I am thankful to the internet, over the years I have made many friends and it's very nice that we now catch up in real life.
Googy Girl (a.k.a. Trish) came down from Newcastle, for the day. We chatted, we ate, we chatted, we ate, we stitched a little... poor LUCY she didn't grow much... but we certainly had a great day. And shockingly we didn't do much snapping of the what we did do... but I did cook an awesome banana bread... recipe coming soon.
That winter flu had me really struck down, having spent most of the week in bed, I really didn't think I would make it. Brian was seriously worried about me heading off on my own. But as I pointed out I was over the worst, the tiredness was what was getting me - but if I travelled sensibly and then even if I spent most of the weekend in bed. I was going to come back rested if not better.
So I was up and on the road by 5am, determined that travelling avoiding the traffic was a better trip. And I was right. I arrived in Bathurst by 8.30am and enjoyed a nice hot breakfast and a coffee in a regular breakfast cafe.
Then I hit the shops, browsing, and lucky for me I picked up a few extra clothing items... but more on that in the next post.
I caught up with Kylie, and we did our shopping for the nibbles for the weekend... we made this great Greek 7 Layer Dip - which was enjoyed each afternoon. Not that Vicky didn't keep us fed enough with her awesome catering. We really love the tinkle of her little bell.
Although the weather wasn't that amazing, it certainly has left the venue and surrounding areas lovely and green. Which for me it also made it very peaceful and relaxing.
No Bathurst retreat would be complete without our Make it, Fake it or Bake it swap, and since that very original foils fun 3 years ago... we keep the tradition, laughter and fun alive too with our Foil swap. Thinking up fun ways of rewarding people whilst they create over the weekend is always a challenge, but usually its the simplest things that make the laughter the greatest.
LAUGHTER IS THE BEST MEDICINE - ALWAYS and thanks to Simone and Deb (or should I say Statler and Waldorf ) the laughter really made my weekend.
Some great shares of completed and almost completed projects is always inspiring.
No trip to Bathurst is complete without a little shopping in Anni's Shop and of course she really spoils us with our little something just for retreat. - these are the makings of a little needle keep/phone wallet - I really must get to on it.
Some of my goodies, that I purchased and I received over the weekend, oh and there was another larger item.... oops forgot that one big metal cake tray, you are bound to see it in some food style shots coming up.
Road trips....require pit stops, and on the road we had Two such pitstops, to friends I have met through blogging....
We stopped in and had a cuppa and some delicious treats with Kate. I met Kate IRL at one of the blog meet ups at the Stitches and Craft fair in Darling Harbour, but got to chat more to this lovely lady since spending the weekend with her in Nundle earlier this year, since then we have chatted on and off on Facebook. I have drooled over her home and her wonderful Pickles and it was a must to stop in and do a little shopping.
Travelling further down the road and who should I visit...but Chooky....Loved having a little lunch and a chat, just wish the journey between us wasn't so long. I could do it again and again.
I got to see the lovely project that Chooky and Anita had been working on, just an amazing secret project...can't wait till they reveal it.
I hope next time I am on the road, just cruising on by, that I might get a little longer with Chooky to create.
I am hoping that she will share a photo of her little gift I gave her soon... As I didn't snap a picture before it went, but needless to say it was Blue and it had a Quilted Chooky on it!!!
