Friendsgiving

On Saturday evening Hubby and I hosted Friendsgiving with my pie pals and their husbands.  I love to set a fall table.  I used my Grandma's wheat dishes.

 I got out my Mom's Thanksgiving salt and pepper set.  It made me realize that this holiday season is going to be hard.

I put together place cards.  Hubby and I prefer a seating arrangement.  It's nice when it's time for dinner, we are flying around the kitchen, and no one is asking where we'd like them to sit.

 The votive holders are from Crate and Barrel. I filled the bottoms with small fall bits.

Hubby and I took a selfie before our guests arrived.  All looks calm but honestly, we don't entertain as often as we used to and there were some issues.  We need to get our game on!

Since this was the first holiday party of the season we decided to start the evening with a Silver Bell.  We've enjoyed this cocktail at Oliver's in the Mayflower Hotel.  The Silver Bell was created for a Seattle hospital gala with festive in mind.

We served appetizers on the buffet.

 Dinner!  We made pork roasts, grilled turkey, mashed potatoes and gravy, stuffing, green beans, Jodi made the sweet potatoes and PW Nan's Cranberry Salad.  I don't have a photo of Holly's relish tray, trust me it was impressive!

 Shelly baked the pies.  They were beautiful and delicious!

 It was such a fun way to begin our holiday season.

 *Many of these photos aren't mine.

Thanksgiving Day is at Bill and Jodi's house.  Max and Kassie are coming and bringing Bo.  Sam will be at dinner.  Jonny too! Hubby has to work on Thanksgiving, so we're having dinner with Max and Kassie and Sam and Katie on Saturday evening.  I'm not sure if I am cooking or if we are going out yet.  On Sunday I am leaving for my annual sisters' shopping trip.  Sisters include cousins Melinda and Lissa.  I am shopping for stocking stuffers.

I have two trees up and I'll finish decorating after Bo leaves.  His tail is dangerous!

Wishing you and yours a very blessed Thanksgiving! We really have so much to be thankful for this year and always.

Kat's Bridal Shower

 Yesterday my sister, Kathi and I hosted a bridal shower for our nephew, Levi's fiancee, Kat. I've always wanted to set up one long table and have a party in the pasture. So that is what we did.

Entertaining takes a village.

This shower is brought to you by Kathi and I and my daughter-in-law, Kassie and the gardens at Shelly's farm.  All flowers are from Shelly's gardens! Thank you Shell!

Hubby helped with set up and tear down. 

 I made the balloon installation.  I saw it on Pinterest and thought, "how hard can it be? I can do that."

When fools rush in...and Amazon helps.  Anyway, I won't be quitting my sub job to create balloon art but it did turn out okay and Kassie and I got in the tree.

 We used our tiki bar for the mimosas and champagne cocktails.

 A million thanks to Kassie for pouring and refilling and yeah, helping me set up.

I love her!

 The bride and her sister, Brooke. Twinning much?

 Kat with her future sisters-in-law Hana and Serena and Serena and Alex's Baby, Aurora.

 Kat and my sister, Jodi.  Kat is getting a wonderful mother-in-law and Jodi is getting a wonderful daughter-in-law. It's a win win.

 The mimosas made everything so pretty!

 Everyone enjoyed the brunch. Kathi and I tried new recipes.

 I love my sissies!

 I can't wait for the wedding! Not because Levi and Kat are getting hitched but because Brooke gets to make a speech with a microphone. Aren't sisters the best?

Showers of Love

 This last month has been so much fun, so many blessings and so much pretty.  I can hardly stand it.

Kassie has been on the bridal shower circuit and I've been along for the ride.

Her first shower was given by my besties.  Oh my, those girls fussed and it was a lot of pretty.

 The food was amazing too.

 The shower included my friends and Kassie's Mom's friends. 

 Kassie's Mom, Idalia and I are pictured with the beautiful bride to be.

 Kassie loves Pioneer Woman, Ree Drummond. Deb got her the latest cookbook and I got her Ree's apron.  Kassie got the same red hair as Ree, at birth.

 My friends are gorgeous and fun and it was obvious that they fussed and had fun making it all happen.

The second shower was with Kassie's family and here she is with her Grandmas. Her Grandma Plata always tells she how handsome Max is and that he could be a model. Oh please, don't tell him that! 

It's hard enough living with that guy!

The shower was Miss to Mrs. and was so pretty with a lot of greens and sparkle.  The food was delicious too.  Mary, I still need the recipe for those roll ups!

 Kassie has little cousins and a niece so she had a lot of help unwrapping her gifts.  They fluttered around her like little helpers all evening.  One little cousin and I had met before in the classroom.  She shyly came up to me and asked, "Are you Mrs. R?" Yes, I am and you are the little girl that I had told Max about.  One day after school I called Max and told him I had a little girl in my class and she reminded me of Kassie and how I imagined her daughter some day.

 Ella is a her niece and flower girl and she will be happy to tell anyone about her job at Auntie Kiki's wedding.

 We played some fun games too.

This week Kassie, Idalia and I went to Seattle to meet the Pioneer Woman, Ree Drummond.  We had dinner at UVill and it was so pretty there.

 Yes, Ree.  This is your mini me! 

 There were people commenting in line that Kassie looks like the Pioneer Woman and then when we told then that she was getting married and moving to the farm, they swooned.

Kassie was star struck and almost cried as we got closer to meeting Ree.

It was a fun evening and then we got back to the car and realized we we were so excited that we walked away without paying for parking.  Ticket!

The next evening my sisters hosted a family shower for Kassie.  They did a Pioneer Woman themed shower.  It was so pretty and the food was PW'S recipes.

The Grandmas had a nice visit.

 Ree and Kassie have identical dogs too.  I got her the cookie jar that looks like Bo and Lucy.  And I gave Bo the treat jar from PW's line of home goods.

 My sissies rocked the Pioneer Woman theme.  Ree was even there giving a cooking demo (on TV, but still).

It has been so fun celebrating Max's bride to be with friends and family and showers of blessings.

Thank you to all of the hostesses!