Hello, my friends! I feel like a new woman as my Grand Jury duty responsibilities are O.V.E.R.! Thankfully I didn’t have to serve the full four months, but only the last 4 weeks. Taking two full days each week is a bit of a schedule challenge, but I found serving in this capacity somewhat rewarding. Each day we heard 8-12 felony cases and some were very difficult to get through. But that is all behind me now and I finally feel like I can take a summer vacation! Happy Saturday and let’s get started on all the good things that happened this week.

July 4th Weekend

What fun to get out of the heat and head to the beautiful mountains of Arizona! Every afternoon a thunder storm would roll in and bless us with lots of rain. Seriously, it looks like Ireland up there ~just as green as could be! My geraniums are so happy and it is always difficult to leave. Wish we could stay there all summer.

Our July 4th brunch and parade did not disappoint. It is refreshing to see explosion of patriotism and love for our country. Nearly all cabins are decorated with flags, bunting and anything red, white and blue. This year I found this Stars & Stripe Party Fan set at Hester & Cook and I am so impressed with the number of fans and the quality of the paper. Unfortunately, I believe they are sold out of this product.

These fans are hanging over the outdoor dining table and spin in the breeze. A simple addition to the brunch decorating but they really made the table feel extra special. If you missed the post on what I serve and the recipes, you can find it here.

This year I made the American Flag Cake and even though I had hoped to bake the cakes at the lower Phoenix altitude, I didn’t get that task done. So I again stressed over making the adjustments to bake at our very high altitude. Thankfully the butter cream frosting hid most of the cake imperfections and the inside DID look like a flag. Our friend and neighbor, Gary has a July 4th birthday which is a great reason to share this enormous cake.

A warning about this recipe, if you decide to make it, the cakes and frosting are made from scratch. It is time consuming and a bit complicated. But so worth it once your guests see the inside!

My Favorite Olives

These Mezzetta pitted Italian Castelvetrano olives are so addicting. I literally could eat the entire jar. Not sure why I am just now discovering them, but I cannot recommend them enough if you love olives. You can find them in your local grocery store or here online.

Cool Website

If you are looking for an unusual, fun website with unique and sometimes outrageous items, check out Uncrate. This is where I discovered the Thermacell Rechargeable Mosquito repeller. A couple of times a week I receive an email from them with their latest discoveries. It’s very cool and different.

Pet Update

Our beagle, Sox had his 15th birthday on July 7th. This sweet old dog cannot see or hear very well, but that Beagle nose of his still works, especially around meal time. What a love.

Our Akbash, Cooper has taken a turn for the worse. Three months ago he was diagnosed with cancer and seem to be responding well to the medication. It is heartbreaking as he is been with our family for nearly 10 years. Next week is another visit to the vet to see what can be done. Keeping our fingers crossed that another medication will provide him with comfort.

Finally, a Haircut!

It has been months since I went for a good cut and color. Roscoe from Pucci Salon is a miracle worker and he has been cutting and styling my hair for nearly 30 years. Truly, I have never been disappointed…ever. He takes my fine straight hair and gives it such life and body. You know you have a good cut when it lasts over a few months. Here’s the before:

And viola! Here is the after haircut photo! Doesn’t it feel so good to get your hair done?

Also, I am wearing that Boho top I found on Amazon for $22.93. It’s very light-weight for the hot summer, but the long sleeves are helpful while you are in air conditioning.

Problem with Rug

Does anyone know how to fix this? This area rug is from Home Depot (I know, probably not the best quality). I bought it to stage a bedroom in a home we sold. From there, it is now sitting on top of our wall-to-wall berber carpeting in the master bedroom of our cabin. However, the rug doesn’t lay flat. It rolls up on its own in the center.

This photo doesn’t show the problem as clearly, but you can see where the rug is lumpy in the middle.

I have tried rug tape around the perimeter and nothing seems to hold it down. Even laying heavy objects on top of it doesn’t help to flatten it. Once the items are removed, it curls up again. Drives me crazy and it is a tripping hazard too.

I’m not sure if the problem is due to the berber carpet beneath it. Do I need to steam this rug? Add a rubber mat underneath? Unfortunately I bought it quite a while ago so I am sure Home Depot will not be of any help. Any suggestions you can share would be greatly appreciated.

Growing or Loving Dahlias

We cannot grow dahlias here. I’ve tried and failed. However, my friend, Kim from Shiplap and Shells shares everything you need to know about growing and caring for dahlias. If you don’t have a garden or don’t grow any flowers, you will just love all the pictures on Kim’s website. She has the most beautiful garden in the Pacific Northwest. You can see it here.

A Summer Centerpiece

Stacy from Bricks ‘n Blooms creates such a pretty summer centerpiece using pineapples and flowers. This tropical dinner party theme is exactly what I need since I am longing to go on a tropical ocean vacation. I can honestly say that I have never used a pineapple for a vase, but isn’t this just gorgeous? You can see it here.

Well, there is so much more I could share but I know you want to enjoy the rest of your weekend! Thank you for joining me for Saturday Meanderings!

For several years now, we spend July 4th at our cabin in the mountains. There is a sweet, homespun, Americana parade that goes by our driveway. Since the parade is heavily attended, getting a good viewing spot makes our driveway a very popular place. What started as a small parade-viewing get together, has grown into a large group of multi-generational attendees.

Before the parade, we host an open house brunch and I make the same recipes year after year. When I have the energy I may branch out and make an additional new item, but it’s nice to hear “I’m looking forward to that egg dish” or ” I love that coffee cake”. With comments like that, why not keep the traditional recipes.

Appetizers or Nibbles

I have a very nice piece of wood that is easy to fill up with appetizers including a charcuterie board, and/or a breakfast/fruit station. Since the number of children who attend is growing, it’s fun to have a place where they can help themselves to yogurt pretzels, berries and fruit, or red and blue M&Ms.

Croissants, muffins or donuts are an easy addition to this fruit board.

A vegetable and charcuterie board feels extra festive with star shaped cheese slices (easily done with a cookie cutter). I use my star cookie cutters for many reasons, not just for cookies.

To seem more about how I construct this charcuterie board, click here.

Main Courses

For years, I have made this egg casserole for many occasions. It feeds a crowd and tastes great either hot or cold, which is perfect for a buffet table. Cottage cheese, mild green chiles and Monterey Jack cheese are a few of the ingredients that make this so tasty.

See recipe here.

This coffee cake can be made with virtually any fruit. I’ve made it with blueberries, raspberries, apples, pears, peaches, you name it. So super easy and absolutely delicious.

See recipe here.

Desserts

I’ve been experimenting with zucchini cupcakes (because I still am picking zucchini from the garden!) and want to share this recipe from Taste of Home. Instead of making the suggested caramel icing, I did a cream cheese one, primarily since the caramel icing was a little too brown for a July 4th cupcake.

Aren’t these baking cups cute? I got them on Amazon and you can find them here.

For my trial batch, I sprinkle them with patriotic colors. When I make them at the cabin, I will use these patriotic cupcake toppers.

Flag Cake

The one and only time I made this cake was in 2017. This was my first time trying to bake a cake at high altitude (7500 ft.) and it was so stressful. However, the cake was a big hit and therefore I want to make it again this year. However, I will bake the cakes in Phoenix, freeze them and then assemble it up in the mountains.

This cake looks unassuming on the outside, but once you cut into it, what a surprise! Perhaps the most difficult part, is baking 5 cakes, but also assembling it so you get the flag pattern inside. If you like a challenge, here is the recipe.

My Husband’s Favorite

You can never go wrong with a cherry pie for July 4th. It’s one of my husband’s favorite but since I don’t make it frequently, the filling varies between fresh and canned cherries. If you make cherry pies, please let me know how you prepare the filling. Do you prefer fresh or canned cherries?

Here again I am using the star cookie cutters for the top crust.

Beverages

During a hot summer day there is nothing more refreshing that a glass of homemade lemonade. Since I first tasted basil lemonade, this is the only way I like to prepare it. For some reason, the addition of this herb takes this lemonade over the top. You can find the recipe here.

For a light and summery cocktail, one of my favorites is a Skinny Jalapeño Watermelon Margarita, recipe by Ambitious Kitchen. With all the freshness of summer watermelon and a bit of jalapeño spice, this is a winning drink.

Here are some more fun pictures from the annual Bullfrog Parade in Pinetop, Arizona. My friend, Tracy always has the most creative outfits!

And of course, we are always so grateful to our firefighters, especially in our mountains where the threat of fire is prevalent during the summer months.

Wishing you all the best holiday weekend, and let’s celebrate our country and our independence!

Cheers!

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Happy Saturday and as I write this, it’s hard to believe nearly half of 2022 is over. Since I started grand jury duty, my schedule is non-existent and I can’t really recall what happened to the last 3 weeks in June. I always look forward to writing this post so let’s get started and chat about all good things this week.

A Few Days at our Cabin

Being up in the mountains provides such a wonderful change of scenery. Big storms came in with abundantl rain, which we so desperately need. If you missed my Dinner in the Library tablescape post this week, you can see it here. The Scholarship Dinner raised a significant sum of money for the employees educational needs.

I am already thinking about what table theme I will do next year, so if you have any suggestions or thoughts, please send them my way.

Who needs television when you can watch the local wildlife at work? Very relaxing to sit on the front porch and have our coffee in the morning, while the squirrels and bird entertain us. Like last year, we have another nest of eggs in the flower arrangement by the front door.

A Year Ago

A year ago today, we were in Nantucket. It was our first trip there and we were very lucky to stay with friends who own a gorgeous property with a guest cottage. Since more people are traveling this year, here is my overview of that trip.

I am SO longing for a trip to see water, but nothing planned to date. Are you going somewhere fun this summer?

A Little Garden Excitement

I always leave a few artichokes to flower because they are SO beautiful! The purply-blue spike tops are like a soft brush and fun to touch.

An unknown plant has been growing over the past few weeks. It finally gave me a clue by producing this. So I am guessing spaghetti squash, however, I did not plant any this year. I planted some two years ago but they did not produce so I’m a bit surprised. Ah the unexpected joys of gardening!

The last of the apricots are finally gone! Not a huge crop this year but the few remaining are used in a simple apricot galette made with puff pastry. For some reason I could not download the picture of the galette, but here is an apricot tart with an almond crust I made last year (recipe is here).

Using Healthy Hair and Skin Products

Growing up, our choices for skin care were limited to Ivory soap. Who remembers the Breck girl and Breck shampoo? Now there is a multitude of products to select for your skin and hair. Lynn from Living Large in a Small House writes a detailed post about what you can do to ensure you are choosing the best products that are free of harmful chemicals.

My skin and hair care routines are rather basic, however, I find Lynn’s post very enlightening and something we should share with our children and grandchildren.

See Lynn’s post here. It makes sense to not want to put things like formaldehyde, mercury or some word no one can pronounce on our bodies.

Perfect for Summer

When I saw this recipe, it screams summer to me. Annie from Most Lovely Things shares a S’mores Icebox Cake that you can make ahead and just take out of the freezer. Who doesn’t love s’mores? Anne takes amazing photos and even has a video to show you how to make this delicious dessert. You can see it here! Though I do not know Annie personally, she is very talented and I enjoy her posts from the same Connecticut town in which my sister lives.

Need to Know More about Sunscreen?

Living in a climate where it is sunny over 300 days per year, skin protection and sunscreen are important topics. Carrie Vitt from Deliciously Organic is living proof that what you eat and how you live can be toxic to your health. Changes in her lifestyle have reversed Hashimoto’s disease, chronic migraines, IBS and eczema.

Recently she shares how to choose the right sunscreen for you. Her post is filled with great information as to when you should wear it, too. You can see it here. Spend some time on her website as I know you will enjoy Carrie’s wealth of knowledge on thyroid disease, asthma, headaches, skin issues and more.

Need Dog Help

Lately, our nearly 15 year old Beagle, Sox, wakes up between 3:30 and 5:00 a.m.(every day) and stands in the middle of the room and barks. He sleeps in the family room with his brother, our Akbash, Cooper. Sox is hard of hearing and his sight is diminished. As soon as I (or my husband) enter the room, he stops barking and will go back to sleep. I have gotten into the habit of taking my pillow downstairs with me and will settle in on the sofa for a few more zzzzz.

Does anyone have any great suggestions for how to get our sweet, old Beagle to sleep through the night? Last night we tried Hemp Calming Chews but they did not seem to help. Not sure they work better over time. I love our dogs, but I need my sleep! I am at a loss here so any advice will be greatly appreciated.

Well, that’s a wrap! Thank you so much for joining me and I wish you a wonderful and relaxing weekend.

There is a plethora of blog posts and magazine articles about getting the “beach” look for the summer.  This time of year, the words summer and beach are synonymous.  However, I would imagine many people alternatively go to the mountains or lake instead of the beach. In Arizona, we are blessed with beautiful mountains within an easy driving distance and with the altitude comes cooler temperatures. So let’s head to the mountains and check out some mountain decor.

Adding some decor touches

When I go on vacation having a completely different decor/scenery helps with the “winding down and being on vacation” mode. Getting out of the daily grind and going on vacation means a slower pace, lowering my shoulders, spending time with family, being subdued and taking in the gorgeous scenery.

Any home can be decorated to feel like it belongs in the mountains with only a few of the right accessories.

My friend, Kristin, from White Arrows Home lives in a gorgeous mountain cabin in Wisconsin year round. She is the expert at decorating her log cabin, fondly known as Camp Paradise in a rustic style. Check out her blog here. She just opened a new store, too, so if you are looking for unique items, she does ship!

Utilize your space

What is a vacation getaway without a cozy place to read or nap?  I purchased this day bed years ago in a junk store.  At that time, the chippy paint style was not as popular and the frame is very white and very chippy.  I spray painted it a satin Moss Green from Rust-Oleum which is ideal for both indoor and outdoor use. Plus it blends in nicely with the colors of the forest.

The striped fabric seems fitting for a daybed in the screened-in porch. The bed actually slides out so the bottom cushions sit side by side~making a double size bed.  The pillows were my first attempt at sewing a welt on my own.  Don’t look too closely at my “rustic” mistakes!

Rustic Elements

In the same screened porch, we have a small table with 2 chairs and a vintage wicker lounge chair, perfect for a morning coffee.

Most of the furniture is cobbled together~leftover pieces from our home and garage sale finds.  But it all seems to work as cabin living here is casual and comfortable.

A Place to Gather

There is nothing better than family and friends gathering around a large table. This dining room set is a thrift store find and table leaves slide out to accommodate more seating.  The ladder-back chairs complement the mountains decor.

My friend, Linda Frederick, from Arcadia Design and Stitch made the seat cushions and pillows out of this sweet fabric.

Special Touches

Small accents like these old snowshoes are reminiscent of outdoor winter sports. Just a tip if you are looking for snowshoes~~they were much less expensive here in the Phoenix thrift stores than those in the mountains.

I love anything faux bois (French for false wood) which is the artistic imitation of wood or wood grains in various media. Since last year, I am consistently adding items with a Black forest motif to make the cabin feel more Scandinavian. To see my post about accomplishing that, click here.

This songbird arched mirror comes with a finish which lends to the rustic vibe of the cabin. You can find it here. Not only is it helpful to have a mirror in the front hall by the door, but it pairs nicely with the Black Forest bear and acorn shelf.

This simple, inexpensive bench was found at a junk store and I recovered it myself in cowhide. Situated right in front of the fireplace, it is the perfect place to warm up on a cold evening.

Find it in Nature

Being surrounded by beautiful Ponderosa pine trees, there is an abundance of natural material to use.  

We collect pine cones during our walks and they make the perfect centerpiece in an old dough bowl, or as a place card holder!

Accommodate the Weather

The temperature in the mountains can vary significantly. During the summer it is warm and toasty during the day, but the afternoon storm clouds move in and it can get chilly. As a result we have blankets and quilts scattered throughout the house. This vintage camp blanket was purchased one summer from Camps and Cottages during a trip to Laguna Beach, CA. 

One of my favorite shops in Laguna Beach, the owner, Molly English, is a talented designer. We became fast friends and I have all the books that she has written on camps and cottage decor.   Her latest book, Contemporary Cottages is filled with wonderful inspirational ideas and decor.

Show off your Collections

Collecting quilts over the years, provides each bed with a quilt. And each quilt has its own story.  

This sweet quilt in my daughter’s room was purchased many moons ago (before children) during a cross country trip. Hidden in a corner of an antique store, it was filthy and nearly black but I could tell that by the intricate stitching that it was a keeper.  Hauling it home, the quilt is placed in a bathtub filled with cold water and Ivory Snow. Miraculously, after a long soaking, the dirt floats away and the quilt came to life. You can imagine my delight when it was finally clean!

The maple four poster bed is mine from childhood.  I recall my mother stopping by the roadside and buying it for $2.50.  It was painted a bright red and she lovingly refinished it to its natural wood grain.

The quilt in my son’s room was made by his paternal grandmother.  It’s hard not to admire all the work that goes into these beauties. Does anyone know the name of this pattern?

A simple red and white checkered coverlet is in my other daughter’s room.  It pairs nicely with the Burberry fabric on her side chair and bedskirt.

The guest room has two twin beds and it is very difficult to find matching quilts.  However, a side trip to Bisbee, AZ many years ago yielded these yellow darlings.  The vintage fabric has some wear and tear but they are so sweet with the darker bed frames.

Whether summer means the beach or mountains to you, it is a time to enjoy your surroundings. Or maybe just adding some summery touches around your home is enough to make you feel like you are on vacation. The best part is to just enjoy it all~the lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer, as they seem to fly by so quickly.

Wishing you a summer filled with rest and relaxation!

I hope everyone enjoyed the nice, long holiday weekend. Each year we head to the mountains where the July 4th holiday is extra special. Everyone’s cabin and golf cart is adorned in red, white and blue and there is a strong sentiment of patriotism and love for our country. And, I do feel like I got some relaxing in! Welcome to this week’s Saturday Meanderings, where we just chat about all good things.

I am always amazed at the energy and creativity residents put into decorating their homes and participating in the parade. From highly decorated trucks and trailers to innovate dance routines, the Bull Frog Loop parade doesn’t disappoint. And I think this year’s parade is extra special after a year of lockdowns.

Hosting a Brunch

Since our cabin is on the parade route, we always host a pre-parade brunch. With about 30 guests, I did rely on the same menu that I do every year. My egg casserole (here) and a blueberry coffee cake (here). Since we have a large rectangular wooden surface, I made this fruit/croissant board. Mimosas and bloody Mary’s add to the festivities.

Bringing the Dogs

This trip we did bring Cooper and Sox up to the mountains, and of course, it takes a few days for them to adjust to all the activity. But as you can see, it didn’t take Cooper long to dominate the sofa.

Our pocket beagle, Sox did celebrate his 14th birthday. Our sweet old guy can’t hear as well and his eyes are getting cloudy with cataracts, but he still has puppy moments.

New Baby Birds

Last Saturday, I did share this picture of a nest found in one of the large geranium planters. It’s been hard not to peek but I just couldn’t resist and yes, the birds have arrived!

Each morning, I sit on the front deck with my coffee and watch the parent birds fly back and forth with food for their babies. The marvels of nature.

Using Puff Pastry

Pepperidge Farm puff pastry is a staple in my freezer as there are so many easy recipes you can whip up at the last minute. This week I did try a tomato tart from Twigg Studio. With caramelized onions, goat cheese, thyme and lots of lovely tomatoes in a puff pastry, isn’t this tart beautiful? Click here for the recipe.

Having an additional puff pastry sheet, I did use up the rest of the goat cheese, sweetened with honey, and ripe apricots for this tart. Drizzle a bit of honey on the top and bake. Since I did this on the fly, I didn’t measure anything but in retrospect, I would add more honey as the apricots are a bit tart. 400 degrees for 30 minutes (but note: this is high altitude cooking here).

Personal Gourmet

For many years I use the services of Personal Gourmet. Locally, Chef Jimmy Watters delivers restaurant grade protein to our home. This service has been a life saver with being able to have chicken, salmon, steaks, fish, meatballs, shrimp and similar proteins always on hand. Individually shrink wrapped and stored in the freezer, I cook up what we need and only have to make a salad or provide a vegetable side dish for a complete meal.

This is such a convenient service, especially with our growing family or even now, just for the two of us. Before leaving for the cabin, I placed a large order with Jimmy and now I have both freezers filled with things to eat. Since I prefer to cook at home vs. going out to eat, I know we are getting high quality choices for lunch and dinner.

It appears that Personal Gourmet may be located in Californa, Texas and North Carolina, in addition to Arizona. For more information about this convenient and delicious service, contact Chef Watters at 602 -339-2059.

Finally Painting again

I haven’t picked up a paintbrush since my Christmas painting of our cat, Donovan. Yikes. For something that I enjoy doing, I cannot seem to be disciplined enough to make time for it. But, being at our cabin with a more relaxed schedule, I am able to start a new painting! This painting’s inspiration is actually an arrangement of wisteria and lilacs done by my friend, Barbara from Mantel and Table.

It is not done yet, but it does feel good to put brush to canvas.

Watercolor Tutorial

Danielle from Finding Silver Pennies is a talented artist and designer. In one of her latest blog posts, she has a tutorial on painting mini watercolor seascapes. The video is 6 minutes long, and it is a fun way to experiment with watercolor paints.

With limited supplies, I did Danielle’s video this week. I do not use watercolors very often but practicing with her guidance is a good start! See Danielle’s post and video here. Danielle and her son (a young and inspiring artist) sell their artwork and various items on the Finding Silver Pennies website. Check it out here.

If you are in need of a watercolor set, there is a nice selection here. It helps to paint on watercolor paper. And don’t forget watercolor paint brushes here. Happy painting!

Laughter Therapy

It’s fun to share a good laugh, but did you know it can actually improve your health? After a very long and challenging year, it’s more important than ever to laugh and be happy.

It is true: laughter is strong medicine. It draws people together in ways that trigger healthy physical and emotional changes in the body. Laughter strengthens your immune system, boosts mood, diminishes pain, and protects you from the damaging effects of stress. Nothing works faster or more dependably to bring your mind and body back into balance than a good laugh. Humor lightens your burdens, inspires hope, connects you to others, and keeps you grounded, focused, and alert. It also helps you release anger and forgive sooner.

As children, we used to laugh hundreds of times a day, but as adults, life tends to be more serious and laughter more infrequent. But by seeking out more opportunities for humor and laughter, you can improve your emotional health, strengthen your relationships, find greater happiness—and even add years to your life.

So go out there and laugh! It will make your face look younger too!

Cheers to you from the White Mountains of Arizona! Have a wonderful rest of the weekend.

If you missed my blog posts this week, see them below.