How can it truly be the last Saturday of April? Happy Saturday and weekend to you. This week seem to move along rather quickly for me and I am ready to slow things down once again. Thanks for joining me today as we chat about all good things this week.

Tackling Another House Project

I truly love my kitchen. It is the hub of our home where everyone gathers, cooks, socializes and is the most used room in the house. As a result, of course, it tends to get a bit messy. Daily cleaning is typical for dishes and counters; weekly the floors and rugs get washed. But when was the last time I cleaned out each and every cupboard? I mean really clean~sorting, tossing what isn’t used, wiping down the shelves, replacing the shelf paper, etc.

This project started this week. So far, I have thoroughly cleaned 16 spaces (cupboards, drawers, shelves) and still have 37 to go. My goal is to complete this project before house guests arrive on May 6th. Naturally it has been all consuming. But there is a slight giddiness when I open a space and see the transformation.

Here is a kitchen drawer before:

And here it is after. All the expired aspirin and vitamins are gone. Similar items are together and organized. It is such a feeling of freedom, right?

A cupboard that holds mostly tea and beverage related items gets a good overhaul. The shelves are scrubbed clean and old labels removed.

Here is the before:

And here is after cleaning and organizing.

Making Focaccia for the First Time

My son, Benjamin, makes focaccia bread all the time. Surprisingly, I have never made it. So this week I decide to try my hand at it, using my sourdough starter, not commercial dry yeast. I add olives, fresh rosemary and a good sprinkling of sea salt. Up to this point, it looks good.

Well, it was a total flop. I think I over proofed it and rushed the process. Other than eating the olives off the top, it was added to the kitchen trash. I will definitely try it again and maybe follow the directions this time?

Have you Ever Made a Hand Knit Blanket?

I finally finish a chunky chenille yarn blanket in a blush pink. It’s a graduation gift for my daughter’s friend, who happens to love the white chunky yarn blanket I made for Elisabeth. Personally, I am an abysmal knitter, but this hand knit blanket is relatively easy and something I can do.

The yarn is from Joann’s Fabric (I order it online) and it comes in 16 colors. It took 6 skeins and the finished size is approximately 3 feet by 5 feet. A fun and doable project~coming from someone that doesn’t have a knitting skill set. There are many tutorials online too.

Flower Botanical Art Work

This week on the blog is an easy DIY Botanical Artwork that you can make with supplies around your house. If you missed it you can see it here. Being curious, I try this same technique but with flowers.

With only enough time to make two of them, what do you think?

Do You Wear Sunscreen?

I try to wear sunscreen on my face and neck all year round. But as the weather gets warmer, especially here in the Valley of the Sun, protecting your skin from the sun is important. Here are two products that I LOVE and use every day.

Colorscience Brush-On Sunscreen Mineral Powder is a substitute for my face powder every day. I also keep one in the car for those long drives where the left side of my face is exposed to the sun. It’s $69.00 and comes in 4 colors. Though a bit pricey, I can honestly say it seems to last forever. You can find it on Amazon here.

I LOVE this product. Again, Colorscience Total Eye 3-in-1 Anti-Aging Renewal Therapy. It immediately brightens and corrects dark circles, while smoothing fine lines and wrinkles. I wear contact lenses and this product does not bother me at all. It has the added benefit of protecting your delicate skin around the eyes with a broad spectrum SPF35. It is a bit pricey at $79.00 but I am still using the tube I bought in June 2022. Comes in 4 colors and you can find it here.

Do you wear sunscreen on your face and neck every day?

New Show We are Watching

We just started watching this yesterday but I am intrigued by the concept of arranged marriages. Though this show is into Season 3, I am just learning about it and starting Season 1. In Indian Matchmaking, Mumbai’s premier matchmaker Sima Taparia, draws from decades of experiences, insights and traditional methods to help single people find their perfect matches. You can find it on Netflix.

Dreaming About an English Cottage?

Nestled in a quiet enclave on the outskirts of Rugby in Warwickshire is this charming four-bedroom thatched cottage…..and it is FOR SALE! Check out the gorgeous pictures and dreamy landscape here. I just found this website and it has a plethora of homes, cottages, apartments for sale~lots of eye candy!

Proud Moments

My youngest child, Elisabeth, is getting ready to graduate college shortly. She attends the Barrett Honors College at Arizona State University and her undergraduate requirement is to write and present a thesis. This week she presented her defense on Monday to her professors and I had the honor of watching her as it was held virtually. Not only did she pass, but the comments by her professors made all her efforts worthwhile.

Elisabeth is a Criminal Justice major and is currently interning at the County Medical Examiners Office~makes me cringe a bit but she seems to be learning a great deal about dead bodies.

Well, that’s a wrap for the last Saturday Meanderings in April. Have a spectacular weekend! Do you have any fun plans?

This is my 100th Saturday Meanderings post. For the centennial post, I would like to thank you from the bottom of my heart for your dedication and loyalty every Saturday. I recently heard a sad statistic that over 50% of Americans feel lonely or profoundly lonely. However, so many of you feel like close friends to me and this blog. You are my blessings and our friendship, either in person or virtual, provide my life with great joy. So for the 100th time and In true fashion, let’s get started on chatting about all good things this week. Don’t forget to check out the giveaway below too.

Easter Recap

After Easter service at church, we have a sit-down brunch/lunch with our children (minus our son), their significant others and friends outside under the palm trees.

The menu consists of: lemon ricotta pancakes and fresh berries; Belgian waffles with strawberries and whipped cream, fresh fruit salad, arugula salad with lemon dressing, hot cross buns, bacon, sausage and a spinach quiche. Dessert is the traditional lamb cake, made with Ambitious Kitchen’s healthy gluten-free carrot cake recipe (a winner!).

I love this hot cross bun recipe and only make it once a year. But this year, the buns look perfect going into the oven, more so than any previous year. When the baking timer goes off, I am so excited to take them out of the oven. Unfortunately, I didn’t video the moment because no sooner did I get them out of the oven, that the handle to the ceramic baking dish broke off. The entire pan of freshly baked hot cross buns fell out of my hand, crashes to the floor, shattering the dish and ruining my beautiful buns. Ugh.

But things took a turn for the better when a few minutes after the hot cross bun clean up, my family comes into the kitchen with a birthday surprise (my birthday was Monday, April 10th). Pretty flowers, gifts and 2 of my favorite Chardonnays! All in all the day is a beautiful one~great food, gorgeous weather and lively conversation.

Whether you celebrate Easter or not, I hope your day was filled with love and joy.

Powdery Mildew

Due to all the rain and cooler spring temperatures, my rose garden looks fabulous. However, within a matter of days, I now have powdery mildew. Typically the rose mildew occurs with excessive humidity (which we do not have). Since I don’t want to use chemicals, I am going to try a mixture of one part milk to 10 parts water and spray it on the affected leaves. If you have a natural remedy for powdery mildew, please do share.

In inspecting the powdery mildew situation, I also find aphids. Sigh.

Gardens are like that. Just when you think things are going well, something else comes up. I guess that’s why gardening keeps you humble.

This Week’s Projects

Speaking of gardens, the white picket fence surrounding my vegetable garden finally has a fresh coat of paint. What a difference it makes! My husband gets credit for completing this project!

Now that the guest cottage remodel is complete (see it here if you missed it), I am now back to tackling one room at a time. Most of this week is cleaning up the office and art room. Back in 2020, I shared a peek into our home office. Hard to believe it’s gotten so messy since then.

Here’s a look at a clean office, which is my inspiration. Again, I am wondering if it’s time to get rid of the dark ebony finish on the bookcases and do something else~like blue? Your thoughts?

A little Saturday Meanderings History

When I started writing Saturday Meanderings in 2020, the very first post was after a mother/daughter trip to Vancouver, Canada. Elisabeth and I crossed back into the United States and the very next day, the borders were shut down due to the pandemic.

When I look back over those difficult years, collectively, through this blog, we endured the fear, sadness, loneliness and pain from COVID. The goal of this blog is to continue to spread kindness, a bit of sunshine and civility while sharing tips, tricks and information.

In order to celebrate the 100th edition, I would like to giveaway a beautiful book, An American in Provence: Art, Life and Photography. Written by Jamie Beck, she transports you to the South of France. Her book is part art, part travelogue, part memoir, and part cookbook. It is perfect for art lovers, Francophiles, and armchair travelers alike. 

I am slowly making my way through this book, devouring each and every page.

Just write a comment below about what you like about Saturday Meanderings (or don’t like, I suppose!). Names will be put into a bowl and a winner will be selected. The winner will be announced next Saturday.

Around the Internet

I know I have mentioned this before, but I just love reading my friend, Kim’s blog on Sunday. Called Shiplap and Shells, Kim is a self-taught gardener, a fabulous photographer and she lives in the sweetest home on the water in the Pacific Northwest. Just reading her blog makes you happy. I highly recommend reading Saturday Meanderings on Saturday and Kim’s Saltwater Sounds on Sunday.

Do you love deviled eggs? We certainly do and even though my husband prefers his version the best, I like trying other recipes. Michele from Vintage Home Designs shares 3 recipes and the way to make perfect hard boiled eggs. You can see it here.

As I wrap up this 100th Saturday Meandering post, I can only hope that the next 100 posts will be as fun and rewarding. Again, my deepest thanks for your support. I am always very grateful when you share Life at Bella Terra with others, too. Wishing you a fantastic weekend!

The guest cottage renovation is complete. This is not a comprehensive renovation, but enough to make it feel fresh and functional. My daughter and her two dogs and one cat made this their home for 3 years. Normal wear and tear plus pets…well you get the picture. Here is the guest house remodel reveal and I hope you enjoy the changes.

New Exterior Paint

One side of the guest cottage is constantly exposed to the brutal southern sun. The rest of the building is heavily shaded and as a result, the paint lasts longer there. With a very weathered and faded south side, it is time to completely paint the outside. Even though I spent some time wondering if a different color would be better, I realize that I love the green as it seamlessly blends in with the surrounding foliage.

The exterior siding needs some love and attention as cracks are filled and repairs made.

Here are my paint selections:

Body of the guest house: Sherwin Williams Basil SW6194 in satin

Trim: Sherwin Williams Khaki SW8067 in eggshell

The Shutters

The shutters are French, very old and apparently they have been hanging the wrong way for numerous years.Before, the shutters on the cottage were painted a dark blackish green called Black Hills SW 1189.

However, the painters inadvertently painted the shutters the body color (Basil). Actually, it is a happy mistake because I think I actually like the lighter color this time around.

The red on the doors and decorative trim is the same red on the barn and the hen house, which is Ralph Lauren Barn Red. Since these 3 structures are somewhat near each other, I want the color palette to be cohesive.

Our painters did not want to do the decorative trim paint, so I use one of my artist brushes and complete the details.

Here is the after picture of the exterior. I still need to do more landscaping and with all the winds recently, need to clean off the roof. It’s amazing how a fresh coat of paint just makes everything look so much better.

New Side Door

The side door (again on the south side) leading into the kitchen has such deterioration that it requires replacement. Also, the door trim is rotted and must be removed.

In addition, the front door screen never fit correctly. My contractor retrofits it with new hinges and finally the screen door is tight to the frame.

Regarding the windows, the screens also did not fit well. Each one is planed and sanded and now is secure to the window frame. A big improvement to keep out any little bugs.

Overall Updates

All the old interior can lights are replaced with new Halo LED ones. I particularly like this brand because it has 5 color temperature options from warm (2700K) to daylight (5000K) and are also dimmable.

All plugs and light switches, which are yellowing, are changed out to bright white. What a difference these two electrical changes make to the overall updated look of the guest cottage.

The living room and bedroom have wall-to-wall carpeting while the kitchen and bathroom have hardwood floors. Just having the carpet cleaned by a professional company, Zerorez is a huge improvement. Zerorez does not use soaps or harsh chemicals. Their patented technology cleans with Zr Water® – a powerful cleaner that is non-toxic and completely safe for people, pets, and the planet. I highly recommend them.

Kitchen Updates

A yellowing, dated microwave is replaced with a new stainless steel one. Since my daughter absconds with most of the pots, pans and dishes, and flatware everything is replaced with new items. Small appliances like a toaster, Nespresso machine and tea pot are also new.

But most importantly, all the chips, bumps and bruises to the wood work and cabinets are cleaned and repainted or touched up. Even the scratches on the hardwood floor are fixed with a wood stain marker.

Every drawer and cabinet have cute shelf paper liners.

New area rugs add a bit of fun to the kitchen too! The Studio McGee Threshold line at Target does have an attractive and affordable selection of rugs. This skid resistant 5’x7′ cotton blend woven rug compliments the kitchen colors and adds some pattern to the room.

Living Room

This sofa is ancient…I believe I bought it in 1982 from Ethan Allen. However, it is well built with a hardwood frame. But as you can see it desperately needs an overhaul. If you have an old sofa with a hardwood frame, it’s worth recovering. My upholsterer is so impressed with the inner workings of this sofa, which is also happens to be a sofa bed.

With a new whiter fabric and reducing the cushions from 3 seat cushions to two, the sofa looks much more contemporary and attractive.

I’m not sure I like the glass waterfall coffee table. Since it sort of disappears, I suppose I can live with it. Tell me if you love it or hate it.

The small scale highboy provides workspace or a place to write or read.

Bedroom

There is such history in the bedroom. The Victorian bed was once owned by a famous pianist from San Francisco whose list of friends included John Philip Sousa.

Color combinations include both shades of blue and green. All new queen size bed linens and pillows just give the room a fresh update. A scallop edge matelassè coverlet is put to use as a bedskirt.

One of my favorite pieces of furniture is this green chest of drawers with Asian details, acquired in an auction. The simple round 30″ mirror is from Target for $59.99. All the woven cordless shades are from Factory Direct Blinds. They are identical to the ones we have in the pool house and I love the way they look with drapes.

Remember these curtains I got from Home Depot for a penny? I’m sure it was an error but look how fun they are in this bedroom.

Bathroom

Wear and tear on a bathroom is common. New and additional lighting helps brighten up the space.

In a previous post, I shared how we installed more hardwood flooring under the stackable washer/dryer (glad that project is complete!). It is so much easier to slide the unit in and out now.

Small but important things like soaking the shower head to remove mineral deposits, adding a towel rack, painting the baseboards and deep cleaning the walls and ceiling help make this room sparkle.

All of the interior improvements with the exception of some electrical work, are done by my husband and I. We are very pleased with the outcome and now look forward to welcoming guests to visit.

Thanks for visiting the blog today and I hope you enjoyed seeing the photos of the guest house rejuvenation.

If you enjoy this post, please share on Pinterest.

It’s hard to believe that this is the last Saturday Meanderings in February. Next week is March where, hopefully, Spring is just around the corner. Happy Saturday and thanks for joining me today! I love writing this post as it is a time where we can catch up on all good things this week.

Guest Cottage Update

The exterior of the guest cottage is painted. Even though the painters failed to use the correct color paint on the antique shutters, I think it is a happy mistake. Originally the shutters were painted a very dark blackish green, but this time, the shutters are painted the same color as the body of the cottage. I actually like it so, like I said, a happy mistake!

The painters did not want to paint the details around the front door, so I took care of that this week.

Attending an Art Class

If you live in this area, you know what a gem The Hermosa Inn is to our community. Not only is it a lovely place to stay or dine, but they hold fun classes on the weekends. Last Saturday, thanks to my husband for buying tickets, my friend, Tevia and I attend an acrylic class called Mimosas and Monet.

The class is taught by artist Carrie Curran out on the patio of the beautiful inn. For 3 hours, we sipped on mimosas and had step-by-step artistic instruction. The above painting is the inspiration for the class. Aprons, canvases, paints, brushes and easels are provided.

Certainly a fun way to spend a Saturday morning with a dear friend!

Cleaning an Oven

The double ovens in my kitchen have a self-cleaning option, which is really a gift. Unfortunately, the gas stove in the guest cottage does not have that, and I can honestly say it has been a LONG time since I’ve cleaned an oven.

The inside of this oven is so gross. It took me two days, two cans of Easy-off oven cleaner, but it now looks brand new. This picture doesn’t do it justice~grease caked on the sides, bottom and top of the oven, oven racks thick with icky cooked on food remnants.

Not the best picture, but trust me, this oven is 1000% cleaner! Oh happy days!

Making Candied Orange Peels

With March just around the corner, I am trying a few new Irish recipes. One of the recipes I’ve never heard of before (and will write a post about it soon) called for candied orange peels. Since we are in the height of citrus season here, all it takes is a quick trip to the orchard with fresh oranges in hand.

Perhaps the most challenging part is trying to get long strips of orange peel off the orange. Cook in sugar water and simmer. Dry the orange peels on a rack and then toss them in sugar. Relatively easy and they do add a bit of sunshine to the recipe. Here’s the link to the recipe.

Love this Litter!

When our sweet girls found 2 kittens in our yard, the agreement was that I would never clean the litter box. Personally, I cannot stand the smell and it was supposed to be a good lesson in animal care responsibility. Fast forward to now and the children gone, and now guess who cleans the litter box?

My friend, Christine, recommends this product called Pretty Litter. I cannot tell you how much I love this litter as it creates NO ODOR. It’s more expensive than typical cat litter, but my goodness, I am such a fan. Not only does it trap odor, but it monitors your cat’s urine health (color indicator for pH and blood).

Here is the direct link to their website.

Cooking Class this Week

A dear friend of ours is such an advocate for eating a plant-based diet. She hosted a cooking class this week at her home. It was informative as we watched the chef and nutritionist explain that plant-based eating is not only healthy but can be tasty too.

The nutritionist recommends eating 35 different vegetables (and fruits, I think) per week. Do you eat a lot of vegetables? In my stir-fry above, I have red bell pepper, snap peas, cauliflower, mushrooms, onion, and garlic contributing 6 veggies toward my 35. And yes, there is chicken in this dish.

Also, I find that if I pre-slice mushrooms and cut up the veggies before hand, freeze them in ziplock bags, then it is easier to throw all of this together for a quick and healthy meal.

Eat your fruits and veggies, folks!

What I was doing a Year ago?

In scanning through last year’s pictures, I realized I did a post on drying roses. Quite honestly, I forgot about these roses and now you can see what they look like after 1 year of drying. See the blog post here.

What project can I make with these? Maybe something for Easter? It would have been nice to remember them for Valentine’s Day but that obviously didn’t happen. Would love your thoughts and suggestions.

From Around the Internet

My spice cabinet is one hot mess. Looking for a particular spice is so very frustrating. It’s on my list of many things to do when I finally get to the kitchen (I am working my way from one corner of the house to the other).

Michele from Vintage Home Designs does a spice cabinet refresh. The spice jars she uses are cute and different. Check it out here.

When I was growing up, I loved rearranging my bedroom. Courtney, from the French Country Cottage shares her living room with 5 different configurations. So if you are thinking about a Spring refresh, you may get some ideas from Courtney’s post. If nothing else, you will love her pictures.

I want to try this….a 3 ingredient dish that takes 20 minutes? Has anyone tasted Trader Joe’s cauliflower gnocchi? This entrée from Kitchn sounds delicious and healthy too. Looks like I need a trip to Trader Joe’s this week.

Well, happy weekend, friends! We have house guests and our daughter is visiting for the weekend. It’s supposed to get really chilly again on Sunday and Monday. I am ready to plant our Spring garden but we are not out of the frost danger yet.

January is coming to an end….wow. But instead of this month feeling like a blur, my month, surprisingly, is more intentional and productive. I am beginning to think that the key to slowing down life is to being more deliberate each and every day. How did your January pan out? Nonetheless, it’s the weekend and time for Saturday Meanderings where we chat about all good things.

Our Anniversary

Last Saturday we celebrated our 28th wedding anniversary~where did the time go? We didn’t do anything special or out of the ordinary, but I did receive a beautiful bouquet of red roses. Here’s a picture of our wedding day in January 1995.

Wrapping up our 28 day reset

For the last 28 days (Sunday will be the 28th day), we have been doing the Fast Metabolism Diet. I plan to weigh myself tomorrow, but I believe I’ve become a bit leaner. With no caffeine, no alcohol, no sugar, no dairy, no wheat, no soy and no cheating, the reset is nearly complete. We did love the recipes in this book and will continue to make them.

However, I do want my cup of coffee in the morning and look forward to that on Monday. Other than an occasional cocktail, I am surprised how I didn’t really miss anything else. My husband would like to do it for another 28 days. I’m not so sure about that!

If you are looking to make a diet change, and can eat within 30 minutes of waking, and have 3 meals a day and two snacks, I highly recommend this 28 day reset.

Lower Heart Rate

The Health app on my phone recently sent me a notification about my resting heart rate. On average, my resting heart rate is 7 beats lower per minute than before. I am not sure if that is due to the 28 day reset program or my goal of slow and intentional living. Regardless, I will take it. My resting heart rate has always been around 72 beats per minute, not 77. What a nice update to receive!

Updating my Christmas card list

Do you send Christmas cards? We do every year with a family letter. I like documenting where everyone is in life, because over time, I forget some of the details. At the end of the holiday season, I take our received Christmas cards and try to update addresses, name changes (weddings) or deaths.

Well, I haven’t done this for the last 3 years and this week, I finally went through all the Christmas cards and updated our mailing list. Doesn’t seem like a big deal, but being able to discard 3 years worth of Christmas cards did feel like an accomplishment. Fortunately, I keep a digital address list through the resource we purchase our cards (Minted) and can make changes anytime.

Thinking Ahead to Spring

This week I received my flower seeds from Floret Farms. We are still in danger of frost (below freezing this week) until the end of February. But already, I am planning my garden and looking forward to a successful planting season soon.

Two years ago, I had great success with their sunflowers.

Not only are they stunning to have in the garden, but the sunflowers attract peach faced lovebirds (lots of them).

Needless to say, but I am looking forward to having these huge happy flowers in my garden this year.

Projects This Week

~Master Closet

Slow and steady… I am getting things done around here. Three years ago I shared a post about cleaning the Master Closet. Boy, back then it was in a very cluttered state. Fast forward to 2023 and the master closet is slightly messy but not nearly as bad as it was in 2020.

The shelves need wiping down; blouses and shirts could use adjusting on the hangers; some shoes require cleaning and time to thin out clothing, suitcases and bags.

Using Clorox disinfectant wipes, all dirt is removed from heels and shoe sets are lined up by heel size. It’s surprising how little cleaning projects like this make such a big difference.

~Cedar Closet

Not sure I’ve ever shown our cedar closet but it is a small room off of the master closet. I will do a future blog post on how I organized all the pillows, linens and stuff filling this closet.

~ Planting Tulip Bulbs

After refrigerating the tulip bulbs from Longfield Gardens since October, it is time to plant them here in Phoenix. Sixty holes (my hands hurt!) and these precious bulbs are set into the ground. They are already sprouting so I have high hopes for apricot tulips in the spring.

Thrifting Finds and other Goodies

In my attempts this year to really watch finances, I am not someone who does alot of shopping. However, this week a friend of mine is helping another friend downsize and move. In our conversation she mentions silver pieces and old furniture that will go to donation and my ears perk up.

Though the pieces need some work and love, I find these two particularly unusual. One is a chair which looks like a normal chair…

Until you flip the top of the chair back and it becomes prayer chair. Obviously this piece needs refinishing and reupholstering, but isn’t it fabulous?

Look at this sweet desk! Again, it needs repair but the inlaid details, the leather top and the side drawers are spectacular touches.

I cannot wait to work on this and bring it back to life. Quite honestly, I have never seen a desk like this but it feels European.

Goodbye Shiplap, Hello Dark Woods

You know, if you wait long enough, everything comes back in style. According to Pure Wow, traditional touches and dark woods are all the rage this year. It is called Historic Heritage. The article is interesting and worth reading. You can find it here. Maybe I am finally back in style?!?

If you missed my Tuesday post, I share my favorite lemon recipes. You can see it here.

Do you know that over time I have written 18 posts on Valentine’s Day? Next week I hope to consolidate those into what I think are the best ideas for the upcoming holiday. As a last minute decision, we will be having our formal Valentine’s Day dinner party so my mind is swirling with all sorts of ideas.

Happy Saturday, friends! That’s another wrap for Saturday Meanderings. I know I am getting close to the 100th version of this Saturday post and will be having a few giveaways to celebrate. Enjoy the rest of your weekend and stay safe out there.