JSS Retreats are to die for.  Food, quilting, friends, food, laughter, sewing, food, no sleep, food, fun, creativity and did I mention food?  Retreats are actually what got me started blogging.  And created this blogging monster that I am.  It was at our last JSS Retreat that Pat asked me at midnight one night, “And tell me again why you are not blogging?”  She was the straw that broke the camel’s back, the icing on the cake, the last man standing, the final word.  And I came home from retreat and started this blog.

You see, I had always been the “Roving Reporter” at our JSS Retreats.  Reporting faithfully all the happenings via email for those who couldn’t attend for one reason or another.  Then I would spend time uploading pics to some website for all to view.  So it was appealing to me to be able to do the pics and emails all in one place.  And my email list grew at every retreat.  “Please include Aunt Lizzy on the emails.  She wants to know about our fun times” were words I heard often.  Well, it wasn’t always Aunt Lizzy, but you get the idea.

And so the blog was born.  On April 29th, 2010, just after I returned home from our retreat 6 months ago.  For those who might be interested in stats, there have been 107 posts, 707 comments and, as of right this moment, 17,260 hits.  Seems like only yesterday that we were celebrating 10,000 hits with a giveaway!  Apparently I had a lot more to say than just at retreat time, didn’t I? 

So now reading about retreat is your responsibility.  I like that!  You have to remember to go to the blog and look for new stuff.  I don’t have to remember to email Aunt Lizzy or anyone else.  But you can email her.  In fact I’ve made it easy with an added button at the very end of each posting in the “share this” section.  Click on it and send the blog link to Aunt Lizzy.  You can share it on your facebook page too.  And you can subscribe on the button over there →
as 50 people have done!  But again.  Your responsibility.  I just get to write, include pictures in the writing and have fun.  And this is the first retreat where I’ll be blogging all the latest as it happens.  Oh, my!  A blogger’s heaven.

I overheard a former retreater earlier this week say, “Barb never gets any sewing done at retreat.”  What?  She must have forgotten about this quilt…..

Nevermind that it came along to 328 retreats before it finally got finished.  Nevermind that one gal came in to the quilt show last year and when she saw it hanging, she turned to me and said, “Who finished it for you?”  How rude!  I finished it my very own self to surprise the JSS gals.

And what about this quilt?

I had to finish this quilt top totally in secret because it was my brown bag fabric that ended up being for Peggy last year at Christmas.  But that’s another story for another blog.  And I was supposed to be writing about things I sewed at retreat.  Obviously this quilt wasn’t one of those things because I had to finish it in secret.  Oh, well.  I’m just sure there was some sewing happening for me at the last retreat.  Would someone please remind me of what it was?

I always have good intentions.  Even this time.  My 43 existing projects are all packed and ready to go.  I plan to sew one seam on each of them.  In between blogs.  My niece, Janna, would really like to see her T-shirt quilt before she reaches her 90th birthday.  Shhhhhhh.  Don’t tell her that I’m taking it to work on at retreat.  Oh, wait!  She reads the blog.  My life is an open book.  I can’t do anything in secret any more.

So get ready for some serious blogging on this site next week.  Well, not serious blogging.  In fact most of it will be quite comical.  But you know what I mean.  A lot of blogging.  Unless the wireless connection in the middle of the cornfield breaks down.  Horrors!  I can think of nothing worse to happen.  Wait a minute!  Perhaps then I would get some sewing done?  Nah…… because I am so committed to keeping you informed that I would be driving all over the countryside looking for a wifi hotspot to be able to report in.  Remember Oshkosh?  Starbucks and I are great friends.  And there is a Starbucks close to the retreat.  Close being a very relative term when you’re in the middle of a cornfield.  Close is like 30 miles away.

We leave on Sunday.  So get ready.  Get your popcorn and Dr Pepper (this is Texas!) and be prepared for pictures and stories.  And don’t come hungry.  I’ve warned you.  There will be food pictures that will make your mouth water.

And maybe, just maybe, I’ll even get a little sewing done.

Off to finish packing,
Your Faithful Roving Reporter