Small Indulgences

Yesterday was my birthday, and it really couldn't have been a nicer day. Great weather, a number of good wishes from friends online and on Facebook, a phone call from my dad, and lots of love from my husband, who also has a birthday coming up, so this is our party week.

For lunch he made me a terrific BLT (we don't eat bacon very often, and this was soooo good); in mid-afternoon we met a friend for coffee and a chat at a cafe in the neighborhood, and in the evening we had Persian kebabs at a restaurant we like but haven't visited in a long time. The kebabs (my favorite are kubideh, made of spiced ground beef molded onto flat skewers) were served with grilled whole tomatoes, basmati rice with saffron and barberries, an excellent traditional yogurt-and-spinach sauce and another made from roasted eggplants, tomato and garlic that was so good we ate it with a spoon.

Although the numerical accumulation of years (58 of them) still strikes me as incredible, even impossible, I'm not one to moan about it. Considering the alternative, I'm grateful to be here still, and I try as much as I can to be glad for each day. I'm also happy to be living in a place where, thanks to the French, women "of a certain age" are still considered beautiful and desirable, in a society that encourages individuality and style and eschews "rules" about "age-appropriate" dress and behavior. In honor of that, I now have a short, ruffly skirt which J. spotted and liked while we were shopping on Sunday, and several pairs of new stockings and tights in lace and nice colors.

My grandmother, who lived to 92, set us a good example. She never stopped being interested in fashion, but it wasn't the kind that requires thousand-dollar outfits from Prada. Living in a small town as she did, most of the acquisition and execution was up to her; she was a good seamstress and always sewed with Vogue patterns, never daunted by designer details, and she and my mother taught me to sew. She loved color and bold patterns and had the confidence to carry it off, even when she was very old indeed. On Thursday, I'm going on a birthday-celebratory fabric and pattern-shopping excursion with one of my sewing friends here. I'm looking forward to making a few things, but also just to the feeling of fabric-shopping and garment-planning, which I haven't done for a long time. Unlike the small town where I grew up, this is a city with a garment and costume industry and lots of fabric and notions stores; it will be fun, and I'll report!

Comments

[Clive Hicks-Jenkins]

Many Happy Returns for yesterday Beth. It sounds as though you had a great day. Wear that ruffled skirt with pride!

[Marja-Leena]

Happy birthday wishes again, Beth! What a wonderful day you had. I can picture you in that ruffled skirt. And I wish I could join you in fabric shopping, especially in Montreal where I bet the choices are far more exciting than here. I'd love to see what you make, maybe it will motivate me to get back to my unfinished projects and the piles of fabrics bought years ago. My "English" daughter has become a keen seamstress. I showed her how to make buttonholes by hand, something I'd not done in years since getting a machine that does it, and because her machine in London is an old one that doesn't.

[NT (aka Pascale Soleil)]

Oh happy birthday! It's wonderful that your life continues to unfold in so many delightful ways.

[Parmanu]

Happy birthday,Beth! You seem to have had a great day. I had mine earlier this month, only the 37th but even that seemed something to wonder about and feel thankful for. It's really wonderful to see your enthusiasm and zest at 58, and all that fashion interest brought home the realization that my wife's shopping habits aren't going to change anytime soon!

[Kim]

It is good to hear about your special day. So pleased it was lovely. I read this post with a broad smile on my face. Anticipating the fabric and pattern shopping post!

[Beth]

...and high heels! Thanks, Clive!

Thanks, Marja-Leena! I've made a lot of hand buttonholes in my life because I don't like the way my machine does it...but making them by hand is a lot of fussy work! It makes me happy that your daughter likes to sew. I think there's a bit of a revival going on - lots of younger women have sewing blogs and are making cute and clever things.

Thanks, NT/Pascale! Life is kinda what we make it, it seems. I've had my periods of negative energy too. I'm enjoying your daily thoughts of beauty and positivity!

Parmanu, thanks for the good wishes! I'm not much of a shopper and never have been, but because of sewing a lot as a young person I've always been interested in clothing construction, and I love textiles of all kinds. For me, it's another creative pursuit, and it's fun to live in a city now where I can watch the people. Montrealers have a wonderful sense of style, especially the young women - they put together beautiful outfits that probably haven't cost much at all, and that inspires me to be a bit more creative than I used to be in L.L. Bean-land.

Thanks, Kim, I'll try to remember to take my camera along!

[Robb]

Kia ora Beth,
Happy belated birthday! The food all reads as so nice ann mouth watering. Having just turned 50, and with new hip, I must write I feel better than I have in years, and am spending more time in the mountains with a smile instead of a grimace. It's all good! Kia kaha.
Aroha,
Robb

[pohanginapete]

Happy birthday, Beth :^) The description of the food's making me very hungry.
Your grandmother did indeed set a good example by the very fact of being interested in something. I suspect the end begins when we lose interest in everything beyond ourselves.

[Natalie]

Re-happy re-birthday Beth and can we have a picture of you in said ruffly skirt?
Have you heard of the English designer Vivienne Westwood? Talk about wildly unconventional fashion pour les femmes d'un certain age! Look her up in Googl images.
Looking forward to seeing your own fashion creations.

[Jan]

Happy belated birthday, Beth. I love your attitude. We improve with age because we learn from experience and approach new experiences with gusto. Hope life gets better and better for you. (Gorgeous food photo).

[zuleme]

My birthday is coming up too, number 59. And I love textiles and wish I could sew better. Anything I make looks like I made it! You'll never find me in high heels though! Am a country girl in Crocs or boots or sneakers.
Or barefoot!

[dale]

:-)