I was out of town for my big birthday, vacationing with Dave’s family, so I didn’t spend any time with my own family.  I think my mom was feeling a little sad about that, so I took a day off on Friday to hang out with her.  We don’t have as much time to hang out together anymore. We’re usually getting together for a family reunion, or a weekend getaway with spouses and grandkids, or a holiday event. So I was really looking forward to the day – just the two of us.  

We started out with a sight-seeing excursion to Vogue Fabrics in Chicago. That place is huge! They have a gigantic inventory of every type of fabric imaginable, so we just browsed.  Then we went to Convito Cafe & Market for lunch, which was quite good.  They have a great menu but their deli salads were the best. I recommend it if you’re in the neighborhood.

On our way through Milwaukee, we stopped at the Milwaukee Art Museum, which is always time well spent. I don’t know as much about art as I would like, so it was a fun outing. I discovered two painters I really love:  Ernst Ludwig Kirchner and Kees van Dongen. 

While we were waiting for our enchiladas to bake, we made crullers, our favorite donuts.  My mom is such an expert of all things domestic, so I’m lucky she taught how to cook, bake, and sew.

We watched Cold Mountain, which I have never seen before. I also haven’t read the book, but now I should because it was such fantastic love story that takes place during the civil war.  Have you seen that one yet?  If not, I strongly recommend it. 

She had her house all decorated for the holiday season, making it feel warm and festive.  I took a couple pictures when she wasn’t looking (so she wouldn’t think I was going crazy!).  Here is her beautiful tree:

And the mantel decorated with real greenery:

And her centerpiece in the breakfast nook:

I admire my mom so very much, so I cherish days like that, just the two of us, talking and going out on a field trip and doing domestic things.  Mostly just because we’re together.