Farewell Aloha

It's 8:15 am Sunday, the last day of the retreat, and things are winding down. Friday morning, there were many quilters stationed at their machines by 7:30, Saturday as well, but on Sunday even quilters are sleeping in and only a few are at their machines this early.

It has been a great time, with highlights being free 5 minute chair massages, great coffee in the Food Room, great food in the Food Room, lots of belly-busting laughter, and projects pealing off those machines. (Gotta go -be back later)

OK, I am back and it's Tuesday. I got side tracked by many things and never really got to blog while I was gone. And now after two good nights sleep, phone calls to my daughters, a visit with my grandchildren, things are getting back to normal. I have been thinking about some statistics related to the retreat.

Things I could count:

90 miles round trip for most vehicles from Licking County to Coshocton
32 rooms reserved at the Coshocton Village Inn and Suites for the Aloha Retreat
73 quilters registered to attend
4 quilters unfortunately unable to attend at the last minute
5 dollar minimum donation to the local food bank
19 boxes of food donated to a local food bank
25% Discount received at Vac Shack for each quilter who donated to the food bank
60 quilters who had chair massages
48 door prizes handed out over the three days
30 items from list found by the winner of the scavenger hunt
1 special prize for winner of the scavenger hunt
12 adorable palm tree trophies handed out for special accomplishments
2 visitors who traveled to the retreat from out of state
69 Aloha stars made and returned to the committee to later be made into service quilts
1 special prize for winner of drawing from those who made Aloha stars
1095 items in 146 goody bags handed out Friday and Saturday mornings
3 vehicles to transport all the goodies and prizes and decorations to Coshocton
15 crock pots put to good use in the Food Room
240 cups of Starbucks or Caribou coffee drunk by members
3 hours early that everyone was able to get into their rooms due to the great staff at the Coshocton Village Inn and Suites

Things I couldn't count:

hugs and laughs
thank you's to the committee
projects started, projects thought about, projects finished
excellent food and requests for recipes
smiles from quilters at seeing the staff wearing leis and hawaiian shirts for our benefit
shared expertise and good advice passed from quilter to quilter
ooh's and ah's during show and tell on Sunday
hours the committee spent on the retreat
hours of fun the committee had planning the retreat
squeals of excitement and joy upon winning something, anything
yards of fabric and patterns purchased everywhere from the Vac Shack in Coshocton, Miller's Fabric Store in Charm, to a new shop in New Philadelphia.

I am exhausted just listing it all. And we are already planning for next year!

Update

My daughters have reminded me that most bloggers write much more often than I do, but I think once a week is about the best I can do.

Friday Night Free for All was quiet because 4 out of 5 were doing hand work. That's really strange as we are usually the machine queens. Embroidery projects for the Guild President's thank you quilt kept two of us challenged. I do like hand work but usually only do it in waiting rooms.

Longarm quilting is keeping me busy and the current quilt is beautiful but taking forever. I am putting a feathered wreath in every 8 inch block (84 of those), a half wreath in all the side triangles, and feathered roses in the borders which I will have to turn. I am being well-paid to do this, and it's fun, as the quilt is gorgeous, but again, taking forever.

I have 15 tops backed up to quilt and the Christmas quilts are starting to come in. I try not to take so many that I will go crazy -- it is a retirement job which manages to pay the bills for the shop so I don't have to sew in a dark, dank basement. The shop also sends me on three or four retreats a year.

I am currently planning to take off to Lakeside (on Lake Erie) for a November weekend -- can't wait. And Denise, Rosie,and I are in charge of the Heart of Ohio Retreat in February, 2009. Maybe because my husband does not like to travel, I adore getting away. I will pretty much go anywhere that I don't have to cook, other than breakfast and salads, and maybe only clean when we leave so they'll let us come back. Getting to sew without being asked what's for dinner is wonderful.