Love is in the Air

One day during retreat Jane left in the afternoon to go to Temple quilt guild to listen and meet the author of a book called  The Wedding Dress Quilt by Jeffree Wyn Itrich. This sweet girl came back with a copy of the book for me.  I can't wait to read it.  It's a quilt mystery. I didn't get a cookie and that is okay but I took a picture because it was cute.

 It was time for G3 book club meeting while I was at retreat so Kelli ran the meeting. They discussed Three Ordinary Girls by Tim Brady. It was about 3 young girls who became part in the support/spy for WWWII. They risked their lives to save the Jewish people and aid in the war however they could. The story itself was good but sometimes the book gave you way too much specific information that overwhelmed some and made it hard to read. These 4 silly girls still had a good time!

While I was at retreat Pamela's bridesmaids gave her a bachelorette party in Dripping Springs. The girls did and excellent job of decorating and planning. Each day had a theme. They made Pamela feel very special. One of the girls got sick and wasn't able to make it unfortunately but a good time was had. I had a hard time picking pictures since there was so many cute ones but I did my best.

 

 

Monday (10/14) I ended my last blog with the comment that I would be going to a wedding the next day... So next morning I get up and continue to unpack from retreat and planned on finishing the back for my Texas Flag quilt when David hollers from his office... "What time do we have to go to Magnolia?" Huh?! Oh Crap! It totally slipped my mind. We need to leave no later than 2 because the wedding starts at 4. This is going to be a busy week.

We got ourselves together and lined out for the day. And we left for the wedding. First stop - pick up Pamela and Kaleb and we were rolling down the road. The bride, Kindra was beautiful and so was the Momma of the groom, My sorority sister and long time friend Sheryl.

Congratulations to the cute couple... Aaron and Kindra Harper. I removed the color on one of the pictures. I love the look in black and white.                  
Aaron's son Hudson was so cute. He announced who he was loud and clearly that he had a gift for his Dad and new bride.

My beautiful friend and mother of the groom, Sheryl.

 

Two of Aaron's brothers making their grand entrance.  JR very calm and then there's Richard. LOL  This boy has always been about a grand entrance. Gotta love them. There's a total of 5 Harper boys and they each have a very charming and different personality. 

   

We had a nice time. Of course we had to get some selfies

  

And these two... Future son in law and and David are trouble when together. At one point they were laughing so hard at their own jokes we thought they were going to have a heart attack or explode. You can't put them together without some kind of mischief.  

 

The Mother and Son dance.

David and I actually won a contest. They had the married couples come out on the floor and they started with anyone married under 10 years sit down then 20, 30, and 40 and we were still standing with a couple others so they asked how long we had been married. Our 46 years of marital bliss won. 

These two will be married in 75 more days. I think we're almost all ready.

I know they're ready and counting down the days.

I couldn't get video of the cows being crazy when they heard the bucket shake with cow crack but if you click on the word Cows now it will take you to the video. At least I hope it will. 

Have you ever looked at this sign in the restroom. I kinda laughed because it looks like a man grilling not a changing table. Okay I know my mind works in mysterious ways. LOL

On the October 17th the Harvest Moon was shining bright. I caught it off the patio snapping a picture through the dessert willow branches.  My picture doesn't do it justice.

I guess I better stop for now or you will be on photo overload. 

Until next blog... “To love someone deeply gives you strength.  Being loved by someone deeply gives you courage.” ~ Lao Tzu

Retreat fun and creativity Part 2 finally

David and I took a quick trip so my part 2 of the retreat was delayed but I'm back and typing away.

So here goes....

Jane was hard at work making the Traveling pillow book bag. Too cute. She also made playing card holders. She was also the winner of my Accuquilt circle rag quilt die. I had a special drawing for anyone I knew that had an Accuquilt machine.  She also won a calendar that I created using pictures from our retreats. 

 

I finished adding borders to my Texas Flag quilt so it would fit our King size bed and shared Threadcount wine from Quilting Winery in California with the girls. I had to buy it and share for the name alone. It wasn't bad at all.  

Then I made a couple of pillow cases for the Sassy Stitchers Quilt Bee to donate to the CPS department that covers are area using the french seam method.  Surprisingly easy.  And I had Donna Marie teach me how to use my Bloc Loc Ruler. She taught me where to place the ruler and how. 

Elly finished a small quilt then started a red white and blue one and finished off making some Barbie doll clothes for her precious grand babies before we had to pack up..

Elly won a pin cushion, an led light strip for her machine and a Project Journal I created for her to keep track of all her crafts, quilts, doll clothes with pictures and notes. Hope she enjoys using it.  

When I got my first Journal I thought I won't use this but I was so wrong.  I put everything I create in it with pictures and notes.

Kathy hasn't quite caught the quilting bug but she is crafty. She did some embroidery this time and took care of some volunteer work and caught up on some paperwork. She won a Material Girls Calendar this year.

Vicki was busy down in her corner of the room. Working on quilt blocks, a bag and a mug rug. She won a door prize bag with clothes pins and some fabric.

Anita was working hard on a Christmas stockin. Those are sew time consuming but the finished product will be loved by the recipient I'm sure. Anita won a Material Girls Calendar too.

Connie finished her quilt top then worked hard on the getting the backing done so she could give to me and I could pass it on to the quilt. Connie won a door prize bag filled with 2 1/2" charms, sewing machine led light strip, and a Material girls T-towel with all the material girls names listed in the shape of a Christmas wreath of which I didn't take a picture of. Trust me it was really cute. She keeps us entertained with stories and antics.  This time she managed somehow while packing her car to leave locked the keys in the car. Thank goodness for another retreater with Triple A we only had to wait about 40 minutes for them to get there and 5 minutes later had her car unlocked.  

Denise was working on this treasure for her last project. These blocks kept her busy.  Her door prize bag had a tape measure, phone stand, led light strip and a charm pack.

Donna Marie won a notepad, magnet, binder clips, tape measure and some scissors. Pat was my last winner and her bag contained fabric for an apron, seam ripper, needles, pin cushion and a Material girls T-Towel.

Sunday (10/13) Before we left we had to take one last group picture. We had lots of fun and got lots of new projects started. Here's until next retreat...

Back row L-R:  Me, Connie, Kathy, Elly, Pat

Sitting L-R: Anita, Donna Marie, Denise, Vicki and Jane

Peace out my friends it's time to head home!

Back home to unload and rest while I can because tomorrow we head to Magnolia for a wedding.

Until then..When life gives you scraps, make a quilt...

And the Race is On Then again.... with some quilting too

 So it's almost time for a quilt retreat which using means cramming in normal activities and packing.

Saturday(10/5) David had a motorcycle race at Little River Academy he wanted to attend so off he went. He texted me later in the afternoon telling me he managed to hurt his bicep trying to keep the bike upright while warming up the bike. 

I'll tell you now that by the time he got home Sunday his bicep area was all kinds of pretty colors. He did a good job on it.  He decided that day he wouldn't race but was staying the nice and hoped to feel better for the next day of racing. He was sitting in the pits and looked over and saw the trailer tire! NOT GOOD...

So yeah that could have been a disaster coming home after the race which would be in the late evening.  If you can't see it the tread is splitting big time.

I just went and checked my previous blog post and saw the darn video's didn't post. But this time it processed. Here's the desk with a tail. 

The crazy cow one still won't post. oh well I'll try again later.

So while David was at the races I drove to Houston to visit my friend Barbara and gave her the quilt I made for her. She became our realtor back in like 1993 when we decided to sell our home in Woodlands Oaks subdivision that now no longer exists after the area flooded and most of the homes were bought out by FEMA and bulldozed down. During that time she became a friend. So that's the theme I picked for her quilt. Realtor equals houses, right?. Trust me every time she took us to look at houses she had to work. We needed options plus she had please us both. LOL   

I put a big house on the back of the quilt with pictures of a couple of her dogs, a picture of her with her dad and siblings and the door was a picture of her and her son Matt from just a few years ago.  lol Matt was probably probably around 10 and is now 40 something. Just a few years ago. LOL First off she was surprised to see me and was really surprised when I gave her the quilt. I'm glad she liked it. She told me she always wanted to ask me to make one for her but didn't. Well now she doesn't have to.

After spending a couple hours with Barbara I headed to a reunion of former Watkins MS staff to honor Tommy, who was a teacher and who is now fighting cancer. It's going to be an annual reunion after this They say. We pray Tommy will still be with us next year. Today we celebrated with him and caught up with old friends.

Such a great group of co-workers. We worked hard but found time for fun and maybe a few pranks.

This is a picture of Gloria(AP) and the Principal Diana. They were great to work for.
And another AP I worked for was Patty and behind us is Coach Roome. 

 

That's Tommy in the green shirt below. His life partner Andrew and that's Lisa in the middle. She recently won a nice poker jack pot. She was a cool cucumber during the game. I think it was Texas Hold'em.   The next picture of me and my backup in the AP (assistant principal office) Brenda. She came to my rescue many times. For breaks and just plan help.

It was a nice getting to see everyone but I needed to head home. Until next year...

Monday (10/6) I went to quilting bee and only managed to take two pictures. I was busy working on a project and so was everyone else.

Debra was finishing up a quilt for her sister in law. It came out really great! Can't wait to see what she will work on next. And Sondra finished her cute quilt.

Wednesday (10/9) came and it was time for Quilt Retreat but first I had something important to take care of. I had to drive to Bryan to take Pamela her wedding gown for her first fitting.  She had the biggest smile as they were taking it in. Wish I could share but can't reveal the dress until after wedding in January. 

We finished up, had a quick lunch at the Taco place around the corner, took her home and I was off to quilt retreat in Taylor for 5 days and 4 nights. 

Since I couldn't get there at check in I put my friend Donna Marie in charge. She met the retreat owner Lorena and directed the ladies to their rooms and helped them unload and even set up. Two of our friends couldn't make it because one of them, Donna Lynn's husband was in N. Carolina as lineman mechanic and the other one, Kim was at her mercy since Donna Lynn was her ride. Donna Lynn didn't have a place for her 3 dogs to stay. And no she couldn't bring them to retreat. She's always teasing me and asking to bring them with her. 

The girls missed a nice retreat at Jester's Wild. 

The accommodations were great and so was the food. The owner Lorena was super nice and accommodating. She actually had a station set up in the room with us to sew.. This was a first for us. Generally they come check on us but don't sew with us. At first it was a little different but she was just fine and was sew sew very helpful when anyone needed help with a project.

Donna Marie finished a quilt while there. She even pieced the back.  The front of the quilt and colors were sew pretty. The pattern on front I believe is called Annie's Arrowhead using layer cakes.

Donna Marie got creative when showing off her quilt by twirling with it.

Pat was working on a 9 patch quilt of fabric that had a food theme. It was really cute.

And Pat made some pillow cases and a bag. Very productive!

I think I better do a part 2 or you'll be on retreat overload.

 This group made the retreat a success with all the laughs and creativity..  

I'll get part 2 posted as fast as I can.

Until then...“Find a group of people who challenge and inspire you; spend a lot of time with them, and it will change your life.”