Natalie's Notebook- July Edition
A crunchy dip, a favorite app, and a funny guy
Hi there, and welcome! This monthly newsletter will contain things I want to recommend, interesting articles, recipes, and fun finds. Settle in with a cold drink, and let’s get started.
July Chit Chat
Whew, July sped by. August is here, and it’s time to reflect on all that last month held. We’ve had such beautiful weather ☀️. Summers here on the central coast are typically moderate, and the nights can get chilly, so these warm temps make me happy 🙂. We’ve enjoyed dinner al fresco, and I’ve read several books while lounging on the patio. A doe and her fawn are grazing near the house, and rabbits are hopping around here again. There were so many things I enjoyed in July. Here is a handful of them:
We celebrated my son’s 30th birthday (how can he be 30? He was just a little guy yesterday.)
We saw stand-up comedian Gabriel Iglesias, AKA “Fluffy,” who has made us laugh for years.
My best friend from high school and I enjoyed fabulous lunch together and talked for hours.
I made a yummy cake twice this month (recipe below).
Everyday Loves
The Merlin Bird ID app
I installed this app several months ago and have had so much fun identifying the birds on my property by their sounds. I learned that at least ten species are hanging out in my trees. The app also allows one to identify birds from photos. If you enjoy being out in nature and love birds as I do, I highly recommend this app.
Shampoo Bars
Shampoo bars are shampoo in solid form, like bars of soap. They’re typically made from natural ingredients (not harsh chemicals) and gentle on hair. The benefits of using one are they are long-lasting, travel-friendly, and reduce plastic usage. I’ve found that my hair stays cleaner longer than using liquid shampoo, and my hair is so soft. Have you tried them?
Psalm Summer
Emily P. Freeman’s podcast, The Next Right Thing, has a collection of episodes of her reading Psalms in several translations. They’re short but powerful.
Noteworthy Links
Here's a helpful tip: How to Make a Tasty Salad with all the fresh summer produce.
Astonishing geography facts
Come Home for Dinner- an essay.
From the Kitchen
The recipe for the yummy cake I mentioned above is Clementine Bakery’s Banana Cake. I made this gluten- and dairy-free cake and substituted chocolate ganache for the cream cheese frosting.
If you’re a fan of pickles, then you may want to try this dip: Easy, Crunchy Pickle Dip. We loved it!
Tell me all about your July reflections 🌸 I hope August is a fantastic month for you!
With love, Natalie xx
“Remember that when you leave this earth, you can take with you nothing that you have received–only what you have given.”
St. Francis of Assisi
YAY, loved this - and I don't know where to start but so much resonated - but I'm going with the MERLIN BIRD APP. I feel seen. 😂 I downloaded it just last week, am obsessed and can't believe we've not talked about it! So the fact that you closed with a St Francis of Assisi quote feels even more apt! Beautiful, friend. And BRAVA, your Substack home is looking gorgeous!🙏💗
I loved this! Thank you, Natalie! The essay was so moving and the banana bread HAS to be made. We have had a lot of rain here so I have not been out in nature as much as you, unfortunately… My favorite book at the moment is, Searching for Sunday, by Rachel Held Evans. A great book about (as she says) “loving, leaving and finding church”. Keep writing!! 💞