A little Mt. Holyoke Reunion of sorts on the UWS

I recently got a pleasantly surprising phone call from a college friend of mine that another college friend is in town from  London. I was invited for brunch.
When I heard the location- Elizabeth's Neighborhood Table @ 680 Columbus Ave, I thought, hm, that will be just one of those snobby lacking character places.
I was wrong.
Elizabeth's is charming, impeccably designed, airy and colorful. Oh, ok, it does have some of the "snuffiness" that comes with the Upper West Side, but there is nothing one can do about that.

Once you approach it, you are surprised by the roomy southern veranda style outdoor seating. Architecturally speaking, the language changes abruptly from grey, formal, urban (the sidewalk) to warm, white, homey, artsy- the restaurant. A vacation for the eyes, if you ask me. The brunch was very simple and delicious. I believe the mimosa had something to ask for in terms of freshness, but I am not

one to think too much of that.
Above all, it was sweet to see these women that I went to school with.
They are all incredibly smart and incredibly successful

and my current status as an adventurous mama and homesteader was well... unimpressive compared to the Harvard degrees and manager positions.
But the interesting thing was that I felt ok with that. As the only mom in the group, I was asked the question "so you play a lot all day, ha?".
You see, the answer can really vary. Yes and No. I play with dishes, and diapers and soiled clothes and kefir and kiselo mljako. But I also, in the rare moments of time slowing

down and me being able to take a breath and look at the precious inquisitive face of the little one, play.
Yes, I do. We do. We draw, we play catch, we stir the kefir, we make a huge mass, we giggle...
The humbleness and simplicity that has come with raising a child and being home has thought me much more about who I am than any other experience that I have ever had. And so, I thank God for making me a woman and gifting me with the best gift there is- that of motherhood.
And so, one day with a real smiley wink, I hope to ask these then mothers- "So, how is that playing going?".
By the way, I look kinda fat in the photo. It must have been the bacon in my "Hen House" brunch dish.
Thumbs up for the creative dish names!