Saturday Meanderings

Happy Saturday to you! I’m a little late getting out today’s post but all for good reasons. My son and girlfriend are in town visiting for a wedding, so the latter part of this week is full of those celebrations. Since this will be the first time in 26 years that our son hasn’t been home for Thanksgiving, we are having an early turkey day on Sunday. So it’s time to share all the good things happening this week on Saturday Meanderings!

Quick and attractive hostess gifts

If you are going to someone else’s home for Thanksgiving or a dinner party, check out these two very pretty and affordable hostess gifts. My friend, Connie, who is the mother of the groom this week, found these very attractive flower arrangements at Costco. Fortunately Costco had 14 of them in stock and she was able to use them for centerpieces at the rehearsal dinner. The wooden box is dovetailed and presents so nicely with the colorful seasonal flowers. Only $20 each!

Our local Trader Joe’s has fresh potted herb gardens with all the flavors you need in your holiday stuffing. Rosemary, thyme and sage are happily growing in this very attractive eco-friendly bamboo container. The plants are a good size and aromatic. And for under $15.00 at $14.99! And if you don’t want to part with it, put it in your kitchen in a sunny window or transplant out in your garden. Such a useful and pretty gift!

Two New Recipes

Each week (or so) I try to make a new recipe as I tend to get stuck making the same things over and over again. My son’s friend, Alex, came by with 2 large boxes of whole medjool dates from his family farm in Yuma, Arizona. What a generous gift! Did you know that dates impart sweetness without producing significant spikes in blood sugar levels? Dates are also a good source of potassium, magnesium, iron and six essential B Vitamins.

I have fond memories of my mother always making date nut bread, something I rarely bake. So with a googled recipe from King Arthur, I made this delicious loaf. Even though I followed all the instructions, and pulled a clean wooden skewer out of the middle, the loaf was under baked in the center. Not sure what happened but if you make this, be aware of that. It looked perfectly baked and I even double checked with my handy laser thermometer (can’t live without this kitchen tool ). Nonetheless, it is a very delicious loaf and wonderful flavors for this time of year.

Lasagna, but not really

Ambitious Kitchen is another of my go-to places for new healthy recipes. This Cozy Roasted Vegetable Butternut Squash Lasagna is easy to make, but a bit time consuming. Filled with a colorful range of roasted vegetables it is a new spin on a traditional lasagna. Here is Monique’s description of this recipe: Wonderfully cozy roasted vegetable butternut squash lasagna packed with a rainbow of veggies and the perfect balance of sweet & savory flavor. This vegetarian butternut squash lasagna recipe is easy to make and filled with warming spices. Don’t forget those incredible layers of melted cheese in every bite! Comfort food at its finest.

This is a good recipe to get all your veggies in! Click here for the link.

An Early Thanksgiving

As I mentioned earlier, we are all gathering tomorrow for a family Thanksgiving dinner. Here’s a sneak peek of my centerpiece. Next week I will be sharing more Thanksgiving table ideas, but I love a centerpiece I can continue to use after the dinner.

As much as I love flowers, they don’t last long. A few years ago, I started making my centerpieces with plants, herbs and other items I can use in the garden or yard. Lamb’s ears, fresh mint, succulents, ornamental cabbages, and flowering ground cover will make up the bulk of the centerpiece, with small bouquets of roses and pomegranates tucked in between.

I set the table yesterday and cannot wait to share it with you next week.

Polishing Shoes

Every Saturday night, my father would polish his shoes for church the following morning. I have such fond memories, as a child, waiting to help buff his shoes to a mirror finish with his bristled brush. Though we didn’t have a lot growing up, my Dad would invest in a good pair of shoes and then take care of them for decades. He valued the few things he had and always made sure his shoes were clean and shiny.

Since my son is in the wedding party this week, he asked me to help get his shoes in top condition. Busy with his wedding party responsibilities I volunteered to shine his shoes. I didn’t realize how this task would take me down memory lane. So for a good hour, I happily saddle soaped and polished and shined, knowing my Dad is smiling fondly from heaven. It’s funny how certain smells, sounds and tasks can trigger memories from long ago.

Ironing

If polishing shoes reminds me of my Dad, then ironing reminds me of my mother. I never really understood why she loved to iron. Yesterday, it finally came to me. Raising 5 children her life must have been filled with a bit of chaos. And ironing is a slow, deliberate task. After spending quite a bit of time ironing the tablecloth for the dining room table, I realized the emotional benefits of ironing.

You start with something wrinkled and with patience and time, you end up with a neatly pressed product. And there must be something good about it, because it attracts my cat. He loves to sit on the ironing board and stays close the entire time I am ironing.

Loving this plant

Last spring, we purchased two Tiger Eye Flowering Maple plants. And surprisingly, they are thriving and blooming now. I am marveling over the exquisite red veined flowers which hang like lanterns on the branches.

This plant grows in USDA zones 9-11. Such a beauty!

Fun Things on the Internet

I have always wanted a flocked Christmas tree, but can’t justify adding another tree to my holiday stash. My sweet friend, Rachel from the Ponds Farmhouse, has a great tutorial on How to Add Fake Snow to your holiday decor. You can see it here. Might be a fun project soon?

Here is another project I would love to tackle. Who decorates their mailbox for the holidays? Chloe, from Celebrate and Decorate gives step-by-step directions on how to make your mailbox festive. You can see it here. If you recall, my friend, Chloe lives in Celebration, Florida and I would love to see her neighborhood during the holidays!

If you are looking for a holiday project with children, check out this one from Design Morsels. Andrea shows how to make No Bake Salt Dough ornaments! All you need is a few ingredients and some holiday cookie-cutters. You can see it here.

For more hostess gift ideas, Kim from Shiplap and Shells (yes, the beautiful garden/home in the Pacific Northwest), shares her thoughts here.

I am always looking for ways to eat healthier, cut unwanted calories and still get good flavor. Chas from Chas Crazy Creations shares a recipe on Easy and Healthy Vegetarian Cashew Crema. I haven’t tried it yet, but it sure looks interesting. You can see it here.

Well that wraps up another week of Saturday Meanderings. If you missed my blog post about the Arlington Ladies, you can view it here. Trust me, it’s a worthy read and will make you feel good to know there are those who volunteer out of love for our country.

Have a beautiful weekend! And, as always, I so appreciate you reading my posts and being so supportive!