Saturday Meanderings

Oh my! It feels like ages since I have posted on my blog. We are close to the official start of summer 2025 (June 20th) and temperatures are definitely rising in Phoenix. I am so happy to be back and sharing all the good things from the last few weeks. Grab your favorite beverage and let’s chat and catch up!

Back from our Travels

My husband, Scott has always wanted to take an Alaskan cruise. With a big birthday later this year, we decide to grant his wish and make this a family celebration. After a year of planning and trying to keep it a surprise, the trip to Alaska is finally here.

Fortunately, all the children and their significant others are able to take time off from work to attend. Coordinating departure times, flights from different cities, hotel rooms and of course, the cabins on the ship for 8 people is a big effort, and in retrospect, certainly well-worth it.

We are finally back home in Phoenix. What a difference in weather! I hope to do a separate post on taking a cruise to Alaska, because I would love to hear your perspective about cruising (love it? no interest?).

Hosting a Bridal Shower

We arrived back from our trip late on a Friday night and quickly got ready to host a bridal shower brunch for my daughter’s roommate on Sunday morning. Abby, the maid of honor, did an excellent job of designing the theme around coffee (apparently the bride-to-be is a big fan), so she uses “The Perfect Blend” and “Love is Brewing” with colors of pink and latte brown.

My friend, Libby from Sweet B’s Baked Love made the most beautiful and delicious cookies with this theme in mind. To see more of Libby’s cookies, check out the Valentine Cookie class she hosted at Bella Terra.

The menu includes a mimosa and coffee bar; brunch items with my green chili egg casserole, a a roasted vegetable egg casserole (no cheese); blueberry coffee cake, fresh fruit, green salad and cookies.

After the shower, my daughter, Elisabeth and I have a little fun in front of the balloon display (created by the groom-to-be’s cousin).

Of course, Finn wants to be included too.

What an exciting time for this young couple!

Patriotic Table

Though Memorial Day has come and gone, I want to share the simple table that I put together for a patriotic brunch for friends and neighbors. I love the design variety of paper placemats from Hester & Cook, as it is an affordable way to dress up your table and protect your linens.

You can buy them directly from Hester & Cook or Amazon. Surprisingly, a packet of paper placemats on Amazon have 24 sheets; while Hester & Cook offers 18 sheets. The price per sheet is the same at $1.67. I have used this star pattern to wrap presents and to make a patriotic garland, so there are multiple uses for this decorative paper item.

Antique Rowland & Marsellus Staffordshire blue and white dishes, white melamine chargers, vintage white with blue embroidered napkins tied with a simple red and white striped ribbon complete the look.

Using mason jars, faux red, white and blue carnations and some homemade “flags”, lends to the patriotic theme. The flags are wooden skewers and a rectangle of striped fabric I had in the basement hot-glued on, topped with a small blue pompom.

This is so easy to put together and with July 4th and Labor Day in the near future, I may just do this again. Of course, I am still loving the sweet gingham ruffled tablecloth from McGee & Co., which unfortunately is no longer available.

Goodbye Garden!

Before leaving for Alaska, I was trying to harvest as many peaches and tomatoes possible. When we returned, there were only 6 peaches left (the rest became bird food). There are tomatoes still ripening, but most of them are now chicken food. Sunflowers and hollyhocks are past their prime and seeding in place.

Grapes are hanging under the shade of the vine arch. I let my garden go fallow for the summer so all the herbs are overgrown and flowering, but most of the plants are spent. Looking back on the fall/spring gardening season, I would chalk this up to a successful one.

June 14th is Flag Day

Today is Flag Day and I clearly remember Mrs. Sullivan in 3rd grade at Samuel Huntington School, teaching us about the American flag and its importance to our country.

On this day each year, we commemorate the adoption of the flag of the United Sates on June 14, 1777 by resolution of the Second Continental Congress. The Flag Resolution stated “That the flag of the thirteen United States be thirteen stripes, alternate red and white; that the union be thirteen stars, white in a blue field, representing a new constellation.”

The June 14 date for Flag Day remains the same, no matter which day of the week it falls. Though it’s observed nationally, Flag Day is not a federal holiday. Do you celebrate Flag Day?

Mary Must Haves

I think flies are a nuisance and it’s maddening if you are trying to serve food outside and keep flies away. These portable, battery operated nifty fly fans are currently 50% off (!) from Amazon and are priced at $16.48 for 2. It appears there are a few promo codes too, if you purchase more.

The blades are soft so no fingers will get hurt. We just bought more for the cabin. Perfect for camping too.

Mosquitos

Unfortunately I have a blood type that attracts mosquitoes. The only person I know who gets bitten more than me is my son. Yet, I just can’t bring myself to put on Deet or other toxic products on my skin. When we entertain outside during mosquito season, I like to create a perimeter to keep mosquitoes out of the area.

Mosquito repellent incense sticks work relatively well. It’s been a few years since I purchased my packet of 25 from Terrain, however, I cannot locate this product on their website. However, it appears Walmart has something similar. Even though I haven’t tried this product, here is the product information provided.

• PROVEN MOSQUITO DEFENSE – Each incense stick provides 2.5+ hours of outdoor mosquito repellent coverage (HOLDER SOLD SEPARATELY)
• POWERED BY NATURAL INGREDIENTS – Made with a blend of citronella, rosemary, lemongrass, peppermint, and cedarwood oils for effective, plant-based protection
• BAMBOO-BASED & CLEAN FORMULA – Crafted with a bamboo core for a smooth, even burn and no questionable fillers

For a packet of 24 sticks, the cost is $37.00 We put several of these sticks out the morning of the bridal shower around our back terrace, and it really kept the mosquitoes away.

Also, if anyone has a good non-Deet body spray to repel mosquitoes, please let me know. I recently tried First Saturday Lime Repellent body spray and liked it. As you may recall, I have used the First Saturday Lime insect repellent to get rid of the worms that were eating my geraniums. Always looking for new ways not to get eaten by mosquitoes.

Happy Father’s Day

On Sunday, we get to celebrate the wonderful men in our lives who are fathers, or play the important role of a father. Fortunately, my father was a man of such character and I feel so honored to call him my Dad . He passed in 2015 and I miss him each and every day. This is one of my favorite pictures of Dad with my husband, Scott.

Scott is the father of our 3 amazing children. He shows up—day after day—not with grand gestures, but with consistency, loyalty, and care in his own way. His steady presence has been a quiet strength in our lives. He is a part of the fabric that holds our family together.

Wishing all the amazing men out there a Happy Father’s Day!

Well, that’s a wrap for this Saturday Meanderings. We are getting ready to head up to cooler temperatures in the mountains of Arizona. Next week, I hope to do a new blog post just re-introducing myself to you. Lately, I have gotten so many new subscribers (thank you so much!) and it will be fun to share more about myself and Bella Terra.

Have a glorious weekend and as always, I so appreciate your comments and feedback.