12/6/10

Fun with Jane and Al and Decking the Halls.

Hi All!
Dan and I had a wonderful week-end meeting up with my good bloggy and real life friend Jane aka (Blondie's Journal) and her husband Al.  This was our second year in a row getting together and we have plans to meet up this summer too.
We started the day at this very charming and unique restaurant called Popeye's. 


We'll have to start calling our get together same time next year~ lol! 
Last December, we met in Galena, Illinois which is just over the Wisconsin border.  This time we met in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin which is only 12 miles from the Illinois border. 
Dan and I set out early because of a predicted snow storm.  We drove to Madison, Wisc. Friday night and got a room.  No snow on the way down but when we woke up there was lots of the fluffy white stuff on the ground.
Madison is only a 2 hour drive from us but it made our trip on Saturday a lot easier since we only had about 80 more miles to go.



And of course when bloggers get together there are presents!  Look at the great stash that Jane got for little Ole me!  Those mugs are just the cutest thing!




So while Jane and I and the guys visited and had a delicious lunch.......


We enjoyed this gorgeous view!



And while the guys headed off to a local sports bar, Jane and I headed off for a little shopping!

We always seem to have a nose for pretty dishes!  But we both resisted when we saw the price tag on these babies!


But it sure was fun to look!
Then we headed over to meet the guys and partake of a little holiday cheer too!
After that, it was off to watch a local Holiday parade.  BRR cold, but fun! 
And then a delicious dinner, and back to our rooms to visit before turning in for the night.
We all had a wonderful time and can't wait for our next adventure! 
Jane and Al are so much fun and it felt like we were old friends since we had met the previous year.

After arriving home, Dan and I rushed out to buy a tree.  Normally we cut our own but since it was so cold and late in the day we decided to purchase one already cut.
I spent the next several hours decorating.
I do need to get some better pics so I will post those later!
Take Care everyone and have a great week!
Just like the rest of you it seems like there is so much to do and so little time.
Cindy

34 comments:

  1. Wow! What a wonderful day you had! I really enjoyed the photos!

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  2. Sounds and looks like a fun trip. The snow is pretty, but looks so cold. Your tree is very pretty.
    Have a great week.

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  3. Hi there! Your photos, and Jane's photos? Delightful!!!

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  4. Hi Cindy! I'm sure you had so much fun. Thanks for sharing it with us and look at those two gorgeous gals! :)
    Be a sweetie,
    Shelia ;)

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  5. It is just so touching that you and Jane formed this special friendship, and who would think, all through blogging. It's a wonderful thing! Enjoyed your cute pics too!

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  6. Wow that sounds like a great time with friends. Beautiful scenery.

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  7. That looks like so much fun! She sure did get you some nice things too. Your tree looks very beautiful too! :D

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  8. Oh my, what a beautiful town. The scenery is gorgeous. Looks like you had a good time together with friends.

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  9. I love Galena - and miss being able to go there so often. Thanks for bringing back good memories.

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  10. You spent a very wonderful day....your tree is really gorgeous....I decoarated mine yesterday.... and I posted it Today...hugs, Flavia...

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  11. I love going to Lake Geneva. There's a cute B&B on the lake that is cozy, especially during the winter months.

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  12. Your pictures show what a great time you girls had. Isn't it wonderful that ya'll got to 'really' meet. You two look like ya might find some mischief if left together too long! Heeehehe!

    I'm just thrilled ya'll had a good trip and a great visit.

    God bless and have an incredible day my friend! :o)

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  13. Hi Girlfriend...

    Ohhh...it looks like ya'll had a fabulous time!!! I'm sooo glad that you shared your trip and meeting with us! I'm sooo envious...would have loved to be there! Hmmm...not sure if I could have resisted those beautiful Christmas dishes or not...you know me! wink! Hehe...Popeyes looks like a blast and ohhh my gosh...that view is totally awesome! It really was picture postcard perfect! Sooo happy to hear that you had a wonderful time...loved the photos of you and Jane together...such pretty ladies (inside and out)! Glad to hear that you made it safely home too!

    Well my dear...you are just the busy little bee! Can't believe that you bought and decorated your tree as soon as you got home! You need to come and help me out with all my decorating...I'm sooo slow! Hehe! Anyway, your tree turned out fabulous! Yes...yes...please take more photos...some close-ups...I want to see more of that pretty tree!!!

    Love ya, sweet friend!
    Chari

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  14. Awww...you two are just the cutest!! Love the pics and what a wonderful trip.

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  15. Sounds like so much fun! I loved the photos.

    Your Christmas tree is gorgeous.

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  16. What a wonderful visit together! You and Jane look adorable together, and I'll bet when you were posing for pictures was the only time you two weren't busy talking.

    Talking is even better than blogging!

    How lovely to have "clicked" so nicely with someone from the blogging world.

    "Same time next year," hahahahaha! And that is NOT Olive Oyl hanging up in Popeye's restaurant, that's for sure.

    And Cindy your tree looks lovely -- I can't believe you got it up and decorated so fast! We are still tree-less here.
    Cass

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  17. Glad you all had a great time! Love the pic of you and Janie!

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  18. Sounds like you all had a marvelous time together!!

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  19. Oh how fun, Cindy! You both look so good but cold, lol. We used to live in Waukegan and went to Lake Geneva a lot but it's been a while. Wish I was there browsing at those dishes with you but unlike you, I probably wouldn't be able to resist buying....Christine

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  20. Cindy- I am so glad you had such a great time. Isn't it fun to meet kindred spirits..those that share a love of the same things we do? I think we are all just connected here somehow.

    You tree looks great. Off to bed for me..I have to be up at 4:45 AM for work. Hugs-Diana

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  21. How fun Cindy...Looks like you and Jane both had a great day plus shopping...Girl I wished I had blog buddies that lived closer sighs...Oh well probably justs as well as I would be out shopping all the time ha ha!! your tree looks beautiful my friend..Now you and Dan need to come to Calif.
    Love ya my Dear friend...Hugs and smiles Gl♥ria

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  22. Hi Cindy,
    What a wonderful time you had together with special friends, and what a gorgeous view from Popeye's! I love all your beautiful gifts from Jane. The mugs are so cute! Your tree is just beautiful, so colorful and bright! Enjoy these last few weeks before Christmas! Hugs

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  23. Great post, Cindy! Your pictures turned out so much better than mine...I guess my night time pictures need to improve a lot.

    I wanted to say that we had such a ball with you and Dan and look forward to this summer. And I guess we can now say that we are buddies...not just blogging buddies! :-)

    Sorry I forgot to post the pictures of the sweet ornaments and pitcher, but you know me...duh. I love your Christmas tree and wish we had gotten ours but I was feeling so stuffy and Al was getting over the same cold so we just sort of had a quiet afternoon.

    Talk to you soon.

    XO,
    Jane

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  24. Hi Cindy,
    you seemed to have had a wonderful time.Thank you for these beautiful pictures.Catherine

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  25. What a wonderful time it looks like you all had and those mugs are so cute.

    Willow

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  26. I remember when you guys did this last year. Blogland is such a wonderful place! I don't know how you resisted those dishes, but then I didn't see the price tag!
    Brenda

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  27. Cindy, It looks like you had a great time! I love the photos of Lake Geneva. I think it would be a fun place to visit, especially with good friends. Thanks for sharing your experience, Cindy.
    Blessings, Beth

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  28. Gosh that looks like so much fun.... How wonderful to have made such a sweet friend in Bloggyland...

    Huggies,
    Spencer

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  29. Cindy, this looks like it was so much fun. I love your photos of the carriage in the snow and the lake with snow surrounding it. They look like Christmas cards. Your tree looks beautiful, and I love the "quilt" skirt. laurie

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  30. I remember your meet last year, and this one looked great too! What fun, and very Christmasy scenery!

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  31. Looks like such fun. Especially the friendship, snow and shopping!

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  32. What a fun & beautiful time you had, Cindy! Love the carriage rode scene ...

    How's that precious wee one?

    Have a lovely Christmas week ~
    TTFN ~ Marydon

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  33. I can only imagine the fun you had. That view is gorgeous, but it does look cold. I think you were all brave to go to a parade in those temps! So glad you had fun!

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  34. I had to get over here and read this post before it got any later. I knew the two of you were getting together and then I read Blondie's post and I knew I couldn't miss yours! I get so excited when bloggers become friends off the web. Isn't it just the best? Since both of you are two of my favs, it stands to reason that I am thrilled ya'll got together again and are already making plans for the next trip.

    As for your pics? You know I love that mermaid, but the view and the carriage? Oh my dear, they are beautiful! Makes me want to (almost) get off the beach and visit the snow. Have fun and stay warm!

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Welcome,
I would love to hear from you. Come back and visit anytime. Warmest Wishes, Cindy