Saturday Meanderings

Hello and welcome to Saturday Meanderings! It’s hard to believe this is Saturday Meanderings #141. What started out as way to appreciate and note all good things happening weekly, Saturday Meanderings has become one of my favorite posts to write and thank you for your dedicated following. One sweet subscriber stated it feels like friends sitting across the table having a cup of coffee and catching up. Let’s get started to see what life has given us this week.

My Birthday this Week

Another birthday under my belt…it is a bit humbling to know that most of your life is in the rearview mirror. But the hope is that each and every day going forward is lived with intention and purpose. Mentally, I certainly don’t feel 68 (more like 25) and physically, well some days are better than others. Here’s to another year!

Bread Baking Experiment

My friend, Chloe (Celebrate and Decorate) sends me links to Instagram posts that feature unique bread baking techniques. I am a novice sourdough bread baker and love seeing the creativity of other bakers. Here are the inspiration pictures:

This week I try my hand at making my very first sourdough focaccia (recipe from The Perfect Loaf by Maurizio Leo). However, being my first try, I kept it more simple as I didn’t know how it would taste. Using cherry tomatoes, kalamata olives, fresh rosemary and sea salt, here is what my focaccia looks like before going in the oven.

Here is the focaccia after baking.

For years, literally, I have had a big bag of lace scraps in my garage. My mother bought it at a yard sale and gave it to me 40 years ago, at least. So, I try my hand at making the lace bread, but of course I don’t have the right ingredients (who has 100% black cacao powder on hand?).

The flavor of my sourdough bread is honey lavender (really good), but a black lace pattern on the top just doesn’t fit. I search my cupboards and find rose powder and 100% coca rouge powder~which actually sounds like the flavors would go with the honey lavender.

After sprinkling the powder combination on the dough, here is what it looks like.

At this point, I am rather excited because the pattern looks very pretty and I hope the flavors will enhance the taste of the bread.

Though some of the pattern is pronounced after baking, it is certainly far from the results of the inspiration photo. I am slightly disappointed, however, it just means I need to conduct further experiments!

My Online Store

If you haven’t noticed, there’s a tab at the top of the page that links you to my online store. I am considering eliminating the store as I set it up a long time ago and I do not replenish the inventory. However, this week someone purchased one of my favorite items~ a Meissen blue and white compote. A bit sad to see it go, but the buyer has been looking for a long time to find one. Sounds like it is going to a good home.

Check out my store as I am getting ready to update my website and will more than likely remove the inventory. If you see something you like, let me know.

Has This Happened to You?

In our library we have two arm chairs that are upholstered with a Waverly fabric (Olana). This is a medium-weight cotton fabric that has furniture upholstery as a suggested use. I notice the seat seems a bit dull and perhaps dirty so I use my trusty Little Green Bissell and clean the upholstery this week.

As evidenced by the very dirty water in the machine, I thought the seat cushion (especially the bird in the pattern) would return to the same color and intensity as the one on the back of the chair.

The library doesn’t get much, if any, direct light so I know the fabric isn’t faded, but the seat is clearly much more worn than the rest of the chair. This is a room that isn’t used often and really, the only time we sit in these chairs is during the winter, with the fireplace going. Our cat will sometimes nest on the chairs, but we have a towel down for his use. Not sure why the colors in the fabric could be worn down with little use.

I have more of the Waverly fabric and considering putting a piece over the original seat. Just checking to see if anyone else has had fabric color and patterns “wear down” with such little use and no exposure to the sun. Going to the expense of re-upholstering just the seat doesn’t seem worth it if the details of this fabric will fade or wear so easily?

So Many Poppies

This week the poppies are popping! Every day more of these sage green plants are putting out the most beautiful flowers.

There are so many poppies all over the property. Their beautiful blooms only last a few days and then they go to seed. Maybe it is time to make lemon poppyseed bread?

Finn Update

The puppy is growing so fast and his rascal personality is emerging. He is quick to steal a shoe or a blanket and run out of the house. He is getting more comfortable navigating the yard and is still cute as the dickens.

Here he is helping me pick oranges in the orchard, and “assisting” in putting down a clean Ruggable in the pool house.

Mary’s Must Haves

Our handheld frother that we use every day to mix things into our coffee (like Vital Proteins) finally died. My husband bought this one on Amazon and wow, what a difference! This frother is far more powerful and has two speeds. It’s astounding how much better it is that our last one (which was probably dying a slow death).

This frother has really great reviews and I can attest, it is the bomb. Priced at $18.49, here it is. After some muscling by my husband, the new frother fits in the old frother’s stand. But note that this brand, the stand is not included.

Do You Make Your Own Salad Dressing?

After discovering how easy it is to do so, I always have my lemon vinaigrette on hand and ready to go. If you aren’t convinced, here is an article from The Kitchn about her tasty homemade salad dressing. Though I haven’t tried her Homemade Italian Dressing, it’s on my list of things to make.

I will be ordering this salad dressing container, as I currently use a Mason jar which gets a little messy on the top. With excellent ratings (4.7) from over 10,000 reviews, this salad shaker is affordable at $11.95.

Merit Street Media

Though I never watch daytime television, I am sure you are familiar with Dr. Phil McGraw, an acclaimed host. What I recently discovered is that, after 26 years, Dr. Phil has left CBS and has created his own new media network called Merit Street Media.

Merit Street Media is a fully distributed cable, satellite, and free-over-the-air broadcast brand that reaches over 65 million television homes.

What I find amazing is that Dr. Phil and his wife, Robin are in their 70s, worth over $460 million dollars and could certainly spend the rest of their years playing golf and taking it easy. However, Dr. Phil is concerned about some of the issues occurring in America today and wants to have open conversations about it.

We watched our first episode this week and I am a fan. Merit Street Media is attempting to bring a balanced national news outlet that will lead to honest discussions and dialogue. In addition, other shows include Steve Harvey which focuses on a mentoring program to inspire young men. Nancy Grace will be hosting a crime series segment.

Since I stopped watching mainstream news 4 years ago, I am hoping this new network will provide viewers with a fresh approach and a high degree of integrity. Merit Street Media just launched April 1st and check out your local listings for access…and it is free. How novel.

Have a fabulous weekend. We are busy with a few events but hope to relax a bit with our buddy, Finn and enjoy our glorious spring weather.