Things are heating up here in Phoenix but our mornings and evenings are still cool enough to say it is Spring. Our yard is in full bloom and it’s the prettiest I recall. We are blessed with lots of rain this year and now it is paying off. Happy Saturday! April appears to be racing by and I am really trying to slow myself down a bit to capture its beauty. Welcome to another Saturday Meanderings where we chat about all good things this week. Have I told you lately how much I appreciate you?

Moth Invasion

Each year we seem to get too much of one thing. Last year was crickets. This month it’s moths. I’m waiting for locusts. Why does that happen? I’m not a big moth fan especially near any of my good sweaters. Interestingly, it’s only in the library and no where else. Perhaps they are coming in through the chimney? Go figure. Anyone else seeing strange infestations? I am blaming everything on the eclipse!

Yard and Garden are at their best

Lately I’ve been combining my morning walkabouts with Finn so he can do his business and I can enjoy my coffee. Our Phoenix mornings are glorious In the high 50s to low 60s, crisp blue skies and flowers galore.

2024 is proving to be the year of the poppies. They are the breadseed variety and have a rich plum blossom and sage stems and leaves. A perennial, they are truly popping up everywhere……really everywhere.

I just read that you should not use these poppy seeds in baking. It appears they should be carefully processed to minimize the effects of the opium alkaloid they contain. Oops…last year I wrote a blog post about Lemon Poppyseed muffins and used my own poppy seeds. You may want to do some research if you are growing your own breadseed poppies.

The Roses

In an older post, I share my love for the older variety of roses here~Quatre Saison (also known as “Rose of Four Seasons”). Some believe this rose was used in the worship of Aphrodite. Later it was introduced to mainland Greece , where it paid homage to Venus. Even older diaries from previous owners, talk about the beautiful roses here at Bella Terra.

The reason I am so intrigued by having these roses is a reference made in a previous owner’s diary on April 1, 1922, when she wrote “saw first rose bloom”. When we were researching the house, we found these diaries at the Arizona Historical Museum. Apparently the roses are referenced many times as an important part of the landscaping. To know I am enjoying roses here just the same way someone did 100 years ago gives me great joy.

One doesn’t cultivate this rose for the appearance of its shrubs as they are rather gawky and notably prickly. Because of their loose, somewhat unsophisticated form, blossoms are also unconventional, but they are packed with fragrance. These roses were a key ingredient in many ancient recipes for potpourri.

With new varieties of roses that are genetically modified (perfect but no scent), this rose is just the oppose. Messy blooms, very thorny but so highly fragrant. A bedside bouquet is glorious~falling asleep to the smell of roses is a heavenly way to end the day.

A Few Fun Recipes this Week (and before the diet)

In an attempt to use up the bag of rangpurs from my friend, Ryan, I again make these lemon (well, rangpur) tartlets for dinner with friends. This time I use the shortbread crust in the recipe and my, are they D.E.L.I.C.I.O.U.S! Having individual removable bottom tartlet pans is nice, however, I bet this would work equally well in a large tart pan.

With all the leftover egg whites from this recipe which I do not like to waste, I made a pavlova. If you have never made one of these, it is SO easy and SO impressive. All you need is egg whites, sugar, vanilla, cream of tartar and cornstarch. Some recipes call for lemon juice instead of cream of tartar. You can customize the filling to be anything from fresh berries, fruit, curd, and whipped cream.

I have bags of freshly frozen apricots from last year’s harvest which I defrost and use them on top. Defrosted apricots are not as pretty as fresh ones, but the flavor is still the same. Now the diet begins..

Looking up at the Sky

Though I am not a follower of astrology, April has been an interesting month with Mercury in retrograde, the eclipse, and now the pink moon. Is it just me or does everything feel a bit off? In trying to process some interesting challenges lately, I am finding some peace and calm by just looking at the immense vastness of the sky.

Don’t you think we are spending too much time looking down(at our phones, our computers) and not taking the time to look up into the sky? When I do so, my problems become minuscule; they feel small in comparison to the rest of the universe. Certainly puts life into perspective. I find myself looking up a lot lately and so thankful we have such a beautiful sky to enjoy.

Mary’s Must Haves

Though I have good vision, there are times where I need a magnifying glass to see tiny print or to remove a sliver. My husband recently purchased this lighted magnifying glass and I love it! With a touch of a button on the side, you can illuminate your view without shadows. It only comes in black on Amazon for only $12.80.

Clean Air

With having a hairy dog in the house again, we are using our air purifier 24/7. It cleans the air from smoke, dust, pollutants and odor from 1,095 sf in an hour. I find it to be very quiet and not intrusive and it has a sleep mode too. Right now it is 15% off on Amazon here.

What a Bargain!!

It appears that I found the perfect t-shirt! First of all, the t-shirt is a dreamy soft cotton; it is not see-through; and the cut works for me. Not too tight to show off all the back fat or muffin tops but nicely fitted around the neck, shoulders, sleeves.

The retail cost is $25.00, marked down to $15.00 on the Banana Republic Factory website. I purchased 6 t-shirts (in white, blue, navy, black, rose and charcoal gray. Each shirt has a $6.00 discount ($9 each) equaling $58.64 (including tax). Say what???!!

I don’t know if the sale promotion is still on but I would have paid $25.00 for these t-shirts. If you don’t like a crew neck, they also have V-neck and different sleeve lengths. Click on the link here for the ones I purchased. Note: I have not laundered them yet so will let you know about that later. Really happy and delighted with this bargain.

What are you Reading?

Currently, I am reading When We Had Wings by Ariel Lawhon, Kristina McMorris and Susan Meissner. With my limited knowledge of WWII, I was unaware of the dire situation in the Philippines during the war. Here is a summary:

From three bestselling authors comes an interwoven tale about a trio of World War II nurses stationed in the South Pacific who wage their own battle for freedom and survival. In this sweeping story based on the true experiences of nurses dubbed “the Angels of Bataan,” three women shift in and out of each other’s lives through the darkest days of the war, buoyed by their unwavering friendship and distant dreams of liberation

“A novel rich in historical detail that immerses readers in the dangers and deprivation WWII nurses suffered in the Pacific, wrapped up with a hopeful ending.”

I haven’t finished it yet, but it is very good and God bless those nurses who survived to tell their stories.

Mulberry House

If you love looking at English country homes, then you are in for a treat at Mulberry House, a Georgian house situated in Surrey.

I will send you off to crush on these house photos of charm and whimsy.

Ah, it’s the weekend and the weather here will be picture perfect! Do you have any fun plans? I am hoping to get some needed R & R! Enjoy and be safe out there.

P.S. Finn gained 10 lbs. in the last two weeks. He’s becoming a big boy.

Spring has definitely sprung here at Bella Terra. All the flowers are blooming, my garden is growing and what better way to share it than a spring themed dinner at home.

Recently we hosted friends of ours who are out of state that is still experiencing snow. It is their first time to our house, however, we spent a great deal of time together when we all went to Mongolia last June. With their differing food likes and dislikes, it makes sense to make a meal that can accommodate everyone’s culinary wishes.

The Tablecloth

I love this linen tablecloth embroidered with an assortment of spring flowers. This seems like the perfect base for the spring themed dinner. My recollection is that I bought it during a trip to Italy….or I found it in a thrift store. I think the Italy story is better!

The Centerpiece

On the way home from a doctor’s appointment, I stop at Trader Joe’s and check out their flowers. These purple decorative cabbages catch my eye and are the basis for the centerpiece.

Using floral wet foam and a plastic rectangular container, more flowers are added. Fragrant purple stock and freshly cut irises from the garden surround the cabbages. Mums, daisies and roses from the yard fill in the rest. Not only is the centerpiece a tribute to spring, it smells heavenly too. Here is another centerpiece I created using 4 of these plastic containers.

The Dishes

With such a light and bright tablecloth, I select these Fondeville Ambassador ware dishes because of the spring green and flowers in the pattern. Since I only have the dinner plates, I add a Leslie Roy neutral, clear glass salad plate with a gold rim on top.

I play around with different chargers and settle on this clear one with a golden beaded edge. Though they look like glass, the chargers are actually plastic. $2.99 each from Hobby Lobby. Don’t they look elegant?

Stemware

Lenox water and wine glasses with a narrow gold rim are simple and elegant, focusing attention to the pretty vintage dinner plate. Wallace Napoleon Bee stainless with gold accents is a favorite flatware.

Yellow linen napkins from Sferra (see similar here) add a bit of spring color to the table. Detailed bird candles are placed around the centerpiece for another spring element.

The lighted candles in the Waterford crystal candlesticks provide a romantic glow.

The Menu

In order to provide meat for some, my husband prepares the steaks on the grill. A large salad and baked sweet potatoes with lemon (my favorite recipe is below), provides sustenance for the non-meat eaters.

Dessert is homemade rangpur tartlets (shared with you on a recent Saturday Meanderings) and is served on vintage Fondeville plates (which can be found on eBay).

The food is delicious and the company is delightful! What a lovely evening with friends and setting a special table always makes your guests feel welcomed.

Are you enjoying Spring weather? Any spring entertaining on the horizon?

If you enjoy this post, please share on Pinterest.

Hello and welcome to Saturday Meanderings! It’s hard to believe this is Saturday Meanderings #141. What started out as way to appreciate and note all good things happening weekly, Saturday Meanderings has become one of my favorite posts to write and thank you for your dedicated following. One sweet subscriber stated it feels like friends sitting across the table having a cup of coffee and catching up. Let’s get started to see what life has given us this week.

My Birthday this Week

Another birthday under my belt…it is a bit humbling to know that most of your life is in the rearview mirror. But the hope is that each and every day going forward is lived with intention and purpose. Mentally, I certainly don’t feel 68 (more like 25) and physically, well some days are better than others. Here’s to another year!

Bread Baking Experiment

My friend, Chloe (Celebrate and Decorate) sends me links to Instagram posts that feature unique bread baking techniques. I am a novice sourdough bread baker and love seeing the creativity of other bakers. Here are the inspiration pictures:

This week I try my hand at making my very first sourdough focaccia (recipe from The Perfect Loaf by Maurizio Leo). However, being my first try, I kept it more simple as I didn’t know how it would taste. Using cherry tomatoes, kalamata olives, fresh rosemary and sea salt, here is what my focaccia looks like before going in the oven.

Here is the focaccia after baking.

For years, literally, I have had a big bag of lace scraps in my garage. My mother bought it at a yard sale and gave it to me 40 years ago, at least. So, I try my hand at making the lace bread, but of course I don’t have the right ingredients (who has 100% black cacao powder on hand?).

The flavor of my sourdough bread is honey lavender (really good), but a black lace pattern on the top just doesn’t fit. I search my cupboards and find rose powder and 100% coca rouge powder~which actually sounds like the flavors would go with the honey lavender.

After sprinkling the powder combination on the dough, here is what it looks like.

At this point, I am rather excited because the pattern looks very pretty and I hope the flavors will enhance the taste of the bread.

Though some of the pattern is pronounced after baking, it is certainly far from the results of the inspiration photo. I am slightly disappointed, however, it just means I need to conduct further experiments!

My Online Store

If you haven’t noticed, there’s a tab at the top of the page that links you to my online store. I am considering eliminating the store as I set it up a long time ago and I do not replenish the inventory. However, this week someone purchased one of my favorite items~ a Meissen blue and white compote. A bit sad to see it go, but the buyer has been looking for a long time to find one. Sounds like it is going to a good home.

Check out my store as I am getting ready to update my website and will more than likely remove the inventory. If you see something you like, let me know.

Has This Happened to You?

In our library we have two arm chairs that are upholstered with a Waverly fabric (Olana). This is a medium-weight cotton fabric that has furniture upholstery as a suggested use. I notice the seat seems a bit dull and perhaps dirty so I use my trusty Little Green Bissell and clean the upholstery this week.

As evidenced by the very dirty water in the machine, I thought the seat cushion (especially the bird in the pattern) would return to the same color and intensity as the one on the back of the chair.

The library doesn’t get much, if any, direct light so I know the fabric isn’t faded, but the seat is clearly much more worn than the rest of the chair. This is a room that isn’t used often and really, the only time we sit in these chairs is during the winter, with the fireplace going. Our cat will sometimes nest on the chairs, but we have a towel down for his use. Not sure why the colors in the fabric could be worn down with little use.

I have more of the Waverly fabric and considering putting a piece over the original seat. Just checking to see if anyone else has had fabric color and patterns “wear down” with such little use and no exposure to the sun. Going to the expense of re-upholstering just the seat doesn’t seem worth it if the details of this fabric will fade or wear so easily?

So Many Poppies

This week the poppies are popping! Every day more of these sage green plants are putting out the most beautiful flowers.

There are so many poppies all over the property. Their beautiful blooms only last a few days and then they go to seed. Maybe it is time to make lemon poppyseed bread?

Finn Update

The puppy is growing so fast and his rascal personality is emerging. He is quick to steal a shoe or a blanket and run out of the house. He is getting more comfortable navigating the yard and is still cute as the dickens.

Here he is helping me pick oranges in the orchard, and “assisting” in putting down a clean Ruggable in the pool house.

Mary’s Must Haves

Our handheld frother that we use every day to mix things into our coffee (like Vital Proteins) finally died. My husband bought this one on Amazon and wow, what a difference! This frother is far more powerful and has two speeds. It’s astounding how much better it is that our last one (which was probably dying a slow death).

This frother has really great reviews and I can attest, it is the bomb. Priced at $18.49, here it is. After some muscling by my husband, the new frother fits in the old frother’s stand. But note that this brand, the stand is not included.

Do You Make Your Own Salad Dressing?

After discovering how easy it is to do so, I always have my lemon vinaigrette on hand and ready to go. If you aren’t convinced, here is an article from The Kitchn about her tasty homemade salad dressing. Though I haven’t tried her Homemade Italian Dressing, it’s on my list of things to make.

I will be ordering this salad dressing container, as I currently use a Mason jar which gets a little messy on the top. With excellent ratings (4.7) from over 10,000 reviews, this salad shaker is affordable at $11.95.

Merit Street Media

Though I never watch daytime television, I am sure you are familiar with Dr. Phil McGraw, an acclaimed host. What I recently discovered is that, after 26 years, Dr. Phil has left CBS and has created his own new media network called Merit Street Media.

Merit Street Media is a fully distributed cable, satellite, and free-over-the-air broadcast brand that reaches over 65 million television homes.

What I find amazing is that Dr. Phil and his wife, Robin are in their 70s, worth over $460 million dollars and could certainly spend the rest of their years playing golf and taking it easy. However, Dr. Phil is concerned about some of the issues occurring in America today and wants to have open conversations about it.

We watched our first episode this week and I am a fan. Merit Street Media is attempting to bring a balanced national news outlet that will lead to honest discussions and dialogue. In addition, other shows include Steve Harvey which focuses on a mentoring program to inspire young men. Nancy Grace will be hosting a crime series segment.

Since I stopped watching mainstream news 4 years ago, I am hoping this new network will provide viewers with a fresh approach and a high degree of integrity. Merit Street Media just launched April 1st and check out your local listings for access…and it is free. How novel.

Have a fabulous weekend. We are busy with a few events but hope to relax a bit with our buddy, Finn and enjoy our glorious spring weather.

Happy Easter weekend! We are back in town with our new little (well, not so little) puppy. Next week I will share our cross country adventures and introduce you to the handsome fella. With Easter being so early this year, the weatherman is predicting chilly temperatures and rain. So much for eating outside and enjoying the spring weather on Sunday. It’s that time again and welcome to Saturday Meanderings, where we chat about all good things these past 2 weeks, as I missed last week.

Daughter’s Birthday dinner party

Luckily, our daughter is home for her birthday and we had a casual dinner party celebrating both her birthday and St. Patrick’s Day.

With 12 guests, I make 2 of my Guinness pot pies, a large salad and two desserts~Baileys Irish cream cheesecake and a London Fog cake (Julianna’s request). These tried and true recipes are always a hit.

Annual Shamrock Run

Fortunately, after indulging in so many good calories, my daughter and I get up early the following morning to participate in the annual Shamrock Run. It is chilly and rainy, but we felt blessed to see a rainbow before the race started.

Julianna ran the 10K with both her dogs (just amazing!) and I thought I would just walk the 5K. However, at the starting line everyone around me started running and in order to keep up, I, too, started running. Please note that after 3 knee surgeries my doctor advises me not to run anymore. I don’t know what came over me but I ran about 60% of the race and placed 5th in my age category. Not without consequences, though.

I could hardly walk later that day and of course, my knee ballooned up a bit. What was I thinking?!? Nonetheless, it is a fun run with all sorts of outrageous St. Patrick’s Day attire. Plus I never want to miss out of an opportunity to do something with my children. I am trying to turn off the voice in my head that is saying, “Mary, you are too old for this”.

Fruit picking

It’s that time of year where we need to glean all the citrus trees. Sweet smelling blossoms are now opening on most of the trees. Removing this year’s crop of fruit will help the production of next year’s crop.

In our orchard we have 12 citrus trees ranging from oranges to kumquats to grapefruits. With our abundance of fruit, we ship boxes of fruit to family and friends and donate the rest.

Picking fruit equals many arm scratches, so I finally put on my Farmers Defense sleeves, which are a must for any gardener. They come in various designs and you can find them here. Really love this product!

Our Yard this Time of Year

Easter and Spring is when our yard looks its best~mostly around mid-to-late April. A few trees are still bare and will bud later, but the flowers and the lawn are at their prime.

Rose Garden and New Book

The rose bushes in the garden look so healthy and vibrant. A few buds are appearing and I am trying to keep an eye out for aphids, which generally are in abundance this time of year.

I have always wanted to truly learn about roses, but I’m a bit of a weekend gardener. Do you follow Grace Rose Farm on Instagram @gracerosefarm? The photos are always so gorgeous and you can order both cut flowers and rose plants directly from them. I recently received her book, Garden Roses and it is a complete guide to growing and arranging roses.

Currently reading this book to up my roses game. Note: I thought the book would be coffee table book size but it is smaller, which I like. The photos are just stunning and it’s written is a way that is easy to understand.

Making Easter Baskets

A quick trip to Target this week results in some great finds for Easter and Easter baskets. How cute are these fabric, bottom weighted chickens with spectacles?!? At $3.00 a piece, you can find them in their dollar section at the store entrance. I cannot find these online so they must be an in-store special.

I love making Easter baskets and like to find a container that serves a purpose afterwards. These coil rope baskets with leather (pleather?) handles by Brightroom are wonderful storage containers. They come in various sizes but I have the 11″ one here and they are currently on sale for $8.00.

In the basket, there is a bottle of rosé Prosecco, chocolate bunnies, various toiletries-deodorant, facial masks, favorite candies and a wonderful smelling candle. Another Target find at the Threshold section (Studio McGee’s line), this 3 wick candle comes in a matte ceramic container and the scent (Citron and Sands) is fabulous. A bargain for such a large candle at $17.00.

Flower Pressing

Do you remember the post about making your own framed botanical artwork? If not, here it is. In order to press the flowers, I use all of our big books, which is cumbersome.

But Rachel, from The Ponds Farmhouse is very creative with a super handy husband. I love this flower press they make from scrap materials.

Rachel puts her beautiful touches on it using a flower motif. I certainly could have used this when making my botanical artwork. What a wonderful way to preserve the beauty of your garden and yard. You can see Rachel’s blog post here. I think I may ask my husband to make this….

What Am I Reading?

My friend, Andrea recommends listening to this book . However, I read it instead and it is SO good. I imagine it is excellent whether you read or listen to it. It has over 10,000 reviews with 4.6 stars and is a best seller on Amazon. I highly recommend The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon. So well done. Now I need to read her other novels, Code Name Hélèna and I Was Anastasia. Is anyone familiar with this author?

Mary’s Must Haves

As you can see in some of the photos above, I really love this lightweight polyester vest from 32 Degrees. Originally, I bought mine at Costco, but inventory there is certainly hit or miss. Amazon sells this same brand in 6 colors and it has a 4.6 rating.

Also Amazon has a similar looking one for less money and in 12 colors (currently 50% off), but I cannot verify the quality. However, with over 13,000 reviews and a 4.4 rating, it may be a good product. I actually might purchase one and try it out as I like some of the color choices.

What I love about this vest is that it is very light, packable, and washable. During these Spring days when it is warm one minute and cold the next, it is perfect for me, especially in our drafty old home.

I own a blue and olive green one and depending on the weather, it works well with long or short sleeves. I’m 5’4″ and am wearing a Small. This yellow one is particularly cute, isn’t it?

Great Rubber Shoes

These Sloggers are my go-to shoes when it’s wet or muddy outside. They are perfect for gardening too. My very first pair was a gift from my friend, Janie and not only are they cute, but oh so comfortable. Now I own two pairs and one set of boots.

With 24 designs to choose from, you can be slogging through the mud in style. I typically wear a 7.5 woman’s shoe size so the size 8 works out well.

I could go on and on today, but there are hot cross buns and babka bread to be made for Easter Sunday. Wishing you a blessed holiday weekend. Please look for my post next week where I will share all the details of this handsome guy!

Another rainy and chilly few days here in the Valley of the Sun. My garden is very happy about the additional moisture and of course, the cooler temperatures are always appreciated. Happy St. Patrick’s Day weekend! Tonight we are hosting a dinner party celebrating our daughter, Julianna’s 27th birthday. I will be serving my two favorite recipes which I did share with you this week. Welcome to another Saturday Meanderings, where we chat about all good things this week.

Hosting a Cocktail Mixer

As you may know, I sit on the board for our neighborhood association. This week we hosted a cocktail mixer to introduce people to the association and recruit new board members. With about 40 people attending, I am hoping a caterer will help out with hors d’oeuvres, however, my favorite person is not available.

Using the large round wooden board from Sur La Table, with the help of Costco and Safeway, I create a charcuterie board using cheeses, meats, fruits, nuts and crackers.

Nasturtiums are abundant in the garden right now, and it’s amazing how a pop of color can take your charcuterie board up a notch.

Store-bought French macarons from Costco and lemon yogurt covered pretzels from Safeway make for a colorful Spring dessert tray.

This is the first time buying the Green Chili Chicken Firecrackers from Costco. A quick bake in the oven, it’s always nice to serve a warm/hot appetizer. By cutting them in half, this became a one-bite finger food. I didn’t try them but the tray was nearly empty, so I’m guessing they tasted good.

No photographs but in addition, there is a vegetable tray with hummus dip, fresh shrimp on ice with cocktail sauce, small bowls of cashews, garlic herb almonds and salt and vinegar potato chips.

All in all a very productive and fun meeting.

Gardening Update

This week I plant 6 brand new San Marzano tomato plants. I love this variety of tomatoes as it makes the best sauce. Five out of the 6 plants are missing….just gone. What? For years now, I have grown tomato plants and the critters have never expressed any interest in them. Who/What is eating my tomato plants?

Scattering seeds this week in the garden. I love growing chamomile for its delicate flower and scent~wonderful to dry or make tea. Even though the growing season for chervil is short, it makes a tasty salad.

The castor bean seeds are a new experiment and not even sure it will grow here. Now in doing some research apparently the seed and leaves can be really toxic so I may pull the plants if they grow. Here I thought castor beans = castor oil, all good for you, right? Geez. Not the brightest thing I’ve done.

Do You Take Magnesium?

Gaia Herbs posts an informative article about magnesium. Do you take this mineral that supports muscles and bones, energy, brain function, and so much more? Here is the article and it appears I need to do further research about this.

Currently, I take Magnesium Lactate as this was recommended to me after having low magnesium via a hair mineral analysis years ago. Taking a bath and using Epsom salts is another way to absorb magnesium into your body. Will do a deeper dive and let you know what I discover.

From the Internet

With warmer weather prompting Spring growth, it is also weed season. Stacy from Bricks ‘n Blooms has a very informative post about Homemade Weed Killer and other natural ways to kill weeds.

If you are using weed killers with glyphosate, there is evidence of its connection with cancer. With so many chemicals in our gardening world, please find an organic way to control weeds.

This time of year I love to tackle small Spring cleaning projects. Barbara from Mantel and Table will get you motivated to clean out your linens drawer(s) with her post on Storing Napkins~How to Organize a Beautiful Linen Drawer.

Do you stop for roadside freebies? I am guilty of doing so with this set of Adirondack chairs. Check out how my friend, Rachel from the Ponds Farmhouse transforms these resin planters into DIY faux Concrete ones. It’s probably good that Rachel and I do not live near each other! Ha!

Since my goal is to always post beautiful things, I consider this next post valuable to keep all of us safe. Since I drive a very old car, I don’t have a wireless or remote starter to the ignition. But since many of you do, please read this very informative article for your own personal safety and to prevent your car being stolen while pumping gas.

Mary’s Must Haves

If you have the sourdough bread making bug, then this starter set is a must have for your baking. It is 27% off this week at $39.99. Not baking sourdough bread yet? This is also a great gift for someone who does.

Speaking of bread, my sweet friend and neighbor, Tevia, ordered some dehydrated sourdough starter from the internet and shared some with me this week. Yes, you can order starter from around the world and rehydrate it.

There is one that is several decades old from San Francisco, and with it I make this nice looking loaf of cheddar, rosemary and garlic bread. I will post this recipe shortly~it’s a family favorite. It is fun to experiment with different starters.

Cake Pans

After purchasing my favorite cake cookbook, Layered, I realize that I do not have good cake pans. Yesterday, in making the London Fog cake (a request from my daughter, Julianna, for her birthday), I want to share these cake pans that I love.

The cake recipe requires three 8″ round cake pans and these from Fat Daddies do not disappoint. It’s amazing that just having the right equipment makes such a difference in the success of the recipe.

I am in the process of trying to consolidate all my Mary’s Must Haves. There will be tab at the top of my home page where you will be able to find all the items and their associated links. Hope to have that complete in a week or two.

Tonight, for the birthday celebration for our daughter’s 27th birthday (which is actually on St. Patrick’s Day), I am busy in the kitchen making 2 Guinness beef pies, a Bailey’s Irish Creme cheese cake, my favorite arugula salad and of course, the London Fog birthday cake.

On Sunday, I am doing a 5k/10k with said daughter in order to work off some of the calories from the night before!

Next week, we are heading to Virginia to pick up our new puppy. I am not sure if I will have the opportunity to post, but I hope to share pictures of our journey (and our new little fella) along the way.

Until we chat again, have a wonderful weekend, a fun St. Patrick’s Day and we will connect soon!

Just a reminder that any words that are italicized bring you to the source. If it is a product on Amazon, please note that I am an Amazon Affiliate. If you purchase something through my website, I receive a small (very small!) stipend, which doesn’t affect the price you pay at all. My goal is to make sourcing the items easy for you. Thank you for your continued support.