Last Saturday was the annual Mother/Daughter day for my mom's side of my family. It's an informal thing really. We usually pick a place to go out to eat in the Keene, New Hampshire area and then sit around and catch up for about three to four hours.

This year we ate at the Colony Mill Marketplace located on West Street in Keene. The Marketplace is a building that was originally built in 1838 by the Faulkner and Colony families to house their new business - the Faulkner and Colony Woolen Mill. The mill produced material for the Union troops of the Civil War and for the Allied forces of World Wars I and II, and was as for civilians. In 1953 the mill closed its doors.

In 1983, the mill building was restored and transformed into a regional marketplace by a Keene native, Emile J. Legere.

At the Colony Mill Marketplace you will find all sorts of shops - clothing for everyone in the family, shoes, accessories, jewelry, sporting goods, home entertainment, toys, books, magazine, unique New England items, homemade candies (Yum!).

There is the Antique Center where people have put their items up for sale. There are lots of antiques and collectibles here to look at even if you are not buying.

My aunts, cousin, and I ate at the Food Court. Now this isn't a typical mall-type food court. It's like a deli or lunchonette. You can get soups, salads, sandwiches, bagels, and some absolutely decadent deserts here. We sat in the atrium where the sun simply pours into the dining area and we were treated to an older gentleman playing the piano.

If you are in the Keene, New Hampshire area be sure to visit the marketplace.