Author Archives: Dee

Collecting Christmas

Years ago, along with the commitment to buying a bit of a bigger tree each year, I also began to collect ornaments from my travels. It’s a great way to capture the essence of a special place you’ve been, or a special year you’ve had, or even just a keepsake as a treasured memory of home. Christmas is a holiday you can celebrate all year, by collecting these mementos.

“One Christmas my father kept our tree up till March. He hated to see it go. I loved that.” Mo Rocca

Creating a Collection of Ornaments

Christmas is so much a celebration of joy. It brings with it nostalgia, anticipation of wonderful things to come and the warmth that comes with memories of good times with friends and family. So, the first Christmas that I woke up alone in my little studio apartment in New York was a bit disorienting. I had never imagined that I would have a Christmas morning alone. It was both startling, disconcerting and also fun in a very different way. I felt accomplished, having set up a tree, to ensure my Christmas day would start out festive and joyful.

Collect your ornaments all year long, including the wonderful places you visit!

I think that’s why having a Christmas tree every year, no matter what, became such an important thing to me. It’s a wonderful and constant companion to the holiday, no matter if you’re with friends, family or on your own. You will find yourself with plenty of time and parties to celebrate the holiday with lots of people.

But waking up to a tree dressed in the beautiful reminders of all the great places you’ve been to, or things that you’ve done, people you’ve known…that’s a really special thing that I think everyone should aim for at Christmas. You get to savor the experience every day that the tree is up, not just on Christmas morning itself. And it becomes so personal.

Bermuda!

I have ornaments from London, Paris, Nantucket, New Mexico, Arizona, Provence, Italy, and more. I have a small collection of glass bulbs from my mother’s trees. I have ornaments that friends and colleagues gifted over the years. I have a small collection of wooden ornaments, shells, a small creche. I have a beautiful collection of the 12 days of Christmas. And some that I made as a child in school. Each one has meaning.

I always try to leave some ornaments out for anyone who comes to my home over the holidays to hang. It gives me great pleasure to share my tree. I call it “honoring the tree”. And each morning leading up to Christmas, I turn on the tree lights, and sip my cup of coffee or tea while looking at it and recalling the meaning behind each treasured decoration.

Buckingham Palace London!

Playing special Christmas music. Waking up to the refreshing aroma of pine, looking at this beautiful and unique creation. All of it makes me feel so happy. It’s a gift you can give yourself, every year, a very important one I think, especially if you’re on your own.

That’s “A Table For One” exquisite celebration! Merry Christmas to all!

Christmas and Trees

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One of the most wonderful things about December is the number of Christmas trees that spring up everywhere. I love Christmas and I love the proliferation of trees!

“I know that a Christmas tree farm in Pennsylvania is about the most random place for a country singer to come from, but I had an awesome childhood.” Taylor Swift

I can totally identify with Taylor Swift’s description of an awesome childhood, having grown up on a Christmas tree farm. It sounds like a dream come true!

Trees line the streets!

Christmas tree shopping was a ritual in my home growing up. My Dad would pile us all into the trusty woodie wagon and we’d all head out to pick one out as a family, which was never easy! The catch, however, was that my father loved to buy “live” trees that could be planted after Christmas. This made it extra special, because you could see each Christmas tree permanently growing on our property. It was a unique and truly memorable way to celebrate.

The tree is always the highlight at Christmas!

That may be why I became enthralled with Christmas trees from childhood, onward. When I moved into New York to my first apartment, a small studio walk-up, I made a pledge to buy a Christmas tree every year, despite the tiny size of my apartment. Living on a shoestring meant that I had to start with a very small tree. I promised myself to buy a bigger one each year, until I could afford a big one, in the 6 foot + range. And that’s exactly what I did!

Tree in my building in NYC!

Now, I live in a building in NYC that celebrates Christmas with a giant tree that delights all of us. I still buy my own tree, but the ones they display surpass any height of an indoor tree that I’ve seen. It’s just delightful to come home to it every evening during December. We also have evenings with music and champagne! It always inspires me to go out and take notice of all the trees in the city and wherever I go, during December.

It’s a great way to celebrate Christmas coming with “A Table For One!”

Observing The Seasons

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I think that one of the most engaging activities you can do on your own, is to observe and make note of what goes on with a particular change of season. Reflecting on your surroundings can be inspirational. When you encounter a difficult or challenging passage in life, I think that looking outward becomes even more important than looking inward.

“Everyone thinks of changing the world, but no one thinks of changing himself.” Leo Tolstoy

Season changes are rarely the same. Especially these days, with the impact of global warming and the resulting changes in climate everywhere. This year in the northeast, the winter was unbearably cold and destructive. But the spring, summer and now the fall have been glorious.

A Rose in November?

On this off-season trip to Nantucket, I found roses blooming amid the fading hydrangea. What a contrast! Here, the autumn had already settled in. Leaves were falling and the chill of the air made it clear that we had already moved closer to the coming winter season. Summer was long over.

New Blooms in November

What’s really striking about this phenomenon is that it’s not a common one. These roses usually bloom twice on Nantucket. Once in June/July and again in September. I don’t recall ever seeing them bloom a third time, much less in November!

Autumn Roses!

I thought about how meaningful it is, to see new life burst out from the fading plants. It looked like a significant symbol. One that represents the notion that, just when you think a certain phase of your own life is coming to a finish, new growth appears and blazes through to remind us that there will be spring ahead. That, in order to let new things come into your life, you need to allow the old order to pass gracefully. To surrender to the change. Not fight it.

Sometimes, you will find yourself at “A Table For One” reluctantly. That’s OK. Life is full of twists and turns. Just remember to look around and absorb what your surroundings are telling you. It can be so richly rewarding. Let the old fade away and the new take hold!

Off Season is On

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Traveling off season can offer wonderful opportunities to explore. It sometimes seems that life is in such fast motion that it’s hard to recognize the special moments until they’ve come and gone. And it seems, they come and go far too quickly. The speed that we all move at these days, creates a blur. It’s difficult, if not impossible to focus. There’s always one more thing to rush on to. One more issue to address. Not enough time in a day. Off season can be slow and savoring.

“Life is not a problem to be solved, but a reality to be experienced.” Soren Kierkegaard

The fact is, that most of the things we’re in a hurry about won’t really matter in the long run. It’s so important to understand this and to do all you can to really “experience” your life. Planning with purpose is an important aspect to exploring things on your own. Here’s a great example: having come and gone from Nantucket to New York so frequently and seemingly always in a rush, there are some things I just haven’t had a chance to do. Especially in the off season.

Nantucket Scallops Fresh from the Bay!

So this year, I decided to slow down the manic travel plans in November and take time out to enjoy a uniquely Nantucket Island experience. The anticipation of getting one of the first batches of succulent Nantucket Bay Scallops fresh from the sea can’t be overrated. This happens in the “off season”, specifically in November for the commercial fishermen. The bounty is fragile and every year, lately it seems somewhat diminished due to environmental changes.

Glidden’s Seafood Store

But it’s not just the future peril of this delicacy that draws special attention. It’s the fact that you can literally shop for them on the same day they’ve been harvested from the sea by the scallopers. We all love the “Farm to Table” movement. There’s something equally amazing about the “Sea to Table” phenomenon.

Fresh From the Sea

Glidden’s, one of my favorite fish shops sells daily catch, huge lobsters and the first scallops of the season. I decided to buy 2 pounds and freeze some of them for winter trips to the island. When the scallops are first in, most of the restaurants that remain open, make their own special recipes. As for me, I love to prepare them in EVOO with a bit of garlic and butter to finish. Salt and pepper to season, with fresh lemon, parsley and red pepper flakes. Keeping it simple allows the sweetness of the bay scallops to shine through. Nothing could be better. Visit the island, shop the fish and cook a delightful meal. “A Table For One.” Let the off season begin!

Art Inside Out

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The Metropolitan Museum of Art is a New York icon. It beckons visitors from all over the world with complex, diverse collections of art and breathtaking one of a kind exhibits. For me, it’s also a prominent presence in my neighborhood. And there’s as much to see outside as there is to see inside The Met!

“Color is my day-long obsession, joy and torment.” Claude Monet

I love visiting museums when traveling and I’ve been lucky enough to visit so many, both here in the U.S. and overseas. One thing I find intriguing and sometimes also striking, is the exterior of museums. The setting. The building itself. How it sits where it is.

The Met Offers Inspiration in Color Inside and Out!

On this particular fall day, the exterior of The Metropolitan Museum of Art was ablaze with a full range of autumnal fire-like colors. The walls of glass reflected both sky and neighboring buildings in a perfectly arranged display.

Explore every angle of the museums you visit!

I like to take a walk around the exterior of the museums I visit, in order to understand and appreciate the eye of the architect/s who designed the buildings. To imagine how they were inspired to create and choose every detail of the structure. Architects are also artists in their own right.

Nature’s colorful bounty reflected as art

On this beautiful day, the colors of autumn bounce in the reflection of The Met’s glassed walls. The dappled light dances off the cement walls and inspires an unusual sense of life and anticipation of things to come. I think it’s a great idea, when you’re out and about for a museum visit on your own, to be sure to explore nature’s art and how the architect’s eye worked to create the building itself. If you do, it may even give you better insight into the art collections inside. And if you have a neighborhood museum nearby, be sure to observe how the changing seasons enhance the structure. Embrace the moment. “A Table For One.”

Day of the Month

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This year has been so beautiful in the Northeast. Very unusual, long stretches of balmy weather, blue skies, sunlit days. The Northeast is normally filled with unpredictable weather, ranging from cold snaps, to fog, rainy days and occasional blue skies.

“Climate is what we expect. Weather is what we get.” Mark Twain

In my mind, the best days are sometimes “good weather” days. Especially if the weather in a given month is unusual. I’ve decided to chose a “Day of the Month” every month. It’s another way to make yourself aware of the delight that each day brings. Something to look forward to, make note of and celebrate.

Look for the magical beauty of nature and light.

This month, November, I thought that “The Day” had already arrived on November 3rd. On a long walk through Central Park, I couldn’t help noticing how the autumn sunlight burst through the trees, amping up the contrasting colors of the landscape.

Such an unusual November!

On this particular day, I thought that the magical transition of seasons was so clearly evident. The floor of the gardens were covered with fallen leaves, while newly blossomed autumn plants and flowers were peeking through. The combination was startling and beautiful.

Summer passes the baton to Autumn as the seasons change

I find that the complexity of nature reflects the complexity of our lives and can be very reflective of our emotions too. It’s easy to lose yourself in the beauty of your surroundings, if you simply surrender to it. On this day, I fully enjoyed the wide range of thoughts and feelings, reflective of the landscapes.

The day mixed together a summer temperature of 72, the blazing reds and yellows of tumbling autumn leaves and the bittersweet reminder that winter will soon arrive. Yet, the promise of spring was also present in the newly blooming plants poking through. A truly perfect day. Perhaps the best “Day of the Month” for November. Well noted and captured in thought and memory for “A Table For One.”

Halloween

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You don’t have to have a crowd to celebrate holidays. If you find yourself on your own, for a holiday that you’re accustomed to sharing with lots of other folks, go ahead and explore the new and endless possibilities to enjoy it alone.

“Halloween is an opportunity to be really creative.” Judy Gold

Ghoulish Gang of Ghosts Gather to celebrate Halloween in NYC!

Halloween is a great example of a holiday that you can enjoy, regardless of who you may or may not be with. Hang a sign on your door indicating that you’re open for Trick or Treaters. Spend some time selecting special treats, other than the usual bags of candy. Wear a costume to answer the door. Make a note of the best-dressed costumes. Take photos.

NYC Townhouse wrapped in police tape “lockdown” for Halloween!

Or go out yourself, to explore and enjoy the activities that abound. If you’re in a city, it’s great to photograph all the decorations that folks set out on their doorsteps, for special attention. For example, in New York, the variations are endless and wonderfully creative. Every year yields more intrigue and imagination than the one before. It’s so easy to get caught up in the moment, so go wander and revel in the fun.

Trick or Treat!

Here’s a great “brainy doorbell” I rang this Halloween at a townhouse on the Upper East side that was wrapped tight in police tape (as a joke). Of course, no-one answered…that’s part of the spookiness of Halloween delight! Trick or Treat…”A Table For One!”

Stralimitata

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The Pope’s visit to the United States was amazing. In New York, the effect was electric. On his return to Roma, he was asked by reporters to describe the cities he had visited in the U.S. Washington, he described as “formal”, Philadelphia, “friendly”. But for New York, he found it necessary to create a new word for his experience!

“Loving your language means a command of its vocabulary beyond the level of the everyday.” John McWorter

Pope Francis In Central Park

The Pope called his experience in New York “Stralimitata. Roughly translated, it means “beyond all limits.” I think a lot of us who live here and lots of folks from all over the world, who visit New York would agree! And it’s a great way for us to describe his visit to New York as well!

Blessings from Pope Francis

At the last minute, I received a ticket to his quick drive through Central Park, on his way to the Madison Square Garden Mass. It was startling and moving. So many people of so many faiths joined in celebration. This particular part of his journey included all the people of New York, all faiths. The tickets were not only available to New York Catholics, the city was in control of most tickets, for anyone who wanted to attend.

A Day To Remember! Pope Francis in Central Park

I felt torn between receiving his blessing in the open and photographing him as he passed by. So I did both. I put my phone down as he passed in front of me and then picked it back up as he proceeded forward. So the photos are a bit blurred, but the experience of Pope Francis in New York remain forever clear and bright!

The Pope Project

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I think it’s a great idea to focus your adventures on something exciting, whenever possible. For those of us in New York, this week will mark Pope Francis’ first and historic visit to New York. It coincides with the UN Assembly, so the city is awhirl and gridlock will be at an all-time high.

“The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched. They must be felt with the heart.” Helen Keller

Most days, New York is in full gear and locked in its well-known high energy mode. But for special events like the ones coming to our fair city this week, the electric frequency levels burst into full-on rocket liftoff mode! And the excitement it generates is unparalleled.

New York City’s Giant Pope Billboard near Madison Square Garden

At times like this, you can literally “feel it in the air.” So I decided over the weekend, to make this week my “Pope Project” and try to visit some of the places the Pope will see, while he’s here. I also find that the preparations for such events are just as exciting as the events themselves. And when you create a special project for yourself, such as this one, it gives you a full agenda for any and all time that you have on your own.

NYPD “blocks” all over the city in preparation for a whirlwind week ahead!

From the giant billboard hand-painted last week on a building near Madison Square Garden, where the Pope will say Mass, to the smallest detail of hand-hung “no parking” signs on the trees of the street where he will stay, you can see the anticipation take hold. There are honestly no contenders, in my mind, when it comes to the NYPD. And evidence of their hard work is already visible all over the city too. In anticipation of the crowds that will gather, starting on Thursday, there’s fencing, cement blocks, street closure warnings and all sorts of other indicators of what’s ahead for both the force and NYC residents!

Signs of preparation for the Pope and the UN Assembly this week!

No doubt all of the media will be out front covering the Pope’s every movement. But I find it really exciting to capture the week from my own humble perspective. Although I tried to get tickets to see him in Central Park or along his journey down Fifth Ave., I didn’t win any of the many lotteries that were held. So, now, I have a really perfect “A Table For One” week ahead, as I document my own experience. Maybe I’ll get lucky and catch a glimpse of him somewhere along his many routes. But if not, just getting out and about to see the preparations and experience the city as it lights up in anticipation is really very special. I think everyone should take on a special project once in a while, to enjoy their time with “A Table For One.”

Dining In…Summer’s Bounty

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There’s a sweet moment of time in-between seasons, when the season exiting surrenders one last burst of divine bounty, before giving way to the next season’s start. If you follow the farm, as suggested in an earlier post, you’ll come away with the cherished fruits of the season.

“Life is like jazz…it’s best when you improvise.” George Gershwin

Next, what to do with them? Improvise! On my recent trip to Augustine’s Farm in Greenwich, Ct., I found lots of extraordinary heirloom tomatoes. There is no consistency in size, shape, color or taste. They are all, quite simply, and very individually, delicious.

A great big pot of summer’s best harvest! Heirloom tomato sauce.

Find a recipe you like and adapt it to your own unique taste. I find that using high quality produce, such as these extra-special tomatoes and herbs are enough to stand up on their own. I like to keep it simple, because these batches of saucy deliciousness are going to be mostly frozen for the winter. Cover and leave to simmer slowly for 1 1/2 hours or so and then use an immersion blender to finish.

Later, on a cold and dreary winter’s day, when the days are too short and the skies are too cloudy, I will take out a serving of summer flavor and remember that even the winter season will eventually change too!

Typically, the night after cooking and freezing my tomato sauce, I’ll give it a test run. This time, I cooked fresh Prince Edward Island mussels for my trial run. Having left the heirloom tomato sauce as a simple basic, I’m able to make different variations later. For this test run, I added spicy red pepper flakes and more fresh basil. Adding a little chicken stock, sea salt and fresh ground pepper is all you need. Next, I cooked up some al dente whole wheat pasta from southern Italy, to go along with this delicious meal.

Beautiful Summer Bounty with fresh mussels and pasta

I always recommend plating every meal with purpose and imagination. In this case, I broke out my lovely fall inspired bowls, since the theme is the changing seasons. What could be better than summer’s bounty served up with a nod to autumn? Add a special glass of bubbly or your last taste of the season’s rose and you have a wonderful combination of fresh delight. This is a perfect way to extend your trip to the farm right to your own table and freezer. You will continue to enjoy these treats all winter long! And that’s “A Table For One”!

A TABLE FOR ONE

THE ART OF "BEING" ON YOUR OWN

Author Archives: Dee

Collecting Christmas

Christmas and Trees

Observing The Seasons

Off Season is On

Art Inside Out

Day of the Month

Halloween

Stralimitata

The Pope Project

Dining In…Summer’s Bounty