Saturday Meanderings

What a whirlwind week it has been! Since my last post, I’ve traveled to California, Texas, back to Phoenix, and now up to the cabin. In the midst of all that, our neighborhood hosted its annual meeting, which required a tremendous amount of preparation. Happily, the meeting is behind us, and it was a success! Now, I’m delighted to be back at the cabin and catching up with you. Thank you for joining me for this week’s Saturday Meanderings, where we chat about all the good things that happened this week.

A Heartfelt Tribute to Randy

It has been far too long since I last saw my dear friend, Gwen. Unfortunately, our reunion centered around a celebration of life for her lovely husband, Randy. But in true Gwen fashion, she orchestrated the most thoughtful and heartwarming remembrance. Judging by the wonderful turnout, it was clear that Gwen and Randy were surrounded by an abundance of love.

When I think about the lifelong friends who have enriched my life, Gwen would certainly fall into the category of most organized and clever. One particularly memorable touch at the celebration was Scrabble boards and tiles provided for the guests to use while waiting for the ceremony to begin. We were invited to think of descriptive words that captured Randy’s spirit and asked to attach the letters to the board with double-sided tape. It was a lovely way to reflect on Randy’s life while also sparking conversations with others who had gathered to remember him.

And the reason for the Scrabble? The game was named and produced the same year Randy was born. So thoughtful. So meaningful. So Gwen.

Discovering Austin with Julianna

From California, we traveled to Austin, Texas, to visit our daughter, Julianna (child #2) and her boyfriend, Dalton. The last time I was in Austin was during her move there two years ago and sightseeing was pretty much nonexistent. You know how moving goes: cleaning, unpacking, shopping, more cleaning and unpacking, all while ending each day with weary bodies!

This visit, however, was purely for fun and an opportunity to discover more of this vibrant city. We enjoyed an informative city tour, wandered through the beautiful State Capitol, cracked the secret code to a hidden speakeasy, and of course, snapped a photo in front of one of Austin’s iconic wall murals. It was wonderful to spend time together while getting to know a little more about the city Julianna now calls home.

Annual Neighborhood Meeting

It certainly takes a village to create and maintain a wonderful neighborhood! Our all-volunteer board has been serving our community for nearly 50 years, always with the same mission: to protect the history, charm, and character of our beloved North Central neighborhood. Platted in the late 1800s, our area is one of Phoenix’s special places, with its magnificent old olive and ash trees lining the streets.

Each year, we invite the entire neighborhood to join us, along with our elected officials, city and county staff, and members of our police department. It’s an opportunity to share updates on everything from historic preservation, traffic and safety, zoning, and heat and water issues. This year’s meeting was well attended, and it was wonderful to see the enthusiasm and engagement of our residents.

I must admit, I am pooped! It takes a tremendous amount of preparation for our board to pull together, and I’m more than happy to have this one in the rearview mirror.

Ahhh…at the Cabin

There is something so wonderfully relaxing about driving from the desert up to the mountains of Northern Arizona. The air is crisp and clear, the temperatures are delightfully fall-like and it is soooooo quiet. Just being here feels like a deep exhale.

However, this isn’t exactly a relaxing trip! It’s that time of year when we begin closing up the cabin for the season. Although we’ll make one more trip up at the end of October to transport all our geraniums back to Phoenix, my goal this weekend is to clean, store the outdoor furniture, empty the refrigerator, and bring our indoor houseplants back to the Valley.

So, my days will be filled with laundry and Pine-Sol, rather than leisurely afternoons on the deck. But I’m not complaining…just a little sad that those lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer are coming to an end. There is something about life up here that makes it so easy to slow down, relax, and simply enjoy the moment. And I will miss that.

From the Internet-Backyard Movie Theatre

I have always wanted to create a backyard movie theatre. There is something very romantic and luxurious about watching a movie, eating popcorn and perhaps enjoying a glass of wine under the stars. If you feel the same, you will find this article by The Cultivated House informative.

Pleased with Fehaute

As I mentioned in an earlier post, I purchased my mother-of-the-groom dress from Fehaute.com. I love their feminine styles and affordable prices. Since they don’t have a retail store and all transactions are online, ordering my first dress was a bit of a leap of faith.

When shopping for my son’s wedding, I found that many of the mother-of-the-groom dresses were a bit too matronly for my taste. I wanted something flattering but, more importantly, comfortable. Having the ability to move, dance and enjoy the evening without worrying about taking tiny steps, tripping over a long train, or constantly holding in my stomach, was important to me. Plus I was asked to stay within a color palette that would compliment the bride’s selections. The fabric on this dress is just dreamy and the construction was solid. Happily my first purchase was a success!

We will be attending a black-tie optional wedding of our son’s dearest friend in California in October. Ah yes, another opportunity to find something lovely to wear without breaking the bank. I ordered two dresses from Fehaute, and once again, I’m very pleased with my choices.

The long green dress fits like a glove. In fact, I probably shouldn’t gain even a pound before the wedding! It is perfect fall color and the sequins add a bit of sparkle for a dressier look.

The black dress, however, was too small, so I’ve exchanged it for the next size up. But love how feminine, classic and flattering it is. I’m still waiting for the replacement to arrive. Then I can decide which one to wear. Hard to beat the excellent prices too as they add a discount if you buy more than one.

One word of caution when ordering from Fehaute: the sizing seems to vary from one style to another. My mother-of-the-groom dress was a size 6 and slightly big and long on me (which I had altered). The green dress is also a size 6 and fits perfectly, while the black dress is a size 2 and too small. I sized up to a 4.

Wouldn’t this velvet dress be perfect for a glamorous holiday party? Comes in deep blue, dark green and wine.

Another thing to note: if the dress is on final sale you cannot return it. But if you are considering ordering from Fehaute, be sure to check the measurements for each individual dress rather than relying solely on the size. Shipping can take longer too. Their return/exchange policy is on their website.

My Favorite T-shirts

At the beginning of each summer, I typically order a fresh batch of T-shirts. The standard white ones are no longer quite so white, and some of my well-worn favorites have collars that have lost their shape. I love the Timeless Crew Neck T-shirts from Banana Republic Factory. They are incredibly soft, fit beautifully through the shoulders, and have a relaxed shape that doesn’t cling to the waist. And you simply can’t beat the price!

Of course, longevity depends on how often you wear and wash them. Since I wear T-shirts frequently, mine tend to pill and develop baggy collars after a couple of seasons. But at these prices, I don’t mind rotating in a new batch and enjoying different necklines and colors.

My latest shipment just arrived, and my favorite is the long-sleeve version in Vintage Olive. Seriously, I ordered 10 T-shirts, with the most expensive costing just $16.20 and the least expensive only $11.20. After searching for the perfect t-shirt, I am now a fan of this brand. You can see all the different colors and styles here. You will not be disappointed!

It’s been one of those extraordinarily busy weeks. And with that, I’ll wrap up this week’s Saturday Meanderings. I hope you have a wonderful weekend filled with a little sunshine, time with those you love, and perhaps a chance to slow down and enjoy the simple pleasures of life. Thank you for spending part of it with me today. Until next time, wishing you a beautiful weekend!