I HEART My Crafty Friends

I have the best crafty friends! Remember that some time ago I wrote about retreat plans at Fountainbleu State Park? I was very excited and counting down the days. 


Until the days got close. That's when I had to face reality. I do not heart reality. We were in the middle of testing season and I was testing middle schoolers. And I was swamped. 

the group tee shirt (designed by Kelly) and Erica's
sweet card expressing sorrow that I could't come

I could not (though I tried very, very hard) wrap up testing. Oh, I had great plans to do just that. But even great plans can go awry. Middle schoolers do not help things run smoothly. Best laid plans. Blah, blah, blah. 

a closeup of the tee design

I finally gave in. Reality won. And I lost. Big. 


In the end I had to admit defeat and tell my crafty retreaters that I could not retreat with them. I wanted to run away (Fountainbleu sounded like a nice run-away-to place) but no. I stayed. And worked. And cried (just a little, but there were tears). 

a shopping bag, which I will use to pack
sewing supplies for our upcoming vacation

Well, retreaters to the rescue! They had each brought along a little something. 

And they made lots of little somethings. 

And they gathered them up and.... MAILED the somethings to me! I just got them. In a pretty box. And inside the box...somethings for me! Sorry no pictures of the box. I came home from work today (my last day) and found the box sitting pretty on the bench outside my door with mail piled on top. 



Really, I thought it was for Richard, but I brought it all in anyway. And my name was on top of the box. As soon as I saw Erica's name I knew what a lovely, thoughtful crafty friend I have. I do <3 crafty="" don="" font="" friends="" my="" t="" them="" too="" you="">

all the goodies posing in one pretty picture

I immediately opened said box! Do you see all the pretties? I <3 admit="" crafty="" do="" friends.="" it="" my="" span="" too="" you="">

darling scrap booking items and some wooden button love

a personal dry erase board and pen - which will
sit right beside the machine for sewing notes

a personalized mug and mug rug

 
Aren't they the best? And don't you <3 do="" font="" know="" them="" too="" you="">

What surprise box have you gotten recently? 

sick? no, not much

I'm writing that with a touch of sarcasm, of course.  I thought I was sick when I wrote last, only three days ago.  It turns out that I wasn't as sick as I can get.  Cold, flu, pneumonia, or "the Louisiana crud," it really doesn't matter what we call it.  I definitely had something.  And that something was miserable.  

Now I'm feeling only a little better, I've missed most of a week, and I have a lingering cough that can beat me down in about a minute and a half.  I guess I'm writing just to let folks know that I am still here and will climb back on the blogging horse eventually.  

It's just not happening tonight because somewhere in my school bag is a big stack of papers.  At school are a passel of students clamoring for help and attention. And finally, in just a few short days there will be a scary, high-stakes test.  How nerve-racking is that? Enough to bring about a relapse.    I want my life back!

High Test Alert!

We are definitely on high test alert.  Everyday we seem to spend some time talking about the test, testing for the test, preparing for the test, or testing!  Whew!  I feel sorry for the students, but I will not (can not, must not) let up.  They grab that moment and run.

So I'm spending hours every afternoon preparing for tomorrow and the test.  I'm starting to feel sorry for myself.  

Join me in my pity party: testing mode at work, no quilting in the studio, messes at home, head cold everywhere.  See, a full smorgasbord.

Here's hoping you're having a great week.
Mary