Annual Retreat

For a fifth year, Retreat 2023 was held at the Franciscan Retreat Center in northwest Colorado Springs. We had the same two well-lit rooms for sewing, one with nice windows, but both with good lighting for evening sewing. The hallway between offers a nice coffee bar (with real mugs!) from 6:00a 'til noon, or hot water & a selection of tea - especially nice in the evening.

There were 38 quilters participating this year!  Among them were one member who lives in Oklahoma most of the year, a guest who lives in Texas, a former guild member who now lives in Arizona, and another former member who lives nearby in Colorado Springs.

The sewing areas were available from 9:00a on our first day, thru 5:00p on our last day! With so many ladies attending this year we were a little more crowded, with two tables in one room each being shared by two quilters and their machines.  We were able to devote a table in each of the sewing rooms for use of the guild's large cutting mats, and one of the extra large ironing tables was also available in each of the two sewing rooms.

While not large, the sleeping rooms are very nice with comfortable beds. Every room has a private bath.  Singles, doubles, and even a few triple rooms are available.  The grounds are lovely - very peaceful - good for a walk or just a break.

The Dining Room is a short walk, though a few ladies always go back/forth by car.  Meals are served cafeteria style, with plenty of very tasty food available.  This year we had all meals in the Dining Hall as we were too many to ask that lunch be brought to our sewing area, but the chance to get out for a walk was welcomed by all.

The weather was glorious - cool mornings and evenings but quite warm during the day, and without the anticipated smoke from a nearby "prescribed burn".  Some of us enjoyed a glass of wine on the patio before dinner, and games were held after dinner.  A Challenge was issued with scraps available to stitch up a few blocks for some charity quilts.