Wish List Wednesdays: Crate & Barrel Yumi Grey Multi-Color Rag Rug

The pandemic has really slowed down our moving plans.  I was supposed to go back to Georgia in March to supervise the packing and moving of more of our belongings, but thanks to the coronavirus I had to cancel the trip.  I am mostly making do with the items I was able to move last year, but I have had to purchase a few items to make some rooms more habitable.  One of those rooms is the master bedroom.  Since we were planning to buy a new king mattress rather than move our old one anyway, I went ahead and made that purchase, but I did have to find a relatively inexpensive bed frame to tide me over until we can move our better quality one here.  I also found an inexpensive but good quality cotton quilt (luckily the mattress came with sheets, mattress protector, and pillows at no extra cost!).

I think that the only item I need to add to the room is a rug at the foot of the bed, mostly to keep my old dog Ruby from jumping off of the bed and on to the tile floor, which is hard on her arthritic joints.  I have pretty much made up my mind that the rug I will be getting is the Yumi Grey Multi-Color Rag Rug from Crate & Barrel.  The 5x8-foot size, which would fit the space perfectly, is available for $179.00, which I consider to be reasonable for a good quality rug.  I also love this rug's colorful stripes and thick textured construction. Even when we finally get all of our belongings moved including our master bedroom rugs, I know that I can still find a place for this attractive floor covering.  I just hope Ruby will be as pleased with the rug as I will be!

Weekend Wardrobe: 2020 Outfit of the Week #35

My bright-eyed old chowhound Ruby tries to sit patiently while waiting for a treat.

This past week I took my old dog Ruby to the vet for her annual exam.  She is doing fine, although she has developed a low-grade heart murmur (not unusual in old dogs) which we will monitor.  Luckily the vet said that she did not need to have a benign tumor on her upper eyelid removed at this time as it is not bothering her (Ruby lives for food and hates to fast, which is necessary when going in for surgery).  So far my old girl seems happy and healthy for an almost 14-year-old dog, and we will do all we can to keep her that way.  I also had to make one more quick trip into town later in the week, to go to the post office and to pick up a few groceries, so I have two outfits to feature this week.  Just to keep things interesting, I decided to wear two items of clothing I featured in one outfit the previous week and separate them to create two more outfits (I have to get creative to keep from getting bored during the pandemic, after all!).

First up is the outfit I wore to the vet's office, featuring pants from the previous week.  The vet clinic is finally allowing people into the building now, rather than have us wait in the car while our animals are taken inside.  Ruby was so excited to finally see people again that it took a while for her to calm down, but we had an exam room to ourselves so she had time to relax.  I think the pandemic restrictions are harder on my people-loving dogs than they are on me!  Anyway, here is the outfit, which includes yet another necklace given to me by my husband (he has such good taste in jewelry!):

 

 

 

Clockwise from top left: Gap Factory Favorite Crewneck T-Shirt in Freeze Blue (similar to mine); E.D. Marshall Jewelers Vintage Navajo Handmade White and Brown Shell Heishi Bead Necklace (similar to mine); Great American Leatherworks Leather East/West Crossbody Bag in Dark Tan (no longer available); Steve Madden White Leather Belt with Turquoise Studs (similar to mine); Dockers Vargas Boat Shoes in Rust; Coldwater Creek Hidden Stretch-Waist Chinos in Sedona (no longer available).

For my quick trip into town to run a couple of errands, I chose the casual look of a sleeveless blouse from the previous week with my dark denim shorts.  I added a short apple coral bead necklace that I purchased years ago when I lived in the Virgin Islands as a graduate student doing research on the feral donkeys of St. John (ah, the good old days, when I was so much younger and everyone could travel without worrying about the consequences of a pandemic!):

Clockwise from top left: Jones New York Women's Sleeveless No Iron Easy-Care Shirt in New Blue (no longer available); NordicArtVintage Handcrafted Apple Blossom Coral Necklace (similar to mine); Great American Leatherworks Leather East/West Crossbody Bag in Dark Tan (no longer available); Dockers Vargas Boat Shoes in Rust; Old Navy Women's 9-Inch Inseam High-Waisted Rolled-Cuff Bermuda Jean Shorts in Carla (similar to mine); Silver Western Buckle Skinny Belt in Camel (similar to mine).

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Tomorrow we are in for yet another cold snap after a period of very warm weather (I must make sure that my poor horse is well blanketed and fed, as he still has not grown a winter coat!).  Luckily the temperatures will bounce back pretty quickly to highs and lows more appropriate for this time of year, and maybe it will finally actually feel like fall here.  October will be upon us in just a few days, and I am ready to start decorating for the season.  Have a great week!

Foodie Fridays: Puréed Squash, Two Ways

I now have three of these giant zucchinis to use up!

Despite the cold spell we had recently, I am still harvesting a daunting amount of summer squash, most of them on the large side.  I have found that the best way to use up the most squash quickly is to boil and then purée them.  Below are two recipes that I have been making quite frequently because they use up large quantities of summer squash, are quick and easy to make with very few ingredients, and taste wonderful.

The stupid simple soup is especially nice because it is so easy and I can use up the occasional overlooked zucchini that ends up growing to enormous proportions!  Feel free to use any type of summer squash in either recipe, or even a mix of different types (I just happen to like the colors of the end products when I use yellow squash in the first recipe and zucchini in the second).  If you don't have an immersion blender you can make these recipes with a regular blender, but it will take longer as you will have to purée the squash in batches (I really recommend investing in an immersion blender - it is my favorite appliance!).

I have to admit that I am beginning to look forward to the first frost and the demise of my squash plants, but until then I will be making these two recipes as often as possible!

 

 

Southwestern Squash Purée

6-8 medium yellow squash, cut into 1-inch chunks*
1/4 C. diced roasted Hatch chiles (or other roasted green chiles)**
1 tsp. salt
1 C. shredded cheese (I use a Cheddar-mozzarella blend)

Place the squash into a 4-quart stock pot and fill the pot about two-thirds full with water.  Cover and bring to a boil.  Reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer until the squash is very tender, about 20-30 minutes depending on the size and toughness of the squash.

Remove from the heat and drain thoroughly in a colander.  Return the squash to the pot and add the chiles and salt.  Using an immersion blender, purée the squash until smooth.  Add the cheese and stir until the cheese melts completely.  Serves 6-8.

*Use enough squash to fill up a 4-quart stock pot to within an inch of the top.

**If you can't find fresh roasted green chiles I recommend this bottled brand as a substitute.

 

 

Stupid Simple Squash Soup

6-8 medium zucchini, cut into 1-inch chunks*
1/2 C. (1 stick) butter, cut into chunks**
1 tsp. salt

Place the zucchini into a 4-quart stock pot and fill the pot about two-thirds full with water.  Cover and bring to a boil.  Reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer until the zucchini is very tender, about 20-30 minutes depending on the size and toughness of the zucchini.

Remove from the heat and drain until most of the water is gone (since this is a soup it does not matter if all of the water drains off).  Return the zucchini to the pot and add the butter and salt.  Stir with a spoon until the butter is mostly melted.  Using an immersion blender, purée the squash until smooth.  Serves 6-8.

*Use enough zucchini to fill up a 4-quart stock pot to within an inch of the top.

 ** I used Country Crock Plant Butter Sticks with Olive Oil instead of butter.

Wish List Wednesdays: Mainstays Mulled Cider 3-Wick Scented Candle

 

 Last week I described a lovely but pricey wreath I am thinking of purchasing for the fall season, but this week I am revealing my favorite seasonal scented candle which is so inexpensive that it should help to offset the cost of the wreath!  The Walmart Mainstays Mulled Cider 3-Wick Scented Candle is a mere $3.33 in price, but packs a delightful fragrance redolent of apples, cinnamon, cloves, and orange peel.  The scent is strong but not overpowering, and smells just like mulled cider simmering on the stove.  The first night I lit this candle was one of the chilly ones we had a couple of weeks ago.  I kept forgetting I had this candle burning, and kept wondering what I was cooking that smelled so good!  These candles are only available in-store, not online, so I would recommend stocking up the next time you get a chance to go to the store.  I wouldn't mind having one of these candles in every room for the whole autumn season!

Weekend Wardrobe: 2020 Outift of the Week #34

My daylilies are blooming again!

I tried to get this post up last weekend but due to computer issues I was unable to get it finished in time.  Which means that this week you get to see outfits I wore over the last couple of weeks!  Two weeks ago was supposed to be my week to stay home, but my car brakes were not acting quite right so I ended up having to go into town twice, once to have the brakes checked and then again the next day to leave my car so that the brake rotors could be adjusted.  Both outfits I wore were a far cry from the summery shorts and tops I have been wearing all summer, because we had a wintry cold front move through which brought temperatures way down, almost to freezing at night, as well as strong winds and cold rain.  The first day I went into town was so cold that I put on a light tunic sweater and wore a long-sleeved silk undershirt beneath it for added warmth, in addition to my quilted coat:

Clockwise from top left: Coldwater Creek Galloping Away Sweater (no longer available); Silver and Orange Wood Bead Necklace (similar to mine); L.L. Bean Women's Primaloft Packaway Jacket in Black; Great American Leatherworks Leather East/West Crossbody Bag in Dark Tan (no longer available); Dockers Vargas Boat Shoes in Rust; Coldwater Creek Hidden Stretch-Waist Chinos in Sierra Clay (no longer available); Lands' End Women's Silk Interlock Scoopneck Top in Ivory (similar to mine).

The next day was not quite as cold, so I was able to get away with a half-sleeved mock turtleneck shirt under a fleece jacket:

Clockwise from top left: Ann Taylor Elbow Sleeve Mock Neck Sweater in Industrial Navy (similar to mine); Chico's Textured Silvertone Single-Strand Necklace (similar to mine); Black Mountain Twilight Horses Ultra Plush Fleece Jacket (similar to mine); Great American Leatherworks Leather East/West Crossbody Bag in Dark Tan (no longer available); Dockers Vargas Boat Shoes in Rust; Gap Mid Rise Girlfriend Jeans in Faded Indigo (similar to mine); Silver Western Buckle Skinny Belt in Camel (similar to mine).

By last week the weather had warmed up considerably, and I was wearing a sleeveless top again for my essentials shopping trip into town (such crazy weather!):

Clockwise from top left: Jones New York Women's Sleeveless No Iron Easy-Care Shirt in New Blue (no longer available); funkybeadwork Unglazed Ceramic Necklace (similar to mine); Great American Leatherworks Leather East/West Crossbody Bag in Dark Tan (no longer available); Top Shop Black Skinny Belt with Oval Buckle (similar to mine); Dr. Scholl's Women's Aubrey Loafers in Black (no longer available); Coldwater Creek Hidden Stretch-Waist Chinos in Sedona (no longer available).

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I am still learning to use the new Blogger format, which is why my posts have been so few and far between lately, but I am getting better at it and hope to be back on schedule soon.  Autumn officially begins in two days, and I am delighted (it is my favorite season).  Have a great week!

Wish List Wednesdays: Terrain Autumn Harvest Wreath

I have just started doing a bit of decorating for fall, putting out a couple of autumnal accent pillows and a pumpkin-shaped candle that managed to make it to New Mexico with me last fall.  While I do not plan to do much decorating this year since most of my seasonal decorations are still in Georgia, I may purchase just a few items to add more touches of fall to the house.  The Terrain Autumn Harvest Wreath ($128) shown above appeals to me because it features colors that predominate in my living room.  I like the fact that it is made with an abundance of all natural materials, and that it looks lush and full - I dislike wreaths that are too sparse.  The price is rather steep, but this wreath seems like it would last for a while, so I am sure I would get my money's worth of use from it.  And since autumn is my favorite season, I think I may just have to splurge on this one item!

Foodie Fridays: Cheesy Zucchini and Hatch Chile Bake

I know you saw this picture last week for the meatloaf recipe, but I did promise to post the recipe for the zucchini casserole shown as well, so I repeated the image and now present the recipe for Cheesy Zucchini and Hatch Chile Bake.  All of the dishes I have been making lately include summer squash because I have so much from my garden to use up, and I have to say that I think this recipe is my favorite so far (although the one for Chocolate Zucchini Bread may tie for first place).

This dish is quick and easy to assemble, includes roasted Hatch chiles which are in abundant supply here in New Mexico right now, and best of all tastes fabulous.  What more can you ask of a recipe?  If you cannot find fresh roasted Hatch chiles, feel free to use any type of green chile that you prefer (I recommend this bottled version).  Should you be on the hunt for a way to use zucchini, then this is definitely the recipe you should try!

Cheesy Zucchini and Hatch Chile Bake

3 lbs. zucchini, grated
1 tsp. salt
1 C. sour cream
4 eggs, lightly beaten
2 C. cooked rice
1 tsp. cumin
1 C. chopped roasted Hatch chiles
1 1/2 C. cheddar cheese

Grate the zucchini into a colander placed over a large mixing bowl.  Stir in 1/2 tsp. salt.  Let it sit for 15 minutes, then squeeze out the excess moisture.  Rinse out the bowl and add the shredded zucchini.  Stir in the sour cream, eggs, rice, 1/2 tsp. salt, cumin, hatch chilies, and 1 C. cheese.

Pour the zucchini mixture into a greased 8-inch square baking dish and sprinkle the remaining cheese on top.  Bake at 400 degrees for 40 minutes. Remove from the oven and let cool for 10 minutes before serving.  Serves 6.

Wish List Wednesdays: Springbok The Conservatory Jigsaw Puzzle

If you are always on the lookout for new jigsaw puzzles to work on, as I am, then I have yet another one for your consideration.  I recently completed the 1,000-piece Springbok The Conservatory Jigsaw Puzzle ($17.50 plus $3.00 shipping), and it is absolutely delightful.  I love the colorful and complex design, and it is enough of a challenge to satisfy even the most ardent fan of jigsaw puzzles.  This is the sort of puzzle to leave set up so that it can be worked on whenever you have the time.  Our sudden blast of wet and wintry weather here in New Mexico is a reminder to me that outdoor activities such as gardening will be coming to an end soon, and a nice quiet evening working on a puzzle such as this one would be a perfect way to spend a chilly evening.  Now is the time to stock up on puzzles to work on this winter, and this one is a great way to start your stash!

Weekend Wardrobe: 2020 Outfit of the Week #33

I mostly planted edibles in my garden this year, but there are a few pots of flowers, like this one filled with a veronica, two types of verbena, and a lush and fragrant spearmint plant in the back.

What a weather rollercoaster ride we are in for this week in New Mexico!  Last week started off slightly cooler but quickly went back to sweltering heat.  Labor Day will be close to 100 degrees, but then we are in for a cold front that will take us down to a low near freezing by Tuesday night!  At one point there was even the possibility of snow in the forecast, but fortunately that has been changed to rain - even though I love cold weather, I'm just not quite ready for snow so soon after record-breaking heat (and neither is my horse, who has not yet grown a winter coat).

I made two trips into town early last week when it was mild enough to finally wear short sleeves instead of my usual sleeveless tops.  On my first trip to town I got to wear my new Dalmatian print dark green tee from Old Navy.  The necklace I chose is a simple round gold filigree pendant on a short chain that I have had since I was a teen (I think it was a birthday party gift, but it was so long ago I really don't remember for sure!):

Clockwise from top left: Old Navy Women's EveryWear Printed Slub-Knit Tee in Dogs Green (no longer available); Gold Tree of Life Pendant Necklace (similar to mine); Great American Leatherworks Leather East/West Crossbody Bag in Dark Tan (no longer available); Dockers Vargas Boat Shoes in Rust; L.L. Bean Women's Wrinkle-Free Original Fit Hidden Comfort Waist 9" Bayside Shorts in Khaki (similar to mine); Lands' End Women's Skinny Leather Belt in White (similar to mine).

The second outfit I wore was similar except for the top, belt, and necklace (nothing new here, just a different combination of previously mentioned apparel):

Clockwise from top left: Coldwater Creek Sun Valley Bistro Shirt in Copper Multi (no longer available); Jade Fish Pendant on Gold Plated Chain (similar to mine); Great American Leatherworks Leather East/West Crossbody Bag in Dark Tan (no longer available); Dockers Vargas Boat Shoes in Rust; L.L. Bean Women's Wrinkle-Free Original Fit Hidden Comfort Waist 9" Bayside Shorts in Khaki (similar to mine);  J. Crew Skinny Italian Leather Belt in Pecan (similar to mine).

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I should only have to make one trip into town this week, but if the temperatures drop the way they are supposed to, I may be featuring a sweater and corduroy pants in my next wardrobe post! 😱 Have a great Labor Day! 😊

Foodie Fridays: Turkey and Zucchini Meatloaf

Meatloaf with a zucchini casserole (casserole recipe next week).

Meatloaf seems to be one of those foods that people either love or hate.   I happen to love it, even though I can no longer use red meat to make it due to my allergies.  Ground turkey is my protein substitute of choice, although ground chicken would probably work as well.

This recipe for Turkey and Zucchini Meatloaf was chosen to help me use up some of the bountiful zucchini I am harvesting right now (I left the carrot out of the original recipe and added even more zucchini instead).  I have found that the secret to a truly moist meatloaf is to load it up with vegetables - I always add lots of onion, but the addition of zucchini really keeps this loaf moist.  And I always add a Worcestershire sauce-flavored catsup topping because the tangy tartness really complements the juicy but mildly flavored meatloaf.  If you are a meatloaf lover like me, you should give this recipe a try!

Turkey and Zucchini Meatloaf

2 T. olive oil
1 medium onion, finely chopped
3 garlic cloves, minced
2 small zucchini, shredded (about 2 C.)
1 lb. ground turkey
3/4 cup catsup
2 tsp. Worcestershire sauce
1 tsp. Dijon mustard
1/2 tsp. salt
1 egg
1/4 C. panko or regular breadcrumbs
3/4 C. minced fresh parsley (optional)

Heat the olive oil in a skillet and sauté the onions until translucent.  Add the garlic and sauté for about one minute, then add the zucchini and sauté for a few more minutes until all of the vegetables are soft.  Set aside.

In a large bowl, mix the turkey with 1/2 C. catsup and 1 tsp. Worcestershire sauce plus all of the other ingredients.  Put the mixture into a lightly greased loaf pan and level with a spoon.  Whisk together the remaining 1/4 C. catsup and 1 tsp. Worcestershire sauce in a small bowl and spread it evenly over the top of the loaf to cover completely.

Bake at 350 degrees for about 45 minutes.  Remove from the oven, cover with foil, and let sit for 15 minutes before cutting into slices.  Serves 6.
               

This 'n That Thursdays: The Pandemic Popularity of Cottagecore, Part 1

From Wild Flower Child

Not being on social media at all except for this blog, I am probably one of the last to become aware of the popularity of an image aesthetic called Cottagecore.  Minus any political connotations this trend has developed, Cottagecore is basically "...an aesthetic inspired by a romanticised interpretation of western agricultural life".  The anxiety over the COVID-19 pandemic has many people wishing for a simpler, more stress-free life, and viewing Cottagecore images is one way to satisfy this yearning.  It is especially popular on photo-sharing platforms such as Tumblr, where fans search out and post images like the one above that exemplify the Cottagecore ideal.  Here are more examples:

From Peaceful Dumpling

From Today

From My Desired Home

From Gardenholic

From Reddit

From canberkarac.com

From Real Homes

From We Heart It

From Yummy Toadstools

Interestingly, since the pandemic started I have been following a number of vlogs on YouTube that document a similar lifestyle, only in China!  My favorites document the daily life of rural Chinese women who live in rather remote areas.  All of these vlogs focus on cooking, but for these women cooking starts with raising almost all of their food themselves, or foraging for ingredients in the surrounding countryside.

Some of the videos are truly breathtaking, showing the beauty of their localities as well as some aspects of everyday life not necessarily focused on food.  Almost all of these women have pet dogs, all very different from each other but all equally adorable, ranging from a huge Malamute to a small yellow mixed breed with a big personality.  Some of them have other animals as well, both pets and livestock (and no, dogs are not livestock for these families in case you were wondering).

I think what I like best about these videos is that there is very little dialog (which is a good thing because I do not speak Chinese) - instead, lovely music plays softly in the background.  Some but not all of the videos have English subtitles describing the ingredients and cooking methods.  Most of these descriptions are not really detailed enough to allow duplication of the recipes, but for me that is not the point - I just enjoy watching the simple routines of daily life for these women.  Below are examples of a few of the vlogs I follow, starting with that of Li Ziqi, who lives in China's Sichuan province and who I have described in a previous post:

The Wild Girl vlog features a young woman from Guizhou province who has her own brand new little house in the country.  Her home is lovely, spare and neat and full of light.  She also has the cute little yellow dog that I just adore - he reminds me of my dog Madison.  This woman does a lot of foraging in the wild for her ingredients, as seen in the video below where she gathers the most amazing-looking mushrooms I have ever seen:

Another popular Chinese rural lifestyle vlog is that of Dianxi Xiaoge, who lives in the Yunnan province of China and features many local recipes and customs in her videos.  She owns the large and amusing Malamute named Dawang, who is as big as a pony but still thinks of himself as a puppy.  This young woman also spends a lot of time foraging in the wild for recipe ingredients, as seen in one of her most recent videos below:

My post is getting way too long, so I will continue with the rest of my favorite YouTube vlogs next week.  I also intend to explore this Cottagecore notion a bit more, as I find it intriguing but possibly open to a more expansive as well as more realistic interpretation.  I do think that we could all do with a little more simplicity and comfort in our lives right now, though, wherever we can find it!
               

Wish List Wednesdays: Authorful Puns Jigsaw Puzzle

I have wanted the 1,000-piece Authorful Puns Puzzle ($26.99) since I first saw it in the Bas Bleu catalog over a year ago.  I finally got around to ordering it last month when it was on back order, and am excited that my back order has now arrived!  Jigsaw puzzles have been getting me through the long hot summer here in New Mexico, and I am sure they will be just as useful on rainy, cold, and/or snowy days as we progress into fall and winter.  This jigsaw puzzle is especially delightful as the author names are puns that relate to their book titles (check out the zoom on the web page to see some of these puns).  I plan to start working on this over the weekend.  If you think you might like to own one yourself, act fast because this puzzle sells out quickly!