Mission Not Accomplished

The weekend is about half over and I have not done much at all. I seem to have contracted some kind of crud-you know: runny nose, cough, etc. And that is my excuse and I am sticking to it!
I needed an emergency trip to Little Quilts this morning. I lost my magic wand last weekend. It was such a pretty blue one. Anyway, I don't know of another shop that has them-ergo drive to Marietta. I was there before the shop opened. Also got some "wicky wacky" while I was there. Now I can make the 10 minute table runner. (It will probably take me more like 2 or 3 weeks to get that done).
I didn't even hit tiny Stitches on my way back. I went back via Alpharetta to drop off the Halloween pillowcases for Sarah and Emma. I met them at the soccer field and took Emma to ballet while Sue coached the soccer team. Sue coaching soccer really amuses me. I wish I could have seen it. Rob had to leave at half time.
After ballet, we all had lurch together and did a little retail therapy. And then I headed home to the couch. I am wiped out. Hope I feel better tomorrow. I want to play!!

Quilt Camp-the good, the bad and the ugly

First off: there was no ugly. But there was lots of bad!!!! It was Splendor in the grass as you can see. Moda Man took the gang camping. I thought that Bobbin and Thimble were staying home. I guess they decided that they did not want to miss anything. I believe that Moda Man and Fat Quarter had a rather good time. I am not going to tell you what Brenda now has renamed Fat Quarter. So that was the bad of the weekend.

Here is the dynamic duo-Sharon and Shannon. 2 very special ladies that work their tails off to make a wonderful experience for those of us not fooling around in the grass. This year's quilt is really neat. Picture to follow later on-it is not done but it went home with Peggy for a couple of weeks. It will be at Patchwork Cottage. Luv, luv luv the fabric (Moda of course) Thanks to Peggy and Sarah no blog for helping me pick it out.

Sharon and Shannon always give out prizes and lots of goodies throughout the weekend. It is a wonder I could get my car loaded because I came home with more stuff than what I went out with. The wrap up this morning was yet more prizes. There were 5 really good prizes. I could not believe my luck when Sharon called my number. I WON!!!!!! I never win but I WON!!!!!!

You ask: what did I win?

FREE RETREAT IN 2011!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I am one happy camper because this is such a special time. I have been 8 years. Cindi, Louise and I are the only ones that have been there since the inaugural Goin' Sewin'. The place is beautiful, the quilters are awesome and we even got French Toast Yes!!!!

Ready, set, here I come..when it gets light out!

FaFaland..the real name-It is hard to believe that this beautiful place is but a mere hour and a few minutes from home. It is south of Covington, Ga on a 2 lane road in the middle of nowhere.

And then you drive for a couple of miles on the property. This is the gatehouse(unmanned). The cows are content and do not need to escape. This is where you leave all of your concerns of the real world. They remain there until you pick them up on the way home.

And here is where I plan to spend my waking hours for the next few days. In the company of some great friends and sew my brains out. I will also be laughing a lot and eating some pretty nasty food but I am not there to eat, so who cares. I don't have to cook it, clean up afterward or even think about menus. Just need to present myself at the designated times and eat.

All my sewing stuff is set to go-just need to pack the clothes...again toiletries and comfie clothes and I don't even have to coordinate!

Just need to wait until the sun comes up! Can you say "ready to go"?

Moda Man is hitting the road again

Moda Man has loaded the jeep. Fat Quarter is riding shotgun and Bolt is in the back. The kittens are staying home-they don't feel the need for camping. Moda Man is ready to participate in the Goin' Sewin' experience. I am so ready to go play out at FaFaland. But then I was ready to go several months ago. I am thinking that this is year seven for quilt camp. This is my kind of camping. Looking forward to 3 days of pure bliss! Come on Thursday!!!

Countdown to camp

I am so ready to head out to FaFaland and camp. Hopefully only one more day of work. Praying that the state does not come in tomorrow. I have started collecting "stuff". I have piles in the living room, my bedroom, the kitchen...so much to take. Getting my clothes together..not much time or thinking involved there. underwear and comfy clothes is all I need. But then there is my sewing needs!

Haven't done any sewing stuff since the weekend. I keep falling asleep on the couch. The fabric is cut for the main project planned. And right this minute, I am thinking it is once again time to settle down on the couch with the guys.

this week-on fast forward?

That is a train heading north out of NYC on the Metro North line. It was fun to watch the trains as we cruised up the Hudson.

I am not sure what happened to this past week. I got home from NY on Sunday evening and went to work on Monday despite the holiday. Too much work to do since only had one day at work the week before. Tuesday and Wednesday I went out after work! 2 days in one week!! Time spent with good friends and good food to top it all off.

Now I am into the usual Saturday chores. A little backed up on the laundry.

One of the items for this weekend is to begin to pull together all the stuff I need to take to quilt camp. I have to figure out what projects I am going to take with me as well as the project that is on tap. I need to cut the strips for that as well. And then there is snack shopping.

I learned 2 things while spending time with the ladies (and Pat!) on Wednesday night. One was that the quality of wide back fabbie is not the same as the "standard" fabric width. Who knew? The other thing is that I really love using straw needles to sew on binding. I need to go get some more since I am afraid I will lose the one that Becky gave me. i can't believe the difference. Only downside is that I need my needle threader close at hand as there is no way that I can thread this needle. I have a hard enough time with a sharp.

I read Becky's blog and her cleaning of the sewing room. Mine is in dire need but will have to wait until after camp and the cleaning lady because it will probably take me a month to get it done. Good job Becky!!

Reunion Weekend

Most of my adult life was spent and involved this sacred space. A tiny church in Northern Westchester County. Babies were baptised here and later confirmed. Sue married Rob on a very snowy Sunday afternoon here. The ties are strong and the friendships deep and long lasting. It was a powerful weekend to renew friendships and acknowledge the loss of those departed. There were lots of tears all around.

Cruise up the Hudson in the evening. I so miss the Hudson River valley. There is no place like it. Didn't get a picture of West Point as I was too busy eating! This is approaching the Bear Mt. Bridge.

To my newer friends..you drive over the bridge and head up the mountain-a 2 lane road nicknamed "the goat path". No barriers except a low brick wall. It is a challenge to drive and I always breathed a sigh of relief when I made it to the bottom!

Kathy-my BFF. We have been friends for over 35 years. She even let me drag her to Alaska. She hates to fly, hates heights and bridges. We did all 3

This picture really made me laugh. It was part of an album given to a departing clergy person. I was MUCH thinner then. It was after surgery. Not sure of actual date but it is the early 80's.

I know you can't go back. But it was sure nice to visit. And I have yet to find a parish home that can come close to St. Mary's, Mohegan Lake, NY

The reason for the reunion was to celebrate a decrepit building, long due to be taken down. The plan is that finally it will be taken down before it falls down. It was bad 20 years ago.
The building to be taken down is the parish hall, affectionately called the "Pine room" as it was paneled all around. It was built without a solid foundation. The floor rises and settles depending on the weather. I thought I got a picture of it but alas, I must have been too busy talking! go figure.

Chillin' in NY

It is almost time to head to the airport and fly away home. I wonder if I could bottle some of the cool air up here. It was 51 when we got up this morning! It is 75 now and you can tell that summer is over for the NY crowd. It was great to see some old friends and renew many wonderful years when the girls were young. I took pictures of pictures that were in the albums. Kris is going to crack up at some of the stuff floating around of her. One of me in my thin years-along time ago in a galaxy far away!! If only I could pack up the church and bring them to Atl. This place is so special and quite unlike any other church I have ever been in. There is no church at home that even comes close. Enough whining!!
Have to go home and make nice to the guys

Baby, it's cool outside

Dear friends in the Atl, I am sitting in the kitchen, no air on, windows open and it is in the 60's. So when can we expect this south of the Mason-Dixon? Earl missed NY so the cruise on the Hudson was wonderful. I'll upload pix later on. There is no other place quite like the Hudson River valley. Just a whirlwind weekend with old, (old) friends.
Don't worry kids, I am taking lots of pictures of the people you grew up with at St. M's. I even took a picture of the Pine room floor! Traffic in Mohegan Lake on a Friday afternoon-kind if what we are used to at home. Kris the road was Wood St. More adventures and more people today. Kathy is serving breakfast..gotta go