Retreat History

I was away for much of last weekend at quilt retreat. After coming home, I spent some time thinking about how important this experience and this group of women are to  me.

It was in October of 2001 that Bonnie and I were invited to join a mystery quilting weekend in Lancaster County. Helen and Sue and Misty and, I think, somebody else I knew were there as were a half dozen women from Maryland. The weekend was held at The White Oak Bed and Breakfast in Strasburg, a comfortable drive from Intercourse and the fabric stores. Our hosts, Carol and Rob, made us feel so welcome and comfortable. Bonnie and I asked Rob if it would be possible for a group of us to rent the place for a weekend without being part of the mystery group. It was, and we did in the spring of 2002. We've gone twice (and occasionally thrice) each year ever since.

White Oak was a wonderful place, if a bit cramped and crowded. We had to have a minimum of nine participants; sometimes we had as many as thirteen. We all walked around in our socks or bare feet; there were no design walls so we had to lay out projects on the floor and we were constantly treading on gorgeous layouts.

We used to fantasize about being there for a weekend and getting snowed in and having to stay longer than Sunday afternoon . . . .  

One time there was a weekend that wasn't booked and at the last minute Rob issued a call for odds and ends of people from all over to come out and sew together. Helen and Judy and Ruth and I jumped at the chance and were amazed when we got there to find out there were no other takers! Rob made us pancakes on Saturday morning and we took some time away from sewing to watch "Witness" on Saturday night. 

We also made infinity scarves and tote bags that weekend.

At some point we had so many people wanting to participate that we were ready to draw up a waiting list. Then it worked out that we rather neatly split into two groups, the St. Paul's Church group and the St. Paul's Renegades group. One group was a bit better behaved than the other. Bonnie ended up going with the more ladylike group and Helen became my co-organizer. 

One time it actually did snow, and it was very out of season when it happened. The roads were clear enough for us to drive, though, when it was time to leave.

Eventually Rob and Carol retired and the B&B was no more. We found a temporary home at Black Rock retreat center and enjoyed at least a half-dozen getaways there. We had more space, that was true, but there weren't quilts on the beds and while the food was good and abundant, it didn't compare to Carol's cooking. And we couldn't have a glass of wine . . . .

Most recently we've been going to a private home where we do our own meal prep (and have that glass -- or two -- of wine). People have come and gone from our group over the years. The seven of us who make up our current population are very, very comfortable with each other. We've grown used to idiosyncrasies; we know who snores and who can be counted on to help figure out a complicated problem. Sometimes we play old tunes from the 60s and 70s and sing along. Sometimes we dance, but just a little bit. Sometimes we sew in our pajamas and out of fear of stepping on a pin, most of us wear shoes now. We have a couple of big design walls so we don't have projects laid out on the floor most of the time.

I stepped down from Organizer a couple of years ago; now Judy and Helen do the hard work. If we ever have to look for a new location, though, I'll jump right in to be part of that. I wouldn't want this to come to an end. This group means so much to me.