Weekend Wrap-Up XI!

OK so I wasn't really planning on linking up with Patty's Weekend Wrap Up, but then she mentioned it is the last one for the year, so I buckled under the pressure and gave in! As you all know, I had guests this weekend too, my bro-in-law and family from Sydney, on their way back home after a European vacation...! It was a short 3 day stay but oh so much fun. My 10 year old niece loves our dog Lucy and vice versa, so for 3 days they were inseparable like each other's shadows. My 19 year old nephew ensconced himself in a chair in the library and immersed himself in John Grisham and Facebook. We adults sat around discussing everything under the sun.

I prettied up the house a bit with some flowers and greens....

My sis-in-law knowing my weakness for red and orange gifted me this gorgeous Murano glass pendant she bought in Venice. This picture really doesn't do it justice, it has a little band of gold glitter on it too, it is stunning!

On their way to Hyderabad they bought this decadent yuletide log in Singapore which we all gorged on that night....dark chocolate with cherries and some liquer in it! 

They left Saturday night. On Sunday I whipped up a batch of oatmeal raisin cookies (as gifts as well as some for my table snack) 

and we met up with some friends at the Hyderabad Sailing Club, one of the old establishments in this city 

 More gorging followed

 It was a really relaxing leisurely lunch, the weather was picture perfect, the food great, the conversation even better

And before I sign off I MUST mention this fabulous surprise I received on Saturday, delicious chocolates from someone in Bangalore. There was no name as to who it was from but after some sleuthing I found out it was from a fellow blogger.....so nice of her!

Its a busy time of the year, so much to do, so little time. So take a deep breath, count to 10 and relax! (I can hear my mom saying "YOU do that first and then preach to others"). I will not be blogging too frequently now for a few days. I have to work on a gift for my son and son-in-law for Xmas, a charcoal sketch of their beagle dog......plus I have another cousin and hubby visiting this week. I want to time it so my first blog on the year 2011 - my giveaway post - is my 201st!!!!! So another 3 more this month! Have a great week all of you!