Belated Mother's Day trip - Milwaukee for Memorial weekend

My mom, mother-in-law, Lois, and often one or another of the girls and I have made a tradition of spending the friday before Mother's Day together for the last nearly 10 years or so. We go to the same restaurant, eat at the same table look at the same view over wonderful conversation and then maybe do some shopping. Since my work schedule last year meant we missed the date, I suggested a special road trip this year. A weekend in Milwaukee to see a special exhibit of american quilts and visit with my friend Anne (with an "E"). Originally, it was to have been the three of us and Gregg, but because of his gall bladder surgery last week, he was not able to come along for this trip.


We took the Lake Express across lake michigan and couldn't have asked for a better day. Beautiful weather and calm seas. Anne met us at the pier and kindly became our tour guide for the duration of the trip.

We stayed at the Ambassador Hotel which is on the edge of Marquette University's campus. This hotel has free shuttle service and we could have used it to go anywhere in town with a pick-up and return to the hotel. Lois and I did use it for a short shopping expedition into the 3rd Ward district on Friday evening.


Saturday, Anne picked us up and we arrived at the Milwaukee Art Museum just after it opened. A helpful employee promptly directed us to the Baumgartner pavilion where the quilts were on display. He seemed duly impressed to be in the presence of an actual Baumgartner! The photo above is our arrival in the main entrance as everyone stood amazedly looking up at the atrium. The museum is spectacularly designed!

We thoroughly enjoyed the quilts and then viewed the special Raphael painting, "Women with veil". I love historical novels and have read many set in the same era as this magnificent painting. So it was a special treat to see the Raphael too. A must do stop in the gift shop and then it was time for a quick cup of tea as we waited for a three masted schooner to pull into the harbor, just south of the museum.

As you can see, the cannoli treat mom ordered as a pre-lunch knosh, was so pretty. But moments later was a cracked and spintered mess as we all shared bites.

Look closely at this photo of Lois, as she suffered some cannoli splatter. Hint: the museum visitor decal did not originally include ricotta and chocolate.


As every Baumgartner woman knows, the bosom is meant to catch meal-time spillage, and ALWAYS results in an embarrasing wet spot as we try to clean ourselves up. Lois clearly displayed the scandinavian talent for precision and efficiency even in snack time splatter.

Tired feet and a 1:30 lunch reservation at Mader's german restaurant to meet Anne's husband, Bob, meant that we only had time for a quick drive over to the discovery center to peak at the schooner.

An octopus kite at Milwaukee's veteran's park. One of many, many kites flying during the grand launch at this memorial day kite event.

Anne drove us a bit north along the parkway to see the great public parks and beaches all along the lake shore. It was like a mini-chicago-lakeshore drive....only better! No lack of entertainment there and wonderful to see all the mansions and high-rise condos just off the causeway looking down over the lakeshore.