Julia-

Sorry, your are not looking in the wrong place. We are still ironing out details. If itinerary does not change we will have Friday and at least part of Saturday to sew. Will keep you updated as quickly as possible.

OK Ladies - here's what's happening! Meg and I decided to check out a Bed and Breakfast place at Middlebury, Indiana - that's only about 6 miles from Shipshewana. Their price is a bit higher, but there are some things about this place we like a bit better. The most important thing is we'd have a large room where we could set up our sewing project and WE COULD LOCK IT! Another plus is all the rooms would be in the same wing instead of scattered like they'd be at the Farmstead.

This place is called "The Patchwork Quilt Inn" - it's more secluded than the Farmstead, and we could have the room for sewing for an entire day or more, instead of having the time split up like at Farmstead.

So what we need right now - before the end of April - is a firm committment from everyone who is interested. The price of the rooms is based on the number of ladies attending - the quote we got was figured for 12 people - if there are less than that, the price will be higher. We were quoted $160 each based on 12 ladies attending.

So - if you know definitely that you will be attending this retreat, please post here, or PM Meg or me and let us know. We must have this information by April 28!

Nola & Meg.

Nola & Meg
Will the retreat stay on the same date if you move it to a different location?
Jacquie

Yes,it will. We are avoiding a football Saturday at Notre Dame (which is just down the road) by doing so.

I've been to those football weekends and that is indeed a smart decision! Just wish I could be there!

Jacquie

I still plan on attending. I'm looking forward to it. Any ideas of what we are going to do? I am not good at binding!! Any chance there could be something about that? I have lots of things to work on so there's no problem with that. I'm not good at applique so that would be another idea. I know how to paper piece but I'm sure there are things to be learned from you all as the experts. I want to just sew and sew which is something I very seldom get to do. JudyK

My hat is in the ring!!!!! I'll be there. Wendy

OK LADIES!!! We're going to a retreat!!! Here's the latest. We had a bit of conflict with the Bed & Breakfast at Middlebury, so we went back to our original plan of staying at the Farmstead in Shipshewana. It's really close to Yoder's so will probably be better afterall.

I've booked the rooms and as soon as the contract comes, I'll sign it, pay the deposit and get it mailed back to them.

Dates are Oct. 9, 10 and 11 - check in the afternoon/evening of Thursday, the 9th. Friday until 3 p.m. we'll buy out all the fabric shops in Shipshewana, then meet back at the Inn for a sewing project. Saturday morning we'll sew some more and hopefully finish up our project, then have the afternoon for more shopping or sight-seeing. Check out will be Sunday by noon.

We've booked 5 rooms - 3 with 1 queen bed each and 2 with 2 queen beds. Rooms are $99 each and the conference room for sewing is $75. So the tally (if my math is correct) is $1685. If 10 of us attend that will be $168.50 each - not too bad for a 3 night stay.

Nola

Ladies, I have some bad news. Both Nola and I have to drop out of the retreat at the present. You all know the situation with Rod and whether or not the dairy farm where he works will be sold by Ball State to Purdue or some other concern or whether it will be sold. Things are not looking good right now. Nola is also dealing with her diabetic brother more and more; his condition has deteriorated quite a bit over the past few months.

I mentioned the situation my DH is facing with respect to contract talks in another thread. I understand now that the museum is also asking for pay cuts from everyone. We are feeling very bitter about this. The museum now has 7 additional directors more than they had when we each started working there. They each make well over $100,000.00 annually. They've got way to many chiefs and not enough Indians to do the work anymore. They need to go back to the original five directors they had, and re-distribute that $700,000.00 between programs and employees.

I know Steve is stressing about the cost of filling the tank so he can go to work to not earn enough money to make the car payment and the insurance so he can get to work...... I can't very well expect us to set money aside for a trip that only benefits me.

We don't want to cancel the retreat entirely. If someone wants to take over the arrangements, please feel free to do so. Since so many of you expressed interest in the lodges at one of the beautiful state parks in Ohio, Michigan, or Indiana, we thought we might persue that as an alternative for a spring retreat.

My profound apolgies for this. We are both so disappointed, and know you are too.