July 4th At Home Retreat!

I've had company the past few days and it has been WONDERFUL!

Charlotte and Jerry came up to visit. While I worked on projects here, Charlotte took up residence right next to me and was able to complete a few of her long time UFOs into completed tops. There is just something about sewing with a friend that can help you push through those "I DON'T WANT TO DO THIS" or "I DON'T LOVE YOU AS MUCH" projects. She finished a couple long timers while working on a gorgeous yellow/blue jacob's ladder variation as a leader/ender. I even caught her sneaking yellow and blue 2" squares out of my box there to include in her quilt ;c) Okay...actually I was begging her to please use some of mine in her quilt! My last few projects have been string pieced, (or wonky log pieced) and I sew several blocks at one time always using the last block as the leader ender for the next set, so those squares have been untouched for a while.

4th of July evening we went out to Prissy Polly's BBQ in Kernersville. What yummy BBQ and a fun time...they had a bluegrass band playing and the music was wonderful! I just wanted to dance and clap my hands. I checked their page online and they have live music weekly it seems, so I'll be going back. I love how Bluegrass music makes me feel like a kid inside. It's just happy :c)

After dinner we came back here to the house, watched some TV with the guys and we girls did some hand quilting just to give the "impression" we were socializing with everyone instead of holing ourselves down in the basement studio ;c) TNT had a Law & Order marathon going... [insert sound of gavel clanking]

Saturday we ran a few errands, sewed a lot, set up a sandwich bar for everyone for lunch (trying to keep things as easy as possible...just say no to cooking!) and sewed a lot more! A plan to hit an afternoon matinee at the movies turned sour, when we got there it seemed as if everyone and their extended relatives thought the same thing...the line was longer than long, and we bagged that idea and went to Captain Tom's fish restaurant for dinner. They have the best seafood for reasonable prices!

Back home again, we sewed a bit, and then had a fun evening of playing "hand and foot" card games while a storm raged through. We thought the power would go out, so I even lit an oil lamp. It felt like "old days" with the TV off, no electronic games or cable tv or anything. Just sitting around the table, playing cards and talking and laughing.

Charlotte and Jerry headed back to Columbia this afternoon. I crashed for a nap, and here I am! It was a wonderful visit. I'm really glad they came to spend some time with us.

Wednesday I head off for Sisters Oregon! I'm really looking forward to this trip. I'll be retreating at my friend Randy's house.....I've got a few projects I'm bringing. She's got an extra sewing machine for me. There will be 4 of us at her house,oh fun! We will retreat through the week and finish off with the Sister's Quilt Show on saturday!

Oh....no more bats, no more snakes...all is good on the wildlife department here in Wallburg NC...just in case you wanted to know!