The Art of a Table for One: Why I’m Lingering a Little Longer This Week

My husband, Steve, has headed off to Maine to mow the lawn, stack some wood, and get our family summer home ready for the season. But fresh off our week-long antiquing road trip through Quebec, I found myself wanting to linger here in Vermont just a little bit longer.

A few years ago, I thrifted a small teak bistro table and chair meant for one, and this week I pulled it out of the basement and set it on our porch overlooking the mountains. Each morning, I’ve been opening the cupboard, choosing a favorite vintage plate, cup, or bowl, pouring a cup of coffee, and watching to see what the day brings: fog over the mountains, a summer thunderstorm, sunshine, and Ella stretched out beside me, looking for a crumb to drop.

So I thought I’d invite you along for a few mornings on the porch and share the simple art of a table for one.

Mornings That Deserve a Table for One

Most mornings around here are fairly ordinary. Ella reminds us it’s breakfast time, coffee gets poured, and the day begins with a quick walk, a little conversation, and whatever plans happen to be on the calendar.

But this week has been a little different. With Steve in Maine getting the house ready for summer and no schedule pulling me in any particular direction, I found myself lingering a little longer in my pajamas, carrying a pitcher of peonies out to the porch, and opening the scullery cupboard to see what dishes caught my eye. Before long, a simple breakfast had turned into a table for one and a little project I thought might be fun to share with you.

If you’d like, pull up a chair and join me for a few mornings in the mountains at my table for one, before we head to the coast of Maine for the summer.

Simple, Thrifted, and Fresh from the Farm Stand

Yesterday I stopped at our local farm stand and grabbed a fresh bouquet of peonies, which are blooming like crazy right now, and some of their homemade coffee cake.

It is so warm and incredibly humid out today, just heavy and overcast. It completely called for a slow morning with some nice cold blueberries and a big slice of that cake.

I just pulled one peony out of the bouquet, popped it into an old purple bottle, and reached into the cupboard for a favorite thrifted Johnson Brothers chintz plate.

The view of the mountains is totally clear right now, and it’s just so incredibly peaceful sitting here. We’re actually expecting thunderstorms later today, so I’m secretly crossing my fingers that we get a rainbow out of it. We get them out here all the time. It’s just the nicest, quietest way to start the day.

Storm Clouds and French Croissants

I am seriously not used to all this early summer humidity yet; it is just so muggy out, and I am desperately hoping it cools off soon! We’re actually expecting more thunderstorms later today after a misty start, but before the rain rolled in, I wanted to try something a little different for morning number two.

I opened up the cupboard doors to see what caught my eye and decided to pull out a few little treasures that always make me smile. I grabbed a favorite antique green and white bowl for my blueberries, a vintage napkin, and my mother’s sterling silverware.

To make the table feel a little extra fun, I set out one of my favorite crystal knife rests from an antiquing trip to Paris, a couple of little white owl salt and pepper shakers from a weekend thrifting in Maryland, and a water glass in a wicker sleeve I grabbed at Vintage Market Days Vermont.

The breakfast itself is pretty special today. I’m filling the bowl with more fresh blueberries and a couple of those amazing, buttery croissants we brought home from our antiquing road trip through Quebec last week. They are so delicious.

The final touch was completely free, just a few yellow roadside wildflowers I picked while walking with Ella yesterday, popped into a simple silver bud vase.

The mountains look especially unsettled this morning, wrapped in low clouds and hinting at more thunderstorms to come. Every now and then, the sun tries to break through, but the sky can’t quite seem to make up its mind. It feels like one of those mornings when the weather is putting on as much of a show as the view itself.

Tea and Toast But With Blueberry Muffins

The thunderstorms rolled through overnight, and although Ella is usually pretty good about sleeping through them, this one had us both awake for a while. By morning, the mountains were still tucked beneath dark clouds, the air was once again thick with humidity, and I was especially grateful for the shelter of the covered porch.

Since it’s going to turn into a hot, sunny summer day soon enough, I wanted to jump right into a quiet, delicious breakfast out here while it’s still cool. It’s amazing how a simple morning coffee and a blueberry muffin can feel so special when you pair them with pieces that have a story.

Today’s table was a collection of favorite finds from places I’ve loved visiting over the years, a Johnson Brothers Tea and Toast plate I picked up at Vintage Market Days Vermont, a Ralph Lauren mug from Stonehouse Antiques, and a little green cake stand that followed me home from Quebec just last week. Add a blueberry muffin, a cup of coffee, mountain views, and sassy Ella, and it felt like the perfect way to start a summer day.

The Simple Art of Setting a Table for Yourself

When I realized I’d have a few quiet days to myself before heading to Maine, I started thinking about how I wanted to spend them. As much as I love antiquing, decorating, and working on the house, some of my favorite moments are the simple ones: coffee on the porch, a mountain view, and a few minutes with no place I need to be.

That’s really what this little table for one has been about. Not the dishes, the flowers, or even the breakfast, but taking the time to enjoy the things I love and appreciate them a little more. A favorite thrifted find, my mother’s sterling silver, fresh flowers, a good book, Ella looking for a treat; small things, perhaps, but the kinds of things that make an ordinary morning feel rich.

Perhaps that’s the real art of a table for one, not the dishes or the flowers, but taking a few minutes to enjoy the things that make you happy. I’d love to know what those things are for you. Leave me a comment below and let’s start the conversation.

Next Stop: Summer in Maine

With my bags packed, my favorite books organized, and Ella ready to hit the road, it’s time to say goodbye to these Vermont mountain mornings for a little while. The coastal breezes are calling, and I can’t wait to unpack the summer quilts, pull out my favorite vintage pieces, and settle back into another season at my mother’s old Maine home.

If you’d like to see what makes the trip to Maine so special, be sure to stop by my Vintage Summer Decor: 10 Pieces I Wait All Year to Bring Out, where I’m sharing the treasured pieces and traditions that mark the start of every summer in Maine.

I’ll see you on the coast!

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