Friendship and Quilting

We took a break one weekend from looking at land. Kinda. We snuck one look in. On a Friday night we ran over to Cat Spring to look at some acreage about 50 miles from where we live now. Even got to drive on the land with the owners permission of course. It had some decent views but very very few trees but it was a nice looking piece of property. But it didn't make us want to run out and make an offer.

After looking we headed back down the road and stopped at a place called the Cross Roads Tavern. David's almost positive it used to say Cat Springs Country Club. I can't argue because I can't remember. Anyway for $10 you get all you can eat catfish, cole slaw, french fries, hush puppies, beans, homemade tarter sauce and a drink. OH SO GOOD. It's something they do every Friday night. All it is is an old corner grocery store/gas station in the country but it packs them in. When we pulled up the parking lot was full and there were cars park on all four corners around the place in the grass. Several of those folks were in the bar area and the eating area was busy but we found a place to sit and chow down. The catfish and the hush puppies were seasoned perfectly. Fried up crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. Tarter sauce was awesome. I do believe we'll be going back again.

 And back we went a couple of weeks ago. We met up with our friends Larry and Silvia for a yummy dinner of catfish and fixins then we headed over to Buffalo Creek event center. When they aren't hosting a wedding they hold music events. 

And that Friday night's guest artist was Max Stallings. And of course I can't forget his guitar player Bryce Clark on the left. David and I like to go see him and his wife play when we can.

Even though it was freezing outside that night we sat out on the patio next to the fire place. We were nice and toasty. Poor Silvia was fading fast though. She'd been up since 4:30am that morning and still trying to hang with us..

We had fun while it lasted. Actually they only left 20 minutes before the show was over so Silvia did good.
The next day I loaded my car to the ceiling with sewing machine, fabric, accessories, suit case and maybe even the kitchen sink and headed off to the RR-Retreats by Margie in LaGrange for 3 1/2 days and 4 nights of sewing, laughing, and friends. It was a blast.
We stayed up until 3am and got up by around 9. Oh there were a couple who got up at 6am but they did go to bed before midnight or earlier.
Every evening Margie cooked and served us the most awesome dinners. There was fiesta chicken, Chicken Enchilada, and mouth watering pot roast. Margie decorates the tables according to the dinner theme. She's the hostess with the mostess. After dinner we'd go back to sewing but by 9 or 10pm the wine would come out. 
One of the girls brought a bottle of uhm I guess it's wine called Kinky. Tasty but I passed on the Kinky and went for a bottle of wine I bought called Pink Flamingo. The bottle caught my attention. Bright yellow with a bottle top cap. Very yummy. 
Actually both bottles are pretty unique. Cathy G. I saved them for you.
Some posted on facebook that quilters shouldn't drink and sew hmm there were a few of us at the retreat that didn't know about that rule. 

I can only show you the back of this quilt for now. It's on it's way to Dallas for Logan one of the quads. Now each little quad has a quilt of their own. They had to wait a while for the quilts but I made them with love so does that make up for the slow production. And yes Sandy S. You are still waiting on yours. Slowly but surely.

 




Megan here was our youngest retreater and probably the most productive. I believe she finished up 3-4 rag quilts. 

She fit right in though. She is the daughter of one of the other retreaters. 




Ellen and Megan helped make it a fun weekend!

We had another Mother - Daughter moment. Denise and her Mom went out to watch the sun set.

Wow it was so beautiful and it set really fast.

How about a little show and tell.

 A quilt top in progress by Sandy 

Here's my purse. I took the class 2 years ago and finally got in and finished it.  I started carrying it the minute it was finished. I need to make a couple more. LOL.

Here's a couple more quilt tops in the works by different retreaters.   This cathederal window quilt I had just pinned on pinterest. I'm ready to try it next.  The Log cabin quilt was started at our last retreat back in March but Denise has now completed it. She basted the backing batting on before we left. All that's left is to quilt it.

On Tuesday 7 of us took a field trip to the quilt shops in Giddings. Took time before running inside to share our finds for a photo opt. The rest of the group stopped at a yard art shop so they didn't make it in our picture.

Ellen    Denise  Jane  Me  Judy

 This one was made by Margie and we all want to make one. She told us her process. Wonder if Accuquilt would make a custom die of the state of Texas and how much it would cost.  
I sent them a quote request to find out.





And these blocks were Margie made by coloring with crayons. Amazing. I heard of it before but had never actually seen the end result. Wow. Margie did a great job. We might even have Margie have a class on how to do this method and one for turn under applique. 
Like seen here in the Bunny for each month. Too CUTE!

We arrived on a Saturday and left on a Wednesday. It ended way to soon but we had fun and productive retreat. We've already scheduled another in March.  

Until next blog..... Buttons and patches and the cold wind blowing...the days passed to quickly while we were sewing.

Friendships are stitched one stitch at a time.