proof that i do at times get social...

 i was around lots of other humans this weekend. tonight it was a walk to the beach with friends and then a walk around the ski for women route to see the lights and decorations. since I'd had very little to eat all day the bacon and s'mores would have to do it's best to fill me until i got home again.

 this particular tree was a wee bit creepy, but hey it's all in good fun.

 the trail was fairly icy the entire route down. we all had cleats so no worries.

 the hosts for a party i attended last night...the hosts are in the middle, not the dinosaurs on the outside...this was a little game they had...took a few volunteers, got them suited up and then let the games of pinata begin...a little different than the pinata of my youth but much more fun.  haha.

 i knew enough of the guests to not have too much social anxiety.  it was a nice gathering...good food, good company, good fun.

 came home and was busy working on the gift bags for friends. tomorrow is for sure tree decorating day.

 got some decorations put together to hang and also worked at the craft table for a bit. 

 opened a fun package from a friend i used to work with in Ketchikan.  the dogs helped, of course.

 cutely decorated trees

 from my little photo shoot at Bass.  may return....their scarves are in the pack so tomorrow perhaps we will attempt a few pictures with us all in the scarves. 

 i better load up with treats to take if i want to get that done.  very little ice on the beach compared to every year I've ever been.  where is my ice?  boo.

 the trail is supposed to be skied to see all the trees, but of course, no snow this year so nearly all were walking.  there were kids and some parents skiing it though. 

 no falls for my friends and i all day despite the icy conditions...cheers!!

 dinosaurs in action!!

 with a few friends at the walk.  L and D had headed home, i waited for the crew that stopped at the beer garden.  KR was never seen from again....though i did hear from her.  i knew she'd be enjoying the photo ops and since she survived the icy walk i knew she would make the loop injury free.  :-)

 one pretty bit of ice.  the sunset was 3:39 and the low tide was at 3:40 so it was a perfect time to head down there.

 just a stuffed polar bear and a few labradoodles.

 Ivy is not interested in the ice...she was just returning the tennis ball while i was snapping ice photo's

 they made a new friend with Yeti.

 hopefully, we will all walk again...it took us too long to get together this first time.  super nice folks!

 trees watching you...thankfully, the eyes were not noted to be following me.

 at the s'more making area.  i enjoyed chilling by the fire and watching the parade of folks cruise by and all the marshmallow burning. after being outside all day you do get a wee bit chilled so nice to reheat by the fire.

 both of their leashes broke at the clasp part over the last 24-48 hours...so on the way home i stopped for new leashes...this prompted some dog Christmas shopping.

 one tree was giving out these Christmas tree lights which were a big hit...with both the young and the old. :-) 

 big candy decorated this tree.

 good puppies sitting for yet another photo op...some times I'm happy i don't speak dog and i don't think I'd want to know what they really think anyway.

 i will not be taking them to a dog psychic.  who wants to know you are traumatizing your dog?  in my mind the not knowing is another perk to the dog over kid thing.  kids will not be too shy to point out all your many faults...dogs, well they can't. 

 groups/companies sponsor a tree i think.  they are also the ones who hand out the swag if so desired.

 if you don't get there early the swag is gone...i suspect those lit up trees went pretty fast....how many would one buy for an event like this. 

 fun to see the trees all lit up in the woods though.  funny though with it getting so dark early you start to lose your sense of time.  my friend was commenting about the late hour when i pointed out it was really just after 5pm.  the darkness does make you feel like you want to crawl into bed super early and sleep in totally late.

 the sunset was fairly dramatic....

 the folks that do an instrument tree didn't put as many up in the branches as they have in past years.  this bass was lit up though.  it's usually a favorite tree of mine...how cool it is to have a tree decorated with real instruments. they were in a different location i think as well.  i wonder if you just get there early to pick a tree or is it pre-assigned?

 a wonder woman tree.  haha.

 usually by now you can't really get too far down the beach due to all the huge chunks of ice

 they had an ornament exchange at the party last night. there was quite a bit of stealing...which is what makes it fun...in the end i got the one i stole, stolen...it was some gnomes...they were cute...alas...i headed to the tree and pulled a new package out...i was all happy when this little guy turned up.  there was only a few after me so i ended up getting to keep him.

 the pinata battle...haha.

 the phone pictures always load in bizarre order.  oh well. i suppose i could do them one at a time to put them in a less random order.

 they sure look adorable in their scarves.  :-)

 this was great...pray for snow.  haha.

 the Grinch has made a fairly regular appearance.

 more of the beach walk.  minimal wind down there as well, which was good because it has gotten a bit colder these last few days.  I'm good with that. i hope it stays that way for a bit and lets the waters freeze up as they should do. 

 this was the sunrise view i woke up to the other day...this is taken from my bedroom window.  nice.

 another of the pups with the polar bear.

 back down to the beach trail.  this last little bit was the most dicey. no injuries...it was worth the trek down though i think. the dogs all had a grand time for sure.

 when i realized there was a gift exchange i headed to the craft table and made this little ornament...it had said, unique.  in the end it got stolen a few times, which probably saved me the sloth.  made me happy to see my little creation fought over. 

 those are smaller bits of the sponges i found this summer and dyed.  they are working out on the crafts this year. 

 i should post a few of those pictures on pinterest since i couldn't find anything crafty for sponges except using them as sponges when i was doing searches. 

 in the end i came up with my own deal. will hand out some gifts tomorrow...hopefully my friends like them too.

 more of the cute photo session. 

 i think we are all ready to turn in.  fun day tomorrow as well. 

thankful for:  a.  social events that are of the right size and social mix so i don't stress out but just have fun  b.  hanging with friends, old and new.  c. lights in the dark...so fun.