Saturday Meanderings

Hello, my friends! I feel like a new woman as my Grand Jury duty responsibilities are O.V.E.R.! Thankfully I didn’t have to serve the full four months, but only the last 4 weeks. Taking two full days each week is a bit of a schedule challenge, but I found serving in this capacity somewhat rewarding. Each day we heard 8-12 felony cases and some were very difficult to get through. But that is all behind me now and I finally feel like I can take a summer vacation! Happy Saturday and let’s get started on all the good things that happened this week.

July 4th Weekend

What fun to get out of the heat and head to the beautiful mountains of Arizona! Every afternoon a thunder storm would roll in and bless us with lots of rain. Seriously, it looks like Ireland up there ~just as green as could be! My geraniums are so happy and it is always difficult to leave. Wish we could stay there all summer.

Our July 4th brunch and parade did not disappoint. It is refreshing to see explosion of patriotism and love for our country. Nearly all cabins are decorated with flags, bunting and anything red, white and blue. This year I found this Stars & Stripe Party Fan set at Hester & Cook and I am so impressed with the number of fans and the quality of the paper. Unfortunately, I believe they are sold out of this product.

These fans are hanging over the outdoor dining table and spin in the breeze. A simple addition to the brunch decorating but they really made the table feel extra special. If you missed the post on what I serve and the recipes, you can find it here.

This year I made the American Flag Cake and even though I had hoped to bake the cakes at the lower Phoenix altitude, I didn’t get that task done. So I again stressed over making the adjustments to bake at our very high altitude. Thankfully the butter cream frosting hid most of the cake imperfections and the inside DID look like a flag. Our friend and neighbor, Gary has a July 4th birthday which is a great reason to share this enormous cake.

A warning about this recipe, if you decide to make it, the cakes and frosting are made from scratch. It is time consuming and a bit complicated. But so worth it once your guests see the inside!

My Favorite Olives

These Mezzetta pitted Italian Castelvetrano olives are so addicting. I literally could eat the entire jar. Not sure why I am just now discovering them, but I cannot recommend them enough if you love olives. You can find them in your local grocery store or here online.

Cool Website

If you are looking for an unusual, fun website with unique and sometimes outrageous items, check out Uncrate. This is where I discovered the Thermacell Rechargeable Mosquito repeller. A couple of times a week I receive an email from them with their latest discoveries. It’s very cool and different.

Pet Update

Our beagle, Sox had his 15th birthday on July 7th. This sweet old dog cannot see or hear very well, but that Beagle nose of his still works, especially around meal time. What a love.

Our Akbash, Cooper has taken a turn for the worse. Three months ago he was diagnosed with cancer and seem to be responding well to the medication. It is heartbreaking as he is been with our family for nearly 10 years. Next week is another visit to the vet to see what can be done. Keeping our fingers crossed that another medication will provide him with comfort.

Finally, a Haircut!

It has been months since I went for a good cut and color. Roscoe from Pucci Salon is a miracle worker and he has been cutting and styling my hair for nearly 30 years. Truly, I have never been disappointed…ever. He takes my fine straight hair and gives it such life and body. You know you have a good cut when it lasts over a few months. Here’s the before:

And viola! Here is the after haircut photo! Doesn’t it feel so good to get your hair done?

Also, I am wearing that Boho top I found on Amazon for $22.93. It’s very light-weight for the hot summer, but the long sleeves are helpful while you are in air conditioning.

Problem with Rug

Does anyone know how to fix this? This area rug is from Home Depot (I know, probably not the best quality). I bought it to stage a bedroom in a home we sold. From there, it is now sitting on top of our wall-to-wall berber carpeting in the master bedroom of our cabin. However, the rug doesn’t lay flat. It rolls up on its own in the center.

This photo doesn’t show the problem as clearly, but you can see where the rug is lumpy in the middle.

I have tried rug tape around the perimeter and nothing seems to hold it down. Even laying heavy objects on top of it doesn’t help to flatten it. Once the items are removed, it curls up again. Drives me crazy and it is a tripping hazard too.

I’m not sure if the problem is due to the berber carpet beneath it. Do I need to steam this rug? Add a rubber mat underneath? Unfortunately I bought it quite a while ago so I am sure Home Depot will not be of any help. Any suggestions you can share would be greatly appreciated.

Growing or Loving Dahlias

We cannot grow dahlias here. I’ve tried and failed. However, my friend, Kim from Shiplap and Shells shares everything you need to know about growing and caring for dahlias. If you don’t have a garden or don’t grow any flowers, you will just love all the pictures on Kim’s website. She has the most beautiful garden in the Pacific Northwest. You can see it here.

A Summer Centerpiece

Stacy from Bricks ‘n Blooms creates such a pretty summer centerpiece using pineapples and flowers. This tropical dinner party theme is exactly what I need since I am longing to go on a tropical ocean vacation. I can honestly say that I have never used a pineapple for a vase, but isn’t this just gorgeous? You can see it here.

Well, there is so much more I could share but I know you want to enjoy the rest of your weekend! Thank you for joining me for Saturday Meanderings!