A great post, Julia. I look like my father, but with my mother's personality. I thought of the both of them when I looked at myself in the bathroom the other day. At my age, they had already traveled around the world with 3 kids under the age of 8 in tow and settled in the most foreign of places. (I know that's how I got my wanderlust.) I'm such a beginner compared to those two! I'll always look up to them no matter how old they are!

My mother passed away when I was 27 (I'm 47 now) and I seach for signs of myself in pictures of her. I only have to look in the mirror now at my neck to see signs of HER in me!
I'm always surprised when I see myself in pictures because my face is always thinner than what I see in the mirror.

My mother passed away when I was 27 (I'm 47 now) and I seach for signs of myself in pictures of her. I only have to look in the mirror now at my neck to see signs of HER in me!
I'm always surprised when I see myself in pictures because my face is always thinner than what I see in the mirror.

Norma, honey, you are closing in on 25 if you are closing in on anything! You write like the young. But yes, that is exactly what I was getting at. I don't fear the mirror and I am very happy to be just where I am - and knitting to boot!

xox,
J

I'm closing in on 50, and I feel the same way. Something happens at some point, and it's so freeing. I wouldn't have those angst-ridden teens and 20s back for anything. I feel more at peace, more comfortable, and more beautiful now.

Isn't it such a strange thing to grow up and find yourself doing the things that your parents do? In our youth, many of us think that we will never be like our parents -- some of us even fought against it tooth and nail! And yet, as time goes by, we seek out those very same things. The things that tie us to our family and our history and our roots. Love the image of you curled up on your couch with the furkids. And let me tell you, if Kate ever finds herself on the east coast, my door is open -- the Lydem Zoo will welcome that beatiful girl with open arms! I'm going downstairs to curl up with my furry pack for a little Christmas knitting before I have to go tuck in the shelter pups for the night. Thanks for sharing Mishka (lovely!) and for such a lovely post... Sue

This post is so timely for me. My husband and I were just commenting on how we're getting older (mid 50s), yet we still look out at the world with how we felt in our twenties. Only the mirror and our stiffening joints shock use back to the present! :-) I think if you do what you love, don't listen so much to others and follow your own path, you find much happiness and contentment. And I think I've already posted how beautiful you look in Miska. Fabulous!

While I still get carded routinely, when I look in the mirror I do see a different face peering back at me. I'm trying to decide if I like it or not. I know exactly what you mean about feeling much younger than you are... when people ask my age, my first instinct is to say 26. Not because I'm being coy, but because that's how I feel. I also have this problem when people ask my younger brother and sister's ages. I can't believe my brother is 30 and my sister isn't far behind. It's so hard for me to look at them and accept them as grownups!

What an touching, thoughtful post . . . my friend Alexsandra happened to be in my apartment the other day, glimpsed my parents' wedding picture, and exclaimed, "Wow, you look just like your mom!" Having glanced at that photo hundreds of times, but not really LOOKED at it recently, I went back and realized she was right. And that it was a huge compliment, for my mother in that picture was radiant having just married her Prince Charming. She was also nearly 30 -- and looked 20. The power of love!

Am thrilled to have been in your life now, what is it, nearly two decades? Bring on the white hair and laugh lines!

Smoochies!

this is such a lovely post. and your thoughts on age and how we look don't seem old hat to me. i am older than you and yet i feel the same when i look in the mirror - what happened, how did i get this old.

it's interesting what you say too about feeling like your mother. when i was in my mid 30's i went to the house of one of my mom's old friends. she was startled when she answered the door and didn't say anything for a few seconds and then she said, you like just like your mother did at that age. it surprised me.

the hem looks great!! glad you decided on the slip stitch.

DON'T LOOK IN THE MIRROR! Live each day as young as you feel. My 90-year-old grandmother told me she still thinks of herself as 21. Enjoy!

P.S. Yes, still have the yellow ladle. It has a round black chip on the bottom. Used it for soup the other day.

Moxie is my absolute favorite son-in-law for saying I looked good! Of course, I only send out photos that look good. There was another that made me look 50 lbs. overweight (imagine!) - got rid of that one quick. If you want to know how old you are, have children. You know you're getting older when the men start looking at your daughter instead of you. Happened to me when you were 12! All of us are somewhat young and somewhat old inside - and that's a good thing depending on what our needs are at a given moment. This is a knitting blog, so I'll say knit one, purl two no matter what age you are. Love - Mombo

As some one who gets carded even though I am just over the age of 40, I think a lot of it has to do with your mind set. And I actually like myself better now than I did at 17. I figure that I am getting the last laugh on everyone from high school since they all definitely look our true age or older. And I am the one who looks younger. My "baby" brother even looks older than he really is. Again attitude and taking good care of your skin pays off. And sometimes it is hard to recognize parents when they try to change their looks.

It was so neat to hear about you and your mom. Sad in a way though just because it doesn't sound like you get to see her that much. I live about 20 minutes from my mom. Far enough to be away from each other, but close enough to see each other when we are needing a hug.

I love Mishka. It's very beautiful and the hemline is perfect.

This was a great post to start my morning with. It is rather hard to grasp that I'm inching closer toward 40, when I still feel like I just got out of college. I'm thankful for all the experiences (good and not so good) in that time that has made me into the person I am today, but it really doesn't seem like all that time has gone by. I've been thinking about these things too, lately. Must have something to do with our impending birthdays. ;) xo-S.

Beautifully written and you echo my sentiments. I've been working and playing with 'my mothers' hands for about a year now. It amazes me daily that they are truly 'my hands' now. Mishka is so beautiful...can't wait!

I had the same moment about a year or so ago, when I caught myself in the mirror and realized that I looked my age (I'm on the setting side of my 30s too) and was shocked! I have always believed in aging gracefully and embracing your laugh lines and stuff, but suddenly I was like, "Ack! Where's the Restalyne???"

As one who's slipped past 40 but loved her 30's I can definitely relate. Mishka is beautiful, count me in as another who would love to see it published. Thank you for a peaceful start to another day!

Vicki, My dad actually had dark hair, but he is half Irish and blue-eyed, so perhaps there is a connection there? I take after my dad in a lot of my physical characteristics. We have the same fine hair, so I think I have a chance of going white. Here's hoping!

xox, J

Was your dad a redhead? When my redheads were babies, many a white-haired gent (and a few women, but I mostly remember the men) would coo and gurgle to them and then tell me that their hair was just that color when they were young! I talked with a woman once -- kind of strawberry-blonde at the time -- who told me that redheads slowly lose pigment, leaving their hair pure white. I've never verified that, but it makes sense (could almost see it happening on her head), so just wondering...

Beautiful photos, Julia. I'm so glad you'll be releasing Mishka as a self published pattern :) I really need to get off my butt and try for a self published pattern myself.

And I read your comments on getting older with interest. As someone who's at the beginning of her 30s and who still thinks of herself as someone in her 20s, I do sometimes do a double take when I look at myself in the mirror, or when I think about where I want to be in life and where I thought I would be. And I also think that my parents looked younger than me at my age, though in many ways they were more mature - with house and kids firmly in place already.

Thanks for the thoughtful post!

Mishka just looks amazing and is shown off far better now off your vanity ;)

I can entirely relate to your feelings about aging and picking up on mannerisms and habits that one's mother has. In some ways we are so different but then in some fundamental ways (knitters and computer nerds) we are so similar. At some point I realized that there was no benefit in denying myself something I delight in just to try to be unique and now I cherish those things that are like my mom as much as I cherish the ones that are so different. It's like you get to pick and choose :)

I don't think about it often but your post definitely makes me feel all introspective.

Aw, great post! Thanks!

Lovely introspective post. I'm looking forward to when Mishka is released.

Hoolia, that looks adorable in the yellow. although i can't imagine how you managed to stand outside and pose in the cold. heh. kudos to you though!