Mini Album

Retreating

... with my friend, Julie.

 

It all started a couple of years ago

when I invited her to retreat with me.

 

Since then, we've had some great times.

Julie's always behind the camera

but I always have mine with me, too.
Now she has pictures of herself.

 

I put this together for her birthday.

(She loved it!!!)

 

John's cows play a large part in our stay

and you will see them on several of the pages,

including this cover.

Do you hear them??????

"Mooooooo" ... or is it "Sueeeeee?"

 

 

Oops - late at night,

she tripped and fell on the cement steps.

Can you just say "ouch!?!"

Look at the black and blue chin.

 

See the coat hanger?

It's holding a secret picture that's hiding under Julie's picture.

Can't share it here but wanted to make sure Julie never forgets!

 

It was a chilly day but that sunshine was so inviting!

We ate our lunch at the picnic table and caught some of those rays.

 

Another fun weekend.

Christmas gifts were exchanged

and lots of food was eaten.

 

Oh boy ... what a weekend!

We certainly had a wonderful time.

 

Typically, when the person is ready to take the picture,

he/she will say, "SAY CHEESE."

Nope - not this time.

Do you remember what was said?

 

No, the cow wasn't up on the porch as Julie ate her breakfast.

But it wasn't very far away.

 

Oh my ... was that loaf of bread ever delicious that Julie made.

 

 

Such a fun weekend

meeting new friends.

 

This was the beginning of the christening dress

Julie made for her granddaughter.

AND ... it took first place in the Texas State Fair.

Congratulations.

 

 



 

Planning party ...

 

for Serendipi-TEA

 

Relaxing after dinner.

It's moments like this that make retreating so much fun.

 

Or is it moments like this

with a bottle of hooch on your bedside table?

 

I'm the lucky one!

This weekend I will be rubbing elbows with

some UBER talented ladies.

 

They are the crème de la crème.

 

And I cannot wait.

 

I've been trying to catch a couple extra zzzzz's.

You know - kinda like stocking up on sleep.

Why?
Because something tells me there won't be much of that happening
once we gather and get all crazy-like.

 

Stay tuned - pictures will be posted right here next week.

 

Pinky promise!

 

Remember one thing:  YOU matter.  See you next time.

More Retreat Pictures

It's difficult for me to wrap my head around the fact that these were taken a week ago.

Already.

Where does the time go?

Gosh - I haven't even caught up on sleep yet!

Julie just sent me more pictures and I couldn't resist sharing
to prove we really do have a great time retreating.

First up is me having a midnight snack.
No, I didn't eat the entire bag myself ... I shared with Donna!


Kim and I having "a moment."
No alcoholic beverages were involved, just so you know. 

I've never done a photo bomb before

and I just couldn't resist.

Sorry for hiding your face, Kim!

Malinda in red, Danielle in grey and Stacy in pink.

 This always amazes me.

We sit with a camera at our workstation all weekend long.

When do we get the idea to take a picture?

as people are leaving.

Crazy, isn't it?

Julie's in purple, Donna's in the raincoat with a pink vest peeking out,

Stephanie's wearing aqua and Stacy's in pink.

Next time out there, I promise to take pictures during the weekend
and not just at the end.

Remember one thing:  YOU matter.  See you next time!

 

 

Shame on me ...

If you were looking for me last weekend,

I was at Whitworth Ranch.

 

This is always such a treat for me.

It's a lot of work packing up and getting my projects all lined up

(not to mention unpacking when I get home)

but it's something I love to do.

 

Where does the "shame on me" come into play?

I accomplished so little on this trip.

I'm not sure why - but my productivity was way down compared to other retreats.

 

Here's a few cards I can share:

 

 

 

YES! There are people that still send thank you cards.

 

We had a lot of laughs and comments over the image on this card.

Everybody called them "the spooky girls" but I think they're swet.

I did make some things other than just these four cards,

but like I said ...

my productivity was way down. 

 

I met several people

and one was Kim Zapalac, my first featured guest.

Danielle Davis and Malinda Holley

arrived later than the rest of us but we didn't skip a beat.

It's always so much fun to share stories and ideas with new friends.

(left to right: Danielle, Kim and Malinda)

 

Donna Curtis and Stephanie Budsberg (mother and daughter)

were there for their first time.

Since they shared a room with Julie Watkins and me

we hope we didn't scare them off.

The four of us had such a good time.

 

See what I mean about scaring them off?

Here's Julie posing at the ironing board.
I wish I could share what Julie worked on all weekend.
When it's completed, I promise I will.
She's making THE MOST BEAUTIFUL christening dress for her granddaughter.
I can't wait to see it.

 

Gosh - I just finished unpacking and putting everything away

and next week I have to do it all over again.

And then just seven weeks later I'll be back out there.

Shucks - isn't that just awful?

Somebody has to do it, right?

Some time between now and then
I'm planning to feature myself as a Featured Guest.
People have been asking me so I guess I'll share, too.
I can't expect others to spill their guts if I'm not willing to do the same, right?
I've also got a couple of others lined up as well.

Remember one thing:  YOU matter.  See you next time!

 

Welcome to A Country Chic Retreat

Yes, welcome!  Sit back, grab something to drink and enjoy the words, the photographs and all the information this one blog post can offer.

Have you ever heard about retreats and wondered what they were all about?  I did.  I also couldn't imagine packing up my supplies and taking them "somewhere" to craft when I could do all that at home.  What should I take?  What should I leave at home?  What if I forget something?  Most importantly, how would I ever get everything out of my car and into the retreat?  Wonder no more. Whitworth Ranch Retreat offers wagons to carry all of your "stuff" from point A to point B.

Don't scrapbook or make cards?  Certainly, don't let that keep you from going on a retreat.  Maybe you'd just like to get away and relax and get a massage, read a book, swim, watch a movie or take a nap.  Perhaps your "thing" is to make jewelry, knit, crochet, quilt or sew.  Look at the beautiful outfits Julie made for her twin granddaughters.

Whitworth Ranch Retreat is family-owned and operated.  I am not one of the owners but
I certainly feel as if I am part of their family.  John, Marie and Stacy make every single person that steps foot into their retreat feel like family - always.  You will see them wander in and out during your stay.

The venue is so very peaceful - the retreat sits on 50 country acres where you can enjoy watching the cattle.  They love it when you talk to them and they even talk back.  True story!

You can enjoy one of the 18 single (non-bunk) beds in five bedrooms.  All bedrooms are handicap accessible and are on the first floor with the exception of one.  Next to each bed is a night stand and all bedding is high-quality.  Each bedroom has a vanity table where you can set up your beauty bar.

There are four bathrooms where towels, shampoo, conditioner, body wash and hair dryers are provided.  Two bathrooms have a showers/tub combination while the remaining two offer showers.

You can enjoy their two kitchens, two dining rooms and two craft rooms that seat 18 people.  Every crafter has a six-foot table where you sit in a comfy office chair with adjustable seats and side arms.  Your space has self-healing mats, drink holders and trash cans.  Offered for your use are a full array of stamps, a Cricut machine with over 50 cartridges, die cutting machines and dies.

I always have good intentions.  I start out like this ...

but quickly, I am working in something like this.  Six feet of real estate and it all comes down to working in less than a 12"x12" space.  Hey - it happens.  Don't judge!  I usually know where everything is and try not to spill over into my neighbor's space.  Most of the time I am successful.

Need to move away from your craft area?  Guests have been known to sit on these comfy sofas to catch a second wind or just to rest their weary bones.  The nice part is that you don't have to leave all the high energy because they're situated right here in the large craft room.  Some guests have even been known to spend the night here.

Oh, don't let me forget the food.  Stacy is culinary trained and can handle special dietary needs.  Her meals are TO. DIE. FOR.  Let me be the first to tell you that you will not go away hungry.  Ever.

Are you a water lover?  Check out this pool and hot tub - especially inviting during our Texas Summers!!!  A kitchen, two craft rooms, two bedrooms and two baths are housed in this building.  The remaining bedrooms, baths, kitchen and dining rooms are in the house, which is just to the left of the pool.  Under the covered patio is a gas grill and the chuck wagon for Stacy's famous BBQs.

 

This wonderful retreat is located in Scurry, Texas.  They are 12 miles from Kaufman where a brand new Walmart just came to town (always good to know for a quick trip to replenish supplies or snacks.)  Don't live close by?  Don't let that stop you from loading up the car and caravan with some friends, hopping on an airplane or researching a retreat in your area.  You won't be sorry.

 

I was fortunate enough to help Stacy at CKC-Houston last month.  Whitworth Ranch Retreat shared a space with The Little Blue House and was able to reach quite a few Houstonians.  Are you from that area?  It's a "doable" car trip - only about three and a half hours from The Woodlands to Whitworth.  Congratulations to Diana Chestnutt!  Diana was the lucky winner for a free weekend retreat for herself and her friends.  She has decided to retreat in October 2015.  Enjoy!

I won't be at CKC-San Marcos on September 5th and 6th but you will be able to meet Marie, Stacy and Billie Long.  Stop by, visit with them, pick up a packet of information and drop your name in the bucket to take a chance on WINNING A WEEKEND RETREAT FOR YOURSELF AND SEVEN FRIENDS.  You never know - you might be the winner ... and then you'll be hooked for life - just like me!

Do you have a special event coming up?  Whitworth Ranch Retreat will be happy to take care of your graduation parties, wedding/baby showers, bachelorette weekends, weddings, special artful gatherings and classes.  How about planning a "staycation" for your family?

 

Speaking of weddings, next month April and Damon will be tying the knot at an intimate gathering at their country chic barn style wedding.  Billie Long will be behind the lens capturing the bride and groom every step of the way.  I will be posting pictures so that you can get an idea on how it's done in the country!

 

Are you a "picker?"  Tracy Pounds from The Little Blue House will be at the Pickers' Holiday Workshop the last weekend of October, which is also First Monday, Canton.  There are still a couple of openings so reserve your spot today if you would like to be a part of the festivities.  Your reservation will include all lodging and meals for five days.  You will be creating three-four holiday projects and all class instructions will be included.  If you miss this workshop, there will be another one in the Spring.

 

I invite you to visit the website at http://www.whitworth-ranch-retreat.com.  There's so much more information and photos on this site than I have touched on here.

 

This wonderful country chic retreat only has two weekend openings for 2014:

December 18-21
December 26-28
 

Next year is booking up fast and it really isn't that far away.  Dates available are:

March 5-8, 12-15, 19-22, 26-29

April 2-5 (Canton weekend) and 9-12

May 7-10, 21-24

June 4-7, 11-14, 19-21, 25-28

July 9-12, 23-26

August 6-9, 27-30

September - 3-6, 10-13, 17-20, 24-27

October 29-November 1

November 5-8, 12-15, 18-22, 25-29
December - 3-6, 10-13, 17-20

 

Of course, all of these open dates are subject to change.  Please contact Stacy Seely at 817-706-8118 or whitworth.ranch@yahoo to reserve a spot for you and your group.  Stacy already has some retreats on the books for 2016 - yes, already!  I am unable to schedule your reservations or accept your payment; you will need to speak directly to Stacy.

 

I am so happy and proud to be the blog author for this country chic retreat.  If you have spent (or will be spending) a weekend here, please leave a comment and share your experiences.  If you would like to share some pictures with me, please e-mail them to kosec@sbcglobal.net and I will be happy to post your good times for all to see.  Please type in your e-mail address in the right-hand column - you won't want to miss any posts!

 

I would love to have you visit my personal blog at SuZeQCreations.

Remember one thing:  YOU matter  See you next time ...