First, we had to prepare the house by moving everything from the ground floor as our wooden floors had to be replaced. I will be posting about it all very soon after I get some photos taken. That all seemed to finally fall into place after a drawn out legal battle fought for the mistakes a man made who laid our floors when we moved here 3 years ago. We had to get everything prepared in a short time as the matter was able to come to a close. Lots of photos and the story to follow soon.
At the beginning of November, I took two of my quilt friends for a long weekend away at Cranberry Cottage. These two ladies are both 85 years old and full of life. They are so fun and caring. We had planned this trip back in the spring but waited for autumn to go as it is all three of our favorite season. It was fun to be able to share Jos and my special little hideaway with them. The photos of this post are some of my autumn decorations there.
The toadstools were in the drive and back garden that weekend. Don't you just love the Orange Peel fungus? The first time we had it was last autumn and I thought it was candle wax. It is unreal to see.....
I also had to deal with a major crisis in my quilt group leaving many of us feeling rather hurt by two members. We have had a meeting to discuss where and if we should go from here. We are preparing to move on into a new year for the group with confidence that there will be a closer bond after dealing with some problems. It has really taken a good deal of time to get things back on track.
I am back and will be posting more regularly now. I also have to start taking time to catch up with many of my blogging friends. How are you doing?
Heidi
Yes, you had lots of heartache because of two brats. They had a ton of nerve coming into your house as invited guest then causing so much trouble. Wish I would have been there the night it happened. Better they are gone, you will have a much nicer group now. Carry on and forget them.
ReplyDeleteI know your two ladies you took to the cottage and they are sure nice. I'm glad they got to go and had fun for the weekend.
Your decorations look great as always.
I love you verrrrrry much.
Happy Thanksgiving
Mom
It has been a tough time but I am putting it behind me. I still do not understand why people set out to hurt each other but the group is going to be better after all is said and done I hope.
DeleteLove you too!
Hi Heidi, I will always read you. Glad you are OK
ReplyDeleteThanks Rhonda. Good to see people are still reading the blog. Have to stop in and visit you...
DeleteAh I was wondering where you were Heidi and welcome back. Life sometimes gets in the way doesn't it? I too have been very busy of late but more or less up to date now. Your Mom is right, you just need to draw a line under the problem you had with those two people. We have a saying here "there's nowt so queer as folk". They are just not worth the worry. Hope you have a Happy Thanksgiving.
ReplyDeletePatricia x
Lol Patricia! A great saying. I am grateful that those remaining are so supportive of each other now. And life does get in the way. Moving house was not fun but now we can enjoy our new floor.
DeleteI always look for you Heidi, glad to see you today.
ReplyDeleteThe dynamics of a group can be so badly thrown by thoughtless people. Hope all will go well now.
Thanks Barbara. I am sure we are going to have a great year together next year. One more person is leaving after Christmas but the rest are going on to a new year and a new theme. Just too bad it all happened while we were dealing with the floor too. It was a stressful time because of it.
ReplyDeleteYou know I am a devoted follower of yours! Your mom is so right, take her words to heart and heed them. Big hugs and lots of hugs to you!!
ReplyDeleteThank you Susan! The group seems to have a lot of positive energy now.
DeleteDear Heidi, I am so sorry. First for the problems with the floor. I remember reading about the headaches you and Jos had just getting them in the first time. And second, for not emailing you to see if you were in fact OK. I did pop in now and then to see if you posted and was a bit concerned. But as my son and husband say I am too big of a worry-wart, I just let it dropped. But please know I was thinking about you;-)
ReplyDeleteblessings, jill
It was all indeed a big headache Jill but it is finally behind us. We are really pleased with the new floor and it is sooooo different than we had. Can't wait to show you.
DeleteI was happy to find you new blog so I can visit with you.
Of course we're hear reading your blog!
ReplyDeleteI remember the issues with the floor and glad to hear they are finally or have finally gotten resolved. Your home is beautiful and I always enjoy seeing how you decorate!
Drama - UGH! Isn't that something we're supposed to outgrow? So sorry you had to deal with it.
Thanks Jackie! It is hard to believe that it is over now. This new floor is much better quality too. Lol on the outgrowing these things. I said that to my mother while we were discussing it all. We are too old to act like teenage girls. And one of the two people involved is a woman in her 70s. The rest of the group is looking forward to our Christmas party and then the new year.....
DeleteI'm still here!!! So glad that you have updated. I am looking forward to seeing pics of the new floors.
ReplyDeleteI am sorry that there was some discord in your group. It has happened here too. It seems like you guys have such a wonderful time usually and such wonderful events.
I love, love, love that last quilted piece that is pictured on your table.
Big hugs!
Hi Chris. We are thrilled with the way the floor has turned out. Thanks about the quilt. I made that one about 5 years ago or so.
DeleteIt is so good to see you back and blogging, Heidi! I remember the horror story of your floors a few years ago. I hope everything is fine with that now! What a sweetheart you are for taking two of your elderly friends to the cottage with you. I'm sure they loved it. Can I ask you a little favor? I know this is your blog and you can do with it whatever you wish, but when I comment and then have to do a word verification, it's very frustrating. I have a very hard time reading the letters and numbers on my computer and have to try several times to get it right. Sometimes I'm just about to give up. Is there any way you can turn off word verification? Thank you for at least considering it.
ReplyDeleteI had word verification off Melanie and got about 150 spams on the comments. It is amazing the amount of spam some people put out there. I could try it again but would have to put it back on as soon as it starts again. It is very frustrating. Have you not had any problems with it?
ReplyDeleteHi Heidi!
ReplyDeleteYou're back!!! YAY! I keep checking your blogs to see if you have written. So sorry to hear about 2 spoilsports almost ruining your group. Glad you are all staying together. Hugs!
So good to see a post from you again - I've been thinking about you as the CHL ornament exchange is in progress again. So sorry to hear about your quilt group, but things will be better now and you can enjoy again. Cannot wait to see pics of the new floor and hear how it all worked out for you!
ReplyDeleteI was thinking about you yesterday, wondering how you are. I'm glad to see you are back, and look forward to catching up.
ReplyDeleteYou must have had a nice long weekend with your two friends at the Cranberry Cottage. And like Chris I have admired the table cloth in your picture. It has such wonderful colours.
ReplyDeleteHi Heidi, I'm still here. I always read your blogs and as you know always find your work really inspiring. Having visited Cranberry Cottage and been on the receiving end of yours and Jos' wonderful generosity, I can imagine your two guests were thrilled.
ReplyDeleteYour Halloween decorating is a real delight...so spooky :-)
I remember the floor saga really well. I'm so glad it has finally been resolved.
My gosh, what a lot has been going on. I'm glad you had the respite of the visit with your friends to your cottage. I love the comment your mother left.
ReplyDeleteSomehow I got lost again as a follower, sigh. I've had so many techinal problems this summer and fall. Anyway, our sampler guild has been having lots of lots of problems with a few people also. I go to stitch ins being hopeful and come home all upset and keyed because of these. Even the retreat I helped put together was full of drama. I stitch to relax and it's been anything but. So, I understand some of what you've been going through even though I don't know the details. I can't believe you are going through wooden floor drama still! What a mess. Hopefully, this will all be behind you too. I'm looking forward to some lovely photos. All the best to you and Jos.
ReplyDeleteHello Heidi....glad to see a post from you. I just this afternoon hung the ornament you made for me on one of my two Christmas trees - I will enjoy seeing it every day! I haven't been able to spend much time blogging lately due to my job being somewhat overwhelming plus having to travel for work. I hope things calm down after the holidays.
ReplyDeleteHeidi I do remember you had trouble with the floors when you moved in that house and for a while it seemed nothing was going right. I hope you got it all resolved satisfactorily...that is not fun to deal with.
What a nice thing you did hosting a visit for your older friends, I'm sure they so appreciated it! I can relate to issues within your quilt group. Having been in 3 different quilt groups over 20 years I know the types of things that happen...my current group has been together almost 10 yrs fortunately....we did lose 2 members due to "issues" but the rest of us have carried on. Unfortunately, I find these types of things happen in most groups (although my husband says it's a "woman" thing I don't believe him). Take care a have a good holiday season!
Hello, Heidi...Merry Christmas! I only blog occasionally these days and it's been a year of relocating/moving as we clear out my parents' home now that Mother has passed away and prepare to move into it ourselves; my husband has been so busy getting our own home ready to sell; it has been arduous and I still will have much unpacking to do in the first quarter of 2014. It's important to become settled and calm, so I do look forward to those days. Thank you for posting; sounds like you have been dealing with quite a lot of "drama" but are getting it sorted out. I also go into your Stovetops blog and love your book recommendations. I did copy the quiche recipe as well (with artichokes). Hope you are feeling well and that you are not too frosty-cold there in a Netherland winter. I am in Southern California/USA...generally warmer...but we've had a bit of arctic freeze descend upon us in recent days and, my goodness, I believe every joint and bone in my body ached with the unusual cold of days in the 50s and nights in the 30s (Farenheit). This probably sounds silly to you and others in much colder climes but, forgive us Californians, we are accustomed to higher temperatures!
ReplyDelete