Bonnie and I get together every year and exchange Christmas gifts. After the little exchange, we head off on a day filled with shopping and antiquing---and, of course, a great lunch!
This year, we didn't have a chance to have our "get together" until after Christmas, but that didn't matter---we had a good time, anyway!
First, I headed to Bonnie's house---the scene of the exchange!
She had a yummy glass of eggnog ready for a special toast!
Do you know that was my only eggnog indulgence this Christmas? I LOVE that stuff, too.
Bonnie's cat, K-mart, watched intently as we clanked our glasses and sipped our creamy drinks!
I have to share the photo I took of K-mart in the middle of December---he LOVES it when Bonnie dresses him up! :) Yes, he really does! You can tell by his teeny little smile!!!
Ya gotta look realllllll close--there is definitely a smile on his furry face!
Bonnie had prepared a snack of French Toast Sticks, which we enjoyed with a --------
perfect cup of hot coffee!
Then we went into her living room for the gift exchange.
Here is one of the wonderful items I received-----I had no idea what this gift could be! She disquised it as a ghost!!! BUT when I removed the white bags-- - - - -
I found this fantastic folk art Santa Bonnie had painted on a vintage wooden ironing board!!!
Her hubby fixed a stand for Santa using part of the original legs and adding a chain to keep the legs from moving. How clever was that!!!!
Here is my artistic friend with that amazing gift.
I LOVE it, Bonnie. Thank you again and thank you to your husband!
Remember my broken Christopher Radko ornament? My little kitty whacked it off my tree and the tip broke. Bonnie had given me that ornament several years ago----we both LOVE ice cream.
Well, LOOK at the new Christopher Radko ornament she found for me on e-Bay!! Isn't she something?
She's a great e-Bay shopper---I'm clueless about it.
Instead, I went to K-mart and purchased a Santa ornament---also a Christopher Radko!!!
We always get a lot of chuckles out of our gift exchanges, as we usually give each other some very similar stuff!
For instance, besides each of us giving ornaments---she gave me this book by John Grisham---she knows I'm a fan of his and - - - - -
I gave HER a book, too! It was "Dewey the Library Cat"---based on a real kitty!! Dewey reminded me of her K-mart!
I just noticed, however, that I forgot to remove the price tag from that book.
Whooooops! Sorry, Bonnie, that was tacky!
Bonnie had ANOTHER handmade gift for me!
You see, she has developed a keep eye for PINK since I have been participating in Pink Saturdays and when she spied this swell little PINK bottle brush tree at Hobby Lobby she just snatched it up!
She added PINK glitter to the base and the star and even the tips of the tree, then she painted a sweet paper mache box and glued the tree on top! She also attached little "feet" to the bottom of box! She is one creative gal!
When I opened the box, she had another surprise-----a pair of Ugly Christmas Socks for NEXT Christmas! It's a long story, but I certainly LOVE them!
We shared lots of other little gifts, but she had ANOTHER special one for me inside a PINK bag with the words MERRY PINK SATURDAY CHRISTMAS written in PINK glitter on the outside!!!
Oh, I need to point out the vintage PINK angel tag that was attached to the bag!!! How cute! That Bonnie doesn't miss a detail!!!
Inside the PINK bag was a beautiful PINK sweater----and it was the Perfect Pink fit!!!
Wow!!! PINK Saturdays have certainly brought a lot of fun and a lot of PINK into the life of this formerly PINKLESS gal!!!
When I came home that afternoon, I showed my gifts from Bonnie to THE STONE RABBIT. He loved everything she had given to me, but he told me he thought HIS favorite items were the PINK tree and the Ugly Socks.
Over the last few days, he actually has been using one of the socks to keep his long ears warm when he hops outside to visit his friends.
In fact, he wants to know where Bonnie found those socks, cuz his friends LOVE the look and wouldn't mind a "sock cap" of their own.
AND, they do NOT think they are ugly!
For more PINK POSTS, just hop on over to Beverly's blog, HOW SWEET THE SOUND. She has kindly posted a LONG LIST of terrific bloggers who have all sorts of PINK to share with you!!!
DANA
Dana... your posts are always great! What a wonderful friend you have... and now.. I have to share a little secret with you...
John Grisham... a friend and schoolmate of mine... we graduated from Southaven High School in Mississippi.. John in 1973.. me - 1972.. His little brother Kenny dated my sis for a couple of year in HS... small world ain't it?
My favorite book by John? A time to Kill... (he wrote it first, but it was published second - after The Firm - but I've read them all... my second fav... Skipping Christmas.
and that's the rest of the story.
keep warm on Pink Saturday... Dixie
Posted by: Dixie | January 16, 2009 at 08:34 PM
Happy Pink Saturday! AND a pink Christmas! What great gifts and photos you shared! Have a great weekend!
Posted by: Susan | January 16, 2009 at 09:14 PM
Wow...I love that Santa...was a wonderful job she did. Looks like a alot of fun! You have a very special friend! cherry
Posted by: cherry | January 16, 2009 at 09:23 PM
What a wonderful gift exchange! I love the Santa ironing board...how clever! I can't wait to see it in all of your Christmas decor.
I remember a certain pair of "Alaska" socks from your pink croc post :) I see a ugly sock pattern...haha I punned!
Happy Pink Saturday!
Posted by: Donna Collins | January 16, 2009 at 11:17 PM
You are both so lucky to each have such a wonderful friend. Thanks for sharing it with us....it's like we were right there with you, except YOU got to go home with the wonderful Santa Ironing Board. Wow, that was creative!
Happy Pink Saturday!
Stephanie
Posted by: Stephanie | January 17, 2009 at 12:15 AM
What a great friendship you have with Bonnie! I love everything you both received.
Posted by: Elizabeth | January 17, 2009 at 04:40 AM
Hi Dana
What a wonderful friendship you have. All those gifts are great especially the ironing board. What a treasure.
Hugs, Rhondi
Posted by: Rhondi | January 17, 2009 at 05:49 AM
Well, a Happy Pink Saturday to you, Bonnie and TSR.
That Bonnie is amazing - and so talented. I am glad she is keeping you in the pink. I love all of your goodies, and that Santa ironing board is just awesome.
Now you keep kitty away from your new ornament. ;-)
Posted by: Beverly | January 17, 2009 at 06:33 AM
Happy Pink Saturday. I love the pink bottle brush tree and the pink gift bag. I simply LOVE pink and Christmas. The ironing board is very cute. Thanks for sharing.
Blessings,
Sandi
Posted by: Sandi | January 17, 2009 at 06:41 AM
Love the blog and the pink stuff but the best part was meeting K-Mart, just too cute!
Posted by: Mimi | January 17, 2009 at 06:46 AM
Hi Dana,
I have been reading your wonderful blog for quite some time. Even though I have never commented, I wanted to let you know that I thoroughly enjoy reading and wanted to tell you how much you brighten my day! I have a blog award for you if you want to come by to collect it!
Blessings to you,
Kymber
Posted by: Kymber | January 17, 2009 at 06:55 AM
that was fun, almost like being there when it happened!
Posted by: Dana Jones | January 17, 2009 at 06:56 AM
Aren't best friends the greatest...looks like you two have loads of fun!!
Posted by: White Iris Designs | January 17, 2009 at 07:00 AM
Love the gifts! Especially the santa and the pink tree. She is very clever and talented. How fun!
Posted by: tammy | January 17, 2009 at 07:10 AM
Happy Pink Saturday!
Lovely cat! Very cute on the Santa outfit!
And love Radko ornaments!
~ Gabriela ~
Posted by: Gabriela Delworth | January 17, 2009 at 07:35 AM
Dana, I'd love to have that old ironing board, honey!! What a fantastic gift.
Visit me for a chance to win a "special" item for my 500th post, chickee.....I think you'll love it......Hah.
Smooches,
Connie
Posted by: Connie | January 17, 2009 at 07:37 AM
Thanks for sharing. You are so lucky to have such a wonderful friend! Have a great weekend. Esther
Posted by: Shabby Cottage Collectibles | January 17, 2009 at 07:40 AM
What a FUN day you had!
Happy Pink Saturday!
Posted by: Kathleen Ellis | January 17, 2009 at 08:03 AM
Your friend is a sweetie! What fantastic gifts. I love that ironing board artwork!!
Have a wonderful pink weekend!
Posted by: Betty @ She's Sew Pretty | January 17, 2009 at 10:10 AM
Now that was a fun Pink Christmas Saturday! You walked away with a lot of pink loot. Cute to boot. YOur friend sure is talented. ~ Robyn
Posted by: Robyn | January 17, 2009 at 10:49 AM
Oh how darling! And very sweet of your friend to help with PINK SATURDAY! Love love the warm and cozy looking sweater, too. It is so cold here today!
Posted by: Jillian | January 17, 2009 at 11:35 AM
I'm enjoying all of this lovely pinkness!
Posted by: Gollum | January 17, 2009 at 12:36 PM
Such a priceless thing to have a dear friend. Thanks for sharing your get-together with us Dana. :o)
Posted by: Joy | January 17, 2009 at 02:42 PM
What a wonderful time you had with a wonderful friend!!!!!
Happy PS!
Posted by: caren | January 17, 2009 at 03:33 PM
Hi Dana! What fun to stretch out Christmas like that. Love the little vintage angel gift card, so sweet. Rabbit looks great with the ugly sock on his head!
Posted by: ellen b | January 17, 2009 at 04:15 PM
How great to have such a generous and talented friend!!!
Posted by: nikkicrumpet | January 17, 2009 at 05:55 PM
Happy Pink Saturday
Posted by: Susan Daly | January 17, 2009 at 06:34 PM
I just love reading your posts! Bonnie's gifts are beautiful and you're both so clever & artistic! Now what's the story with the socks??? ♥ Diane
Posted by: Diane | January 17, 2009 at 07:26 PM
Thanks right back at ya for all the neat things I received! I love the book Dewey The Library Cat. I have read several pages so far. He's quite a cat! K-Mart says thanks for posting his picture!
Posted by: Bonnie | January 17, 2009 at 07:27 PM
What's better than cats in hats except maybe dogs in .....just kid ding! I love kitties and K Mart is soo pretty and so are you and Bonnie in all your Christmas finery and I love that ironing board Santa! HPS to you and Bonnie and Kmart!
Hugs, Nancy
Posted by: Nancy | January 17, 2009 at 08:13 PM
Hello Dana, I just found your lovely blog and I see we have much in common. K-Mart looks alot like our huge Orange fluffball Chestnut.
Dewey is a wonderful book. I haven't quite finished it yet. I'm a little afraid of the ending. :)
Come and visit me if you have a chance. You're always welcome! ~Melissa :)
Posted by: Melissa Miller | January 17, 2009 at 08:33 PM
Oh, I love all your gifts! How sweet of Bonnie! Your sweater looks lovely and SR looks great in the ugly sock (I think it's cute)!
Posted by: Viv (VivLyn) | January 17, 2009 at 08:48 PM
What a great friend. You really got some great stuff. Love the ironing board and that little pink tree is the cutest. 341 days til Christmas? I'd better get busy. Mimi
Posted by: mimisue | January 17, 2009 at 09:50 PM
I love the ironing board Santa. What a great idea!
Posted by: Beth | January 17, 2009 at 10:04 PM
What a fun Pink Saturday you had!! I love the ironing board Santa! That is awesome. Happy Belated Pink Saturday!
Posted by: Linnea | January 18, 2009 at 06:03 AM
Hi Dana,
Love the creative way you approach Pink Saturday! That vintage ironing board Santa is adorable!
Posted by: Diane@A Picture is worth.... | January 18, 2009 at 06:09 AM
Thanks for Pink Saturday fun, glad to hear from you~thank you too for your wonderful encouragement!
I am not covered up with pink here LOL so that SAT was a stretch for me!! :) LOL
A super delight to meet you...I am running behind on my comments as I have been traveling for work :)
So glad I was able to visit you...a most warm and heart felt post...A joy to meet you!
Posted by: The Muse | January 18, 2009 at 08:31 AM
What a sweet Pink Saturday post. Your friendship just radiates through it.
Posted by: Cami @ Creating Myself | January 18, 2009 at 12:34 PM
What a wonderfully considerate friend! I read this post yesterday, and just as I was commenting, something demanded my attention. Who knows now what it was. So I had to go. Now I'm back to reread and actually comment. I'm thinking, did the friend find the kitty at K-Mart? Thus the name?
Brenda
Posted by: Brenda Kula | January 18, 2009 at 02:05 PM
Hi Dana, I finally made it to your great pink post. We have company and we all went to the Biltmore, AGAIN, lol. I can be certified as a tour guide. My other daughter and her children, my adorable grands, are here to snow ski. We do have plenty of snow too. Anyway we were gone all day and when we arrived home after cooking dinner, I was a goner. No Pinkie visiting happening here.
I really enjoyed your gift exchange with your sweet friend. I am so happy you have a new ice cream ornament. Now that is a true friend. The ironing board Santa is the cutest thing ever. A very clever idea. The pink sweater is lovely just like you. I am sure she loved your gifts as well. The stone rabbit looks real toasty in his sock hat. As usual a fun and entertaining pink post Dana. I hope I can meet your friends when I come to MO. in May. Most of all I am sure we will enjoy meeting each other very much.
Hugs...Jeanne
Posted by: Jeanne | January 18, 2009 at 02:09 PM
Wow !!! What a fun time you had...I love good friends...
Hugs,
Mo ;-)
Posted by: Mo...Mo's Cottage | January 18, 2009 at 09:27 PM
You two girlfriends were having some kind of fun! I expect you do up birthdays, too, eh? Thanks for including all the "pink ladies" in your special day.
Happy Pink Saturday! Lana
Posted by: Lana | January 18, 2009 at 09:52 PM
You two gals certainly had a blast with your belated Christmas get together! And what a haul of goodies! You made out like a Christmas bandit! That kitty cat looks so cute with his Santa hat. I keep meaning to get Santa hats and reindeer antlers for my horses, and every year time gets away from me or I forget! So cute. :-)
Posted by: Belinda | January 19, 2009 at 09:43 AM
Hi Dana,
What FABULOUS gifts. Bonnie certainly does know you. I LOVE that ironing board turned Santa and the pink Christmas tree on the box! TOO CUTE! How neat that she was able to get another ornament to replace your broken one. Stone Rabbit looks wonderful with the sock keeping his ears warm!
Posted by: Darlene | January 19, 2009 at 04:16 PM
Please vote for my backyard movie party!
http://meandmyinsanity.blogspot.com/
Posted by: Donna Collins | January 19, 2009 at 04:55 PM
Hi Dana banana, I am trying to remember how you say your name so I keep giving myself a few reminders now and then. Smiling! Beverly told me how to enunciate your name. I don't want to mess up when I meet you this summer. LOL.
My company went skiing all day and my cousin left to visit another cousin. He is making the rounds and heading to FL. for warmer weather. He lives in MI. I had a quiet day so far and enjoyed myself immensely.
I hope you are having a great day.
Hugs...Jeanne
Posted by: Jeanne | January 20, 2009 at 02:31 PM
Oh how fun! The two of you sure do think alike! Always fun to keep the celebrations coming, kind of makes January not so bad.
Hope you're having a great week!
Kim
Posted by: Kim V | January 20, 2009 at 07:24 PM
What great gifts, Dana. You are going to love The Appeal.
Posted by: Cathy Santarsiero | January 21, 2009 at 09:43 AM
Great post, Dana... and I absolutely LOVE K-Mart in his Santa hat - and Stone Rabbit in his stocking cap!!!... Donna
Posted by: An Enchanted Cottage | January 23, 2009 at 12:03 PM
Just wondering if you might know where I can get in touch with Peggy from Gatherings by Peggy (formerly in Greenwood, MO) is - I love her things and would love to know if I can find them anywhere now.
Posted by: pam | February 08, 2009 at 02:39 PM