Not so much really.  Traffic was GHASTLY getting up to Granite Bay and once arrived, we just collapsed in sweaty heaps in Andrea's kitchen.  So, on Friday we drank margaritas, sipped gazpacho and ate cherry clafouti.  Total heaven, but no sewing.

Andrea is the most awesome hostess.   Her house is so welcoming and tranquil, and her cooking is fabulous.  We could have just sat in her kitchen sipping iced tea (or better yet, margaritas) all weekend and been happy as clams.  Go check out her last few posts to see some pictures of her house and her account of our visit.  It was like going to a resort.  A very hot resort.  Did I mention the temperature was over 100?  

As I mentioned, Friday night was kind of active for Sara and I, who had to get up a number of times with Remy, who was having some diarrhea issues.  Saturday morning we arose and got out our sewing machines and set them up at the kitchen table.  A bit of panic that one of the machines didn't have its power cord, but that proved unfounded.  We got to work on our projects.

Kate was finishing up a Posh Baskets quilt and had stacks of yummy blocks already made.  She had to finish a few more, and then would be on to constructing her rows.

Andrea was working on a Valentine's table topper she started around three years ago.  Of course now she wants matching border fabric, and do you think any can be found?  If you have either of these fabrics, let her know!  She was in full strip piecing mode.  I should have gotten some pictures of her finished block, which is a triple Irish chain.

I was planning on finishing up my Prairie Paisley blocks for my last border.  Only twenty four uneven nine patch blocks.  Easy peasy.  You would think I could have cranked those out in half a day.  But I didn't.

Sara was working on a fabulous pattern by Miss Rosie's Quilt Company, a Schnibbles pattern called McGuffey, which has to be one of the fastest and cutest patterns out there.  Her fabric choice was Twiggy by Sanae for Moda.  Extremely lovely fabric.  Get some if you haven't already.  You will be sorry if you don't.

And then….. Remy got really sick.  He couldn't walk.  Here he is, looking at Sara, as if to say,
"Mommy, it really really hurts.  Can't you fix it?"

Andrea was on the phone to her vet in a hot second, and before we knew it, she and Sara and Remy were roaring down the driveway to take Remy to the veterinary clinic.

Then hours went by.  It was so hard to concentrate.  Kate and I got some sewing done, but my mind wasn't totally focused on it.  I called Andrea once to see what was going on, but Kate stopped me from calling her every fifteen minutes.  Sara's husband Ryan, who was out in the wilderness on a camping trip, kept texting and phoning every five minutes for updates.  That little Remy sure does have some devoted family.

After three hours of waiting, finally the girls were home with the patient, who was looking fairly mopey after all he had been through.  He had two prescriptions and a strict bland diet.  Sara hand fed him and we all hovered around looking for any sign of improvement.  Not much sewing got done once we had our puppy home safe with us again.

We fortified ourselves with more margaritas, and helped Andrea get her gourmet dinner going.  She made shrimp tacos with a fabulous green sauce, and something called "corn fritters" that were out of this world.  This recipe is not for sissies.  You could seriously hurt yourself making these babies.  The recipe involves mixing fresh corn with a batter—

Then, plopping blobs of it into screaming hot oil—-

Oh man, Andrea was totally covered up from head to toe except for her neck and where do you suppose the hot oil splashed?  Ouch, ouch, ouch.  She needed goggles and a tarp on the kitchen floor.  This is a great recipe, but the kitchen was demolished.  (Aside:  Look at her birdcage outside the kitchen window.  See what I mean about her being an amazing decorator?  It is touches like that that make a home unique.  She finds the coolest stuff).

The results were the most incredible thing any of us had eaten in ages.  Golden brown, crispy corn fritters that were to die for.

She made an awesome sauce to go on them, but I swear, you could just squeeze a lemon on them or dollop a bit of sour cream on top and you would be dancing.

We skipped dessert that night. 

The next day, Sunday, Remy wa
s 100% improved.  We couldn't bear to mess up the kitchen Rick had cleaned up, so we didn't even get out our sewing machines!  We headed for home (and cooler temperatures) by 10:00 AM. 

So, not much sewing accomplished for a quilting retreat, but I have to say that despite the Remy drama, we all had a fantastic time.  I swear the seat belt in my Honda felt tighter than it used to.