christmas 2014

The most remarkable thing about Christmas 2014 was the lack of snow.  I never missed one single flake.  I'm sure there were a lot of disappointed people - especially the kids - but I wasn't one of them.

Again this year, our third, we co-hosted a Christmas eve dinner at Lisa's for a few friends that were going to be otherwise spending the evening alone.

There were 9 of us.  I took the picture so that's why you don't see me and Peter and Jim Kauppi were elsewhere flapping their jaws - that's why they didn't make the scene.  Linda Kauppi is in the foreground, Joy Richmond next to her, Ann Elder is next followed by her husband, John and last but not least, my sister, Lisa.

A little bit o' Christmas

Notice the blurred hands?  We were hungry.

Today was Christmas at mom's.

She can decorate anything.

Here we are Skyping with Cody, mom's great-grandson, who is with the Peace Corps in Swaziland.

Any port in a storm - if you don't have cute little plant sticks to lend support to whatever that thing is, grab a plastic ladle and a silver spoon.  Ala Nan Brachman!

Can you tell by the "O" on her lips that there's chocolate in that container?

 I hope y'all had a great holiday, whichever one you chose to celebrate and however you chose to do so.

"Lady Gang" Christmas coffee, 2014

I believe I've mentioned the "Lady Gang" here before.  If you're new to my blog (where the heck have you been?), we meet every Wednesday downtown at MugShots.

One of our ladies is, Sheila, and for some odd reason or another she invites us all to her house for a Christmas coffee.  Glutton for punishment or just too damn nice?  I'm going with the nice thing.

She really gets into the whole decorating for Christmas spirit too.
After you look at the pictures below you'll be amazed to know that she has "cut back."  Yikes!!!

Yes, I know.  Tilt your head, please, until I figure out the picture program in our new Chromebook.  Sorry.

More tilting required.  I swear these were upright before I moved them over here.

Ditto.

Getting a crick in your neck yet?

A slightly blurry picture of Sheila's assistant hostess, Angel.

Another wonderful event.  Time spent with a bunch of savvy women.  A lot of good discussions and, oh yeah, a yummy coffee cake!

A Dinner Club Christmas

Once again our dinner club experience was filled with laughter, crafting and food, food, glorious food.

There was a theme, too.  We could attend and somehow represent icy weather.  I say could because not everyone did.  I think you'll be able to pick out the rebels when you look at the pictures below.

 

Try as I might, I saw absolutely nothing to represent "ice" on Mr.Burnett on the far left.  Rosie, next to him, doesn't look like she got into the game but I found a few of those cheepo icicles clinging to the back of her sweater.

It's hard to spot the huge snowflake that our hostess, Melissa, had hanging around her neck because of her white sweater but it was there alright and very "icy."

Paula not only had a snowflake sweater on but one around her neck and a sparkling snowflake tiara as well.  She felt it identified her as some kind of snow princess.  No one corrected her.

We were greeted by these lovely icy beverages as we entered the Melissa and Richard domicile.

Rian skied up so that's why he has icicles hanging from his beard.  Oh . . . wait.  There wasn't any snow outside was there.  Well, I wonder where those icicles came from then?

Richard, our ice hockey fan host.

Melissa thought it would be great fun for us to make snowflakes.  The project had a very rocky start because none of us could stop talking long enough to comprehend the directions.  There were some very interesting "snowflakes" before we got the hang of it.

Always a treat when Tom Richmond sits down at the piano.  You can see how much Mr.Hunter is enjoying the holiday music.  I don't think he really needed to take his shoes off, though.  Do you?

Melissa goes above and beyond when it comes to setting a fancy table, doesn't she?  Check out the napkins folded in the shape of a Christmas tree.  I'm going to practice doing that.  I think it would look great next to a paper plate with a grilled cheese sandwich on it.

The finished product!!! 

Goodnight

 

GR's indoor market

Petey and I decided to drive up to Grand Rapids last week and stroll through the new indoor market.

Check it out.

Easy to get to.  Parking lot allows the first 90 min. free!

The only purchase we made was here - bread.

Bought nothing here.  Can you believe it???

They were selling a variety of popcorn like crazy.

I left a nose print on this case.

I looked all over - never spotted Hansel or Gretel.

The Monk fish creeped me out.

Loved the art work.

Interesting name.

Upstairs looking down.

Quality items with matching prices.