August Retreat

 Can we really call anything the Diva's do " retreat" because we never do. We just forge ahead.
 This year as we gathered in Amishland  things were a little all over the place. One attendee, suddenly ended up forbidden by a doctor, to attend. She actually ended up in the hospital over the weekend so for once a good call by a doctor. Another forgot her medication and after a day of not feeling too great and certainly not feeling any better was loaded up, driven home for the meds and they were back by noon. Thanks Lynnee. I offered to drive but that's another story.
 Lori came in from Arizona. Fraejous Day, Kaloo Kalay. Facebook and emails are nice but nothing beats face to face.
 Crazy things started early. Kathy's machine was giving her crap. Syd fixed it. Then Syd's machine started sewing on it's own. Disturbing. So a day earlier than planned some of us were off to shop and to have the nice man at whatever the heck that shop is look at her machine.
 First we had the lunch adventure. It was chaotic. One of us blamed Lynnee as we never have bad service when she is not with us. One of us had many stories ( mostly true) to back up this claim. The stories kept us busy and laughing and food came and off we went.
 Syd's sewing machine could be and was fixed. She will need a new foot pedal but was set for the weekend. She and I wear them out at an alarming rate.
 There were secret projects going on. Some I don't even know about but I think they will involve Judy, Dianne and glitter modpoge. I tremble.
 Every one was busy except me. My sight still stinks, I can't feel my fingers all that well and I needed to catch up with people. In spite of that I got almost 30 strip sets made and a bunch of table runners pieced.
 Jan was in one corner with project after project coming out of her special boxes. At least one triple nine patch and at least one Eye spy. Pillow cases too, I'm sure. A hexie quilt.   Lori and her friend Jinny Beyer were spending quality time together.   Syd was sitting right across from me and I don't know what the heck she was working on. Borders for her Marie's scraps are all on and there was a celebratory beach blanket, start to finished pieced top made. Judy worked away on a challenge and some other things. Very artistic to be sure.   Dianne did that fancy make your own vinyl fabric pouch thing as well of a whole bunch of boring to make church charity quilts out of fleece. Oh, she made a giant bug too. I got to show her how to stuff it. I am very good at showing people how to stuff it but am seldom asked.
 Lynn worked away as well, I believe on a  Friendship quilt. Poor Susie, I don't know exactly what she got to do because I kept dragging her away to take pictures of what everyone else was doing.
 Fran continued work  from her plaid box. It will be lovely. She had something else going too but  I am drawing a blank. MaryAnn, working away on a long ago purchased pattern/kit.  And other things. Gwen was making adorable gifts for someone. And putting the first stage of the binding on a most wonderful and huge raffle quilt for our guild. Prudie had her nose to the grindstone finishing the top of Mary's basket quilt pattern. No, she didn't do it as the mystery, yes, she was keeping it. I happened to be standing with her in the hall while she was laying it out. I asked her those questions as did the next 5 people who walked past her. She didn't even strangle anyone but I could tell , it was getting old. We must start asking each other more interesting questions.  Caryn slaved away and finished quilting the most delightful piece. Yes, she will keep it. I believe she was getting ready to border a hexie quilt as well.
 Suzanne had lots of color out to work with and a finished top that had blown off the design wall at our gathering in March. So many pieces. Also some adorable soft toys.
 Lisa worked away, color, fans, quilting. It seems only yesterday that I showed her how to use the binder clips and pin up her first quilt. They grow up so fast.
 We had more shopping trips and we never all go at once so when someone announces they are "off" and does anyone need anything, there is usually a list.
 I taught them where to find sympathy.
 We had some odd lady, who was staying in the hotel, come for a waaaay too long visit one night. The desk clerk sent her up because, I am sure, was driving her nuts. Her husband was glad for the rest. At breakfast she asked when we were starting to sew. Susie jammed a pastry into her own mouth so the answer was not recognizable. We also kept the door a bit more closed.
The weather had a starring roll. First a bolt of lightning hit very close to the hotel and no, Dianne and I were not talking religion at the time. Syd and I ran around and unplugged all the computerized machines. It was one of those times when most everyone was out shopping. Late that night or the next ,it was down to Lori, Syd and Kathy. Kathy was on the floor wondering if she might just not have to sleep there as she didn't think getting up would be and option. Syd and Lori's machines were humming away when Lori stopped and exclaimed " that dripping sound is coming from inside". Kathy was on her feet because she can apparently rally in an emergency. The force of the rain had caused the window to leak right next to Lori. Things got wet but nothing ruined and no one electrocuted.  Syd ran to the lobby for help and old towels. Lori mopped up her stuff. Kathy checked the other windows. It would have been disastrous if we had not still been up and sewing.  We learned the answer to the age old question, how many Diva's does it take to get everything back into a Bernina accessory box. Answer, only one if another one remembers there is another full one sitting over there, untouched, to copy.
 We had meals together, meals apart. Meals in which some people walked away dripping because another person didn't see that giant glass of Diet Pepsi and sent it flying. It was epic and horrifying and thank goodness was only a short walk to dry clothes.
 Then it was time to pack up and get Lori back to the airport.
 Thank you Susie for taking the pictures that will be up soon.
 But can you really picture, love and friendship. Laughter and camaraderie? There has been some tough crap going on. Much still is and certainly there will be more to come but  we have each other, and our fabric and needles and threads and we all sit there making things to bring comfort to others and sometimes to ourselves. And oh, how we laugh. The angels mark it in their books so they don't miss it.
We missed those not with us but to be sure, we talked about you.
Thank you Syd for doing the grunt work of setting it all up. Thanks to each for the gift of friendship they brought. And special thanks to Prudie for the cheese ball. I didn't get any last time because Dianne got there first.