30:7
Thirty Seven things:
It is hot and warm and sunny and windy.
It is the start of a new week.
It is the start of a new year.
One in which I am one year older. I feel old[er]. Today is my birthday.
I have eaten very fine food. Too good. Enjoyed every bite.
I have read pieces of books given to me in the sun on my favourite chair as birds twittered nearby.
My mother bought me pieces from Cloth that I picked out. Linens and canvas in charcoal, black and deep mustards to match in with other pieces I already have.
I have almost finished the blurb book. Almost.
I need to paint my toes again. Perhaps this afternoon.
There are wonderful fresh flowers in the living room and I intend to buy fresh flowers every fortnight to colour and perfume. It is my gift to myself. I make this promise to myself every year and fail at it after the first week.
Making bread is soothing.
I wish we had a cleaner. There probably wouldn't be cheerios stuck beside the fridge if we had a cleaner.
Home made gnocchi is the best. Especially made by Mr 6.5st.
I have a hankering for new winter shoes already. Even though I am sticky and hot in the heat.
My favourite wine at the moment is The Willows Vineyard Bonesetter 2004 Shiraz. Damn fine tipple.
It is not the wine which made me hung over on Saturday. That was a NZ Gewürztraminer.
If I could be anywhere in the world right now.........it would be Antwerp.
The one thing I really want to go out and buy this week: new mascara and lipstick.
I sleep on the right hand side of the bed.
I have a little bit of a thing for circles and holes right now. It's been brewing for a while, and I intend to use it creatively somewhere soon.
I secretly love putting Lego together, especially really complex pieces. Max doesn't stand a chance.
I wish I could fly planes. Fighter planes. With big engines.
My current favourite song: Leona Lewis Bleeding Love. Love a good tortured love song.
I have coffee made for me every morning with fresh ground coffee beans.
I think afternoon naps on the couch with the back doors open is a wonderful idea.
So is walking barefoot in the sand.
And watching movies with good dark chocolate.
I would love to have space to paint, and etch, and weave.
I miss....Abeno Okonomyaki in London, walking through the streets of Paris, running through sprinklers during the summer, that first tingle of love, lying in.
I long for...a ticket to London, a massage, new magnolia and gardenia trees in my garden, quiet.
I have never made creme brulee. It is something I feel I should make.
I get a buzz out of winding wool.
I really don't like putting the fruit and vegetable shopping away in the fridge. It all just looks messy in there. I like my fruit in bowls where it can be seen and admired for it's colour.
You really can own too much linen fabric. I think.
This might be the year I organise my ribbon box. And button box. And my tax.
I don't like making knots in the ends of threads. It's just a task I would rather not do.
I like - the sound of sleep weaving across the mind.
well, well, i am feeling pleased i get in first to wish you a very, very happy birthday! and it sounds like you have received some lovely gifts and pleasant company. enjoy the moment. if you can.
Posted by: kirsten | January 28, 2008 at 01:02 PM
NZ whites... mmmm. I love lego too - used to fight the kids off tp get at it. Happy Birthday.
Posted by: M-H | January 28, 2008 at 01:31 PM
- Only 37? I think I may be older than everyone.
- Enjoy your flowers for however long you buy them for yourself.
- Try making no-knead bread. The results are so lovely they might make you cry.
- I agree. Gnocchi is delicious, especially when paired with gorgonzola and cream.
- Shoes are always good, no matter the season.
- Try your favorite wine *with* dark chocolate while watching a movie.
There's more, but it's late and I can't remember. Suffice it to say, much of what you wrote here resonates.
A very happy birthday to you, Alison.
Posted by: Sarah | January 28, 2008 at 01:57 PM
Happy Birthday, friend. Welcome to Club 37! I agree, never can have too much linen.
Posted by: Kristen | January 28, 2008 at 02:04 PM
happy day. although it's probably the day after your birthday now....
It sounds like it was perfect. what could be better than food and fabric? :)
xo
Posted by: martha | January 28, 2008 at 02:08 PM
I love home made gnocchi with fresh pesto. My partner hates it, but it is what I imagine clouds or pillows would taste like. The meal is somewhat intense though and I always feel I have eated 30 times the amount.
Posted by: Anna Laura | January 28, 2008 at 02:25 PM
Yay, happy birthday! (and I totally agree with you about making knots in thread, ugh)
Posted by: Bertha | January 28, 2008 at 02:28 PM
wonderful list. it sounds like it'll be a good year for you, this 37. happy happy. enjoy every minute of it.
Posted by: julia | January 28, 2008 at 02:40 PM
happy birthday alison!
Posted by: shari | January 28, 2008 at 02:43 PM
Happy Birthday, sounds like you are off to a great start!
I only paint my toes in the summer.....and so I always equate painted toes with summer. How nice to think of this, since it's snowing outside right now. ;)
Posted by: Creature of Habit | January 28, 2008 at 02:55 PM
Happy Birthday! And you can never have enough linen, are you kidding? :)
Posted by: Ash | January 28, 2008 at 03:59 PM
Happy Birthday!
Sounds like you've done a great job with the first 37 on project Al. The next 37 will be something to see. :)
Posted by: michelle | January 28, 2008 at 04:00 PM
It is my sons' birthday today as well. He is 18, that is very strange for me, to see my baby as a young man. A happy one to you.
Posted by: Angelia | January 28, 2008 at 04:44 PM
Happy Birthday to someone who is a past-master at list-writing.
Posted by: Jane | January 28, 2008 at 08:03 PM
37 looks great already! awesome list :) happy birthday!
Posted by: anna | January 28, 2008 at 08:44 PM
Happy birthday Al!
I wish you were in Antwerp too. It would be easy for me to take the train and be there in an hour. Sky is gray in belgium. It will be raining and we swould be forced to enter a café and have some tea and a piece of cake (for your birthday)
Posted by: Caterine | January 28, 2008 at 09:22 PM
happy birthday! and happy australia day for saturday, too!
Posted by: Claudia | January 28, 2008 at 09:23 PM
Happy Birthday! Sounds like you've had a truly lovely day. x
Posted by: Kirsty | January 28, 2008 at 09:25 PM
Wishing you the happiest of birthdays :>
Posted by: Patricia | January 28, 2008 at 09:43 PM
Knots in the ends of threads is vulgar. Much better to do 2 or 3 small back stitches, instead.
Happy BIRTHDAY ,37 year old!
Send all unwanted linen south, where there is a shortage.
Posted by: Shula | January 28, 2008 at 10:19 PM
Happy Birthday - what a year you have ahead of you I think.
My girl starts school on Wednesday. She is the youngest of three. She is my mate.
The screen is blurring as I type this.
Posted by: mary | January 28, 2008 at 10:39 PM
happy birthday :-)
beautiful colours in this post!
coffee, gnocchi, creme brulee, dark chocolate, linens and canvas in charcoal, black and deep mustards.....niceee
have you tried Dolfin chocolate? lavender dark chocolate, hot masala? the new packaging is equally seductive.
Posted by: melinda | January 29, 2008 at 12:01 AM
I love that you wistfully contemplate re-painting your toenails; but cheerios being cheerios will find a way out of the box, cleaners are overrated and head to head with cheerios the cheerios win every time!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
Posted by: Donna | January 29, 2008 at 03:15 AM
Beautiful words, beautiful photograph. Wishing you a wonderful happy birthday!
Posted by: brooke | January 29, 2008 at 03:29 AM
happy birthday alison! this is the most sweetest birthday-list ever, sounds like a beautiful day full of life from here. Enjoy your day!
Posted by: anne | January 29, 2008 at 04:43 AM