Love to see Naomi, Josh, and their darling Eleanor every chance I can get! And holding little Eleanor is such a delight. Just like old times, Naomi and I chatted about life over scones and tea. Love and miss her. Also, she just may be the prettiest pregnant girl ever.
Maude. Also known as "the girl" or "girlfriend." She spends the day with me, which I love. She also lets me photograph her, patiently sitting (ha!) while I fumble with f stops and shutter speeds.
I do love those whiskers. And her chirps and chatter. 
On our way back from Milan, we stopped in Lugano to spend the afternoon. Lugano is a lovely Italian-speaking, lake-side town in Switzerland. We ate a delicious pasta lunch and wandered around the town, taking in the lake views and Renaissance frescos.
Milan is a large city, but the public transportation of buses, metros, and cable cars is very easy to navigate. We spent our second day in Milan shopping, eating gelato, and viewing Leonardo da Vinci's Last Supper at the Santa Maria delle Grazie. Based on accounts I had read, I was prepared to be underwhelmed and suspicious of the art restoration (James Beck was my Professor at Columbia), but I loved the experience. Only a small group of people are allowed into the monk's dining hall at a time, and I feel like we had the fresco all to ourselves. It was larger than I expected and beautifully lit. We had a great time in Italy, but in some ways were relieved to cross the border back into Switzerland - no more trash, graffiti, and late trains! But no more gelato...
While in Switzerland, we took a train south to visit Milan, Italy. The Duomo is magnificent. And the best part is they let you wander on top of the roof! Such a wonderful perspective of the architectural detail and city. We spent the rest of our time visiting the famous 19th century Galleria Vittoria Emanuele--which I was excited to see, as I teach the building to my students--and the many wonderful art museums like the Brera and Ambrosiana. I recommend visiting Europe in the fall - you won't have to battle tourists every way you turn!
We went to the Doughnut Plant to try their special holiday doughnuts! The Marzipan Star is amazing.
We read one of Dan's favorite children's books and made chocolate-chip cookies. I had never read The Biggest Bear before. The story and illustrations are so sweet.
