Ugly Sweaters, Cute Canines and an Offensive Card Game - How Was Your Christmas?

I've had the pleasure of spending the last three Christmas' with my friend Heather and her husband, T.  This year we decided to create our own Christmas sweaters, courtesy of Value Village.  We tried to purchase ready made tacky, holiday-themed sweaters, but apparently the hipsters have cornered the market on those for their Ugly Sweater parties, so we had to resort to a DIY with some plain sweaters and bags of ornaments.

The Festive Trio - T, yours truly, and Heather 

Due to chronic procrastination issues, I was frantically sewing metal stars on mine on Christmas morning.  I didn't feel so bad when I found out that Heather was doing the same.  T's balls starting falling off about mid-point through the day, but he carried on bravely nonetheless.  Heather also started shedding wooden Santas.  This is why we don't make our own clothes.

 I have no room for a tree at my place, so it was nice to see the little one that my hosts had set up by the fireplace, decorated with ornaments that reflected their eclectic interests.  I had given Heather the stuffed fox ornament last year.

T is a chef by trade, so I know there will be an excellent meal, and this year was no exception, with duck confit, collard Greens and a carmelized onion tart with goat cheese.  There was a Big Bang Theory Marathon on television providing some entertaining background noise, and I was introduced to what is now my new favourite card game...

I had been hearing about Cards Against Humanity for months from Heather.  It's my idea of the ideal card game as there is no skill or strategy or memory involved; basically you just have to have a twisted and inappropriate sense of humour, and not be easily offended.  There are two decks of cards - black ones with statements with blanks to be filled in,  white ones with words or phrases that range from "odd" to downright filthy.  A black card is put face up on the table and players each choose a response from their hand of 7 cards, and in most cases, an impartial judge decides whose response is the most entertaining and offensive.  As it was only two of us playing, we just tried to out-gross the other.  This may become a Christmas tradition.

Two very happy doggies - Gracey, a beagle/whippet cross, and Yukon, whose got some lab and dalmation in the mix.  

Yukon is the sad-eyed stoic

Gracey is Yukon's shadow, and always in need of reassurance that she's loved.  With that face, how could she not be?

It was a lovely Christmas day - no hours of travelling, screaming children, or obnoxious relatives -  just an afternoon spent with good friends who are kind enough to invite me share delicious food and fun for the holiday.  Thank you so much, you guys know I love you (you too, Gracey).  I hope your Christmas provided an opportunity to share food and time with loved ones, without too much wear and tear on the body and soul.