PatriciaG’s Blog
Art is Good for the Soul
Palazzo Strozzi entrance
Ciao a tutti,
This week I want to share some art with you because, well, creativity is good for the soul. Palazzo Strozzi is one of my favorite places to visit while in Firenze. It makes my top 10 list for sure. Their exhibitions are always innovative and fascinating and Anselm Kiefer’s exhibit Angeli caduti, Fallen Angels, was meraviglioso! If you had the opportunity to see it, I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did. And if you haven’t seen it yet, you have until July 21st to check it out!
For those who won’t have the chance, I’m sharing some snaps and notes from my visit back in May.
Anselm Kilmer, the celebrated German artist, takes you on a journey of metaphor and materials that reference philosophy, literature, religion, and war. His intention is to immerse his visitors in pure reflection, contemplation, and sensory delight via his paintings, sculptures, installations, and photography.
“Rubble is like the blossom of a plant; it is the radiant highpoint of an incessant metabolism, the beginning of a rebirth.” Anselm Kiefer
I was navigating my way through the Kieffer exhibition and the girasoli (sunflowers) captured my attention. As I was standing there drinking them in, a woman came up to me and asked if I wanted her to take my photo. I appreciatively declined. As you may have already guessed I’m not a fan of being in photos. I much prefer taking them. But she said, and I quote, “You must be in the photo. Your golden hair matches this piece so beautifully.” It was so heartwarming, I couldn’t resist. (see first photo)
We had a short and lovely exchange and then went on our way. These are the moments that make traveling solo such a gift.
Riding on the ‘me in photos’ wave, I’d like to share a video of me explaining my sono newyorkese … sono fiorentina mantra that I repeated quite often during my visit. Hope you enjoy. Ciao for now and Big Love, PatriciaG
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For more information on Anselm Kiefer at Palazzo Strozzi click HERE
Amore!
Ciao a tutti,
If you’re like me, you may be in need of some distraction. Lately, I’ve been revisiting this moment (video above) a lot for some lightness in my soul, taking a break from the heaviness of our current world. Today I had a thought … hey why not share this with you in case you’re in need of a moment too.
As I tend to do when I need to heal, I turn to my beloved Firenze, and my favorite spot in the city, in fact, in the entire world is the Arno. My friends in Firenze refer to the Arno as mio marito, my husband. Partly because I yell out Amore! every time I cross over one of the bridges. But my love affair with this river began decades ago. In 1993, when I lived here, I’d bring letters from the U.S. to the Arno and read them while sitting on Ponte Santa Trinita, pausing in between sentences to watch the sun dance on the water. It was in those moments that my mantra “Happy Heart Patricia” was born.
I spent many hours on that bridge. In fact, when friends would be looking for me they’d say “go to the bridge you’ll find her there.” Eventually they began calling it Ponte Patrizia … senza Santa, without the Saint, because well….you had to know me then. I was fearless and living large and took no prisoners. Stories for another time.
Ponte Santa Trinita ... aka Ponte Patrizia
On this last visit I had the most glorious opportunity to get up close and personal with Arno, via a boat ride. I would have liked it to be just a ride without a guide, but that wasn’t an option. It was unfortunate, especially since the guide was wrong about several things. Ugh that is not Ponte Amerigo Vespucci. È Ponte alla Carraia! Know your bridges bitch! Ok so the New Yorker came out in me for a moment, but come on … Dai! Anyway, she did me a favor because that last bit of misinformation was enough. I pulled out the earpiece, disengaged, and it was just me and my Arno. Honestly guys, if nothing else happens in my life I would die a happy and immensely fulfilled woman.
My friends, I hope these special moments bring some light and sheer JOY to you. Hang in there and Big Love, PatriciaG
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Something's Happening on Park Avenue
Ciao a tutti,
I’m taking a mini pause from sharing my Italian journey with you, because there’s something happening on Park Avenue that I just can’t wait to tell you about!
Walking to work this week, I discovered a new art installation along Park Avenue. Artist Bruno Catalano’s “Travelers” series graces the avenue from 34th to 38th Street.
Catalano’s work depicts people from ordinary backgrounds, frozen in time, carrying pieces of their lives in their luggage as remnants of their experiences of travel, flight, and exile. Yet, their heroic stature makes them anything but ordinary.
“Their future is inextricably linked to their roots, keeping them in a precarious balance,” writes Patrons of Park Avenue on their website. And an excerpt taken from the artist’s website states: “Bruno Catalano depicts human beings torn apart, crossed by a great emptiness that evokes the scars of departures and separations, identities fragmented by trials and tribulations, and shadowy areas in their self-image.”
They are quite intense, especially with the way they are integrated into the every day scenes of New York City, creating space above and in between. It certainly, causes you to pause and reflect.
If you’d like to check them out for yourself, you have plenty of time as the exhibition will be on display through May of 2025. And if you can’t see them in person, here are a few snaps I took on my lunch hour. Hope you enjoy! Buon Weekend and Big Love, PatriciaG
For more information check out: https://brunocatalano.com/ and https://patronsofparkavenue.org/art
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I Finally Did It!
Ciao a tutti,
I finally did it! I finally saw the wisteria, glicine, in Giardino Bardino!
I’ve wanted to see them for the longest time. In the past I’ve been there in winter or after they had bloomed. And prior to that I admit I had no clue about Giardino Bardini. For the last few years, I’ve gone to Central Park to see the wisteria as a connection to Firenze.
Here’s a post from last year: May 6, 2023 (photos above) Made my annual trek to Conservatory Garden last Sunday in the rain. Wasn’t sure if the wisteria would survive the storms and needed to drink them in before they’re gone. They are a heart connection to Firenze for me and torrential rains could not keep me away. The reward was meravigliosa, despite the squishy shoes and soaked clothes. I was reminded of that quote by Vivian Greene “Life isn’t about waiting for the storm to pass. It’s about learning how to dance in the rain.” And dance I did with the hope that NYC’s wisteria will lead me to Firenze’s one day soon.
Last year I had a hope and a dream. This year I made that happen. Interesting that I also started out in the rain in Firenze. It was pouring big, fat, drenching raindrops along the way. But when I arrived and stepped under the pergola it stopped raining and the sun came out. The sun came out! I’m not gonna lie - I cried big fat raindrop like tears! It was straordinaria - extraordinary.
Dreams do come true my friends. Believe. Do the work. Don’t let challenges ruin your spirit. Step forward - even if it’s one baby step at a time. Big Love, PatriciaG
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Return to Firenze
Ciao a tutti,
I think it was pretty clear early on that once I got the new job at the Guggenheim Foundation I’d be planning my journey back to Firenze.
My first stop is always the Arno. Sempre. And it didn’t disappoint. My Italian friends and I refer to the Arno as “my husband, marito.” Perhaps because I yell out “Amore!” each time I cross over any of the bridges that connect the center with the Oltrarno, the other side of the river. Doesn’t matter who is around me and looking at me as if I’m weird. It is my spot. It is THE PLACE that heals, inspires, and lights up my heart. Therefore, I decided that my first installment of this “Return to Firenze” series would begin here, the place I love most in the world.
I have so many photos and stories to share. Many of you who follow me on social media may have had a glimpse of some of my experiences already. I hope you’ll enjoy revisiting them with me. And for those of you who are seeing them for the first time, welcome! I hope you all feel the moments of exhilaration now as when I first experienced them.
I’ll be sharing more as the weeks go on and extend a grazie mille for taking this journey with me.
Before you go, check out my video … Sono Tornata … I’m back bitches! Big Love, PatriciaG
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Holiday Season Moments
Cozy Home Sweet Home
Hi All … Ciao a Tutti,
Experiencing joy in the moments that provide feelings of tradition, coziness, and safety is the true gift.
I’m sharing some of the moments of my holiday season hoping they invoke the same for you.
Wishing you all a beautiful New Year. May our human family navigate towards Peace in 2024. Big Love, PatriciaG
Rockefeller Center & Saks
Cousins Dyker Lights thanks to Andrea and Jack!
Miscellaneous Merriment
St. Patrick’s Cathedral
Casa Patrizia
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Kissed by the Sun
I am intrigued by how and where the sun decides to set and leave its gentle kiss. As I photographed these recent moments, the connection began a thought process. I began to realize that light is not just the absence of darkness. In various forms, it can be an indicator, perhaps even a roadmap, of new paths to take and/or ways to think.
A metaphor began to surface highlighting the lighter and darker places within ourselves, then realizing there is also somewhere in between. These images have light all around them, yet some parts are specifically being kissed by the sun.
They mirrored my thoughts and emotions, and demanded that I pay attention … to all of it: full light, less light, darkness, there is beauty in all of it. If we focus only on the light, wishing for it to be constant, we will easily find ourselves down the rabbit hole without even witnessing the process of the slide. Does this make sense?
Continuing with the slow chase of the light, I decided to check out the fireflies in Madison Square Park. As a child, I was intrigued by these “lightening bugs” who appear to be a not so attractive beetle when dark, but oh how they show off their brilliance when they shine their precious light. We follow and even chase them to capture that light, even for just a fleeting moment. And in that delightful exchange, somehow a little of our own light shines within.
I suppose the question is how do we keep this light shining? How do we continue to search for newness and freedom to explore our creativity and the light in our lives? Part of the answer for me is to begin with noticing the moments, stopping to acknowledge them, and then of course photographing them. There is such beauty in randomly witnessing where the sun chooses to plant its kiss, and the firefly decides to communicate with its glow.
Realizing and accepting that there is beauty in light, dark and the “in between” is when I experience the most growth. And when I can create an exploratory roadmap by sharing these moments in time with you, well that is when I am most inspired. Big Love, PatriciaG
PG NEWS: I’ve added some new items to PatriciaG’s Gift Shop. Check out the full collection HERE!
If you’re not already a subscriber to my Blog, I invite you to sign up - link below Comments. And while you’re there, I would absolutely love to hear from you so feel free to leave me a little somethin somethin in the Comments below.
Rockaway Twirl
A few weeks ago I decided I needed a bit of an adventure. Rejuvenation comes to me via water and so I knew my avventura would involve a twirl over to Rockaway, via the NYC Ferry.
I always experience some extra introspection when I view life from a distance, and seeing the Isle of Manhattan from that perspective certainly didn’t disappoint. And wow when we passed Coney Island, cue childhood memories, the promise of fun, and cousins’ visits!
Strolling along the boardwalk, and breathing in the ocean air, really energized my soul.
There have been some changes since my last visit. This stretch was closed last year with the Army Corps of Engineers working to prevent shore erosion. There’s a difference in the sandy beach with the incorporation of dunes, armor stone, and grass (which captures blowing sand), making Rockaway less vulnerable to possible future monster storms like Sandy. So keep off the dunes people!
I was pleasantly surprised to catch this photo exhibition starting at around 98th Street. Hello surfer in the snow - my kind of guy!
There are new concessions stands, adding to old favorites, like Rippers. In honor of my brother, it will always be special to me. And Caracas Arepa Bar … yummy … salivating as I type!
My visit was pre-Memorial Day and I don’t swim without lifeguards, so no mermaid twirls this time. Side note: I almost drowned twice in those waves. Surprisingly I didn’t choose fear after that, but I did develop a healthy respect for mother nature’s ocean. I did dip my toes in and walked along the shore line though. Did so with a promise that I’ll be back with my bad-mermaid-self. Oh there will be mermaid twirls in those waves!
One of my favorite signs was this one. I can’t believe it needs to be said but please don’t be a litterbug, and clean up after your nasty selves bitches!
Allora, summer is here. Have fun, be safe, think outside the box, and take yourself on small (or large) adventures. Big Love & Buon Weekend, PatriciaG
*** JULY 4TH SALE HAPPENING NOW AT PATRICIAG’S GIFT SHOP! ***
Headed to the beach? I’ve got you covered with my collection of beach towels, water bottles, can coolers, sun shades and more.
Click HERE to shop.
If you’re not already a subscriber to my Blog, I invite you to sign up - link below Comments. And while you’re there, I would absolutely love to hear from you so feel free to leave me a little somethin somethin in the Comments below.
Last Days for Garden on Fifth
Hi All … Ciao a Tutti,
I’m popping in quick this week because I know it’s a holiday weekend and focus is on being outdoors … but that’s why I’m touching base.
If you’re in town you may want to check out the last days (ends May 31st) of French Illustrator Charlotte Gestaut’s colorful ‘garden’ along Fifth Avenue. Thanks to Van Cleef & Arpels, flowers are blooming in sculpture, and adorned with live flowers, from 50th to 59th street.
They’re fun, they’re cute, and they provide a seat when you need to take a mini break from all the walking … ouch my feet need a moment.
I had fun stepping into, and around, the artist’s illustrations for some light-hearted moments, knowing that I’d be sharing them with you. Enjoy!
Buon weekend people. Big Love, PatriciaG
If you’re not already a subscriber to my Blog, I invite you to sign up - link below Comments. And while you’re there, I would absolutely love to hear from you so feel free to leave me a little somethin somethin in the Comments below.
One last thing … as you head out to bbq’s, parties, picnics I’d love it if you kept PatriciaG’s Gift Shop in mind. Bring a bottle of vino, prosecco or sparkling water in one of my decorative chillers, over 25 of them, each one capturing one of my favorite photos. Cheers! Salute!
New Tenants on Park Ave
Imagine my delight when I exited my office building and discovered that someone had been busy installing these hyper-realistic swimmer sculptures while I was toiling away indoors. Hello mermaid …
In a matter of hours Carole A. Feuerman’s playful swimmers took up residency on Park Avenue between 34th and 38th Streets and unlike most things here in the Apple they are stopping everyone in their tracks, including the most seasoned New Yorkers. “This exhibition is not just about art but about creating a moment of pause and reflection for the viewers. A unique opportunity to take a break from the hustle and bustle of everyday life and immerse yourself in a surreal world of art,” said Feuerman.
I encourage you to go take a break from the hustle and bustle if you can. But in case you don’t have the chance to stop by, no worries - I got you!
“Survival of Serena”
“Bibi on the Ball”
“Strength”
“Justice”
“Pisces”
“New York City Slicker”
“Quan”
“The Golden Mean”
This one in particular looked very familiar. And I had a feeling that it was something that I had fallen in love with in Firenze back in 2015. So I went searching through my photos and sure enough I found this. I was on an architectural/art walk with a local professor and she brought us into the space. I was immediately drawn to it and was so incredibly moved by how peaceful I felt. Always a connection to Firenze. “Brooke with Beach Ball”
Firenze 2015
Wishing you a buon weekend my friends. I’m off to the pool. Big Love, PatriciaG
NOTE: With Memorial Day on the horizon summer is on everyone’s mind. PatriciaG’s Gift Shop has got you covered for beach, backyards, parties and more. Come on over for a visit. And I’d be so grateful if you shared my Blog and Gift Shop. Thanks so much! Grazie Mille!
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Feuerman is an American sculptor and the only artist to make realistically painted outdoor sculptures. She is credited as being one of the founding members of the hyper-realistic art movement which started in the 1970s. This installation is debuting in conjunction with a solo show called Sea Idylls at the Galeries Bartoux on Central Park South.
Sidewalk Flowers, New York City
Many years ago, my ex-husband Tony and I had a friend visit us from Italy. We took him to Central Park, where he proceeded to take about 50 pictures of this one squirrel, capturing it from every angle.
We thought OK, well maybe he’s into squirrels. Or maybe he thought it was rare to have squirrels in NYC. It was only until more squirrels showed up, prompting a surprised expression on his face, that we realized he thought he had been witnessing something that was one-of-a-kind! Unico!
Recently, I thought of this story, as I started my “Sidewalk Flowers” series. It reminded me to look at something typical with a curious, new eye. Going in for a more intimate view, then stepping back to see the bigger picture of my surroundings provided an intriguing metaphor. Getting up-close and personal with challenges in our lives is necessary but can often become all encompassing. But then when you take a step back, and see the bigger picture, you realize the promise and the lesson that exists in that beauty of a nugget. And that my friends brings hope.
You know New York City is not just concrete, skyscrapers, grit, and crime (argh news media). New York has beauty, and nature is doing its thing while the rest of the city is bustling around it.
You can buy into the beauty or you can buy into the rhetoric. And whether it’s generated from outside sources, or comes from within - it’s your choice.
And while you’re mulling that over have a look at these to give you an example of what I’m talking about.
(note: click on photos for a close-up view)
Buon Weekend and Big Love, PatriciaG
NOTE: Big Mother’s Day Sales are happening over at PatriciaG’s Gift Shop! I’m excited to tell you that I’ve added new artwork which means lots of new items! And I’d be so delighted if you shared the Blog and my Gift Shop with those you know and love. Thanks so much! Grazie Mille!
Purple Hyacinth Tote Bag
Show Me a Sign Numero Due (Part 2)
Checking out the easel signs was so much fun. That got me noticing some other scribbles, paintings, and graffitied works of art. I looked up and down and sideways. They were on buildings, poles, and sidewalks themselves!
This group was a bit more gritty, and had me smiling at how “Very New York” they are. The PSA on the dog paws - ha! It actually got an out loud chuckle and “love it” from me!
The next few days I invite you to pick something in your community and take notice. It could be pink flowers, the start of budding trees, or even green cars! And maybe snap a picture or two. Focusing on something brings you into the moment and there’s a fun shift that happens. I’d love for you to experience it. And if it feels right, please share in the comments section below.
Allora, sharing some of what caught my eye here. Hope you enjoy.
Happy Saturday, Buon Weekend and Big Love, PatriciaG
NOTE: Spring is happening over at PatriciaG’s Gift Shop! Are you doing some Spring cleaning, or setting up your backyards? We have a lot of fun, creative and eye-catching items over at the Shop. Come on over and take a look. And I’d be tickled pink if you shared with those you know and love. Thanks so much! Grazie Mille!
Show Me a Sign
I walk a lot here in New York City. Most of us who live and work here do. We easily clock in 2 to 3 miles without giving it any thought. In the process we can be bombarded with images and sensations, that we either become numb to or subliminally absorb.
Recently I’ve been taking note of the signs that populate the city’s sidewalks. They’ve lasted over time, even with the dawn of electronic and digital signage, these easels of creative messaging live on.
The more I’ve begun to pay attention, the more I see them as creative works of art. I decided to start photographing them, thus beginning an unintentional series … Show Me a Sign!
Here are some of my favs. Hope you enjoy!
(hint - you click on each image to enlarge for a closer look)
Please feel free to leave a comment below to let me know if you’ll be noticing the signs in your neck of the woods. Happy/Buon Weekend and Big Love, PatriciaG
PS: Next time I’ll be sharing more written, painted, scribbled, and graffitied works of art in other forms, so be sure to stay tuned.
HEADS UP: Spring is happening over at PatriciaG’s Gift Shop! New artwork, new items for your home, yard, and outdoor life! Come on over and take a look. And I’d be tickled pink if you shared with those you know and love. Thanks so much! Grazie Mille!
New Visitors to New York City
My intention was to share this blog on International Women’s Day, but I’m still working on blending Patricia-world and the new job, and navigation slowed a bit this week. It’s all part of the process and I’m loving it!
I want to introduce you to two new visitors who have arrived in the Madison Square Park area. Renowned Pakistani-American artist Shahzia Sikander has created this new project with the theme of women and justice called “Havah … to breathe, air, life.” Through her work, the artist “confronts symbols of power and justice to examine long-standing practices and attitudes impeding the advancement of women.” (Madison Square Park Conservancy)
In Madison Square Park itself, you’ll find the glowing and golden 18-foot statue, Witness. Her steel hoop skirt is adorned in beautiful mosaic, inspired by the stained-glass ceiling in the nearby Appellate Division Courthouse, first department of the Supreme Court of the State of New York.
Her hair is braided to resemble two ram horns, identified in many traditions as symbols of strength.
And speaking of the courthouse, there’s a second golden and glowing statue as part of “Havah … to breathe, air, life.” Her name is NOW and she’s located on the roof; therefore many people miss her, so look up! NOW rises from the base of a lotus plant, a symbol of wisdom. And she is the first female figure to be installed among a group of male lawmakers, including Confucius and Moses!
A small note of interest; both statues have a small ‘frill’ around the neckline, referring to the lace collar that Ruth Bader Ginsburg made famous.
Through her work, the artist aims to address the justice and injustice of women. Sikander says: “If we use art, media, and culture to reverse stereotypes about gender, race, immigrants, and the unfamiliar, the beliefs we pass on to future generations reflect the complex and dynamic world we live in.”
If you happen to be in the area, take some time to breathe these lovelies in, and gain your own interpretation as you bear witness. As Sikander shares so eloquently: “Not only is the sculpture being witnessed by the crowd, but the sculpture itself is a witness to the unfolding of history in the present moment.”
If you want to learn more about “Havah … to breathe, air, life” click HERE.
Happy Women’s History Month my Lovelies. Let’s always strive to lift one another in light and with Big Love, PatriciaG
NOTE: PatriciaG’s Gift Shop is open all year round and I’m adding new items all the time! There is always a SALE happening. Come on over and take a look. And I’d be tickled pink if you shared with those you know and love. Thanks so much! Grazie Mille!
Synchronicity at the Castle
Hi all … Ciao a tutti!
How’s the New Year going for you? I’m feeling good about 2023. So many blessings have come my way already, with things just falling into my lap in grace and with ease. Thank you! Grazie Dio! Finalmente!
I had this revelation as I performed my end-of-the-year, start of a new one, ritual. I’ve been doing this ritual for well over a decade. I like to take stock of the lessons I’ve learned, celebrate the hurdles I’ve had to conquer, practice gratitude for the loving people in my life, honor the value I may have brought to my community, and definitely aim to learn from the mistakes I made.
During this meditative and writing journey I realized that somewhere along the way I had forgotten to trust synchronicity - yet again. When we get stuck in pain - physical/emotional/spiritual pain, it can create fear and stagnation. This can lead to the lack of trust, which then catapults us into the absence of dreams. Once arriving in that place, synchronicity seems to disappear. Or maybe it’s there, but we just can’t see it.
The great thing about synchronicity though … once you start to bring down that wall, it begins to show up again. As I took a sledge hammer to my own brick wall, the questions started to come. Yo Tri wtf? Remember when things fell easily into your lap? Moving/traveling to Italy, getting new jobs, starting new romances and flirty flings, creating community … what were you doing to make those things happen? My answer … I just trusted that it would all fall into place, then I showed up and did the work. And life happened.
So rather than making resolutions this year, I made a promise to open myself up to trust, and to dream again. How? Baby steps. One of my favorite baby steps moves is to simply pay attention and celebrate the great, as well as the small things, that randomly unfold before me.
Like the moment when I went downtown for a twirl to take some photos. I hadn’t planned on heading into Battery Park, but it turned out I needed a bathroom. I happen to know there’s a decent one over by Castle Clinton (a New York City thing - knowing where the good bathrooms are). As I headed in that direction, the timing turned out to be perfect for this random moment in time, Lady Liberty (and the National Museum of the American Indian) in the glow of a setting sun. Wow!
“Random moments in time” has been my mantra since the early days of starting PatriciaG Photos, as evidenced on my website and everywhere I share my photos:
My love for taking photographs began over 20 years ago on my inaugural trip to Italy. Perhaps it was the air, or the architecture, or the vino, or the shift in my vision from being outside of my comfort zone, and in a foreign land. Maybe it was everything combined. That first click of the camera ignited a desire to inspire through capturing random moments in life.
My desire is for you to be nurtured, inspired, and moved by my images. In capturing moments in time, I hope to show that we are all connected in this world and that our similarities outshine our differences.
I’d like to offer you the idea of paying attention to your random moments in time. Be gentle with yourself as you navigate through this New Year. And be sure to welcome in your very own Synchronicity.
Big Love, PatriciaG
Feel free to share in the Comments below.
** GREAT NEWS: PatriciaG’s Gift Shop is open all year round and I’m adding new items all the time! The President’s Day Sale is happening NOW! It’s one of the Biggest Sales of the Year! Up to 40% off select items from now until February 21st! Come on over and take a look. And I’d be tickled pink if you shared this great news. Thanks so much! Grazie Mille!
Ciao Ciao Christmas Tree
Hi All … Ciao a Tutti!
I had expected to send this out to you last week, but as you all know life gets in the way sometimes, thus a delay. It’s all good tho, just time got away from me. And it’s not such a bad thing to extend the Holiday, it’s such a special time of year!
Anyhoo…the reason I wanted to write is because I find it interesting in talking to many people; seasoned New Yorkers, as well as newbies to the city, that most don’t know what happens to the Tree once the festivities are over. It doesn’t just get tossed in the trash or lined up on the sidewalk like so many of our poor little Christmas tree corpses (sigh).
Oh no no no my jingle bells, in fact the Tree continues to provide long after the lights go out. You see, since 2007, the trees have been donated to Habitat for Humanity International to be milled into lumber to build and/or improve affordable homes. First, it’s cut into large pieces which are then transported to a mill in New Jersey for some sawing. Then the pieces are dried in a kiln, milled, and planed into soft and smooth beams. Next, they are shipped to the Habitat affiliate chosen to receive the lumber. Most of the time Habitat strives to bring it to the community where the tree was grown. Pretty cool right?
Sharing an excerpt of Rockefeller Center’s Newsletter about some recent lucky recipients:
Lumber from the 2011 and 2014 Trees was used to build the framework of multiple homes in Philadelphia
Wood from the 2007 Tree was used to build a new home with a family in Pascagoula, Mississippi that was displaced by Hurricane Katrina
In Bridgeport, Connecticut, a few beams from the 2013 Tree were incorporated into every home built for several years
In the past, the wood has been used in parts of the home where it can be seen by the family every day
Some Habitat homes even have exposed pieces of lumber branded with stamps commemorating its time as the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree
More info on the Trees’ journey to Habitat Homes HERE
I thought you’d like to know this interesting tidbit about our beloved Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree.
And I also want to share that there’s still time to have a last visit!! I took a twirl up there and the Tree is still beaming in all its sparkling glory. I spoke with the Mayor of Rockefeller Center and he said it will be up until Saturday night. And let me tell you, it was absolutely empty when I was there…see for yourself - above is a few weeks ago, and below was Thursday afternoon. So if you haven’t had the chance to go, well then get your butts over there in the next 24 hours and bid the Tree a fond farewell…Ciao Ciao Bella!
Wishing you all a Bright and Beautiful New Year! May it be filled with wonder, play, passion, good health, adventure, laughter, new lessons for growth, and most of all … Magic and Miracles! Magia e Miracoli!
Big Love, PatriciaG
A reminder that PatriciaG’s Gift Shop is open all year round and I’ll be adding new items for winter, spring, and some more Italia! I’d appreciate it if you considered me for your gift buying options. Thank you…Grazie mille!
Your Turn to Twirl ... Come Visit with Me
Hi All … Ciao a Tutti,
First I want to say a big THANK YOU … GRAZIE MILLE to those of you who take the time to read the Blog. I know your inbox must be crowded like mine, and I am honored. Also, I am truly grateful to those who shopped with me over at PatriciaG. You fill my Heart - for real!
In thinking about what I wanted to write this week, I decided to piggyback onto my theme of last week … JOY. Lately I find I’m staying close to my home, and heart, in search of what makes me smile. It’s been a few years since I’ve decorated my home. There have been a number of reasons, which don’t necessarily add value to this writing so I’m going skip them. However, suffice it to say that I am aware of the silver linings that challenges present. Not having the opportunity to decorate really made it significant this year. As I unpacked my cherished ornaments, decorations, and family heirlooms, I couldn’t help but feel the JOY well up in me.
The more I enjoyed seeing them, the more I thought about sharing some snapshots with you. And so … I thought … why not invite you to have the twirl this week instead of me. So get your twirling shoes on and come have a visit with me. Welcome to my home …
May all your days be Merry and Bright. And may you find JOY in the simplest of cherished memories and gestures; both near and far.
Big Love, PatriciaG
If it feels right, I would enjoy hearing from you in the comments below ... what brings you JOY? Anything you’d like to share about this Holiday Season?
PatriciaG’s Gift Shop is open all year round and I’m always adding new items. I’d appreciate it if you considered me for your gift buying options. Thank you…Grazie mille!
What Brings you Joy?
Wow can you believe Christmas Eve and Hanukkah are next week? Is time going by as fast for you as it is for me? I hope you’re getting everything done that you need, but also hoping you’re stopping to soak in some fa la la.
We tend to put a lot of pressure on ourselves to get it all done this time of year…the way we always do. I’ve been giving a lot of thought to this, and opening up to the idea that maybe all of it doesn’t need to get done after all. Sure, we have some traditions that will always be sacred. But do we really need to do it all? As I sat with my “to-do” list I decided to ask myself …. does doing this bring me Joy or does it feel more like an obligation? This created a new list: the I don’t have to do it this year list.
Once I gave myself that permission, it freed me up to go in search of Joy. I invite you to give that same permission to yourself and say "hey you know what I’m not doing that this year.” Or better yet, “ I AM doing that this year” because it’s fun and it brings me Joy. What’s the thing you love that tends to fall off the to-do list because you just couldn’t get to it? My advice, if I may, is to move it up to your top 5, and bounce the thing you’ve done out of obligation to make room. Or just shorten your list altogether!
For me, my goal is to spend time with people I love and enjoy their company. I am soaking up good conversation, sharing Christmas lights and decorations, baking, decorating my apartment with all my cherished ornaments and tchotchke’s, and handing out gift-wrapped socks to homeless people. I also have candy canes on hand, gifting them to strangers on the street who seem to need a smile and a generous gesture, giving them to delivery guys with their tips, or to the waitress at the caffè who provided some extra special service. Feel free to borrow if you’d like to give it a try. It’s quite joyful!
Sharing special moments and favored treats with family and friends brings me so much Joy. Sometimes it’s chocolate, or fruit, or baked goods. Sometimes it’s a bottle of wine or my fav for celebrating the arrival of a New Year…Prosecco! (ahhh memories of Italia). And so, I thought for this week’s PatriciaG’s Gift Shop share, I’d introduce my wine chillers. I’ve chosen a select group of my photographs to compliment that bottle you’ll be bringing to your hosts this Holiday Season. Click on the images below for full view.
Long after the cork has been popped, the wine chiller remains for future gatherings and celebrations. Please visit PatriciaG’s Gift Shop to see the full collection and more.
Happy Holidays to All and Big Love, PatriciaG
Start shopping HERE
NOTE:
* up to 25% off…Free Standard Shipping on orders $75+ with code Merry22
* Wine Chillers: feature my designs with 360 degree wraparound, are dishwasher safe, fit most standard 750ml bottles, keep wine cool for hours
* as always, it would jingle my bells if you shared this with family and friends. And I’d love it if you shared what brings you JOY in the comments section below. Grazie!
What's the Draw of the Jigsaw?
We had an official ‘puzzle board’ in our family back in the day. Our dad cut it on our grandfather’s table saw (a plumber by trade but a carpenter at heart) in the basement. It was perfectly sized for puzzles, small and large, and it provided us with many fun hours of family time.
Lately I hear of more and more people enjoying jigsaw puzzles. It had me thinking, what’s the draw of the jigsaw? And so I did some digging and was surprised to find out that there are many benefits to spending time around the puzzle. Here are just a few things I discovered:
* Doing puzzles provides some great brain exercise since it exercises both the right and left sides. Right side being in charge of creativity, emotions and intuitive thinking; and the left is the logical, objective and methodical side.
* Improves short-term memory. Damn I need to get me some puzzles. Finding myself in the kitchen and asking “why did I come in here?” is happening a lot more often lately. What about you?
* Research indicates that people who work on puzzles can have reduced risks for memory loss, dementia, and Alzheimer's disease. Doing puzzles gets the brain working and helps to cut down on the buildup of plaque that occurs with Alzheimer’s. Exercising the mind helps prevent cognitive decline.
* Relieves stress and improves mood: studies indicate that jigsaw puzzles stimulate the brain while simultaneously allowing us to relax our minds. Solving puzzles increases brain production of dopamine, which is responsible for regulating mood. It also affects memory, concentration, learning, and motivation. Dopamine is released every time we do a puzzle and even every time we put a piece in the right place it provides encouragement. Woo hoo!
* Improves problem solving skills: in solving the puzzles you take different trial and error approaches to solving the puzzle. These skills can be transferred to other areas of your life.
* Jigsaw puzzles aren't just great for group interactions, they can also provide a quiet and meditative solo activity.
I’m excited to start clicking those puzzle pieces into place, watching the picture come together, and reaping all of these great benefits. And did you know that January is National Puzzle Month? It was news to me. To celebrate, I’ve launched a new collection of Jigsaw Puzzles. Below are just a few of the 30+ Jigsaw Puzzles available at PatriciaG’s Gift Shop.
Happy Holiday Season and Big Love, PatriciaG
NOTE:
- BIG SALES and FREE STANDARD SHIPPING are happening right NOW! Use code MERRY22
- Order by December 12th to receive in time for Christmas (with standard shipping)
- As always, it would jingle my bells if you shared this with family and friends. Grazie!
Start shopping HERE
Rockefeller Center and an Amusing Personal Story
This week we had the lighting of the 90th Annual Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree.
Did you know that the first Christmas tree was erected in 1931? It was during the Depression-era when construction of Rockefeller Center was underway. Italian-immigrant-laborers pooled their money for a 20-foot balsam fir Christmas tree. (This year the tree is 82 feet tall!) They then decorated it with handmade garlands and ornaments made from tin cans.
Stock photo
The lighting of the tree signals the start of the Holiday Season here in NYC. It also brings up a memory of an amusing personal story.
One year, my sister Debbie came over to go Christmas tree shopping with me. We decided to see the tree at Rockefeller Center first, making it a Christmas tree extravaganza! We made our way up to Rockefeller Center, and oohed and ahhed, as one does, over the tree. It was quite the site to behold. After that we headed back downtown to my neighborhood to buy my tree. Well … after seeing the humungous tree at Rockefeller Center, it was hard to temper our enthusiasm, so we went for one of the largest trees on the lot, in front of Duane Reade that is. No lots in Manhattan, unless you want to park your car.
Anyhoo, we excitedly carried it home, set it up in the metal tree stand, gave it a huge drink of water, and then waited for it to settle a bit before putting the lights on; while eating our cheeseburger deluxes delivered by Sunflower diner up the block.
And settle it did! Mamma mia! Now I must tell you, I live in a studio apartment here on the isle of Manhattan. Ok it’s considered a large studio, but it’s still a studio. As the tree began to settle it started taking up more and more space … so much so that we started to have to scale the wall just to pass by .… arms outstretched and hugging the wall.
Wait … it gets better … The darn thing was too big for my small tree stand so it kept falling over. This continued for the next several days. I’d wake up in the morning and the tree would be on the floor. All the tipping over caused the water to drain from the stand. Missing out on all the fluids, the poor dear became dehydrated and got prematurely dry. When I’d pass by the tree, if I didn’t hug the wall enough to completely avoid it, my arm (or boob) would brush against it causing a whoosh of dried up pine needles cascading to the floor, creating a forest carpet in my Manhattan home.
Needless to say my beautiful, large Christmas tree barely made it to Christmas, reaching curbside far too prematurely. And I was finding pine needles everywhere for the next 6 months! The moral of the story … never ever ever go see the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree before buying your own.
My sister and I have had so many laughs over the years about that night. Speaking of Debbie … segue alert here … I want to share a great Christmas gift idea that she shared with me this week. She was over at PatriciaG’s Gift Shop doing some holiday shopping and the brilliant thought came to her to pair up my matching Tote Bags and Throw Blankets. Wow why didn’t I think of that? Thanks Deb!! The tote can serve as a gift bag (great for those who prefer to skip the wrapping), then just roll up the matching blanket and tuck it right in. Debbie also suggested adding candy and even packets of hot chocolate. Oh how warm and cozy your loved ones will be.
Below are some sample matches of my Rockefeller Center Collection, but there are many designs, along with tons of other gifts. I invite you to come on over to PatriciaG’s Gift Shop and as always, it would jingle my bells if you shared with family and friends. Grazie!
Happy Holiday Season and Big Love, PatriciaG
Start shopping HERE!
NOTE: ORDERS NEED TO BE PLACED BY DECEMBER 12TH TO RECEIVE IN TIME FOR CHRISTMAS
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