HAD SOME FUN THIS WEEK!

I had some GREAT fun this week visiting Branson !  It IS one of my favorite places to go... even with the heat and even with the traffic ... did someone say traffic?  Yes, Branson has TRAFFIC during the tourist season, but there are maps in every store or restaurant, with side roads that all us locals take to avoid getting stuck in the downtown or on the strip traffic.  But even with that, Branson has the MOST courteous drivers... it just promotes that kinda atmosphere.  It's not uncommon to have people stop and just let you in... and yes, we still wave when we pass people on the backroads !


My first stop was to the bus company and put down our deposit to reserve our bus for the Springfield Ozark Piecemakers Guild Quilt Show on the Saturday of the retreat.  That was one of the good "pulls" to have it that weekend in Branson!  Quilt shows are always fun, and there's some REALLY good talent and beautiful work to see.  Lots of vendors and eye candy everywhere!

I went to our condos to work out a couple details in my mind, and visited my friend who helps me.  It was SO beautiful there !  The crepe myrtles were blooming, and the golf course was really lush and green.  They will be working on a special price for our retreaters and/or guests who like to golf!  I'll publish that as soon as I know what it is :)

We went over the room set up and some details about our sewing room and classes, where we'll have the boutique, where we will eat, which patio we'll be using, that sort of thing. 



As time gets closer, we will be adjusting and readjusting details and agenda items ... and y'all will be getting info.   This place is really working nicely with us to make this the best time y'all would expect!  And they are ALL ABOUT showing visitors a good time in Branson ... more on that later :)


I hope y'all are getting as excited as we are!  
We can't wait to meet all everyone in September 2012!  C'mon to Branson ... you'll feel like you're family !

WELCOME FRIENDS and QUILTERS

WELCOME to the launch of our blog for the upcoming Circle of Friends Quilters Retreat in Branson... we are excited you are here !  Here's a little bit about these quilty friends ...    

I have a Circle of Friends ... we are quilters united by the internet and our love of quilting, thru the HGTV.com message boards.  You'll find us at our favorite board... the Quilting and Needlework Message Board. There are a group of gals (and a few guys) who join together in cyberspace and share skills, experiences, tips, love, prayers, concern, and bond a true friendship. Thru this love and friendship, there are many projects done as a combined effort. Sometimes a friend going thru chemo needs a quilt of love, or one of our friends has lost a cherished family member, or a member of our military service needs some hugs from home... I call them our "heroes". A quilt is something that wraps that special someone not only in comfort, but in the love and care it took to make that quilt. 

These Circle of Friends also do many charity benefits, making quilts for raffle to raise money for donations to such charities as the Ronald McDonald House charities, and the Muscular Dystrophy Association. There are quilts made for Relay for Life, or for devastating circumstances, such as Katrina, or the recent tornado destruction in Joplin. I truly believe QUILTERS ARE THE MOST GENEROUS OF SOULS!

Back in 2006, some gals on the message board wanted to get together and meet in person and do some shopping... so the first Circle of Friends was formed, and a small group spent a weekend together in Minnesota. Since then there has been a Circle of Friends in different parts of the country... from Texas, to New Hampshire, to Oregon, to North Carolina. And it has grown from that very first small group to an annual tradition of meeting new friends and catching up with old friends.

Come check out our CIRCLE OF FRIENDS ... they're a GREAT bunch of folks who love quilting, love helping each other, and who love to travel around the country making friends doing good deeds!  And the retreat adventures continue .....