Table For One Please (2024)

07/12/2024

Day 55 of 60.

Since my last release in my birthday countdown was a bit emotional, I opted for something a bit less dramatic. Today, I was sorting some stuff and ran across these two license plates. This was my license plate number from 2008 (when I first moved to Illinois) until a few months ago. When I bought my new car, I got a new number.

Although this seems mundane, there is a deeper significance here. My old cars were always bought based on the cheapest price. This time, I decided that I needed to focus on comfort and amenities since I spend a great deal of time commuting.

These old plates can be recycled at a Secretary of State facility and I can release that old "scarcity" mindset that has been so prevalent in my life since the mid-1990s when I entered a relationship with someone who had HUGE financial issues and infected me with them.

Yes, my new car payment is much higher than I might like . . . but I love my new car (heated seats, remote start, Bose sound system, etc.) and I needed to do something tangible that said to the Universe, "Hey, Universe! I deserve to be prosperous and happy."

06/12/2024

It seems a bit counter-intuitive to celebrate National Gazpacho Day in December (in the Northern Hemisphere) when none of the produce is fresh. Still, here we are with Dec. 6 as the day to celebrate this tasty cold soup.

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06/12/2024

Day 54 of 60.

This one is a hard release for me, but it's time. As I countdown to my 60th birthday, I finally had to drag this table out of the closet where I shoved it last year. This is one of those "butler's tables" that has a base, but you can lift the top off separately. I inherited this from my grandmother and have had it for nearly 25 years.

Sadly, over time, water damage has destroyed the veneer and when the base is assembled, it is shaky and feels dangerously like it's going to fall apart at any moment. I love the memories that this invokes, but my decades of using it for house plants (aka, water damage) and of being schlepped all around the country in my moves has created a situation where it's not easily repairable. Believe me, I tried.

As hard as it is to release, sometimes you just have to own up to (1) not taking good care of something and (2) realizing when it's time to let something go. Saying "goodbye" can be hard, but it's a necessary part of evolving and growing.

05/12/2024

Happy Repeal Day as we celebrate the end of Prohibition on December 5, 1933. Cheers!

05/12/2024

Day 53 of 60.

In the ongoing saga of "But it's a really great box!" I just found these two excellent wooden boxes. They contained holiday gifts over the past couple of years, and I kept them because . . . well, you know . . . they're really great boxes.

I pulled them out of the closet today and realized that I am never going to re-use them. First of all, they are branded with a business name and second of all, I can't imagine how I would ever use them.

Despite the fact that they are solid and useful, I have no use for them. It's time to free up a fair chunk of closet real estate and let these go.

05/12/2024

It's only fitting that we celebrate cookies as we start the holiday season. This is really the only time of year when I actually think about baking them!

What's your favorite cookie recipe?

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04/12/2024

Day 52 of 60.

I have a large collection of vinyl that I have schlepped around with me all over the country since the early 1980s. Records are heavy! It has been years since I had any kind of stereo system or turntable, but I persist in keeping the collection.

About 10 years ago, a friend gave me this turntable which is designed to connect via USB to a computer so you can digitize the albums. I thought it was a great idea, and promptly put it on top of the pile of albums. It has been there for nearly a decade, gathering dust. Today, I finally looked closely and discovered that the cables, box, and instructions are long-since gone. I have no way to use it, so it's going in the "out" pile.

This does, however, open the Pandora's box of my album collection. I have a feeling that may be some of the last issues I tackle in this "letting go" process.

03/12/2024

Day 51 of 60.

Sometimes it's the tiniest of items that can carry the biggest punch. Today, as I continue releasing things as a countdown to my 60th birthday, I finally decided to take a deep breath and deal with this tiny gold necklace.

The ankh has special spiritual significance, but the energy around this particular item is not positive for me any longer. This was a gift from someone who - at the time - was a special friend and the energy was magnificent and positive.

That person, however, has long ceased to be a friend. The death of the friendship was not sudden or dramatic. Rather, it was a strange 'ghosting' sort of thing where they just severed contact for no reason(s) that I will ever likely know or understand. Despite the initial positive spiritual energy of this ankh, it will forever remind me of betrayal and pain.

Even though the amount of gold is miniscule, I plan to take it to one of those "we buy gold" places and at least get a few dollars for it. As I pack it away, I feel some emotional pain but it's important at this point in my life to be honest with myself and cut loose anyone/anything that drags my energy down.

Onward and upward (lighter and freer).

02/12/2024

Dec. 2 is "National Fritters Day." I don't think I have ever cooked a fritter at home! Does anyone have a good recipe and/or some tips?

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01/12/2024

Day 50 of 60.

Early in this releasing project I got rid of an old, ill-fitting tuxedo. As a birthday gift to myself, I commissioned a new custom tuxedo. As part of that, I also commissioned a new tuxedo shirt. Those new items should be ready between my birthday and Christmas, so I should be able to try them out over the holidays!

In the meantime, I forgot about this tuxedo shirt in the back of my closet. Despite losing weight recently, it seems that the increase in my neck size is permanent and not something that will go down with weight loss. This shirt will not button without a collar extender and even then it's not comfortable. Time to let it go and embrace the new one that will be fit to my exact measurements!

01/12/2024

A few days ago, we celebrated cake day so it's only fair that we give pie some love, too. Today is "National Pie Day." I suppose I thought this day should have fallen on March 14 - but it's on Dec. 1 instead.

I love a good lemon meringue or key lime pie. What's your favorite pie?

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01/12/2024

Day 49 of 60.

Today's release is nothing earth-shaking. In my years as a Pampered Chef consultant, I have received many items to sample. These re-usable storage bags seemed like a great idea, but they don't really do the job for me. I tend to hold on to "free" things far longer than I should.

After trying them out a few times, I threw them in a drawer and haven't seen them in at least 9 months. It's time to just let them go and hope that someone else might find them more useful.

30/11/2024

We close out November with "National Mousse Day." This photo pictures a chocolate mousse with mint. I think that might be one of my favorites, actually!

What's your favorite mousse? Anyone got tips on how to make this at home?

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29/11/2024

Day 48 of 60.

It's hard to believe that my 'countdown to age 60' is getting so close! Today, after an epic few days of cooking, eating, and cleaning up from Thanksgiving I decided to dive into Christmas decoration.

Over the years, I have amassed an impressive collection of holiday-centric bags and boxes. I always say, "This is a really great bag! I am sure I will use it again." Both my grandmother and mother were adamant about "saving the wrapping paper" as well - so that passed along to me.

I currently have an entire Sterilite tote full of a combination of gift bags, gift boxes, tissue paper and random ribbons/bows that I salvaged from Christmases past. Some of it is just garbage for recycling, but some are nice boxes/bags that I will donate so others can use them. I am also freeing up closet space formerly taken up by that tote!

29/11/2024

Day 47 of 60.

On this Thanksgiving day, I find myself focusing on gratitude. There are a number of things in my life that are not where I want them to be, and it's so easy to spiral down into negativity. But when I stop and take a closer look, the positive aspects of my life far outweight the negative.

It is true that I am not fully content with many situations or energies in my life at the moment - but I have to accept responsibilty for making the changes that need to be made. My struggles are just that - "MY" struggles. They are not the fault of anyone else and not the responsibility of anyone else to adjust.

So, as I release things leading to my 60th birthday, today I focus on someting a bit more esoteric. I choose to begin the releasing of those inner voices that listen too strongly to "them" and not strongly enough to myself. I have spent my life adjusting to the whims and desires of others - to the detriment of my own happiness. It won't be an overnight shift, but I am going to do my best to change this energy.

28/11/2024

This Thanksgiving I decided I needed to treat myself. Since I love to cook, I have gone for a massive traditional kind of feast and I started the prep on Monday. It's just me today, so there will be leftovers frozen for a long, long time. The meal includes turkey, gravy, cornbread stuffing (with sauteed leeks, mushrooms, and celery), sweet potato casserole topped with candied walnuts, cranberry sauce with walnuts and orange zest, braised pearl onions and peas with a Béchamel sauce enhanced with cheddar and Gruyère, and for dessert a purée of chestnuts and Marsala wine with whipped coconut cream. I am using my sterling silver, china, and crystal along with a linen tablecloth that belonged to my grandmother. My pairing of choice is a lovely traditional method sparkling rosé from California with Marsala to pair with the dessert.

28/11/2024

This Thanksgiving I decided I needed to treat myself. Since I love to cook, I have gone for a massive traditional kind of feast and I started the prep on Monday. It's just me today, so there will be leftovers frozen for a long, long time. The meal includes turkey, gravy, cornbread stuffing (with sauteed leeks, mushrooms, and celery), sweet potato casserole topped with candied walnuts, cranberry sauce with walnuts and orange zest, braised pearl onions and peas with a Béchamel sauce enhanced with cheddar and Gruyère, and for dessert a purée of chestnuts and Marsala wine with whipped coconut cream. I am using my sterling silver, china, and crystal along with a linen tablecloth that belonged to my grandmother. My pairing of choice is a lovely traditional method sparkling rosé from California with Marsala to pair with the dessert.

28/11/2024

November 28th is "National French Toast Day." I must admit that I'm not a huge fan of this one. I tend to shy away from sweet things for breakfast/brunch. I am more of a fan of savory.

Do you like French Toast? If so, what are your favorite toppings?

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Table For One Please

07/12/2024

06/12/2024

06/12/2024

05/12/2024

05/12/2024

05/12/2024

04/12/2024

03/12/2024

02/12/2024

01/12/2024

01/12/2024

01/12/2024

30/11/2024

29/11/2024

29/11/2024

28/11/2024

28/11/2024

28/11/2024

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