Saturday Meanderings

Happy sweltering Saturday! Typically we travel a lot over the summer, but there have been a few surprises with us staying closer to home this year. Normally, I stop thinking about the garden in June and let it go fallow. But this year it is still producing. Any day now I will be picking watermelon and the basil is still braving the sun (under shade cloth of course). We are trying to cook more on the grill or air fryer in order to keep the kitchen cool Our air conditioning bill is off the charts, but what choice do we have? It’s that time again. Welcome to Saturday Meanderings where we chat about all good things this week.

Chicken with a Large Comb

Check out the huge comb on this leghorn chicken! She’s in the process of laying an egg, panting to keep cool. Doesn’t it look like she comes with her own sunhat? In doing a little research, the comb helps chickens cool down in hot weather. Since leghorns were developed in Italy, they have large combs that allow them to deal with the heat fairly well. Combs also are the way that chickens recognize each other. Usually, birds with the larger combs will be higher in the pecking order rank. Who knew?

This is the time of year when I make lots of good, cold snacks to help keep the girls cool. They love frozen veggies and fresh fruits.

Drying Artichokes

I’ve been experimenting a bit with drying artichokes. Since I grew them this spring in my garden, I took the smaller ones and just let them air dry. They may be useful in making fall decorations.

In the garden this week, the artichokes that I let flower on the vine, have also dried beautifully. Again, not sure what I will do with them, but I love the color and shape.

Our Weekend Trip to D.C.

Last weekend we traveled to Washington, D. C., to visit our son, Benjamin. So nice to spend time with him, and I got to see beautiful flowers and landscaping~lots of things that don’t grow here. I seem to have more pictures of flowers/landscaping than I do my son….yikes.

He is in Chicago now, checking out his new future home at the University of Chicago’s business school. Such an exciting time in life and I look forward to helping with the move.

I used to travel to Chicago frequently when I was working in corporate America, but haven’t been there much in years. Looking forward to reacquainting myself with this city.

Back to Painting Again

This week I am scheduling time to do more painting. Months have passed without me picking up a paintbrush and I am so excited to start again. This is the largest painting I’ve done and in a style I don’t typically paint, so a worthy challenge. There is quite a bit to do before it’s officially finished.

Re-thinking my Dinnerware, Linen, Glass storage

I am considering setting up a wall of storage for all my entertaining things in our garage. Right now, items are spread over multiple areas. ~ in the basement, butler’s pantry, and garage. Inspired by a storage system by Susan from Between Naps on the Porch, wouldn’t it be nice to have everything in the same place?

My first thought is to go to IKEA and look at their storage systems, especially after reading a blog post by my friend, Andrea from Design Morsels. Her How to Customize IKEA Furniture and Save Money has so many good suggestions and ideas on how to make IKEA products unique and personalized.

If anyone has tips and tricks on storing all your entertaining things, please share.

Cocktail Hour

With the weather being so hot, it’s hard to think about eating a big meal for dinner. Instead, we have a later substantial lunch and for dinner, a cocktail hour with snacks. Small bowls of olives, potato chips and really good Greek feta accompanies whatever the cocktail choice is…in this photo it is cold vodka and tonic with fresh lime. Feels a bit civilized and satisfying!

Have you seen these 100% cotton disposable cocktail napkins? They feel very substantial and elegant, but you toss them after use. A step up from your typical paper cocktail napkin. You can find them here.

Do you find yourself eating differently during the summer?

Increase Your Water Intake

Staying hydrated is always a bit of a challenge but if your water is tasty and pretty, isn’t that easier? With all the fresh fruits available now, make a pitcher of water with strawberries, cherries, lemons and I add cucumbers too.

Morton’s Neuroma

Recently, I am having sharp nerve pain in between my second a third toe, which occurs only when I am barefoot. Apparently the cause is related to my metatarsals pinching a nerve. The last thing I want is a cortisone injection so I am trying multiple remedies. The latest is something called yoga toes ~similar to what is used to separate your toes during a pedicure.

I put these on just before bed and take them off sometime during the night, as they feel a bit unnatural. As we age our toes tend to stiffen and lose their flexibility, so I am hoping these toe separators will improve this condition.

Take a Vacation without Leaving Your Home

I have always wanted to visit Greece and Turkey and these destinations are definitely on the bucket list. My friend, Kim from Shiplap and Shells shares her 3 week trip to these gorgeous areas (and Italy too). Kim has a drool-worthy garden in the Pacific Northwest and she takes the most amazing photos. See it all here. I love Kim’s blog and you can find her on Instagram @shiplapandshells.

Bubbles and Hope Offspring

I love sharing my sourdough starter (named Hope and Bubbles) and it is so joyful when the recipient shares their sourdough bread pictures. My dear friend and another gardener, Kim recently became a first time grandmother. Her daughter, Delanie was in the last trimester of her pregnancy and asked for some starter. Fast forward and a healthy baby later, she is making sourdough bread for her family. Just warms my heart.

Cucumber Salad

This refreshing cucumber salad is so easy and inspired by Stacy from Bricks n Blooms. I’ve altered the recipe slightly by adding non-fat yogurt. Instead of using 1/2 cup of mayonnaise, I use 1/4 cup yogurt and 1/4 cup mayonnaise. See Stacy’s recipe here.

The refreshing cucumber salad is the perfect side dish with salmon made in the air fryer.

And that’s a wrap! Thank you so much for joining me today. Have a terrific weekend and wishing you glorious weather wherever you are!