Even though the ground hog states we are getting an early spring, it still feels like winter here~cold, rainy, and windy. Below is a stunning picture my neighbor shared of a rainbow after Wednesday’s storm. The mountains are getting lots of snow and with this colder weather, soups and stews are on the menu every day. Happy weekend and welcome to another edition of Saturday Meanderings, where we chat about all good things.

Baby Chicks

After 3 plus weeks in a cage on the breakfast room table, the 15 new chickens are ready to go out to the hen house. Baby chicks are so cute the first week or so, but by week 3 they get a little fragrant.

Since we designed the hen house (see hen house post here) to have a separate section for new chickens, we did some work this week getting it ready for their arrival.

In this section of the hen house, all the hay is removed and the floor, roosting perch and laying boxes are thoroughly cleaned using a steam cleaner. This small portable one is perfect for this task. To learn more about this steam cleaner, click here.

Now clean and with fresh hay, half of the hen house is ready for the new flock. Of course their first night the temperatures dropped to freezing, but with the help of heat lamps, the chicks stay cozy.

Piano Lessons

Yes, it is true I am taking piano lessons. Years ago, I took a few lessons with our children’s piano teacher, Miss Eva. She is so remarkable, as a vibrant 85 year old. Am hoping that learning musical notes, scales and scores will keep my brain healthy.

We have a beautiful piano and it will be nice to use it again.

Unscheduled Project

The sitting room off of the master bedroom and home office has been a makeshift art studio for me (see that blog post here). Located on one end of the room is a rather large day bed, purchased many years ago. Is it ever used? No. But trying to get it out of this relatively small room is a complete pain in the butt.

For some reason this week, I decide I want this day bed out. In doing so, I realize this room is a mess. It’s time to repaint the walls, clear out the clutter and try to make it a real office/art studio for me. Have you ever started a project and wish you hadn’t?

Now the enormous day bed is sitting in our upstairs hall as we debate what to do with it. Since it’s hardly been used it is in excellent condition.

In the meantime I will paint goldenrod colored walls to something more neutral this weekend. Hope to show you some good before and after photos soon.

Trying New Recipes for the All Things Lemon class

I am having such fun experimenting with lemon and citrus recipes, in anticipation of the All Things Lemon class on Saturday, February 24th. There are only a few spots left so if you are interested please sign up now.

You will leave the class with my favorite lemon recipes and your own jars of limoncello and preserved lemons. If you want to get a sense of what a class here at Bella Terra looks like, check out this week’s post on our Valentine cookie decorating class here.

Did You Know?

I am familiar with companies like Stitch Fix and Rent the Runway but I wasn’t aware of Amazon’s Prime Try Before You Buy. Prime Try Before You Buy is a Prime-exclusive program where you can try eligible items from women’s, men’s, kids’, and baby clothing, shoes, and accessories before you buy them. You have seven days to try the items at home and you are only charged for the items you keep.

However, for an extra fee of $4.99 per use, you can have access to Prime Personal Shopper and allows you to work with Amazon’s stylists to find wardrobe pieces that fit your taste and budget.

If you’re looking for a wardrobe overhaul or to refine your personal style, enlisting the help of someone with styling expertise can take a lot of the pressure off when shopping for clothes online. Or if you are like me, I am not fond of clothes shopping.

The Difference between Prime Personal Shopper and Prime Try Before You Buy

Prime Try Before You Buy, unlike Prime Personal Shopper, is free as part of an Amazon Prime subscription and is available to all Prime members. The service allows you to do more or less the same things as Personal Shopper, including curating a selection of clothes, shoes, and accessories based on a survey and your selected preferences. The big difference lies in the absence of a stylist to help guide your selections or curate.

Has any one tried this? I have a question into Amazon on how one signs up for the Prime Personal Shopper as it isn’t intuitive when you go to their website. It seems like you will need to use the Amazon app? Will let you know how they respond.

From the Internet

I love finding beautifully designed spaces. Beth Webb, internationally known interior designer, is known for her serene and elegant style. If you feel stressed, just look through the portfolio of photos on her website.

Mary’s Must Haves

For the Face…

I have mentioned this product before and I did reorder it this week. Colorscience Total Protection Brush-on Sunscreen is something I use EVERY day. In lieu of face powder, I brush this on and enjoy the SPF 50 protection.

Yes, it is not an inexpensive sunscreen but the last time I ordered this was January 2023~13 months ago. If you amortize the cost over time, the initial price of $69.00 ($65.55 if you subscribe), equals approximately 17 cents per day. A bargain to protect your skin from sunspots or worse, skin cancer. I have never seen it on sale either. It comes in multiple skin tone colors. You can find it here.

Speaking of taking care of your skin, my dermatologist recommend I use La Roche-Posay Vitamin C anti-aging face serum to visibly brighten and smooth uneven skin tone and those dastardly wrinkles. Groan. After using her sample packets I just received my first bottle of serum this week. Hoping for good results.

Does anyone use a Vitamin C serum? I sure miss those days when I only used soap and water on my face.

For the Body

I exercise 5 days a week always live in yoga pants and workout tops. Truly, my inventory is old and so pathetic. Instead of looking like a ragamuffin, I finally purchase 3 new pairs of yoga pants in plum, olive green and blue. A bit of a color is a stretch for me as I tend to wear black and gray.

I am sporting the plum ones as I write this post and I like them~especially the high. thick waist and the pocket for your phone. Great color selection and are on sale (17% off) at a reasonable $24.99. They are very comfortable and hopefully will wash well. Makes me feel a bit dressed up! Ha!

Last Saturday, one of my subscribers, Corrine, commented about using Vital Proteins and how they have helped her. Do you supplement your diet with collagen peptides? I started using Vital Proteins about 4 years ago. Within 3 months, I noticed less popping sounds in my joints. Also my hair appears thicker too. Collagen peptides are great for your skin, nails, joints and hair.

Every morning I put two scoops into my coffee (equally 20 grams of protein) or hot beverage and it’s part of my daily routine.

There are so many different brands and flavors, but I use the regular, unflavored 24 oz.Vital Proteins. A new Vital Proteins Advanced is available too. Here is a link to a page that has several brands/flavors/sizes.

Occasionally, Costco will have the 24 oz. Vital Proteins marked down and limits the number of containers you can buy. That’s when we generally stock up so we always have it on hand.

Wishing you a happy weekend. I will be painting as it is supposed to be raining all day Saturday with chilly temperatures. Would much rather be curled up with a book by the fire, but the art studio calls.

This is the last Saturday in January. Unbelievable. It doesn’t appear that 2024 will be passing slowly. What a gray, wet and gloomy week here in Phoenix. Of course, we always love (and need) the rain, but the sun has been absent for days now. Hope you are enjoying the weekend. Thank you for joining me for another Saturday Meanderings, where we chat about all good things this week.

Barrett-Jackson

On Sunday, we spend the day at the Barrett-Jackson collector car auction. Widely regarded as a barometer of the collector car industry, this auction has evolved over the world’s most sought-after, unique and valuable automobiles that are sold to a global audience ‒ in person and on live national and international television. 

Really. It is quite an astounding eventswith cars ranging from futuristic prototypes to antique relics. I had my eye on a Land Rover Woody Electric D90~which is a blend of classic and modern. The wood is inspired by the 1940s woody station wagons with the design staying true to the classic Land Rover shape. I actually thought I could see myself driving this….and then we checked the price. $325,000. Choke. Heart attack. Oh well. A gal can dream.

One SUV even has a Nespresso machine with 2 insulated cups and the pods built into the back seat console…now that’s what I need!

This event runs from January 20-28th and if you haven’t been, you must do it at least once! More information here.

Baby Chicks

We are the new proud parents of 15 baby chickens. With only 5 mature chickens and one duck currently in the hen house, it is time to raise another flock. Due to their size and the cold weather, the little chirpers are in a cage on the breakfast room table, equipped with a heat lamp, food and water.

They are at the eat.sleep.poop stage so the cage needs to be cleaned daily. Our cat, Donovan is VERY interested and we are hoping he gets bored with their presence quickly. The chickens will stay inside until they are about a month old.

It must be feathered friend week because look who is out by the pool on one very rainy afternoon. It’s that time of year where the ducks pick their partners and baby ducklings will soon follow.

Valentine’s Day decorations

It’s is time to get rid of the winter decor by the front door and just adding this bit of pink makes me happy. The sweet blush cable throw is an old purchase from Target, but here is one from Macy’s that is very pretty and on sale for$23.99.

The heart pillow is again from Target (no longer available), but I actually prefer these blush pillows from Amazon, as they are pretty but not seasonal.

A new front door wreath is on its way and once it’s up, I’ll take pictures.

Slowly adding a few heart touches here and there around the house. Do you do any decorating for Valentine’s Day?

Queen of Hungary’s Water

Have you ever heard of Queen of Hungary’s Water? Some say that it was created for the aging Queen Elizabeth of Hungary by an alchemist in the 1300s to restore her youthfulness. According to the legend, it reversed her appearance so much that the 25-year-old grand-duke of Lithuania asked for her hand in marriage when she was 70! 

Even though I would like to make my own (12 different herbs steeped in vinegar for 4-6 weeks), I find one from Karen’s Botanicals out of Taylorsville, Georgia.

Here is the description from Karen’s website: It is a wonderful all-purpose, ph balancing cosmetic lotion, which is safe to use for those with sensitive skin. Queen of Hungary’s Water works by restoring the natural acidity to skin, and problems such as dryness, itching, flaking, inflammation, and acne are greatly improved when using this product on a regular basis. Karen’s Queen of Hungary’s Water is based on the ancient recipe from eastern Europe, this vinegar extract is full of summer flower blossoms and herbs harvested at their peak of summer power. 

I received my bottle of it this week and I’m looking forward to trying it. Not that I’m looking for a 25 year old suitor, but it would be nice to naturally improve the effects of my aging skin. You can buy this from either Amazon here or Walmart here. Both are priced at $18.90 for this 4 oz. bottle.

Two Classes in February

This week I sent an invitation to a spontaneous Valentine Cookie Decorating class that will occur next Saturday, February 3, 2024 from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. (may end sooner) here at Bella Terra. As of yesterday, I believe I have only one or two spots left. So if you are interested, please reach out to me first to make sure there is still availability at [email protected]

The All Things Lemon class will occur on Saturday, February 24, 2024 from 10:00 a.m. to noon. In this class we will learn how to make Preserved Lemons, Limoncello and a lemon surprise (to be determined). Depending on the weather, we will gather on the outside, covered back terrace so seating is limited. Now is the perfect time of year to use all the freshly picked lemons and learn new recipes together.

Giveaways in February

Since February is the month of love and friendship, I will be conducting a few giveaways as a thank you for all your support. So make sure you check back to see what goodies are in store for you.

What Are You Reading?

Elin Hildebrand

When I read that Elin Hildebrand (known as the Queen of Beach Reads) is retiring from writing in 2024 (according to a statement made in 2021), I decide to read every single one of her 33 books. The setting for most of Elin’s novels is Nantucket. I just finished Summerland, The Identicals, and Barefoot.

My reason for liking most of Elin’s books is that I seek a book that is written well, smart, fun, and engrossing, but not too heavy, too serious or dark. Perhaps it’s my reason to escape all the horrors going on in the real world.

Reader’s Digest has a list of Elin Hildebrand’s books in order which I need to reference and mark as I go.

Nita Prose

Number #1 on the New York Times Bestseller list and a Good Morning America bookclub pick, I so enjoyed The Maid by Nita Prose. As described on Amazon, “A Clue-like, locked-room mystery and a heartwarming journey of the spirit, The Maid explores what it means to be the same as everyone else and yet entirely different—and reveals that all mysteries can be solved through connection to the human heart.”

So when The Mystery Guest: Molly the Maid Book # 2 arrives, it is an easy decision to download this one. From the reviews, “Nita Prose shines with the return of Molly the maid who is one of the most memorable, endearing characters I’ve ever read. From page turning suspense, to laugh-out-loud humor and moments that are deeply heartfelt, The Mystery Guest has it all! This book is a knockout.”

Amy Harmon

My friend, Christine is reading A Girl Called Samson and is thoroughly enjoying it. Downloaded, it is on my list to read. Here is a review, “This is a thought-provoking, deeply moving read in which a patriotic woman, forbidden from serving her country due to her sex, defies all odds to do it anyway. Harmon’s riveting narrative allows Samson’s bravery, both on and off the battlefield, to soar from the pages of long-forgotten history.”

What are you reading? Please share as I know many of you are always looking for great book recommendations.

Have a terrific weekend. We are hoping for blue skies and some sunshine. Whatever you are doing, stay safe and warm!

We are in discussion about expanding our flock of chickens. January is a good time for us to get baby chicks because it takes approximately 6 months before the baby hens start laying eggs for consumption. Since we tend to travel during our summer months, older chickens have a better survival rate here in our hot climate. Currently, we are down to 5 mature hens and 1 very old duck. As hens mature, egg laying diminishes. Typically a hen slows down the daily egg laying process when she is 3+ years old.

Why Chickens?

Often I get questions about our chickens. I don’t recall the day we made the decision to have chickens. When we were living temporarily in a double wide trailer while restoring Bella Terra (that’s a complete story in itself!), I remember having 2 toddlers, a newborn, a puppy and baby chicks. All of us happily living in a 24′ by 56′ manufactured home. Crazy times.

Where do you buy chickens?

Locally, we have a few feed stores that sell baby chicks. Check your local listings to see what is available in your area like Craigslist or Etsy. Chicken farms nearby may also sell their chicks. Some hatcheries will mail baby chicks. I know it seems odd, but we have received chickens this way. Use a reputable company like McMurray or Hoover’s Hatchery

Where do the Chickens live?

I designed our hen house specifically for our feathered friends. Located adjacent to my garden, it makes sense to share my extra garden produce to the residents next door. To see more design details to this sweet building, click here.

Chickens need a certain amount of room. Both the interior and exterior spaces are designed for up to 25 chickens. If you are considering a hen house, please do the research to see how many chickens your quarters will accommodate. Crowding chickens can lead to both behavioral and health problems.

Choosing the right Breed of Chicken

More than 1600 different chicken breeds are recognized worldwide. Since our goal is to have fresh eggs, we look for good layers with a variety of egg shell colors. Some of the more exotic chickens are beautiful to look at, but do not produce many eggs and many not be very hearty.

Some breeds are known for being the best egg layers. Do your research if you are looking for other uses for your chickens.

Australopes, Wyandotts, Barred Plymouth Rock, Leghorns, Orpingtons, Rhode Island Reds and Blue Ameraucanas are a few good laying breeds.

How Long do Fresh Eggs Keep?

When an egg first comes out, it is covered in a wet coating and then dries within seconds. This invisible coating is called the “bloom” and works to keep air and bacteria from seeping through the pores of the shell.

In the United States, commercial egg growers are required to wash their eggs, which then requires refrigeration. Unfortunately, washing off the bloom accelerates the aging of the egg.

We do not wash our eggs and if I do, it is just before I use them. I have read that an unwashed egg can last up to a year! If you go to another country, often times eggs are not refrigerated. That’s because the bloom is still on the egg and provides protections from deterioration.

How Do You Tell if an Egg is Old?

Gently drop an egg into a glass of water. If an egg sits flat on the bottom of the glass, it is fresh egg. If the egg floats, it may still be good but it is definitely an older egg. As it continues to age, more air enters the shell and it will float at a steeper angle. With hens laying fresh eggs daily, there is no need to eat an old egg.

Why are Hard-boiled Fresh Eggs Hard to Peel?

As an egg ages, air gets in through the pores on the shell. The air forms a pocket between the membrane and the shell making it easier to peel. Older eggs are best hardboiled. Fresh eggs have little to no space between the membrane and the shell~hence making them more difficult to peel.

Does a Chicken Lay an Egg Every Day?

First, the female chicken, a hen, will lay eggs. It depends on the breed as some hens lay more eggs than others. Typically, a hen will lay only one egg per day but can also skip days. The average hen will lay approximately 300 eggs per year. Chickens require a minimum of 14 hours of daylight per day in order to lay. Therefore, hens typically lay more eggs in the spring and summer, and slow down in the winter months.

Does a Female (hen) need a male (rooster) in order to lay an egg?

No, the female lays eggs regardless. The hen (female) does need a rooster (male) if she is laying a fertilized egg = baby chicks.

Why Don’t You Have Any Roosters?

The City of Phoenix does not allow male poultry within the City limits. Since it is rather difficult to determine the sex of a baby chick, we have had roosters. Typically we discover a rooster when a neighbor calls to complain about the crowing.

If you are considering raising chickens, please check with your local zoning laws to make sure you are compliant with city requirements.

Do Rooster only Crow in the Morning?

No, they tend to crow all the time. This can be a nuisance for your neighbors.

Is there Really a Pecking Order?

Yes, the chickens do determine their own hierarchy of status. It is unpleasant to see older chickens pecking at younger ones, or healthy ones doing the same to sick hens. But it is the nature of chickens and the place in the flock is important to the survival of the fittest.

Why are the Eggs Different Colors?

The color of the egg is based on the breed of chicken. We have white, brown, tan, blue and green egg layers. But like people, we may be different colors on the outside but the inside of the egg is the same.

Do You Let Your Chickens Free Range?

Yes, with some supervision. We keep our dogs inside while the chickens roam the yard. Since we have birds of prey (hawks, owls, etc.) we let them stay outside but for a shorter period of time. Chickens are a natural way to control the bug population in your yard.

Do You Eat Your Chickens?

No, we do not. When the children were little, they would name the hens. It is hard to think about eating Fluffy or Spotty.

Though we do not name the chickens now, we still do not eat them.

What Do Chickens Eat?

We provide them with scratch and crumble. With scratch, they use their toes to mix up litter or scrape the ground in search of various seeds, greens, grit, or insects to eat. Spreading scratch grains (cracked, rolled, or whole grains such as corn, barley, oats, or wheat) encourages this behavior. Crumble is their actual food that provides the nutrients they need. The crumble is placed in a feeder.

We also feed them oyster shells which provides calcium to help create nice, strong shells on the eggs.

Do You Give Your Chickens Treats?

Yes, they get fresh greens from the garden, any healthy kitchen scraps and I spoil them with dried black soldier fly larvae called Grubblies~~they LOVE this!

I also add fresh herbs and flowers to their nesting boxes. Not only does it look pretty and smell nice, while keeping the bugs out. Who wouldn’t want to lay an egg in a nest of rose petals?

I hope you enjoyed this information on chickens and eggs! Honestly, the taste of fresh eggs will far exceed anything you buy in the grocery store. Since commercial growers wash their eggs before they are shipped for distribution, the egg is already unprotected and losing freshness. This doesn’t happen with homegrown eggs.

If you are considering raising your own chickens, I encourage you to do so. It is so well worth it and the work is fairly minimal. If you have any further questions or comments, let me know.

Thanks for joining me today to learn all about chickens!

Happy December! Wow. Already. We are in full holiday decorating mode, albeit slowly. The week is filled with menial, yet necessary tasks (making returns, getting things fixed, paying bills) but there are a few highlights. Are you all decorated for the holidays? Thank you for taking the time to join me for Saturday Meanderings where we chat about all good things.

Anne Geddes

Who remembers Anne Geddes and her famous photographs of babies and children? I love her unique artfully crafted fantasies of children. Recently I read an article which saddens me a bit how certain “progress” is to the detriment of others. Here are some excerpts from an article written in Artnet News. “The industry that propelled Geddes to superstardom in the 1990s has all but evaporated. Today, the internet churns out imagery at a pace with which few photographers can compete, while email gobbled up the greeting-card industry, leaving Geddes in dire straits.”

“Geddes hasn’t set foot in a photo studio since 2016. Paper products, the medium by which she amassed her fortune and cemented her icon status in the late 1990s—in coffee table books, calendars, and greeting cards—have all but disappeared, leaving the photographer without reliable or regular opportunities for work “.

Elaborate photography sets, which used to take Geddes months to set up, are now being done in lightning speed with digital photography. If you would like to read the rest of the article you can find it here.

But what struck me most about this article is this quote by Anne Geddes:

Children are not only our hope for the future—by their very existence, they will be our future. And yet, we so often take them for granted or underestimate their essential importance. We need to take care of them now, educate, nurture, and love them now; teach them the values of harmony, love, understanding, tolerance, and an appreciation of other cultures now. Because every newborn baby represents our eternal chance at new beginnings.

Geddes unique work has sparked smiles and joy and reinforces our love for children.

Goodbye Pumpkins

As we transition from fall to Christmas decorations, it’s hard to say goodbye to all the gorgeous pumpkins. The good news is that my husband saves every unique stem for any future fabric pumpkin projects. He also collects the seeds and gives the rest to the chickens as a treat. After they are pecked clean, they go into the compost pile and turn into glorious soil that gets used again. I love this photo I took at dusk and want to share it with you.

Clever Use of Ribbon

My friend, Chas from Chas’ Crazy Creations took a piece of the nutcracker ribbon (used in our living room Christmas mantel decorations) and repurposed it into this:

A simple, yet elegant DIY that I would have never thought to do.

Making Turkey Soup

My mother taught us not to waste anything. It goes without saying that all those turkey bones and leftover meat are put to good use this week with a delicious turkey wild rice soup. The kitchen is smelling so good as the bones simmer for hours on end. As you may know, bone broth is very nutritious and rich in collagen proteins that supports skin elasticity and joint health.

Bone broth is a superfood and even though you can buy it already made, it is so easy to whip up a batch yourself. I think this needs to be a future blog post!

Front Porch Maintenance

As we get ready to decorate the front porch, we notice multiple water, mineral and rust stains on the scored concrete floor. Typically I would be showing you a picture of a freshly decorated front porch, but these stains need tending. After the stains are removed, then a sealant will be applied so I hope to show you some before and after pictures soon.

Making Sourdough English Muffins

In an attempt to eat more homemade sourdough items, I try my hand at English muffin making this week. On a scale from 1 to 10 (10 being the most successful) I would rank my efforts at a 5. The muffins look good but I could not get the center to fully cook and get all those nooks and crannies. A quick stint in the oven only made them a bit too dry to eat.

We did try the first 2 but the rest will go to the chickens. Looking forward to mastering this recipe so I can share it with you.

A Fun New Recipe to Try

You may see this recipe in social media streams, but it looks easy and impressive. Using boxed or from scratch brownie batter, you can form these into pinecone shapes. Then add sliced almonds for the scales and drizzle with melted chocolate. I haven’t found a specific recipe, but hope to make them this week.

Garden Delights

Unlike colder areas, gardens in Phoenix are flourishing now. Currently I have fresh lettuces, chard, arugula, herbs, peppers, tomatoes, strawberries, eggplant, chives and garlic growing. This week I harvest shishito peppers and eggplant, which sharing the greens with the chickens.

Mary’s Must Haves

This week’s dental appointment is a success as I take oral hygiene seriously. It is nice to hear the dentist compliment you on the condition of your teeth, as who wants to be toothless or wearing appliances as we age. Brushing, flossing and using a water pick contributes to good dental health. My old water flosser needs replacing and this week I purchased a new one.

This Waterpik Aquarius is currently 30% off on Amazon. It’s more sophisticated than my previous one, so I am learning about all the settings and tips. Whether you are continuing good dental care or need to improve your current way of cleaning your teeth, I highly recommend this device. See it here.

As temperatures drop, my baking/cooking activities increase, especially bread baking. This week my old scale finally died and after some research, I order this one due to it’s great reviews. It weighs up to 11 lbs. and has a pull out display which helps if you are using a large bowl. See it here.

Vitamin D3

Why Vitamin D3? As the days grow shorter and sunlight becomes scarce during the winter months, our bodies may not produce an adequate amount of Vitamin D naturally. Vitamin D, aka the “sunshine vitamin,” plays a crucial role in maintaining our overall health and well-being. Supplementing with Vitamin D3 ensures that our immune system, bones, and mood stay in top form, making it a valuable item for your wellness in the winter.

Why Signify Nature’s Vitamin D3? • QUALITY: Pharmaceutical-grade excellence. • POTENCY: 125mcg (5000 IU) cholecalciferol. • VALUE: A whole year’s supply for only $12.99 – that’s less than 4¢ per day! • CLEAN LABEL: No fillers, no artificial additives. • ORIGIN: Made in the EU with pharmaceutical-grade gelatin. • PURITY: Free of PCBs, heavy metals, mercury, and impurities. see it here.

I am trying this Vitamin D3 supplement and taking one soft gel at breakfast. It’s hard to believe a whole year supply is in one bottle! Great price, too.

What We are Watching?

What are you watching lately? Have you seen the Royal Flying Doctor Service on PBS? “Based on remarkable real-life stories, this gripping drama series follows the modern-day heroes of the Royal Flying Doctor Service as they navigate private lives as turbulent and profound as the heart-stopping emergencies they attend to across some of the most beautiful and inhospitable places in the Australian outback.” There are currently 2 seasons and we are adding subtitles due to the heavy Australian accents.

Well, that’s a wrap! Enjoy your weekend. We hope to walk down to the Electric Light Parade tonight and finish up Christmas decorations!

Love Local businesses refer to small business week?

I recently purchased a new book, Simply Living Well by Julia Watkins. This hard cover book is a guide to creating a natural, low-waste home. The book is filled with great ideas and recipes on how to reduce what you consume and throw away. But it got me thinking about how we live. What are we currently doing that is living efficiently and reduce what we take in and what we discard?

Composting

About 30% of our kitchen waste is recycled through composting. I have written about this before (see post here) and we put every single peel, pit, skin, eggshell and other non-cooked fruits, vegetables and flowers into the composting garbage can.

Grass clippings, tree branches and other brown material is also composted here on the property. This significantly reduces our waste that goes to the City’s landfill and dump.

All the luscious rich fertilized soil goes back into the yard~the garden, the orchard and all the bedding areas. Giving back to the land is very rewarding.

If you do not compost, please consider doing so. There are many containers on the market that make composting a breeze.

Recycling

The City of Phoenix has a recycling program so we separate our garbage into separate bins for pick up once a week. Cardboard boxes, paper, plastic, glass and cans are separated from the trash. In our kitchen we have 3 cabinets with pull out garbage cans~one for composting, one for trash and the other for recyclables. Does your community have a recycling program?

Gardening and Chickens

Growing our own fruits and vegetables reduces the number of trips we take to the grocery store and farmers market. With the exception of summer, our garden is in production.

What we don’t eat, or what has grown past its prime, goes to the chickens or into the compost bin. Growing your own vegetables and fruit is immensely satisfying too.

Our chickens provide us with the most delicious eggs. In order to increase egg production, we will soon need to get some more chicks as our flock is aging out. It is joyful to have these feathered friends and they, too, help reduce our food scrap waste.

This summer we are spending more time up at our mountain cabin. If we continue to do so, then it may be time to plant a garden and set up a composting system there as well.

Preserving Food and not being wasteful

Growing up in a family of 7, my mother never wasted a thing. For example, leftover stale bread was turned into bread pudding. I am sure that philosophy is a result of living through the Great Depression and also having a limited budget.

Because I was raised with a frugal mindset, it’s hard for me to throw good food away. I just made a big batch of mole chicken and after eating it a few days in a row, I will freeze the rest in individual servings for another time. Same with the big pot of chili I just made. How nice to have a meal ready, especially on those busy days where cooking for dinner is the last thing I feel like doing!

Abundant harvests from our garden or the orchard are canned and preserved for use during another season. From fruit preserves to tomato sauce, these are either canned or frozen. Though preserving food does take a bit of work, the rewards outweigh the effort. Opening up a jar of summer tomato sauce in the middle of winter, is such a treat!

Laundry

Line drying here in Phoenix, especially in the summer, is a quick and easy energy efficient task. Not only does the sun acts as a powerful disinfectant but also has natural bleaching powers. Nothing smells better than slipping into freshly washed sheets! Even my children notice when their sheets are washed and line dried.

Our local electric rates increase significantly over the summer. Not running the dryer and other large appliances is an effective money saving strategy too.

Coffee

I recall a time when daily and sometimes more, we would drive through the local Dutch Brothers and get our coffee. The staff knew us by name and their fun, upbeat vibe was a plus to our cup of Joe. Unfortunately, that coffee location closed, but fortunately for us we removed Dutch Brothers as a line item from our monthly budget.

Now we make our coffee here at home using my favorite Nespresso machine (currently 38% off a used one on Amazon!). The coffee pods get recycled through Nespresso recycling program. Making our morning coffee at home not only saves money, but we are no longer using paper cups, plastic tops, time and gas to drive to and from Dutch Brothers.

Paperwork

As I mentioned in a blog post about my kitchen, there is an industrial shredder placed sitting in our kitchen, which some people think is odd. See that post here. Daily, the excessive amounts of junk mail is shredded and added to the composting bin. The shredder keeps the paperwork stack down on the counter and it gets recycled!

Manage our Utilities

A few years ago, I was asked to give a lecture to a group of 7th and 8th grade students about the recent utility (electric) increase and how that rate hike affected our neighborhood. Of course, I didn’t even realize we had a rate hike. So in order to provide an intelligent presentation, I did a deep dive and thorough analysis of the cost of electricity.

What I discover is that we, personally, are not on the most efficient or advantageous utility plan. Once I understand that, then I start paying attention to our electric usage. By changing our behavior slightly, we save quite a bit of money. Over time, we save even more.

The moral to this story is 1) understand your utility usage; 2) investigate the best plan for you and your family; 3) by making reasonable changes you can reduce your usage and save money.

Now, during the warmer months (trust me, air-conditioning bills can be ridiculously expensive here), we monitor our large appliance and air conditioning usage from 3:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Water consumption

Water here in Arizona is a precious resource. Rates increase especially in June, July and August. By using flood irrigation provided locally, we are able to deep water the orchard and yard at a low annual cost. The well that we re-instituted many years ago, handles additional yard watering in a cost-effective manner (see that post here).

Room for Improvement

Like with most things in life, I can certainly improve and lessen my waste. We have too many things that need to be sorted, organized and donated. My hope is to reduce the items in each room by 50%. Lofty goal, but this is an ongoing effort.

Are you familiar with Marie Kondo’s organizational tips? I believe she has (had) a Netflix show where she shares her organizational philosophy. See where I use Maria’s tip in organizing my master closet here.

Other Ways live Simply

I’d love to live in a place that doesn’t require driving everywhere. Phoenix is more car-dependent than other cities, but during the cooler weather I do try to bike and walk more. No one wants to bike or walk when it is 116 degrees.

In addition, I need to assess my use of cleansers/detergents and investigate more eco-friendly cosmetics.

So what are you doing to live more simply and efficiently? Please share any ideas so we can all get better at this!

Happy Wednesday!

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This post shared with Between Naps on the Porch Metamorphosis Monday #614