I met her face-to-face. And she's JUST LIKE YOU'D IMAGINE. Luvs is a love. No different than her posts. What a nice time we had - despite the fact that the Craft Fair had almost nothing that called out to either of us. But we walked its aisles and chatted. Then we chatted some more over a soda and sandwich.
Luvs brought me a get-to-know you gift - or rather gifts.
Here's my new Western Cookbook, coyote dish and cactus. Can't wait till I set up my next barbecue tablescape. Now I have to say one thing about the cactus. Only a member of this forum could give a person a plaster cactus and know for certain that it was the perfect gift. It just love it!

The book has two surprises. A wonderfully silly barbecue poster . . .

and the added bonus that it is more than a cookbook. It's more like one of those coffee table art books. The pictures in the book are incredible. Here's a sample of the kind of pictures that can be found on EVERY page. Pretty neat.

And here's the topper. I got a little hand painted tray. It's next to my bed. It will hold my watch and the earrings I always forget to take off until my head hits the pillow.

Wouldn't it be cool if we could have a Holiday Forum Convention? We'd have to pick a city were there are scads and scads of thrift shops.

What lovely gifts on both sides.
So happy you both had such a great time!!

How fun for ya'll. And what great gifts too.
I'm bummed about the pic also, oh well.
Syble

I'm so glad you two finally had a chance to meet up! Your gifts to each other are wonderful and it's obvious that you both put a lot of thought into them. How fun! Too bad about the picture of you two. I've done that myself, so I can sympathize.
Lynn

Yippee! Sounds like a fun day..too bad the crafts were not too crafty though!
Great gifts..OA, I know how much you will treasure that tray...I love the hand painted items Luvs sent me...just beautiful!

How cool that you guys got to meet up!! Lovely gifts. Love the painted tray, Luvs - its very beautiful. And the rocking horses are sooo cute.

Mo

Oh, how FUN is that! Great that you two could get tog & that you shared holiday gifts! Sounds like you'll both be back at it... thrift shoppin' tog (always great to shop with another enabler!) LOL ...try for another pic then! TFS! Jeanne S.

Other than no photo :o(, what a wonderful day. I'm so glad you two got to spend real time together, and now you have a great excuse to hurry up and do so again. WE NEED PICTURES!
Your gift exchange is so typical of both you special ladies,
and I'm not in the least surprised at the goodies you gave each other. That book is fantastic with all the neat pictures and poster in it! (and of course y'all know how I love anything horse-y). OA, I had to laugh at your comment about us appreciating a ceramic cactus. You got that right.
I remember finding a little barb-wire cactus and just knowing it would be a good gift...tho had I shown it to my family or local friends, they'd have thought I'd lost my mind. LOL. We all sure belong HERE don't we! I sometimes feel like a "misfit" anywhere else.
I'm so happy for both of you and your fun day.

hugs, Karen

What a lovely way to spend some time - visiting with a new (old) friend, thrift shopping, and lunching! All my fav activities. Great gifts you each brought and I know we'll see some wonderful tables showing them.

Oh Luvs, what a wonderful ending for your Birthday! I'm so happy for both of you. Wish your picture together would of turned out but it's just a good reason to do it again alright!

I'm sure you will both treasure your gifts from each other.

Punk

Wow Luvs, you are just too lucky to have met Karen & now OA!! How nice you both exchanged goodies and had such a fun time, too bad the pic didn't turn out!!!

NO ONE lives near Illinois, why would they????? UGH!!

I loved reading what OA had to say--and not a person here seemed the least surprized that I found and gifted a tacky plaster cactus! LOL I just love it that this group is so open minded and always ready for a creative idea no matter how "off beat" ;o)

I had originally gone looking for something to try to do a Levi table since I had nothing--found the little dog, then saw the cactus and thought maybe they'd go together. Then I heard from OA about getting together so went looking for something she might like and found the book. It seemed the perfect thing since she had mentioned having a barbecue and was so thrilled to see the poster insert and that it contained Route 66 recipes. It just made sense that the cactus and dog should go with the book! LOL

And I've already been planning my rocking horse Christmas table for next year--it turns out that I have a musical rocking horse that will probably work as part of a centerpiece and I've got lots of time to figure out the rest!

Yachter, yes I am so lucky to have gotten to meet a OA and Karen. I would just love it if we really could have a bus or stagecoach pick us ALL up for a fun day together! (And if our motor home ever gets close to your area--you know I'll be calling you to come meet up with me!)

Punk, according to my friend/neighbor, we get a "birthday month"! ;o) I certainly had a wonderful birthday WEEK, shopping for my new Cricut with DH on Monday, movie day with DH on Tuesday, Karen's post about my birthday and all the special wishes and greetings from all of you on my birthday morning, dinner and dessert with DS and family the evening of my birthday, getting to meet OA on Thursday and then lunch and TS shopping with my two neighbor gals yesterday. Couldn't ask for more--I'm a happy camper! ;o)

Luvs