No Post in a Month? Where Did the Time Go?

So much has happened in the last month, and there's so much I want to share, so this may have to be done in two posts; we'll see.  I've had lots of fun, had a variety of experiences, and for sure, I've been tired a lot!

First, here's a report on the quilt retreat.  It was more fun than I've had since last year's retreat!  There were 12 of us there; nine of us had been there the past two years, and there were three new quilters who were friends of others returning.  My DIL and I were joined  by one of my church quilter friends; it was her first retreat, and she was amazed.  I asked if she would like to go back next year, and she said definitely yes because it was the most fun group of people she had been with in a long time.  Of course, my DIL and I definitely will return next year (if I'm physically able; I used my walker a lot this year, but that was no problem).

We came from all over Texas!  One from Port Neches, way down on the southeastern Texas Gulf coast, one from near Lubbock in west Texas, another from near Paris in eastern Texas, another from south central Texas, another from the north near the Red River, and the rest of us generally in what is considered North Central Texas.  That's a lot of miles between some of them!  But you would think we had known each other for years!  I think quilters from all areas just adjust and relate to one another very easily, don't you?  We just speak the same language, and share the love of quilting.

My friend, my DIL, and I shared the same room we've had all three years, and it was very comfortable.  Our  bath was right across the hall, as was the arrangement for all the bedrooms.  My DIL and I stayed up until almost 2 AM the first two nights, but my friend went to bed about 10 PM.  Some of the others stayed up until midnight too.  We all put on our pj's about 9 PM so we would be really comfortable and ready for bed when we decided to go.

Our hostess, the owner, surprised us by providing more meals than she had said, and her husband even cooked burgers on the grill for us one night.  Saturday afternoon most of us went into town to the quilt store, and then ate supper before returning.  We certainly did not go hungry at any time! You can see pictures of the beautiful place here.   It truly is as lovely as the pictures depict, and the hostess is wonderful and so friendly.  (I almost wish I could just move over there!)

Also for the third time there were three sisters (one older sister and a younger set of twins).  They were so much fun!  The older sister kept heckling the twins, so one time I stuck my tongue out at her, and she laughed and jumped on my case, asking why I did that.  I told her I had been a little sister, and totally understood how it was to be heckled by an older sister.  From then on, she never missed an opportunity to pick on the twins.  We all just laughed all the time.

Then it was also the third time the one from down near San Antonio and the one from near Lubbock.  They had been roommates in college many years ago, and have remained friends through the years.  This quilt retreat is a perfect solution for them to get to spend time together.  One is an experienced quilter, and I think the other one has been quilting maybe two years.  One is semi-serious, and the other is a clown!  (Her own self-description - "A Practicing Introvert"; yeah, right!  She kept us in stitches, just like she did last year!

It was the first time for the one from Port Neches; she is the friend of the wife of a former pastor, who was also new this year.  The pastor's wife had visited some during the day last year, but stayed with us the entire time this year.  Both were fairly quiet and perhaps the most serious ones there, unless maybe for my friend who was there for the first time too.

For sure, we all had a wonderful time!

Here's a few pictures of what we all worked on.

Older Sister to Twins

Twin - Quilt for her doggie

Twin - Totally Pieced and SID-quilted at Retreat

Pastor's Wife 

Friend of Pastor's wife - came longest distance from the coast

College Classmates; the one in gray is the "clown".

My Friend

My DIL's - Every block different!  VERY tedious!

My first four rows; last four rows together too.

So much pretty work was accomplished by all of us during the retreat!  I haven't been able to do any more to mine since I got home.  Baby quilt got it my way, and lots of other stuff I'll explain in another blog a little later.

These pictures show only what we accomplished, but if you've ever been on a retreat, you know there was so much more that happened.  We all had a blast!

When we went to the quilt store in town, the "clown" bought a pin for each of us that says, "What happens at quilt retreat stays at quilt retreat!"  We all agreed that is probably a good idea!

EXCEPT --- my camera should not have stayed at retreat!  It apparently fell out of my pocket as I was getting in my friend's car to come home.  I did not miss it until that night when I wanted to transfer my pictures to my computer.  Fortunately it did not get damaged, and the retreat owner found it on the driveway.  My son had to take me the next day for the hour's drive to get it!  I was so glad it didn't get run over when we backed out!

I have so much more to share, but this is enough for now. 

---"Love"