Our Fancy Ladies-who-Lunch

The MDF (My Drinking Friends)get together every week for lunch. Last year, we lost Carol (pancreatic cancer) -- so now it's just the four of us.

Me, Sue, Sandy and Evie. A coupla weeks ago -- we had lunch at Sandy's house...(she is our ringleader).

On that day, Evie announced she wasn't going to cook any more (no news to anybody). But she wanted to take us all out for lunch. To a fancy place. We accepted her invitation -- and we picked Rastrelli's in Clinton, Iowa. At the time, I didn't know I'd have Lilly and Warren all week...

Evie said, BRING THEM ALONG...so, rather than tap-out, I decided to take Lilly -- and leave Warren with my sister Ronda.

When it comes to clothes, Lilly is a conundrum. As much as she LOVES buying clothes at the Goodwill store -- she really doesn't care much about what she's wearing. She often centers on just one thing....and wears it over and over again.

This summer -- that one thing was an oversized "NASA" t-shirt.

If she had her own way, she'd wear it, then sleep in it, then wear it again...day after day...

So, imagine how delighted I was when she actually got EXCITED ABOUT DRESSING UP for our special, fancy MDF luncheon.

The night before, she washed her hair and put it in dozens of tiny braids (so it would be kinky). Then, in the morning, she went down to the basement and started trying different combinations. I wish I had taken pictures. She pranced around for well over an hour...first, there was a long black skirt (which she pulled up to make it a dress)...then, a summer dress with a high low hemline...various combinations of jackets and blouses...

The gem she dug out has been in my basement for at least 15 years. It's a vintage sequin skirt -- with a city scape. It might have been made before the invention of zippers...because it had a very interesting double waistband. The back half the skirt came around and closed with hooks and eyes...then, the front of the skirt wrapped around and tied in the back. INGENIUS..!!

She also picked out MY outfit. (I haven't worn this dress for years -- but it did match my pedicure!)

We looked GREAT...

Lilly even did a twirl to show off her spectacular outfit.

THEN, she was the camp photographer -- taking a picture of our little group.

It was so nice to get dressed up and GO OUT with the girls.

We had such a nice time. The food was DELICIOUS. Rastrelli's is an old-fashioned, family owned Italian restaurant in Clinton, Iowa. And if you're ever in the neighborhood -- YOU MUST EAT THERE. They bake their own bread every day, and then make a bread pudding out of the leftovers. I think one of the best things there is the salad bar. Which, I was delighted to see, was open once again. Everything is unique and wonderful...there's a chicken salad (with grapes), their coleslaw is one of my favorites, and their macaroni salad has a muffaletta flavor to it.

Lilly seemed to enjoy this old-lady lunch...and, altho she mostly listened -- when she decided to contribute to the conversation, my friends all encouraged her, and kept telling her how grown-up she was, and they couldn't believe she was only 11 years old...and wasn't she AMAZING??  And sooo beautiful...

It was definitely a highlight of the week.  I hope Lilly has many other occasions when she can wear that skirt..

Really.  I'm gonna take some close-up pictures.  We should name it...