Saturday Meanderings

Happy September! Since my last August post, life has been a bit of a travel whirlwind—Chicago, Indiana, Ohio, Lake Erie, Phoenix, and now, finally, back at our mountain cabin. I’ll share more details about the trip below, but for now, I can say it feels wonderful to be home. The seasons are gently shifting here: cooler air, a hint of fall in the breeze, and a softer, golden light that signals change. Thank you for joining me for this slightly later edition of Saturday Meanderings. Let’s begin and chat about all the good things from the past two weeks.

Peach Season

While my peach tree in Phoenix bursts with fruit in May, other parts of the country are savoring their peach season right now. On my recent drive from the cabin back to Phoenix, a simple roadside sign—an arrow and the word “Peaches”—caught my eye and lured me off course. The detour was well worth it: I drove away with a generous bag of juicy white peaches, all for just $10.

Of course, it wasn’t until after I hauled home this bounty of peaches that I remembered—I was leaving in just three days. Not wanting them to go to waste, I launched into a full-on peach recipe frenzy: two rustic tarts, a creamy white peach, honey, and rum sorbet, and plenty of fresh peaches sliced alongside breakfast each morning.

Hatch Green Chiles

It is also Hatch green chile season and our wonderful neighbors give us a big bag of roasted ones. Between peach recipes, I make Hatch Green Chile jam, which is a wonderful condiment for just about anything.

I skin and de-seed the roasted chiles, chop them up and add the other ingredients, being careful to keep the juices away from my skin and eyes. This batch of chiles is SO spicy (too much for me), but my husband loves it.

Here is the recipe if you love a flavorful jam. Please note that Hatch chiles come in different heat levels and as they mature, they get hotter. When I made this last year, the chiles were mild and the jam delicious. Too hot isn’t my preference so I will be making another batch with mild chiles soon.

Monsoon Season in Phoenix

You probably heard on the news of the recent haboob in Phoenix. What is a haboob? A haboob is a massive, wall-like dust storm that forms when strong thunderstorm winds pick up and carry large amounts of dirt and debris from arid regions, creating dense, towering clouds that drastically reduce visibility and can be incredibly dangerous for drivers. The term comes from the Arabic word for “strong wind” and is often used to describe the most intense and dangerous dust storms that occur in desert areas, such as those in Sudan or the southwestern U.S.

Though we were not in town for this, you can only imagine the impact on our yard and property. However, the good news is that we are finally getting the much needed monsoon rains, both in the Valley and up in the mountains.

Some great photos captured this event. Sort of looks like the end of the world, doesn’t it? We are having crazy weather!

Labor Day Weekend Travel

Our dear friends, Mike and Laurie, recently invited us to celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary at their summer home on Lake Erie. Since we had never visited this part of the country, we were thrilled to be included in such a special milestone.

First of all, we’re convinced they must have married at age ten—neither of them looks old enough to be celebrating fifty years together! Though we don’t see Mike and Laurie often, every time we gather it feels as though no time has passed.

We flew into Chicago, stayed overnight, and then picked up a rental car for the 4.5-hour drive to Ohio. The trip felt longer than expected, thanks to endless toll booths in Indiana (truly, one every few miles) and stretches of road construction. Still, the drive was beautiful—rolling farmland dotted with classic red barns along the way. At last, we arrived at our destination: Catawba Island on the shores of Lake Erie.

I have to take a moment to gush about this couple. Laurie has impeccable taste in just about everything, and Mike discovered this remarkable property right on the lake where together they created their dream vacation home. Laurie’s decorating style is both collected and thoughtful—every piece feels intentional, layered with warmth and meaning. Though the home is new, it carries the charm and comfort of a place that has been cherished for generations, designed with their children and grandchildren in mind. Every detail has been considered, and the moment you step inside, you feel not only welcomed, but deeply loved.

After exchanging heartfelt vows, we enjoyed the most delicious dinner overlooking Lake Erie with their friends and family. Every details was perfect!

We drove back to Chicago to catch our flight, which unfortunately was delayed for 4.5 hours…over a holiday weekend. Not a fun travel experience and a trip well worth it.

Mary Must Haves

With all the rainfall, the mosquitoes are multiplying and I am typically the one who gets all the bites. I am so happy with this mosquito repellent recommended by my friend, Joanne. Made by her friend, this stuff really works!

12-HOUR MOSQUITO & TICK PROTECTION: Long-lasting defense against mosquitoes and ticks, including those that may transmit West Nile, Dengue, and Lyme disease. Currently it is 6% off on Amazon for $14.99 and you can find it here.

I will not put DEET on my skin and this product has a natural alternative. In addition, this product has:

• 8-HOUR MULTI-INSECT COVERAGE: Shields for up to 8 hours against biting flies, gnats, chiggers, and sand flies for reliable, all-day outdoor protection. 
• 20% PICARIDIN FORMULA: Powerful DEET alternative derived from natural sources—effective, gentle, and suitable for sensitive skin without harsh chemicals.
• LIGHTWEIGHT, QUICK-DRYING & NON-STAINING: Water-based formula absorbs fast, feels clean and non-greasy, and won’t stain clothing or gear—perfect for face and body.
• Comes in either Fragrance Free or Citrus and Sandalwood and Green Tea and Mint.

You can follow them on Instagram @grandtongo.

Fun Halloween Art

If you love to decorate for Halloween, here is a very affordable way to add some spooky art to your walls or shelves. I am inspired by all the Halloween art in the gift shop at the Orchard Restaurant and Farm Stand in Port Clinton, Ohio (see photo above).

This incredibly affordable package offers 5 ghosts in nature artwork. Unframed, these art prints are on a high quality paper suitable for wall decoration or framing.

Priced at $11.99, you can have an instant sweet Halloween look. I encourage you to order them soon because I paid $9.99 just a few days ago. Expecting a price increase the closer we get to Halloween.

Cute Sweaters at Target

I wasn’t prepared for the cooler weather near Lake Erie and didn’t have enough warm clothes packed for the trip. A fortuitous trip to the local Target landed me two ribbed mocked turtleneck pullover sweaters that worked perfectly.

A mid-weight fabric is a blend of recycled polyester, viscose and spandex, and the sweater is very soft. Since it is not a long sweater, it looks perfect with a skirt or higher waist pants.

I purchase two of these sweaters-one in white and the other in taupe, but it also comes in black. For $35.00, you can find it here.

Well, it’s time to enjoy the rest of the weekend. Our poor boy Finn, did not like us being away from home. We received reports of mopey faces and a poor appetite. He is very happy to have us here spoiling him each and every day.

I hope to finish up my bunny painting, but quite honestly, I will be happy going for walks and doing nothing! Whatever you do this weekend, be safe out there!