Good Stuff

Time away from home, set aside for stitching and good friends is a real treasure and I count myself most blessed to have gone to this year's VS Retreat. That's why the project Thea designed, "Count Your Blessings" really summed up what so many of us feel about our time together. Thea, Lisa, and Cathy really spoiled us with goodie bags and gifts during the retreat, the pic above showing not quite everything we received as I just found more in my suitcase! :D With the slower economy the various companies have cut back on what they send out to different retreats for their goodie bags, but Thea made up for it with VS pamphlets and kits.

Last Wednesday was our travel to Victoria day with Nancy and Kathryn. That evening we met other early arrivers for dinner at the Sticky Wicket and Thea even dropped in on us on her way to choir practice. Later a group of us gathered in Kathryn's room to stitch.

On Thursday we walked down to the Needlework and Button Boutique where I picked up some Gloriana silks and a Weeks Dye Works floss. Of course, I found my new shoes next door, then we went to Murchies for a bit of tea. In the afternoon I stitched with Kathryn in her room as I didn't have my homework ready for class on Friday morning, and I met my roommate, Dorrie from Meridian, Idaho. A bunch of us met for dinner at the Days Inn where we received awful service, which usually has not been the case at all. They took forever, really, to get our food out to us and made us late to the Meet and Greet in our classroom at The Harbour Towers. Of course, it was at dinner that Nancy received the phone call from her son and husband that took her back home that night.

Friday morning started with our group meeting for breakfast at the hotel as has become our tradition. Their cranberry flax toast is soooo yummy! Class started at 9 a.m. so we were all in our seats on time you can bet! At lunch we walked down to Sam's deli, just beyond The Empress where I had a superb seafood chowder. Thank goodness for that walk or I would have fallen asleep as after lunch Lisa demonstrated the finishing techniques for this beautiful etui! In the evening Lisa took a group of us down to Barb's Fish Shack, right on the harbor for THE BEST fish and chips I've ever had. It was amazing. :) After dinner we went back to the classroom to stitch on our projects.

View from the classroom

Saturday was VS studio day. The bus gathered us up and delivered us to Thea's where she had three tables set up for us and we continued on with stitching various parts of the smalls for the etui. Thea had a little snack mid-morning, lunch, and an afternoon dessert that kept drawing us out of the studio and out into the kitchen or onto the deck to delight in the glorious view.

The town of Sidney in the distance.

We were very fortunate that the weather was so fair during our stay. The wind was a bit stiff at times, but you must expect that in a harbor town.

On Saturday evening we hemmed and hawed over where to go for dinner when Louise from Ottawa made the decision for us. The Royal Scotsman is very nearby, a place she stayed during a recent business trip, and she recommended the restaurant there. It's a bit hidden behind the hedge and we'd never really noticed it all the times we walked by. The food was wonderful and we now have another nearby, reasonably priced restaurant option for next time.

The Coho coming into port.

Sunday morning found us saying our goodbyes to dear friends. Jo-Celle and I walked onto the Coho for the voyage across the Strait, then journeyed on to Nancy's in her delightful Infiniti. I arrived home safely around 9:30 p.m., happy to be home, yet missing everyone and thinking of all the fun we'd shared.