Last day – Leaving SOAR…

It’s bittersweet on the last day. I am eager to get home to my family, but sad to leave the friendships I have made in the past few days. I always find that leaving SOAR and other immersion type of events and returning to ordinary life is hard for me. I don't return to work refreshed and ready to get busy. I almost resent work for taking me away from what I really want to be doing, instead of being grateful that what I do for a living provides the ability to go and do these things.



Shanty Creek is a beautiful setting - the leaves are turning colors that I rarely get to see in Arizona. The morning mist rising from the water this morning was so peaceful. I wish that I lived in a place that had the seasons so clearly delineated. I slept with the windows wide open and snuggled under the covers. On the last night I even wore my socks to bed to keep my feet warm - yum!

I took four classes during the retreat – Spinning for Lace with Margaret Stowe, Getting the Most Out of Hand Held Combs with Robin Russo, Kitchen Sink Batts with Janel Laidman and a great entrelac class with Kathryn Alexander - the name of which escapes me right now.

I learned a great deal in each class – not necessarily what I expected to learn, but valuable in any case. The staff of Interweave, and the Spin Off group in particular are once again to be commended in putting together an event that I will remember.

The best parts were seeing friends made during previous SOAR’s like Janel of Chameleon Colorworks and Spindlicity Magazine, Shirley of Lambspun, and Morgaine of Carolina Homespun; and then making a couple of wonderful new friends. I feel that I met a couple of kindred spirits in Connie and Steve of Spindlewood Spindles. I met them my first night there at dinner and we became instant friends. Their generosity of heart was appealing from the start and over the few days that we spent together, I felt like we were old friends reconnecting after a long time apart.

Funny that I make friends more easily with people who are vendors than participants, hmmm, I wonder why that is?

I also met Abby, I have been reading her blog for some time now and it’s cool to put a face with the name. She was very nice – down to earth and friendly. I ran into Stephanie a couple of times, got some good pictures with her and Janel in them from the panel discussion on Sunday morning.

Well, my bags are packed and the shuttle is on it's way. I'll spend all day traveling and be wiped out tonight.

(posted Monday - written Sunday)