Julian!

Celebrating the Creative Connection, what we do so well and so effortlessly, picking up and dropping threads of conversation, supporting each other in life's challenges, celebrating life's highlights, the weekend was stellar and I loved every minute.

Susan did a wonderful photo essay and it appears that I did not pick up my camera nearly as often as I might have but here are a few highlights....

This is rather darn close to home, he almost came to dinner! The wildlife was abundant and best observed from the inside of our air-conditioned palace

A youngster, gotta love those ears

Val modeling Descending Nights and her new earrings

Gail's fashionable mat, with matching scissors (why of course)

We even pack artistically

Thanks girls, it was wonderful! Next year Laguna Beach.....I can't wait

2nd Annual Fall Retreat

Of course, we started the weekend off on the right foot.

There were greetings:

And farewells:


Judy got us there without spilling a 6-tier wedding cake in the trunk:


And Pat's house far exceeded any expectations we had:



We were Surrounded with Wild Life which some of us city girls just could not get over!




We launched into our Terracita earrings shortly after arrival with the natural light streaming through the window onto Judy's beautiful beading mats. (I swear I must have picked up somebody else's camera because I was sure I got a shot of our work area!).

Cocktail hour came nice and early.



And as night descended, Val & Gail traded off wearing yet another one of Marcia's magnificent designs.
Friday evening was my night to cook so I made New England clam chowder, cole slaw, & crabcakes. Judy spoiled us with cheesecake for dessert. And after taking measurements (which was most traumatic for Gail), we sat in front of the fireplace knitting for the rest of the evening.

Saturday morning, Marcia made some Mark-worthy waffles which were awesome with fresh strawberries on the side.
On to Mountain Beads store to find some essentials to finish off our Terracita earrings. And spoiled us, we returned home to an exquisite Waters quiche, heart of palms salad complements of Gail. We worked on Under the Mast, beading the afternoon away nibbling on Judy's surprise Bear Claws. When cocktail hour gratefully arrived, we were beaded out (as you can tell in this picture of Judy)!

We were soon revived with drinks in hand,
awaiting Val's awesome beets/mashed potato dish with meatloaf (made with 3 different kinds of ground beef!) and fresh green beans.

And of course, she did not disappoint!



Afterwards, we continued with our knitting in front of the fireplace.
Because that is exactly what we wanted to do! And oh, yes, eat Judy's freshly made apple pie with pilfered vanilla icecream. Heaven.

Sunday brunch was at the Pine Hills Lodge where there was a cat. Beginning and end of story.

Returned to our own lodge where Val finished her incredible Under the Mast medallion and, well, I sort of did too (with Marcia's help), burying a message on creativity behind the Huge crystal! (I can't remember what it said! Anybody?)
And after sun-drying the sheets (Which Marcia gets credit for) we headed back to San Diego and sea level. Happy, happy, happy campers.

I thought while the experience was freshest in my mind, I would do my 8th-grade pictorial "What we did on our vacation" essay! I so missed many photo opps and don't know that I truly captured the weekend. So I hope everyone will post their pics here too and write something about the weekend! Notice that I was kind to everyone in the photos. I would appreciate reciprocity in that regard.

Love you all,
Susan

Virgo Birthday Thank You

It was such a lovely time with a great group of women, and I want to thank each and every one of you for being a part of my birthday. The lunch was memorable (as always), and then those thoughtful gifts... The tea (which I'll be drinking as soon as it cools down! Thank you, Judy), the earrings (worn most every day since my birthday. Thank you, Marcia!), the beaded pen (used particularly when I have to make knitting notes! Thank you, Gail), the lovely hand creme (will really come in handy during the winter. Thank you Susan!), and the special guest (Miss Carlene. Thank you, Car, for being here with us. You are a special woman with a heart bursting with sweetness, and are such a treasure to Susan. We sure wished you lived closer so we'd get to see you more often.)

I'd like to take this moment to point out that it's been nearly a year since we went off on our first weekend getaway to Julian. We have grown together in so many ways over the past year. Our travels together have taken us from a circle of chairs to a new business ventures to personal growth in so many new directions. We offer support, guidance and listening ears to each other. We are a group of different, but like minded women, and we have the power to move mountains. Wow, so much has happened in the last year. We couldn't have done it without each other.