Wednesday, December 18, 2013

THE GIFT



LAST NIGHT WAS SUCH AN AMAZING NIGHT... Last night seven close friends got together for a wonderful Christmas party.  We had great food, great presents, and GREAT FRIENDS. THE MOST IMPORTANT PART WAS THE FRIENDS.

I think, no I know, that a more talent and amazing group could not be found.  Two of our group couldn't come to the party and I missed them very much.  And they missed quite a good time.

                                  I LOVE THEM ALL.

I don't have pictures of the party girls, we were so excited that we didn't take any, but I have pictures of the gifts they each gave me, that I took this morning.  I got to relive the fun...
                 WELCOME TO THE PARTY.


The party started at 4 pm and It took me until 3:31 to get all of my gifts ready.  I wanted them to be perfect for my friends and of course I waited until the last few days.....so
                      NO TIME TO CLEAN UP.

                                                    
AND YOU HAVEN'T SEEN THE FLOOR

When I work, that's all I do, I don't clean.
So here I am at 3:31.

ON TO THE PRESENTS...

 

                                           

                                        This is how I presented my gifts.  They are always all wrapped the same, but the colors of the ribbons did change to white.  This one is still waiting for Elizabeth.  Elizabeth, we miss you.  Connie we miss you too.


Mom outdid herself on
her presentation.  Each of her gifts had a different gold ornament attached.  She made each of us a special fabric dish and when we asked her how she made them stiff and formed them, she just smiled and told us of a "SPECIAL" interlining.
 Each bowl was different.  Personally I think mine is the best.  How "SPECIAL" our 97 year old Mom is.


When it was Diane's turn to present her gifts, she had us play a little game.  One person drew a name and then that namesake got to draw in the gift basket.  I drew this beautiful watch with a shiney black band and a face circled with crystals.
                       IT WAS PERFECT!
Each watch was different and each was a random pick.  I THINK MINE WAS THE BEST. 


Francie was up next and her gifts were in beautiful gold foil bags.  Francie had gone to the Houston quilt show and spent time at the venders buying gifts for us all.  A LOT OF TIME!  She got each of us a cute magnet that caught each  personality in a funny way.  GLAD I'M NOT NEEDY!  She also gave us fabric and a finger stiletto.  Now I guess I need to be educated because I thought stilettos were 
something I used to wear on my feet.  Oh the wisdom we get as we get older.   So much to learn and so many years left to learn it...RIGHT MOM?


Margaret was thinking about our fingers too.  She got us all the wonderful products we can use to keep our hands soft so we don't "snag" the wonderful art we make.  I'm sorry I use the word wonderful so much...BUT EVERY THING IS!   Just look at that cute cuticle scissors...    WONDERFUL!!!!!

Margaret took BROWN BAGGING IT to another level.  So did Betty.

    WHO WOULD HAVE THOUGHT...LUNCH BAGS AT THEIR BEST!

Betty gave me these two wonderful bracelets.  I happened to walk up to the check out stand when she was buying the cuff.
I told her I sure hoped it was for me.  I AM NOT SUBTLE.   I seem to recall seeing the other one at her house and telling her "so and so won't like that."
                BUT I DO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

How bad am I?   Don't answer that.


I'll show you how good I am... Susan, our newest friend made homemade cookies for us.  As I opened mine I told her If I didn't want my husband to get them I would have to eat them all now (at the party).  Well I didn't and HE DID.... I did get a couple.  GOOD!



What did I give the girls?...

WHAT DO ALL GIRLS WANT?
Shoes, lots and lots of them.  Everyone got a different pair of shoes for mailing.  They all said they loved them, and Diane, who is a shoe horse, said, "Why didn't you give me these to wear them?  I just told her they were ... "KILLER SHOES.", and smiled.

Now I've talked about the presents a lot, but I know, and they know, the best gift is their
                             FRIENDSHIP...............

ANYONE CAN GIVE AND GET PRESENTS, BUT I CAN NEVER THANK MY FRIENDS ENOUGH JUST FOR THE SIMPLE GIFT OF BEING MY FRIEND.

  WITH THIS LETTER, LOVE IS THE GIFT I AM GIVING YOU...REDFOX