Saturday Meanderings
As I write this, we are up at our mountain cabin. It is overcast, drizzling and chilly temperatures and oh, so very quiet. When you live in a busy city, you ignore all the noise (sirens, traffic, lawn mowers and blowers), but here it is silent. Wow. I haven’t been here since Thanksgiving, so naturally there is much tidying up to do (spider webs for example). I don’t believe I have seen another person here, except my husband. Well, happy Saturday and I am so happy you are here today to discuss all good things this week.
The Drive Up
The drive to the mountains is generally 3.5 hours. On the freeway in Phoenix, my car thermometer registered 104 degrees. About 1.5 hours out of Phoenix, the temperature drops to 87 degrees. But shortly thereafter, I run into a very dark and spooky weather storm and the temperature quickly drops to 53 degrees. Look at that ominous sky! Isn’t Mother Nature just amazing?
Surprisingly Good Find at Costco
Other than their salmon with pesto butter, I tend not to buy seafood at Costco. However, this week I purchase a 5 lb. bag of live farm raised Manila clams and boy, are they delicious. At $4.79 a pound, it is a pretty good deal. They must be seasonal because I do not see them featured on the Costco website. Steaming them in white wine, a little water, garlic, fresh herbs (parsley, cilantro), I serve them with a French baguette (for dipping into the sauce) and a glass of a crisp white wine~an easy and delicious dinner.
Since we had leftover clams, I take them out of the shell and freeze them in the cooking liquid. I’ve never frozen clams before but hoping to use them in a linguini and clam recipe in the future.
Peaches are Ripe!
The hardest part of being out of town is not picking peaches daily. There are still many that are hard on the tree so I’m hoping they will stay until I get home. These “bend over and eat” peaches are so juicy and flavorful. They remind me of peaches growing up. For some reason, the ones you buy in the grocery store today are lacking in flavor and fuzz. I see peach pie in my future!
Spaghetti Squash, any one?
I am afraid I am going to have an abundance of spaghetti squash. Like anything else, the first few are delicious and then you get your fill. If you live nearby and like spaghetti squash, let me know. I haven’t picked any yet, but my guess is that they will be ready very soon.
Thought you might enjoy this photo….the pollinating of my squash blossoms. I’ve never stuffed squash blossoms but that might be a solution to nipping the numerous spaghetti squashes in the bud.
Out-of-Sync Week
Do you have one of those weeks that nothing goes right? Not sure why this happens, but my week has been fraught with one problem or obstacle after another. Are the planets out of alignment? For me, this is often a sign to slow down.
What do you do to reverse an out-of-sync week? In 2020 I wrote a post, Ways to Navigate Life Now, and quite honestly, I just re-read it and it is balm for the soul. Apparently, in 2019 was also a stressful time as I wrote the post, Ways to Decompress. Anyway, if you are experiencing a sense of being overwhelmed, you may find value in reading these.
Fun Things on the Internet
Check out with this Elegant Budget Friendly Before and After house remodel. Featured on The Glam Pad, you get to look inside the beautiful home of Courtney from Tuft & Trim. Renovating on a limited budget, you will be inspired by the transformation.
Need Memorial Day decorating ideas? My very talented and industrious friend, Rachel from The Ponds Farmhouse has 25 Patriotic Decor Ideas for you. There are so many suggestions-from simple to more complicated. You can see it here.
Memorial Day is 10 days away. What? Are you gathering with family and friends to honor this holiday? Wendy from WM House Designs has a blog post filled with party ideas from food to games, as well as this delicious looking Watermelon and Cucumber cocktail. So much is packed into this post you won’t want to miss it here.
Are you growing flowers this year? If so, you will find such great information from my gardening friend, Kim from Shiplap and Shells. My garden is mostly vegetables but this year I am trying to plant more flowers. Her post on Pinching Cut Flower plants is filled with tips on how to make the most of your cut flower plants. This is timely for me as many of the flowers I am growing from seeds are the right height to pinch (yet I’ve never done it as I am a bit apprehensive). Plus Kim has the most beautiful pictures of her home and garden so you won’t want to miss it.
Speaking of beautiful flowers, you have heard me many times say how much I LOVE lilacs. However, we cannot grow them in Phoenix. But, they do grow in the mountains! I am so excited that we are here during lilac bloom and naturally, I cannot help myself from cutting bunches and bunches. Ah, simple pleasures that melt away the stress.
I had hoped to post this week but was having some computer challenges. As requested, I will soon share my sourdough bread recipe. Until then, have a marvelous weekend and keep the faith!
Just a reminder that any words that are italicized bring you to the source. If it is a product on Amazon, please note that I am an Amazon Affiliate. If you purchase something through my website, I receive a small (very small!) stipend, which doesn’t affect the price you pay at all. My goal is to make sourcing the items easy for you. Thank you for your continued support.
Look at those gorgeous lilacs! Wow! I am amazed by how cool the temperature got at your cabin and that must have been one doozy of a storm. I wish we could grow peaches up here. They look so good. The Manila clams are something I would have never looked for at Costco. What a great find. I’ll have to check that out. I always love your Saturday Meanderings and all the inspiration you share with us. Thank you so much for sharing my garden post Mary. It is so appreciated. Hugs and hope you’re having a good week.
Kim, I am always so inspired by you and your home/garden. Have a beautiful weekend and a safe boat trip!
Hope your weekend was a relaxing one. Storm clouds pic is wonderful shot. We all have those types of weeks so I truly hope your weekend is a delightful one. I envy those peaches. What a cobbler they will make.
Hugs,
Virginia, thanks to your suggestion I am making a cobbler this weekend…and maybe a peach crisp. I’ve been watching what I eat, but peach season is so short and worthy of a few extra calories!
You are so darling! Love you with your arms full of lilacs! I wish I could join you in the quiet. We realize again each spring when we can open the doors, that our busy city neighboorhood is SO loud. I’m so glad you can get up there and relax and cool off! Have fun up there, and enjoy those peaches and squash when you get home!
Barbara, I cannot believe the difference in lack of sound up here at the cabin. Makes me wonder what all the city busy activity does to us internally….Making peach recipes this weekend. The tree is still filled with hard peaches which is a bit unusual for this time of year. But will be back in Phoenix next week to hopefully more ripened fruit. Have a beautiful weekend!
Hi Mary! First off, I am so jealous of the lilacs. They are gorgeous. I hope your time in the mountains is fabulous. Thank you so much for sharing my post. Happy almost memorial Day.
Wendy, Happy Memorial Day and I love sharing your talent with others!
Hi Mary- always love your wonderful meanderings and sure look forward to reading them on the weekends. Thank you. WOW do your peaches look great. I grew up on Lake Erie on an island (well made into a peninsula before I was born) and the limestone soil grew the best peaches. The entire island began in Victorian times as one of the main suppliers of peaches in the NE part of the US! Now there are golf courses and condos and stately lake-view mansions and very few peach groves. Those farms that remain – getting Catawba Island peaches is one of the highlights of the summer, when I get home to visit family.
Your lilacs are beautiful! I have 3 huge lilac bushes – light lilac purple color that blooms right after the first blooming kinds my neighbors have – but this year they did not do well, as just as they were budding we got a weird flash freeze and snow and I just knew it would hurt them. And I was right. So sad – first time in 20 years the smell of lilac didn’t permeate my world, and had no bunches to give away and to enjoy. They were sad little pathetic clusters I just left alone. (tears.) But my peony is budding with more buds than EVER since I relocated it to a sunnier location. SO – hopefully – they will make up for my sad lack of lilac joy this year.
This is a long comment, so sorry. Hope you are enjoying the mountains. And hope those peaches are waiting for you in glorious juicy splendor upon your return. Safe travels.
Michele, thanks for sharing the information about Catawba Island peaches. So many of the expansive farms here are being turned into concrete developments…so sad as we have lost many flower farms. Good information about the lilacs, as we are getting ready to plant here in the mountains. Finally put in a watering system and am selecting lilacs, peonies, hydrangeas (all the things I cannot grow in Phoenix). Our local nursery told me that it’s important to cut back lilacs after they bloom for an abundant crop the following year. I need to learn more about how to plant, feed, etc. so I can look forward to blooms next year. The lilacs in my post are from a neighbor’s bush, which seems healthy. But late freezing temps can wreak havoc on spring plants. I cannot wait to have peonies!!!! Thanks for your comment and have a blessed weekend.
It sounds like you will be able to relax, rest and decompress in the mountains. I too love lilacs, they do not last very long here. But I did enjoy.them while they were blooming. The scent is amazing.
Have a wonderful weekend.
Elizabeth, yes, being in the mountains is a chance to unwind, breathe in the fresh air and get back in touch with nature. There are lots of chores too but it is nice to do them in the quiet. Have a beautiful weekend and thanks for commenting.
Mrs. Mary, that is an amazing picture of the storm. Funny how it is so ominous looking but you can still see the beauty in it. I can relate to those type of days when things seem so glum. I like to turn my cell phone off and take a walk outside and just listen to nature. Speaking of, those lilacs are gorgeous!! Have a wonderful and peaceful weekend.
Crystal, being up in the mountains I seem to notice and enjoy nature more (vs. city sounds of sirens, traffic, etc.). Being outside does soothe the soul and helps with relaxation and positive mental health. Have a blessed Memorial Day weekend and thanks for commenting.
The clam recipe sounds amazing! I wish Mitch ate seafood. We will have to try that watermelon cucumber cocktail this summer!
Tevia, yes let’s plan on having the watermelon cooler when we do Goldie Hawn movie nights!
What a gorgeous sunset! I have those weeks every now and then too. I guess you don’t the get highs without a few lows too. Such a fun read as always, a bright spot in my Saturday morning.
Andrea, thanks for reading my Saturday post. You are the best! Have a blessed weekend.