to be feeding a floor outlet that we never use and is hidden under furniture. But it also seems that this rusted conduit may be the cause of the concrete cracks in the first place.

Then we noticed something interesting. The “mirror” crack in the concrete floor on the other side of the room also lines up perfectly with the other floor outlet. The electrician tested that outlet and confirmed there was no power going to it. So when John started cutting the concrete on that other side of the room, what do you think he hit?

Another live wire. This one was actually smoldering. Two breakers tripped and once again we had no power. It’s a little unsetting to think there was a live electric wire buried in the floor that wasn’t connected to anything.

Needless to say, the electrician will be back. And of course, none of the wiring in the floor meets current standards. We’re hooping there is an easy -and affordable- solution.

We’ve temporarily moved our evening TV watching to the pool house and are “camping out” there with Finn, who is not at all pleased that his usual place and space has been dug up and completely disrupted. Thankfully we have a comfortable escape from the ongoing construction chaos.

Next week, stone gets laid over the new concrete! Fingers crossed that this project will finally wrap up by Friday.

Super Easy Lemon Tart

My sweet little one-year-old Meyer lemon tree gifted me with nine beautiful lemons. I feel like a very proud lemon parent.

As you may know, Meyer lemons have a thinner skin than Eureka (the ones you usually see in the grocery store). They are actually a hybrid between a lemon and a mandarin orange, which gives them a slightly sweeter, less acidic flavor.

Cherishing my 9 lemon babies, I decide to make this super easy lemon tart and it only requires one large Meyer lemon. The recipe is below, but the only part that needs a little decision-making is the crust. You can use store-bought pie crust, a pre-made tart shell, or make one from scratch. My fall-back is Trader Joe’s pie crust when I’m not in the mood to make my own.

What makes this fragrant and light recipe SO incredibly easy, is that you put the entire lemon into a blender with a few other ingredients-eggs, sugar, butter, vanilla and one that one beautiful lemon-and blend it all together. Yes, the entire lemon goes into the blender.

Simply blind bake your crust ahead of time, pour in the filling, bake for about 35-40 minutes. That is it. You’ll end up with a delicious, bright, and flavorful lemon dessert. Interestingly, the recipe is called Lazy Mary’s Lemon Tart but I am quite sure some other Mary deserves the credit for this one! The recipe is below.

On Instagram

Pretty Watch Straps

Does anyone have a reliable resource with a good selection of watch straps for an iWatch? Seeing so many styles on Instagram, I am always a bit caution when ordering from an unknown source. I would love to know if you have had a good experience ordering and using these watch straps..

Typically I just wear the standard rubber bands and it’s time for a new look. Let me know your thoughts.

Aging Well

Since I will be turning the big 7-0 next month, I seem to be obsessed with the concept of aging in a healthy and sustainable way. This post from @thetonyfisherx states there are 9 simple tests that predict whether you will walk independently at 75 or need help. Yes, of course, I took the 5 minute test. Will you?

1. Balance on one leg for 30 seconds. If you cannot hold this position without wobbling or grabbing something, your functional age is already higher than your chronological age. Poor balance is one of the strongest predictors of falls or loss of independence after 60.
2. Stand up from the floor without using your hands. Sit cross-legged on the ground, then stand up without touching the floor or using your knees for support. If you cannot do this smoothly, your leg strength and mobility are already declining faster than they should.
3. Do 10 heel raises without stopping. Stand on one foot and raise your heel off the ground 10 times. Weak ankles cause the most age-related falls because they can’t stabilize your body when you step unevenly.
4. Walk barefoot on uneven ground for 5 minutes. Walking barefoot wakes up your nervous system and improves balance naturally.
5. Touch your toes while standing. If you can’t reach past your knees, your hamstrings and lower back have already lost significant flexibility. This tightness leads to back pain and restricted movement as you age.
6. Squeeze someone’s hand hard, as hard as you can. Grip strength directly correlates with overall muscle health. Weak grip means muscle loss is happening faster than normal, especially if you are over 40.
7. Get up from a chair without pushing off the armrests. Sit down, cross your arms over your chest and stand up using only your legs. If you need momentum or have to push yourself up, your leg muscles are weaker than they should be.
8. Hold a plank position for 60 seconds. If you cannot hold a proper plank for one minute, your core is too weak to support daily activities long-term.
9. Walk backwards in a straight line for 10 steps. This tests coordination, balance, and spatial awareness. People who cannot do this without looking down or veering off course have a higher fall risk.

If you are struggling with more than two of these tests, your body is aging faster than it needs to. The good news: all of these can improve with consistent daily practice.

How did you do?

Mary Must Haves

This 2-in-1 lemon squeezer is something I use nearly every day. Seriously. There is always fresh lemon juice in my cup of tea in the morning and a critical ingredient in making my favorite lemon salad dressing. It squeezes the juice out of lemons and limes. Purchased in 2017, it has held up to my rigorous use. Now 25% off on Amazon at $14.99. You can find ithere.

If you are in the market for the BEST blender, I swear by my Vitamix 5200. This professional grade blender has a 64 oz. container, a 2 HP motor, stainless steel blades, variable speeds and a 7-year warranty. With this powerhouse you can make soups, smoothies, ice cream and more. I easily whipped up this lemon tart filling in a matter of seconds. Tried and true, this is one incredible blender. It is 15% off on Amazon and well worth the price of $469.00.

Our lighted magnifying glass gets so much use each and every week. From reading very small print to getting a splinter out of your finger, this little tool is so helpful. It’s only $16.99 and is battery operated. I’ve had mine since 2023 and it is still using the same battery. You can find it here on Amazon.

Well, that’s a wrap for this week. I hope your weekend brings a little sunshine, something delicious from the kitchen, and maybe even a quiet moment to enjoy the beautiful spring weather. And, as always, stay safe out there.