My Mother’s Favorites List

My mom’s the best! So, here at Mother’s Day, I’ve posted a few of her favorites, from books to trips to what her perfect day would look like.

She’s a woman over fifty who is a fabulous example of remaining actively engaged with life. You can’t believe what all she’s done and is doing.

I’m not exaggerating when I sing her praises. She has a strong faith, has overcome major difficulties, and manages to keep a positive attitude no matter what. (Okay, she occasionally stops smiling–but only for a hot minute.) She is extraordinarily gifted as an artist–her portrait work is amazing. She is funny, smart, encouraging, enthusiastic, kind, and insightful. I’ve always thought she was beautiful. And she makes a mean loaf of sourdough bread.

Lest you think I don’t have a clear view of her, I’ll tell you something she’s not good at. She cannot sing. It’s painful. Hey, just keeping it real.

Now, wouldn’t you like to know her?

I thought so!

I give a lot of weight to what my mom likes, because as I mentioned, she’s smart and insightful. So, I asked her what some of her favorite things are.

She very cooperatively (she can be stubborn and has the occasional smart mouth–forgot to mention that with her singing skills) answered all of my questions.

1. Paris! I can vouch for that because KB1 and I went with her and Dad. It was perfect. Except for that part when I almost killed them by marching them up Montmartre. But, they lived, so…
2. Italy. They went on to travel through Italy after being in Paris with us for ten days. (We had to go home. Wah-wah.)
3. Our 40-60-80 trip to San Francisco. My grandmother, Mom, and I flew to that beautiful city to celebrate our milestone birthdays. What a treasured memory! In 2020, we tried to take a 60-80 trip but the stupid Pandemic spoiled our plans
4. Nova Scotia
5. Alaskan cruise
6. The National Parks in Utah (Bryce Canyon especially!)
7. A train ride through the Rocky Mountains that included the Calgary Stampede, Jasper, and Vancouver.
8. Wales and England
9. Hawaii
10. California coast then across Mohave desert to Las Vegas. (90 miles an hour all the way, according to Dad.)
11. Cozumel and Yukatan Mexico

We loved the food in Paris. As for the notoriously rude waiters, we found them friendly. And flirty.

Mom and Tallulah Tulie Boom-Boom Dodson

Her favorite day

A perfect day for my mom would look like this…

1. It’s rainy (although she doesn’t look too miserable in this picture.)
2. She paints, reads, AND watches movies.
3. She talks to her kids
4. Her meals are all delivered & she doesn’t have to make the decision about from where or what to order.
5. Tulie, her beloved schih tzu, is by her side looking adorably ornery. It’s not lost on me that she wants the dog by her side, but will settle for just talking to me and my brother. 

Her Favorite Recipes

1. Sourdough Bread
2. Sourdough Cinnamon Rolls
3. Raisin-Cinnamon Sourdough Bread
4. Cranberry-Orange Sourdough Bread
5. Eight-Seed Sourdough Bread

Are you getting the picture? She hates to cook, but loves breadmaking! Stay tuned, because she gave me permission to share her favorite sourdough bread recipe in a future post!

I blame my mother for my carb addiction. I mean, who can resist a loaf of warm, homemade bread??