Retreat wrap-up...Girlfriend Getaway 2011

   It always goes so fast! It seems like just yesterday I was blogging about set up and taking pictures of an empty room. Now, just a few days later I have some great pictures to show from the weekend. We had the best retreat we've had in a long time...no stress - all fun and great company! The ladies started to arrive at Agate Lake Resort in Lakeshore, MN on Thursday afternoon. Each one of them filing in with sewing tables, chairs, projects, snacks, everything needed for a weekend of sewing with the girls.

A far cry from the day before the room filled up fast as everyone arrived, set up and was eager to sew!

There were so many projects pinned up along the walls, we all accomplished so much! Some of our ladies chose to participate in the classes Deb was teaching -selvedge slippers, mug rugs, Stand N' Stow totes, and the mystery quilt - while others chose to sew on their own projects during the weekend. 

    We also had some fabulous games over the weekend. One game consisted of teams of 3 - they pieced 4 jelly roll strips together, one ironed and one sub-cut them into 6-1/2" squares. They had 20 min to get as many done as they could with the resulting blocks donated to Quilts of Valor. 

Everyone worked so hard...you could cut the tension in the room with a knife! 

The final step was cutting the strip sets...

   Each of our teams did a great job assembling and cutting the strips - enough blocks for 2 lap quilts will be donated to Quilts of Valor. The winning team was able to sew, iron and cut 47 blocks for the win. A job well done ladies! 

   Another fun game we played we called "If you". We had all the ladies sit in a circle, and remember which chair they are sitting in. We asked them questions, if they answered yes they moved forward one seat. Questions such as "Do you own more that one sewing machine?" and " Do you have more than three project unfinished?" Some of the ladies moved every question...some didn't. As you can imagine laps started piling up! 

At some point even 4 deep! 

It was a blast to see who was answering yes to which questions and we all had a great time. Besides, where else can you get 4 ladies in a row to give back massages to each other besides choir practice?

One lesson our rookie retreater learned is that next year you take off Saturday from work...

or else after a whole 18 hrs or non-use the spiders might just move in! We all had a laugh when she returned to see her machine like this, thanks to those practical jokers Penni and Natalie! 

     After 3 days of sewing, laughing, talking, and eating we all had to pack up and go home on a rainy, gloomy sunday. Every year it goes so fast! There are many people we need to thank, without them this would not be possible! 

Deb Burton (Tim Gunn) - owner, teacher, chief, coordinator and friend to all. Without her this would not be possible. She spends countless hours planning the classes, schedule, sleeping arrangements, cabins, kits, the shop, supply lists, mystery quilt steps and the list goes on. She guides us through patterns that scare or confuse us, pushes us to step outside the box and is always there when we need her... "Make it work!" 

Lou & Karen Rademacher (dedicated chefs) - Each year Grandma Lou and Karen (Lou's sister in law) spend hours planning meals, shopping for supplies and actually cooking for all of us in the kitchen. They start weeks before retreat making sure each lady will be satisfied with balanced meals and healthy cooking. They do their best to cater to everyones needs and offer a wide variety of choices. We are served 2 meals a day plus a little snack (sandwiches) mid-day and dessert around 10pm. 

Dee & Sandra Smith (grunts) -  These two wonderful ladies help with set-up and dishes, run back and forth from the kitchen to let us know when food is ready, serve dinner and come with loads of baked goods for snacks and meals. 

Tom Burton (slave labor) - It's a family affair, as is everything we do at the shop. Debs hubby was there to cook us amazing pork loin as well as help with dishes and behind the scene work, which often goes un-noticed. Next year we'll have his famous brunch sunday am!

Bill & Theresa Garry - Each year the resort is kept so neat and tidy and we love coming to a place all our own. Bill even wired his pole shed to accommodate all of our machines, irons and lights. A family run operation, with character and class, Agate Lake Resort is a place to make your own family memories. If you're ever looking for a place to vacation, it doesn't get much better than this! 

Many of you asked for the recipes from some of the great treats we had over the weekend. Here are the recipes I received:

Quilt Camp Dip by Nealna Gylling

1 can Rotel tomatoes with green chillies

16 oz. sour cream (not light)

8 oz. shredded cheddar cheese (2 cups)

1 small can sliced black olives

1 pkg. Hidden Valley Fiesta Ranch seasoning

Serve with 'Scoops' tortilla chips

Salami Bread by Lennea Heymer

Frozen bread dough

hard salami

mozzarella/provolone cheese

Thaw dough overnight in fridge

Press out dough into a rectangle approx 11" x 13"

Cover the dough with slices of salami cut into desired thickness

Cover salami with shredded cheese

Roll up jelly roll style and pinch together at end

Put pinched side down and fold under each end

Brush with olive oil and sprinkle with Italian seasoning

Bake at 350 for 30 min. 

*She's also used pepperoni and dipped it in pizza sauce*

BeerGherita - Original Recipe

1 can frozen limeade

1 can water

1 can Cuervo Silver

2 bottles Corona beer

Ice

Rub lime on edge of glass, our over ice and serve

BeerGherita ala Ginger (this is what we had at camp)

1 can frozen limeade

1 can seven-up

1 can good tequila 

2 bottles favorite beer (we used dark beer at camp)

optional 1/4 cup orange liquor

Lots of ice

Rub glass rim with Lime, then drop wedge in glass

Bloody Mary ala Ruth Norman

2 bottles Clamato

2 small bottles of bloody caesar (or spicy bloody mary mix)

3 cups vodka

8 T Worcestershire sauce (1/2 cup)

2 T lemon juice

2 dashes celery seed

18-20 dashes of tabasco

2 tsp Italian seasoning

2 T pickle juice

2 tsp lemon pepper

Mix all ingredients together

Pour mixture back into empty Clamato & bloody caesar bottles. 

Serve over ice, garnish as desired. Enjoy. 

**If you have other recipes that didn't make it to my hands and would like to share them, email me at the shop and I will post them. 

   

   Our sad sign at the rainy end of a fabulous weekend. As I pulled out of the resort I couldn't help myself, I had to snap a picture of our sign. Thank you to everyone who came, participated and enjoyed another Girlfriend Getaway. We look forward to next year and can't wait to spend another long weekend with some of our most valued friends.