Saturday Meanderings
Happy weekend! We are currently visiting our son in the DC area for the weekend. I hope you had a wonderful week and an even better weekend. It has been SO hot here but that is no surprise! Grab a cool beverage and let’s get started and chat about all good things this week.
New Show We are Watching
If you love grandeur, breathtaking backdrops of the ocean and a gorgeous hotel, look no further than the Hotel Portofino. This period drama television series will transport you to the Italian Riviera without leaving your couch. It is 6 episodes about a British Hotel in the 1920s in Portofino, Italy. With only a few episodes watched to date, I love the costuming, the hotel decor, anything about Italy and so far the characters are fun, too. Hotel Portofino is available for streaming on the PBS website, on Amazon Prime and Vudu and maybe BritBox?
My Online Store
I am in the process of updating my online store and hope to have new items in September. One of my favorite pieces, a Coalport Hot Chocolate set, just sold this week. It was hard to pack it up but I hope it is going to a good home. I’ve never seen one like it, especially with 12 adorable cups and saucers.
Southern Peach Bread
Michele, from Vintage Home Designs shares a Southern Peach Bread recipe that I made this week. Since I am not a fan of anything too sweet, this bread is perfect for me. Since I no longer have fresh peaches from our tree, I made this with fresh frozen ones. Very easy and perfect with a cup of coffee or tea. You can see Michele’s post here.
The only picture I took is before I put the pan in the oven. Thankfully Michele has many wonderful pictures of this bread.
The Importance of the Right Coffee Cup
My Instagram friend, Paige Geiger posts this saying but who is in agreement? I truly get such joy out of having my coffee in just the right cup. Is it weird to have a good memory of a trip based on a coffee cup you experienced? When I think of our recent trip to Boise, one of the first things that comes to mind is the coffee cup I loved (I even posted about this) at a breakfast place.
Of course, at home I have my “happy” cups (unfortunately discontinued from Anthropologie). Do you think I’m losing it or are there others out there who agree with me?
A Mystery Houseguest
It appears we have a mystery houseguest. Each morning as I enter the dining room, I notice plaster debris on the floor under the sliding pocket doors. We are checking the attic for evidence of some critter but have found nothing to date. Apparently, whatever it is, appears to be residing between the first and second story.
A visit by our organic exterminator brought some head scratching and we have not been able to figure out what is doing this. There are no droppings either. We sweep up the plaster mess and the next morning there is more. Certainly a mystery so far. Any thoughts?
Grape Arbor
The grapes are almost ready to pick from the arched arbor in front of the garden entrance. I have never made any grape jam or jelly. I would imagine the most difficult part is getting rid of all the seeds (unfortunately these are not seedless). Has anyone made grape jam/jelly? I am wondering how difficult it is before I embark on another overly ambitious project. Maybe just eating time off the vine is a good idea.
Speaking of the garden, I am still harvesting. Generally I let the garden go fallow over the summer months but I am getting ready to pick watermelon and the mystery gourd looks like butternut squash (which I didn’t plant) from an incomplete composting batch. What an interesting gardening season it has been!
Hydrangeas
We cannot grow hydrangeas here. When I buy them, they last a day or two and then wilt. Mary from Home is Where the Boat Is has a great tip on how to preserve hydrangeas. I will try it because they are rather pricey here and it’s disappointing that they cannot be enjoyed for long. Plus, this post is full of gorgeous hydrangeas from her garden.
An Amazing Door Decor Tip
My friend, Chloe from Celebrate and Decorate is someone with a big personality and a generous heart. I am always in awe of what her clever mind creates. This post shows the contraption Chloe designed for her entry door that allows her to do things like this for a pool party….
Or this gorgeous front entrance for the Spring…
Her post shows a very detailed tutorial on how to make this with PVC pipe. This is definitely the next project for my husband!
Well that’s a wrap for another edition of Saturday Meanderings! I always appreciate you visiting and reading my posts! Also, I am painting again and hope to show you the finished piece next Saturday.
