The Gift of Friendship

It has been quite the week and I could really use a do-over with less stress and hassle (I know, we all have them at sometime or another...but WOW, this week has been a doozy) - "it is what it is" and I am just trying to move forward with a (somewhat) positive attitude and hope the black cloud following me dissipates soon.

On a MUCH happier note, I was finally able to get together with my dear friends, Mary and Lorrie, for our belated holiday celebration a little over a week ago - we had postponed our friendship Friday before Christmas due to bad weather, so we had a little post-holiday celebration. We met at one of my favorite local restaurants and enjoyed a lovely fireside lunch...we chatted and laughed and just enjoyed the afternoon...and of course, we exchanged gifts. Both Mary and Lorrie are extremely generous and thoughtful and I had loads of packages to unwrap...and I wanted to share a few of the unique and creative gifts with you...

Lorrie made me a GORGEOUS quilted table runner that matches my dining room decor perfectly!...and she also cross-stitched a beautiful bread cloth for me...

Mary has a special knack for finding great gifts...and she gave me a bag FULL of  treasures to unwrap...including a fabulous large wooden spool wrapped with twine and a smaller wooden spool wrapped with a silver/string bracelet!...and in the top right photo, you will see an adorable glass cupcake pedestal/dome Mary found - isn't it wonderful?! - I just *had to* bake cupcakes last night, so it wouldn't be lonely (and to comfort me after this past crazy week). She also sparked my creativity with a book that has been on my wishlist forever...and I can't believe I didn't get a photo of the squirrel mug with the words "NUTS ABOUT YOU" on the back...

It was THE BEST afternoon with friends and I feel extremely blessed to have both of them in my life...my months wouldn't be the same without "friendship Friday" and the joy these two bring me...I am a very lucky girl!

So now, I am off to salvage what is left of the weekend...to try and clear off my desk top...and to do some much needed model stitching...and, and, and... Wishing you a creative and productive weekend...