Life at 35

The Daphne is in full bud, just waiting for some warmth and sunshine to open the blooms and perfume the entire side of the house. The days are getting longer and a little warmer with green leaves just waiting to pop on every branch in the garden. You can feel spring under the earth, the movement and the awakening underfoot and it makes you feel a little more alive, the shift, the change in the seasons.

The days are filled with routine – beds being made, blinds being pulled up, fire’s being cleaned up, new wood stacked, dishes washed and packed away, meals prepared. There is some writing, some new work and opportunities, always amazing, supportive comments and support from strangers and friends and bewilderment at the hatred, jealousy and judgement from people that don’t know me at all, and then from others that do know me, and should know better. It’s a funny business, this sharing business, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Daisy is this big kid. So smart and funny – soaking up everything, jumping at every opportunity she gets. She has finally found some co-ordination and is loving her sport – jumping on a skipping rope, playing hockey, running like the wind wherever she goes. She is patient with her little sister. And kind. Although she is tired, she knows it now, and surrenders to it, rather than stubbornly fighting it like she has since the day she was born. I am so proud of her. She’ll never know just how much.Β Harper is two. So very two. On a constant roller coaster of emotional highs and lows, learning as she goes and trying to be better at things that two years olds are not good at – sharing, sleeping, playing with others. She is a solid ball of pure goodness – cut from the same cloth as her Father and every day she makes me laugh out loud just by being her. I’m this mother now. Of two great kids. Who drives around and picks them up, makes their meals and hugs them when they need it. Each night when they are asleep in their room, one on the top bunk, the other down below, my mind can’t quite get around the fact that these daughters…they are mine. Ours. And my heart bursts with love and pride every single flipping day.

Rob is…well, he is Rob. He is amazing. Smart. Kind. Patient. Capable. Handsome. Sexay. Funny. He is everything to me. Everything.

Each night when the fire is lit, the blinds drawn down and the last light hits the garden and the temperature drops I still pinch myself that this place is my home. That life is this good. That this village filled with all these amazing friends and people is our town. That we made this our life. Today I am 35 years old and right now I feel like the luckiest woman in the whole damn wide world.

Comments

  1. I shouldn’t be but I’m crying. I love the way you celebrate life Beth. Happy day to you lovely lady. Xxxx

  2. Lovely Beth! And Happy Birthday. I’d be happy too if I was you πŸ™‚ I turn 32 next Monday and was having a little think today about where my life is at. I’m pretty happy with mine too – thankfully haven’t had that ohmyfuckinggod-I’m-how-old? moment yet! Hope you have a great day x

  3. Happy Birthday, Beth!! Go 77’ers!!

    I’ll be 35 in November and my goal for this year is to be proud of myself – my body, my family, my house and my career.

    I hope you feel proud of yourself too. You should.

  4. Beautifully written Beth. Wishing you the happiest of birthdays! x

  5. Happy Birthday!!

  6. Happy, Happy Birthday to you!

  7. I think it is beautiful how you appreciate all you have in your life lovely lady.
    You get so much heart because you give so much of yours.
    Have a wonderful birthday and a year full of much joy,health,love and happiness.xx

  8. Ah Happy happy. Beautiful words. well said. Have a great day

  9. What a beautiful little slice of heaven πŸ™‚ isn’t wonderful when we recognise it? I found mine when I was 28 and am now at 30 absolutely reveling in it! Have a magical day!

  10. Sarah Owen-Green says

    You put into words what I feel everyday. Thank you! I hope you have a fabulous birthday… Cracker of a day for it!
    X

  11. HAPPY BIRTHDAY LOVELY LADY!!! Have a fabulous day with your gorgeous girls and loving husband. I love this post…you are one lucky lady. I have no doubt it’s going to be a big year ahead with lots of exciting and successful adventures ahead. Good luck with all of it. Jx

  12. Happy birthday. The best birthdays ever are when you feel like you’re exactly where you are meant to be.

  13. Happy Birthday dear Beth! What beautiful words, your post has made me smile. The simple pleasures and gratitude is what its all about. Wishing you the most spectacular day with your nearest and dearest, and the most magnificent year ahead. I am the BIG 3 5 in a few weeks, yikes, it comes around SO quick and I guess the message of living your best life, embracing it and making the best of your time here really REALLY rings true! And you, my dear, seem to be well on the right track there.
    Have a wonderful day – please share a post with your beautiful photo’s, gorgeous bubbles and celebrating YOU on your special day.
    xxxx

  14. Dude! You were born on the day Elvis died? Love it. Happy birthday lady!

    • DUDE! I was. Spirits leaving the earth – and entering – I think I picked up a little on the way in is all I’m saying. That, or that’s where my love of pork products comes from!

      I LOVE that you knew this. Of COURSE you did x

    • Beth, happiest day to you. And I had to chime in here…I was born on the day Marvin Gaye died. Not quite Elvis, but worth the mention x

    • ps. gratitude is the greatest birthday blessing of all x

  15. Have a CRACKING birthday love! Looking forward to pics later of a few glasses of French and/or G & T. Great post!

  16. Enjoy your day, hope there are lots of sunny moments. xxx

  17. Happy birthday Beth have a good day! Sweetest post too!

    Steph πŸ™‚

  18. Happy birthday Beth! I have recently found your blog and have been loving the NY travels. I know what you mean about the weird feeling of being mum to two sprogs. I often think when the hell did that happen?

  19. Sending birthday wishes your way – hoping you have a fabulous day!
    Carmel
    x

  20. HAppy Burthday Beth.
    Hope you have a gorgeous time with your family and friends!
    Xx

  21. Beautiful. Happy birthday funky lady πŸ™‚

  22. happy birthday Beth, enjoy your day with your wonderful family x

  23. feebeecakes says

    Cheered the dreary train ride again…yay you! Happy birthday x

  24. Happy Birthday! You do good gratitude, Lady. A beautiful birthday post

  25. Love this post! Hope you have a fabulous day! I’m a ’77 gal too! (7.7.77 actually!!!) Mx

  26. happy happy birthday beth! beautiful words. I could feel your heart smiling – which made me smile x

  27. You sound content and after all isn’t contentment what we strive for in life? Happy Birthday x

  28. Happy birthday Beth! Glad you are feeling blessed today. I’ve been feeling happy and blessed lately too, but I have noticed it can attract some dislike from people who are insecure. Such a shame people feel as though they need to express that to you in their comments.

  29. Happy happy birthday lovely lady. I hope your day is filled with laughter, love, champagne and pork!
    This is a truly beautiful post. I may or may not have teared up… You have such a way with words and you deserve every bit of success coming your way. xx

  30. Happy happy birthday lovely lady. I hope your day is filled with laughter, love, champagne and pork!
    This is a truly beautiful post. I may or may not have teared up… You have such a way with words and you deserve every bit of success coming your way. xx

  31. Happy happy birthday lovely lady. I hope you’re day is filled with love, laughter, champagne and pork!!
    Such a beautiful post. I may or may not have teared up. You have a way with words and you deserve all the good things coming your way. xx

  32. Happy Birthday Bev, one of the best blogging ladies I know!

    Hope today is just as special, which will be pretty easy, all your days are special.

    xx

  33. Happy Birthday…here’s to a fantastic day with your family in your village. x

  34. Happy Birthday Beff!

  35. Happy Birthday Beff!

  36. Happy birthday Beth! You really know how to appreciate the important things in life. Thanks for the reminder to me to do the same! Here’s hoping on my 35th I can feel a bit the same.

  37. What a fantastic post Beth. Happy Birthday. Enjoy your Daphne, mine is out and my backyard smells AMAZING. I have bunches all through the house and it really makes me so happy.

  38. have a great day in this great life x happy birthday!

  39. Yep, sounds pretty darned fabulous – just like you. Happy, happy birthday Beth. Hope your immediate future is filled with pork, bubbles and beautiful things. You are The King of the internets, xx

  40. A beautiful post. Happy birthday!!

  41. Oh noes – I wrote a comment while my husband was signed into google. That Peloton comment? That’s me. Have a fabulous, beautiful, gorgeous birthday lovely, lovely Beth. xx

  42. Happy birthday to you, Beth! May 35 be your best year yet.

  43. Happy Birthday! I’ve been saying FML a bit too much lately, this post makes me think I need to reassess xx

  44. 35- so young!

    I myself ove Gratitude and loathe whinging- No One gets it all so just appreciate what’s on offer I say.

    Happy Birthday, how wonderful that you are a Leo.

    All the best people are x

  45. Gorgeous post! Enjoy your day xx

  46. This comment has been removed by the author.

  47. Here’s Cheers to a lovely birthday with family and friends! I’m new to your blog and love how it captures me and draws me in – you have a wonderful style of writing. Keep doing what your doing it’s perfect πŸ™‚

    V

  48. Lovely. Happy birthday.
    xo

  49. Happy Birthday Beth, we could all use a big slice of your appreciation and contentment x

  50. HAPPY BIRTHDAY BETH!!!! Hope it’s fabulous xxx

  51. Happy birthday Beth! Great post. Put on those neon jeans, crack the champas early and have a ball today xxx

  52. Happy birthday Beth! Great post. Put on those neon jeans, crack the champas early and have a ball today xxx

  53. Happy Birthday Beth!!! Love your honesty, but mostly I love your appreciation for life – and you celebrate it!
    Have an awesome day!!! And an even more kick-ass year ahead.
    x

  54. Happy birthday to you! Lovely post x

  55. Happy Birthday Beth. Hope you have a wonderful day with your loved ones in your little slice of heaven.
    Another year older is always worth celebrating…the alternative is not worth thinking about! Enjoy..Annie M

  56. A beautiful post from a beautiful lady. Happy Birthday hope you have a great day filled with lots of hugs, kisses and plenty of cake, and of course some bubbly.

  57. Beautiful post from a beautiful lady. Happy Birthday to you, I hope your day is filled with hugs and kisses, plenty of cake and of course some bubbly.

  58. Your gorgeous post made my day a little less blue. Happy birthday!

  59. Happy Birthday Beth! Such a beautiful post.. it brought tears to my eyes thinking of my own daughter who is 4. I just want to stop the clocks & bottle her. Life, albeit SO good, is all of sudden going way too fast…treasure the moments. Bec xx

  60. Filled with joy. Love it.

  61. Happy Birthday to my dear friend xx

  62. Happy birthday to you Beth, have a beautiful day! I really enjoy coming to this space and reading about you day to day loveliness. x

  63. I love people who can look around them & see how blessed they are because at times it’s so much easier to see the things we don’t have. Your life is amazing Beth. It’s filled with love & laughter & joy. Birthday wishes your way, but really, what more could you wish for? You’ve got it all lady xx

  64. I loved this post! It made me feel all warm and fuzzy. Happy birthday to you!

  65. What a beautiful post that made me remember how very lucky I am too. It has been a very long week and I needed some reminding. So, thank you and Happy, happy, birthday!
    Sue

  66. Happy birthday Beth. I got the hugest grin on my face reading your post. What a sensational life to be grateful for. Cheers to the next 35. X

  67. Beautiful words. I hope you have a beautiful day! The sun is shining here, hope it stays that way. I am ready for spring!

  68. Happy Birthday Beth, what a beautiful post, your writing gave me warm fuzzies!

  69. Happy Birthday Beth! What a beautifully written post!

  70. Oh Beth, just beautiful – happy day my gorgeous friend x

  71. Oh Beth – beautiful post from a beautiful lady x

  72. Happy Birthday πŸ™‚

  73. Happy birthday Beth!

    Wow.

    You are in a SERIOUSLY good place!

    I love that you can brush off trolls now, & recognise that it is jealousy, & their own feelings of inadequacy.

    Things are going to keep getting better for you, I can feel it in my waters πŸ™‚

    Good things come to happy, confident women xx

  74. Happy Birthday, Beth! You’re a beautiful writer, not surprising as how creative you are with your home and your taste for artistic things. Thank you for sharing your beautiful life to complete strangers yet avid followers like me and still being you! Keep appreciating everything, this way the Universe blesses us with more XX

  75. I felt the same when I turned 35 earlier this year. It’s a great age to be. Happy Birthday!!!

  76. Happy birthday.
    Excuse me, I detect a hint of ‘wise woman’ in this beautiful perspective, no?!
    I’ve heard it’s a sign of that growing up caper – be careful!!
    πŸ™‚ xxx

  77. Happy birthday Beth, hope it’s as gorgeous as you deserve xx

  78. You’re amazing. The way you say exactly how I feel bewilders me. I love it. Your insight and the way you articulate that sends shivers up my spine. Happy birthday, I hope you have a wonderful day full of love and cuddles.

  79. Happy Birthday lovely lady, hope there is champagne chilling in the fridge! x

  80. Happy Birthday. I turned 35-13 days ago and I have to say I’m feeling upbeat about the whole 35 thing. It might just take this long to find out who you are and what is really important to you.

  81. Happy Birthday Beth,

    You are amazing person. I hope you have a wonderful day.

    xxx

  82. Happy Birthday Beth. I hope you had a wonderful day with your fantastic family.
    xxx

  83. Happy birthday to you beth. I’m trying to see life through those beautiful rosy glasses, I’m slowly getting there. slowly.

  84. Happy birthday!
    I trust there is champagne involved…and I hope that gorgeous family of yours is spoiling you!

    And if that beautiful post is a sign of what is to come this year, then I think you have great things heading your way!

  85. Happy Birthday Beth. lovely posts you write. You had me at daphne and I also love the routine, fires and laughter in the days. Anna x

  86. Happy birthday Beth, you have a wonderful life and must feel blessed, you write so eloquently. I turn 40 this year and also feel quite positive as well as introspective. Thank you again for seeming to get us !

  87. Happy Birthday Gorgeous lady. I hope the year ahead brings you everything you dream of and more xxx

  88. Ahhh I love your style Beth, such a glorious post. So humble and inspiring. I can still vaguely recall your 25th/26th birthday… in the office… causing a stir… because that’s what you did on your birthday… can it really be 10 years ago!? Crazy lady I tell you. Happy days lovely xoxo

  89. Happy birthday funny lady.
    You share the same birthday as my boy Joe.
    Hope you had as good a day as he did (-:

  90. We share a birthday – happy happy – mine was mediocre yesterday – with lots of cake. My post was slightly different but at the end of the day I think we’re all grateful for what we have. Lots of love for a beautiful year.

  91. Happy happy! We share a birthday – mine was slightly mediocre yesterday with lots of cake. Having cooked my own dinner, my post I hope was not reflective of me feeling sorry for myself πŸ™‚ Hope your year is beautiful.

  92. Cheers to the next blessed 35, Beth. x

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