Saturday Meanderings

What a busy week! I did not get a chance to post anything mid-week but I am so happy to catch up with you today for another Saturday Meanderings. Boy, the weather has certainly turned this week into the start of Spring after many chilly, freezing mornings. Many indicators are presenting themselves in the yard~peach blossoms and those beautiful green buds. Punxsutawney Phil says there is 6 more weeks of winter, and I’m sort of hoping so too. Thanks for joining me today so grab your favorite beverage and let’s get started.

Blogging Retreat

I just returned from a retreat with 6 other blogging friends. Having four days to brainstorm and laugh is food for the soul. Even though our expertise ranges across multiple platforms, it is a joyful time when we get together.

I did bring home a treasure from a vintage store and can’t wait to use it for a Valentine’s Day table.

Such a fun trip but I am happy to be home with Finn (and of course, my husband).

New Front Door Color

Are you ready for this? The front door color is inspired by my love of the burgundy ribbon I used to decorate for Christmas. Getting the exact burgundy color from velvet is challenging, I think I like this variation. The deep, rich tone is a cross between a burgundy and an eggplant color, which changes with the light of the day.

Naturally my iPhone doesn’t completely capture the color, but it looks completely different, right? We also painted the sidelights which we have not done before. It takes some getting used to but I think each day I am loving it more and more.

What I do like is that when the door is open, it ties in nicely with the foyer’s Dhurrie rug. In this photo you can see the color better. The original brass handle looks very elegant against the deep tone.

What do you think? Since this is the original door to our 115 year old home, there is natural wear and tear to the surface. Next is spiffing up the wooden threshold and getting a few more plants.

Interior Cleaning Projects

I know this may sound weird, but the thought of starting at one end of my home and going through every room cleaning and organizing, is kind of exciting for me. Unlike losing weight, you can see the fruits of your labor immediately.

The master (or primary) closet is finished and looks as good as the post I wrote back in 2020. The condition of the closet is not nearly as bad as it was back then, but it definitely required some serious tidying.

One of the treasures in cleaning the closet is finding a box of white gloves from my late Aunt Gail. When did women stop wearing gloves? I’d rather wear gloves vs. a mask if there is another pandemic (think of all the dirty things we touch throughout the day). Needless to say, this box did not go in the donation pile. Would you like to see wearing gloves and using hankies back in style?

On to the bathroom~it’s hard to believe my last post about this room was a few years ago! What a delight to clean out my cabinets and organize my hairbrushes, makeup and more. I must admit I am a bit giddy when I pull out a clean and organized drawer. Out dated beauty products, and all the stuff collected in the medicine cabinet are gone! From this…

To this…

Such simple pleasures that do not take too much time but get big results.

Remember the new linen curtains I put in the bathroom above the tub last April? I am not a fan of those huge grommets for the rod and one of the comments suggests I turn the curtains upside down and hem the grommets away (curtains are too long).

Well, I finally flipped the curtains around and I just need to add a hem. Such a smart idea and I think they will look great.

One of my bathroom faucets has been leaking and a new set arrives and gets installed this week too. The cross handles and porcelain hot/cold buttons lend a historic feel to this room.

Next is our bedroom and then the big job is the upstairs office. My goal is to get through the entire house this month.

Are you in an organizing mode?

Garden Goodies

With the warmer weather and threat of frost over (at least this week), I find all these garden goodies when I remove the frost cloth.

The tomatoes did have a bit of frost damage at the tips of the plants, but for the most part, they look very healthy.

My lettuces are abundant and daily I am picking the leaves for a fresh salad. Yummy! Warmer temperatures will make the the garden burst into growth mode.

Aging Inspiration

On those mornings when I feel stiff and achy, it’s hard not to buy into “I’m getting older” mantra. This week I am inspired by this story of a woman much older than me doing phenomenal things.

From the Instagram account @bethebestyoucanbe, meet Julia “Hurricane” Hawkins who started running competitively at age 100! An avid cyclist for much of her life, Julia took up competitive running after her 100th birthday as a way to embrace a new challenge.

In 2017, at age 101, she set a world record in 100-meter dash for her age group (100-104) with a time of 39.62 seconds. Four years later, in 2021, she became the oldest woman to compete in a sanctioned track and field event, finishing the 100-meter dash in 1 minute, 2.95 seconds~at the age of 105.

A few months ago, on October 22, 2024, she passed away peacefully at the age of 108 after a long and happy life. Don’t buy into society’s limiting beliefs about aging~she is proof that we’re capable of so much more, we just need to stay moving.

Travel Item Giveaway

In cleaning out my closet, I find this 5 piece set of travel packing cubes that I have never used. Some people swear by them for organizing items in your suitcase, however, I have my own system and never felt the need to use these. If you would like a chance to get these packing cubes for free, please leave a comment below and let me know what you like about Life at Bella Terra. I will announce the winner next week and then pop it in the mail to you.

Mary’s Must Haves

Shortly after my Dad passed away in 2015, I so missed his presence around our home. In attempting to reduce my blues, I bought happy looking coffee cups. To this day, these sweet cups lift my spirits and add joyful color to my kitchen. Unfortunately, Anthropology no longer carries the Jennifer Orkin Lewis line, but here is something very similar on Amazon.

Microwave and dishwasher safe, this set of 4 mugs is nicely priced at $42.99 each and with high ratings too. I also use mine for cereal, fruit and soup. The colorful patterns promise to give you a little lift in the morning.

A few months ago I tweaked my hamstring, which is difficult to heal unless you don’t use it (and that’s nearly impossible). Lately I am taking turmeric in lieu of over the counter anti-inflammatory products and it really seems to help. Every night before bed, I take two capsules and the hamstring is not as stiff in the morning. As always, make sure you consult with a professional, especially if you are taking any other medications. I also recently read that turmeric kills parasites too. Currently it is 53% off on Amazon and you can find it here.

My husband takes this liquid turmeric by Qunol which has enhanced absorption. This study indicates that turmeric is as effective as Ibuprofen for reducing pain and inflammation. Something to consider if other pain relievers bother your stomach. Qunol liquid turmeric is also on sale with 41% off at $30.55 for a 30.4 oz. bottle.

What are your weekend plans? Mine involve outdoor activities~planting new roses, finally taking down my winter mantel on the back porch, baking some sourdough bread and more organizing. Wishing you an abundant weekend with long periods of relaxation! Stay safe out there.