I uploaded these photos early Thursday, planning to write the text the next morning before our visiting family woke. No time for a Five Things Friday, but I thought I could manage a quick What I Wore featuring my version of a Fall Outfit, Over-60 Street Casual. Those are my Vince jeans –I’m loving the comfort and neat line of the high waist, their just-funky-enough sturdy denim, the precise width of legs, that cropped raw edge. I know very well they’re not conventionally flattering, but from the inside out, I feel as if they say something about me that I’m pretty happy to own, if that makes sense. . . And I’m quite confident that this will continue to be the case for the next few years, which is important to me. . . .
Ditto my new shoes, the MOMA laceless oxfords you’ve seen here before. And the shirt is J.Crew, silk, which I’ve had for over four years (see how well it’s earned its keep: I posted outfits with it here and here)
For my Friday morning post, I had also uploaded photos of my just-completed poncho.
For interested knitters, the pattern is Michelle Wang’s Vale poncho. (I haven’t uploaded this project to Ravelry yet, but will do soon.)
I’d even had Pater snap one as we walked to Skytrain. . . .
And I was going to write all this yesterday morning, early, and post as I usually do on a Friday.
But a Thursday evening email from Creative Mornings Vancouver scrambled those plans, advising that my fingers-crossed registration on the waitlist for a Friday morning event featuring Shoe Designer John Fluevog had scored me a last-minute seat. The breakfast event has an 8:30 a.m. start, so I’m afraid I abandoned all of you in favour of
And I’m sorry to report that . . . it was absolutely worth it!!
Besides the talk itself — lively and inspiring — was the chance to mingle a bit beforehand (reassuring to find I can still do the solo social thing in a big new room), and to do that mingling in a creative (and, let’s be honest) younger crowd than I’ve had a chance to mix with much since I’ve left the university (I love my age peers, yes I do, but I also value diversity and as Eleonore points out in the comments here, it can be harder to come by post-retirement).
After the talk, we mixed it up a bit in the audience in some directed discussion (first in twos, then fours, then eights — I’ve had my students do this often enough; fun to be on the other side).
Another major bonus was re-connecting with a friend I haven’t seen for a few months. A friend who suggested we go for coffee after and introduced me to a new bakery-café.
You wouldn’t have begrudged me this, right?
Purebread Bakery, on West Hastings, Gastown, Vancouver, if you’re ever looking for Delicious, a fewblocks from downtown. . . .You’re welcome. . . .
I got home from that outing feeling so positive about City Life and about making social connections here, gradually. . . . And I was just in time to send a young couple out for lunch without their Two. She and I played, napped, and then her parents popped back, grabbed their bags and their Little and headed off to their ferry. In their wake, the condo feels quite blissfully quiet and spacious, the teeny temptation to melancholy having been banished by the knowledge that we’re really not so far apart at all. . . .
So instead of the usual Friday post, I give you a Stretched-out-on-Saturday post. . . . Now it’s time for the gym, unless I decide to breakfast first (those photos of the baking have made me a bit hungry!).
What have you lined up for the weekend? And I’d love to know if you have a Creative Morningschapter in your city and especially if you’ve ever attended an event. Or anything similar, just to try something new. . .
That bakery looks delicious! I looked at Creative Mornings and signed up for information about upcoming events. Your poncho is great for this time of year. I'm just doing laundry and a bit of cleaning and reading today. Perhaps a walk and coffee with a friend this afternoon.
Hope your weekend was good — being back at work, you'll need that time to catch up on domestic life and just recharge. . .
Mater, Love that poncho! very flattering. As a knitter I find it is not always easy to have a good match with pattern and yarn selection, but this looks like a real keeper. Kris from Courtenay
It's true! Sometimes the pattern looks good on paper but not so much once knit up in the yarn we choose. I'm pleased with this one, thanks!
Love the poncho, my that looks like a complicated pattern. Creative mornings sound great especially the time to network too. So important. I’ve been networking with old colleagues this morning. Don’t think I stopped laughing for two hours!
I’d definitely breakfast first especially after looking at those fabulous bakery pictures. Enjoy the rest of your weekend. B x
The pattern is complicated. Not difficult, but complicated, so that I couldn't really watch TV while knitting, as is my preference.
I'm just imagining the endorphins released from all that laughter — much healthier than the bakery endorphins! 😉
… 🙂 glad to make the baked goods connections, and lovely to meet up. A lovely coincidence and it brightened the end of my week
Wasn't it fun?!
Delicious bakery and a very nice poncho!
Creative Mornings seem very interesting and look like a nice event to socialize. Who organizes them?
We don't have something like that
Have a lovely weekend
Greetings from Vienna-love this city!!!
I've just visited Raphael's exibition in Albertina( together with a piece of Sacher cake in Sacher hotel afterwards)
Dottoressa
You're in Vienna! Wonderful weekend, I'm sure! Say hello to your son from Paul and me.
Those meringues…
IK, R?!!!
oh the meringues!! and I love the poncho
Thanks!
I love your shirt. The combination of navy and white is my absolute favourite.
I never wear ponchos, all shades of brown are on my do-not-even-consider-it-list, and I can't stand wool close to my neck. BUT: your poncho looks absolutely fabulous on you, especially on the outdoor picture. And I admire those cables.
The display of delicious things looks so tempting that I am quite grateful they are only photographs and the real thing is on the other side of the globe, because I just decided to cut down a bit on sugar before the pre-christmas gluttony sets on.
I haven't worn ponchos either, but I wanted to knit a rich cabled pattern and I didn't think I'd end up wearing a heavy sweater. . .
Cutting down on sugar pre-Christmas is a smart idea. . . . good for you!
Sounds like a wonderful morning. I haven't heard of "Creative Mornings." I wonder if they exist here? My buddy would have been so excited to hear John Fleuvog…she adores his shoes. I think you own some Fleuvogs, don't you?
What did you order with your coffee??? I'd have stood there for an hour trying to decide. Everything looks so tempting!
Stu made blueberry pancakes for our late breakfast this morning. With Greek yogurt and maple syrup drizzled over them… I may have to have a nap, now:)
I just checked and there is a Creative Mornings happening in Ottawa — you might check it out. As for the Fluevogs, ah yes, I've owned some (as in, at least ten pair)
I ordered an apple tart, and now I'm keen to get back and try something else.
The poncho is beautiful! If it were mine I would wear it a lot!
Comfort is so important especially in jeans…I prefer a high waist and cannot stand anything too tight…your Vince jeans look like they are a comfy style.
John Fleuvog re-opened his shop here in Victoria where it all started and it is much bigger and in the trendy Lo Jo area of town…I walked by yesterday and glanced in the window but did not go inside as I had just purchased a new dishwasher.
He actually started here in Vancouver, partnering up with Peter Fox to open Fox and Fluevog, and apparently that was what the Victoria store was an extension of. Fluevog Shoes itself began in the 1980s. . . I love that Lower Johnston area of downtown Victoria — you have so many great shops there. Dishwashers are much less fun to buy, but I wouldn't want to go without one!
Where to start? I looove your poncho, handmade always outshines store-bought, and your street casual. The sturdy denims are great. That looks like a great Creative Morning talk. I met John Fluevog recently, a very engaging man. And Purebread, yeah, huuuuge fan. Each item is meal-sized!! So good.
He was certainly very engaging at the Creative Morning event — I'm guessing you met him at the Silver Style event.
Beautiful poncho. So wearable. I just love when something you make yourself turns out like that.
It's so great when the knitting turns into a wearable garment the knitter (me!!) loves, right? It doesn't always happen. . .