In Which Honna Purchases an Amish Bra

Our White Oak getaway was far too short, though we accomplished great and wonderful and sometimes surprising things.  Honna and I made a brief stop at Sauder's on our way out and arrived about a half-hour before dinner was served.  Carol's cooking was delicious and we enjoyed having their daughter and her husband join us for dinner.  After we finished, Rob and Eugene set up the cutting tables and established the electrical power while the rest of us helped Carol clear the table and pretty much chafed at the bit. 

Turbo had brought along a myriad of projects, including this batik beauty that she was determined to finish off.  Here she is having a bit of a consultation from Marsha on precisely the right thing to do.

Marsha was so glad to be along; she'd missed the last excursion because she was getting her house ready to put on the market and having accomplished that and, in fact, getting is sold and having made an offer on a new home, she joined us to a resounding "Welcome Back!"  She mostly worked on a little 30s project, but she was at the ready to jump in for help, interpretation, or a consult, which is her wonderful special gift.  She's also a very heavy sleeper, as Pat can attest.

Pat, Helen, Sherron, Turbo and I (among other non  retreat attenders) are working on an indigo and caramel basket block swap and three of us were working almost exclusively on those.  Two of the three were very successful.  My particular block gave me fits and starts.  Here are Pat and Helen proudly showing off their handiwork.

No trip to White Oak is complete without a community service effort, i.e., supporting the local economy while providing retail therapy for ourselves.  Some folks went to the Haymarket, a group went out to Intercourse and did Zooks and OCS, and Honna, Helen, and I went to Bird In Hand to that wonderful Log Cabin place.  After we returned, I went upstairs for a bit of a nap, while Honna and Helen went out again and returned with some rather surprising purchases!

Life does not get much better than eleven women friends, growing closer with each getaway, Carol's cooking, just the right amount of wine, a bunch of rotary cutters, mats, rulers, Featherweights and Berninas, yards and yards of fabric.  And an Amish bra.

Stay tuned for Part Two.