First I need to thank all who took me to task and encouraged me to go. It was fabulous. It was the most fun, relaxing 48 hours I've had in a long time. It was cold, it was very rainy, and it snowed. But we were indoors, with picture windows with gorgeous views, large sewing stations, good light and snacks galore. Could I have improved it? Probably not. It was just lovely.
I took over 200 pictures. 171 were good enough to keep. Did I tell you that it was beautiful? It was gorgeous! This first shot was taken en route. There had been snow the previous week. I had no idea where I was going, so I was relieved when it wasn't up this snow-dusted mountain/hill.
Once there, I was delighted by the creek that flowed through the conference grounds.
Everything was lush and green. It felt alive. Like new growth and springtime, even though it was the second of March.
Inside, we were toasty and warm. Here is my work station, with my machine and 3/4 of an 8' table to call my own. I brought my own chair. That was important, because the chairs on campus are those stacking kiddie school chairs that you see in the background. (You can almost see the
Calico Mermaid traveling shop, also in the background.)
On Friday, I decided to work on quilting the baby quilt that I pieced in January. I still need to finish the binding. I'll try to give you a picture on my next post. On Saturday, I finished the quilting, then pieced another baby quilt. I'd cut the strips before packing for retreat. Sewing them up went very quickly.
uh oh. I spy with my tired eye. I'd finished all the blocks and laid them out for consolidation. There was one that wasn't quite right. When I flipped through the rest of the blocks, there were three!! Had there only been one, I would have left it. Had there been two, I would have ripped them. But three? It's a design choice and the ripper stayed in the box.
Here is the completed quilt top. You, too, can play I spy with my little eye. There are three oopsys in the quilt. If the baby ever sees them, he/she can wonder if I did it on purpose, was careless, or, well, they can write their own story about the quilter who put this one together. At least the points/corners look pretty good!
I got very distracted on the second evening, when snow began to fall from the sky. I grew up in San Diego County, and I was 18 the first time I saw snow fall from the sky. I was 20 before I saw it again, and probably close to 40 the third time. I don't have much snow experience, at all.
At one point the flakes were so big, they looked like feathers, drifting down from the sky. It was amazing! And the next morning? When we woke up? There was a dusting of snow everywhere. It was magical.
The walkways stayed clear, I guess because they were warm enough to melt the snow as it fell?
Up in the parking lot, my red car had its share of the icy white stuff. I hustled up to take the photo, before it all melted. There was no snow or ice on the road, so that was not an issue.
Back in the sewing center, I began another baby quilt. I got the cute moo-moo, baa-baa overdye from a vendor at QuiltCon. Yes, I went to QuiltCon. I quickly discovered that it's not my thing.
Okay, well, this is getting overly long. I'll leave you with two more pictures, of the sea turtle pincushion gifted to each of us by Georgia, our Calico Mermaid hostess.
It now belongs to Addison, who loves the little thing!
Thank you, Georgia, for such a delightful weekend. I've signed up for the next one, too, coming up in mid-May. Between now and then? Probably not a lot of quilting expected to happen around here. The
quilt show is April 13-15, and in quilt show terms, that's right around the corner.
Hope to see you there!!
None of my pictures of lupine or other flowers came out - they're either blurred or green. oh well. You'll have to take my word for it. I did stop, to get this beautiful meadow shot.
The usual residents were everywhere to be seen,
And I LOVED seeing quail, rather than tarantulas cross my path!
I took very few pictures at the retreat. They're the same as before, of women sewing, and fabric and smiles everywhere. The Camp grounds are just beginning to show signs of spring. Daffodils were blooming, and most of the deciduous trees had yet to show their leaves.
Or like this?
Lavender in the center wins.
When I finished the star, I started on my son's College Grad quilt. He graduated in 2007. It's going to take me a while...
Alas, the weekend ended all too quickly. I drove up on Friday, I drove home on Sunday.
On this close-up, I couldn't figure out what the "contrails" in the sky were. It wasn't until I loaded it on the computer that I realized I'd zoomed so much I thought the mountain was the sky and the foothill the mountain!
The trees block the view, and it's really tough to capture the beauty.
Finally! I caught the entire ridge, but it's far away...
Last chance, and bingo! I think I got it!
And I guess that's a wrap. It was good to get some stitching done, however briefly...
Our task was to take Chupacabra (the 10 year old stray who is now ours) to the vet, to be spayed.
I love seeing the snow-covered Sierras! My next destination was McDermont Field House in Lindsay, to talk about the upcoming Best of the Valley quilt show. (That's a dairy, off to the left.)
I love the contrast of the groves of oranges trees, full of ripe oranges, with the mountains in the background.
Or how about palm trees, with mountains in the background?
Does this place look familiar? I hope so. If you've been to Best of the Valley, this is where it has been held for the past two years. This is where it will be held again, come April 8-10, 2011.
Upon leaving Lindsay, I went back by the walnut property, to see how Chupa was faring. 
This is the approach from the east. You can barely make out the house through the trees. I had someone behind me, who was not appreciating my minimal speed on a country road.
The more time I spend out there, the better I like it. 
The bad news about her surgery was the results of the bloodwork. Apparently she's in kidney failure. *sigh* I'm not sure what that's going to entail. My understanding is she'll need a special diet. The vet wants to talk to cow-vet hubby, and clue him in. Hopefully that will happen today.
Hey, Bub, what are you doing here BEFORE the warning sign? Does your Mama know where you are?
On the way up, I saw two of these in my path. shudder. It's migration time, watch out!
And there are these to pay attention to...
And the reminder that we're in the Golden State.
The Camp itself is lovely...
Filled with lady bug houses.
See? I told you...
Actually, I think the lady bugs were also migrating.
All too soon it was time to come home. ooh, the drive back has some lovely vistas.
This time there were FOUR of these...
And one more of these...
And that's it for now. I'll have more next time...
