holidays

We always look forward to going to our cabin for the July 4th holiday. It is much cooler in the mountains of Arizona and this area has a nice small town feel. The highlight is the July 4th parade, which started many years ago by a wonderful neighbor who believed this holiday needed proper celebrating.

Parade Cancelled

Yesterday, we received word that the parade is cancelled this year. My heart sank as it is just one more thing to adjust to during this pandemic. Intellectually I understand, but emotionally, I was really looking forward to it. And our governor has imposed a 30-day lockdown….again. But we will prevail and keep our spirits up. What choice do we have.

Not only is this parade quite fun but every year thousands of dollars is raised through t-shirt sales and donations supporting the local fire department. Being in the mountains, our firefighters are true heroes as the threat of devastating fires is common during our hot summer months. I am hoping there is still a way to donate?

Nonetheless, we will celebrate our independence and freedom in the true spirit of red, white and blue. Today’s post is a compilation of patriotic celebrations over the past few years. Since I barely know what day it is, I haven’t thought ahead on how I will set the table nor what foods I will prepare. But for some reason, like Christmas, it all comes together, right?

Patriotic Brunch

Our July 4th morning starts with a patriotic brunch and I do serve the same dishes every year. Perhaps I should try something new but these recipes continue to be crowd pleasers.

The egg casserole can be served hot or cold~it’s delicious either way. Hard to believe I shared this with you in 2016! Click here for the recipe.

A tried and true coffee cake recipe can be adjusted each year depending on what fruit you have. My 2017 recipe includes raspberries, but it can be made with peaches, pears, apples, or blueberries. Click here for the recipe.

Since we need our fruits and vegetables there is always a green salad and a fruit salad. Our guests tend to linger after the parade so I make a charcuterie board for nibbling. Ha! I just realized I made a 6 pointed star vs. a 5 pointed star with the cheese! I get an A for effort….Here’s the link to the charcuterie board.

Can’t have brunch without a dessert! I was rather ambitious in 2018 when I baked this impressive red, white and blue 8 layer American Flag cake. First of all, I am never going to do this again, as baking in high altitudes is not one of my strengths. But surprisingly, it did taste very good! Here is the link to that post.

What is July 4th without cherry pie? I have yet to master the perfect cherry pie, but I hope to try my friend Gwen’s recipe this year. It is my husband’s favorite.

Typically I set up brunch around the kitchen island so guests can go in and out of the house, eat, watch the parade, eat some more, watch the parade. But with no parade, we will more than likely sit down at the table on the outdoor covered porch. Here are a few pictures from previous events.

The Table

July 4th is a very important holiday. We often take for granted our independence and freedom. On July 4, 1776, the Declaration of Independence and the birth of the United States as an independent nation began.

We live in an amazing country and I will proudly display many flags. Let’s all remember what the flag symbolizes: white signifies purity and innocence; red, hardiness and valor; and blue signifies vigilance, perseverance, and justice. Long may she wave.

What are you doing to celebrate the 4th of July? My next post will be from the mountains! Happy Wednesday, my friends!

Today’s post shared with Charming Cottages and Gardens

and Centerpiece Wednesday Linky Party at Karins Kottage

On Tuesday, I boarded a plane for the first time since early March. How our world has changed in just a few months! Rated #1 by the Wall Street Journal (two years in a row), Sky Harbor Airport makes flying anywhere relatively easy. We are so blessed to have such a large airport accessible.

We have been traveling over the last few years and signed up for TSA PreCheck and CLEAR. CLEAR is a contactless way to get through security using a retinal scanner (or your fingerprints). Not every airport has this service, however, this touch-less identification system has a dedicated entry line, allowing the security check in process to be faster and less painful.

People watching this time was different, as I found myself looking at masks, not faces. All airports require masks. However, there are many people who were wearing their masks with their noses exposed. Some had them hanging off one ear and not even covering their faces. My favorite was a man whose mask completely covered his chin, but nothing else.

At one point I scolded myself for mask judging. I find that wearing one is a bit claustrophobic and really reduces our way to watch facial expressions or read lips. But, I must admit, there were some humorous ones out there and it was a good way to pass the time!

Our airport was packed with people at the gates, but it was eerily quiet when walking between terminals. Most of the shops are closed and have their security gates down. Some of the restaurants are open and you are allowed to sit and eat (without your mask).

The photo below there wasn’t another person in either direction as far as the eye could see. If you are on Instagram and follow my stories, you will see two videos on the empty airport spaces.

However, the plane was nearly full. That I found surprising because I thought airlines were supposed to keep the center seat free, but that was not the case. No social distancing there!

The plane was very clean, however, I still wiped down all surfaces with my disinfecting wipes. Also, the airlines do not provide a beverage or snack/meal service. You may be able to request a drink but I didn’t witness anyone doing that either. I am so happy I purchased a bottle of water at the gate and managed to grab some breakfast cookies out of the freezer. If you missed those recipes, click here.

My flight took me to Dallas to Dallas/Fort Worth airport. If you have ever been to DFW, the airport is enormous. If you need to move between terminals, the SkyTrain transports you there. I decided to walk between terminals and again, there was no one as far at the eye could see. It was a bit spooky because at one point in time, I thought I was in a section that may have been closed off to the public.

Traveling now with new restrictions due to COVID, I felt like I was in a really bad B movie. I understand the need to cover our faces but unfortunately it isolates us. Conversation on the airplane was non-existent. You cannot see someone’s smile. Our ability to converse with clarity is now muffled. Instead of smiling at someone, head nodding is the new way to acknowledge. How sad that this virus has changed the world.

For those who remember traveling before 9/11, there is now a new shift in air travel. I have concerns about how this will further alienate us from each other. How fear of the unknown makes us hunker down more.

Yet, I know this will pass and we will adapt. It is more important now that ever to find other ways to maintain the human connection. Maybe letter writing will re-emerge or perhaps technological advances like Zoom or Google Hangouts is the new fiber that will hold us together.

I just returned from 4 days in Waco and my next post will be about my experiences there. Since I arrived home late last night and have so many photos to sort through and edit, there wasn’t enough time this morning to do so.

Here is the picture on the way home from the airport last night. Please pray for rain. Without our summer monsoon rains, the fire dangers increase. This fortunately was a brush fire that was managed but a reminder on how easily a spark can spread into something much more devastating.

I am SO happy to be home and I wish all of you a wonderful Saturday. May your weekend be filled with relaxing moments and quality time with your family and friends.

After a very stressful week meeting unpleasant deadlines, I jumped at the chance to join my husband in his annual “take the geraniums to the mountain” trip. The high temperatures in Phoenix are distressing the many potted geraniums we have. Each spring we pile them in the back of the pickup and drive them to moderate temperatures for the summer.

We arrived late last night to a cool and windy 65 degrees. This morning, the skies are clear and blue and sunny.

Since we haven’t been here since November today will be cobweb cleaning and opening up all the windows. One of the first things I check is the basket of geraniums hanging outside the front door. A few years back, a momma bird built a nest and has been returning each spring.

Here is a picture of the nest this morning. No eggs, but the photo with eggs was taken at the end of May 2019.

Though it will be a day of chores, there is something cathartic about letting in the fresh air and getting rid of the dust and winter staleness. We will unveil Gandalf, our carved pine tree. The tree died a few years ago and a talented wood carver created our one of a kind yard art piece.

The pear and apple trees have blooms on them~a good sign that we will have fruit again this year. I still find it so strange that we didn’t even know we had a pear tree until last year, as it did not bear fruit for the last 7 years.

As I wrap up the last of my coffee, I hope my stress less vibes reach all of you today! Have a glorious weekend and happy May! If you would like to see more pictures of our cabin, please click here.

We have arrived safely back in the USA after our 6 day Spring break trip to Vancouver, Canada. It was a spectacular mother/daughter adventure with my youngest child and college freshman, Elisabeth.

Traveling was very enjoyable. I felt as if the planes were the cleanest I have ever seen, plus nearly all passengers were happily wiping down their individual seats with disinfectant wipes. People were sharing their wipes and everyone was cordial and polite. We made sure we were feeling healthy and robust before the trip, so I had no qualms at all about traveling or going out of the country.

Vancouver is a beautiful city. I have never been there before. We were expecting rain every day, but the weather surprised us with 5 days of sunshine and blue skies

Vancouver has limited real estate, therefore has been forced to build up and not out. There is a great deal of new high-rise construction and development. It was so nice to see another booming economy, like we have in our vibrant Phoenix.

The streets were filled with people walking and the restaurant scene was lively and fun. Clean air and tasty water were additional pleasant surprises. Residents are clearly outdoor advocates as there are many places to bike, walk, boat and ski nearby.

It was all VERY normal and refreshing, albeit chilly and windy.

Coming home 6 days later, I was so surprised to see the changes in the yard and garden. We have had a lot of rain here in Phoenix, which is just lovely. My bulb garden was bursting with hyacinths last week and this week the tulips are beginning to bloom.

There were enough fresh snap peas from the garden to make this as an appetizer last night.

The 14 baby chicks that arrived from McMurray Hatchery via mail last week have nearly doubled in size.

The Lady Banks roses that line the front of our property have bloomed and created a wall of pale yellow blossoms.

The first of the hollyhocks are bursting with flowers…..already!

We have had lots of storms and rain here….which is an absolute delight in our dry desert environment. I can almost hear the plants in the garden slurping up the additional water.

Today will be a day of baking bread and making more Meyer Lemon marmalade (see recipe here). A generous neighbor shared his lemons on Nextdoor and I took several from the bag in his driveway. As a thank you, I will deliver a jar of marmalade. Just one of the benefits of living in this wonderful neighborhood.

Which reminds me, my last post was about the impact of smiling. I hope you read it, if not click here. I put my smile experiment into action at the airport and I can honestly say, the results were miraculous. Everyone responded to a smile and several times, it started a wonderful spontaneous conversations, even with the serious Customs employees.

Now, more than ever, we need to lift each other up. I believe that we are a strong, kind and a civilized society. There is much we can personally do to minimize the feeling of helplessness. This is a perfect time to build your immune system. Don’t create your own stress~~it weakens your health and your spirit. Earlier I posted the top 10 things I do to keep healthy (see it here). Knock on wood, but it is working for me. I feel healthy and resilient.

Wishing you a relaxing Saturday. Do something wonderful for yourself and your family. Turn off negative messaging~~you can do without it for a weekend! Sending virtual hugs to all of you.

Learning something new later in life can be a bit of a challenge. After my 2nd child went off to college, I decided to try my hand at painting. A dear gardening friend/art teacher began giving classes rather close to my home and I thought, “Why not try this?”

My first art classes involved acrylic paints. The paints dry quickly on the canvas and clean up is easy with soap and water. The very first class we learned about shapes and shadows. The teacher, Joann Augur, provides thumbnails of paintings as inspiration. You pick one and then attempt to paint it in your own style.

I remember that first class. I literally knew nothing. Gesso? What is that? Alizarin red? It was all so foreign to me. Putting the brush to the canvas was intimidating. Where do I start? What colors to choose? What do I paint first? But Joann’s kind and gentle guidance, made the experience less painful.

Here is my very first acrylic painting done in the August 2015. The purpose of this lesson was to train our eye to look at shapes not the object. Where is the light coming from? What is the shape of the shadow? Though it’s hard to tell, but this is an abstract version of an apple. I recall being so proud of this!

Here are some details about the class I take. The session typically last 4-6 weeks and we focus on a topic~~color, perspective, landscape, faces, values. The class is held on either Tuesday or Wednesday for 3 hours; 1-4 p.m. or 2-5 p.m. The cost is usually around $225.00 or so.

Here are some other earlier paintings from 2015. Joann told us to paint our shoe. My shoe is gray and splattered with paint and stains. I took artistic license and changed the colors.

What I love about the class is that people with different levels of experience are welcomed. Some have never even picked up a brush and others have been painting for years. Joann is such a good teacher she is able to provide challenges for the more experienced students, while taking time with the newbies.

On to 2016. This landscape was a happy accident. I failed to completely paint the background before I added the trees. Sometimes mistakes can be a good thing as it looks like the sun is peaking through the dark sky.

Feeling a little more confident after a few months of classes, I decided to try a seasonal Valentine painting for my home and it was the first one I framed. I display it every February and it makes me happy!

One of my favorite classes was learning about the Masters and trying to replicate their paintings.

In 2017, our Winter class focused on color and we learned how to paint flowers. At this point, my fears of painting have subsided and I have relaxed the death grip on my brush.

In the Spring of 2018, we focused on painting faces and people.

In addition to acrylic painting classes, I branch out to try oil painting. A few of my master painter friends are students at the Scottsdale Artist School. Talk about getting out of my comfort zone! Oil paints are so different from acrylics~~they are much more expensive, don’t dry quickly and require a different set of blending skills. Instead of painting from an image, you paint from a real life set up. That first class I felt like a deer in headlights.

This was my 3rd oil painting attempt. Both workshops were given by Nancy Chaboun, a fabulous artist and teacher. I highly recommend taking a class from her. She is delightful and very talented.

Since each student has a different perspective on the still life set up, each painting is a bit different.

During this time, I continued to take acrylic classes, which are much closer to home. Below are a few I completed in 2018. You can see my progress, I hope!

Last year, I spent some time finally finishing some paintings that were incomplete. During the 3 hour class, I rarely finish a painting in class. If I like where the painting is heading, I tend to finish it at home. If not, it sits for months until I decided to either paint over it or finish it.

This is one of my favorites, inspired by Romona Youngquist. Not only is she a talented painter, but she also bakes beautiful breads. To see more of her work, click here. I would love to copy everything she paints.

Last summer was the first time I took my supplies and easel on vacation. It was a relaxing way to paint. The flowers below were inspired by Cecilia Rosslee. You can purchase her paintings on Etsy. Click here for the link.

As I start a new art session, I look forward to getting better at this. Painting is a bit like golf. One day, you play a spectacular game and the next day you can’t even hit the ball. I have only taken two classes so far this year and neither painting is even close to being finished.

If you live in Phoenix and want to start painting, Joann Augur is located at the Studio for Creative Development at 12th Street and Glendale.

I hope this post inspires you to try something new. I find as we get older, it is so easy to get stuck in the same routine. Our paths to learn are not as available and we must continue to stretch ourselves, or we will become old and boring. Maybe someday, I will be able to sell my work.

Wishing you a creative Wednesday!