Saturday Meanderings

Happy Saturday! As I write this, it’s a beautiful morning here in Pinetop, Arizona. While our afternoons have been warmer than usual, the mornings and evenings still cool down to the perfectly enjoyable temperatures. Each time I sit down to write this post, I’m amazed that another week has already flown by. But taking a moment to reflect and share it with you helps me appreciate the little ups and downs that make each day meaningful. So grab your favorite beverage, settle in, and let’s chat about all the good things from this past week.

Mission Impossible: The Final Reckoning

As a child, I was a big fan of the television series, Mission Impossible with Peter Graves, Barbara Bain and Martin Landau. This 7 season show inspired the series of motion pictures starring Tom Cruise beginning in 1996. 

I honestly can’t remember the last time I was in a movie theater—maybe sometime just after the pandemic? It was surprisingly fun to go again, settle into those familiar seats, and, of course, enjoy a big tub of popcorn. We saw Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning, which is said to be the final installment of the franchise. Hard to believe the first film premiered nearly 30 years ago! This is the 8th and last chapter, and it’s a long one—clocking in at 2 hours and 49 minutes. Now playing in theaters.

Are you a movie goer or do you wait until it streams at home?

More Baby Birds coming

There’s another clutch of eggs in the nest by our front door. The June babies have flown the coop, and while I’m not sure if it’s the same bird returning or a new visitor, there are now four fresh eggs nestled inside. One appears more speckled than the others—possibly a cowbird egg. Either way, we’re happy to be a quiet observer of Mother Nature’s small, everyday miracles.

Final Wallpaper Selection

After spending a small fortune on wallpaper samples, I’ve finally chosen a winner: Branch in Sage by Amy Howard at Home. The paper feels high quality, and I’ll be using traditional wallpaper paste rather than peel-and-stick, since the bathroom walls have that unfortunate orange peel texture. Once the wallpaper arrives, I’ll be sharing the installation process and, of course, the final reveal.

Chicken Error

We recently stopped by a local butcher shop where I asked for a whole chicken. The young man behind the counter told me they only had frozen ones—two chickens per bag, he said. Since I planned to use one on the rotisserie, I bought the bag, brought it home, and tucked it into the freezer.

Excited to try out the rotisserie on the grill here at the cabin, I defrosted the bag—only to discover it wasn’t two chickens at all, but one chicken cut into four large pieces. Darn. So much for the rotisserie idea.

Plan B: I found a recipe from Half Baked Harvest for Easy Coq au Riesling, and as luck would have it, I had everything on hand (with a few substitutions, of course). Long story short—it turned out delicious and surprisingly easy. Here’s the recipe in case you’d like to give it a try!

Good Use for Mature Berries

I love berries, but they never seem to last long in the fridge. After the 4th of July, I had quite a few left over, so I whipped up an easy galette—perfect for using up fruit before it spoils.

One of my freezer staples is Pepperidge Farm puff pastry sheets, and they’re ideal for quick desserts like this. You can find them in the freezer section in most grocery stores. After defrosting a sheet, I gently roll it out with a rolling pin to make it slightly larger. Then I toss the fruit (this time: blueberries, blackberries, strawberries, and cherries) with a few spoonfuls of sugar—adjusting for the berries’ sweetness—and a bit of cornstarch or flour to help thicken the juices.

I pile the fruit onto the center of the pastry, fold up the edges to create a rustic border, and brush the crust with an egg wash (although I was out of eggs this time and skipped it). Bake in a 400°F oven until the crust is golden—usually about 20–25 minutes, though it takes a bit longer here at the cabin

Serve warm with a scoop of ice cream or a dollop of whipped cream. Simple, beautiful, and delicious!

Owl Spotting in Phoenix

My daughter and her boyfriend are housesitting our property in Phoenix, and they’ve been spotting an impressive number of owls—sometimes several at once. We’re guessing they might be fledglings, just learning to leave the nest or begin hunting on their own. Here are some of the incredible photos they captured over the past week.

This next photo looks like an adult owl. But there could be two in this photo?

Hydrangea Question

Last year, we planted hydrangeas at the foundation of our cabin deck. They survived their first winter and are growing again. All plants are on automatic watering systems and have been fertilized at the same time. However, a few of the plants have no flower buds. Others are in full bloom.

At the end of the growing season, I trimmed them all the same way. Is there a reason why 3 of my plants are healthy, but no signs of producing any flowers?

Please help me solve the mystery.

Paint and Sip

My friend, Tevia and I demonstrated our painting skills in a Paint and Sip class this week. It was a perfect evening to do a class outside for 2 hours. It’s always fun to paint with friends.

Hosted by Arizona Mountain Coffee Company here in Pinetop, this is a fun creative outlet and a way to spend time with a good friend!

From the Internet:

National Blueberry Day

Yesterday was National Blueberry Day (who knew?) and my friend, Elizabeth from Pinecones and Acorns is sharing some fabulous blueberry recipes, like this blueberry lemon lavender loaf. You can find her post here.

It’s on my list of things to bake.

So Many Great Ideas

Annie Diamond from Most Lovely Things posts such interesting ideas. Her latest post includes a simple summer table runner using butcher paper and ink, and sweet flower arrangements (never thought to use tomato vines)! You can see it here.

Strawberry Basil Simmer Pot

I have never made this, but it sounds like such a great way to use fruit that is spoiling. Coco from The Crowned Goat, not only has beautiful photos but shares a Strawberry Basil Simmer Pot recipe. Not only will this make your house smell like summer, but is also a nice gift for a friend.

I hope you were able to take advantage of Prime Days this week. We were able to buy a very nice wedding present at a substantial discount for one of my daughter’s roommates.

Another Saturday Meanderings is at a close! Wishing you a weekend full of relaxation, laughter and peace. Stay safe out there.