Andy’s mother loved the ‘Two Fat Ladies’ and had all their shows recorded, and I shared in her adoration. This excerpt is from one of their Christmas shows, featuring the Winchester Cathedral Choristers. It’s raw and rustic, wintry and cozy all at once, and brings back memories from two decades ago. Perfect for a little break in the day as the holidays approach.
08
December
2021
No comments
December
2021
08
December
2021
No comments
December
2021
Christmas Citrus
One of the best parts of the weeks leading up to Christmas was always the arrival of the citrus. When I was a kid, my parents would receive boxes and boxes of grapefruits and oranges, and it was such a happy bounty of brightly-colored, sweetly-flavored healthy food, that cut right through all the other bad (but oh-so-good) cookies and cakes and candy we were surrounded by and shoving into our mouths. Carefully packaged and held in cels that seemed expressly molded for each individual citrus fruit, the presentation was as important as the taste, lending it an aspect of something special and important – quite the change of pace from the limp plastic fruit bags that usually delivered fresh fruit into our home. It made citrus an event – and, even better, it was a holiday event – the best kind of event there is.
That happy correlation between Christmas and citrus was recalled the other day when Suzie delivered these mandarins – gloriously seed-free, and this season’s first fruit arrival (aside from a couple of grapefruits that my Mom gave us last week). They are as bright and cheery in the mouth as they are on the plate. December is here, Christmas is coming!
07
December
2021
No comments
December
2021
Boston Holiday Beckoning
This morning’s earlier post has put me in a Boston state of mind, when the city becomes something magical and wondrous during the Christmas season – like most cities I suppose. Earlier this season, when preparing for a Friendsgiving with Kira, I got an unexpected spark of inspiration to decorate for Christmas, something that I hadn’t planned on doing this year with our limited visits. With all that’s happened of late, it seemed better to do a minimalist version of holiday decorating, but as I sat in the condo and thought of at least a coupe of visits with friends and family, I felt something pushing me to make it as pretty and warm and cozy as I could, and the involved hanging the holiday drapes, lighting the holiday accent boughs, and bringing out the sparkle and the gold for the fireplace mantle. Even if it’s just for one weekend of a Holiday Stroll, it will be worth it.
There’s actually not that much to the decorating in such a small space. The curtains alone form the main thrust of intimacy and coziness, creating a sliver of an alcove between the living room and the bedroom, where the wet bar resides, now bedecked with candles and a swath of faux fern and magnolia garland.
A family photo is bracketed by Christmas lights and more ever-greenery, a reminder than however far, family is always close at heart – which is the essence of the holiday season.
Finally, in our little bathroom, a lit garland of evergreens and red cardinals lines the brick backdrop, lending light and cheer to the otherwise-dim room. There, a bottle of Jo Malone’s seasonal ‘Birch and Black Pepper’ cologne awaits spritzing. It’s a reminder of a holiday excursion to try cologne at Neiman Marcus several years back, and a happy illustration of how our holidays build upon each other. Andy gave me the bottle, so he is here in spirit too.
Even when alone in Boston, I’m surrounded by love – in memories, in scents, in atmospheres where we’ve gathered before…
07
December
2021
No comments
December
2021
White Rose of Boston
This past weekend I was originally planning to be in Boston to indulge in the holiday spirit at this time of the year and to see some friends, but family needs and a desire to keep things simpler kept me close to home. It was a good choice, and as I get older I feel less and less fear of missing out – not that I ever really had much FOMO in the first place. A social introvert by nature, I never minded a quiet weekend at home, so that’s what Andy and I spent this past weekend enjoying.
I do plan on getting to Boston at some point to have our Holiday Stroll with Kira, and not a virtual re-telling of time and circumstance, but the old-fashioned kind where we hit the streets again right before Christmas. We did our practice run-through with this year’s Friendsgiving, which is where I took the photo of the white rose seen here.
Roses in December have not been uncommon in recent years (climate change is real and happening, whether you like it or not) but I still get a thrill seeing them in bloom so late in the season, and such a perfectly formed white rose brings the glory of June back to mind – not an unhappy visit down memory lane, when all the world lit up with sun and heat, and the start of summer was as close then as the start of winter is near now.
This specimen poked its beauty forth along the Southwest Corridor Park as I made my way back to the condo in the early afternoon to prepare for the arrival of an old friend. Whether November or June, an old friend works wonders for the soul. As does the simple beauty and enchantment of a rose.
06
December
2021
No comments
December
2021
Dazzler of the Day: Michael Bublé
Airing tonight on NBC, ‘Michael Bublé’s Christmas in the City’ is destined to be a holiday musical treat, and so it is unto this night that Michael Bublé is christened Dazzler of the Day. Day or night, his musical talent has no equal, and his easy-going charm and charisma (as seen in one of my favorite songs by him) are the perfect accompaniment to seasonal merriment. Check out his website for all his holiday releases.
06
December
2021
No comments
December
2021
Sailing Amid the Evergreens
This song rounds out a triumvirate of Christmas tunes that exist in the more abstract memory recesses of my mind – recalled vaguely for their melody, and for some ethereal sense of Christmas and winter. The first was ‘The Holly and The Ivy‘, and the second was ‘Bring a Torch Jeannette, Isabella‘- this is another airy entry. The idea of three ships sailing in for Christmas seems like a glad one, but it doesn’t speak to any Christmases I ever had in landlocked upstate New York. Instead, I set sail in the boughs of an evergreen, floating high above the little city of Amsterdam and soaring mostly in my fantasies.
There was one evergreen in our backyard, right at the corner of the pool deck, perfectly formed like the standard Christmas tree, only this one rose about 70 feet in the air. Its branches started low enough to the ground that we could jump up and climb into its heart. The lower branches were spaced at even ladder-paces, perfect for a young boy to practice his climbing. The evergreen needles were healthy and bushy, and the space close to the trunk, where I’d cling so carefully, was mostly hidden to any prying eyes. I loved that secret aspect of the climb more than anything else.
As one neared the top, the branches spaced out a bit, and the needle cover was increasingly sparse. The higher one went, the greater the risk for exposure, but oh how much more exciting the view got, along with the exhilarating feeling of being that high above the ground. I was level with the top floors of our house, and it looked small and quaint at such a distance and from such a height.
At that height, one could also feel the sway of the tree. The trunk was no longer as wide as my young torso. It wasn’t as stiff and stalwart as it was near the ground. Thinner and more malleable, it would shift in the wind, and all that once felt safe and secure was suddenly seen as flexible and changeable, subject to the whims of the wind. There was a thrill in that too.
If we were by the shore, such a vantage point would prove useful for seeing any ships that were coming in for Christmas. As it was, I only saw more sky, a bit more land, and a view reserved for the birds and the butterflies.
06
December
2021
No comments
December
2021
The First December Holiday Recap
Here we are already sailing into high holiday season, with most of the first week of December done, and Christmas activities getting into full swing. Time moves swiftly now as we careen to the end of the year, and so I’m seeking out quieter moments, and lengthier times of calm to reconnect with the true spirit of the season. At least once a day now, I try to step outside into the cold air, if only for a few moments standing outside the front door, to simply breathe in and out a few cycles of almost-winter weather. On with this respite of a recap, where we may find a few moments of peace and stillness.
We left November quietly behind.
This was the tightest I’ve ever been.
My life often revolves around tablescapes.
Two queens in a king-sized bed.
Carrying a Christmas torch song.
The new Tom Ford Private Blend is absolutely exquisite.
Spending a very good day with Dad.
Dazzlers of the Day included Kal Penn, Ana Gasteyer, Drew Barrymore, and Ashley Day.
05
December
2021
No comments
December
2021
A Day with Dad
Whenever I get a chance to spend some time with Dad, it’s always worth it, so when I offered to take a day off and stay with him while Mom did some Christmas shopping, it was a lovely use of some earned vacation hours. Arriving in Amsterdam in the morning, I brought a book and some split-pea soup and bread for their dinner. Mom had made a batch of asado that I only needed to re-heat for lunch. She headed out and I settled in.
The day was chilly and windy, but inside the house where I grew up it was cozy and warm. Sun streamed in through the windows and would gradually shift as the day wore on. I remembered the way it moved through the house, how certain rooms came into their own glory depending on the time of day and year, and whether the sunlight was strong or hidden. On this morning it was happily strong, shining and illuminating the house in which I suddenly remembered the trajectory of a day.
Dad was more engaged on this morning, even though Mom said he’d had a restless night. We watched the morning news programs for a while, then he sat in his chair and perused a photo book I’d made for them on our trips to Ogunquit.
He picked up the newspaper when it arrived, probably more out of habit than anything else, but habitual actions aren’t bad. I reminded him to do his exercises, and he gamely got up and walked around the downstairs a couple of times. I brought him some apple juice, and then had him do another walkabout. He settled on the pull-out couch and took a quick nap, while I stepped outside to do a walk around the yard. Even in the winter, there was beauty here, as evidenced by these evergreens and their dangling pinecones – the promise of another spring to come.
Coming back inside to the warmth, I saw that Dad was still asleep, so I started to fix lunch, then sat down in the living room to read. It was pleasant and peaceful there, quiet and still and cozy with the throw blanket Mom had left on the couch. I recalled those days of childhood when I was home sick and Mom and Dad had to go out working – the house was in the same state of stillness and peace as the sun moved in and out of the rooms as the day went along.
On this day, it felt like a refuge again, a bit of relief from the insanity of the world and the work place, as much as break for me as it was for Mom, who was itching to get out in the opposite way. Dad came into the kitchen for lunch and we ate as the sun poured in from the front window. He took another quick nap after lunch, then was up until Mom returned.
It was a day marked by happy memories of the past, and gratitude for the present.
05
December
2021
No comments
December
2021
Holiday Fragrance 2021: Tom Ford’s ‘Ébène Fumé’
Every wonderful once in a great while, the passions of my measly personal life align with the artistic creation of one of my heroes. When it was announced that Tom Ford was releasing a new Private Blend that harkened to the early days of that line’s original potency, I was intrigued. After a spell of sweeter and lighter stuff (‘Lost Cherry’ and ‘Bitter Peach’, neither of which I adored) a return to the pungent, darker aspects that made his best stuff so beautiful was a welcome notion. Even better was the notice that explained this fragrance would feature the somewhat polarizing scent of Palo santo – a sacred wood used for incense and meditation – which is precisely how I knew it.
Legend has it that the scent of Palo santo smoke is often acrid and off-putting to those who have spiritual issues that they still need to work out, and as they address and acknowledge them in repeated meditation sessions, the scent becomes more and more enjoyable. This was very much my experience with Palo santo; the first time I smelled it, in a Tibetan store in Cambridge, MA, I thought it was horrendous. That was many years ago, when aspects of my life – at least the ones that I had never fully dealt with – were appreciably horrendous. Returning to that store, I still found the scent objectionable the next few times I visited.
The first time I lit a stick of Palo santo at the beginning of my meditation journey, it was challenging, but even without consciously working things out in my mind, the last few years seemed to have shifted how I was reacting to the smell. As my days of mediation went by, the scent became something that calmed and centered me before each session, and I eventually came to love it. Whether that’s simply the familiarity taking away its sharp edges, or some deeper transformation, I cannot completely tell, and it doesn’t really matter. When I read that Tom Ford was crafting a Private Blend that incorporated this sacred wood, I was stoked.
Of course the best laid fragrance plans on paper always seem to end up defying what the actual scent ends up being, but that didn’t stop me from blind-buying it during a Sephora sale. Thankfully when I finally tried it out in Boston a few days before my bottle arrived, it turned out to be everything I’d hoped it would be, and quite a bit more.
Rather than starting out with the Palo santo, ‘Ébène Fumé’ opens exactly like Ford’s exquisite ‘Santal Blush’ which is a sentimental favorite for holiday time, so at this point in the year it’s a welcome breath of refined air. The one minor thing that (barely) troubled me about ‘Blush’ was its relentless sweetness – which was fine for the holidays, but I tended to temper it with a bit of ‘Oud Wood’ to give it a darker aspect. Ford solves that gorgeously with ‘Ébène Fumé’, as behind that opening blast of sandalwood is a layer of incense and smoky resin which gives it some heat an hour or so into its trajectory. Shortly after that, the Palo santo comes into its glory in a most marvelous unfurling of wispy smoke – deep and rich yet somehow not overpowering. After years of volleying between too much and too little sillage – see the extremes of ‘Tuscan Leather’ versus ‘Neroli Portofino’ or ‘Japon Noir’ versus ‘Fucking Fabulous’ or ‘Vert D’Encens’ versus ‘Mandarino di Amalfi’ – Ford seems to have found the ideal meditative center of a lovely cologne, which feels finely fitting for the calming essence of Palo santo.
04
December
2021
No comments
December
2021
Carrying A Christmas Torch
- Un flambeau, Jeannette, Isabelle —
- Un flambeau! Courons au berceau!
- C’est Jésus, bonnes gens du hameau.
- Le Christ est né; Marie appelle!
- Ah! Ah! Que la Mère est belle,
- Ah! Ah! Que l’Enfant est beau!
The origins of ‘Bring a Torch, Jeannette, Isabella’ are interesting, and with the advent of google and the internet itself, you can have at it. Something about two farmhands and Christ and, well, you get the idea (even if I didn’t). This song didn’t resonate with me until a few years ago, and not for its lyrics, but for its simple melody. It was supposed to be a song for French nobility, so maybe that’s why it speaks to me. In a previous life it’s almost certain my head was lost at the guillotine. Most days, I’m still paying for it.
- Qui vient là, frappant de la sorte?
- Qui vient là, en frappant comme ça?
- Ouvrez-donc, j’ai posé sur un plat
- De bons gâteaux, qu’ici j’apporte
- Toc! Toc! Ouvrons-nous la porte!
- Toc! Toc! Faisons grand gala!
While I’m printing the French lyrics here, it is the instrumental version that I enjoy most, especially when it’s on some crazy-ass guitar as seen above. What in hell is that thing and how do I play it?! Sign me up for those lessons.
- C’est un tort, quand l’Enfant sommeille,
- C’est un tort de crier si fort.
- Taisez-vous, l’un et l’autre, d’abord!
- Au moindre bruit, Jésus s’éveille.
- Chut! chut! Il dort à merveille,
- Chut! chut! Voyez comme il dort!
All wacky zaniness aside (it’s way past the expiration date of learning a new instrument), I’m adding this to the Christmas repertoire for seasonal accompaniment to all your merry-making.
04
December
2021
No comments
December
2021
Dazzler of the Day: Ashley Day
It was his tapping prowess in the recent revival of ’42nd Street’ that was broadcast on PBS the other night that sold me on Ashley Day, hence this Dazzler of the Day crowning. Many of us have been missing the live theatrical experience that was so sadly curtailed with COVID, so seeing this on television was the next best thing. It reminded me of the magic that can only be found on stage and in person. As for Mr. Day, his dancing and singing skills stole every scene he was in, and his talents more than earn this Dazzler honor.
04
December
2021
No comments
December
2021
Two Queens in a King-Sized Bed
A December piece of music that embodies the notion of hygge, this sweet little song is a new Christmas classic. Let’s face it, we need more interesting Christmas music. The classics will always have a place in the season, but there’s also room for something new.
Two queens in a king-sized bed
There’s no mistletoe above our heads
But I’ll kiss you anyway on Christmas day
Yeah, I’ll kiss you anyway on Christmas day
I don’t have a lot to give
But I would give you everything
All my time is yours to spend
Let me wrap you in with my skin
With my skin
This song is a good one to play when you’re not quite ready to get out of bed in the morning, or when you find yourself napping at the same time as your husband, something that happened happily a few days ago. I found myself lying down just for a moment after work, and that moment turned into a few, and then I was fast asleep. When I woke, Andy was beside me, covered in blankets and warmth. I stayed there a little while longer in the darkness of early afternoon, simply enjoying the comfort of the moment. That’s hygge.
Two queens in a king-sized bed
Like angels in the snow
My only wish is one more year
And then I want them all
Your freckled cheeks, our tangled feet
The closer, the better it gets
So let’s stay right here
Until forever disappears
I don’t have a lot to give
But I would give you everything
All my time is yours to spend
Let me wrap you in with my skin
With my skin
When the wind whips by the windows on a cold, clear, almost-cloud-free day, and the tan grass heads nod in brutal agreement, it marks a moment to indulge in a bit of coziness with a loved one. There is calm here, and there is quiet here, and the world could use more of both during the Christmas season.
Two queens in a king-sized bed
Mm, there’s no mistletoe above our heads
But I’ll kiss you anyway on Christmas day
Yeah, I’ll kiss you anyway on Christmas day
There is nothing more comforting than taking an early-afternoon nap with your husband as December gets underway. Let the season of hygge begin.
03
December
2021
No comments
December
2021
Dazzler of the Day: Drew Barrymore
Being the same age as Drew Barrymore, I’d always watched her in her early film roles and felt happy to see someone that I could recognize, at least as far as being a kid growing up in the 80’s went. When I watched ‘E.T’ in the theater with my Mom and brother, I related more to her than anyone else. A later role on ‘Irreconcilable Differences’ further cemented my love for her. Through the years, many of us have watched as she went through the treacherous journey that a child star often goes through, but Barrymore bucked the odds and overcame her difficulties. Her current talk show is a breath of fresh air, and brings her exuberant quirkiness to a larger audience in need of such good vibes, hence this honor of Dazzler of the Day. My absolute all-time favorite of Barrymore’s performances is her unexpectedly stunning portrayal of Little Edie in ‘Grey Gardens’. It’s the ultimate blending of star and role, resulting in nothing short of an artistic smash.
03
December
2021
No comments
December
2021
Andy Refines A Family Recipe
Much in the same way that he refined and improved upon this chicken-curry-in-a-hurry recipe, Andy has added his own special touch to Mom’s classic beef stew recipe. In his version, it was the addition of cocktail onions that adds an elegant and potent twist to the stew, lending flavor and globular architecture to the dish. He also opted for those little red potatoes that echo the size and shape of the onions, left with their vitamin-rich skins on, reddish color intact even behind the bold color of the stew sauce. (Secret ingredient hint: ketchup.)
This was one of the first recipes I ever made for Andy, during our first winter together. I remember getting the recipe from my Mom – a favorite for a cozy winter night – and then doing my best to bring it to life. Over the years, we gradually shifted to Andy making this more than me, and in more creative ways than I thought to flesh out. It’s now a winter staple whenever we need some comfort food.
PS – When in doubt, add a couple of snowflake rolls slathered in room-temperature butter.
02
December
2021
No comments
December
2021
Holiday Tablescape Extravaganza
This post was going to open with a disclaimer that I am usually not this extra, but I totally am and it’s all good. Here are scenes from the tablescape I crafted for our first dinner gathering in many months (years?) – and if I went a little overboard (Andy at one point asked where we going to actually eat) it’s justified. We’ve all been feeling a little overwhelmed and exhausted by the stresses of daily life. I haven’t spent nearly enough time with friends as is good for the soul, so this was our tentative way back to finding a balance between socialization and isolation.
A wintry tablecloth of bare branches and a red runner formed the background, while an abundance of candles in sparkling mercury glass and birch-inspired cups lended warmth and soft light.
From our yard, I culled a few branches of juniper and thuja, and to that I added some eucalyptus and white roses for a natural holiday touch. Rather than one big bouquet of greens in the middle of the table that blocks guest views, I used several short-statured vases (gold-rimmed drinking glasses, actually) which spreads out the greenery more.
Our lone rosemary plant is still in fine form despite the icy nights, so I plucked several sprigs for this pomegranate cocktail (vodka, pomegranate juice, pomegranate seltzer and a rosemary/brown sugar simple syrup) – and made a vodka-free virgin version for myself.
As fine and festive as this table design was, it was the company that made the evening, and Andy I are rich in that regard. Our home is filled with love when it’s just the two of us -adding good friends makes it overflow in even happier fashion. That’s the best part of the holidays, and you don’t need a fancy tablescape to make it happen.
“It’s such a happiness when good people get together.” – Jane Austen
