Saturday Meanderings
It’s hard to believe that this is the last Saturday Meanderings in February. Next week is March where, hopefully, Spring is just around the corner. Happy Saturday and thanks for joining me today! I love writing this post as it is a time where we can catch up on all good things this week.
Guest Cottage Update
![](https://lifeatbellaterra.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/cottagepaint.jpg)
The exterior of the guest cottage is painted. Even though the painters failed to use the correct color paint on the antique shutters, I think it is a happy mistake. Originally the shutters were painted a very dark blackish green, but this time, the shutters are painted the same color as the body of the cottage. I actually like it so, like I said, a happy mistake!
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The painters did not want to paint the details around the front door, so I took care of that this week.
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Attending an Art Class
If you live in this area, you know what a gem The Hermosa Inn is to our community. Not only is it a lovely place to stay or dine, but they hold fun classes on the weekends. Last Saturday, thanks to my husband for buying tickets, my friend, Tevia and I attend an acrylic class called Mimosas and Monet.
![](https://lifeatbellaterra.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/carriecurran.jpg)
The class is taught by artist Carrie Curran out on the patio of the beautiful inn. For 3 hours, we sipped on mimosas and had step-by-step artistic instruction. The above painting is the inspiration for the class. Aprons, canvases, paints, brushes and easels are provided.
![](https://lifeatbellaterra.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/teviapainting.png)
Certainly a fun way to spend a Saturday morning with a dear friend!
Cleaning an Oven
The double ovens in my kitchen have a self-cleaning option, which is really a gift. Unfortunately, the gas stove in the guest cottage does not have that, and I can honestly say it has been a LONG time since I’ve cleaned an oven.
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The inside of this oven is so gross. It took me two days, two cans of Easy-off oven cleaner, but it now looks brand new. This picture doesn’t do it justice~grease caked on the sides, bottom and top of the oven, oven racks thick with icky cooked on food remnants.
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Not the best picture, but trust me, this oven is 1000% cleaner! Oh happy days!
Making Candied Orange Peels
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With March just around the corner, I am trying a few new Irish recipes. One of the recipes I’ve never heard of before (and will write a post about it soon) called for candied orange peels. Since we are in the height of citrus season here, all it takes is a quick trip to the orchard with fresh oranges in hand.
![](https://lifeatbellaterra.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/orange2.jpg)
Perhaps the most challenging part is trying to get long strips of orange peel off the orange. Cook in sugar water and simmer. Dry the orange peels on a rack and then toss them in sugar. Relatively easy and they do add a bit of sunshine to the recipe. Here’s the link to the recipe.
Love this Litter!
When our sweet girls found 2 kittens in our yard, the agreement was that I would never clean the litter box. Personally, I cannot stand the smell and it was supposed to be a good lesson in animal care responsibility. Fast forward to now and the children gone, and now guess who cleans the litter box?
![](https://lifeatbellaterra.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Screen-Shot-2023-02-24-at-5.38.58-PM-600x624.png)
My friend, Christine, recommends this product called Pretty Litter. I cannot tell you how much I love this litter as it creates NO ODOR. It’s more expensive than typical cat litter, but my goodness, I am such a fan. Not only does it trap odor, but it monitors your cat’s urine health (color indicator for pH and blood).
Here is the direct link to their website.
Cooking Class this Week
A dear friend of ours is such an advocate for eating a plant-based diet. She hosted a cooking class this week at her home. It was informative as we watched the chef and nutritionist explain that plant-based eating is not only healthy but can be tasty too.
![](https://lifeatbellaterra.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/veggies.jpg)
The nutritionist recommends eating 35 different vegetables (and fruits, I think) per week. Do you eat a lot of vegetables? In my stir-fry above, I have red bell pepper, snap peas, cauliflower, mushrooms, onion, and garlic contributing 6 veggies toward my 35. And yes, there is chicken in this dish.
Also, I find that if I pre-slice mushrooms and cut up the veggies before hand, freeze them in ziplock bags, then it is easier to throw all of this together for a quick and healthy meal.
Eat your fruits and veggies, folks!
What I was doing a Year ago?
![](https://lifeatbellaterra.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/rosesinbox.jpg)
In scanning through last year’s pictures, I realized I did a post on drying roses. Quite honestly, I forgot about these roses and now you can see what they look like after 1 year of drying. See the blog post here.
![](https://lifeatbellaterra.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/dried-roses.jpg)
What project can I make with these? Maybe something for Easter? It would have been nice to remember them for Valentine’s Day but that obviously didn’t happen. Would love your thoughts and suggestions.
From Around the Internet
My spice cabinet is one hot mess. Looking for a particular spice is so very frustrating. It’s on my list of many things to do when I finally get to the kitchen (I am working my way from one corner of the house to the other).
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Michele from Vintage Home Designs does a spice cabinet refresh. The spice jars she uses are cute and different. Check it out here.
![](https://lifeatbellaterra.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Screen-Shot-2023-02-24-at-5.14.18-PM-600x752.png)
When I was growing up, I loved rearranging my bedroom. Courtney, from the French Country Cottage shares her living room with 5 different configurations. So if you are thinking about a Spring refresh, you may get some ideas from Courtney’s post. If nothing else, you will love her pictures.
![](https://lifeatbellaterra.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Screen-Shot-2023-02-24-at-5.20.02-PM-600x784.png)
I want to try this….a 3 ingredient dish that takes 20 minutes? Has anyone tasted Trader Joe’s cauliflower gnocchi? This entrée from Kitchn sounds delicious and healthy too. Looks like I need a trip to Trader Joe’s this week.
Well, happy weekend, friends! We have house guests and our daughter is visiting for the weekend. It’s supposed to get really chilly again on Sunday and Monday. I am ready to plant our Spring garden but we are not out of the frost danger yet.
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I dry my roses and petals. I’m allergic to all chemical fragrances so I fill bowls and compotes with dried roses for a natural air freshener, lovely scent. I place them in our bathrooms and foyer and dining tables. I always place the full roses on top. Stir once in a while for a little waft of heaven. Sometimes I use them atop beautifully wrapped gifts. Love the shutters, they still show off because they’re a different texture. Looking forward to your cauliflower dish review. I just spent a week at our daughter’s clearing out and reorganizing her kitchen. The spice, vinegar, oil cabinet was last . We put the spices in cute jars with labels. her hubby cooks too and he and I both have our spices arranged alphabetically. If they aren’t it makes cooking so difficult. Enjoyed the post as always.
Pamela, I LOVE this. Never thought to put my dried roses in bowls around the house. Fabulous idea. My dreaded spice cabinet needs a complete overhaul. I agree, the spices must be alphabetical! Thank you for sharing your wonderful ideas.
What fun to take a painting class. I taught cooking classes for 15 years and loved sharing culinary info and recipes with students. Such a great way to learn cooking with friends. The vegetable stir-fry looks delicious.
You are such a talented painter. Do you ever sell your artwork? Maybe open an Etsy store. My great-grandmother always said to never dig in the ground until after Good Friday. I have always gone by what she said and have had great success with plants. The guest house is coming along beautifully!! Can’t wait to see how everything turns out.
Crystal, thank you for your sweet comment. I’ve thought about putting some of my paintings on my website…it’s just a matter of getting organized about it (finishing them, taking photos, listing them, shipping them, etc.). Here is Phoenix Spring planting is supposed to begin after the frost ends in February. But we’ve been unusually cold and our home’s microclimate is about 7 degrees cooler…It’s suppose to get to a low of 37 degrees tomorrow (hence freezing here)….Not complaining though~loving the cooler temps!
I love reading your Saturday meanderings. I’m looking forward to getting more in the garden too! Hope you are well.
Cynthia, so good to hear from you. I hope all is well. Thanks for reading my Saturday posts…they are my favorite ones to write.
Your guest cottage is looking wonderful, Mary. I love the exterior paint. And let’s not forget that clean oven. I am always so inspired when I see your paintings. You really are so talented. And what a fun way to spend the day. You had me at mimosa! Have a great weekend, my friend.
Kim, I wish we lived closer as I would love to paint and drink mimosas with you! Maybe a trip to the PNW is in my future.
Mary, you are just so neat. Love your guest cottage painting job – it is so charming! And you take art and cooking classes. Love how you live life to the fullest. Well done, ma’am. Hope you have a truly wonderful weekend.
Michele, thank you so much. I wish every week was filled with painting and cooking! My two loves, for sure.
Your painting is lovely Mary! What a wonderful way to spend an afternoon – outside, no less! You’re so talented! Your dried roses are beautiful too – can’t wait to see what you do with them. Happy Saturday my friend. Thanks for sharing your fun life with us!
Regarding your dried roses, which are beautiful by the way, perhaps you could use them in a wreath or a shadow box.
Valerie, I never thought about using the dried roses in a shadow box..how lovely. But I was inspired by you to create a wreath of dried flowers!
The guest cottage looks amazing, and your oven too. Love that you are getting to do something for yourself like the painting and cooking class. The class sounded fun and interesting, can’t wait to hear more about that when I see you soon. I have that gnocchi in my freezer, can’t wait to try it.
Chas, if I could only find a way to add more rewarding things like painting and cooking in my life! Still haven’t gotten to Trader Joe’s to buy that cauliflower gnocchi, so let me know if you try the recipe.
My great Aunt used to make candied Orange peel at Christmastime – your post brought that happy memory back to me. They were such a treat!.
Karin, I hope to add more candied orange into more recipes. I love the brightness it adds.