Saturday Meanderings

We have a “chilly” weekend forecast~low in the 50s and high in the 70s. It’s practically winter in Phoenix! Unfortunately, next week will be back in the 90s, but anything under triple digits is considered a blessing here. The windows are open and the stale summer air-conditioned air is being replaced by fresh autumn vibes. Welcome to my weekly Saturday post, Saturday Meanderings where we chat about all good things this week.

A Bit of Fall Decorating

Each October, I bring home armloads of leaf cuttings from our oak trees at the cabin. Though the leaf color isn’t the brilliant red and orange, the branches still shout FALL. In a large green glass container, these are displayed in our dining room. As the leaves fall from the branches onto the table, I let them gather and pretend we are actually having autumn moments.

A New Mattress this Week

Twenty-nine years ago, my husband and I bought our first mattress. This is long before you could order online and get a mattress mailed to you in a box. You could only buy a mattress in a store which provides a good opportunity to test it out before purchasing. I am a believer in investing in something that you will spend 8 hours on every night. Our first mattress is a Chattam & Wells, which is crafted by hand by skilled artisans (says their website).

Not only was this mattress comfortable, but beautifully appointed with the C&W crest embroidered on the sides. Yes, it was quite a bit of money back then, but I’m almost embarrassed to say, has lasted this long. So it is definitely time for a new mattress. In pricing a new Chattam & Wells, let’s just say the investment has significantly increased and we probably will not outlive the mattress.

After some investigation, having coils seems to be an important details and we decide on a Saatva king size mattress. Saatva has earned an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau and 96% of Saatva customers are satisfied with their purchase, according to their website. Since each mattress is made to order, it takes a few weeks to get it. This is night 3 sleeping on it and so far, so good!

Made with organic cotton, this mattress is attractive with many quality details. Will keep you posted on how it performs over time, but we are happy with this sight unseen purchase.

My Happy Place

After many weeks/months of traveling or being away from home, it feels so good to be back and doing things that fill my soul. Whitfill Nursery is just around the corner from our house, and it truly is my happy place. This family owned and operated business has been serving our community for over 6 decades.

Since it is time to plant my garden, I visit them on Wednesday to find the nursery bustling with like minded customers. The shelves are filled with gorgeous blooms, large variety of plants, vegetables and succulents, and attractive pots.

If you live locally and have not been to Whitfill, I go to the one on Glendale, east of 7th Street. It has such a wonderful vibe and the owners and staff are incredible. Check out their peacocks too. Tell Janis I sent you!

Do you have a place that makes you happy?

Planting the Garden

With the drop-dead gorgeous weather, it is the perfect time to start planting my fall garden. The raised beds have new compost and some of the vegetables are planted ~lettuces, Brussels sprouts, herbs, tomatoes and strawberries. It will take a few more days of work, but with Finn’s help it may take longer.

This Week’s Excursion

As you may recall, I am trying to get out more and explore new locations in our area. This week, my daughter, Elisabeth and I go to Lilibet’s Bakery and Tea Room in Scottsdale for an afternoon tea.

I love the fact that it is a small and intimate space with 5 tables inside and a few outside. The owner, Beverly is lovely and oh so very British!

We order the Afternoon Tea and receive a selection of English tea sandwiches (delicious!), warm homemade scones with jam and English clotted cream, and a selection of desserts. If you are looking for a very civilized thing to do, I highly recommend checking out Lilibet’s Cakery and Tea Room. Not only is it a tea room, but a bakery with a fabulous selection of baked goods and desserts.

If you are going for tea, I recommend making a reservation, since seating is limited.

Finn is 9 months old!

Finn is very happy we are home again. He just turned 9 months and he is at that challenging teenage boy stage. He did not mind our house sitter and was more of a rascal than gentleman. The next few months this behavior is expected. He has his unruly moments but who can resist that adorable face!

Look how tall he has become! Our neighbor’s dog piques his interests. I am just hoping he does not have the ability to scale the walls and jump over.

New Show on Prime TV

We just watched this Welch 3-part television drama series based on true events. The Pembrokeshire Murders is very well done and we found it interesting to see how DNA testing has helped re-open cold crime cases. You can read about it here and find it on Prime TV. Since we are always looking for good shows, please tell me what you are watching.

Loving this Tablecloth

Shea McGee of Studio McGee (or the Threshold line at Target), has teamed up with Loeffler Randall to create a new winter line of home goods and tableware.

The ruffled edge and sweet pattern is something I could definitely purchase!

Well that’s a wrap for this week! So looking forward to a weekend of fun and normal things. We have tickets to the Saturday matinee theatre and that’s about all it. Hope you have a lovely weekend and stay safe out there.