Swedish Pancake Cake (and the joy of getting older)

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Swedish Pancake Cake

I just had a birthday.

Another year gone where I have taken breath, a breath that has been held while diving into the oceans, a breath that can hasten while riding up steep hills on a bike. A breath that can sing songs with my kids for no other reason than it feels good to sing with them. That same breath that has been granted to me, just got to blow out a candle that signified another year passed, and for that I’m incredibly grateful.

I don’t begrudge the late thirties grey hairs, I don’t shower hate on the lined page on which I write my age. I love that I am here. I could easily not be.

With my accrued numbers, I’ve played, learnt wonderful new things, talked deep into the night, eaten dishes that have delighted the taste buds, sobbed entire afternoons away, drunk deep weekend coffees in my favourite cup, had three kids that have pushed me to dizzy limits I didn’t know existed, while they’ve also exploded my heart with delirious happiness and exquisite divine love.

All of these, along with 68790 daily other things have helped create the evolving lucky layered person I am today.

Luck yes. I do feel lucky to be here as so many people who wanted to be, simply aren’t. To be able to age it’s a wonderful and curious thing. So how does it feel to be in my late 30’s?

Well at this age, choices can be contemplated and ideas are challenged, (and I love that.)

At this age I’ve got a fair idea of what I like, and what I don’t like, (which makes things a hell of a lot easier.)

At this age, I know what my body needs and what it doesn’t, (I just have to make sure that I listen.)

At this age, it feels far more confident than 28 ever did, (and hooray to that I say!)

Now I know at whatever number my age may sit, there will always be an endless supply of curiosities to discover, of thoughts to think, and of a diverse array of people to learn from. And with the time that I’m granted? Well I intend to go seek out as many of them as possible, until that simple act of getting older, well it just isn’t an option any longer.

swedish pancake cake 1 || cityhippyfarmgirl

A Swedish Pancake Cake seemed like a sensible idea to celebrate another year gone by. 

This was the first time I had made one, and I’m quietly hooked. Layered, pancakes, berries, no sugar and a second slice yes please.

Swedish Pancake Cake

What you’ll need:

your favourite pancake/crepe recipe (keep them fairly thin and then build them up)

mascarpone and cream whipped together with some vanilla and honey to sweeten

mixed berries

and some extra honey drizzled over the top

33 thoughts on “Swedish Pancake Cake (and the joy of getting older)”

  1. Well spoken Brydie! (as always!!!). Know that “in your age” you are an inspiration to others too. You can put that on your list as well. Have a great sunday, Irene

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  2. The most magical part of getting older is the discovery that you’ve made — each year is better than the last no matter the events that it contains. Evolving is an incredible gift.

    Happy late thirties dear girl. x

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  3. Happiest of Birthdays to you Brydie! Lovely post, as always, and your photo is just beautiful. As we speak there is a large bowl of pancake batter resting on the bench (Sunday morning ritual) – I wonder if I can convince the boys to wait while I layer the entire family stack of pancakes?

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  5. Happy birthday dearest Brydie. Oh my, your Swedish birthday pancake cake is so beautiful. Wise words, blessings and gratefulness. What a wonderful time it is in our lives to have freedom of thought, healthy children and live in a democratic country. I look forward ‘growing old’ with you in this space. xx

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  12. Happy birthday Ms Cityhippyfarmgirl. Age is a number and maths is puzzling at the best of times. I hope you had a splendiferous day. If that cake is anything to go by, you did 🙂

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    • How can that be so? A celebratory cup of tea, a few strewn flowers on a bench top, well wishes from loved ones, ten minutes extra sitting down and reading? It doesn’t need to be much, but celebrating, yep, needs to be done I think.

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  14. happy birthday – beautiful cake – thanks for sharing the joy of ageing – great to celebrate ageing – I sort of like seeing a few greys hairs on my head and wonder how I will feel when they take over – it is one of the nice things about not dying my hair that I see them creep up gently.

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  16. Happy birthday, Brydie. That’s a stunning cake and you certainly do have a good attitude to ageing – although if only I could be your age, I’d have an excellent attitude towards ageing too! xx

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  17. I think I needed to read this. You, your beautiful words, your ability to acknowledge and appreciate. So beautiful and wise. I’m struggling with age at the moment. I think it’s because I’ve just lost my job, we’re in financial uncertainty, we don’t know whether to take the leap and have kids or not (mostly because of the financial stuff, that felt ok in my late 20’s but now I’ve officially passed 30 +1 I’m getting a bit stressed) and we’ve got a million creative projects swimming in our heads that haven’t been acted upon. Argh. I guess I’m still locked onto the idea that age should equal achievement, security, clarity in one’s life path. We don’t have any of that, I feel just as in flux as I was five years ago. But hey, I need to breathe. To sit, reflect and love the good, bad and poignant moments of all the years that I’m experiencing. Thanks for giving me a bit of balanced reality Brydie, you’re beautiful – I have always appreciated you, your words and your generous spirit xxx

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    • Laura, let’s have a coffee and sort each other’s trials out…yep I’d love that. Meet you in the middle?
      Until then…losing your job is hard, there’s no denying that one, as you didn’t choose it. Whenever I’ve come up against a problem lately I’ve tried to attach the permaculture saying…”The problem is the solution”. Most of the time, it’s worked in some way, I’ve just needed to look at things differently. I would never be so presumptuous to say that’s what you need to do, financial security is a huge one, but if it helps, grab those little words and hold tight lovely.
      A million creative endeavours sounds awesome and if you are that way inclined, lady they are never going to disappear, you’ll be 80 and still have a long line of a to do list. Having clarity in life I’ve decided depends on the person. I always thought you should have known what you wanted to do in life by your early 20’s and then from then on in, should be acting on it. Now, I think I’d much rather experience life as it jumps up, and opportunities open themselves to me. I have an incredible amount of respect to the person that takes a chance, follows a dream, finds a new passion and generally curates a life long curiosity for what’s in front of them and is willing to jump in….(now not sure if I’m sounding waffly or ranty here.)
      In a nutshell, I reckon, yep acknowledge the crapness of losing your job, no point in denying that, but how can it work for you? Maybe this just might be the space you need to rejig things a little? Sending lots of goodness to you. x

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      • Love all of this. And yes, totally – it’s an opportunity for thought and change, creativity and (hopefully) restoration. Although I definitely acknowledge the job loss wasn’t related to my performance (but rather, economic issues in the department I was working in) it still knocks my security and confidence. Love that permaculture saying – I’m going to remember that. Thanks for taking the time to write Brydie, wish that we could schedule that coffee date. One day. Goodness right back at’cha! xx

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