Tag: food

Myrtle Beach Quilt Party

January 25, 2026
Sunrise over the Atlantic Ocean at Springmaid Pier, Myrtle Beach, South Carolina

The Myrtle Beach Quilt Party celebrated its 36th year this past week. I discovered this event about five years ago when I began compiling a list of all the quilting events I could attend once I left teaching and was longer tied to an academic calendar. I officially retired at the end of 2024. My goal is to knock 1-2 events off my list every year.

Myrtle Beach Quilt Party offers attendees the choice of taking instructor led classes or BYOP for the entire 3 days. I chose the Checks & Blossoms class, which is based off the Pecan Blossoms pattern from Fig Tree Quilts.

A completed block for the Checks & Blossoms class project.

Classes met in various rooms of the conference center at the The Ellie/Doubletree Springmaid Resort. About half of the classrooms had an ocean view. Unfortunately, mine did not. 😦 However, I did have a nice, sturdy workspace all to myself, plus a group of very nice ladies around me to chat with while I worked. My set-up is pictured below. See the lady in the pink top? The ocean view was behind the gray panel dividers opposite her.

A highlight of my trip was getting to have lunch and hang out in the vendor area with Sharon. Our paths last crossed at the 2024 QuiltCon in Raleigh, N.C. Perhaps she’ll be able to attend the MBQP in 2027? If a class catches my eye, I’ll definitely be back!

My set-up at the retreat.

My time in Myrtle Beach was cut short due Winter Storm Fern. I’d originally planned to extend my stay an extra day to avoid the bad weather at home. However, increased ice accumulation predictions for my side of the ATL had me heading back mid-day on Friday ahead of the storm. No regrets about that decision. We did get freezing rain, sleet and snow on Saturday night. My metal front porch rails look like glazed donuts right now. There are power outages near us, but thankfully our power is still on. Temperatures have warmed to the point where the predicted icy mix for us this afternoon will be all rain instead. That’s a good thing. Other parts of the ATL did not fare nearly as well.

I stayed on The Ellie side of the Springmaid Resort. The rooms are nice. However, they are arranged in a horseshoe configuration where every balcony overlooks the pool area. I could see straight across into all of the rooms on the opposite side. Not quite the ocean view I was expecting. If you, like me, prefer a more private ocean view from your balcony, consider the DoubleTree, which is adjacent to The Ellie.

Something’s going around on many fronts

October 31, 2025

An upper respiratory ick is currently making the rounds through our local school systems. I caught it. Not surprising, considering I’ve been in contact with many different kids between therapy dog visits and private sewing lessons over the past two weeks. I’ll hazard a guess that I’ve been suffering from a nasty cold virus (and I can trace it back to the source). I’ve been congested and tired, but have experienced none of the extreme exhaustion that typically accompanies the flu or COVID. Today was the first day I felt more like myself – I even put on makeup before leaving to early vote and grocery shop.

Being sick this week definitely wan’t in my plans. Finishing up 3 charity quilts to turn in at this week’s guild meeting were on my agenda, as this is the final opportunity to turn in charity projects for 2025. That didn’t happen. I’m just grateful that I had enough energy to reorganize parts of my sewing space that were really bothering me.

Next week, our bathroom construction project begins, so I’ll be spending 7-10 days at home while the contractor and his crew work their magic This will provide plenty of opportunity to quilt and cross-stitch!

Other sorts of things going around…is it just me, or does there seem to be a palpable sense of unease due to fallout from the federal government shut-down? Forget all the usual doomscrolling on social media. Local food pantries and charity groups have been posting all over the place about where to get food once EBT cards are deactivated. My local Publix and Aldi stores were packed for an early Thursday afternoon. Could part of this be explained by those wanting to use up any remaining EBT funds before the end of October? Or possibly by those doing their weekly grocery shopping a little early due to reports of potential mischief being planned for this weekend to protest the the loss of certain government benefits? Who knows?

Regardless of your political views, the first rule legislators should understand is you don’t mess with kids or paychecks. 1) Many recipients of SNAP benefits are kids and no child deserves to go hungry. Most of my 22 years as a school librarian were spent working spent in high poverty schools. I kept extra snacks and drinks in the library just for the kids who came in late to library class and missed breakfast. 2) People should not be expected to work and not get paid (military and essential employees). Perhaps our legislators should be required to forfeit their paychecks and benefits while the government is shut down?

How can you help? Donate to your local food pantry. Give grocery store gift cards anonymously to those who’ve been impacted by the loss of benefits or a paycheck. Reach out to elderly friends and relatives with modest SS benefits and no other sources of income. They may receive SNAP benefits and are usually too proud to ask for help.

Finally, contact your House and Senate representatives. Implore them to act like grown-ups and do the job they were sent to Washington to do.