Blog Girls Celebrate Christmas

Last year I started a tradition by inviting my 3 blog friends here for a holiday luncheon.  We had it at Taci's home this year.  She was preparing a pork roast so I tried something new, roasted potatoes.  I cut Yukon Gold potatoes into 8ths, tossed them in olive oil, salt, pepper, paprika and 2 crushed and minced fresh garlic cloves - roasted them for 45-1 hr on 425 deg F.  I didn't stir them or anything and they came out perfect! (This is the serving pan, I roasted them on a large jelly roll/cookie sheet, non-stick.)

Taci's tree was beautiful!

The girls putting the finishing touches on lunch.

Our hostess had the table set beautifully.

I must say.. I forgot to take a photo of my plate all filled up.. :-)  Betsy brought some wonderful fresh baked rolls that she got at a local bakery, Gracie brought a veggie salad, our "new girl" was Becky L. and she brought some peppermint Oreos for dessert.  From left - Betsy, Becky, me, Taci and Gracie.  I have to tell you our photo session was hilarious and like watching a 3 Stooges movie!  Our photographer had to use 4 cell phones and 2 cameras and after checking mine, in each of the 3 photos someone had their eyes closed or were blurred moving their head, so I had to beseech the photog to try again.. and finally we got a good one!  LOL!

After lunch we retired to the living area where we exchanged small gifts and chatted away... and we worked on our crochet and knit projects.  Taci showed Becky how to do Continental style knitting.. I hope she keeps trying as it's so much easier to carry your yarn over your left hand like crocheting.  Which style do you use?  English where you "throw" your yarn with the right hand or Continental where you carry your yarn on the left hand.  Too soon it was time for us to head home. Betsy showed us her favorite knitted scarf/shawl.  Betsy flew to Portland from her home in Spokane, WA, rented a car to join us, then had to fly back that same evening.  Talk about dedication!

I thought I'd share our little gifts with you.. from left is a sparkly beaded star from Gracie from GraySeaSailor blog that she made.  The next is a FUN SURPRISE - a hand-sewn heart ornament sent from Helen at Moonstruck Creations - all the way from England!  Isn't that sweet of her?  In the back, middle is a creative calendar made by Becky at GrandmaBeckyL blog.  Front and center is Taci at TaciStudio blog who crocheted a wash cloth and made us a cute magnet.  On the far right is Betsy from The Simple Life of a Queen who brought us a shell necklace from her recent trip to Maui, a skein of cotton yarn and an adorable seagull figurine.  Treasures!

Some close ups.. Gracie's handiwork.

Helen's hand-sewn treasure that smells of lavender and a sweet card!

Betsy's cute figurine, yarn and shell necklace.

Becky's calendar - I recognized the photo she used right away - it's the colorful metal chairs at Rasmussen Farms - which she decorated with stickers!  :-)

Taci's magnet and wonderful cotton washcloth.

And here is a funny story for you.  I was inspired by some really neat crochet granny ornament ball covers that I'd seen on other blogs and on pinterest.  SO.. I got 8 pretty red plastic balls and set out to make these for my family and friends.  I got one done.  I thought it looked fairly hideous.  The worst part is the SEAM.. argh!  SO.. I hung this one on my tree and did 2 crocheted netting over 2 balls for friend Shirley and Roberta.. and then gave my friends my crocheted Scandinavian hearts.  I am sure all you crafty people will relate to this fiasco... do you have a similar story to share?

It was time for new shoes... the dog chewed the pull strap on the last pair I got right when I brought them home.. and after wearing them that way for two years or more.. and then I can blame Gracie and her daughter as they were telling me about their new shoes.. and of course I can blame Lucy at Attic24 blog for showing us HER red shoes.. so after swimming on Friday I headed to Shoe Mill near the pool and tried on the kind Gracie got.. but they didn't have RED ONES... I tried on many pairs and was getting ready to give up and then I spied these KEEN shoes, tried them on and they fit wonderfully and bingo, they came home with me.  :-)  What do you think?

Kristi had me open my Christmas present as they will be gone for 4 days over Christmas with her family... isn't it cute?

We're having a mellow day here.. the kids are going to have an early Christmas with her family tomorrow and will be gone (they didn't want to haul all their gifts to the beach for their 4 days there).  So, it will be quiet tomorrow so I might convince Dayle we need to go out to a nice restaurant.  I hope you are having a wonderful weekend.  Next week is a big one.. are you ready for it?  I just have a few more gifts to wrap and then we need to do the shopping for our Christmas dinner with our middle son and his family.  All is well!  ((hugs)), Teresa :-)