Christmas Season Updates, Party, and time to say good bye ~~

It's been a while since I last posted. I have been enjoying this Christmas Season by not getting stressed, and just going with the flow. It's been wonderful. I'm going to be sorry when it's over.   So here's a little of what has been going on....

Almost 2 weeks ago, George, Nicole and I went to pick out our Christmas tree. It was a beautiful day, and we had a great time. Hard to get a shot of the two of them with a bumpy wagon ride!

George putting the last of the ornaments on the tree....

Last Thursday Linda had the Christmas party at the shop. Oh my, what a time we had! During the day it was regular hooking as usual, and some people brought something to work on.

And Nancy P. was working on finishing up her piece.

There was soooo much food. This is just one table. There was another, and yet another with desserts on it!

First time it was quiet that day when everyone sat down to eat lol.

There were guessing games to be played....

Then the 3 gift game. With this game, everyone brings 3 wrapped gifts. And everyone is encouraged NOT to buy anything for this.  It's more of a white elephant. Although, someone's rejects, are someone else's treasures!  Well, some of them lol.  Linda giving instructions.

We each picked 3 numbers, and Linda would call out a number. When your number is called, you go up and pick out a package, but you don't open it.

Once you pick your package, you can swap with someone else if you choose too, or you can keep it.  A lot of sneakiness was going on with this part!  Just look at Joan lol.

Linda spying up a package she wanted..

After all the numbers are called, and swapping done, the packages are opened. No way could I get shots of everyone and everything. so just a sampling.

Here a quilter received a Gorgeous hooked rug from her secret pal! Joan had Barb's name. Barb was so thrilled.

Something to keep Linda warm this Winter from Genny!!

Then there was the last game of the evening. I will not show pictures of the actual game... Too many people, too many shots. But I will be emailing individuals that I did capture on camera playing it.  I wish I could have gotten everyone, but there was so much laughing!  Linda starting to explain the game..

Teams ready for a race ~~   And Let me just say that Everyone had a Great time with this!  It's a given when you play this game, that you use the bathroom first.  It is hysterical.

When one of the teams won, I quickly ran over and told them to call out a number. Betty picked the number I had chosen, and I ran to get her the gift.  You see, Last year, I had this snowman that I gave away for the 3 gift game. THIS year, I got it back. How the heck that happened, from having 20 people and 60 gifts, I'll never know LOL.  Soooo, I  in return gave it as a gift for the last game. No way was I going to look at this snowman for another full year!!  Now Betty has it :)

At the end of the night, we opened our secret pal gifts, and found out who had who.  Joanne had me, and I had Joanne. That was really tough keeping it a secret, but I think we figured it out :).  I read her blog the other day and was laughing so hard at a picture she had of me with the "tree skirt" she gave me.  I had to tease her and tell her that I thought it was a "pancho" and that I wore it to work the other day :). I absolutely LOVE all of my gifts, and she has spoiled me rotten all year long. I can't thank you enough Joanne. Unfortunately like Joanne, I started to place all my items around the house, and never took pictures. I'm really slacking in that area lately. Absent minded really.  Like I said, just going with the flow of the Christmas Season.   We then picked names for next year's secret pal.  We have some new people who have joined in!

I received sooo many beautiful, thoughtful gifts. I can't even name them all. From wool, to ornaments, a magazine subscription, gift card, jewelry, polish pottery,  even a #9 blade (Thank you so very much Linda!). Again, so much to list.  Each and every item is loved and appreciated!  Thank you to everyone!

Today I met up with my friend Beth and we spent the day  wandering around the antique stores, had lunch (with desssert :)) and exchanged our gifts to each other. Thank you Beth for everything. I love them all. I have already set the items out.  Will be dying that wool maybe next week! Beth made me the cutest charm to wear on a chain. It's a scrabble tile with my initial, along with many other sweet items  :).

And now it's time to say good bye.... Not to blogging, but to my Harvest Rug.  It's completed (yes, even has a label).  Time to roll it up until next Fall when I will bring it out and display it.  I am soooooooooooo happy that I can put it to rest, and not have it on the back of my mind that I had to finish it.

I hope everyone is as ready as they can be for Sunday.  We will be celebrating it over my Son's house.  All I have to make is a side dish and one dessert. How cool is that?  George's Birthday is Christmas Eve, and it will just be him and I.  I will make him a nice dinner, and we will celebrate his Birthday with the kids on Christmas day. I'm looking forward to the weekend to just turn off and relax. 

The Hook in tomorrow is still ON! So if you just want to get out for a little while, head on over!  Last minute gifts to buy? Head on over!