Hmmm---Seems I Didn't Finish My Last Post!

There's more to the story of our church quilting group.  I got interrupted when the doorbell rung, so I guess I must have clicked on Publish rather than Save and Close.  I don't know for sure.

The rest of the story is really rather sad.  When the church quilters began several years, before I joined the group, there were about ten ladies who were very committed to the group, and they came every week.  Those were the days of hand-quilting too, and they did beautiful work,  Then one by one they began dying off, literally, until the group the last couple of years was down to three dedicated regulars, and three others who came when they didn't have anything else to do.  One of those has now moved to a nearby town.  Most often there were only three of us there every week.

Both of the other two are dear friends of mine, and both are excellent quilters, though the last three years we've sent the flimsy out to a long arm quilter for the quilting.  On the last quilt, "Diamonds Jubilee", as I recall none of the other ladies, outside the three of us, have worked more than two days on this quilt.  Basically, we three did it all. 

Here comes the really sad part.  One of my two friends is moving to Arkansas by the middle of October!  That leaves two of us who are regular!  The other lady left is our group leader.  The three of us talked things over, and the leader called a meeting of the entire group and had the meeting time put in the church bulletin Sunday before last.  Then she called everyone to remind them of the meeting.

The three of us showed up on time, along with the 90-yr. old who can only press, but loves to help when able to be there.  Later another one showed up, but said she could stay only a few minutes.  Then another showed up, explained that she had a hair appointment and is going to be busy until after Christmas.  Neither of them even suspected what was going to be discussed, other than "plans for the coming year".  Within a few minutes both had left, leaving the three of us and the little old lady who needs the fellowship.

The leader announced that one is moving very soon, and suggested that we might want to consider disbanding.  The little lady said she thought that was a good idea, but she hoped maybe we could still get together once a month for lunch maybe.  We all agreed that would be a great idea, and set the first lunch for tomorrow, as the last time the one moving will be with us;  makes me sad! 

Both the leader and I have nice sewing rooms, and both of us are crippled a bit, me with my cane and vertigo, and she having had major abdominal surgery that limits her to lifting no more than 10 pounds.  The one moving has been doing most of the machine lifting from our cars to the quilting room and the back to our cars, and now she is leaving the State.   So-----tomorrow we four will meet at 11 AM for lunch.  As usual, the other two have other places to go. 

It makes me so sad that my dear friend is moving away, but she and her husband want to move to a quieter place, a town of about 4500 in northern Arkansas, surrounded by lakes and forests, and lots of quilt shops and shows.  I almost envy them!  They are both retired, and this move has been on their bucket list for a few years.  Now it is finally happening.  The closing dates for the property they are selling and the one they are buying are set for little more than two weeks away!   They are packing like crazy, and the mover is already scheduled.  I'm happy for them, but I will really miss them both. 

For most of her adult life, she had been an excellent seamstress, but I got her started into quilting a few years ago.  She fell in love with quilting, and she sews so fast!  She can make 4 or 5 quilts to my one!  She is about 15 years younger than I am, and she always calls me every night to check on me on days we don't see each other.  I lovingly call her my 'caretaker'.  The other friend is already beginning to take her place; or----maybe she knows she will miss our friend just as much as I will.

What's more is that I will really miss our quilting group getting together each Thursday.  However, what's left of our group (my friend and the little 90-yr. old) did agree  to meet for lunch one Thursday a month.  Tomorrow we, as a group, say our goodbyes to our friend who will be gone before our next gathering.  So sad!  Of course, I'll see her before she's gone, but not as a group again.

Got to shut my mouth and bind my fingers!    I've got to get hanging sleeves on a couple of quilts for a nearby show on October 20, literally the day my friends leaves for Arkansas!   More about the show another day.  My DIL is entering her bargello Christmas tree skirt.  Got to get the entries in this week!

Thanks to all of you for the sweet comments about our church quilt.  I guess it's best I didn't get that post finished with all this sad song and dance!

I'll try not to be so long in posting again.

---"Love"