Saturday Meanderings

I cannot believe we are already at the next-to-the-last Saturday of October! I know we spent most of the month traveling, but c’mon…how can it be nearly over? Thankfully, we are HOME for a while, and I cannot tell you how grateful I am for that. Getting back into a routine sounds absolutely marvelous right now. There is something so comforting about sleeping in your own bed, catching up around the house, and simply being home. So, let’s settle in for our usual Saturday tradition and chat, catch up, and meander through all the good things this week has to offer!

A Tight Turnaround

As you know, we returned from our international travels last Friday at 3:00 a.m.! We were home just long enough to catch a couple of winks and tackle the laundry before boarding a plane on Saturday morning for California. We were headed to the wedding of our son’s dearest friend, Max, and his lovely bride, Catherine.

The wedding took place in Los Gatos, California, a charming and delightful walkable town. The ceremony and celebration were held at Villa Montalvo, a spectacular historic estate that has evolved from a private home into a public park and event venue. What a beautiful setting for a wedding.

After indulging a little too enthusiastically in the spectacular food and drink on our travels, I had one small concern: would I still be able to fit into the green sequined gown I’d purchased for this occasion? With the dress code being black-tie optional, it seemed like the perfect choice for a fall wedding.

Thankfully, the fabric had a bit of stretch, and I managed to get into it and feel appropriately dressed for this beautiful venue! Please check out this fehaute.com website-so many gorgeous outfits at reasonable prices.

It was wonderful to see old friends, meet new ones, spend time with our son and his new wife, Delaney, and celebrate the love between Max and Catherine. And it was extra special, as Benjamin was the best man (and delivered an amazing toast!).

We also had the chance to reconnect with so many of Benjamin and Delaney’s dear friends from high school and college. There is something especially heartwarming about gathering with people who have shared so many chapters of your family’s life and seeing those friendships continue to flourish.

Yet Another Trip

Since this was a Sunday evening wedding, we were back on a plane to Phoenix Monday morning. We stayed home on Tuesday, and then on Wednesday, we (including Finn) hopped in the truck and headed up to our mountain cabin to retrieve our many pots of geraniums.

This is a twice-a-year ritual, transporting the geraniums between Phoenix and the mountains as the seasons change. To protect them from winter frost at our 7,500-foot elevation, they’ll spend the colder months here in Phoenix.

What we anticipated would be a quick overnight trip turned into an unexpected two-and-a-half day extension, thanks to some truly unbelievable weather across this part of Arizona. We experienced everything from tornado and flash flood warnings to lightning, thunder, torrential downpours, and hailstorms…nearly non-stop. At one point, I wondered whether we should start building an ark!

Thankfully, we were finally able to make the drive back to Phoenix yesterday beneath blue skies and big, fluffy white clouds. After all the travel, wedding festivities, and weather drama, we are happy – and at long last- home!

My Autumn Fix

Having been born and raised in Connecticut, autumn will always hold a special place in my heart. I have such fond memories of leaves turning brilliant shades of yellow, orange and red, playing in piles of fallen leaves, going apple picking with my family, sipping fresh apple cider, and transitioning my wardrobe from summer to fall and winter.

There is something magical about the sights, smells, and traditions of the season. Here in Phoenix, we don’t experience autumn in quite the same way. The closest thing we have to fall color arrives closer to Christmas, when the beautiful ash trees lining our streets turn a gorgeous shade of yellow before dropping their leaves.

So, being somewhat weather-trapped at the cabin for the past couple of days turned out to be a gift. It gave me the opportunity to experience a little taste of the autumn I’ve always loved. During one particularly stormy afternoon, we settled in with hot cocoa and popcorn in front of a roaring fire. During another storm, I made an apple pie using the apples from our neighbor’s tree, which were rain-washed, perfectly ripe and ready to be picked.

For two days, life slowed down. We bundled up, watched the rain and hail fall and the leaves drift from the trees, and simply enjoyed being cozy indoors while autumn put on its show outside.

Sometimes, an unexpected change of plans turns out to be exactly what you need. These quiet, unhurried days at the cabin really fed my soul.

My Rose Garden

During the very little time I spent at home this week, I managed to sneak in a visit to my rose garden. Typically, after enduring our long, hot Phoenix summer, the rose bushes look a little weary, and the blossoms tend to be smaller than usual. But I was delighted to discover some beautiful blooms ready to be enjoyed. I cut a small bouquet and brought it indoors, where I could appreciate their vibrant colors and wonderful, deep fragrance.

Did I mention that we’ll be hosting a wedding here at Bella Terra in January? We’re excited to give the property a little extra attention and spiff up the yard in preparation for this special occasion.

Our winter grass was recently planted, and it is already such a beautiful, lush green. Honestly, it look like Ireland! Over the next couple of months, we’ll be tackling various outdoor projects and refreshing the gardens and grounds to make sure everything looks its very best by January.

There is always something to do around here, but having a special celebration on the horizon makes these projects even more exciting!

Mary’s Must Haves

After worrying about whether my green dress was going to fit or not, I thought it might be a good idea to have some garments on hand to help add some support. I’ve never purchased anything from Spanx, however, they are having quite the sale now until October 26th. It appears the sale is up to 80% off for the Closet Edit, which covers everything from clothing to exercise clothes to undergarments. Might be worth checking out if you want some new things for your wardrobe. Click here for the link. Please share if you use Spanx items~I need help!

Have You Tried Stitch Fix?

I recently decided to give it a try, mostly because I wanted to update my wardrobe but truly hate shopping for clothes. The idea of having a stylist select pieces for me sounded intriguing, and I must say, I’m pleasantly surprised! Plus I really appreciate that they make it easy to return items that don’t work for you.

I love that I’m receiving items I probably wouldn’t pick up or even consider on my own. It’s been fun stepping outside my usual style comfort zone and trying on some new looks. Who knew a little fashion adventure delivered right to my door could be so enjoyable? I’m curious to see where this takes my wardrobe!

If you are unfamiliar with Stitch Fix, you can check it out here. By using this link, you get $25 off your order. You can cancel anytime too!

What a week it has been! From a beautiful wedding in California, unexpected weather delays, a much-needed autumn fix and finally a little time to enjoy the roses at home, it’s a reminder that life rarely follows the schedule we have in mind. I hope you have a wonderful weekend, enjoy a little change of season wherever you are, and find time to do something that feeds your soul. Until next time, happy Saturday!