As the Dust Settles....

After a really sucky week last week, I am happy to say that the dust has settled for me and I am once again on a forward march.

I have just returned from my final Quilting Retreat of the year.  This is a group of ladies that I have retreated with off and on for 6 years.  It may have been the final time I am going to this particular retreat as the prices that are being posted are just a bit above my comfort zone.  Next year it would cost just about twice what it costs me to put together a retreat on the Outer Banks for a full week.  I would much rather do that.

It was a very nice time, however, with some exceptionally talented ladies who are more than willing to share their extensive knowledge of quilting.  This time I actually shared a non-quilting craft with them all.  Marji (my roommate this time) and I had made up a large bunch of button flowers and we put them together in some small vases and salt shakers so we could give every lady at the retreat a bouquet of button flowers.  I was able to give those ladies who were interested in learning the instructions on how to make their own.  I would imagine that there will be an explosion of button flowers in many cities around the area.

I was able to really make progress on a quilt called "You've Got Mail" that was in a tutorial from the Missouri Star Quilt Company.  I had started it when I was in the Outer Banks in October.  I finished the first step this weekend and began to assemble the basic blocks.  It is going to be a very fresh looking quilt.  It has even inspired me to unload the car and get my sewing center set up again so I can continue working on this quilt.  I would love to have it finished before my surgery.

I am still missing Molly very much.  But I have to admit that I enjoyed not having to close all of the doors as I unloaded the van and could immediately set about getting my sewing machine set up instead of reclining to give her some lap time.  But the house is very quiet and I still long to have her warm, furry body curled up in my lap, but I am doing fine.  It is really going to make my surgery next month much easier.  If it is decided that I should go to rehab, I no longer have to worry about what to do with the dog!  So there are positives!

Over the weekend I got notification from my son that his wife (my daughter-in-law) has been diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma (B-cell type).  They are still in the early stages of discovery, so lots of things being put together.  The retreat I was at has primary fund-raising effort for cancer research and I found many comforting words from retreaters who had also had the same cancer and recovered nicely.  So I am hopeful and praying for the same result for my DIL.

I had to leave today and head to the gun range.  Today was training for the "Range Masters" which allows me to enter the range when no one is there and shoot on my own.  So I wandered around with many others, learned about what being a Range Master is all about and am ready now to get some good practice in with my newest weapons.

So, as you can see, I am back into a good routine.  I am sure I will have some down times, but I think I will be OK.... until the next time Life Happens!  No, getting ready for surgery!