Saturday Meanderings

What a beautiful week here. The freezing temperatures seem to be gone and signs of Spring are popping up everywhere. If I could wish for one climate here, now would be the one. Cool mornings requiring a sweater and afternoons that are pleasant and sunny. Welcome to yet another Saturday Meanderings where we chat about all good things this week.

A week ago, there was one blossom on the peach tree. Now it is completely covered in pink buds and flowers! Mother Nature is something!

Pool House Remodel

Recently my friend Chas @chascrazycreations and her mom came to visit Phoenix and stayed in our pool house. I don’t know what it is about having house guests but for some reason my eyes finally focus and I “see” my home in a different light.

When the children were younger, the pool house is a place they gathered with their friends. All the “toys” (Xbox, Wii) and two television screens were the big attraction in their teens to their 20s. But much of that equipment is outdated and it’s time to do a pool house refresh. The place looks tired.

Yesterday I met with a contractor and we hope to replace the flooring, lighting, and paint everything. I cannot wait to start and I will take you along on the journey. If you would like to see the original pool house build, you can find it here in Restoration Chronicles~Chapter 4. Though it feels we were under construction just yesterday, it is now 22 years later. Time for a face-lift!

The only part of the pool house that I will not be changing is the hand painted, stenciled floor in the bathroom. It still looks terrific nearly 2 years later. If you missed that post, you can see it here.

Hiking in Sedona

On Wednesday, I did my first hike of 2022, with my daughter and her dog.

There is no place like Sedona, Arizona. From the gorgeous red rocks buttes to the steep canyons and pine trees, it is one BEAUTIFUL place. Approximately 1.5 hour drive north of Phoenix, Sedona is a fabulous place to hike. With an early morning drive, we arrive at the Bell Trail No. 13 where it is 30 degrees. With only one other car in the parking lot, we set off and enjoyed the solitude of the great outdoors. A few hours and 7.4 miles later, we got back in the car (tired and happy) and drove home.

Thankfully, Congress set aside wild places where the land is allowed to retain its natural state, serving as a haven for humans to escape modern civilization and for nature to be itself. With so much land being developed, I am so grateful that someone had the foresight to turn this into a federally protected area.

Since my rib injuries in December, I have been taking it slow with cardio-vascular exercise, so I did have to ice my knee later that day. But what a great opportunity to spend time with my sweet daughter and her dog, Hemingway in such a gorgeous place. If you ever get a chance to visit Sedona, I can promise you will not regret it.

Have you Been to Target lately?

I confess that I do not enjoy shopping. However, a recent visit to Target nearly changed my mind. I did not realize that Target and Studio McGee are collaborating with an exclusive line called Threshold. I follow Studio McGee on Instagram @studiomcgee, however, until yesterday, was unaware of this partnership.

What a delight to finally see it! From the products to the merchandising to the affordable pricing, I am very impressed. And unlike Magnolia Farm, there is a lot of colorful items. The monochromatic look is fine, but it seems to bore me rather quickly. And Threshold is already featuring bright and cheerful items for the Spring and Easter.

Of course, I went to Target to buy plastic tubs and came back with all of this, and more. Wooden bunnies big and small, a wooden bunny cutting board, large candle with 5 wicks, cherry blossoms, Easter pillow and I really love the soft storage tubs in white and black.

My friend, Andrea from Design Morsels recommends this throw and I finally got one. This very soft, cable knit throw in blush will be perfect on the front porch bench.

If I didn’t have to be home for an appointment, I would have spent more time strolling through and seeing the over 4000 items in the Threshold line. If you do not have a Target store near you, check it out online here. I am not a Target affiliate~just impressed with the Threshold line and sharing my discovery!

Also, Studio McGee has a 2 season show on Netflix~ Dream Home Makeover. Has anyone seen it yet?

National Pizza Day

I’m not quite sure who creates these daily celebrations, but National Pizza day was this week. I cannot say enough about these pizzas we get direct from Italy from Talia di Napoli. They are a staple in the freezer (as you get 8 each order). But one pizza seems to serve 2-3 people at our home so making one can last for 2 meals. And they are less expensive than our local pizza joint.

In order to justify my pizza consumption, I try to always put a salad on top. In the garden now, there is an abundance of spicy, fresh arugula. Simple dressed with a lemon vinaigrette, pine nuts and shavings of Parmesan cheese, this healthy salad is just what I need to lower the guilt of pizza eating. Nothing fancy but the right amount of greens and ruffage.

There is so much more to share with you but it will have to wait until next Saturday. Have a fabulous weekend!