Saturday Meanderings

What do you do when you are unsettled? For me, I don my apron and start cooking, baking and creating in my kitchen. I suppose it’s better than some other vices, but there is something about the smell of bread baking, apples cooking, or onions simmering in butter, that is balm for the soul. It’s been a week of kitchen therapy for me. My apron needs a wash and I have enough food for an army, but my husband is well fed and food is meant to be shared. Happy Saturday and welcome to my weekly overview of all the good things that happened this week.

My Painting is Finished

It always takes several “looks” to finally reach the decision the painting is finished. Though I am still glancing at it frequently, I do believe this William Morris inspired painting is complete. The frame, from Amazon, is very affordable and I think it works. What do you think?

Fun Shopping Discovery

I must admit, I do not enjoy shopping. My motto is~get in, capture your item and get out. However, I spent a morning with my friend, Tevia, who found two adorable stores in Show Low, Arizona. Sitting side by side, the historical homes are owned by a husband and wife team. One shop is run by Trisha, and the other by her husband, Tony.

Each building is filled with charming items from furniture to baskets to cards with thoughtful quotes.

Outside, the gardens are filled with flowers and vintage items.

If you are ever in the mountains of Arizona, stop by Patty’s Porch in Showlow, 41 N. White Mountain Blvd, Show Low, Arizona 85901. I highly recommend it!

It’s Apple Season!

Our friends, Angela and David have the most enormous apple trees. Due to their generosity, we know have lots of apples to enjoy.

Earlier this week, I shared my five favorite apple recipes and if you missed it, you can see it here. This next week will be making apple pie(s) and finding other ways to use up these delicious gems.

Bread Week

My sourdough bread baking has slowed down a bit with all the travel we’ve done. However, this week, hot out of the oven is a pumpkin bread and a roasted Hatch green chili jam/pepper jack cheese sourdough bread.

Flavored with pumpkin puree and pumpkin spice, this loaf is shaped before baking using baker’s string. The stem is a piece of a branch and obviously not edible. This is the perfect gift for our dear mountain neighbors, Peter and Gloria.

Ghostly Project

Inspired by all the creative Halloween crafts I’ve been seeing on Instagram and Pinterest, I decided to try my hand at making ghosts on canvas—only this time, I wanted to use something other than paint. You can experiment with joint compound, patching plaster, or even grout.

For this project, I chose joint compound to create three little ghosts who will eventually look as if they’re hanging on a clothesline. Using a plastic spoon, I apply the joint compound in the shapes I want. It is very easy to wipe off or correct as you go along.

In my excitement, I didn’t read the label closely and didn’t realize joint compound takes a full 24 hours to dry. Even so, I’m thrilled with how realistic the ghosts already look using this technique! I cannot wait to share the final version with you.

It’s Still Hot Here!

It’s hard to believe that just yesterday I was bundled in a sweater up in the mountains, and today I’m back in Phoenix, practically melting. At 92 degrees, I know I shouldn’t complain—it’s not triple digits, after all—but it’s tough to feel those cozy fall vibes when the air conditioning is still running full blast and the windows stay firmly shut.

Until the weather catches up with the calendar, here are a few ways I embrace a touch of autumn without overheating:

• Bring fall indoors: I am dusting off a large spiced candle to fill our home with scents of cinnamon, cloves and orange.
• Swap décor: Embarrassingly, my spring cherry blossoms are still out in the dining room and will be replaced with fall leaves
• Prep your porch: This weekend I am finally putting up my fall wreath. I am excited to see it on the new door color (deep burgundy). It will feel seasonal even if it’s sunny and warm/hot.

This way, you can celebrate fall’s arrival, even when Phoenix hasn’t quite gotten the memo!

Mary’s Must Haves

As you may remember, I suffered a concussion last summer that took several months to heal. My doctor warned me it could take six months to a year for a full recovery—and I’ll admit, I’m not one to feel comfortable operating at anything less than 100%. Around the nine-month mark, I was close to 95% back to normal, but I still hadn’t regained my pre-concussion clarity.

A friend of mine, Sue, who has a medical background, suggested I try creatine to support cognitive function. Creatine is a compound that your body naturally makes, and you also get it from protein-rich foods. It supplies energy to your muscles and may also promote brain health.

Now, every morning I stir two scoops of collagen protein into my coffee—something I was already doing—and add a small scoop (5 mg) of Thorne creatine. You can find Thorne creatine at Amazon here or Walmart here. A 16-ounce container is a 90-day supply for $43.00.

I am pleasantly surprised by how quickly I noticed a difference. In just a short time, I experienced a real improvement and am finally feeling so much more like myself.

Do you take creatine? If so, please share your experience. If not, always remember to do your own research and/or check with your health care provider before you take any supplements.

Finding the Right T-shirts

Last year, I raved about my discovery of the softest, most comfortable T-shirts (Timeless t-shirt) from Banana Republic Factory—especially at such an incredible price. After a full year of heavy use, I can honestly say I still love them…but they’re definitely a one- or two-season purchase. Maybe I’ve simply put too many miles on mine, but I’ve noticed the necklines start to lose their shape after multiple washes.

That said, the value is hard to beat. My well-loved tees from last year are getting a second life as yard work attire, and I’ve just ordered a fresh set for this year. A few lightly worn ones still look great, so not all were casualties of my frequent wearing!

At just $12 for the short sleeves and $14.40 for the long sleeves, I couldn’t resist adding a rich burgundy, a warm chocolate brown with white-stripes to my collection. On sale at 50% off with an additional 20% off here. I purchased 8 new t-shirts for a total of $112.59 and free shipping. Not bad.

The Love of a Dog

I believe Finn knows that it’s been a rough week. When I work on my computer, he is nearby. But this week, he placed his paw on my foot for comfort. I find it amazing that our animals sense our needs and he certainly delivered. So very grateful to have this large, hairy pup in our lives.

The garden is calling as it needs lots of prep before fall planting. Hen house needs a good cleaning too. Both places are food for my soul! Please have a safe and loving weekend. Keep those you love close to you.