An awesome weekend.

I am sitting in the chair, downloading the photos from the weekend, ready to start writing this post. It is always hard to think of a title for each blog, and I had thought of a suitable one this afternoon. (Well, I thought it was!?) But now I am actually typing away, I can't remember what it was!! No worries, as I have just received a text message from one of the girls who has just arrived home letting me know she was home, and thanking us all for an awesome weekend. So thus I now have the title for my post!!

 It has been a fantastic 2 days, and so much fun. There was the return of some regular retreaters, mixed with some "new blood", and it took no time at all before they were all old friends. The first arrivals were here by lunch time on Friday, and they ably assisted putting up some pink decorations.
I did a quick phone post on Friday evening with a pic of the lovely paper flowers that were "planted" into the front garden.

The weather on Friday was a beautiful sunny 25deg, and they looked lovely outside in the garden. But overnight the wind blew, and the rain came. It was just as well that "someone" brought the flowers inside for the night, as Saturday brought more rain. So these flowers had to find a new home, as you can see in the next 2 pics.

The bows in the trees looked great on Friday, but rather sad on Saturday morning. And the rain did not amount to lots anyway.

Everyone had arrived by late Friday afternoon, and soon set themselves up to work on their own projects.

It was fun to see them all coming "in the pink". Some ladies even had pink where we could not see!

I didn't get the camera out as often as I could, but do have a few of some finishes, and also works in progress.

Val kept us up to date with world happenings.

Marie brought some of her hand dyed fabrics for the girls to see, and it was like bees to the honey pot!

Lynda received a special lesson on making the paper flowers.

Pat decided it was time for some exercises after they had been sitting at the sewing machines all day.

On Saturday afternoon it was time to auction all of the donated goodies. This is always a fun time, and you just had to hold your breath after your bid, in case someone else, (who you had thought was a friend) put in another bid, just when you thought you had it. Due to the quantity of goods to be auctioned, I invited a few extra local ladies to add some added interest, and of course some extra funds!! It was an amazing result, and only 3 items were passed in. 

The auction was followed with an afternoon tea for all those present. There was also a raffle quilt, pictured below, and this was drawn on Sunday, and won by Chris Moore. She was very excited when I phoned her with the news.

 It has been a very successful weekend, with close to $1500 being raised for the Breast Cancer Network Australia. THANKYOU to all those who donated items, or who purchased these, and to those who bought raffle tickets. THANKYOU to anyone who helped in any way, especially the girls who attended this weekend and supported and helped me.

Sunday morning it was time for our group photo, and these 2 decided it should be outside in the garden, and rearranged  the seating for this.

Here we are, all lined up for our photo. It was fortunate (?) that Marie came along at this time, so that I could be in the photo!

Lynda was packing her sewing and personal items in the car, ready for departure, and suddenly remembered her auction purchases that were still in the lounge. She almost needed a trailer to take it all home.

The weekend finished with High Tea, with some more pink goodies to eat. This is the annual airing of my grandmother's cups and saucers, and partaking of a "real" cup of tea from the tea pot.

A chance to play ladies.

The crockery, all washed, and ready to go back into the cupboard, until next year.

Lynda was the "new girl" at the retreat this weekend, and received a "royal" send off when she left. 

There are still 4 of us here with our feet up, and thinking about going to bed. There has been so much laughter, and sharing, and many stories told. While I am in the kitchen preparing meals, I love to listen to the chatter in the next room. The wide range of subjects covered is amazing and possibly most of them need to stay at retreat, and not be told.

Tomorrow it is time to get the washing done, and the cleanup done. The next retreat will be in 2 weeks when another group arrive for another Pick a case retreat.

Be back soon,

Blessings, From Jude