We're on our own!

Yes, It's hunting season.  All of our men left last Saturday so they could get a decent camp spot and be scouting the elk until opening day, which is tomorrow.  Ratchet and I are "home alone", so to speak.

Seeing as how Ratchet really is Scott's dog I'm happy to day I've survived the last three days pretty well.  We've gone on some super long walks and I've found my man voice. The nail trimming and bath time even went ok.  All that to say, I'll be really glad when my guy is home again.

Silver Falls Retreat - 2011

I've had an amazing week, when is it not wonderful to spend time with friends, eating delicious food and having time to sew on all the projects you've wanted to have time to work on.

The Silver Falls Conference Center is a wonderful facility and the staff are extremely accommodating.  The dining hall serves the most delicious meals.

 So, no pictures of the ladies sitting around in jammies for the evening but here is a peak at our snacks!

 Leola and DeAnna were looking over some projects being shared.  My projects in the back corner (strippy quilt and hourglass block quilt).  The Wedding Star is a quilt I made way way back (when I was still hand quilting).  It belongs to my sister, JoAnn, now and she brought it to share.

 Michele's white pumpkins turned out so great!  I had just finished quilting it before retreat.

 Many areas to hike and take photos around the park.  I think the leaves were just beginning to turn this week.

 It's a fair walk over to the cabins from the meeting hall and dining hall but nothing bad as long as you have an umbrella.

 More beauty to behold.

 The meeting hall is just roomy enough for twenty four industrious quilters.

My first two projects.  Finished the strippy on Monday and the hourglass on Tuesday.  Experimented with some other projects and techniques on Wednesday and then spent just a bit of time working on my hopscotch :)

"Learning" what comes natural

Here is a shot of our sweet puppy, Ratchet, on point.  It isn't so much that a pointer needs to be trained to do what comes naturally.  Ratchet will point every bird on the way to the potty corner.  He's learning to find specific game (pheasant in this particular session), point and hold.  He loves this play time.

Check this out!

Hurray!  I've been waiting to share this little tidbit.  Months ago, Kathy Schmitz asked me to quilt a table topper for a book she's been working on with her sister, Bonnie Sullivan.  Doing a bit of blog surfing this morning I came across Kathy's blog and there was the quilt and the beautiful pictures and projects included in their book, French Inspiration for Artful Hands.  The two of them have done an amazing amount of work and it's obvious they have done a terrific job.  The table topper is called Acorn Manor, here .  I can hardly wait to get my own copy and create a few of those adorable pin cushions.

New Puppy!!

Introducing.....Ratchet!!! All legs, super sweet, eager to please, and full of energy.  He is an English Pointer, came to us from Kensington, KA and he's fourteen weeks old. 

Scott and Ratchet are already enjoying their yard time.  We had a great time calling him back and forth to us in the wheat field across the road.  Who knew having a dog again would be so much fun (other than you who are dog people).  We are looking forward to many great dog years with this guy.

Juried in!

"Favorites" and "Seasons", both made by Michele Byrum and quilted by yours truly have been juried in to the Pacific West Quilt Show.  My friend, Cindy, and I will make the trek to Tacoma in a couple of weeks to enjoy ALL of the beautiful quilts on display.

August 26-28, 2011
Greater Tacoma Convention & Trade Center
1500 Broadway, Tacoma, WA 98402

Seafood Fest!!! Ate too much, laughed too hard.

This event falls under the catagory of "all things good".  For many years, at least five, we've camped together with a group of friends at Barview County Park, just north of Garibaldi, for a weekend of feasting, laughter, walking the beach, and even shopping. 

It all started accidently, that first year some friends had gone clamming at Ft. Stevens and a few of us dropped in just to visit.  A day trip north to Ilwaco and Ocean Park found a few dozen oysters to bring back to the campfire...what an amazing time we had.  That day we decided it had to be an annual party.  The next year we met at Barview.  Our guys went crabbing while the women hit the local fabric store and seafood market (shrimp/scallops/oysters).  My husband found a great recipe for cajun barbecue butter...the beginning of a tradition! Three days of beautiful weather, walks, talks, shops...and the feast.

Our numbers have swelled from those first years.  Last year we had five rv's plus visitors.  This year was much more initimate, just eight of us (four couples).  I started the day planning to document the feast but only twice picked up the camera.  Maybe I'll do better next year.

These are the leftovers...yumm!!!