Happy April 1st! My husband is successful in playing an April Fool’s joke on me already so I need to pass the mischief on. It’s a glorious day here and though I’m a little late in posting, thanks for joining me for another edition of Saturday Meanderings. I typically write this post late Thursday or Friday but I’ve been so busy these past few days. So let’s start chatting about all the good things this week.

Who Loves Fresh Citrus? A Giveaway!

We are getting ready to glean all our citrus (oranges, ruby red and white grapefruit, tangerines)trees as the fragrant blossoms for next year’s crop are appearing. We will be giving away a box of freshly picked citrus to two recipients. All you need to do is leave a comment below and we will be drawing 2 names from that. The winners will be notified via email for their shipping addresses.

New Shows to Watch

Two very good shows to watch. The first, Vienna Blood is a British-Austrian psychological thriller television series set in Vienna, Austria in the 1900s. Based on the Liebermann novels by Frank Tallis, the series follows Max Liebermann (Matthew Beard), a doctor and student of Sigmund Freud as he assists Police Detective Oskar Rheinhardt (Juergen Maurer). With 3 seasons you can watch it on Prime Video, PBS, Vudu, or Apple TV.

The Night Agent is action packed with 10 episodes (Season 1) that you can see on Netflix. The plot: While monitoring an emergency line, an FBI agent answers a call that plunges him into a deadly conspiracy involving a mole at the White House. Hard not to binge watch!

Fabulous, Fun Invitation

My very innovative friend, Chloe from Celebrate and Decorate is having a wine event at her home. Check out this fun invitation we received in the mail this week. How clever is this? The invitation is detailed in a paper message inside the bottle. Secured around the invitation is a purple ribbon attached to a wax seal on the front of the bottle. I just love things like this!

Don’t Look Frumpy Over 40/Beware of these 5 Frump Factors

I just happened upon a YouTube video by Kay Harms, entitled Don’t Look Frumpy over 40/ Beware of these 5 Frump Factors. Being unfamiliar with Kay, I watched her video (I’m not someone who spends time on YouTube). Kay has a very pleasant and disarming nature and the video did have great advice. You can see it here.

Kay, 58, also writes a blog, Dressed for My Day.

But it got me thinking. What factors add to frumpy-ness? In reading the comments on her video, I found it all interesting and enlightening. What would be your answer to this? The more I think about this, the more I want to write a blog post about it.

Gardening this Week

Our weather seems to be all over the place, but the garden is giving us gifts this week. Lots of small tomatoes, one big artichoke, arugula, kale and fresh herbs.

Spring Cleaning

Do you spring clean? As a child in Connecticut, I have fond memories of Mom throwing open all the windows and sweeping out the winter dust.

Apartment Therapy is offering a program to help you with Spring cleaning. The Spring Cleaning Cure is a free 10-day program designed to help you achieve a clean and tidy home. Starting Wednesday, April 12, 2023, participants will receive a new assignment in their inbox every day — each one focused on a cleaning task that will bring you one step closer to the impeccably clean home. All you need to do is sign up to receive your emails.

Ultimate Spring Brunch Board

One of my favorite recipe-based bloggers, is Tieghan from Half Baked Harvest. This remarkable young gal develops interesting, delicious dishes, many of which can be done in a relatively short period of time. She’s my go-to person if I am stuck on what to make for dinner. Tieghan just posted a Spring Brunch Board, which is perfect if you have entertaining for Easter. You can see it here.

Getting White Sheets White again

My friend, Andrea from Design Morsels used to own and run a Bed and Breakfast. She knows everything about linens and I consider her my cliff notes on many topics. This week in washing a set of white sheets, I notice they are a bit yellow, especially in the middle from body oils.

I tried Andrea’s tip to soak them in hot water and Oxyclean (in the kitchen sink) and it worked! The sheets look brand new again. Hanging them to dry in the bright sun, also helps with whitening.

An article in Apartment Therapy covers the same topic of whitening sheets without using bleach. They use baking soda and vinegar. I may try that next, but Andrea’s solution worked for me!

Cherry Blossom Wreath

Does this look like a paper flower wreath to you? I think I am going to try and make this! Janine from the Happy Happy Nester provides the cherry blossom flower download and detailed instructions on how to make this. So pretty for spring. See it here.

Well, that’s a wrap! What are your plans for this weekend? We are doing a 5K tomorrow and have a black tie event tonight. It’s time to pay bills (not a fan) and do some chores around the house. Wishing you a terrific weekend!

On the internet:

With a mostly dreary, rainy and overcast week, we are so enjoying the blue skies, big white puffy clouds and gentle breezes these last few days. The grass looks greener and everything feels like Mother Nature gave it a good bath. What is it about Spring that just brings joy and happiness? Happy Saturday to you and I am hoping you are having beautiful weather too. It’s time to chat about all the good things this week. Thank you so much for joining me today.

My Heart is Full

I cannot tell you how much I appreciated all your wonderful condolences for Sox’s passing. Even though I try to answer each of your comments, it was hard to do so while sobbing. So please know that the fact that you took the time to share your stories and sympathies, really filled my heart. You are the best.

Great Response to the Fall Styling Workshop

We are so excited that we received so many positive responses to the pending Fall Styling Workshop. We will have room for 20, but if we exceed that number, we may add another day to the schedule. I am finalizing the agenda and cost and will publish the specifics soon.

Fun New App

My neighbor Karleen (and her friend from Wisconsin) recommend this app called Merlin. Developed by the Cornell Lab for Ornithology, it is a field guide in your pocket. The app is an interactive tool for you to identify birds. How it works is that you record the bird sounds nearby on your phone and Merlin will identify what bird is making what sound. Especially now in the Spring, there is so much bird chatter, it’s nice to know the names of the birds.

Merlin is complete with photos, sounds, and ID tips for more than 6,000 bird species and seasonal bar charts for any location at a glance. Now people across six continents are using Merlin to identify birds daily. Merlin is a free app and you can download it on your smartphone.

Spring Front Door

After several days of searching, I finally found my Spring tulip wreath for the front door. Seriously, it is so frustrating when you cannot find something when you put it in the same spot every year. Typically I put most of the wreaths inside the well tower hanging in plastic bags on the wall. Well, this wreath must have fallen off because it was on the floor squashed behind plastic stacking storage boxes. Mystery solved.

It appears I may need to rearrange the green leaves on it, but I am happy it is finally up for Spring. To see the DIY on making this wreath, click here.

My Baking Week

Not sure why I did so much baking this week, but I made scones, another batch of those addicting ooey gooey salted peanut butter oatmeal bars, sourdough panettone and sourdough crackers. I am trying to experiment with almond flour so the crackers, though tasty, didn’t get as crisp as I like. But I do want to share this scone recipe with you.

Not that I’m a scone snob, but some scones taste like baking powder to me. But these scones are SO delicious and I think they are rather easy to make…and no baking powder. The recipe comes from a former White House pastry chef, Roland Messier so you know it has to be good. The actual dough is so versatile and can be used to make cobblers, shortcakes or turnovers.

After baking, you dust them with confectioner’s sugar and pop them under the broiler for just a few seconds for the perfect finish. I promise you will not be disappointed. See recipe below.

Are You Reading Any Good Books?

I just finished The Unhoneymooners by Christina Lauren.

Christina Lauren is the combined pen name of long-time writing partners/best friends Christina Hobbs and Lauren Billings. This is the first book I have read from this author(s). Although a bit predictable it is a fun read about identical twin sisters, a bad wedding experience and a series of comical circumstances. If you are looking for a bit of brain candy, I would recommend this. Not alot of heavy lifting here and every now and again, I know I need a book for pure entertainment. Amazon has it listed as Editors Pick for Best Romance. You can find it here.

Finally a Use for Italian Tiles

I bought a stack of tiles from Deruta on a 1998 trip to Italy. Not sure what I intended to do with them, but they have been sitting around for the last 25 years in a drawer.

Finally, I decide to add clear adhesive rubber pads to the bottom and now we are using them as coasters on the outdoor back terrace.

It feels so good to get little things like this done! And each time I use one, it reminds me of our trip to Italy.

Exciting Ideas from the Internet

Wendy from WM Design House comes up with the most clever ideas. Her blog post, Adult Easter Eggs; Four of the Easiest Ways to Decorate Eggs is full of new and different creative projects.

I cannot believe Easter is about 2 weeks away! Her blog post will get you motivated to do something different and fun with your eggs. See it here.

My talented and very creative friend, Rachel from The Ponds Farmhouse, shows how to make a Custom Tablecloth and Napkins. I’ve never done this. My only attempt to do cute napkins ended in complete failure (see that post here). But look how sweet this tablecloth is! You can see Rachel’s very detailed DIY here.

If you love lily-of-the-Valley, check out Chloe’s (from Celebrate and Decorate)post on her Spring Table Decor. Isn’t this just so elegant and delicate? So many great ideas for an Easter or Spring table.

Look at this delicious dessert grazing board Maureen from Red Cottage Chronicles creates. I love the combination of sweet and salty and this dessert board has it all~taste, textures, color and beauty. See it here.

That’s it for today’s Saturday Meanderings! Now I am off to finally think about Easter. Next week I hope to share some Easter/Spring inspiration. Wishing you a lovely, relaxing weekend!

We’ve all heard the saying “one man’s junk is another man’s treasure”. In last week’s Saturday Meanderings post, I mentioned that I have dried roses from a DIY project a year ago. On Saturday, my sweet neighbor, Tevia, gave me an old flower arrangement that she was discarding. Since I do save dried flowers and rose petals for the potpourri I make for our chickens’ laying beds, I often get Tevia’s dried flowers.

But this particular flower bouquet, even though past its “live” prime, is still so beautiful. I couldn’t bring myself to throw it away so I decide to couple it with my dried roses to make a new wreath.

Recycling an Old Wreath

This former Easter wreath is clearly deteriorated and in need of an update. Look at condition of the eggs! I am hoping to recycle them in a future Easter project. The grapevine frame is 14 inches wide with curled branches.

It appears the eggs are styrofoam and the speckled paint is cracked and peeling. Each egg is attached with a wire post and glue which is a bit of a pain to remove.

The Dried Arrangement

Tevia’s flowers have 2 protea, roses and some other unidentified pink flowers. Does anyone know the name of this flower?

The soft pink colors remind me of the roses I dried last year so when I saw this bouquet, a light bulb went off. With spring just around the corner, these tones and textures are perfect for a small wreath.

Building the Wreath

With all the eggs removed, I start with the two large protea. Cutting the stems off and using a hot glue gun, I affix each of the protea on either side; one pointing up and the other pointing down.

Next I add the clusters of pink flowers (name unknown?). They are a bit sharp and prickly.

The rest of the wreath is filled with a variety of dried roses, greenery and seeded eucalyptus I had leftover from our Valentine’s Day dinner party.

Finishing the Wreath

Since I am not skilled at making dried flower wreaths, I recall hearing that hairspray will help preserve the flowers. I consider using a matte acrylic spray, but feel that the hairspray should do the trick. We’ll see!

Wreath Complete!

I think this wreath is so sweet that it doesn’t need any ribbon or other bauble.

Currently it is hanging on the back Dutch door that leads into the mudroom.

Truly, one man’s trash is another man’s treasure with this wreath. If I didn’t use these flowers, they would have been recycled and composted. But I am pleased with the outcome of this wreath as it has a soft spring feel.

Happy first day of March! The weather patterns around the country are a bit strange, so hoping you enjoying whatever Mother Nature is sending your way.

If you enjoy this post please share on Pinterest.

Happy Saturday! I must say that slowing down has really made each day this week more fulfilling and memorable. Surprisingly, I am more focused and checking many things off of my To Do list. It is time for another Saturday Meanderings where we chat about all good things this week.

Final Clean Up

Ninety-nine percent of the holiday decorations are put away. I love the way I did it this year~room by room. That way I had at least one or two rooms perfectly clean before starting another take down project. It felt organized, orderly and purposeful.

Wondering where all this stuff goes? A few years ago, I wrote a post about where holidays decorations are stored. You can peek into my Christmas room in the basement here.

New Big Project

With our daughter moving away to college (again), renovating the guest cottage will be the next big project. The exterior is in dire need of a fresh coat of paint (painters are arriving next week). I will be assessing what needs to be done to the interior, but I am sure it will include cleaning carpets, painting walls and adding a few new pieces of furniture. If you would like to see the guest cottage interior (when it was tidy), click here.

January Reset

For the last few years, January is my month to reset my body. I had such fun eating and drinking whatever I wanted over the holidays, but that overindulgence can only go on for so long. Being back in balance is the goal and small changes can have a big impact.

My husband and I are following the Fast Metabolism by Haylie Pomroy, a nutritionist and wellness consultant. I’m not fond of the word diet, because this plan is much more than that. Haylie explains the physiology of food consumption and how it processes in your body. Even though it is a bit restrictive (no alcohol, no dairy, no caffeine), the food and recipes are delicious. You don’t count calories or carbs, instead you rotate what you eat throughout the week to induce a faster metabolism.

This plan is also supposed to help your cholesterol drop, blood sugar stabilize, energy increase, sleep improve and stress melt away. It’s a 28 day plan and so far, we are nearly 2 weeks into it. I am enjoying making some new meals as well as learning how the liver, mitochondria and thyroid function.

Do you change your eating/drinking habits in January?

Love this Product

My hair is rather fine and straight. After I wash and blow dry it, the volume and style is full and clean. Since I don’t wash my hair every day (generally wash it every third day), after sleeping on it, it gets flat. This product has such a pleasant scent and takes care of oil absorption, while providing additional volume. It is NOT a hair spray.

You can find Bumble and Bumble Prêt-à-Powder Très Invisible Dry Shampoo on Amazon or maybe your hair salon has it in stock. I love how it helps extend the time between hair washings.

Making a Fresh Lemon Wreath

Here is something I have never considered….making a wreath using fresh lemons. We are in the middle of citrus season here in Phoenix. Our trees are abundant with fruit, as well as many of our neighbors. It’s a fun time of year to share~one neighbor has excellent tangelos, another has Meyer lemons, etc.

I may try my hand at this because I am looking for a wreath that I can hang in between Christmas and Valentines Day. And I love anything lemon! Wendy (she is one clever gal) from WM Designs shares a tutorial on how to make a fresh lemon wreath. You can see it here.

Cool Idea-Creating Fake Windows

I am not on TikTok, however, I did receive information from Apartment Therapy about this cool idea. It’s hard to describe so please click on the link. Using dimmable flat light panels, a homeowner added “light” to a windowless dining room alcove. What a great idea if you have a room that needs more windows, but you don’t want to go to the expense.

See the article here. Watch the video and you will see the before and after pictures. What a difference!

Comfort Food

Growing up, my mother would make tapioca pudding. It is truly one of my favorites, however, guess how many times I’ve made tapioca pudding? Maybe once?Twice? In searching the cabinet for another item, I find a package of tapioca (may be very old). But for some reason, I’ve had tapioca on my mind all week.

Well, this week I stumbled upon a blog post about an old fashioned tapioca pudding recipe from Rachelle at My Hubbard Home. Granted I cannot make it until we finished our reset eating program (so February).

Did you know one of the earliest mentions of tapioca pudding can be found in Mrs. Beeton’s Book of Household Management from 1861?

Here’s Rachelle recipe and blog post on an old fashioned tapioca pudding. I cannot wait to make it! Did you have tapioca pudding in your childhood? Have you made it?

Why are Egg Prices so High?

We are fortunate to have our own chickens, but I recently heard that a dozen eggs is $8.99? What? My go-to person for all things chickens (and eggs) is Lisa from Fresh Eggs Daily. If you are curious as to the reasons egg prices are soaring, check out her blog post, 9 Reasons Why Egg Prices are So High. Such an interesting post and you will be very well educated during your next dinner party when the price of eggs becomes the topic of conversation.

Unfortunately, our chickens’ output tends to slow down over the winter, so we aren’t getting as many eggs. But when they are in full production, we sell our extra eggs for $5.00 per dozen.

Let’s hope the reasons for the significant price increase start to change for the better.

Well that’s a wrap for Saturday Meanderings. This week I did complete a fun, unexpected project and will share that with you next week on Tuesday. Until then, enjoy the rest of your weekend and stay safe out there.

As I write this, we are stuck at the airport in Charleston, South Carolina. Our return flight home is “delayed” creating missed connections through Dallas. Oh well, the joys of airline travel. We (the entire family)are here celebrating my husband’s birthday, which falls on December 13th. It has been a wonderful week and now it’s time for our weekly Saturday Meanderings where we chat about all good things (except airline delays!)

Charleston in December

I hope to write another blog post about Charleston in December, but here are some photos from our trip. The camellias are in bloom and check out this beauty, the Christmas Carol camellia. I have tried to grow them in Phoenix, but they failed in the heat.

Holiday house decorations did not disappoint with the abundance of magnolia leaves in wreaths and garlands. Charleston is such a walkable city and I could have spent all day, just roaming through the lovely neighborhoods and house snooping.

Cleaning before vacation

Do you deep clean before you leave on vacation? The thought of coming home after traveling to a messy home is not an exciting prospect. One of the cleaning projects is really my least favorite, but it always feels good when it’s completed~cleaning out the refrigerator and freezer! Admittedly, I do not clean these spaces as often as I should. The recommended frequency of cleaning a freezer is 3 months; 3-4 months for the refrigerator.

With a separate SubZero refrigerator, freezer and refrigerated drawers, this is a several hour project. I wish I took before pictures as there were some interesting finds, especially in the freezer. A year old piece of last year’s Mary Berry Christmas cake for example!

Perhaps the photos above don’t look particularly organized, but it’s 1000% better than it was.

Another project is organizing the front hall closet where all the linens and tablecloths reside. When I opened the door and several things spilled out on me, it was just time to pull everything out and focus on this space.

In 2020, I did a blog post about this unusually shaped closet and apparently that was the last time it received any attention. How do things get so messy in 2 years?

Labeling Light Switches

Though not an obsessive labeler, I do like to label light switches, especially when there are multiple options. It was nearly 8 months ago when we remodeled the pool house. FINALLY, the switches are all marked. Project done! If you need a labeler, check out this one.

Frost Warnings

This week the temperature in Phoenix will drop significantly. Adding frost coverings hopefully will protect my plants while we are gone. Usually I put Christmas lights inside to help add some warmth, however, I did not this time. Keeping my fingers crossed that all is well.

Saltine Toffee

My cousin, Donna, always makes saltine toffee for family gatherings, and she was kind enough to share the recipe. I admit to being a bit skeptical making it, but it is a huge hit and oh, so easy to make. Only 5 ingredients (Saltines, brown sugar, butter, chocolate chips and nuts), anyone can make this yummy treat.

Sally’s Baking Addiction has good step by step instructions on how to make this. See it here.

Cute Cheese Ball

Last week I shared a Hedgehog cheese ball and this week, look at this cute snowman cheese ball. Jen, from Tatertots & Jello, share this 15-minute recipe here. Not sure what my fixation on cheese balls is lately, but both of these recipes look good.

Christmas Party Food

My friend, Rachel from The Ponds Farmhouse has quite the spread for her annual holiday party. Wow! I wish I lived closer to her. What I like about her post, is that the food is a combination of store-bought and homemade. She gives the resources and recipes. See it here.

How to Take Better Holiday Photos

The holidays are the perfect time to take more photos of family, food and friends. My friend, Pam, from An Artful Mom has great suggestions on how to capture that perfect moment. See it here.

12 Festive Christmas Cocktail Recipes

In the past, I’ve had good luck with cocktail recipes from A Farmgirl’s Dabbles. Her post this week includes 12 Festive Christmas Cocktail recipes that all sound rather delicious. If you are looking for a holiday-themed cocktail for yourself or your guests, you can certainly find something here.

Well, I am STILL stuck at the airport and not sure we will even get on a plane today. The only good news is that it allowed me the time to complete this Saturday Meanderings post and say hello to you! Let’s pray we get home soon.