Girls Weekend 2009 Opening Night!

They were finally here! After all the preparations to the house, yard, studio, gifts they were finally here! This past December, I contacted 6 of my dearest and sweetest friends and asked if they would like to come to my home in Georgia so I could spoil them and bestow upon them some of the love that they show me all year long. They took cars and planes to get here. They all knew me, but did not know each other. What happened over these next 3 days was more than I had ever hoped or planned!My darling husband and I picked up 3 girls from the airport that afternoon and the other ladies arrived by car. Our first night we did the meet and greet over cocktails and dinner. I asked Don to stay for dinner to meet these amazing women that I had been talking about for the last 6 months non stop! As you can see by the big smile, he fit right in. The party got started with a champagne toast. Each of the champagne flutes had a "Merci" tag attached.My toast to the girls, "Thank you for coming, thank you for being my friend, and thank you for making my life so special!"
We enjoyed the weather and each other's company while we drank and nibbled on some wonderful cheese and toasted garlic rounds. This is me, the weekend hostess. I am wearing this great apron that was hand sewn by my grandmother many years ago. She hand beaded the martini glass on the front, too. Perfect for my little soiree!
We soon set the table to break bread together. I found these adorable bird plates that I had to have for this special weekend. Each seat had a place card and a sweet little gift waiting for them inside.
I made these bird charm earrings with vintage Japanese glass beads for each of my friends as part of my warm welcome. This was just the start of the gift giving for the weekend.It was the perfect weather for dining alfresco. I grilled filet mignon for everyone with fresh tomatoes and mozzarella salad, roasted potatoes and sour dough rolls. It was an easy meal to prepare but with lots of flavor. The ladies were so wonderful. They all pitched in getting dinner ready and cleaning up afterwards. Thanks very much for all the kitchen support!After dinner, the gift giving began. The girls not only brought me such amazing, generous things, but they all brought something for Don and to my daughter, Shelby too. Thank you all for thinking of them. Don has put up with me over the last several months. He never complained, (well almost never) about all of the things going on. He helped with getting the house ready, preparing a second guest room, foofing the house, cleaning and readying the yard, hanging all kinds of things in the studio and all the evening hours I spent in the studio, sewing gifts and making goodies for the weekend. Thank you, honey for making this weekend possible and for your generosity in ALWAYS giving me what I want! You are the best. Being wives themselves, the girls gave Don all of the proper lovin' and thanks for the weekend. They so get it. Thanks, Girls!!!! Lee placed this pretty tulle wrapped present for me.
Lee and I always seem to be on the same wave length. She brought me these lovely bird earrings with crystal heart drops. Now I have my own bird earrings, too. Thanks, Love. She also had some wonderful stamps in the package, too. Natalea, outdid her self, as usual! She brought this whole pile of treats for me. Her generosity always amazes me.
Just beautiful! Here are some pictures of some of my favorites that she treated me to.

These were a riot. These are paper cups with nose and mouth images on them. Did we laugh. We started laughing that night and did not stop until we cried when everyone left on Sunday. What funny women I know. A special thanks to you Angela! Your stories and mental images made us all cry and roar with laughter. Some of those stories will last in my mind a life time! Thanks for being my dinner show entertainment! Also, thanks for bringing all those yummy weekend snacks. I appreciated the help.
This is the first sneak peak into our Girls Weekend! Come back in a couple of days and share Day 2 in the studio, our art class with Dawn Edmonson and lunch at the tea room.