retreats

Well I haven't reported about the fun at the quilting retreat or the lack of fun with a sinus infection or the fun at the spinning retreat so here goes.




Thursday, Sept.11th, Jocelyn, Jill and I loaded my little Honda wagon with 2 sewing machines, two irons, one ironing board , two office chairs, two suitcases, cutting mats and rulers, table extension, 2 bottles of wine ,1 bottle of Carolines, 1 bottle of Fireball , makings for tea and coffee, table raisers, 2 quilting tool boxes, 1 box of donuts, 1 box of home made muffins, 2 project bags plus 3 people with large purses. Headed out to Rosemary Heights, stopped for lunch at a Mexican Restaurant, then drove to the retreat and unloaded all the above mentioned items. My daughter , Jill, who was taking my car for the weekend was heard to say "Dad can pick them up. I am not loading all the stuff again." Guess who got to pick us up and help load stuff??? Mind you she didn't have to load the alcohol or the food but we did have Shelby this time so there were 4 of us in the car.
I can't believe it..... no photos of the quilting retreat. Hopefully Lisa and Tracey will share theirs with me. I have been falling down in the photo department lately .................. badly......... I need to get battery charger and batteries.
I made a table runner that now needs quilting, did some siggy blocks, put borders on my sons quilt, sandwiched my daughters' quilts, started a pumpkin quilt .................. Yes I know I said I wasn't going to start any new projects but I DON'T have an Oct. wall hanging,....... I DIDN'T have a pattern for it,......... had to RELY ON MY MEMORY of a quilt I saw in a shop ........ ALL THE FABRICS CAME OUT OF MY STASH...... Who would think I would have 9 different orange fabrics and it is not even close to my favorite colour.......................... Is that enough justification for starting a new project?????????????.......... if not how about I made the rule about no new projects so I changed the rule to read 'no new projects except the Oct. wall hanging'. You always need to ask "Who made that rule?"
We all had a great time and got many things done. Lisa double booked herself again so only stayed Thursday night and morning. Margaret had things happening in her life so was only able to come for Saturday. Those two need to get things better organized as I really miss not seeing them. All told we had 11 people and a great time. Lots of food, quilting, show and tell, and laughter. I had 2 finished UFOs to show.
You really need to try what Inge calls "Fruit" ......................... we all got our share of 'Fruit" on this retreat . Fruit= home made blackberry liqueur. WOW is that yummy............... we told her just to bring fruit next retreat........never mind the snacks.
Home on the Sunday and boy was I tired.

Monday morning woke with a head ache........... after 3 days of this headache I went to the Doc as I was beginning to think I had a sinus infection. I was RIGHT ............ antibiotics and nasal spray..... for 2 weeks. Told him I had to be better for the spinning retreat.
Monday, October 8th, Thanksgiving dinner was at my daughters as she likes to cook and I am getting tired of doing all the big family gatherings. We had a great time and wonderful food.................... Turkey, stuffing , gravy, mashed potatoes, yams, broccoli, carrots, corn , brussel sprouts, ambrosia salad, cabbage salad, home made cranberry sauce, buns, cornbread , apple and pumpkin pies...................... great meal.

Tuesday, Oct 9th.......... Guild spin-in at Knitopia's new shop in Langley ................ lots of lovely yarn but Lynn wouldn't let us buy anything as the store was closed. We were only there for spinning. We have several vendors in our guild so she was not going to take advantage of a captive audience by selling anything. Now I have a good reason to go back .......... LOL ........ do I really need a reason to go to a wool or fabric shop .............................. Not.
Again I didn't take any photos.

Spinning retreat, Oct. 12th .......... Friday morning Gail and Sharon stop by to pick me up. We load my spinning chair and wheel, bag containing fibre, kniddy-knoddy, and ball winder, suitcase and large purse with books, sock knitting, and scarf yarn. Spinning retreats don't require as much baggage as quilting retreats ......................Thank goodness. Part way to Cache Creek we open the lunch that Gail made (we originally were supposed to each bring our own lunch)........................ egg sandwiches, brownies, apples and bottles water. It is so nice to be spoilt. We arrive at the retreat and unload our things.... get settled in our rooms and go to the spinning room. Lots of hugs from people I haven't seen in ages. So nice to see every one.
I am spinning some multicoloured turquoisey fibre bought at last years retreat and some silk I had dyed green two years ago.
Every once in a while I get up and walk around to chat and see what every one else is doing. I need to move every so often and I am nosey. Show and tell Friday night ............. WOW .............. what a talented group of people. I hope Gail or Lynne got photos of all the show and tell. What an inspiration all those projects were. Speaking of inspiration how about this for socks??




All socks were hand knit and most of them were hand-spun. That is me in the very bright skirt. Sheila has nick-named me "SHE WHO WILL NOT BE NOTICED". Everyone was given a free book donated by the family of a former spinner, plus there were magazines for the taking. Saturday we did the gift exchange. I received some bright pink wool and a drop spindle. I am going to make the wool into a cushion for my spinning chair.
We had 4 vendors.............................. with a lot of yummy fibery things. I was very tempted by a lot of things but only purchased a small amount of dyed mohair locks and some fuschia pink mohair to go with the turquoise I was spinning to brighten it up.
I need to take some photos of my spinning to post here.*

Sunday after lunch we have to pack up and go home. I could have used one more day but ................. now I will look forward to the next retreat.
The food was delicious. What a weekend full of eating , spinning , talking and Laughing.