Day 117 - Christmas

The morning started with the pets opening and enjoying their gifts.

Then it was my turn. . .

Some handcrafted items from my sister.

My sister and brother-in-law are always laughing at my propensity to purchase antique chairs so they thought I might need this reference.  The Canadian Geographic has an article about Newfoundland where we vacationed together this past summer.  Also included some gardening magazines and a set of fun potato salt and pepper shakers.


                                                                              



They also included a number of food items.  I've made Jezebel sauce before and love it and I have a real weakness for maple sugar candy so they always send me a maple leaf or two.  Never had Cincinnati chili but that's what the mix is for.

Some annual staples included a jigsaw puzzle, new socks and some sort of handy travel/beauty/cleaning product.  Can't wait to check out the Lint Hints.

These items are all Scottish in nature.  The small bagpipe refrigerator magnet has the Clan Davidson name on it (my great grandmother on my mother's side) and it plays a little tune that scared my dog.  The other item is made from a recycled antique wooden stave (from an apple barrel) and it has the name of clan that my maternal grandfather's family was a member of.









My neighbors surprised me with this bottle of wine and handcrafted glass cheese tray.  I'm keeping an eye on their house and shuttling their dogs to and from the kennel.










Two great gifts from two great friends (Nancy and Holly) - a cute little glass coaster and a fabulous set of 30 bird pictures (all reproductions of vintage prints).







A few pictures from a very relaxing Christmas dinner with some of the first friends I met when I moved to Seattle.  As usual, Cliff and Laura made a fabulous meal and it was just the five of us because other "orphan" friends were away.

I left for home with 3 jars of homemade jam/chutney, 6 different Godiva candy bars and a book about a brand new 7th grade teacher named Ms. Hemphill.  Oh yeah, I also got to taxi my friend Paul home who was released from the hospital.  All in all, a pretty terrific day.