Bunco Christmas

Last night was our Christmas Bunco Party~such a wonderful time of fun, food, and friendship! It was a doozy...sooooo much fun and laughter! We have been together close to fifteen (maybe more) years and have such a blast with each other.

Linda, Ellen and Karen~

Annetta, Carol and Lydia~

 Elise, Nancy, Deb and Cher~

Lydia and myself~

Deb and Nancy were the hostesses for the evening and did a fabulous job! The main theme of the night was "A Minute to Win It" and I must say, that all of these ladies are VERY competitive!

First thing on the agenda, however, was a lovely Christmas Fashion Show, featuring Miss Deb.
Isn't she darling?

Nancy gave a lovely description of all she was wearing and doing, how she celebrates her holiday, etc...

Later, we had to guess what she wore, or revealed and write them all down. There were two winners to this game and I'm so thankful I was one of them...because there was a lot of work to the rest of the evening (and a little humiliation?!). I received a lovely prize and then got to watch the others compete for the remaining prizes.

The first competitors did a little warming up before competing...

Karen and Ellen had to toss marshmallows into a wreath-lined bucket...

Notice the intense concentration!

Ellen was the winner of that game!

Then it was time to thread the spool on the candy cane...

And after that, a little tree decorating, sans hands!

More ornaments on the clothes and jewelry than on the tree!

Puzzle assembly with Nancy and Annetta...


And the grand finale...trying to open the incredibly, difficult, wrapped packages...while wearing big, bulky, ski mittens.

Lydia has obviously played this game before...she ROCKED this game and got most of the prizes. There was no mercy with this girl!!

You got to keep the package until someone rolled doubles with the dice.

I kid you not, when I say that I NEVER got both mittens on before someone rolled doubles. Not one time. Nada.

Deb and Nancy put on a lovely spread of yummy appetizers, desserts and beverages.

Such a fun and wonderful evening! I'm totally stealing all of these ideas for Christmas!!!

Turkey FAIL!!!

I host Thanksgiving every few years, and while it can be a bit stressful, I actually enjoy hosting. I've been married almost 30 years and have never had a problem...until this year!

My son, daughter and her fiance' all work retail so the day after Thanksgiving is not a day off for them. Traveling around doesn't work as they need sleep and to be at their jobs quite early, or late, or mid-day...all three this year! Brady had to be at work before 3 a.m., Ashleigh started around 9 a.m., and while Tyler didn't work til later, he did have to work until 7 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day. So, Brian and I stayed put this year and hosted Thanksgiving at our house. We invited Brady's mom and sister to join us.

I did a lot of work before hand, and even had most of the house decorated for Christmas. Things were clean and put away...really only had to heat things in the oven and cook the turkey. I like to use those big, electric roaster ovens to do my turkey in, which frees up the regular oven for everything else. They cook things really nicely and in a little less time than the conventional oven.

 

I have two of these roasters and LOVE them...except for this time!

Just before our guests arrived, I noticed that the little red display was no longer showing! Turkey was pretty much raw! What's a girl to do????? Laugh, and laugh some more...we were making memories after all, so they may as well be substantial, right?

Brian ran to the store (thank goodness they were open!) and picked up some of these...

a roasted chicken and a roasted turkey breast! I carved them up and put them on a platter, made gravy from a package and called it good! There were lots of other delightful delectables to round out the table, so all was right with the world!

We had a great time with Brady's family and now we'll be able to say, at future Thanksgiving's, "remember the year the turkey didn't cook?!

 On to Christmas...think I'll do a ham in the oven!

Help!

All of a sudden I can't load pictures on my blog...picasa says it's full and I have to purchase more storage. However, my storage says I'm only using 22%. I've seen a few other blogger's having the same problem.
Can't seem to contact anyone directly. Anyone know of a fix? It also says if I delete any pictures from picasa that they will disappear from my blog.

What's up with that????

Any help would be appreciated!

And the Tradition Continues~

Pie Party 2012  is over and done with, but the memories linger forever! I am so blessed to count these lovely ladies as my friends. We do our annual Farm Chick trip together and also Lynda's annual pie party. You can see our previous parties here and here, and also here. Lynda was made to host parties as she is the very best!!!

As usual, the table setting was divine! Those little gingham napkins and the lovely gift awaiting each of us!

A gloriously set table~

And the dearest of friends~Karen, Lynda and Terry.

There was a delicious sausage, potato soup, homemade rolls and a wonderful salad...not many leftovers!

There is much laughter...and a few tears, as our hearts are always sharing~

Miss Terry brought me a lovely, little gift~

The most adorable Hallmark ornament ever made!

Can't wait to put it on my tree! Still dreaming about the full sized addition!

We played a rousing game of Autumn Pictionary!

Isn't Lynda adorable?!!!

Karen was the winner and went home with a lovely prize!

As we do every year, we all brought pie...isn't this just the best party idea?! Terry and I thought alike and brought Rustic Apple pies...I used the Pioneer Woman's recipe from her cookbook. Terry's had a little "accident" on the way in, but tasted delicious. Karen made a fabulous Blackberry Pie, and Lynda made a "to die for" Butterscotch Meringue Pie, Everything was so YUMMY!! We all share and take home some of everyone else's pies.

 We all worked on our traditional fall stitcherie's that Lynda put together, but I forgot to take a picture of that. Instead I took one of what Lynda is working on now. Isn't it cute? I want to make it too! 

Thank you Lynda, for bringing us together once again. This is such a fun tradition...one we look forward too all year!

I'm so thankful for dear friends!
Happy Thanksgiving!

It's been a busy few weeks! A little vacation, some work, lots of yard work (still mowing my lawn :(), and just catching up on things. I took a little time out on Friday to go to the Funky Junk show with some friends. I'll post about the show later, but wanted you to see this adorable, little, vintage trailer. I've seen it on Pinterest, but seeing it up close and all decked out for the holidays was so much better!
I don't know who owns the trailer...no one around and no information on it. Whoever it is is one lucky lady (or man)!!!

If I had a trailer I think I'd want this one...and always decorated for Christmas! Wouldn't that be fun?!!

Come on in!

I love that bunting, and the tins, and the snowman and the H...it's for Holly, you know!

Didn't have the courage to ask everyone to leave, so I waited patiently to get the best pictures!

That little mitten pillow and the lovely quilts were adorable~

And this table setting? pour me a cup please!! Look closely on top of the radio, at the little trailer ornament. Looks just like the real thing!

I collect old varsity letters and have planning to make pillows for quite some time. I'm good at that. The planning. Nothing else, just the planning!

And those who know me know I have a love of old thermos's too! Don't you love that lamp?

I could have pulled this one straight home, just the way it was!

Christmas...It's Coming!

Christmas is less than two months away...WOW! Where has the time gone? Here in the PNW we were blessed with an amazing summer and fall, over 80 days without rain. But the weather has turned. It's cold, blustery and rainy. And...I love it!!! Bring it on!

While Costco had their Christmas stuff out in August (wayyyyy tooooo early!), the stores in town are just starting to decorate. What is it about white twinkle lights that bring such a smile to my face?

I had the wonderful privilege of helping out a wonderful group of ladies at one of my favorite stores, Grandiflora. LaVon and Trish and their staff always have the most wonderful things and the most gorgeous displays! Eye candy everywhere!

I have hinted since last Christmas, that I would love to help them this year, doing ANYTHING! I think I finally wore them down, because I got the call! The call to come to the store during the transition to Christmas, and help. Oh Happy Day!!!!! My job was to unpack boxes and get everything out and organized so the girls could grab and decorate. I have to admit, it was a heady experience! These women have such a vision and the finished look is outstanding!.

Soooo...once again I have a plethora of pictures! But you don't want to miss anything! Put on some Christmas music and get in the mood! Christmas is coming!!!!

I can't even begin to guess the amount of boxes I opened...400? 500? This is but a few of them and they were all filled with tons of boxes of ornaments and goodies!

While I was unpacking, the other ladies were moving furniture, setting up trees, moving more furniture, and then moving it again! They have a vision and  know what they're looking for! Meanwhile, I was squealing with delight with each new box I opened!

Putting everything out so it could be easily seen!

Happy Girl!!! Just call me Holiday Holly! (Okay, please don't!)

LaVon working her magic!

I love this mirror behind the tree...wait til you see it all decorated!!

Yesterday I went back to the store to see how they put everything together. One word.....AMAZING!!

See what I mean? So sparkly!

I love this little flocked tree. LOVE.

and these yarn balls. LOVE.

Why, hello Mr. Vintage Santa!

This little guy is so cute!!

Loving the grey, red and cream...so warm and inviting!

I don't like owls or birds...or I didn't...but I'm starting to sway! This owl is pretty cute!!! And the birds? Overstuffed adorableness!!!

 I had sooo much fun!!!! I get to go back next week and start unpacking for the downstairs!!!! If you're in the area, head on over to Grandiflora, so you can see it for yourself! Things are already flying out of the store!