Throughout Friday afternoon my stitching friends slowly trickled in up through the dinner hour as we were able to get away from the real world. I decided that this weekend I would completely unplug, my laptop stayed home, and my cell phone stayed in my room on the 3rd floor. I'm not the only one who felt the same way! Bonnie did the same, Nurse Sharon (we have 2 Sharon's in our group and we identify them by their professions) actually handed her keys and cell phone to Ann with strict instructions to keep them until Sunday.
Sheila and Ann
Friday night we had a fantastic pot-luck dinner, with enough food to feed a massive army! Once everyone was there and settled in the great room I revealed my surprise... you know all those monograms I had stitched? Well I did one for each person at the retreat! They were VERY well received!
After this, Kathy was finally given back her Lighthouse RR that we had been secretly shuffling between each other over the last year. She had no idea who had it, and how it was looking! Kathy is just in love with it!
Saturday is always a treat, as mid afternoon we head out for lunch this year it was to Chateaux Butthead. Actually we head over to Ann's house where each year Dan prepares a fantastic lunch for us! This year Dan (Butthead #2) was assisted by sous chef Bruce (Butthead #1) and dessert expert Lucy.
Sylvia impatiently waiting for lunch!
Lunch was : Garlic bread (my piece didn't make it to the table), pork chops in a mushroom cream sauce, potatoes, mushrooms and asparagus, carrots, and Cesar salad.
Dessert was : Cheesecake topped with caramel and Toblerone chunks.
After lunch we all filed into Ann's shop, I don't know if I've ever seen it so full! After lunch and shopping it was back to the Timberhouse and ... stitching!!!!!!!!!!
We were visited by a fox in the afternoon, he was quite bold.
Nan stitching away
Saturday night we had so much fun, with a few door prizes courtesy of Knowledge & Needles. Then we had a blast with our ornament exchange (a suggestion I made last year), which was a resounding success! We've all agreed to do another one next year.
Nan received a special ornament from Adriana (my favourite 93-year-old stitcher). Isn't it fantastic?
The best reaction of the night goes to Judie!
Sharon was just amazed by the ornament she got from Claire stitched on 40ct (which later that evening Beatrice just had to try stitching on)
Here's Bernie with my ornament, Teresa Wentzler's Intermediate White Work Ornament.
I received this cute ornament from Rebecca
Barb brought in a wee tree for us to all show off the ornaments we received.
Marie-Paule and Joyce
It was fantastic to see : Liquor Store Sharon (she used to manage an LCBO franchise), meet her sister Debby, Joyce, Claire, Marie-Paule, Bonnie, Kathy (briefly), Beatrice, Judie, Anne, Nan, Nurse Sharon, Wendy, Ann (hostess extraordinaire), Bernie, Rebecca, Sylvia, Barb, and Sheila! Some of you I won't see again until the spring and I'll miss you!
Rebecca and Bonnie
All too soon, it was early Sunday afternoon and it was time to head home!!!!!!! This is probably one of my last stitchy weekends for 2009, if the weather continues to be good you never know I might be running the 401 again to visit with one of my stitchy friends and you'll be the first to hear all about it!
Well its the count down to the big event! My 3rd Degree Black Belt testing in Taekwon-Do. This Saturday is the first portion of the testing process. First I have an 8 page essay to hand in about my Teakwon-Do journey as a Woman. Then I'll be sitting down with 60 minutes to write a 10 question test. This is followed by a physical test. I have to do 250 push-ups, sit-ups, 6 minutes of skipping, this is followed by a 10KM run. On November 29th will be my technical test.
I'll be spending every free moment this week studying all my theory!
30 comments:
Looks like an awesome weekend!
Thanks for sharing your weekend with us, it is always nice to see stitchers gather to do what they love to do. Good luck with the studies.
Be always in stitches.
I like to think I get to go on your weekend retreats too... vicariously of course! It looks like you all had a great time. Good luck on the Taekwon do tests etc. You are certainly more fit than I.
My goodness what a weekend! I know you all had to have FUN! And my goodness about the testing your going to undergo...WOWZERS! Good Luck!
It was a great weekend and so nice to see everyone. Thanks for recording the event. Look forward to seeing you at the spring retreat.
Clare
I always enjoy seeing your photos from stitching weekends. I get to see what my two cyber friends, Kathy A and Beatrice are stitiching on.
Sounds like a great time. I love your photos of your retreats. They just look like so much fun!
And now we have to wait until MARCH to do it all again.
Lovely photos (as always) and it was great to see you!
I wish I lived in Canada!!! The retreat looks wonderful! Good luck with your TKD testing, Dani!
Oh Dani! What wonderful pics of your friends and so many amazing finishes!! That lighthouse RR looks breathtaking! and all the ornies are so beautiful. Awesome idea! What a fantastic weekend for you all. Thanks for sharing:)
AND GOOD LUCK this weekend! You're going to do great!
I'm with Karen -- wish I lived in Canada too. Sounds like you had a great weekend.
Great photo capture of the fox. He's a beauty!
Sounds like a great weekend. Good luck with your test
Oh hon - that looks like such fun! What wonderful photos you took. I am so glad that I was there even if it was for such a short time.
Take care and stay in touch.
I am so jeleous!! That looks and sounds like such a wonderful time! Thanks for sharing the pics with us. Love the buttheads!!
Loved reading all about your retreat Dani - how fun! Several years ago I purchased Stoney Creek's lighthouse patterns and the afghan to put them on - well it's never even got started. Your friend's lighthouse RR is fantastic. Someday......LOL!
What a wonderful retreat. I can see from the photos that everyone enjoyed. Wished there is one here
and you've captured the fox beautifully.
What a great weekend! Best of luck with the TKD testing.
You always have the best of times at your retreats. I'm jealous! LOL! Seriously, I love reading about your get-togethers with your friends.
Looks like everyone had a fantastic weekend Dani:)
wonderful photos Dani!, all look enjoy the time.
Fabulous weekend pics. Good luck with your tests.
The retreat looked like so much fun and relaxing. It's on my to-do list for someday when I move up to Canada (someday!).
Good luck next Saturday! I will be rooting for you all the way down in Boston. I know that it is a challenge but such a rewarding one. I'd love to see a copy of your paper when you finish it if you are willing to share.
Hugs!
Mary
Wow - looks like a super fantastic retreat! Good luck with the tests.
250 pushups?????? I can't do 3!!!! ha ha Who am I kidding...I can't do 2!!!! It sure looks like a fun weekend! So many people together all linked through a common love. I bet ideas were flying around!
That looked like so much fun!!!!
Looks like you all had a fantastic time & those ornies are gorgeous. :0)
Good Luck for Saturday. :0)
What a great weekend - thanks for sharing the pictures!
This retreat must have been so much fun. It's visible in each of your pictures. And all these wonderful ornaments. Great. I'm sure that your friends appreciated your monograms a lot. What a lovely surprise for them. Thanks for sharing all these pictures.
Looks like you had an awesome time at your retreat. Best of luck with your studies!
Great photos, thanks for sharing!
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