Saturday Meanderings

Happy Saturday! How can we already be nearly ten days into May? This past week has been a bit slower around here as I continue recovering from a nasty bug. Frustrating as the dickens for someone who is always on the move, but I’m trying to listen when my body says it’s time to slow down and rest. As always, I am so grateful you’re here this morning, joining me for a few bits and bobs from the week. So grab your favorite beverage, get comfortable and let’s jump in.

Happy Mother’s Day

With Mother’s Day upon us, I find myself thinking so much about my mother, Julie, who passed away in 2014. It’s hard to believe she has been gone this long, and yet there are days when I feel her right beside me..in her signature outfit of jeans, white shirt and navy blazer. My mother was a true scrapper-raised in a large family, living through the years of the Second World War, surviving a debilitating eye injury, and raising five children without many of the conveniences and resources we take for granted today.

She had the most beautiful smile, and my father absolutely adored her. She was creative, resourceful, and always looking for ways to make our home more beautiful and welcoming…on a budget. Happy Mother’s Day in heaven, Mom.

And to all of you-whether you are a mother, have been blessed by one, or simply “mother”those around you with love and care-I wish you a beautiful and blessed day as we honor the women who so selflessly take care of others.

Savoring

One concept that really resonated with me this week came from an Instagram post by @soulmindhub about the idea of “savoring”. In 2018, psychologist, Laurie Santos created one of the most popular courses at Yale University based on the question: If human are so intelligent, why are we so bad at knowing what will make us happy? One of the practices she discovered that was most effective and surprisingly simple-the concept of savoring.

Savoring is the deliberate act of fully experiencing positive moments as they happen. Not photographing them. Not half-experiencing them while already thinking about the next thing on the list. Just being fully present in a good moment long enough for your brain to actually register it.

The research on savoring confirms what Santos found. The brain needs sustained attention on a positive experience, a full 12-seconds, to encode it into long term memory. Without deliberate savoring, positive experiences happen and leave no lasting trace.

What are your thoughts on this? What do you savor? I hope, by practicing this, the benefit will help in slowing life down a bit? Twelve seconds? I can do this!

What Are You Watching?

With a bit more downtime this week, I finally had the chance to settle in and watch a few new shows-and there are several I thoroughly enjoyed. One that completely pulled me in was Karen Pirie, a smart British crime drama based on the novels by Val McDermid. It appears the books are only available in paperback or audio but you can find them here.

The story follows a young, sharp detective reopening a decades-old cold case. It has just the right mix of mystery, wit, and character development to keep you wanting one more episode. Available on Britbox and Amazon Prime.

We also recently watched The Count of Monte Cristo, which is beautifully done and reminds you why the original story by Alexandre Dumas has endured for generations. Rich costumes, sweeping scenery, revenge, redemption-it still has all the ingredients of a classical period drama. 8 Episodes streaming on Masterpiece Theatre, PBS and Prime Video.

After reading the book by Bonnie Garmus in 2023, I finally watched Lesson in Chemistry starring Brie Larson. I thought the series captured the spirit of the novel beautifully, balancing humor, heartbreak, and the challenges women faced in the workplace. Definitely worth the watch (especially the clothing, hairstyles, set), especially if you enjoyed the book as much as I did. Apple TV.

Of course we still tune into our regular favorites too-The Rookie, Tracker and Matlock.

What are You Reading?

I’m beginning to think about my summer reading list, which generally leans more toward enjoyable “brain candy” than anything too intense, dark or disturbing. Life feels heavy enough these days, so I’m always grateful for books that are engaging, clever, heartwarming, or simply hard to put down. Please share any gems you’ve discovered lately.

Here are a few of my recent reads that I would definitely recommend:

• Theo of Golden-This beautifully written novel is set in a small mountain town and centers around Theo, a quiet and mysterious man whose life slowly intertwines with the people around him. Thoughtful, uplifting, and filled with gentle wisdom. It’s one of those books that leaves you feeling hopeful about humanity.
• Project Hail Mary-Even though science fiction isn’t normally my thing, this book by Andy Weir is incredibly entertaining and was a bit of a surprise for me. Smart, funny, suspenseful, and heartfelt, this one completely pulled me in. Haven’t seen the movie yet, but hope to soon.
• The Widow by John Grisham. This legal thriller follows a mysterious widow who claims to be financially wealthy…but is she, really? Mr.Grisham has definitely figured out the formula for writing the perfect novel with twists and turns throughout the book.
• We Solve Murders-If you enjoyed The Thursday Murder Club series, this latest book from Richard Osman delivers the same clever humor and quirky new characters. I really like how Richard Osman writes. It is both cozy and witty while still delivering a genuinely fun mystery.

Possible Summer Project?

In the June issue of Flower Magazine, there is an article about exterior designer, Raleigh Adams. He created this art installation for entrance of Rhoddie Bicycle Outfitters in Blowing Rock, North Carolina.

Wouldn’t this be a fun art project for our cabin? We have plenty of logs and wooden slices~perhaps a summer art project for us?

So Much Zucchini…

It never ceases to amaze me how one zucchini plant can produce so many zucchini. If I don’t pick them every few days, I suddenly discover a gargantuan zucchini hiding beneath the leaves-we’re talking 16 inches long and weighing upwards of six pounds! Being someone who hates to waste anything from the garden, I decide to put one of the big fellas to good use.

I slice the zucchini lengthwise, scoop out the seeds and leave enough of the flesh to create sturdy “boats” for stuffing. Then I make a hearty filing with ground beef, garden tomatoes, onions, garlic, pine nuts and a few generous handfuls of grated mozzarella cheese (and seasonings).

After stuffing the zucchini halves, I top them with grated Pecorino Romano cheese and bake them (due to their size) for nearly an hour until everything is bubbling and golden.

Surprisingly, these stuffed zucchini made several meals for us and reheated beautifully throughout the week. The pine nuts turned out to be a fun addition, adding just the right bit of texture and crunch to every bite. May try my hand at another one using chicken and pesto..

The Great Awakening Movie

This week, we went to the movie, The Great Awakening, and I honestly wasn’t quite sure what to expect. What I walked away with, however, was a fascinating lesson in American history that I knew very little about. The film tells the story of the First Great Awakening through the lens of Benjamin Franklin, which made the story especially compelling.

The film centers around George Whitefield, a name I never even heard before seeing the movie. I was stunned to learn that as many as 80% of the people living in the American colonies reportedly heard Whitefield preach in person at some point in their lives. Even more fascinating was the relationship between Franklin and Whitefield. Franklin himself was not a believer, yet he grew to deeply admire and respect Whitefield for his brilliance, charisma, and ability to move people.

What the movie does so well is show how this spiritual movement not only transformed the colonies religiously, but also helped prepare them politically. Whitefield inspired a generation-particularly young people-to think differently about freedom, individual responsibility, and authority. Though he died just three years before the signing of the Declaration of Independence, his influence helped shape the mindset that ultimately united the colonies and prepared them to become a republic.

As we approach the 250th anniversary of our nation, I found this film especially meaningful and timely, and the acting is excellent. If you enjoy history or want to better understand some of the spiritual and cultural foundations that shaped early America, I would definitely recommend seeing this movie, while it is still in theaters.

Wishing you all a safe and happy weekend as we head into these beautiful May days. And once again, extra Mother’s Day wishes and blessings to all who are celebrating-mothers, grandmothers, dog and cat mothers, and those who nurture, guide, and care for others in so many meaningful ways. May your weekend be filled with peace, rest, and a lot of joy along the way. Stay safe out there.