A Pleasant Afternoon

Yesterday I went to lunch with my mom.

It's mid-September and we hadn't made our yearly pilgrimage to The Oaks yet. The Oaks is a little restaurant up Ogden Canyon that we've been frequenting since I was a kid. It was initially just a hole-in-the-wall ice cream stand that we'd beg our dad to stop at on our way home from picnics with campfires at Monte Cristo, at the tippy top of the canyon. Whether caramel, vanilla, or chocolate, mine was always malted.

The restaurant with its original sign:

Later it became a full-fledged restaurant, and it became a destination for my mom and me every year, not just as a place where we could spend time together, but as an homage to those good old days with my dad. When my girls were younger, they'd come along for their out-of-this world hand dipped shakes, and Mark's been a couple of times as well.

But today, it was just the two of us. It was nice to have her all to myself. For it was a beautiful day in the Wasatch, the scrub oaks having been kissed with color, the sky was drunk with blue, and there was just enough chill in the air that to sit in the sun felt delicious.

We got our favorite table, right by the stream:

    Quite a view:

We had, as always, a great chat, catching up with one another on the latest family dramas, her plans for more travel, and the fact that while I am capturing my life through writing in this blog, she captures her life by painting it, each watercolor a memory.

A mother and a daughter, each creating a view of the world in her own way. Each telling her story in different mediums, yet together in a common goal.

And when it was time for me to go home after the long drive down the canyon, I realized how grateful I am that my mom lives nearby, that we have access to one another when we need it, and how lovely it was to connect with her again on such a pleasant afternoon.

Comments

[Nicole]

Mom I want to go to the Oaks again!

[Kristie]

Oh my, your mum is soooo talented. Her paintings are just glorious! the place where you had lunch looks just lovely....I love having my mum to myself too :)

[melanie douthit]

Cath - your mom is so very very talented. Watercolor is one of my favorite mediums. Maybe one day I'll get back to doing it. The photos are great. The restaurant sounds amazing!

[rae]

Your mom is so very talented... what beautiful paintings. So happy to hear that you enjoyed your rendez-vous with your mom... I miss living near my mom :( Although, I was fortunate this summer (during my visit back home) to have had a lunch date with my mom at her favorite crêperie.

[celeste rockwood-jones]

wow, your mother's watercolors are absolutely gorgeous. you've got such a talented family! and the oaks sounds lovely, thanks for the tip!

[Sherry Wright]

Such a wonderful tradition and memories, the view is stunning! Your mother's painting are amazing, what a talent she has. :0)