Welcome to Saturday Meanderings! So much of my week was devoted to a neighborhood issue~lots of research, creating a powerpoint presentation and sitting in a hearing for 5 hours. Naturally I’d rather be decorating for the holidays, but sometimes other responsibilities take precedent. We have a rather large event at the house today, so I’m buzzing around trying to get it all together. Nonetheless it’s the weekend and such a special and magical time of year.

Giving to Others

Especially around the holidays, I count my blessings for the fullness of my life. I realize that others may be struggling both financially, physically and emotionally. At our church, we have a woman who runs the prison ministry and this time of year creates an Angel tree. The names on the tree are the children, whose mothers are incarcerated, and unable to spend the holidays with their families.

Each year we “adopt” a few of the children, and fulfill their Christmas list. It is the season of giving and we do a small part to help out those in need. I hope everyone is able to provide some hope and joy to those less fortunate. Please share what kindnesses you do for others during the holiday.

Latest Salt Dough Ornaments

The other wooden cookie mold I ordered, finally arrives. This one is deeper than my pinecone cookie mold and I make the standard salt dough mixture (flour, salt, water).

As you know, last week I shared my pinecone salt dough cookies DIY. The baking of the pinecone ornaments took about an hour since the pinecones are much thinner. However, this thicker hen design takes quite a bit longer to cook (2-3 hours at 200 degrees), and I am not sure they are thoroughly baked.

This sweet design also makes much heavier ornaments. They are more propped on the tree than hung, however, I still think they look good. A good reminder is to see how deep the mold is and my next try will see if I can make them thinner?

Trans-Siberian Orchestra Concert

For 25 years, the Trans-Siberian Orchestra has taken music to a new level. The band only tours on an annual November-December extravaganza (104 shows) that the band prides in being “as over the top as we can make it. We have, two stages~with pyro, lights and lasers~on both sides of the area, as well as in the crowd and the best sound we can find. There are no second class seats at a Trans-Siberian Orchestra show. ” Their goal is to have people walk out of the concert speechless and still not believing what they have seen was possible.

Last Sunday we saw The 2023 Winter Tour, The Ghost of Christmas Eve. This concert is such a great way to start the holiday season! Their progressive rock band push the boundaries of traditional Christmas music. Who else has their female vocalist performing inside of a 24 foot snow globe?

Seats sell out quickly and this year they perform in Phoenix for only two shows. A great gift for someone who loves music, unbelievable pyro-technics, lighting and props. See more information about the Trans-Siberian Orchestra here.

Holiday Decorating

I am still not completely finished with our holiday decorating, but we are making progress. The very large wreath is up on the well tower.

My mother would alway put candles in the window at our home in Connecticut. Back then, they were electric and needed to be plugged in. I recall Scotch taping the plastic bases to the window sill. Now the candles are battery-operated and so much easier to use.

I bought ours years ago and love the fact that are on an automatic timer. Here is a similar product and I am surprised on how inexpensive they are today. A pack of 10 LED Flameless Candles is $39.99 here.

Each year my husband puts out artificial trees by the front door to create a forest feel. This year we add red poinsettias on the way up the steps for a bit of holiday color. Battery-operated candle pillars, in the lanterns, light the way. Costco has a good supply of poinsettias at a decent price.

This Weekend’s Event

Here are some nibble boards I will be preparing today for our event tonight. This is a super easy vegetable Christmas Tree display.

I will be making my Christmas Wreath charcuterie board (if you missed my post this week you can see it here).

Would love to have enough time to make something like this. Check out this Christmas Tree Spinach Dip Breadsticks from It’s Always Autumn. It doesn’t look too difficult and visually impactful. See it here.

Of course, who wouldn’t love this Hot Chocolate Dessert board? We won’t be serving hot chocolate at our event, but I am definitely pinning this!

Mary’s Must Haves

This week I am focusing on hostess gifts because it IS that time of year. Instead of bringing a bottle of wine, why not the following:

This Rechargeable Electric Candle Lighter is eco-friendly, windproof, flameless, USB rechargeable and has a hidden safety lock making it family friendly. Now 23% off on Amazon and is available in multiple colors.

Pair your electric lighter with a set of 6 of these pretty natural beeswax tapered candles. Everyone can use candles during the holidays! The price is right too at $15.19. I ordered both the lighter and candles and they arrive tomorrow.

Isn’t this natural wood spoon and fork set gorgeous? How unique to use something this pretty to serve your guests? The larger ones can toss a salad and the smaller ones can serve nuts from a bowl. Now 52% off (!) from Amazon at $28.50. Delivery is quick too!

If you know someone who uses fresh herbs, this is the perfect hostess gift for a gardener or cook. I use fresh herbs from my garden frequently and find it a bit tedious to chop them and then have to clean the cutting board.

These herb scissors with 5 blades and a safety cover is the perfect solution for easily chopping or cutting fresh herbs. Picture a pretty small basket with a collection of fresh herbs tied with a festive ribbon and these scissors!

This may seem like a strange hostess gift, but in winter we have shorter daytime hours. This gift, Eufy plug-in Dusk to Dawn night lights, will be loved by your hostess (of course after they use them). As we get older, it’s helpful if we are not tripping over something in the middle of the night. You have seen me praise these before, but I love the low profile look of these lights. Their glare-free light is not bright or offensive.

I am seriously ordering yet another set (we already have one at home and one at the cabin) as I want to put them in the pool house and guest cottage. A set of 6 is $23.99. Amazon has a rating of 4.7 out of 10,071 reviews. Eufy night lights

That’s a wrap. Have a wonderful weekend! Do you have any fun plans?

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?

In a previous Saturday Meaderings, I share beautiful salt dough ornaments by both Miss Mustard Seed and Eleanor Rose Home. My recollection of salt dough ornaments are from childhood, where they are rather goofy and painted bright colors. But times have changed and wooden molds are certainly more sophisticated. I find a pretty mold and try my hand at making salt dough ornaments.

Wooden Molds

I order two wooden cookie molds. The pinecone one arrived very quickly, however, the other is still en route. If you order these, note where they are coming from….obviously the one that hasn’t arrived is somewhere out of the country. Of course, I didn’t realize that when I placed the order.

If you google wooden cookie molds there are various resources from Amazon to Etsy.

Making the Dough

There are two types of dough you can make. Simple salt dough or gingerbread salt dough. The difference is in the color of the dough~whereas one is more white and the other is tinted brown by adding cinnamon.

Since I am making pinecones, I mix up a batch of the gingerbread salt dough. However, I don’t have enough cinnamon so I do half cinnamon and half allspice. I must say, the kitchen certainly smells of Christmas while these are baking.

I make one batch of dough giving me 7 pinecone cookies. Depending on the size and detail of your mold, your quantity will vary. It is also easy to double or triple the dough recipe. The equipment you will need:

• Cookie molds
• Baking Sheets
• Parchment Paper
• Toothpick or skewer
• Ribbon or Twine
• Scissors
• Tapestry or large needle

The ingredients for the gingerbread salt dough are:

• 1 cup of flour
• 1/2 cup salt
• 3/4 cup cinnamon
• 3/4 cup of water

If you are making regular salt dough the ingredients measurements are slightly different:

• 2 cups of flour
• 1 cup salt
• 1 cup water

Mix the dry ingredients together in a mixing bowl. Add water and stir together with a spoon. Using the paddle attachment, mix the dough until it is brought together and all dry ingredients are absorbed. Dough will be crumbly but should hold together when squeezed.

Turn out dough on a floured surface and knead for 30 seconds to bring dough together in a ball.

Using the Mold

Lightly brush the mold with flour.

Press the dough into the mold.

I then press the dough down using a bench scraper to make sure the dough is in all the nooks and crannies. However, I leave the surface of the dough slightly higher than the plane of the mold. It seems easier to remove the cookie impression this way.

Tap out the dough or loosen one edge and it should easily release from the mold. Place cookies on a cookie sheet with parchment paper.

Before baking, I use a wooden skewer to start a hole for the ribbon.

Bake at 200 degrees for 30 minutes with decorative side up. Flip over ornament and cook for another 30 minutes. Put on a cooling rack to cool.

The salt in the salt dough ornament rises to the surface, as you will note the pinecone is lighter than the pre-baked color.

Some things to Note

The skewer hole is not big enough to use a needle to string the ribbon. My husband drills a larger hole so I can use this needle to get the ribbon through. I am debating whether I should add a little glitter, but I feel like these particular ornaments look more realistic glitter-less.

I will probably try making these again using the standard salt dough (no cinnamon) and see how they turn out.

With all the beautiful molds and resin replicas of vintage molds, I can see this being an annual DIY.

Have you ever made these before? If so, let me know how it went.

If you enjoy this post, please share on Pinterest.

The only reason my living room mantel is completely decorated for Christmas is due to the Fall Styling Workshop. Chloe, from Celebrate and Decorate, demonstrates her technique for layering garlands for a luxuriously styled mantel. I can honestly say this mantel is so gorgeous that the room doesn’t require any other decorations.

The Before

Typically, the fireplace and mantel are simply adorned with 3 oil paintings of my children as toddlers and 2 large oriental vases. The mantel is long (10 feet) and deep (17″). After finding another home for the vases, we remove the paintings. However, hooks are remaining and embedded in the plaster walls.

Chloe comes up with a clever way to hide the hooks by making festive swags. For the center hook, we hang a Christmas-themed piece of art (a DIY project that I don’t believe I’ve shared yet). Brass candlesticks and Simon Pearce Hartland Hurricanes are added to the sides and will provide illumination at night.

Using Command hooks, Chloe wires the garland to the mantel. Subsequent garlands are wired to either another garland or the hooks.

With 3 different garlands providing depth and interest, Chloe adds the 4″ wide nutcracker ribbon I purchased earlier this year from Decorator’s Warehouse.

Chloe pairs the nutcracker ribbon with a 4″ Duponi silk plaid ribbon from Etsy. Note how she tucks the ribbon into the garland. In the center of the mantel, she makes a proper larger scale bow.

All the layers and textures of the garlands and ribbons, create a very luxurious effect.

The finishing touches include several nutcrackers from our family collection, which rest on top of the mantel. Using vintage stacked books, the nutcrackers sit at various heights

As you can see, this mantel decoration is a showstopper!

Items Used on the Living Room Mantel

Please note that I purchased most of these products as early as May (at Decorators Warehouse in Dallas, Texas) and as late as October. Many items are currently out of stock online but you may still be able to find them at your local store. The key lesson is if you see it, but it, because waiting too late in the season the items may be gone.

Cedar Garland (the soft plastic one used on the living room mantel)here. Note: Sold out online, but may be available at your local Hobby Lobby store. This garland might be a good substitute.

• Flocked Pine and pinecone garland here.
• Regular Pine garland (mine is years old) here
• Nutcracker Ribbon here
• Duponi Silk Plaid Ribbon from Etsy
• Command Hooks here
• Floral Wire here
• Assorted Nutcrackers here

I am considering adding soft twinkle Christmas lights as I did order this set but haven’t used them yet. Since we will be in the living room more during the holidays and with the early darkness, I think the twinkle lights are a must.

To see another Chloe mantel in our living room from 2020, check this out. I am so lucky to have such a talented friend!

Hope you are in the midst of joyfully decorating or relaxed because you are completely finished!

Happy Tuesday!

If you enjoy this post, please share on Pinterest.

Happy Saturday from Phoenix, Arizona! I am back in the Valley of the Sun and even here, you can feel the shift in temperatures in the mornings and evenings. In order to get in the fall spirit, I am hanging the autumn wreaths and adding seasonal touches to the porch too. Thank you for joining me today for Saturday Meanderings where we chat about all good things this week.

Finally pulled out my paints

I dream about painting outside in beautiful weather (plain air), but I have not taken out a paint brush in months. So on a lovely day this week, my husband sets up a table for me to finally do some painting.

Unfortunately, I am only to do so for a few hours, but here’s my rough (very rough) draft of 4 ducks. More editing to be done, but this small attempt is a reminder how much I enjoy painting. Why can’t I make more time for this??!!

Pool Cleaning

We completely re-did the original pool back in 2001, as part of the property restoration. I didn’t realize that you are supposed to drain the pool, acid wash the walls and clean the tile every 3-4 years. Oops. Here is it 22 years later and we are doing this for the first time.

You can see the difference in the calcification on the tile before and after cleaning.

Looking forward to a clean and sparkling pool to use in the late summer.

What are You Watching?

Did you see Guiding Emily last night? We recently dropped Direct TV and am now using Direct TV streaming. Unfortunately, I did not realize that Direct TV streaming doesn’t carry Hallmark Movies and Mysteries. However, after some scrambling I was able to do a free 7 day trial to Philo in order to see the movie.

Guiding Emily is really well done! Garth, the guide dog is adorable. Sarah Drew’s outstanding performance as Emily truly conveys the fear, hopelessness and frustration in suddenly losing your sight. If you love movies with a fabulous house, this one is stunning. Hallmark truly elevated their game with this movie.

But what I liked best about this movie is how much I learned about sight impairment. The author, Barbara Hinske, sheds light on the challenges of those who are blind and operating in a sighted world. I highly recommend watching this.

Two Shows on Prime Video

We just finished Pie in the Sky and I didn’t want the 6 seasons series to end. If you like detective mysteries and good food, you will love this enjoyably British mix of character comedy and murder mystery.

Starring Richard Griffiths (Mr. Dursley in Harry Potter) as DI Henry Crabbe, a good cop finally retires from the force and opens his dream restaurant. He hopes to while away his retirement serving up his favorite dishes, but his old boss puts his plans on the back burner. It’s an oldie, but we found it very enjoyable.

Just started watching All Creatures Great and Small, based on the books about James Herriot, a veterinarian in 1930s in Yorkshire Dales. The characters, scenery and situations are all so entertaining and visually beautiful. You will find this on PBS or it is free with your subscription to Prime Video, I think.

Live to 100 on Netflix

Everyone needs to see this 5 show series. Live to 100: Secrets of the Blue Zones takes you around the world to investigate the diet and lifestyles of those living the longest lives. It’s fascinating and also sad how the United States has one of the highest rates of obesity, diabetes and heart disease. Did you also know that for the first time the longevity rate in the US is declining? A must see.

What are You Reading?

I admit that the reason I wasn’t drawn to this book is the cover. The old adage, don’t judge a book by its cover is exactly what I did. But after hearing great reviews I took the leap and loved it. Lessons in Chemistry is cleverly written, smart, and well worth the read. New York Times is calling it the best book of the year.

French Country Cottage Christmas

Even though my style is not French Country, I do like the work of Courtney Allison. I met Courtney during my visit to Patina Farm (see that post here). Courtney writes the blog, French Country Cottage and has previously published 2 books. I love her first book, but wasn’t wild about her second one.

Though I haven’t started reading her third and newest book, French Country Cottage Christmas, but the photos do look stunning. There is a section on 25 Inspiring Trees and DIYs for a handmade natural Christmas. If you love Christmas like I do and want ideas, you can find her book here. I have the hard copy vs. a Kindle version, and cannot wait to study all the gorgeous photos.

Enjoy the Weekend

If you missed any posts this week, please read about the Fall Styling Workshop we will be holding here at Bella Terra in October. We’d love for you to join us.

Thinking about wallpapering a room in your home? See how I use Peel & Stick wallpaper in a bathroom at our cabin here.

It’s homemade tomato sauce time. Today I am picking up 100 lbs. of Roma tomatoes from the Uptown Farmers Market. Since I am getting ready to head to the ocean for a few days, canning will take place next week.

Have a splendid weekend, friends!