The Quilter's Retreat, Gretna, Nebraska October 2007

One of my very favorite times of the entire year is the weekend of our quilter's retreat held annually in October at the 4-H camp near Gretna, Nebraska. This retreated is sponsored by the Lincoln Quilt Guild of Lincoln, Nebraska. Terri, Mary, Claudia and I have been meeting there for the past 8 years and arrive early ready to stake out our favorite table as soon as the doors open on Friday afternoon. We stay in the bunk house and have delicious meals cooked for us by the camp chef, so our time is spent sewing -- either starting a new project or working on an old one, sometimes working on the same project for so many years in a row that you are embarrassed to take it back STILL unfinished! Completed quilt projects are pinned up during the retreat so we can all see what was accomplished.

IMAGINE a large room filled with 80 quilters, 80 sewing machines, (but only 15 irons because they use a lot of electricity and blow out the fuses), and a long table covered with snacks. This is actually a picture of bliss! The lodge where we set up our sewing stations has a huge picture window that offers a great view of nearby Mahoney State Park that is spectacular with colorful leaves in the fall. There are no kids and no husbands and no televisions; cell phones are used sparingly in case there is some emergency among the kids or husbands. You can stay up and sew as long as you want; Terri and Mary have been known to stay up until 2 or 3 AM while Claudia and I cave by midnight. On Saturday afternoon someone has a radio tuned to the University of Nebraska football game so that we can keep track of the score, although that wasn't much fun last year with our dismal record.

During the day on Saturday, groups of ladies will leave the retreat for a quest to buy supplies and check out the latest fabrics at two nearby quilt shops, The Quilted Moose in Gretna, Nebraska and Seams to Be in Plattsmouth, Nebraska. Massages are also offered for tired backs. Lots of laughter and fun throughout the whole weekend. Sitting and sewing for hours on end is the time when you actually get to know the women -- laughing with them, sharing your fabric, tools, opinions and expertise. These are the ingredients for lasting friendships. We reluctantly unplug our machines, fold up fabrics, pack up our supplies, hug our friends and leave the retreat on Sunday afternoon to head back home. Only 365 days until the next retreat....!

Favorite Recipe that I take for the treat table:

Nutty Graham Cracker Cookies

(Warning these cookies are easy to make and very addictive!)

2 sticks butter (not margarine)

3/4 cup brown sugar

graham crackers broken into little rectangles

1 - 2 cups chopped pecans

Line a 10 1/2 x 15" jelly roll pan with foil. Make a layer of graham crackers to cover the pan. In a saucepan, melt the butter and brown sugar and stir until the mixture is dissolved and begins to bubble and turns a warm caramel color. Drizzle the caramel over the graham cracker layer, then sprinkle the chopped nuts over the caramel. Bake at 350 degrees about 10 minutes or until the caramel bubbles all the way across the top of the pan. Don't over bake. Allow to cool then break cookies apart. Waiting for it to cool is the hardest part!