Rambling from the Roost: Volume 13

Hey friends! I hope you are doing well and enjoying your summer. Welcome back! I truly appreciate you sharing your time with me!

Where do I begin? There is so much I want to share with you on this week’s Rambling from the Roost 13: Weekly Inspiration!

Here is where you get a dose of inspiration, helpful tips, my favorite items, and a story shared. Always a story. One that hopefully makes you smile!

So pour yourself another cup of coffee and come join me.

Does your summer revolve around food?

Does your summer revolve around food? Ours sure does. We’ve already been to two really great parties so far this summer.

The first party had a personal chef that prepared food for thirty guests. Wait til you see what the menu was. The second was a seafood festival on the 4th of July hosted by a joint family collaboration.

Growing up in an Italian family

Honestly not much has changed for me with regard to food. Growing up in an Italian family, our daily life was encompassed and surrounded by either sitting around the table, celebrating birthdays, and Sunday dinners, or harvesting vegetables from the garden to prepare for those meals. It was a never-ending cycle of food.

When one meal ended another one soon began.

So much so, that on the first day of kindergarten, the local Gazette newspaper arrived and took a photo of me in the play kitchen. It was on the front page of the newspaper. If I look a bit hesitant about being in the kitchen, I was. I was definitely a newbie to the kitchen. But somehow, I must have felt comfortable in the kitchen even at a young age.

Are you watching me?

I distinctly remember standing on the side of the kitchen counter, as my mother cooked our meals. While she cooked, she would ask me time and time again, ‘Are you watching me? One day you’ll want to know how to make this!’

I also remember when I had my first apartment. I called her up and asked how she made her sauce. She got a pretty good laugh at me calling her.

Boy, was she right! I should have been paying more attention!

Personal Chef Michael Blake

If you are local to Saratoga New York, I highly recommend Chef Michael for your next party. While he is not a new chef, his social media is new, so go on over and give his page some love.

As I mentioned earlier, the sweet one and I had the pleasure of attending a 50th-anniversary party that was held at my niece’s home in honor of my sister and brother-in-law for their 50th wedding anniversary. Chef Michael was the chef.

Hiring a personal chef for your next party

Have you ever hired a personal chef? I have not. From my observations, I would highly recommend hiring a chef for your next party. This allows you to be able to enjoy your guests and mingle more, and stress less. In the future, I definitely will hire Chef Michael.

I must admit. I spent a good amount of time visiting the kitchen where Chef Michael was working his magic. It was all so interesting to me how relaxed he was while preparing the food for a large gathering. We chatted over this and that, and all the while, I took it all in.

My other observation was how he prepped all the various dishes. Honestly, it was as if I was watching an artist ‘painting a masterpiece with food’. The aroma was outstanding. This reminded me so much of standing and watching my mother in the kitchen all those years ago.

Every morsel was absolutely delicious. This is what he prepared.

Chef Michael’s menu

Family seafood dinner to celebrate the 4th of July

The second party was a family gathering where we started with a melon ball, prosciutto, and cheese fruit salad, topped off with fresh mint, Then came raw oysters, steamed clams, king crab legs, (no photo they were eaten so fast), lobster tails, and tenderloin seared on the grill.

This was followed by an amazing olive oil cake.

We voted to make this an annual 4th of July party.

House hunting

If you follow along on my social media Instagram account you know Andrew and I recently went to look at several homes for a possible bed and breakfast. Possible, is the keyword here.

I absolutely love our home and our neighborhood. I would need a crowbar to leave because I love it so much. Plus, the thought of trying something new and different is both frightening and exciting at the same time. We both love the idea of running a bed and breakfast, however.

If we were to ever move, we’d have to find the perfect place. Acres for horses, charm and character, rooms with ensuites, and in a great location. Not an easy task! So for now, we are staying put.

I’ll be sure to keep you posted on this.

Two of the houses we toured

We loved this home but only two of the six bedrooms had ensuites. The other three bathrooms were not ensuite but had really pretty marble renovations.

You know that feeling when you leave a shop and are still thinking about the gorgeous dress you didn’t get? This house is like that for me. It’s still on my mind.

Latest Vintage Finds

Each week I check the local sales to see what estate sale we may want to go to. I love looking for new treasures.

I was lucky enough to find these vintage items this past weekend. Andrew and I were the last people to close a three-day estate sale. With one hour until they closed, waiting til the last day this time was fruitful.

• This French Salins Les Bains teapot, creamer, and sugar bowl
• A set of blue Wedgewood creamer and a sugar bowl with a lid
• Two Grosvenor Bone China Jackson & Gosling teacups
• Blue Wedgewood teapot
• Toscan Windsor teacup

This Week’s Cleaning Tips & Review

When it comes to cleaning my home, I love a good cleaning product. This includes my grout.

Have you struggled to keep your bathroom grout clean? Several weeks ago I purchased the Bissell Steam Shot Delux steam cleaner. I wanted to try it out and give you my thoughts and a review.

Bissell Steam Shot Deluxe Review

When it comes to grout cleaning typically I use this. While it worked great, I wondered if there was an easier way to get my grout clean. I discovered the steam shot cleaner.

It has nine different attachments. I’ve only had the chance to try out two so far. I’m excited to see what else it can do. I’ll have every job covered.

I also love that it also comes with an attachment to steam clothing or draperies. I’m quite pleased with my purchase.

Then I found this.

Ultramite Handheld HEPA Filter Vacuum & Fabric Sanitizer

Can’t you just imagine how clean your mattress would be if you used a UVC light, and Anti- Allergen filter to remove dust mites, viruses, and bacteria? If you don’t have one you might want to check it out.

When I saw this vacuum I knew I wanted to try it to see if it would do a better job than simply vacuuming the top of my mattress. I’m convinced my mattress is cleaner and definitely more sanitized.

For outdoor cleaning, I’ve used this for years and love how it works. I’m hoping it stops raining here so I get my windows cleaned.

From around the web more ideas from my friends

I’ve found some great ideas and inspiration for you from some of my friends.

This wall clock is made out of these.

All about the care and growth of this beautiful flower.

With so many different designs, there is one for you.

These 15 garden room ideas to bring the outside in.

Adding statement pieces to your modern farmhouse kitchen

Opening day at Saratoga Race Track was this past week. Have you ever been to Saratoga? Discover Saratoga states, ‘Saratoga NY is bursting with old-world charm while delivering modern amenities and first-class hospitality’. I couldn’t agree more. If you ever have the chance to visit, I think you will love the town.

We are heading to the track today for a fun day with friends and lunch in the clubhouse.

I hope you have a great weekend and I’ll see you next soon!

Posts you may have missed

Rambling from The Roost: Volume 12 Weekly Inspiration

This appetizer with goat cheese

Step-by-step guide for a refreshing summer beverage

What to do with strawberries