The Visit aka as the "Creative Surge"

Our Miss Molly immediately attached herself to Cathy and the feeling was mutual.. She literally abandoned DH to be Cathy's constant companion... night as well as day.. Any worries I had about Cathy adapting to over-exuberant Morris and neurotic Molly were quickly dispelled.


The long awaited visit was one long creative surge. We threw ideas out so fast we almost collapsed with laughter when we got ahead of ourselves. Oh oh oh what if?.........


I had watched the long range forecast for weeks willing decent weather.... only the have the coldest, hardest storm to hit Spokane in 18 years... My day to take her to Coeur d' Alene for lunch with a view ended in a blizzard with zero visibility and we were trapped for over an hour because of a pile-up on the freeway. So we ended up not getting a walk in the forest.

On Monday I tried to get a picture of her in focus in the barn going through large bins of fancies and lace but she was a constant whirl of activity...tossing fabric right and left. We spent two days doing fancies, one day doing lace, and one day doing just trims. She kept saying "Oh Gerry! Do you know what this would be worth on e-bay?" Obviously not, as it is still in my barn but she has me convinced to start listing stuff in lots later this spring... and also convinced I can make enough for my dream trip to England. That's the one where you stay in stately mansions, have workshops by the RSN, and are treated like a queen...all for about $7500 (flight extra). Well even I know I don't have THAT much stuff.....

On this day it was about 30 degrees and with the big propane heater going it was quite pleasant. I discovered lots of things I had quite forgotten I had.

But on Thursday the temperature was only 8 degrees F. outside and, even bundled in layers and the big propane heater, we were cold but determined to get through the bins of ribbons, braids, cordings etc. We didn't get to the little bins on the wall or the embroidered linens but made great progress otherwise... Most of the stuff we sorted through were items I collected in my doll-making years....and lots of it. She went home with her suitcase stuffed and a box for me to mail and left me with a lot less to cope with when I start selling on E-bay.

Besides going to all my favorite thrift stores, we poked through the coolest antique mall. We didn't leave any dollars at the antique mall but got lots of ideas for the use of cutter linens (which bins we didn't get sorted). But we found treasures at ALL of the thrift stores including great jewelry we divided to share.

I did cook every day but DH did all the dishes which allowed the maximum time to stitch and stitch to the max we did... early morning and all afternoon every day and late into the night...

It was one of the best vacations I've ever had and I didn't even have to leave home... What a great and treasured friend and sorely missed already...

Tomorrow I will show the progress on the CQ blocks.