Saturday morning saw Malcolm and I standing on the pavement outside our apartment, waiting for Meredithe to pick me up, to spend the day with her and several of her quilting friends. There was just one problem ....... I didn't know what she looked like, as she hasn't included a photo of herself on her blog. But then a car swerved in to the kerb, and a woman got out, jumping up and down and squealing with delight ....... yes, it was Meredithe!
No sooner had we arrived at her house, than the kettle was on, and this was just the first of many yummy treats - Meredithe's hedgehog
oh dear, somehow one of Mrs Mac's famous date scones jumped into my hand ......
I was allowed to (briefly) sit in Meredithe's special chair ...... the others aren't allowed to sit in it (what she doesn't know is that when she goes out of the room, they promptly take turns to sit in it!!)
we had a wonderful lunch ...... I took this photo in the pause between the chicken salad and the dessert
going round the table from the right .... Meredithe, Jan, Mrs Mac, Vikki, Helen and Kay
Dessert was Mrs Mac's scrumptious banana and passion fruit pavlova
........ and then ....... a birthday cake!! The girls sang happy birthday, and toasted me with champagne - it was wonderful to be so spoiled!
after lunch we were joined by Marie and Glenda. Some sewing was done - I did so little that I am too embarrassed to show you mine, but Kay was making good progress with her clamshells (there are more photos over on Meredithe's blog)
the girls had the most wonderful show and tell for me, and I took lots of photos ..... far too many to include now, but once I'm back home I'll share them with you. But I have to show you Meredithe's "Mrs Billings" quilt, which is exquisite .....
and a very worthy winner of a first at a recent quilt show
Helen, who doesn't like fabrics with birds made this lovely top, not realising until she finished it that the outer border fabric has lots of birds. She then decided that she didn't want the quilt ....... and she gave it to me! Thank you very much Helen!!
Malcolm had been very mysterious about what we were going to do on Saturday night ....... I had assumed that he was takingmm e out for dinner. But I got back to find that he was making a wonderful dinner, and had set the table and lit candles
did you notice that there was more champagne ...... and a pile of early presents! From bottom to top - a book of knitted bags, a patchwork diary for next year, a tin with an old Singer sewing machine on it ........ and a bar of chocolate!!
After all the fun and laughter with Meredithe and her friends ....... I get to have more fun with them on Friday when we are going on a road trip, visiting lots of patchwork shops!!