mom time

Last weekend my mom came to visit me. We hung out. It was fun.

She arrived Thursday evening in the midst of snow, but the snow didn't last long. I picked her up at the airport and then we went to the grocery store, where I bought my first big stick of brussel sprouts. Then we came back to my apartment and made this delicious dinner:

The sprouts taste better than they look. Really.

This is brussel sprouts with bacon, avocado, and lime. Who would have thought? I found the recipe here. I also made butternut squash soup with apple and sweet potato.

Friday we ran errands, which included getting me a new pair of glasses. (Which I probably won't wear much because I also got contacts!!! Now I can see when I'm running and at the gym, because I never wear my glasses for those things.) We ate a Mediterranean lunch at Aromas, and we enjoyed a happy hour beer at the C&O. That evening we made dinner at home again (pasta with broccoli and lemon) and watched a movie.

I love the atmosphere at the C&O. Lots of wood and old-timey stuff.

Saturday I went for a ten mile run, then we ate lunch at the Whiskey Jar. I had a delicious beet salad and mac & cheese. Then we walked around the downtown mall a little before heading to Richmond. In Richmond we visited with Grandpa, then went out for dinner with the rest of the family before enjoying Sunni's dance performance at school. Then we drove back to Charlottesville.

Sunday we slept in, then drove west and visited a few wineries near the Blue Ridge Mountains. We liked the wines at Cardinal Point the best, enjoyed the atmosphere (and a cheese plate) at Veritas, and felt a little "eh" about Afton Mountain, though the girl who did our tasting was nice. After all that excitement we needed a nap, and then we ate dinner at Mono Loco.

Monday I ran six miles and we ran a few more errands, then we ate lunch at Revolutionary Soup and went next door to see Silver Linings Playbook. I liked it. After that we drove back to Richmond and went out with family for pho. I love pho. We spent the night in Richmond that night, and I left the next morning to get to work in Charlottesville.

I saw mom again one more time though, because I went back to Richmond Wednesday after work. Wednesday was also pie day. That morning I woke up really early, made a pie, ran eight miles in 14-degree weather, and then went to work. There were nine dessert pies and two savory pies, and I tried some of all of them.

My pie.

When I got to Richmond I ate some leftover dinner and watched TV with mom and my aunt. The next morning there was snow, so I hung out longer than I had planned and read a book. Then mom headed off to the airport to fly home and I came back to Charlottesville.

I'm glad mom got to come hang out. It was nice.